The Indecisive Blogger

Into the Sunset

2008-03-15T09:31:00.001-06:00

Into the Sunset
Originally uploaded by Sami T

La Jolla Beach sunset.
San Diego, California

Conveying Strife

2008-03-03T11:00:00.001-07:00

Conveying Strife
Originally uploaded by Sami T

he many faces of struggle and strife in this world....

Guadalajara, Mexico

(This is one of my favorites. I thought I'd submit it again with another treatment)

2008-03-02T23:23:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Sami T

Tlaquepaque, Mexico

2008-02-25T03:07:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Sami T

Please Vote!

2008-02-25T00:32:00.000-07:00

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-21T04:40:00.001-07:00

Lunar Eclipse
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Feb 20, 2008

See you in 3 years

Persistence

2008-02-18T01:25:00.001-07:00

Persistence
Originally uploaded by Sami T

A long way to go buddy..

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO.

The Fisherman

2008-02-14T04:55:00.001-07:00

The Fisherman
Originally uploaded by Sami T

An early bird fishing in Santa Monica Beach, California.

My Fortune

2008-02-11T05:58:00.001-07:00

My Fortune
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Reflecting

2008-02-09T06:03:00.001-07:00

Reflecting
Originally uploaded by Sami T

A girl reflecting on her reflection in downtown Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Man in White

2008-02-04T03:33:00.001-07:00

The Man in White
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Guadalajara, Mexico

Leaving

2008-02-03T10:24:00.003-07:00

Leaving
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Guadalajara, Mexico

Don't Let Go

2008-02-03T10:24:00.001-07:00

Don't Let Go
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Tlaquepaque, Mexico

Los Mariachis

2008-02-03T10:23:00.001-07:00

Los Mariachis
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Tlaquepaque, Mexico

2008-01-31T14:18:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Sami T

A reflection of a cathedral in downtown Guadalajara, Mexico.

Awkward Stare

2008-01-28T16:21:00.001-07:00

Awkward Stare
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Getting aquatinted with new friends.

Kuwait

Into the Sunset

2008-01-28T00:57:00.001-07:00

Into the Sunset
Originally uploaded by Sami T

Jaws

2008-01-26T00:43:00.001-07:00

Jaws
Originally uploaded by Sami T

A huge shark at the Kuwait Scientific Center Aquarium.

Kuwait

2008-01-14T01:59:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Sami T

Observing the fish at the Kuwait Scientific Center aquarium.

Desert Sunset

2008-01-09T01:15:00.001-07:00

Desert Sunset
Originally uploaded by Sami T

The sun setting in the Saudi desert.

2008-01-08T12:20:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Sami T

Kuwait

2008-01-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Sami T

Kuwait

2008-01-03T00:47:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Sami T

Fishing...

2007-12-29T15:13:00.001-07:00

Fishing...
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Kuwait City, Kuwait

2007-12-29T00:59:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by obscure persona

An old fishing boat/yacht facing a modern Kuwaiti landscape.

Bahrain World Trade Center

2007-12-26T15:32:00.001-07:00

Bahrain World Trade Center
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

The Bahrain World Trade Center in Manama, Bahrain. It is the first of its kind in the world to utilize wind power for power generation.

The Surfer

2007-12-12T02:44:00.001-07:00

The Surfer
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Surfing in the sun light.

San Diego, California

2007-12-11T04:06:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Capturing the slow movement of waves as they hit the rocks.
San Diego, California.

Sunset

2007-12-11T04:05:00.001-07:00

Sunset
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

San Diego, California

Yesterday...

2007-12-02T03:38:00.001-07:00

Yesterday...
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

An abandoned old mud house left from yesterday.
Aldwadmi, Saudi Arabia

Colorado Winter

2007-11-26T18:41:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Winter

2007-11-26T18:40:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Winter Sunset

2007-11-26T17:38:00.001-07:00

Winter Sunset
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Winter

2007-11-26T17:37:00.001-07:00

Winter
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

First day of snow in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Daisy Surfer

2007-10-30T03:13:00.001-06:00

Daisy Surfer
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

A female surfer getting ready to face the waves of Pacific Beach, San Diego.

Remainings...

2007-10-26T01:50:00.001-06:00

Remainings...
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Riding the Waves

2007-10-25T02:19:00.001-06:00

Riding the Waves
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

A surfer enjoying the waves in Pacific Beach, San Diego.

La Jolla Sunset

2007-10-25T02:17:00.001-06:00

La Jolla Sunset
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

La Jolla Beach in San Diego, California.

People Mosaic

2007-10-08T09:19:00.001-06:00

People Mosaic
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

This is my first people mosaic quantifying different emotions.....

Riyadh Night Lights

2007-09-15T15:41:00.001-06:00

Riyadh Night Lights
Originally uploaded by obscure persona

Like I said before, I think I'm going to switch to a photo blog. I'll post some photos, from time to time, with stupid little comments.

I was back in Riyadh this summer for a couple weeks. It wasn't that bad.

2007-06-13T18:09:00.000-06:00

An article worth a look at by Abdallah Bin Bjad Alotaiby... (Arabic)

Article

The Bridge

2007-03-25T17:37:00.001-06:00

The Bridge
Originally uploaded by obscure persona.

Lost the sense of blogging. I'm thinking about switching to a photoblog, what ever that is...

Inspiration off a bathroom door...2

2007-02-25T20:20:00.001-07:00

Inspiration off a bathroom door...2
Originally uploaded by obscure persona.

Update lol!
(6 days later)

Say hello to my little friend..

2007-02-21T22:43:00.001-07:00

Say hello to my little friend..
Originally uploaded by obscure persona.

Let the games begin!

Inspiration off a bathroom door...

2007-02-19T21:46:00.001-07:00

Inspiration off a bathroom door
Originally uploaded by obscure persona.

Inspiration Off a Starbucks Cup...

2007-01-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

The Way I see It #182

"In my career I've found that 'thinking outside the box' works better if you know what's 'inside the box.' In music (as in life) we need to understand our pertinent history...and moving on is so much easier once we know where we've been,"

- Dave Grusin

Award-winning composer and jazz musician.

2007-01-10T01:40:00.001-07:00

Fragments From Yesterday...
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

First of all, Happy Eid and Happy New Year's ba3ed alza7mah.

In what was labeled a project to overcome my personal experience with writer’s block, this venture has yet to achieve its goal. In fact, it has failed miserably. Almost 2 years in the making, I have struggled with a quasi-Freudian ensemble that had a clash between my id, ego, and super-ego as the main event. Trying to find a theme for this so-called blog has been very frustrating. From posting social science/cultural-related feeds to stumbling on a few personal thoughts. Not to mention the occasional speech impediments that yield a few worthless video clips from time to time. Oftentimes, projects like these serve other purposes or lead their author to, yet, other endeavors. Just like how Bush’s idea of spreading democracy was picked up later on in this Iraq war, his initial goal was far from it. i.e. to find weapons of mass destruction. In other words, blogs can serve purposes other than what they are meant for, as in my case, to eradicate my writer’s block. You hear stories of people who start out with little personal diary posts on their blogs, and little do they know that they will become writers in local newspaper columns. Others get sick of all the opinionated people out there and pretty much start sticking to tagging their friends from here and there as a means to keep in touch. And at times, your agenda changes from trying to educate to just trying to hook up.

For me, this little project of mine tends to hit many forks in the road due to lack of motivation, lack of material, and mainly, lack of support, which in terms leads to lack of commitment in addition to my offline sever commitment issues. Personally, I tried my best to fulfill my initial goal, curing my writer’s block, but it didn't work out. Plus the idea of spreading democracy does not amuse me either. I usually tend to write about something I am passionate about, something that inspires me, or sometimes, something that pisses me off. But hey, all that is good. Dr. Spencer Johnson, who wrote Who Moved My Cheese, would tell you, “try to find your cheese,” which is a metaphor for finding an incentive that will make you keep going in what ever you are doing. The whole idea is very practical, but putting it into action is where the ‘You’ and the ‘I’ fluctuate. Well, what can one do about that? Honestly, I have no freaking idea. Sometimes I get sick of this thing, my blog, and tell myself that I should shut it down. But at other times, I find this ‘thing’ serving other purposes in some weird intertwining series of fortunate accidents, like having an old acquaintance from the pages of history stumble upon it and say, “Hey, I know you, we went to elementary school together,” or “I think my mom knows your mom and they haven’t met in 30 years,” and so many stories that have yet to emerge. In other words, for me, this little thing, my blog that I care less about, has served as a beacon that overlaps time and space in some bizarre, weird, and sometimes creepy way applying the idea of the Six Degrees of Separation into play.

When I look at ‘this’ project from that perspective, the idea of undertaking an initial goal does not appease me anymore because I have found far more life-altering experiences that have shaped the level of understanding in my world. I have come to this conclusion thanks to my old friend, Miles Davis playing in the background of my cerebral cortex.

Taking a technical writing class can dissolve your writer’s block. But meeting an array of people through the collective conscious coming from the past, present, and future would probably be my only ‘cheese’ in this little maze of blogging.

Time for another joint…

Keith Olbermann Special Comment on Bush in Vietnam

2006-12-06T23:01:00.000-07:00

This is two weeks old... But worth a look at.
Enjoy...

Bush Speech - "We learned that they are evil"

2006-09-19T15:23:00.000-06:00

2006-09-17T05:01:00.000-06:00

‘Special Needs’ Saudi soccer team capture first World Cup.

Emile Durkheim, one of the leading sociologists, once argued that the individual is a product of society and not the other way around. In other words, we must begin with society in order to understand human beings.

Having said that, I would like to comment on the Saudi World Cup victory from a sociological perceptive. Many would ask the pertinent question...If these guys can do it, how come the National Team can't? I would say that this 'Special Needs' team isn't a part of society.

In the past World Cup tournaments, 2006, 2002, 1998, people would be surprised after each loss the National Team suffered. We're still asking the same questions today. Many would rant, "Where did all that money go?" Others would ponder, "Their needs are met, where is the output?" and so on. Referring back to Durkheim, in the end of the day, this National Team is just a sample pool of Saudi society. It reflects how "well-organized" we are, sarcastically speaking. And it also tells you a lot about our "dedication" to hard work, another sarcastic comment. Saudi Arabia has a lot of well-dedicated, hard workers, but compared on a macro level, these individuals are just a few one-digit percentiles that don't reflect what the larger scope of society looks like, or how it behaves. Many would argue, well, that's not true. I would say, why not? We would all know the outcome if a World Cup was held with the following events: job performance, work ethics, input and output while on the job, dedication, motivation, etc. I bet we would come last in all these events. How do I know? Well, I have yet to see a World Cup with these events. But I can sure comment on the Saudi team because it's in the spotlight for everyone to see. I'm not bashing on the team, I follow the team's news everywhere. I always say the only thing that keeps me patriotic is the national team.

Going back to the 'Special Needs' team. In our society, or any society, these individuals are deemed deviant because they are not like us and they don't meet or societal expectations and "needs." They come from diverse psychological backgrounds. Some are autistic, others have learning disabilities, and the list goes on. The positive aspect I see in these people is that they are different from the culture or society they live in. Studies have shown that autistic children don't have a sense of 'self' and so they see the world from a lens that is very different from ours. I enjoy trying to communicate with autistic children. I feel they are missing a few genes that we all carry. I don't see that 'hate' gene. Nor do I see the 'judging' gene, and so on. You feel like they're the original human template that we were all born from. The nature vs. nurture argument does not apply here.
This is where I come to conclude....I think the 'Special Needs' term should be labeled on all of us. This team that won the World Cup isn't in need for 'special needs'..it is us.

Where do I go from here..

2006-09-16T19:53:00.000-06:00

Somewhere in Arizona..
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

2006-09-11T23:58:00.000-06:00

Very smooth man...Auto-eroticism undoes Slovak driver.

US President George W Bush has said the fight against terror is a "struggle for civilization." Shut the F up doushebag...Do you even know what "struggle" means? or "civilization?" or even..."for?"

More die from suicide than wars and murders, experts say.

"About 20 million to 60 million people try to kill themselves each year, but only around 1 million of them succeed,"
said Dr. Jose Manoel Bertolote, a mental health official at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Assessing terrorism 5 years after 9/11.

One million ways to die.

"In the five years since that shattering day, the government has spent billions on anti-terrorism projects, instituted a color-coded alert system that has never been green, banned fingernail clippers and water bottles from airplanes, launched a pre-emptive war on false pretenses, and advised citizens to stock up on duct tape and plastic sheeting...."

The ultimate blog post.

Memory worries may signal brain tissue loss.

Fort Collins named 'Best Place to Live' in America.

"The natural setting, the vibrancy of downtown and the presence of Colorado State University helped put Fort Collins at the top of the magazine’s list."
Craig Matters
Money executive editor

2006-09-09T04:06:00.000-06:00

Studies show that sensitivity to others' feelings underdeveloped in teen brain. More on the teenage brain here.

I was wondering about my low sperm count...sex toys contain dangerous chemicals says Greenpeace.

"It is unbelievable that such toxic substances can be used in adult toys. We have tested many products in the last few years but never have we encountered such high concentrations," Greenpeace spokesman Bart van Opzeeland said.

"Tested" on who? he he...Alllrrriiiiight!..eh..

I bet my mommy can kick your mommy's butt. Can't we just grow up! Danish paper reprints Holocaust cartoons.

Just like I predicted (mashallah 3alay). Prosecutors ask to drop federal charges against Al-Turki. Although there is no evidence to support the alleged sexual abuse, the "slavery" case is totally against him. Here's the thing everybody, if you're a Saudi, in a post-9/11 U.S.A., don't F around. Why the F can't you just adhere to local laws just like everybody else! We treat people like shit in Saudi Arabia, so what goes around comes around. We still haven't learned anything from Al-Hussayen case. Why can't you guys just wait till you go back home and do what ever the F you want to do. (My two cents).

It's been a long time since we last had useless debates over "saucy" topics. AlArabiya's weekly book report. (in Arabic). Check out the comments. I always love how anal-retentive most of AlArabiya's surfers are. That's the only motivation that keeps me going there.

How to temper your temper.

Forza Azzurri!

2006-07-10T13:19:00.000-06:00

Forza Azzurri!
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

Back to boredom...

2006-06-11T01:54:00.000-06:00

Researchers suggest the brain holds the key to "unlock" memories.

Was Jessica Alba HOT on MTV or what!

World Cup Fever

.....See you when I see you !

Pic of the Day

2006-05-28T00:19:00.000-06:00

Fan Runs Onto Pitch To Embraces Brazilian Striker Ronaldinho During Training Session In Switzerland

The look on his face....Priceless!

Source: 2006 Fifa World Cup

2006-05-22T07:07:00.000-06:00

Montenegro votes to secede from Serbia.

Mapping 'Self' and 'Other' in the brain.

More work for media on women’s progress. Samar Fatany writes:

"We have to admit that women in media are partly to blame because of their failure to enlighten the Saudi woman about her changing role in our nation’s social, economic and political progress."

Relax, it's just fiction. Reminds me of all that hype about Banat Alriyadh.

A good side of Gossip?

"Although shared positive attitudes are indeed important in friendship, there seems to be something especially delicious about the process of sharing our grievances about other people."

Today's Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's birthday, AKA: the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

2006-05-17T23:24:00.000-06:00

Women's facial expressions interpreted as angrier, less happy than men's, according to research.

What do you guys think of Yahoo's new look?

Called the Book of Life; Last chromosome in human genome sequenced.

Barcelona crowned European champions.

Food cravings linked to brain, study suggests.

Research debunks myths about cognitive difference; Men and women share cognitive skills.

"'Keif Al Hal' (How's It Going), the first-ever full-length Saudi feature, will receive its world preem at this year's Cannes Film Festival." 'Thilal Alsamt' , Saudi drama, will also be there.

2006-05-16T00:34:00.000-06:00

Lingering longer in the lingerie. (Article)

FDA approves anti-smoking pill. Interesting.

EU prepared to back civilian Iran program. Ouch for the U.S., I guess.

U.S. to restore diplomatic ties with Libya.

Freud: So wrong and yet so right. (Article)

Saudi woman wins US award for Anti-Drug poster.

Study indulges in the anatomy of dread.

Saudi Arabia names its World Cup 2006 squad.

Personal Footnote:

Greece was fun...Will post pics on Flickr soon.

2006-05-02T16:55:00.000-06:00

Burj Alarab
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

Back from Dubai...I miss that place already!

2006-04-22T08:17:00.000-06:00

Almamlakah
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

Back in Riyadh!

2006-04-15T02:20:00.000-06:00

Phony doctor gives free breast exams. Fallah lol! Don't forget to check out his pic.

Brain's 'Oops' Center Gives Clues to OCD

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed writes about the reasons why we fear Iran.

New tool taps saliva for clues to childhood stress.

Crossword puzzles fail to slow decline of aging brain.

Episode 3

2006-04-06T19:41:00.000-06:00

Fort Collins, CO was a lot of fun. I got a chance to hang out with old elementary school friends whom I haven't seen in around 14 years. I also remembered my way around the town very well. My dad got there a couple days later, and we spent a little mano e mano time together.

My whole stay there was mostly spent strolling down memory lane, visiting old places that were yet to be forgotten in past chapters in my life. Nostalgia was in the air and that felt good. It kind of gave a meaning to an uncertainty, that I have made home in the past few months. What used to be a vast world of opportunity has become my claustrophobic den. It brings you comfort, some times, once you get used to it.

I left my car in Fort Collins, so I can come back to it later on in the summer, and flew back to Boise. That's about it..I really don't have anything to say. I'm currently waiting for the second half between Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli to start. I'm going to be in Riyadh on Monday night inshallah... Later..

Episode 2

2006-04-03T16:49:00.000-06:00

This is my first time staying in Salt Lake City, even though I have passed through it a thousand times. After waking up later on that night I thought I'd go grab a bite. It's my birthday so I thought I'd treat myself to a nice place. I drove around looking for good place, couldn't figure out what my taste buds were into, so I pulled over to the nearest Denny's for some eggs, hash-browns, and toast.

Downtown Salt Lake looked like the Meccah of Utah, if not the United States. There's the huge Mormon Temple, and the streets are numbered accordingly to their distance from the main temple. There are churches scattered here and there. One of the obscure aspects I noticed about downtown Salt Lake was the lack of coffee shops. It's hard to imagine that the Starbucks empire has had no Inquisitions in this part of town. It finally hit me that active Latter-day Saints (Mormons) abstain from drinking coffee. This practice derives from an 1833 revelation known as the Word of Wisdom, which states that "hot drinks are not for the body or the belly." Specifically speaking about coffee, Mormons state that caffeine is considered as a pollutant to their bodies. I'm not really sure, but the ironic thing is that bars were all over the place there. Alcohol or caffeine, which is more pollutant? Anyway, we have to respect other people's beliefs and views, but hell, I sure wanted a decent cup of coffee that day. I ended up staying another night in Salt Lake. I don't even remember why.

I hit the road the next morning continuing my journey towards Fort Collins, Colorado. Utah is beautiful; the mountains, the trees, dawn and sunsets, and the deceased deer scattered through out the shoulder lanes. This pretty collage vanished once I entered Wyoming. Let me make something clear here, Wyoming must be the the worst state I've ever driven through. I can speak for southern Wyoming at least. It brought back bad images from the Riyadh/Taif road, where pretty much you drive through the same terrain and scenery for around seven hours straight. I can say one thing, the terrain wasn't that pretty. It seemed like the film strip had kept going around in circle and nobody had bothered to replace it. Allahuma lai3tera'9.

That all changed as soon as I passed the Welcome to Colorado sign. Out of nowhere, poof! Everything turned green...

To be continued...

Episode 1

2006-03-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

Going back to Colorado had given, yours truly, an opportunity to jump-start his reminiscing.

I'm back to my temporary mother land, Boise, Idaho. Driving to Fort Collins, Colorado was a bitch. I was planning to drive the entire eleven-hour route, but thanks to Meshal and Fouad's birthday gift, I decided to stop somewhere along the way. Their gift consisted of a delicious, filling dish of fool. For you Arabic speaking audience, you know exactly what I'm talking about. As for my other respected audience, well, I don't know, educate yourselves.

After a course of fool, Arabs know how to describe that kind of funk. Ask a Mexican how that big-ass bean burrito was and he'll give you a specific diagnosis of what he had just encountered. I'm talking about the severe case of light-headedness, extreme dehydration, and a few yawn attacks. Speaking with authority, that has always been my experience with foolSome victims report hot flashes, but that's yet to be researched. Anywhoo, I hit the road at 5 a.m. driving through what is left of Idaho and heading down south to Utah. Six hours behind the wheel and the symptoms, explained earlier, started to kick in. It was about time to get some rest. I didn't want to die as a martyr for fava beans.

I've always enjoyed driving cross-country. It gives you a chance to reflect, analyze, and sometimes just to locate a purpose. I have spent the six birthdays on the road. It gets me thinking every time what it really means to turn a year older. This time, it got me thinking seriously on what it means to be 26. I spent the whole drive comprehending it. Do you want to know what being 26 means to me? Do you really, really want to know? Are you asking for the absolute, honest truth? Okay, I'll tell you. It means...hmm...Nothing.

I decided to stay in Salt Lake City for a night. I found this cheap-looking place, went in and asked if they had any rooms for the night. I didn't ask for the rates initially because I wanted to give the impression that I was interested, and money was not an issue. From the looks of the place, I didn't think it was. After negotiations, I managed to pull of a discount thanks to my nice rack...kidding...it was my birthday, silly.

To be continued...

On the road again...(part 3 or 4)

2006-03-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

I'm driving to Fort Collins, Colorado in a couple hours to hang out with my dad for a week. I think it's going to turn out fun. It's a 10-hour drive...by my self. Oh well. Been there, done it. See ya when I see ya..

Happy Birthday Sami...

I like it...I like it a looot

2006-03-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

V:
"This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."

V:
"Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. There is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof."

Got Tag?

2006-03-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by the one and only Um Siraj A.K.A. Noor. Shukrya! I needed the material. I also need some drama, too. Ladies, anyone interested? :p

-What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Haven't thought about it yet. Maybe being smart and rich. Or I can use the a5lag card and say having the parents proud of what I have become...or not.

-What is your greatest fear?
Fear itself. Or was that too cheesy?

-Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Salahudeen Al-Ayooby; strong-willed, yet tolerant. Leonardo da Vinci; smart yet daring.

-Which living person do you most admire?
I'd say my mom.

-What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Laziness.

-What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lack of self worth.

-What is your greatest extravagance?
I don't know. Maybe sacrificing a lot in order to get what I really want.

-On what occasion do you lie?
To make others feel better, yet not deceive them.

-What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Nothing 3am ne7med Allah.

-Which living person do you most despise?
I have many. I'd say George W. Bush and Usamah Bin Laden.

-Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Yo..

-If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Stop procrastinating my life away.

-What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My college degree.

-If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A thing? hmm...an international best-seller book so I never lose my value. Or maybe a limited edition, once in a lifetime issue
of Cosmopolitan so I can have all the hot chicks check me out. Please don't throw me in your bathroom :|

-Who are your favorite writers?
Paulo Coelho, Sidney Sheldon, Turky Al-Hamad, Ghazy Al-Qusaiby.

-Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Leonardo from the Ninja Turtles. courageous, yet not stupid.

-What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
I think going through uncertainty after you had a real grip on your life and what you want to do in it.

-Where would you like to live?
Spain. I have to learn Spanish first.

-What is your most marked characteristic?
All this is in the I've-Been-Told department. Maybe funny?

-What is the quality you most like in a woman?
I have many, self-confidence, ambition, self-worth. Tolerance; what I mean by that is she can put up with my shit.

-What is your greatest regret?
No regrets. You live, you learn. If you don't learn from your mistakes, then you're an idiot, ma3 i7teramy le aljamee3.

-What OR Who is the greatest love of your life?
My parents, friends. Actually, I would confess it would be money at the moment :p

-How would you like to die?
In my sleep.

Zero motivation...someone shoot me...

2006-03-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

Bye Bye City of Angels

2006-02-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

Cardiologists warn of severe emotional stress on Valentine's Day.

Cheney takes blame for shooting. What an idiot. (I think this video's old but I just found out about it. Funny shit... Check it out)

Kiku Day writes about Denmark's new values. Thanks Husam.

Limited benefits from Calcium, study shows.

Sharon junior jailed for corruption.

Demintia linked to educated people. Oh well, I guess I should quit my endeavor as an inspiring graduate student.

Surprising spin on women's self-esteem.

Personal Footnote:
I'll be leaving Los Angeles on Friday heading to my dear dear dear dear dear dear town, Boise , Idaho. Living in L.A. was a good experience. Good experience= new friends, getting financially F*ed up, stress, heartache, uncertainty, and all that fun stuff. Oh yeah, I got a ticket today. My first one. I can say that I have finally broken my traffic violations hymen.

2006-02-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

16th St. Clock Tower
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

Inspiration off a Starbucks cup:
"Imagine we are all the same. Imagine we agree on politics, religion and morality. Imagine we like the same types of music, art, food and coffee. Imagine we all look alike. Sound boring? Differences need not divide us. Embrace diversity. Dignity is everyone's human right."
- Bill Brummel.
Documentary filmmaker. His programs focus on human rights issues.

Stoners? Boulder? Uh..So?

2006-02-07T01:45:00.000-07:00

Couples can be too close for comfort.

Check out this funny video from the Tonight Show.

Psychologists say blogging is good for you.

Why the F are protesters dying? Please don't tell me it's out of anger because that would just be another lame excuse!

Mind and mood affect the heart, study suggests.

Research suggests that brain changes significantly after the age of 18.

The Rockies..

2006-02-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Rockies..
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

Personal Footnote:
I'm in Boulder, Colorado at the moment. It's pretty chilly here. The weather's usually way worse at this time of year. I'm staying with an old friend. Going to Fort Collins on Thursday. Later..

Riding the Free Waves...

2006-02-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Super Bowl broadcast to have 5 second delay. If you don't know what the F I'm talking about, it's in regards to the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show when Janet Jackson's tit popped out on purpose. It only lasted for half a second, in case you sneezed and missed it. Thank you Taliban-like Republicans for your efforts.

First it was the innocent butter now it's the embassy. Embassies burn in cartoon protest. Don't get me started...I also enjoyed reading Karim's post on the whole fiasco.

Scientists explore effects of emotions.

Exposure to blue light enhances alertness.

Disposition affects how failure is felt.

Personal Footnote:

Yup, Riding the free waves after closing my cable account, picking up wireless signals here and there, getting ready for another move. I'm flying to Colorado on Monday to check out schools in Fort Collins and Boulder. I really want to go to school there, mainly because I don't want to stay in L.A. anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love L.A., as a tourist, that is. I'll still come back and visit. I have met great people here. But the train is getting ready to board, or plane, or whatever. I come back from Colorado on Sun, the 12th and get my crap organized and move back to my one and only, Boise. I have gotten so used to moving that decision about it are finalized in just a matter of minutes. It's a curse, I tell ya.

2006-01-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Back in L.A., Don't have anything to blog about...Later.

2005-12-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

Sociological study finds parenthood does not make people happier.

Oh crap, I left my nuclear warhead in the mosque. US authorities have been secretly monitoring radiation levels at Muslim sites amid fears that terrorists might obtain nuclear weapons, it has emerged.

Bush bashing part of Berkeley holiday spirit.

Mona Eltahawy of Asharq Alawsat asks: Are we up to Spielberg's challenge of destroying Arab and Jewish myths?

Bin Laden niece poses for sexy photo shoot. All I have to say about that is...."hala wallah!" :p

Check out the entertainment year-end photos.

And also...2005 year in review.

2005-12-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

To survive stress, keep it brief, study suggests.

Child's illness takes psychological toll on family.

Cell phones can increase your distress level.

God I love Mac. Microsoft warns of 'critical' Windows security flaw.

Iran President calles Holocaust a 'Myth'.
My take: I have nothing against Iran, but why can't President Ahmadinejad just lay low and shut up? I mean, the whole world is watching your every move right now because of uranium production. Just keep quite for a few months. Stop making stupid remarks. He already called for Israel to be wiped off the map. I think he's inviting trouble.

Poll: Arabs more optimistic about the future. An in-depth look at social and political concerns. Very Informative. For more information visit the Arab American Institute.

Personal Footnote:
I'm flying to 'the city of trees' Boise, Idaho tonight to spend some time with my friends over there. I miss that place. The last time I was there was when I graduated back in August. I miss the people as well. I have so many friends. I also like the fact that almost everybody's bellow the national poverty level. Makes me feel good about myself.

My new quote concerning L.A.: I hate this city....everybody's fucking rich!

Let The Games Begin....

2005-12-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

World Cup final draw: I don't have any nails. I have also bitten through my cuticles. But finally, the Germany 2006 draw turned out ok, for Saudi Arabia at least. Group H includes fellows Tunisia, Spain, and Ukraine. Saudi Arabia will be facing Tunisia on their first game on the 16th of June in Munich. The Saudis will play their second game against Ukraine in Hamburg on the 19th. And on the 23rd, Saudi Arabia will play their final game in Group H against Spain in Kaiserslautern.
That's the group that works great for Saudi Arabia, in my opinion, that is. I mean, lately we haven't been that lucky in the World Cup. But this time, I think we're going to do something. Spain's not that lucky, either. If I were a Saudi official, I would recall Mohammed Nour for one game only; against one-man Ukraine. Nour can take care of Andriy Shevchenko. I don't think that'll be a problem :p As for Tunisia, well, we're 7abayeb :)

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2005-12-06T01:32:00.000-07:00

A good piece on "synthetic" media in the Arab world.

Falling in love is similar to a drug addiction, a US study says. "Love is a complex emotion. Undoubtedly there are changes in neurophysiology, but it not going to be down to one chemical alone."

Study: Coffee reduces liver risk.

Seattle most literate US city: study

Richard Reeves asks the question: Is George Bush the worst U.S. president...Ever.

Personal Footnote:
- Check out this month's issue cover of GQ magazine :)
- Hmm...I also found a roommate :p

Fe Selam Al6a2erah

2005-12-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

I typed this on my way from Riyadh to New York.

“Is it alright to smoke on this flight?” The guy next to me asked. He also happened to be sitting in my seat. I replied with all baja7ah for the bajee7 of a person I am, “Uh..when was the last time you were on a plane?”
I had fun in Riyadh. Seriously I did. I met up with a lot of friends, ran into old high school classmates, and spent at least an hour a day with the family. I’m still the anti-social weasel in the house. I thought I grew out of it but I guess not. I have a lot of shit to do in L.A. I also need to drive/fly to Colorado to do some graduate school applying. But I have to stop by my old place in Boise, Idaho to pick my winter clothes. I had left them there after knowing that the weather in Southern California hardly ever changes.
I’m going to go ahead and list, in my opinion, the most important, or not, events that had occurred while I was in Riyadh.

- Spent Eid in my family’s hometown, Aldwadmi: Boring as usual.
- Went to Althemamah on a very cold and windy night: We had made plans to go ride those dirt buggy bikes, or whatever they’re called, then do a little bbqing later on that night. Here’s the thing. I got lost while riding the bike, and was left in al63oos (sand dunes) stranded in the starry night trying to find either my friends or my way back. sniff sniff. When I finally stumbled upon the bike rental place, the guy asks for an extra fee for returning the bike late. I was like, F’er, I almost died out there :| And yeah, no bbq, it was freezing.
- Ahilal Vs. Alahli in Riyadh: 4-1….great game. (tough luck Misfer) :p
- The tragic bombings in 3amman, Jordan and the loss of Mustafa Al3aqad (Allah yar7ameh): This man has been trying to paint a good picture for Arabs and Muslims in the eyes of the western media. Killed by the same people he was trying to defend. Again, it comes to tell you how blind terrorism is.
- Met a real old childhood friend of mine: The last time we talked was around 15 years ago when she was in my sixth grade class. I get an e-mail from her. Apparently one of her cousins told her about a blog or something then she found out about mine. I still don’t understand the story exactly, but the moral of the story is, useless blogging pays off in the end…sometimes.

I had the iPod playing in my ears while trying to sleep on this flight, in addition to many failed attempts to fall asleep, this song by M7amad 3aboh starts playing for the first time. It’s called fe selam al6a2rah. Didn’t even know this song was in my list. Pretty good song, btw. Song of the day, because I’m going to be on this flight all day. I’m somewhere over the Atlantic.

2005-11-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Finally a fast connection from Coffee Day on alta7lyah street. I miss posting crap here and there. I don't think anything new has happened ever since my last post. I guess I've been reading a few books by Turky Al-Hamad and Ghazy Al-Qusaiby. I read Reeh Aljanah by Turky Alhamad, and it's sure something. I'm also in the process of reading Alsyasah bain alHalal we alHaram by the same author. Salma by Gazy Alqussaiby is a good novel. That's about it.
My mother place where I usually hang out is at Dunkin' Donuts next to KSU (King Saud University). I like that place because of the usuals who attend almost on a daily basis. Usually they're students, professors, medical doctors, and a few other cases of people who have all the time in the world on their hands, such as myself. The weather here is nice. Haven't witnessed such weather in years. It rained one night, that was sure something. Yeah..like I said, damn, Riyadh turned into a big ass shopping mall. I have a lot of pics to post..maybe later..
I guess that's about it. Coffee..balout..Playstation...coffee..coffee...etc etc..................

Zero Expectations...

2005-11-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

I tell people right before they go back to Saudi Arabia every year to go back with no expectations. Which is true. Like I said before, things hardly change around here.
I had a blast in New York, specifically speaking, Saturday night. I won't go into details. I almost missed my Saudi flight the next day, though. The flight was supposed to take off at 10 p.m. but the retards ended up departing an hour early without further notice. I was running through JFK airport from one terminal to another trying to find our beloved airline. Got my boarding pass and ran to the gate. I was second to the last people to get on. The last was a guy and his wife and baby. He was pissed at the flight attendant in regards to the early departure. I was like, whatever, as long as I got on, no problem. The flight wasn't bad at all. 11 hours to Jeddah, waited for a half hour then an hour and something to Riyadh. I had told my dad about the "original" arrival time, but now that I was in RIyadh an hour early, I knew my dad wasn't going to be there. So, I waited till him and my 2 brothers showed up 40 minutes later.
Riyadh hasn't changed..well, a lot more lights, and shopping centers..that's about it, I guess. My mom was happy to see me of course. That was last night. Later on that night, I went to my old hangout place, Dunkin' Donuts. Found the gang there as usual. Today was pretty much the same thing..playing catch up with old friends. That's about it. I don't even know why I'm posting this, I guess I'm just testing the connection here.
Happy Eid and kel 3am we intum b5air gabel alza7mah.

2005-10-26T09:28:00.000-06:00

I'm flying to New York on Friday to spend the weekend with a friend, and then take off to Riyadh on Sunday night. I picked up my ticket today. I guess I'm looking forward to spending the rest of Ramadan and Eid with my family....Haven't spent Eid with my family in like 4 or 5 years, so it's going to be fun. Good times in the Kingdom of Lunacy, as my home girl, Jo, calls it. I'm also looking forward to the good food. Hell yeah. Greasy shawermas, mfa6a7 (the only way to describe this big ass "dish" is that it's a thousand pounds worth of protein...yummy) lol. fa6ayer lebnah from Mama Nourah or Ya Mal Alsham. Let's see...What else am I looking forward to... Yeah, I'm looking forward to someone recognizing my presence. What I mean by that is having my mom, or one of my siblings, wake me up in the morning. I know I'm going to be grouchy and the high temp process that goes along with that, but still, I know that someone knows that I'm there. But here , I'd probably die in my sleep and nobody would even know until the neighbors start knocking on the door, curious about the inviting smell.

What I love about Saudi Arabia is the social aspect of it. Especially in a holiday such as Eid. You see everybody and play catch up. It's fun until they start indulging in conspiracy theories, and that's when the knuckle brawling begins. It always ends up peaceful because you're going to hear someone in background shouting "arba3ah" (means 4 which refers to Balout, the favorite past time sport for the Saudi man. Next to the beloved siesta. Balout's a real fun game, I learned how to play last year, but I'm still trying to comprehend all the bluff processes. Playing Balout, my friends, is the only setting where it's socially acceptable to swear at your "respected figure" teammate. Either your dad, or uncle or what have you. (I once heard someone call his uncle "ya thoor" for screwing up a move). Anyhoo...That's pretty much what people do in Saudi Arabia, eat like pigs, sleep like there's no tomorrow, play Balout and consume all the tea crops that India has to offer to the world. I'm speaking for the Saudi male. The Saudi female, on the other hand, pretty much engages in all the above plus shopping. It's a pretty cool, laid back, society if you ask me. Everyone functions the same way. If you're caught doing something deviant, like reading a book in a Dunkin Donuts, you're labeled a "3ilmany." You're also labeled a "3ilmany," as well, if you a carry a Ph.D. in a social science.

My family's originally from Al-Dwadmi, (a town about 3 hours north-west of Riyadh). We still have close relatives over there so we visit on such occasions like Eid. I have so many good memories of the town. One of my favorites is when Saudi Channel 2 started broadcasting over there in the early 90's. Tells you how boring this town is.
I'm also looking forward to meeting up with a lot of friends. Some have changed, most haven't. People say Saudi society changes rapidly. I agree. One of the main changes I observe every time I go back is the moo'9ah...the fad. It's pretty much the only thing that changes in Saudi society, and it changes fast, too. Usually, it's the latest cell phone. You'd assume that people would learn from Nokia's marketing strategies but they don't. (I'm talking about how once you buy the latest state-of-the-art model, another new one comes out the next weekend). Another fad is the car. The Saudi male is obsessed with cars. He's even obsessed with cars that don't even fit the profile of an car. (Isn't the owner of the Bat-mobile Saudi?). Hang out spots are another fad. Usually coffee shops, shopping malls, and uh...umm...that's it.

Generally speaking, the Saudi nightlife is amazing. Especially in Riyadh where the Saudi male is involved in cruising (driving around the streets of alta5a9u9i or Thalatheen untill he runs out of gas. He might keep cruising if his acquaintances are generous enough to pay for the gas). I'm not against cruising, it's actually good for an economy depending on oil revenues. Cruising is also another way for the male to get indulged with his inner instinct; hunting. Males and females are usually on a mission in the streets of Riyadh. Supply and demand. The male supplies the "number" when the female demands it. There are a lot of means in achieving this phenomenon. The old school method is to write your number down on a little piece of paper that is so small even NASA engineers can't figure out how to come up with such precise dimensions. The other method of "socializing" is to turn your phone-bluetooth function on and start socializing. Let's face it, we're social creators and we have to abide by that laws of nature.

I'm watching a lot of 6ash ma 6ash these days to get a quick orientation in what's new in Saudi society. (6ash ma 6ash is a Saudi sitcom that's been very favored by the hardcore conservatives....they like it so much, they even labeled the staff of the show as "3ilmanies"..or is it "infidels"?) What I love about the show is that it's a good social satire, a true frustration outlet for Saudi society, just how Married with Children was an outlet for white-trash families in America. One thing I know I will never miss from my beloved Kingdom is this.

2005-10-26T00:18:00.000-06:00

One ordinary woman, one extraordinary legacy.

Write it down, let go, feel way better.

12% of Saudi schoolchildren suffer from ADHD.

BBC to launch Arabic T.V. channel.

2005-10-22T10:35:00.000-06:00

Looking for a put-down? Nouns beat phrases. Research suggest labels influence our views of others.

Study backs out of sight, out of mind theory.

Birmingham named nation's rudest city.

I found this interesting. U.N. body endorses cultural protection.

Some funny shit. World's longest startup sound.

Tariq A. Al-Maeena writes about the court system in Saudi Arabia.

That's What I'm Talking About..

2005-10-19T01:02:00.000-06:00

10-18-05_1901
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

Thanks for the coffee Bader. I'm going to be in Riyadh soon so I'll take you out for some shawermas from Mama Nourah, or whatever the F you guys are into these days. I received a package full of Arabic coffee from Bader today. Good man.

And now for some funny shit from today's comic section in Al-Riyadh (Saudi-based) newspaper by Abdelsalam Alhelayel...

Speaking of Saudi cartoonists, I don't know if this is old news or not but I just ran into Daryl Cagel's blog (while I was trying to find the right spelling for Al-Helayel's name..so much for that)..Anyway.. There's a post about Al-Watan's cartoonist, Ali Al-Ghamdi, and his severe cases of plagiarism. I really found it interesting, and there was a comment in there by some teacher in Saudi Arabia who explains how plagiarism is very common in the country. Anyway, it's dated back to May 31, 2005. The title of the posted comment is Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 8:14 PM
Subject: plagiarism in Arabia. Worth a look at.

Can't get enough of Saudi comedy? A Saudi guy walks into a bar....
Well, most of us have heard about that stupid "Golden List" that popped up during the first municipal elections in Saudi Arabia, which took place last April. The list included names that were favored by "prominent" hardcore conservatives. It was also circulated through SMS and e-mail. To cut the story short, there's a third lawsuit that's being filed against these Bozos. No offense to anybody related to these guys but honestly, if you think the only way to win an election is to join some tea party, then you have no right to run in a nationwide election. It reminds me of the Republican Party. I'd feel sorry for Saudi Arabia if such a party gained power.

1, 2, 3 Soleils

2005-10-18T02:02:00.000-06:00

I've been looking for this album for ages now, and was too lazy to order it from online. I finally stumbled upon it today while I was skimming through Arabic CDs over at Tower Records. This album is one of my all time favorite. A classic if you ask me. It has Didi, Abdulqader, Aicha, and Ya raye7. Cheb Khaled, Cheb Faudel, and Rashid Taha were awesome in that Paris concert. Brings back memories from that cool Cheb Khaled concert I went to when I was in New York last summer. Good times !

Got tagged again..

2005-10-13T02:22:00.000-06:00

Farah tagged me this time..
Seven things I plan to do:
1- Be fluent in Spanish.
2- Get my masters.
3- Go to Saudi in less than a month.
4- Be a great cook for my mamasita....
5- Find a mamasita first
6- Travel all over (specifically southern Spain).
7- Get a boobjob...is he serious? Naah, I've been checking out a lot of this tag on chick blogs.

Seven things I can do:
1- Justify anything that happens in order to ease myself or someone else without using that lame ass excuse that everybody seems to be carrying around these days..I'm talking about: "Everything happens for a reason."
2- Carry out a long sentence like the one above without barely using any punctuation.
3- Adjust to any environment. I'm like a freaking iguana, without the trippy colors of course.
4- Argue. I'm serious. You don't believe me? What are you saying exactly? What? huh? Take that back..
5- Party like there's no tomorrow.
6- Make friends easily..
7- Ditch them for other friends.

Seven things I can't do:
1- Speak 4 languages fluently.
2- Continue arguing with people who have already set their mind on something and won't admit that they're wrong.
3- Please everybody.
4- Find success without failing.
5- Stick to exercising.
6- Sleep like normal people.
7- Blow smoke out of my ears.

Seven things I say most often:
1- Shabikha ya rajal...(My friend was saying it a lot when he was visiting lol)
2- You know what..that's great! (being sarcastic)
3- How did this get on my bill?
4- I'm not paying for that.
5- No tomato, no onion.
6- Coke please...huh? Pepsi's fine.
7- ra2a9nee ya gada3...(only in 7abibi Cafe)

Seven people I want to pass this tag to:
1- Yousef
2- Catch-22
3- Hibba
4- Jaded Saudi
5- Erzulie
6- DeeDee
7- Se3loah

-----------------------------------------
Thanks Farah...

I've been tagged...

2005-10-12T01:03:00.000-06:00

DeeDeelicious tagged me...oh boy..here goes:

1. Last movie you saw in a theater:
Me and You and Everyone We Know.
2. What book are you reading?
The Alchemist, GRE Psychology.
3. Favorite board game?
Monopoly of course.
4. Favorite magazine?
Psychology Today.
5. Favorite smell?
Rain...I don't know if it's the rain that smells good or just something else as a result of rain..you know what I mean.
6. Favorite food?
No preference.
7. Favorite sound?
Violin.
8. Worst feeling in the world?
Right before you throw up :p
9. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
uh..going back to sleep?
10. Favorite fast food place?
McDonald's.
11. Future child's name?
I don't want to have my own children. I know I know..I'm still young and immature so stop rubbing it in.
12. Finish this statement. If I had a lot of money:
I'd pay off my debt, and when I'm done with that, I'll spend my money on useless crap. Then I'll get so used to doing that, I'll go back to debt again.
13. Do you drive fast?
Sometimes.
14. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
Nope, my bed only accommodates one person. Tells you about how selfish I am.
15. Storms, cool or scary?
Cool until they get scary.
16. What was your first car?
Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T (Bora)..still my car, by the way.
17. Favorite drink?
Coffee.
18. Finish this statement, "If I had the time I would..." :
probably waste it just like I'm doing now :p
19. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
uh..doesn't everybody?
20. If you could dey your hair any color, what would be your choice?
I once highlighted my hair silver for a party...don't tell my parents.
21. Name all the different cities/ towns you have lived in?
Athens, Ohio..Riyadh..Fort Collins, Colorado..Bellingham, Washington...Boise, Idaho...Los Angeles for now.
22. Half empty or half full?
Reminds me of that retard working at the McDonald's drive-thru who didn't secure the lid on my drink..I'm not judging but the idiot did it twice.
23. Favorite sports to watch?
Football (soccer).
24. One nice thing about the person who tagged you?
She's pretty cool : )
25. Morning person, or night owl?
Night owl.
26. Over easy, or sunny side-up?
Scrambled please..
27. Favorite place to relax?
Used to be coffee shops, but now...I don't know anymore..
28. Favorite pie?
Cutie pie ......alllrrright !..lame.

-------------------------------------------

I tag Jaded Saudi, Leeno, Catch-22

A little inspiration off a Starbucks cup..

2005-10-11T23:29:00.000-06:00

The Way I See It #63
"Our lives are inspired by the dreams we have from the earliest stages of our youth. When you combine passion and hard work, then success is always possible. While no road is ever straight, dedication and persistence will always lead you to your dreams."
- Arte Moreno
In 2003, he became the first Hispanic owner of a major league baseball team.

My BeoBle !

2005-10-07T10:53:00.000-06:00

Mohamed ElBaradei wins Nobel peace prize.

"It is very important for an Arab and a Muslim to get this prize at this moment — a time when the image of Arabs and Muslims is in ruins," Ezz Eldin, Egypt's ambassador to Austria, told state TV.

Here's a list of Los Arabes Nobel Prize winners:

- Ahmed Zewail won the chemistry prize in 1999.

- Naguib Mahfouz won the literature prize in 1988.

- Late President Anwar Sadat won the peace prize in 1979.

Personal Footnote:
I think it's an awesome thing to receive such an award at this specific time and place, relating to the Arab world, that is. I think these distinguished "personalities" should be documented and their biographies should be taught in Arab schools. I'm sick and tired of teachers fueling low self-esteem into students. All you hear, growing up in the Arab world, is about the dark future that everybody's going to have, lack of jobs, lack of progress, lack of hope and so on. I guess "terrorists" got an easy pass because that's all they were taught, then they took all that crap and started preaching about it. I believe these Nobel Prize winners have sent a slap to these "thugs", as Donald Rumsfield calls them. :p
To my Arab Beoble..I love you with all my heart, keep up the good work. We need some ladies on the list, get to it..get to it...Salam.

Hitting it Solo..

2005-10-02T00:59:00.000-06:00

In an effort to crash the L.A. night life, I miserably confess to failure. I was in the mood for a little bit at some point in the night, but I lost it somehow. I ended up spending an hour at Barnes and Noble on Westwood. I had planned to get a cookbook, nothing fancy, just warming up for Ramadan, I guess. Speaking of warming up, I ordered ART just to get into the Ramadan mode. I like it so far, cheesy musalsalat, music videos, prehistoric 7aflat, and all that good stuff. The cookbook I got is called Pillsbury 30-Minute Meals. How convenient. I mean, I don't usually cook because I'm lazy for one, when I'm hungry, I want something at that moment and can't wait to cook something. I guess it's mostly because I don't have any kitchen stuff yet. I bought a few other books and thought, it's time to go.

I drove back to Westwood Village and it got foggy all of a sudden. Parked my car and grabbed the second book I got and went to this sushi bar, it was alright. Then I went to the Starbucks close by, got my coffee fix and popped the book open. The second book I got was The Alchemist. I have heard a lot about this book and so I decided to check it out. In the introduction section, the author Paulo Coelho mentions a quote by Oscar Wild, "Each man kills the thing he loves." Then he goes on by talking about how true this quote is and how it applies to our goals and dreams. Coelho writes, "The mere possibility of getting what we want fills the soul of the ordinary person with guilt. We look around at all those who have failed to get what they want and feel that we do not deserve to get what we want either. We forget about all the obstacles we overcame, all the suffering we endured, all the things we had to give up in order to get this far." It got me thinking for a while.

It was around 11:15 p.m. A typical scene in Westwood Village, kids hanging out in the corner, UCLA students crossing the streets and talking. Those who were solo, had their headphones hooked up. Some had this weird walk which tells you a lot about who they are. The sound of music coming from Gypsy cafe can vaguely be heard amongst all the noisy families sitting out side the Starbucks. I started to think about all the sacrifices I have made in order to get where I was. chronological sacrifices, that is. Sometimes you think you are doing all this for a good cause, a brave goal, or just curiosity. And at other times, you start questioning who you are and why you are here at this point in time and place. These are normal questions we stimulate. Sometimes as a result of an emotion, which is mostly fear. The fear of the unknown, I call it. Certain circumstances intervene and collide in your path.

Last week, my friend was telling me about how he wants to get his MBA from the States, and so it got us talking about the sacrifices one makes in order to get what they really want. I talked about my experience and all the sacrifices I have made. It's been more than 4 years since I decided to make this huge decision that will then have an impact on who I am today, the way I will perceive things, my relations with people close or random. I have lost so much in order to get where I am today, even though I'm no where close to where I want to be. I have lost the idea of being the eldest and watching the other siblings grow up. Not to mention the big communication gap between us. I have missed being a part of the transition that my relatives and friends went through, which includes, growing up, entering the real world, getting married, and some have children now. Every time I go back to Riyadh, I can totally feel the loss, in person. The good thing is I still have my parents. They're doing good and that's what counts. I am not really shocked at all this, because I knew from the first day I made that decision, I knew it will never be the same again.

The good thing about being human is that we have this social ability to adapt. Sometimes we are forced to adapt whether we like it or not. Evolution, if you may (I don't want any of you religious fanatics throwing fruits at me because you totally know what I'm talking about). We have to find other meaningful things in life to keep us going, other motivators that will pin us back on the path. But the crucial questions that strikes us all are, "What if I can't find what I'm looking for?" "Why am I here?" "Is all this worth it?" and so on. No matter how confident you are, or how sure of yourself you are, you'll still question yourself, question the rationality of your goals, etc.

Hold that thought...I'm going out with friends :p

Weird thingi over Northridge..UFO? :p

2005-09-22T21:03:00.000-06:00

IMG_0927
Originally uploaded by obscure_persona.

I took this picture a few minutes ago..I don't know what it is, maybe the reflection of fuel being discharged from a plane? No? Any ideas?

Got tagged..

2005-09-21T18:13:00.000-06:00

I got tagged for the first time by Catch-22, so here goes:

Last book you read: Why Do Men Have Nipples?
Last phone number you called: My friend.
Last show you watched on TV: Some segment on the National Geographic Channel on those islands in Dubai.
Last thing you had to drink: Water
Last thing you ate: Big Mac
Last time you cried: Not really sure, maybe Ground Zero a couple months ago.
Last time you smiled: This morning
Last person you hugged: My friend.
Last person you talked to on the phone: My friend.
Last thing you smelled: Sleep odor coming from my blanket.
Last CD that you bought: Some techno CD I got from 3rd st. Promenade in Santa Monica cause it reminded me of something.
Last song you sang: Lana Allah, m7amad 3abdo lol
Last thing you laughed at: My friend when he was talking about his experiences with girls.
What's in your cd player: iPod.. about a billion tracks ranging from English to Arabic, political segments, comedy, audiobooks.
What time did you wake up today: 4:30 PM
Current favorite article of clothing: No preference
Favorite place to be: Arabic cafes in L.A., i wonder how long that's going to last.
Least favorite place: The classroom.
Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes.
In Heaven or Hell: Yes.
How tall are you: 6'1"
Current favorite word: Awesome, 7ada (Kuwaiti accent), and a few others.
Favorite Book: The Chomsky Reader.
Random lyric: albint galat labooha yabooy joonee thalath azwaj we zyadah looool (Alruwaished)
Something I want but I don't really need is: A degree.
Something I need but I don't really want is: hmm..A degree.

*do you...*

drink?: I'm an alcoholic atheist.
have a boyfriend/girlfriend?: Nope.
have a dream that keeps coming back? Sometimes.
believe there is life on other planets? Why not?
read the newspaper? Yeah.
consider yourself tolerant of others? Very.
consider police a friend or foe? Friend until I pop in a rap record lol

The Value of..

2005-09-20T05:12:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about a lot of stuff lately..a little cheesy list of things...maybe you people can generate some more..

The Value of..

1- Close family members
2- Being financially independent
3- The pursuit for people you want to get to know
4- Having friends here and there
5- Playing catch up with distant friends and relatives
6- Being healthy ( eating right, sleeping right, and exercising)
7- Maintaining a good relationship with a parent and/or parent figure
8- Maintaining a personal relationship within your inner self (knowing why you feel a certain way about a certain something, and how to change limiting beliefs) (personal understanding)
9- Setting goals
10- Striving to achieve these goals
11- Coming to peace with your flaws
12- Working hard to change these flaws
13- Error
14- Doing something about it
15- Having fun
16- Having fun
17- Having fun
18- Change
19- Adaptation
20- Ambition
21- School
22- Reading
23- Trying to understand why people act the way they do
24- Trying something new
25- Going somewhere new
26- Staying on the saddle
27- Stress
28- Stress relievers
29- Traveling
30- Trying to understand why people do what they do
31- Going to the mall from time to time, not to shop, but to observe
32- Seeing how different people say hi and bye at the airport
33- Keeping in touch
34- Visiting people
35- First impressions
36- Being confident
37- Comedy
38- Maintaining a good sense of humor
39- Not freaking out over worthless possessions
40- Not freaking out over stressful situations
41- Video games
42- Music
43- Spirituality
44- Cameras
45- Pictures
46- Digging into your past, how you got here, transitional phases in your life, and most importantly, are you ready for another transition?
47- Understanding politics
49- Acknowledging that every person in your life is there for a reason, or not
50- Keeping a positive outlook on things
51- Understanding that your expectation alters your perception
52- Being modest
53- knowing that a futon is not as comfy as a mattress
54- H2O
55- How credit cards screw you over
56- Knowing your surroundings
57- Having an atlas in your car...you never know..you might just randomly hit the road someday
58- Having options and alternatives
59- Keeping up to date
60- Brushing your teeth
61- Coffee
62- Calling your parents at least twice a week
63- Stretching
64- Not judging

Hmm..that's the only list I can come up with at the moment...oh yeah..

65- Blogging

2005-09-17T04:18:00.000-06:00

Study reveals 5-year-olds' innate math ability.

Study charts origins of fear memory.

Sexism may shorten men's lives, researchers say.

Violence can change teen's physiology, scientists say.

Sharon urges Middle East compromise. I say you start, we'll take it from there.

A new blog search tool from Google.

I'm just reporting this so, please, no hate mail from all you retards out there; Arab nations ‘must take a step towards Israel’

2005-09-15T03:30:00.000-06:00

This is not the sun. Frozen whole ovary transplant a success.

Saudi women to run for office for the first time.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Rasheed of Arab News digs into what makes Saudis different, or not. The article is titled, Are We Saudis Really That Different?

Stiff upper lips may impair memories, researchers say.

Millennium goals ignore mental health.

Delta and Northwest file for bankruptcy.

Britney Spears is now mom. Nasty

2005-09-11T05:38:00.000-06:00

An online documentary on hypnosis.

Lessons from 9/11 help Katrina survivors deal with emotions.

End of Gaza occupation officially declared.

Getting your Zzzzs, online. This article is about an online therapy program that helps insomniacs get back in the game.

An airbag for motorcycles. Hmm...but don't you need a seat belt in order to take advantage of an airbag?

Just started playing around with Flickr. I spent a few hours uploading pics. Feel free to check them out.

2005-09-10T03:52:00.000-06:00

Researchers say: "The human brian is still evolving."

To all you smokers out there: smoke breaks help boost memory, researchers say.

Volume VI, No. 28, September 9, 2005 of the Arab American Institute's Countdown newsletter reports on the double standards that are applied to victims of both Israeli Arab, and Israeli Jewish terror. It's titled The Mother of All Double Standards. Worth a look at.

An article that talks about blogging in the United Arab Emirates.

I've been meaning to talk about the live Katrina benefit on NBC a couple days ago when rapper Kanye West plugged in his own script by saying,"George Bush doesn't care about black people." LOL. Funny shit. Check out the look on Mike Myers before they cut to an equally confused Chris Tucker. Click here to see the video.

2005-09-09T04:13:00.000-06:00

Anti-war protest set for Sep. 24

Speaking of the war, an expert claims that the US government's focus on the war on terror has diverted funds from healthcare, leading to many deaths.

Stress may Reduce women's risk of breast cancer, a recent study suggests.

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed of Asharq Alawsat writes about Hurricane Katrina and propaganda.

Older people should get out there and get the heart pumping if they want to stay sharp of mind, scientists say.

80% of Saudi households are emotionally mute, according to Saudi psychologist.