Thursday, January 31, 2008

360) Egypt almost without Internet!

2nd time in 5 years, 70% of the Internet in Egypt is down because of a cut in the main cable feeding Egypt, and it wont be fixed before a week!!
أصيبت شبكة الإنترنت الدولية في مصر أمس بشلل بسبب قطع في كابلات الاتصالات البحرية للألياف الضوئية في البحر المتوسط‏,‏ ووصلت نسبة التعطل في مصر إلي‏ 70 %,‏ بالإضافة إلي تأثر خدمات مراكز خدمة العملاء‏,‏ التي تقوم بتصدير خدماتها للخارج بنسب متفاوتة تتعدي الـ‏30%,‏ وبالإضافة إلي ذلك تأثرت المكالمات التليفونية مع أوروبا وأمريكا‏,‏ كما تأثرت حركة التداول داخل البورصة المصرية‏.
ولم يتم بعد تحديد سبب القطع الذي ينتظر أن يأخذ عدة أيام حتي تعود الخدمة لمستواها الطبيعي‏.‏‏
Every year more people and companies are using the net; i.e more losses. I think we should have a better plan B.
Mohaly

Sunday, January 27, 2008

359) Birthday Wish 2008!

On my birthday, I am asking God to keep my friends & family safe, happy, and successful, and close to each other.

Years are passing fast! I am sure it wont be long when I am gonna say, it is my birthday again (en kan leena 30mr)!

Mohaly

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

358) The "Cold War"!!

What kind of country where 22 people dies, 22 injured, 2 houses collapsed, other burnt, numerous accidents, ... etc. in JUST TWO DAYS of cold (degree still above zero)!! I guess this is our own version of the "Cold War"!
Mohaly

في اليوم الثاني لتكشيرها عن أنيابها‏;‏ تسببت طوبة بسوء أحوالها الجوية وأمطارها الغزيرة في مصرع‏22‏ شخصا‏,‏ وإصابة‏22‏ آخرين أمس‏,‏ في عدة حوادث شملت انهيار منزلين‏,‏ واحتراق ثالث‏,‏ وتصادم ثماني سيارات‏,‏ وسقوط شخصين من أعلي منزلهما لشدة الرياح‏.‏

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

357) FUN::: It is closed...idiot!!


It is not open, because it closed. And since it is closed, hence it is not open. Because if it was open, it wouldn't have been closed, and the resturant wouldn't have put such sign that is not open!!
Mohaly

Monday, January 21, 2008

356) The Zero Pound-Note!!


I have read about this Idea in India, an NGO called FPI set up to fight corruption has printed over 200,000 zero-denomination notes that resemble Indian currency and has begun distributing them around the country. It is asking people to give the notes to anyone demanding a bribe. This is their promo:

"Imagine that you are going to a government office to get some paper cleared or some certificate and the lazy guy out there refuse to give you the stuff as promised and ask you to come back in another few days, weeks or months. You know that he expects you to pay bribe and you really don’t know what to do. So how would you handle such a situation? You want to yell at him, but you don’t know how to express your anger. Here is a solution: The Zero rupee-note."

Do you think it can work in Egypt, or since the pound is already of Zero value, it doesn't matter much.

Mohaly

Friday, January 18, 2008

355) Who is the pilot teacher?

Can you tell who is the pilot teacher in this clip?
What if this teacher has persued a career in acting?!



Sob7an Allah :)
Mohaly

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

354) You are NOT welcomed!


"Bad" Morning Mr. Bush,

I am an Egyptian citizen who loves his country and working hard to try to make a positive difference in his Egyptian society in specific, and Islamic society in general. And you are someone who are persistently mis-using his power to screw up my people, Arabs, and Muslims every where in the world.

As an Egyptian citizen, I consider Egypt my home, and simply ... YOU ARE NOT WELCOMED TODAY IN MY HOME.

I am only representing myself, but I am sure that non of my blog readers, friends, colleagues, family,..etc is welcoming you in Egypt or any Arab Islamic country.

Mohaly

Monday, January 14, 2008

353) Same Input ---> Same Output!

I wonder why do we expect someone else to do our job, or in other words, why do we expect that when the government or even the president changes, it will be better. It is all about us.
If we keep on doing what you have always done, we will keep getting what you have always got.

Mohaly

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Friday, January 11, 2008

351) Oxford Business Review : Egypt 2007!!!

In 2007, Egypt continued its reformist course, winning the plaudit of "world's top reformer" and praise from the International Montary Fund (IMF). It was also a year of growth; Egypt's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 7.1% in 2007, up from 6.8% in the previous year, and unemployment continued to fall. The government won two votes; a referendum and the upper-house elections, but has yet to come to an agreement with opposition groups.

A November 2007 IMF report praised Egypt's "sustained and bold reforms [and] prudent macroeconomic management", which has delivered high growth and helped bring Egypt's unemployment rate to 9% from 10.5% at the end of 2004. According to the Fund, tight monetary policy, an improvement in the fiscal situation, and structural reforms promoting the private sector have all helped strengthen and broaden the Egyptian economy. While there were warnings that government debt remains painfully high and that a slow "trickle down" of wealth derived from increased growth might imperil public support for reform, the overall message can be seen as an encouraging "keep up the good work" to Egypt's government.

The IMF's praise and support for the reform process came months after Egypt was named the "world's top reformer" in Doing Business 2008, a report published in September by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). After a disappointing performance in 2004-2005, last year, the government "pulled out all the stops [and] its efforts cut deep", the report stated. Egypt won the accolade by enacting more reforms over the past two years than any other country in the world.

Egypt made notable progress in five areas: improving the process of starting a business, licensing, property registration, getting credit, trading across borders and business closure. Cuts in the minimum capital required to start a business, reduction of red tape in acquiring building licences, the establishment of one-stop-shops for exporters and importers and moves to establish a private credit bureau were all cited as examples of pro-business reforms that have moved Egypt forward.

August saw another important move to liberalise the economy and improve the budgetary situation, with the announcement that subsidies currently granted to energy intensive industries would be phased out over three years, and to less power-hungry sectors over six years. This is intended to cut inefficiencies in the market and help reduce the budget deficit. The government hopes to save $2.64bn over the next three years as a result, and allow the market to determine prices. However, a ceiling of 15% price increase per annum will give investors predictability. While there were fears that this move would stoke inflationary pressure, the gradual nature of the subsidy cuts should lessen this effect.

Most businesspeople and economists welcomed the decision.Despite the successes, Egypt has reformed from a relatively low base - i.e. a highly over-regulated economy - and still ranks behind most countries in the region on measures such as ease of hiring and firing workers, and business start-up and closure.

The success of continued reforms in 2008 may determine whether 2007 is remembered largely for economic success or political awkwardness.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

350) 7ena Maysara ... Ya khofee 3aleeki ya Masr!

I went to see 7eena Maysara last Monday after what I read and heard about it. It is a real reflection of the crisis and miserable situation that about 20% of the Egyptian population suffer from that directly and indirectly lead to un-employment, ignorance, addiction, adultery, homosexuality, homeless children, and terrorism.“Hena Maysara” paints a nightmarish, and completely credible, picture of low class in Egypt.

The film plot is mainly around Adel, a mechanic who struggles to support his mother, nieces and nephews left behind by absent brother and killed sister, meets Nahed who has fled abuse at the hands of her stepfather in Banha. Nahed becomes pregnant. Adel, who is already struggling to make ends meet, rejects the child because of poverty and the two go their separate ways. The rest of the film follows the separate and mostly tormented & regret lives of Nahed, Adel and their son, Ayman.

It is a WELL DONE movie expect for couple of scenes that were over, and the non-convincing part of turning a well educated kid into a street kid just because his adopted parents left him. The scenario, directing, shooting, set, music, costumes, were great. The acting was an Oscar level! all of them especially Amr Saad, Hala Fakher, Somaya El Khasbab, and the incredibly funny Amr Abdel Gelil. The one shot of Khaled Saleh reminded me of waiting for the Godot, as both of them were waited for throughout the plots.

These people shouldn't exist in the society. But because of the appearnece of the exteremely rich (that shouldnt be there too) who gained such incredible amounts of money on the expense of these poor people, the appearance of such exteremly poor is a counter act. And if the society wouldnt do something about both, we will face a social BOMB soon.

Mohaly



"There is nothing particularly original about either "Maysara’s" characters (impoverished young men, mothers forced by circumstance to seek work abroad), or its themes (poverty, violence and abuse). What sets this film apart is the way it humanizes its protagonists, ensuring that they are not reduced to clichéd stereotypes. Sara Carr in Daily News.

349) 3 Years in 1!

Happy New Hirji Year :) I love the spirit of Eids :)
May Allah bless you all and grant you happiness and satisfaction.
This year and for the first time since mid 70s, we have 3 Hijri years in one Gregorian year [1428, 1429, & 1430 in 2008] :)
Happy New Years :)
Mohaly

348) Land called Paradise!

A message from our brothers & sisters in the west,
It is a message for us before being for the rest!
Mohaly

Saturday, January 5, 2008

347) The Hard Teacher!

One of my friends asked me why do we get shocked when we graduate and discover that we were dreaming?

My answer to her and to everyone is simply:
Experience is a hard teacher, because it gives the test first, then the lesson afterwards.

We need to have a mission, then experience will help us to set the right goals and objectives. As long as you are keeping your vision clear, and determined on your mission, any drawback will be an experience not a problem.

Mohaly

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

346) Tribute to Gamal Badawy!

On the last day of 2007, we lost one of the best writers and historians in the Arab world, someone who had the courage, integrity, and persistence to find the truth about our history and link it with the present days, Gamal Badaway. He was one of my role models in writing, and met him once in my life in 2003.

May Allah bless his soul and make him rest in peace, and be placed in Heaven.
Mohaly