293) The Bright Side of Egypt II - Moez Masoud

The first one I choose to shed light on, in this series, is Moez Masoud. If a picture is better than 1000 words, then a video is better than a million..

I know this guy since 7 years, and he has always impressed me in the way he thinks (in business @ that time) and now in life and religion. I will write about him again soon in-shaa-Allah.

Mohaly

292) Europe Blue Card

Due to the fact that the European community is aging and they need skillful workforce, they decided to introduce the BLUE CARD (zayy el Green Card Keda) to attract skillful workforce and compete with the US.

Tab3an this is good news for those Egyptian who wanna live in Europe...

Emta ba2a I see Egypt as a temptation inshallah 7atta Black Card :)

Mohaly

EU legislators back plans for US-style `blue card' program
AP, STRASBOURG, FRANCE Friday, Sep 28, 2007, Page 6
EU lawmakers on Wednesday backed plans for an EU-wide work permit to attract skilled workers, to offset labor shortages in the 27-nation bloc and combat falling birth rates and demographic shifts.
A proposal to introduce an EU "blue card" -- inspired by the US Green Card -- is to be presented by the European Commission on Oct. 23. It aims to attract engineers, IT specialists and other highly qualified workers from Asia, Africa and Latin America, who currently prefer North America and Australia over Europe.

291) Fawazeer Ramadan 14 - Khaddam Gazmetek

Yesterday one of my very close friends got this message from someone called "Khaddam Gazmetek" on facebook, she was shocked and furious at the same time, and ended up reporting him to facebook.

هاى انا دكتور 28 سنه من القاهرة بدور على بنت للجواز بشرط انها تسيطر عليا و تتحكم فيا و تخلينى عبدها و زى الكلب تحت رجلها تضربتى و تشتمنى و تزلنى و تكون الكلمه و الامر ليها هى و انا مجرد عبد ليها و خدام تحت رجلها انفذ اوامرها و اوطى ابوس رجلها و تحسسنى ديما انها هى كل حاجه و انا مجرد كلب زليل تحت رجلها مقدرش اتحرك من غير امرها
لو تحبى فعلا انك تتحكمى فى راجل تسيطرى عليه و تزليه بجد انا مستعد للارتباط الجاد و مستعد اعيش عبد تحت رجدلك طول العمر

This is the most decent dictionary definition I found for Masochism: The deriving of pleasure (mostly sexually), or the tendency to derive pleasure, from being humiliated or mistreated.

14. Did we reach the point that sadist and masochist are big enough to start expressing it publically? and if so, how to stop it before it starts turing to a lifestyle as it is in some parts of the western world?

Mohaly

290) The Bright Side of Egypt - Part I

I was, am, and will be optimistic about the future of this country. I will keep on giving my thought, time, and effort for taking part in its positive change. For those who still have hope and working or even supporting us, I am dedicating a group of posts "The Bright Side of Egypt" about young Egyptians some of them are my friends, or I know personally, or I dont know at all. What is important is that we all share the same vision of developing this country and the whole Arab and Muslim communities in-shaa Allah...

One day, when everyone can clearly see the light, you will say, these people weren't kidding, they really believed in their duty as Egyptians and as Muslims to do a positive change even -as i always say- if we didn't see it in our life time.

I am listing the people -including myself- I know personally or I have worked with, who gave, and still giving a lot of their time and effort to make our community a better place in donya and even akhra. I am sure that there are 100s of us everywhere and some day - not far- we will make the difference.

Abdel Rahman
Ahmed Zahran
Ehab Abdou
Mahmoud El Hefnawy
Maggie Tawfik
Moez Mas3oud
Mohamed Aly (aka Mohaly)
Mohamed Yehia Fahmy
Nesrine Khaled
Sherif Saleh

and others to come ...

Anyone who has a success story or wanna post something about The bright side of Egypt, please email me at mohaly.mail@gmail.com

May Allah Bless us All,
Mohaly

289) Fawazeer Ramadan 13 - War against Iran!

13. Will the US take a military action against Iran during the remaining period of Bush presidency? & what will be its impact on Egypt?
(hopefully not)

Mohaly

288) Fawazeer Ramadan 12 - The Pediscope

12. Did anyone use this device before? If this "technology" is still in shops, would you use it?

Mohaly

287) Blog Audience/Target

Just a quick note..

This blog is talking to people who either want to develop or develop others; i.e. the upper ends in Moslow's hierarchy of needs (i.e. Self-Esteem & Actualization). If you are not looking for such stuff then you will not benefit from our discussions, but you are welcome to read and comment.

It seems that there are people who don't understand how to manage differences in thoughts and opinions as they start their discussion or mail by "wrong answer, or "lakad ganabak al Sawab" ...etc. and expect the other not to be provoked!

Sabah El fol :)
Mohaly

286) Fawazeer Ramadan 11 - Emotional Stress!

Bona2an 3ala Talab EL gamaheer, I am oepning this issue for discussion...

I am quoting a comment from a blog reader (and editing some words):

Have you ever felt that you run away from emotions because you couldn't tolerate the stress of making a decision of commitment. After every time of failure, you say ok this will be the last time next time i 'll change my attitude, I'll be a good different person. However, nothing changes because the fear is always there.

11. Whether you feel this way or not, what is the right thing to do in your opinion?

Mohaly

285) Take the Lead, Dare to change!

It is 10% destiny, and 90% reactions!

Mohaly

284) Fawazeer Ramadan 10 - Dream Job!

10. If you were asked to choose whatever job or craft you want, what will you choose?

Mohaly

283) Fawazeer Ramadan 9 - Surveillance Camera!

9. What is the role of the Surveillance Cameras in Egypt, and is it different than the rest of the world in order to look at and smile?!

Mohaly

282) Peace, One Day!

Today is the 6th International World Peace day!

Someday, I hope this world will live in peace when we realize that whatever priorities we have, we heading towards the same destination for the whole planet.

http://www.peaceoneday.org/home.aspx?band=hi

Mohaly

281) Reverse Brain Drain countdown, WELCOME BACK :)

Tab3an you know how many times I have written asking Egyptian minds to come back and develop Egypt. This Article that I read today has just made my day :))))
P.S. Ma3lesh long article, but men nefsi :)
Mohaly

Economic Growth Attracts Handful of Egyptians Back From Dubai

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Mohamed el-Kashashy has the kind of business experience that could help drive Egypt's economy. During six years working in brand management and marketing, he has led focus groups in Nigeria and cut business deals in Iran.

Until recently, however, el-Kashashy, like many other talented Egyptians, was sitting in an office in Dubai -- a flesh and blood example of the "brain drain" to booming Gulf economies that has afflicted Egypt for so many years.

This year, however, el-Kashashy, 28, took a small step toward reversing the trend. Attracted by the recent growth of certain sectors of the Egyptian economy, he moved back home to take a job with an international media company in Cairo.
"Egypt is on the verge of an economic boom," el-Kashashy said.

He is not alone in his optimism.
Heba el-Gabaly, a Harvard Business School graduate who worked for McKinsey & Co. in Dubai, also recently returned to Egypt to work for a financial services firm and rear her children closer to friends and family.
She said four of her 10 close Egyptian friends in Dubai also decided to come home -- mostly to jobs in financial services, consulting or telecommunications.
"The whole region is growing, and Egyptian businesses, especially financial services, are able to tap into the entire region," said el-Gabaly.

Although exact numbers are not tracked, the return of a trickle of well-trained Egyptians is a significant development for a country that ranks second to last among the world's emerging economies in keeping talented people from leaving, according to a 2006 report by the World Economic Forum.

Their return represents a small vote of confidence in Egypt's economic future and could provide local businesses with the skills necessary to take operations to the next level. That, in turn, could set the stage for sustained growth in a country where lack of opportunity helps fuel extremism.

Dr. Nihal el-Megharbel, a senior economist with the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, said recent gross domestic product growth near 7 percent has indeed expanded opportunities for well-educated Egyptians -- who used to rely on places like Dubai for higher salaries and standards of living.

But she stressed that most of Egypt's people have seen no benefit at all from the trend, and continue to look to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries as their only economic hope.

"It will take some time for the trickle-down effect," she said.
Nearly three million Egyptians are believed to be living and working abroad, and remittances sent home every year are among the highest in the world, totaling more than $3 billion in 2006, according to the World Bank.

Reham Mansour, director of the career development office at Cairo University, said many students not educated at elite Egyptian institutions like the American University in Cairo still struggle to find jobs at home.

Many of them view Dubai, the business center of the Persian Gulf and home to about 80,000 Egyptians, as the most attractive alternative.
"If you give them the same opportunities, they would want to work here. But if you give them a better job, bigger salary, they would travel to Dubai," she said.

Prospects for well-paying jobs in Egypt are best in telecommunications, financial services and consulting. Many other sectors are less dynamic. And unofficial estimates put the country's unemployment rate at 15 to 25 percent, roughly twice the official rate.
Nevertheless, a growing number of well-educated young Egyptians believe the economic reforms undertaken by the current government have significantly improved the country's business environment.

The pace of reform increased markedly with the arrival of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif in July 2004. Since then, the government has reduced income tax rates and customs duties and has begun the difficult process of reforming the banking sector by restructuring non-performing loans and privatizing state banks.

With the help of high oil prices and a surge in tourism revenue, those reforms have pushed the economy to ever-higher levels of GDP growth, reaching 6.8 percent in the fiscal year that ended in June 2006 and 7.1 percent during fiscal 2007.

The government estimates that Egypt's economy needs to grow by at least 6 percent a year to create enough jobs for the 600,000 people who enter the labor market every year.
Motazmagdy Negmeldin, a Cairo University engineering student, said most of his friends still dream of going to Dubai, Europe or the United States to earn higher salaries.
But with the economy growing, Negmeldin said he does not plan to leave.
"Together, we can make something of this country"

280) Fawazeer Ramadan 8 - El Nos Na2l !

8. What (& Why) is the one to the extreme left doing?!!

Mohaly

279) Fawazeer Ramadan 7 - Cairo Traffic!

7. Is Cairo Traffic intentionally super clogged in Ramadan? & Why?

Mohaly


http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=5077737986

Thanks to "Kabbar Dema3'ak" for sharing it with us..

278) Borg GIZA el Mayel!!

Ma7adesh A7san Men 7ad!! They have Borg PISA el Mayel, and we have Borg GIZA el Mayel ;)

Mohaly

277) Fawazeer Ramadan 6 - Next President!

6. Who is the next president of Egypt?

Mohaly

276) How will Egypt Survive?

Couple of days ago in the weekend I was reading a long article about an expat's view about Cairo. There is a part where the writer is wondering how will Egypt survive all what it is facing inside and outside. I thought I should share it with this blog audience to discuss.

Mohaly

Dr. Raymond William Baker, Trinity College

How, one wonders, will Egypt survive? Once the lead society for the whole Arab world, Egypt is now bereft of much of the intellectual and social weight it had enjoyed throughout the modern period and very little is left of its political influence.

“Political life in Egypt,” pronounced one moderate Islamist public figure, “is clinically dead and awaiting burial.” To be sure, the regime is stage managing a multitude of proposed constitutional amendments but the whole process appears aimed simply in preserving and extending the dictatorship.

The economy, we are told by the business class and their American friends, is doing just fine. But for whom: the business elite have a stranglehold on the economy that has gone beyond corruption, compressing the middle class and the impoverishing the masses. Ordinary Egyptians are exhausted. All of their efforts go into survival with little time for family or friends.

But what I have always loved most in Egypt is the unwarranted optimism, guileless generosity of spirit, and sheer joy for living that are the enduring characteristics of the Egyptian people. And there are still such moments: You feel it politically when Kefaya brings together political currents across the spectrum, from the Brothers to the Marxist left – all part of the Egyptian family as Naguib Mahfuz painted them in his classic trilogy. You sense it when the centrist Islamist al Wasat Party continues to develop its ideas and grows in influence in Egyptian civil society as an embodiment of democracy within Islam – despite a decade of official obstacles and impediments. But the immediate future seems to offer little more than prolonged immoblism and sterility.

275) Fawazeer Ramadan 5 - WCs!

5. Why do we need an official opening for a WC!!! and Can anyone explain the design in the bottom picture?!

-

Mohaly

274) Tribute to 3amo Fouad!

This day last year, we lost one of the best actors in the Arab World in all eras, El Ostazz or 3amo Fouad or Fouad El Mohandes. He was a great icon of respect, dedication, and fun on stage theatre, TV& Radio, in addition to some of the hilarious 60s movies with soul-mate Shwekar.

He was born on 6 September 1924 in Cairo. He was a son of a linguist named Zaki el-Mohandes, the Dean of the Faculty of Dar Al Oloom and a member of the Arabic language Academy of Cairo. He was my grandpa classmate and used to sit closely as they were both named Fouad (like the King of Egypt when they were born).

Fouad el-Mohandess was an amateur actor when he was young. Inspired by the plays of comedian Naguib Al Rehani during his study at the Faculty of Commerce, el-Mohandess decided to pursue a career in drama. He joined a group named Sa'a li Qalbak during its early run. In 1954, he starred in his first motion picture, Bent El Giran for Mahmud Thul-Fuqqar. However, he returned to acting as a minor character for about ten years afterwards.

The 1960s were el-Muhandes' golden age. He made some successful plays such as El-Sekerteir El-Fanni, Sayydati El-Gameela, and Hawwa' El-Sa'aa 12.Later in his career, his interest shifted back to theater, working in plays like Innaha Haqqan Aa'ila Muhtarama. At the time, he also presented a radio show called Kilmitein Wi-Bas, which was broadcast daily for years (was a great 5 mins show..just to the point).

Fouad El Mohandes was a student of Naguib El Rihani and a mentor for Adel Emam. Although Adel Emam is el za3eem and Naguib El Rihani was a GREAT actor, still Fouad El Mohandes El Ostazz who was loved by everyone.

He used to star in 3amo Fouad Fawazeer that was great in mid-80s (we were very sad when then replaced it with geddo Abdo) and again during whole 90s.

Fouad el-Mohandes died on 16 September 2006, 10 days after his 82nd birthday & a month after his life-time friend Madbouli died...Allah Yer7amo.

Mohaly

Sources: Personal, Wikipedia, Microfann.

273) Fawazeer Ramadan 4 - Login Time!

4. What is the best time to login to the net & read Blogs?

Mohaly

272) Momken Net3araf!!

Yesterday I had a meeting at 10pm for the MILE organization (I am its Egypt team leader), el mohem... While I was there with my friend Sherif (Establisher) who came from UAE for just 2 days for our meetings, we suddenly found my mobile asking me if i can accept a bluetooth message from "TOTA.TOTI". I definitely rejected (waste of time, virus,..etc reasons).

Less than a min, same message appeared on my and Sherif's mobile as well..we ignored and continued the meeting...5 mins later Sherif got the message again, so he decided to accept and see...surprisingly we found message saying "momken ne3araf ;)" ...so we laughed and said meen el ray2a el fadya di (hopefully el ray2a mesh el raye2!) ....

5 mins later we got another message "ana 3ayaza ashoufak!" at this moment there were only 3 girls in cilantro and it was obvious that it was one of them specially she was starring at us all the time.. We couln't turn the bluetooth off coz we needed it.

We just ignored the whole thing and moved on with our meeting till they left. I cant believe the girls attitude, and specially in Ramadan....Feen el 7aya?

Mohaly

271) Fawazeer Ramadan 3 - The Old Egyptian!

3. What crosses ur mind when you see this Old Egyptian smiling?

Mohaly

270) Fawazeer Ramadan 2 - 1st in the Blog!

2. What was the 1st post you have read in this blog?

Mohaly

269) Fawazeer Ramadan 1 - Loves you!

1. How can you know that someone loves you?

Mohaly

P.S. The Fawazeer may be daily or not depends on the time, we mafeesh gawayez :)

268) To Forgivness!!!

To the one who challenged my mind,

Thanks a lot for appearing in my virtual life..
Thank you for showing me what I don't see..
But please, don't go because of the differences...
We both need it to understand....
To support...
To continue..
Someday, Someway, we gonna do it..
and see our vision come true..
Just have the confidence and the faith..

Mohaly

267) RAMADAN, The Best Balance!

Dear blog readers & visitors,

I wish you a very blessed RAMADAN, may Allah bestow his mercy and forgiveness during this holy month.

I see Ramadan as a perfect opportunity for training and balancing our lives:

Spiritually: Praying, Quran, & Fasting.

Mentally: Working Early and more time to think and plan.

Physically: Eating less, organize eating time, some daily exercise.

Emotionally: Friends, Family, helping others.

Believe me if you managed to lead Ramadan in this way, you will get the best out of it not only in Ramadan but as a threshold for the rest of the year.

May Allah bless you all..

Mohaly

266) Arabs Months ... Unite!!

The west has the right to consider us idiots as we cannot agree on the start of Ramadan and hence Qadr night after 1428 years!!!

El Ra7ma, there are very accurate mathematical and astronomical sciences that can calcuate exactly when we start and end instaed of the confusion that happenes every year.

P.S> Saudi Arabia decided to see the Crescent on the 28th instead of the 29th...why? coz the "dought that they have seen Sha3ban one right 28 days ago!!!"

Ya Muslmeen el Ra7ma!

Mohaly

265) September 11th Anniversay - Who Won?!

Today marks 6 years (was a Tuesday as well) since September 11th attacks in 2001. About 3,000 people died in such awful acts, but the question is, FOR WHAT?

Who won, who is the one who benefit most from these terrible attacks?

Definitely not the Arabs...and not Bin Laden....yeb2a fadel meeeen ya 7elween?!!
Tab3an George W Bush, he is the only winner (he wouldnt have been elected for a 2nd term aslan), he used the american people's sorrow and bitterness in launching a war against terrorism that totally failed. It ends up with people hating America after admiring it, Americans having less freedom than before, and people like Bin Laden are still free and doing what they want!!

Mohaly

264) MEMORIES::: 3ala Bali!!

This song....one of the best songs that were ever composed about Egypt & Egyptians.... every time I hear it, i can feel my tears clustering in my eyes...I just LOVE it, and love my elder colleague Aida El Ayoubi, she was a sincere singer and is missed in the current mess of "modern Arabic music!".

I used to love the song since I was in high school/early college, but now I love it more because it just simplifies my vision regarding my country...Masr!

3ala bali......3ala bali
7abibi..3ala bali
3ala bali...3ala bali
Ebn Baladi 3ala bali

La ya Masri La La
La we 2alf La
Tohgor Baladak wetsebna
BALADAK BEEK AWALA

Leih Tohgorna we 2albak ye2sa
Leih Teb3ed we 7abaibak Tensa
Leeeeeeeih, yabn baladi Leeeeih!

263) A Role Model $31 Billion Guy!!

I got a great email about the vision and life of Warren Buffet, and I think it is important to share it with this blog audience coz it is in the core of its theme...Enjoy and try to make use of it..
Mohaly

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:
كانت هناك مقابلة استغرقت ساعة زمن على قناة السي ان بي سي الامريكية مع ثاني اغنى رجل في العالم "وورين بفت " والذي تبرع بمبلغ 31 بليون دولار من ثروته لأمور خيرية ، وهنا بعض من مظاهر حياته وفيها دروس للاستفادة وخصوصا لأاصحاب النفوذ والملايين في بلاد المسلمين :
1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
اشترى اول سهم مالي عندما كان عمره 11 سنة ، والآن يأسف بأنه ابتدأ متأخر جدا !!!
2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

اشترى مزرعة صغيرة في سن الرابعة عشرة من ادخاره في توزيع الجرائد اليومية !!!

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He
says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

لازال يقيم في نفس بيته الصغير المكون من ثلاث غرف في وسط بلدة اوماها ، والذي اشتراه عقب زواجه قبل 50 عام. ويقول بأن لديه كل مايحتاجه في ذلك المنزل والذي لايوجد به جدار خارجي او سور .

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
اعتاد ان يقود سيارته بنفسه حيثما يريد وهو لايوجد لديه سائق او رجال امن يحرسونه .
5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.
لم يسافر ابدا بطائرة خاصه بالرغم من انه يملك اكبر شركة طيران خاصة بالعالم
6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEO's only two rules. Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder's money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.
تملك شركته 63 شركة وكل مايفعله هو كتابة رساله واحده سنويا للتنفيذيين في تلك الشركات يحدد لهم الاهداف للسنة. لم يعقد ابدا اجتماعات او يجري مكالمات انتظامية . قاعدتان فقط يعطيها لاولئك المسؤولين. القاعدة الاولى: لاتفرط ابدا في شريكك المالي ، والقاعدة الثانيه: لاتنسى ابدا القاعدة الاولى.
7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some popcorn and watch Television.
لايشارك اجتماعيا مع حشـود المجتمع الراقي . كان فيما مضى من عمره بعد العودة لمنزله يعمل لنفسه الفشار ويشاهد التلفاز.
8. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

بل غيتس ، اغنى رجل في العالم، قابله لأول مره قبل خمس سنوات ولم يكن يتوقع بوجود شيء مشترك بينه وبين وورن بفت، لذلك حدد المقابلة بنصف ساعة فقط. ولكن عندما قابله، استمرت المقابله لعشر ساعات ومن يومها اصبح بل غيتس شديد التعلق بوورن بفت .
9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

وورن بفت لايحمل الهاتف الجوال ولا وجود للكمبيوتر على طاولته
His advice to young people: " Stay away from credit cards" and invest in yourself and Remember:

نصيحته للشباب " ابتعد عن البطاقات الائتمانية " واستثمر في ذاتك وتذكر الآتي:

A. Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.
المال لايصنع الرجل بل الرجل هو الذي يصنع المال
B. Live your life as simple as you are.
عش حياتك بكل بساطة وعفوية
C. Don't do what others say, just listen to them, but do what you feel good.
لاتفعل مايقوله الآخرون ، فقط استمع اليهم ولكن اعمل ماتراه حسنا.
D. Don't go on brand names; just wear those things in which u feel comfortable.
لاتنجرف وراء الاسماء التجاريه، البس تلك الاشياء التي تشعر معها بالارتياح
E. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend them on who are really in need, rather.
لاتضيع نقودك في الاشياء الغير ضروريه، فقط انفقهم على المحتاجين حقيقة.
F. After all it's your life then " why do we give a chance to others to rule our lives."
اجمالا، هي حياتك ، فلماذا نعطي الاخرين الفرصة ليحكموا معيشتنا.

262) Islamic Banking....Is it a big Myth?!

I don't like people who manipulate others and use their need to benefit while selling them the same thing in a different name....I'd categorize cigarettes and Islamic divisions in banks in the same category of fooling people and selling them something else that they advertise or claim...

From sources inside the admin of Islamic banks, the money of the Islamic division and other divisions end up all to the same destination whether investment in projects or loans. It just have a different front end for marketing purpose and attracting more segments from the market to increase their market share and profitability.

And if it is really an Islamic division, why do we allow other non-Islamic transactions and legalize it!! My opinion....it is a big myth!

P.S. I am not against something being Islamic, but against fooling people.

Mohaly

261) Cairo My Love - Part III: The establishment

As mentioned in part I, & II the history of the Cairo urban area began as early as the Roman period. During the Pharaonic (3000-332 BC) and Greek (332-30 BC) eras of Egyptian history there was no town or city in the heart of what is now the Cairo area, although twenty miles to the southwest stood the great pharaonic capital of Memphis and its temples to the creatorgod Ptah, while to the northeast (located in what is now the Matariya section of Cairo) stood ancient Heliopolis, the great cult center to the sun-god Ra.

But in the Roman period there was a powerful fortified town, Babylon, on the east bank of the Nile River opposite the southern tip of Roda. This fortress was located at the strategic heart of Egypt, the dividing line between Lower (Northern) Egypt and Upper (Southern) Egypt; it also dominated the principal ford along the length of the Nile, for most caravans and armies moving east-to-west or west-to-east across Egypt skirted the edges of the Delta and made use of Roda Island as a crossing-point. The remains of the fortress of Babylon are situated in the modern Cairo region known as "Old Cairo," and it was to this site that the Arab came when they entered the country in 640 AD.

After the fall of the fortress, the Arab commander, Amr bin al-3as, chose to make the camp-city which his army had established just north of Babylon his capital. This camp-city, "al- Fustat," soon supplanted Alexandria as the demographic and economic center of Egypt, and from 700 to 1100 AD it flourished and became one of the great cities of the Mediterranean world.

But in 969 AD a dynasty centered in North Africa, the Fatimids, conquered Egypt and established a new palace city for themselves along the edge of the desert two miles northeast of Fustat; the site stood a mile-and-a-half due east of the Nile and was separated from the river by a band of swamps and lakes. The new city was "al-Qahira"Cairo: the "Victorious City"and It did not take long before the population of Fustat, attracted by the patronage available in the new royal residence, abandoned the older city and settled in the new one. By 1100 Cairo had supplanted Fustat as Egypt's most important city.

Indeed, from 1100 to 1500 Cairo can claim to have been the grandest and most splendid city in the Western world. Throughout this era its physical dimensions never exceeded five square kilometers (three square miles), and its population was never greater than 750,000 souls. However, such a total was as large or as that of any city in Europe before 1800.

Ref: Marcopedia, Wikipedia, The Ancient City

260) The Wii Revolution

First time to play Wii was yesterday where we had a Wii tournament after work for Spot Local team in Hurghada....it was amazing!!

For the first time you really feel that it is a productive game where you move and feel tired, and really feel the heat of the game!!

I woke up with a sore arm after playing boxing anf Golf for the first time in my life, and feels as if I am doing it in reality!

Anyway, try Wii.com for more info and it is not very expensive for the quality and value (about 2500 LE and getting cheaper every day).

Mohaly .. iiiiii ;)

259) Harawa2 El G men gher makabbar el D!!

Although I really like Ahmed Mekky so much but I totally disagree to take his famous motto -(as haytham) Kabbar el D and rawa2 el G - into reality..

I cant imagine having any vision or trying to do any development in this country if I and everyone kabbarna el Demagh and just left life to pass by without any positive contribution..

I would say the best way for my satisfaction and (2arawa2 el Gomgoma) is NOT to akkabr el D!

Mohaly

258) Tree in the Sea :))

Sob7an Allah!

Mohaly

257) Silly Questions that need Wise Answers!!

What are we doing?
What are we waiting for?
Why?
When?
How?

Do you know?
Are you sure?
really?!!!

Mohaly

256) RedSea..I Love It

Everytime I am in the redsea for work or pleasure, i feel like i am in an osais in the middle of the desert of life.

Mohaly

255) Strategic Love !!

The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. (That is what I call Strategic Thinking, Mohaly)
Allan K. Chalmers


If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough. (That is what I call Strategic Vision, Mohaly)
Ann Landers

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery (That is what I call Strategic Love, Mohaly)

Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishing. (That is what I call Strategic Failure, Mohaly)
Anais Nin
....
....
Life is too busy, but there is always time for love, isnt it?!!
Mohaly

254) MEMORIES::: Old TV ads

Do you remember that every year or 2 there was 1 model doing all that ads like Mervat Mongy, Nesreen, Naila El Farouky, Yasmine Abdel Aziz....etc.

Do you remember the SUPER ADS of Tarek Nour that were 7adeeth el madina and we sing it together in Ramadan!

Do you remember Ma7moud, eih da ya Ma7moud....Kabnoury Alamoyoum...Gebt EL melabes men kovarteena...ageeb gehazy meneen, men 3abd el re7im Amr......masr lel ta2meen ya 3am amin before every single fazoura!....3abad el shams seella for Galal Zaki, the longest commercial TV ad ever (100 seconds)....el hanem el 7amra....shay el 3arousa....Edeeny Frankee Samy....wana wana a7eb el 3askary....and tab3an e3lanat Kareema Mokhtar :)

P.S> you have to be born in the 70s or at least very early 80s to remember...

Mohaly

253) Mubarak & the Silly Rumors!!

Why don't we stop wasting time in rumors that can waste tons of hours like Mubarak's death...

Once we arrived in Cairo they said Mubarak died, of course I laughed coz the airport wont look like that or people will act like that if he died.

Again today "garayed el mo3arda talking" about his death or countdown!!
What will we gain when we waste time thinking and getting into modes of panic?! It wont change anything...If he died, I am sure that there are many scenarios to keep things under control, and If he didn't, then why are we wasting our time on a rumor?!!!!

Mohaly

252) Honna Al Kahira - Cairo From Above!

Everytime I am back in the daylight, I wonder why does Cairo look like that from above, unlike all cities where you can clearly see green areas, planned routes, water, parks, and landmarks, Cairo seems to have been dyed in a dusty ugly color... take a look at Nasr City from the plane, amazing!!

Mohaly

251) The Closed Loop!

Back from Qatar at last...

Guys, if you think Cairo is hot in summer, be my guest and try Qatar!!

Midnight and you still cant open the window....i stayed the WHOLE week in the room!!! Even if I went out there is nothing to do except 3 malls without extra-ordinary outlets or landmarks...

As my friends living there say it is all about the money... "In Qatar, El Felous zayy el Matar"...
Imagine the fresh Qatari graduate takes at least 7 times the fresh (AUC) graduate in Egypt!

Anyway when I met my friends who are living there, there was always this discussion about should we stay in Egypt and develop it or should we leave till it is better, and if we left how will it be better without the good people who left...it is a closed loop that needs to be broken!!

Mohaly