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Archive for January 2007

Memoir of This Morning

In Life on January 28, 2007 at 3:48 pm

This morning I decided to take a trip to the University of Jordan, to return a book and a dissertation that I had borrowed from the library. The weather was very pleasant, it was sunny and warm and the trees seemed happy.

While there, I met Kobayashi sensei, my former Japanese teacher. I always enjoy meeting her, but this time I had some explanations to give. I apologized for not going to the JICA Japanese class I had registered for.

It’s funny really how this whole affair happened. If you do not have much to keep you busy for now, read on as I live this rare expressive moment of mine. A little over a month ago, Kobayashi sensei called me upon her return to Amman. She had gone to Japan months earlier and I was under the impression that she would be unable to return.

It was natural, therefore, for me to be ecstatic when she called. She urged me to register for JICA Japanese class, and since I had been intending to do that, I did. I went to the first lesson (after walking 15 minutes aimlessly in Swefeyyeh looking for JICA) and I arrived late. The teacher was not Kobayashi sensei – I knew then that the lesson would be quite a trial.

And I was right. The teacher began by asking us questions that we are supposed to know the answers for. Now this was fun and embarrassing at the same time because I could understand everything but, because I did not study or use Japanese for over a year, I could not put things together on my own.

She asked me a question, and I simply smiled at her. It felt horrible being a bad student but I enjoyed the new sensation. I could not answer a very basic and straightforward question. That inability, that incompetence, was so refreshing.

After class, I realized that I cannot juggle a zillion things in one go. Japanese class requires studying and follow-up, and I felt I would not be able to give it its share of attention and dedication. The residue of my inability forced me to apologize twice to my sensei before leaving: “I need to revise,” “It’s been over a year since I studied Japanese,” and “I am very sorry, next time will be better. I promise.” I declare it is pathetic.

That little episode over, I apologized to Kobayashi sensei (apologizing is not one of my traits, being around Japanese people brings it out it seems) and explained the situation. She gave me a beautiful Origami swan in return: Win-win scenario and Tololy walked away happy and guiltless.

Origami for Tololy

Other things happened today as well: I saw an old friend, I went to some spot on campus where many many memories are buried, I smiled secretly to myself when I saw one particular thing, and I missed the old days.

Civil War in Lebanon?

In Opinion on January 25, 2007 at 5:35 pm

“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”

Sitting in the office, I hear reporters talking live about clashes in Lebanon. These reporters inform and entertain through a TV screen dangling from the wall in this fittingly dim hall. Are we on the verge of yet another war in the region?

People wonder why I am usually morbid in my moods and opinions. How can I not be? There is occupation and civil war in Iraq, occupation and apartheid in Palestine, internal turmoil in Egypt, war in Somalia, multiple problems in Jordan, backwardness in Saudi Arabia, armed division in Sudan, separatism in Algeria, estrangement in Morocco and Tunisia, painful neutrality in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states, and now — what seems to be a hideous incarnation of civil war in Lebanon.

The situation in Lebanon needn’t be assessed by an amateur such as me. I am far removed from politics, or so I am inclined to believe. Yet the basic sense behind this split is illusive – it’s a power game. Seduce one part with money and political support, two things very much needed after the Israeli Aggression War last summer, and listen to the popular eloquence of the other, enveloped in religious-political aims.

Rest assured: worse things will happen. People will not be burning tires a week from now, and there won’t be only five or six dead. Those in power should stop this mockery and rise above their differences. Have they ever heard of the term “mob behavior?”

Some things, when unleashed, are impossible to contain. Listen to this Hariri and Nasrallah and stop toying with people’s lives.

Tayeb Saleh

In Love on January 25, 2007 at 1:29 pm

The things I would give to meet this man…

Al Tayyeb Saleh

الطيب صالح Tayeb Saleh (or Al Tayyeb Saleh)

Facts and Events: Women’s Roles and Gender

In Wonder Woman on January 23, 2007 at 1:25 pm

In a very interesting book that I am reading presently, I came across some facts and events that were listed right in the first page, and I thought you might be interested in them. Consider the following facts and events that happened between 1986 and 1996 carefully:

- A judge in Rome, Italy, ruled against the victim in a rape case on the grounds that it is impossible to rape a woman wearing jeans, because they cannot be removed without her cooperation. In protest, women worldwide staged a “skirt strike,” wearing jeans to work.

- One in four U.S college students believed that the activities of married women should be limited to home and family.

- The Reverend Jerry Falwell claimed that a popular children’s toy, the “Tinky Winky Teletubby,” is an attempt to make children into homosexuals because it is purple and carries a “purse.”

- Women have been heads of state in twenty-three countries around world, yet in others they lack basic human rights such as voting and going to school.

- Women remained far more likely than men to suffer from serious depression and eating disorders.

- Less than 5 percent of the artists in New York’s Metropolitan Museum collections were women, but 85 percent of the nude paintings were of females.

- On television news, 97 percent of the anchors over the age of forty were men.

Crawford, Mary and Rhoda Unger. Women and Gender: A Feminist Psychology. 3rd ed. Fairfield: McGraw-Hill, 2000.

The authors then said that “gender, sexuality, and power are at the core of social controversies around the world,” and I strongly agree with that. But do tell me, what do you think?

Waterland Amman: City-Sized Pool

In Jordan on January 20, 2007 at 11:44 pm

What, in Allah’s name, is the matter with the authorities in Amman? I ask you most humbly and with great shock that seems only to grow every passing day.

When did Amman turn into a giant swimming pool for cars? Why don’t the draining systems do what they’re supposed to do? Why do they function counter- purpose-wise and spit water instead of swallow it? Why doesn’t someone do something about this?

I am very outraged at the current state of Jordanian streets in general, and more so at the unbelievably mediocre state they assume when Allah decides to give us some water to drink. Every winter the same problem arises — it gets talked about on morning radio shows, evening news, and 60 minutes, those in positions of responsibility are brought to comment and they say next to nothing in citizen-O-meter, and then after the usual citizen rants nothing is done to remedy the situation on the ground. Nobody is charged with anything (ruining people’s cars, for instance) and nobody cares.

How very, utterly, desperately pathetic this situation is! I refuse to get my pants soaking wet up to my knees when I decide to cross the street, I refuse to get water up to my brain when I dive in a street pool, and I refuse to cramp someone’s style by spraying them with dirty wheel water when I pass them by. Moreover, I refuse to sheep-up about this.

Amman Municipality and everyone working in it — FIX OUR STREETS or by the devil, this time, someone will get hurt.

So You Think You Can Dance?

In V for Video on January 18, 2007 at 4:34 pm

Download! So You Think You Can Dance?

Beat this!

Tell Me What You Like

In Bits & pieces on January 17, 2007 at 3:00 pm

Dear readers,

I am very interested in knowing what you think of The Box these days. I previously asked for your opinions in April, 2006 and you were great help. I am hoping you would be generous and critical this time too!

I was wondering if you could let me in on your opinions relating to the content, design, and functionality of The Box. Your suggestions and preferences regarding posts (let’s say since April, 2006) and what they contain, writing style and purpose, what you like and dislike, and basically anything that you wish to get across is very welcome– now is a perfect time to speak up, or forever hold your peace.

You can either drop me a comment or, preferably, drop me a line using The Contact form in the sidebar. Thank you for reading and interacting with The Tololy.

— T.

شو بتشتري بدينار في عمان 2007؟

In عربي on January 14, 2007 at 8:43 pm

لغايات البحث البحتة و لأنني مللت الاستماع لتذمر الجميع بلا استثناء على ارتفاع الأسعار في عمان و الأردن بشكل عام, فقد عقدت العزم أن أحصي إمكانيات المواطن الأردني الشرائية في ظل هذه الظروف الصعبة و التغيرات التي لا تواكبها الرواتب. أستعمل في هذه الدراسة اللامنهجية مقياساً بسيطاً لبيان قدرة الدينار الشرائية و هذا المقياس ليس إلا هذا السؤال:

شو بتقدر تشتري بدينار واحد في عمان ال 2007 ؟

1. بطاقة شحن موبايل من نوع أمنية بدون الضريبة أو إذا كانت تحويل
2. تلاتة كيلو بندورة من البكب
3. كيلو و نص بطاطا
4. تلات أرباع كرتونة بيض
5.واحد مناكير من نوعية رديئة
6. شمسية من نوعية رديئة أيضاً
7. قلم حبر سائل
8. نص دفتر محاضرات
9. تنين شيبس كبير من أي نوع تقريباً
10. تنين سندويشة شاورما (و ليس وجبة) مع علبة بيبسي
11. لتر و نص تقريباً من البنزين الخالي من الرصاص
12. خمسة و نص كيلو خبز فقط لا غير
13. تنين و نص قهوة نسكافيه من الجامعة الأردنية
14. كشف علامات أيضاً من الجامعة الأردنية
15. شريط منوعات عربي (ستاندرد و ليس تجميع على ذوق المشتري)
16. كاسة عصير بردآن من لبناني سناك
17. بعض المنتجات الصينية عديمة الجودة
18. تلات أرباع بكيت مالبورو لايتس
19. أقل من نص فرشاية أسنان من أي نوع محترم لا يدمر اللثة
20. مئة حبة سوس

بناْءً على ما تقدم ذكره, فإنني أرى أن القدرة الشرائية للمواطن و الدينار الأردني لا زالت بخير.

Miscellany of Pictures: Lweibdeh and Downtown Amman

In Picturesque on January 13, 2007 at 4:16 pm

I am posting a few pictures that I took in Jabal Al Lweibdeh and downtown Amman some time ago. I have been wanting to do this for the longest time but it just did not happen. For your amusement, every other picture has a brief story or description.

Let’s start with Jabal Al Lweibdeh pictures since they are the oldest ones. The day these pictures were taken I was just walking aimlessly in Lweibdeh and snapping shots. My camera’s batteries were dying on me and the lens was a bit smudged but fortunately, these elements combined with the beautiful light in the area at the time made for some unique pictures (at least that is what I like to believe).

Street in Lweibdeh

Another Street in Lweibdeh

The romantic setting in Lweibdeh is largely due to the fact that the area itself is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Amman. Most of the buildings are pretty old and so they convey an impression of what glorious Amman looked like in the past.

Mosque in Lweibdeh

It is equally interesting that Lweibdeh has developed into a cultural seat for the city. It houses art galleries, cultural and linguistic centers, a national museum, and several other foundations of the type.

Surreal

Right Around the Curve

Ah! What I would give to live in this spectacular place! But let us leave this wishful thinking aside and move onward to shots from downtown Amman. This first picture is of a library right next to Sabeel Al Hureyyat, it is called Khazanat Al Jaheth. For those of you who do not know the association, Al Jaheth was a major Arab thinker who composed several books. Now Al Jaheth was very fond of books and he kept a large number of them in a library of his, the Khazanah. Irony would have it, however, that his fondness for books and knowledge would kill him. Al Jaheth met his end when his Khazanah of books fell over him.

Khazanat Al Jaheth Library

Khazanat Al Jaheth was closed that day — it was still Eid Al Adha holiday (not a Friday as I had previously posted).

Shops - Downtown Amman

This above is a view of some shops in downtown Amman. I took all of these pictures from a moving car so I am quite surprised, and happy, that they turned out this way. Following are two pictures of a marvelous facade that I am absolutely in love with:

Facade I

Facade II

I kept fantasizing about owning that place with the facade and all. As you might have guessed by now, I have quite a fertile imagination. Now for some general views of downtown Amman:

Street downtown I

Street downtown II

And this here is one of my favorite pictures ever, but I am yet to learn why:

Building

Balat Al Rasheed Cafe

The final picture is of Balat Al Rasheed Cafe. This place used to be called “Maqha Al Jami3a Al 3arabeyya” — Arab League Cafe, but the name was changed. The current name also has a historical association. Balat Al Rasheed is a place where people from different backgrounds — laymen, intellectuals, poets, writers and tourists — all meet.

To read my previous picturesque post on Downtown Amman, click here!

آخر الليل

In عربي on January 11, 2007 at 1:14 am
بما إنو الدنيا ليل و أنا أقنعت حالي إني خلصت كل شي كان لازم أعمله, و مع إنو كله ترقيع, فقد قررت أضوي التلفزيون و أحضر فيديو كليبات عربي على آخر هالليل. طلعتلي سميرة سعيد ب live performance على مسرح برَاني بمصر و لابسة أشياء كتير fetishistic ما بعرف ليش بالزبط: بنطلون جلد أسود و بوتس و كزا.

المهم, كان في كتير ناس حاملين ناس تاني على كتافهم مشان “يعيشو الجو” و هدول الناس اللي طالعين على كتاف الناس التانيين ما كان شكلهم خفاف و بتوقع إنو الناس اللي حاملينهم ما كانو مهيصين أدَهم. فبالتالي أنا صرت أفكر: شو جايي الناس اللي تحت من هل stunt ؟

Metablog: Taggiversary

In Metablog on January 8, 2007 at 7:35 pm

“Today is the second anniversary of tags”– this is what the Technorati newsletter announced today. The newsletter also said:

The beauty of tags is that they’re metadata: data about data. What does that mean? Tags actually describe (or categorize) their subject, as opposed to, say, keywords, which just occur within them.

We think tags are becoming popular because on the Live Web, categories and topics are just as, if not more useful than keywords for describing and finding content, especially when that content doesn’t contain lots of text (photos, videos, songs and the like).

The folks at Technorati are celebrating the day and the achievement. It’s only natural to express joy at such grand success — after all, tagging goes beyond blogs. It’s Web 2.0 meets usability meets The Users.

Of Hunger and Other Demons

In Personal on January 8, 2007 at 11:50 am

Good morning Amman!
As I write these words, I am biting on a rather “resistant”,
triangular piece of bread that I take the liberty of calling breakfast. My
sandwich has light hints of labaneh inside, but I can’t seem to feel the
labaneh on my taste buds.

Stranded in a new office, I am munching my breakfast and noting how very
similar this situation is to when I was a little girl. Being as picky as I am,
I refrained (and still refrain) from eating many types of food.

That preference prevented me from being too colorful with meals that I prepared
for myself or that my mother prepared for me, and that fact left my mother at
the edge of her wits, trying to fathom what is it that I eat and what is it I
do not eat.

Given the particular state of my aliment options, I grew accustomed to some
bare and some overly lavish cuisines. This morning, it is the former type that
I nosh my stomach with — but I’m not complaining.

“Sustenance is essentially a need, not a substance of display;”
I like to think when I feast on humble rations. What’s most delightful about
this conclusion is that I myself sometimes get fooled by it.

 

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The Dilemma of Weather in a Small Country Called Jordan

In Jordan, Opinion on January 2, 2007 at 8:30 pm

You all know I live in Jordan. Well, last week it snowed a lot in the Southern parts of the country. What was very interesting about the snow storm was that nobody was prepared for it – not the government, not the people, and not even cars. Many people were literally trapped in the snow in the South, and it was comic how the almighty tax-fat government with all its faculties could not save them.

This entry is not about the government, as entertaining as that subject is, but it is about the Jordanian Meteorological Department. The department failed miserably last week when it did not produce accurate weather forecasts, and did not inform the people of what is coming.

That was only the beginning, however. The meteorological department denied that there will be snow on Sunday earlier this week. People checked online weather websites and learned about the anticipated change of weather. But when confronted about this during an interview, the president of the department strongly dismissed any “rumours” of a change in weather and he vehemently attacked the presenter when the latter told him that news about an upcoming change are all online, contrary to his predictions.

The really amusing part was yet to come. On Sunday, the South of Jordan saw more snow and Mr.Weatherman’s predictions were proven wrong. Not only that, his attitude in that interview was replayed during the 8 PM news. I thought Jordan TV did a brilliant job when they replayed the piece and contrasted it with, well, reality.

Mr.Weatherman was evidently scandalized by this and he must have taken it quite personally, because the next day JTV said that they cannot air a weather forecast because the Jordanian Meteorological Department did not supply them with any. How very game-like, won’t you say? Walaw ya3ni!

JTV people now rely on the internet to get their weather forecast for the 8 PM news, and a whole country does not use the facilities at the Jordanian Meteorological Department anymore because that person has a chip on his shoulder. I wonder how can a public servant rebel in such a silly way and deprive a nation of news that is paid for. Why doesn’t someone do something about this?

Since it is all a power game, I suggest we settle this dispute the good old Jordanian way – over a finjan* of Arabic coffee. I should change the title of this entry to The Dilemma of Weather and Wasta** in a Small Country Called Jordan.

*Finjan: small traditional cup of coffee
**Wasta: a local phenomena that involves the use of connections, through family or acquaintances, to benefit unlawfully

Rejoice!

In Life, Literature on January 1, 2007 at 10:00 pm

Let us rejoice, fellow citizens, for a new year is upon us. Today marks the start, only the beginning, of another year that will make each one of us that much older. Such impending doom!

What cause is there to celebrate?
What purpose for the smile?
A plot is in the works
To ensnare you and I

But certainly, I should shed my dismal melancholy and chant – cheer even, dance, sing, perhaps smoke to exhibit my joy. Yes, maybe that is precisely what I ought to do. I ought to join the mob in their common festivities, don’t you see? Become a sheep willingly blindfolded yet directed to the slaughter house unknowingly? Yes?

I think not.

I fail to impress when I contest a nemesis as potent as mine. It is most unfortunate that I will be in no such gay mood as long as time cheats.