tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161573872024-03-07T14:53:52.814+01:00Random Thoughts And Beyond...Average guy with random thoughtsBitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-52871512977386550682008-08-02T03:53:00.002+02:002008-08-02T03:56:37.731+02:0080's NostalgiaI've always wondered what happened to following artits / bands. Anyone a clue?<br /><br />وليد شعيب - عشقتك والعشق بلوة<br /><br />فرقة المرجانة<br /><br />فرقة الدانة<br /><br />رجاء محمد<br /><br />سليمان زيمان<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zjBZri8Q5SA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zjBZri8Q5SA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-70329160975881129002008-07-30T20:13:00.015+02:002009-04-11T16:14:27.688+02:00"Black is beautiful"<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOLJarH3eixSd4L6VfoMY-bx5L4a38Mphz7ZM5w5P9CEX3tkm882YYUgWIWhXVnU9qMVIIBR9apIO-ierF_XAL7WVZara9kVcy9m4ZXleKOY7TV9jDE8hAqDpzrQoquFBzuosEg/s1600-h/black+is+beautiful.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOLJarH3eixSd4L6VfoMY-bx5L4a38Mphz7ZM5w5P9CEX3tkm882YYUgWIWhXVnU9qMVIIBR9apIO-ierF_XAL7WVZara9kVcy9m4ZXleKOY7TV9jDE8hAqDpzrQoquFBzuosEg/s200/black+is+beautiful.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228904487078974690" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >I went yesterday to visit this new exhibition in Amsterdam entitled "black is beautiful". Guessing by the name, I figured visiting might give me some sort of welcome confidence boost.</span> <div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Although the explicit purpose of this exhibition is to focus on the positive associations made with the physical black beauty and the fascination of many artists by this theme throughout the centuries, I couldn't help but being confronted with less positive (historical) themes, such as slavery, colonialism, racism and discrimination... It took me a while to get the total picture and to see things in the (intended?) right perspective. But it eventually hit me and when it did, it hit me really hard!<br /><br />Despite their atrocious conditions – whether being enslaved, being deployed in foreign armies as "voluntary service men", being held as concubines or as servants, all portrayed personages stand tall, with an unbreakable pride, oozing of physical and mental resilience and confidence and above all simply looking immaculately beautiful.<br /><br />"In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty".<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-61442382394452656972008-07-26T13:33:00.010+02:002009-04-11T16:12:40.070+02:00Two years down the road...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbUyH0ztYAfwlSJGyVjD6vYTU1Vkkib7t__-R8LfC7GW6FpJed0c3Hbj8rdj_BmzErWQxCoiQSy3O_NqKU134I32dZx3cepu41Z_74V8TVogRWOzKPTiwsNohrzrjLLhW-fWJLg/s1600-h/july2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbUyH0ztYAfwlSJGyVjD6vYTU1Vkkib7t__-R8LfC7GW6FpJed0c3Hbj8rdj_BmzErWQxCoiQSy3O_NqKU134I32dZx3cepu41Z_74V8TVogRWOzKPTiwsNohrzrjLLhW-fWJLg/s200/july2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228921888327394962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Mid-summer 2008 in Amsterdam, sitting in front of my widely opened windows in a hot summer afternoon.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >I remembered I once had a blog on which I posted some of my happy memories, frustrations, small "funny" anecdotes and what have you. I wondered what happened to it. And behold: it's a-live and kicking.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />I'd like to share with you the following beautiful yet heartbreaking du'aa.<br /></span> <p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" align="center"><span style="" dir="rtl" lang="AR-SA"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="">اللهم إليك أشكو ضعف قوتي وقلة حيلتي وهواني على الناس<br />ياأرحم الراحمين أنت أرحم الراحمين<br /><span style=""> </span>أنت رب المستضعفين وأنت ربي<br />إلى من تكلني إلى عدو يتجهمني أم إلى صديق مكلته إمري<br />إن لم يكن بك غضب علي فلا أبالي ولكن عافيتك هي أوسع لي<br />أعوذ بنور وجهك الذي أضاءت له السموات و الأرض<br /><span style=""> </span>وأشرقت له الظلمات وصلح عليه أمر الدنيا والأخره<br /><span style=""> </span>أن ينزل بي غضبك أو يحل علي سخطك<br />لك العتبى حتى ترضى ولاحول ولاقوة إلابك<o:p> </o:p> </span></span></span></p> <hr style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" color="#c0c0c0" width="250">BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1151710152730879242006-07-01T00:37:00.000+02:002006-07-01T05:09:10.033+02:00Non-smoker<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/no-smoking_small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/no-smoking_small.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />As I posted a while ago, I quitted smoking, nearly 5 weeks now. And so far, I witnessed some amazing improvements. <br /><br />First, let me tell you about the hell I went thru during the first couple days or week. I quitted smoking while on holiday, which probably wasn't the ideal timing. Sitting on sunny terraces in Frankfurt, isn’t a good idea when you’re trying to quit smoking. The first two days, I felt sick, feverish, noxious and weak. I felt constantly on a rollercoaster, seriously. This started to decrease the following couple of days. The only thing I could think of however was having a cigarette. Suddenly, you notice every single smoker around you, and you count every cigarette someone lights up. Total obsession! Meanwhile, all kind of excuses came up into my head, trying to convince myself that it's ok to smoke one cigarette, and that only one cigarette wouldn’t matter at all and how I could easily quit after that single cigarette, again. Although I'm an easy-temped person, I must give it up to myself for not giving' in. Worse part of the holiday was to be confronted “again” with how cheap cigarettes are in Kuwait…<br /><br />After a week or so, the morning coughing stopped. Sometimes, I used wake sounding like a 90 years old ready to leave us. I also felt that my ability (don't laugh) to smell probably increased (snif snif). Suddenly I was able to smell fruit, I know it might sound strange, but all the time when I was smoking, I wasn't able to smell or distinguish between any typ of food at all. I suddenly started distinguishing between the smell of orange, apples and mango's (hence the pictures of the apples and oranges a while ago). All of the sudden I could tell, sitting in my room two floors higher, what my mom is cooking in the kitchen. <br /><br />Also my appetite increased enormously, I think this is related to the smelling part. I can binge like there is no tomorrow. That's why I'm hitting the gym more frequently lately. Speaking of which, my condition is getting better and better day after day. I remember when running 10 km used to be such a burden. Now, it is my favourite part.<br /><br />Last but not least, I’m saving about 80-90 pounds a month. I used to smoke a pack in two days, sometime in less than two days. That's between the 960-1080 annually.BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1151201483859739332006-06-25T03:34:00.000+02:002006-06-26T03:52:38.743+02:00Piracy<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/both.0.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/400/both.0.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I went to meet some friends last night and we ended up in Edgware Road. I haven't been in this road for months and I wish I didn’t go last night…<br /><br />Until then, I never noticed how the street transforms into an open-air bazaar late at night. I counted at least 6 street vendors selling fake designer goods (most of them display their goods on foldable tables which they carry arround) and the latest pirate dvd's.<br /><br />While sitting on a terrace, we were approached by 3 Chinese women, one after the other, selling "dbd’s". One of my friends bought 3 dvd’s for 10 pounds. I got tempted when the last one approached us and I asked her which dvd's she had.<br /><br />Just when she opened her tesco-bag to show me the dvd’s, two guys came out of nowhere, flashing their badges and identifying themselves as police officers. Both were in civil uniforms , so I didn’t take them seriously at the beginning. This changed when I saw the first one pulling the woman aside and handcuffing her. The second one asked me if I bought dvd's from her. After explaining him that I didn't know her and that I didn't buy anything from her, he started giving me a lecture of a life time about dvd-piracy being a form of theft, that buying pirate dvd’s would make me a thief, for stealing from those involved in "the film industry" and how it could lead to my arrest! Fortunately, I got away with a warning. Meanwhile, my (so-called) friends, especially he who actually bought the dvd’s minutes ago, had the laugh of a lifetime, while others on the table next to us gave me their condemning looks. Of course, out of all people, this had to happen to me...<br /><br />I heard the Chinese women screaming in the background that the dvd’s aren’t hers and that she found the bag on the street. <br /><br />This is my advice to you: Never even think of buying pirate dvd’s on the streets, simply download them :-)BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1150752306946733232006-06-19T23:21:00.000+02:002006-06-20T03:21:01.500+02:00Thank you for smoking<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/smoking.1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/400/smoking.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A friend advised me that if I was in search of an anti-smoking polemic, which will keep me of smoking, I should watch Thank You for Smoking. And so I did tonight.<br /><br />I can’t truly say that I found what I was expecting. If, on the other hand, you haven’t seen it and are looking for an absolutely witty film that publicly criticise tobacco executives and their ethics (as far as these exist), Washington lobbyists, investigative journalists, Hollywood agents, and political correctness, than this might be for you. <br /><br />It’s not brilliant, not fantastic, it is very funny though.BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1150591917476347382006-06-18T02:42:00.000+02:002006-06-18T03:29:02.313+02:00"This is London"<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/uk_tubetrain1_big.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/uk_tubetrain1_big.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Today must have been the hottest day so far this summer; it did at least feel like it was. I spent quite a time travelling with busses to and from a friend of mine in Hammersmith. The journey takes normally 15 minutes with the tube, but as there were several tube's disruptions I decided to take the bus. I spent more than three and half hours travelling from and to my friend, in this freaking heat...Not such a fun. <br /><br />I guess the message in this picture is pretty accurate.<br /><br />PS:nicotine-free for three weeks now.BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1150423197737848752006-06-16T03:05:00.000+02:002006-06-16T04:24:39.343+02:00NostalgiaTV/movies:<br /><br />Grendizer<br />Flona<br />Fresh Prince of Bel Air (especially Jazz)<br />Four weddings and a funeral<br />Shawshank redemption<br />Back to the future<br />Malcolm X<br />Joe from Friends<br />L.A Confidential<br />Kramer from Seinfeld<br />Batman<br />Robin Hood<br />Samantha, sex and the city<br />Nutty Professor<br />Bad Boys<br />Silence of the Lambs<br /><br /><br />Locations<br /><br />Efteling<br />Bloomingdale & Woodstock, Zandvoort<br />Mangaf beach<br />Nova Scotia<br />Cafe Schuim<br />K.E.C<br />Amsterdamse Bos <br />Al Ahmadi<br />Tarabya, Istanbul<br />My elementary school<br />Prinsengracht<br /><br /><br />Food & drinks<br /><br />Rocket Ice-cream (bu Saruukh)<br />Canada-Dry<br />Bafak with ketchup<br />Broccoli a la Monica <br />Martadilla with (la vache qui rit) cheese sandwich<br />Old fashion Hardeez<br />Airan<br />Grannie's warq il 3inab<br />Grannie's spinach pies<br />Grannie's besbousa<br />Sunkist<br /><br /><br />Music<br /><br />2 Unlimted<br />R.kelly, Vibe<br />Billy Joel<br />That's the way love goes<br />De la Soul<br />Notorious B.I.G<br />Kinderen voor Kinderen<br />TLC<br />Suavemente<br />Nabil<br />Habibi mahu lawal<br />Yeke Yeke<br />Aaron Hall<br />Bad<br />SILK<br />Smelly Cat, PhoebeBitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1147747273649466072006-05-16T04:39:00.002+02:002008-07-26T13:17:17.243+02:00Minimum WagesI’m shocked to read that The National Minimum Wage (NMW) was only introduced in 1999!! in the U.K and that there is a number of employers are being penalised for still not complying with the legislation every year.<br /><br />The current standard rate of the NMW is £5.05 per hour. The current rate for employees between 18 and 21 years old is £4.25 per hour, 16 and 17 year olds must be paid a legal minimum wage which is £3 per hour (I still can’t believe this is true). Workers of 22 years and over can be paid the minimum of £ 4.25 per hour for the first six months of a new job for a new employer if they are receiving training courses where the training in institutions receiving government support. In addition, there is a fair piece rate which means that employers must pay their output workers the minimum wage for every hour they work based on an hourly rate derived from the time it takes a worker working at average speed to produce the work in question. This is shocking. How do people on a minimum wage of £5,05 per hour survive in a city like London?<br /><br />The amount of cash one has, is (apparently) directly related to health and lifeexpectations. According to some researches, people on low wages suffer more illnesses and die sooner than those in the professions. Some statistics show that low paid workers in the E.U can expect to die on average 9.5 years younger than professional workers. This gap has increased by 5 years in the last few decades.<br /><br />It is sad to read the arguments from these so called "Captains of Industry". They are the first to defend the privileges of board members such as to fat-cat salaries, bonuses and excessive pension arrangments. In the same time, they're the first to attack policies that are put in place to defend the rights of those who bring in the cash for those fat cats.BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1147549289107484572006-05-13T21:05:00.002+02:002008-07-26T13:20:09.469+02:00Back on the air<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/Photo-0001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/Photo-0001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>After a rather long stop, much longer than I expected to be honest, I have decided to get back to bloggin'.<br /><br />What has been going on in my life so far? Too bloody much. As I mentioned before, I relocated to London. I have since then been living with my parents which has been good so far. Although I had to adjust to the fact of sharing your house with others and to the idea of living again with your parents. But it has been ok! I have my own room, where I spend most of my time reading and browsin' other blogs and news and so.<br /><br />I must admit I enjoy London and its people. I'm mostly amazed by the London'ers ability of being able to be polite but unfriendly at the same time. Fortunately, speaking several languages helped me to get in contact with different people. I also live in a very international neighbourhood: lot's of South African, Aussies, East- European, Spanish, Somali's, Arabs. You name......I could go hours on and on about how fascinating this city is and how expensive it is. I must say that mentally I'm much at ease in London.<br /><br />I have been living as a spoiled tourist, exploring the city by walking and by bus. Doing nothing much else except Reading, reading and much more reading. On of the the most enjoyable things I have been able to do is spending loads of time with my little cousin of three years.<br /><br /><br />Further up-dates:<br /><br /><br />- Applied to another postgraduate course at the SOAS, Tuition fees only: 11k......Any sponsors please???<br />- Started learning Spanish.<br />- Became a member of the SOAS library.<br />- No Starbucks for me anymore: my addiction got so out of control, seriously! Their Chai Soya lattés are lethal.<br />- Applied for a driving license.<br />- Finally have alllllllll my cd's burnt and stored on my laptop.<br />- I met and spook with Ken Livingstone on the election day. Very outspoken man.<br /><br /><br />Hasta luegoBitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1136519063728775242006-01-06T02:36:00.001+01:002008-07-26T13:05:05.068+02:00The next stage in life<div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Now that I'm close to graduation, I have been reflecting on the past five years and thinking quite often about the next stage in my life. It's weird to be overwhelmed by all sorts of confusing emotions now. Weird because it has been a period in which you should have automatically or naturally, some times unconsciously, grown towards the next professional stage/step, so you already have a particular direction. I actually have felt this growth, especially the last year. It's confusing, because all these thoughts and feelings emerge at the same time, accompanied with the logic feeling of happiness and a pride for finally getting your title and having the whole studying period nearly behind .<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">One of the many questions keeping my mind busy lately are the following: what kind of work to do and where to live exactly? The next logic step after graduation will be finding a suitable source of income. But now this question: what to do exactly? I still haven’t got a clue nor plan whatsoever . </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"></span></div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1135504681530449682005-12-25T10:53:00.000+01:002005-12-31T15:55:57.300+01:00Time off<div align="justify"><span style="color:#999900;">I decided to have a short break to focus on some papers and to be able to spend more quality time with my family. So, I'll be off air for the coming week or so. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#999900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#999900;">I wish you all a happy new year guys and hope to catch you soon.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#999900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#999900;">BitterSweet</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#999900;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#999900;"><em><strong>Update: naaaahhhhh.....I changed my mind.</strong></em></span></div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1131924370630933492005-11-14T00:13:00.001+01:002008-07-26T12:54:21.225+02:00Moving to London<div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/edgware_road_bakerloo.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/edgware_road_bakerloo.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">I'm through: I finanly decided to move to London. I'll be taking my last exams somewhere in January, after that I'll only be busy with my Masters thesis. As I won't be obliged to physically be in Amsterdam, I figuered I could move to London. I know for sure I will be missing all my friends in Amsterdam, but the distance won't be that big of a deal.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">While writing, I will be looking for a job and will try to build up a new life over there. One thing is for sure, it </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">won't be easy, but I'm pretty excisted and up-beat about the whole idea. T.B.C<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"></span></div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1130757436712670452005-10-31T12:09:00.000+01:002005-11-09T14:02:48.823+01:00شويخ من ارض مكناس<div align="justify"> <span style="color:#cc0000;">......... </span><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">شويخ من ارض مكناس وسط السواق يغنى اش على أنا من الناس وش على ااناس منى .......</strong> </span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#33cc00;">This is a the beginning of an Arabic poem, written by an Andalusian poet around 1000 BC in Mekness. I know it has been sung by an Arabic singer in the late 80's. Could someone tell me who the singer is please?</span> </div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1130416925048300642005-10-27T14:08:00.001+02:002008-07-26T13:11:22.071+02:00New beginnings<div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">As expected, I moved to the new room in the student complex. I 'm living now on the 12th floor and have a great view of the “financial district” of Amsterdam. All the major banks, companies and the WTC are located in the Southern part of Amsterdam. So every 1 minute there is one landing.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">I met two my "house mates". One is 40 something Aussie, living with his wife in one of the rooms. "Who the Fuck are you?", was the first thing he said to me. I got irritated and replied "who the fuck wants to know" and who the "fuck are you"? He laughed and introduced himself properly afterwads. He told me about the others living there. One is apparently an alcoholic, who has been walking around with the same smelly cloths in years. He is now forced to rehabilitate and comes at the weekend back to his room home. He warned me to ignore him to avoid problems. The second house mate seems to be nice. We had a chat and went back to my room.<br /><br /></span></div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1129644033053255422005-10-18T15:44:00.000+02:002005-10-18T16:00:33.066+02:00Cesaria Evora<div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/evora_3.jpg"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" height="320" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/evora_3.jpg" width="217" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br />I wrote several weeks ago about Cesaria's concert in Amsterdam. I just found out that the theatre in which she'll perform introduced a new (low-cost) seating-ranges. Tickets for the fourth range cost 25 euros. Very reasonable. So, I might go to the concert, but first I have to convert someone of my friends to Cesaria's music to come along. Keep you posted.<br /><br />Two colleagues called up to check on me, which is really nice. I handled the first assignment today, an Egyptian man who seemed to be in hurry. All went ok.</span></div><div align="justify"> </div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1128465595437071282005-10-05T00:26:00.000+02:002005-10-05T00:43:40.153+02:00NO SMOKING<div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/images6.jpg"><span style="color:#ffcc00;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 73px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 57px" height="57" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/images6.jpg" width="85" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#ffcc00;"><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/images6.jpg"></a>The most amazing thing happened to me today. Normally when I wake up I usually grave for two things: coffee and cigarettes. Today miraculously this actually has changed. I woke up, went to the library, did some research and reading and it did not cross my mind to smoke or have my morning coffee. It seemed that it was totally deleted out of my system. I was so glad and it amazed me that it was that easy to quit smoking. It went ok the whole day, hamdu lillah.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffcc00;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffcc00;">I went afterwards to do some groceries: bought some dates, soup, milk and went home to prepare my Iftaar. While doing so I realized how much I actually missed my mom. She used to prepare our iftaar and make those delicious sambosa's (for me the highlight of the iftaar), I really miss it.... </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffcc00;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Now, several hours after the iftaar, the only thing I can think of is smoking. It seems I was a bit too enthusiastic.<br /></div></span>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1126746505679719402005-09-15T02:44:00.000+02:002005-09-15T16:26:46.936+02:00Cesaria Evora in Amsterdam<div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/cesaria1.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/cesaria1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"><br />One of my favorite singers, and by far the best singer in the whole African continent, Cesaria Evora, will perform here in Amsterdam on the 24th of October in the Royal Theatre Carré.<br /><br />Cesaria Evora, the Queen of the Creole Fado, was born in the Cape Verde Islands and is currently living in the US. She started her career as singer in a Local café in Cape Verde and was only discovered when she turned 50 by a French producer, who took her to Paris and produced her first hit single, Sodade (1991), a number one hit in several European countries.<br /><br />It's her second tour in the Netherlands in one year time. Her last preformance was at the Concert Theatre in Amsterdam. I went there with a friend of mine and we had the best seats in the theatre. We sat less than one metre of the stage and spoke to her at the end of the Concert.<br /><br />Carré has been renovated and restyled and it now has a great acoustic and very comfortable seatings. It appears to be an amazing experience. I would love to go to the concert, and to see Cesaria again and to experience the acoustic of the theatre. I'll go tomorrow to inform about the ticket prices. Last year I paid 69 euros for one ticket........<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong></strong></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>Update: prices are between 34 en 54 euros!</strong></div></span>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1126641867891435722005-09-13T21:57:00.000+02:002005-09-14T00:26:06.356+02:00Old pictures of Kuwait<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/1600/1276kwttowers1.jpg"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6253/1523/320/1276kwttowers1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;">Browsing the internet, I found a site containing old pictures of Kuwait, some of which were taken in my city, Al Ahmad during the seventies. These pictures are made by English expacts who worked some thirty years ago in Kuwait at the KOC (my dad used to work there). Check it out.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/battrick/kwt/kwtind.htm"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/battrick/kwt/kwtind.htm</span></a>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1126172296988597402005-09-08T11:28:00.000+02:002005-09-08T20:16:25.146+02:00Somaliland's struggle for (re)-recongnition<div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">If you're interested in finding more information about Somaliland, check out these links</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.sirag.org.uk/"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">http://www.sirag.org.uk/</span></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/highlights/010430_somaliland.shtml"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/highlights/010430_somaliland.shtml</span></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/somaliland"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">http://www.answers.com/topic/somaliland</span></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.somaliland.org/arcns.asp?ID=04020503"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">http://www.somaliland.org/arcns.asp?ID=04020503</span></a></div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1126125767637498572005-09-07T22:41:00.000+02:002005-09-07T22:42:47.636+02:00Kitten CanonIf you get bored, check out this game. Although it involves a little kitten, it is really funny. My record is 689 ft.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.brownt.co.uk/dpc/kitten.swf">http://www.brownt.co.uk/dpc/kitten.swf</a>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1125955934796723062005-09-05T23:30:00.000+02:002005-09-06T00:49:10.456+02:00Mind Reading Vader<span style="color:#33cc00;">Check this link out, it's worth playing.</span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.sithsense.com/flash.htm"><span style="color:#33cc00;">http://www.sithsense.com/flash.htm</span></a><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1125750795887485852005-09-03T14:31:00.000+02:002005-09-03T18:35:34.760+02:00Pulp Fiction in 30 seconds<span style="color:#ff0000;">You need to check this website out. It's really funny.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.angryalien.com/0605/pulpfictionbuns.asp"><span style="color:#ff0000;">http://www.angryalien.com/0605/pulpfictionbuns.asp</span></a>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16157387.post-1125604386427492962005-09-01T21:16:00.000+02:002005-11-18T01:00:44.463+01:00The Launch<div align="justify">Generous as I am, I decided, after thoughtful consideration, it was time to share my random thoughts and feelings on the big bad web.<br /><br />Firstly, I would like to thank you for checking out my blog.<br /><br />My God, I had so many things to tell a minute ago and now, it's all gone.<br /><br />Well, unfortunately, you won't be getting much positive vibes from my blog's launch, as I'm really upset about the fact that the Dutch minister of Agriculture won't be resigning, as I really thought he would. After admitting he has been "neglective" several times on a row, I believe he lost his credibility and should leave.<br /><br />How is it possible that there are no sanctions whatsoever, when it involves a minister's or a high government official's mistakes or “neglects” ? I mean, if I made only one mistake, which damages my integrity and prohibits me doing my job properly, I would be kissing it good bye and would be feeling my boss's shoe up my...., while the government officials receive a farewell bonus, in case they resign.<br /><br />Are we living in a bogus-democracy?</div>BitterSweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540802983802818922noreply@blogger.com0