I was listening to BBC Arabic news this morning on the way to work, a report about the anti-corruption committee that was created upon a request by King Abdullah to address the issue of corruption more seriously.
Now I know that corruption is on many levels, and I am not going to talk about it on the higher level because I don’t know much about that.. but what I know, and I see, and practice (ya shoot me) is corruption on the individual level.
To start with, there is a special type of corruption, that is Wasta (English: a mean, mechanism, medium), and sometimes we even give it a nickname Vitamin Wow ( as it gives power and so). Wasta for those who are unfamiliar with the term is about having someone in a power position do something (legal or illegal) for you (a favor) that couldn’t be done without a wasta. The funny thing is that we don’t usually hide our acts when we use Wasta, but we brag about it, and offer providing the same wasta to people around us to help them out. Read more…
Jordan, News & Politics
Yesterday I had some sort of a hot argument with a co-worker about illegal copying, and piracy, and so. It seems that he didn’t consider illegal use and illegal copying of software stealing. And using my powers of argument, I convinced that he belongs to jail. (We all do)
Basically, in this part of the world, piracy is part of our daily lives. We listen to pirated music on a CD while going to work, use pirated software at work, then send and receive pirated software between our mobiles, and at the end of the day, we watch the latest movie that just hit the theaters in USA in DVD at our friend’s house. It is part of our daily lives I think.
In the last Jordan Planet meeting we shared our sources of pirated dvds to each other, some like to get it from the tunnel at Jordan University, others prefer Downtown, Waibdeh, or the Joora (The Hole). The Joora could be considered one of the major sources of CDs, mobile phones, DVDs, and so. Everything could be found there. Last time my uncle comes for a visit from USA, he spend a considerable amount of time at the Joora shopping for Arabic CDs, and latest movies that didn’t hit the shelves yet in USA. be basically walked out of the Joora with at least 1,000 USD worth of dvds and cds, bought at less than 20$.
Now do I condemn this, should I shout loudly against it, and incriminate all those who buy them ??! well I am not sure to be frank. Yesterday I bought a mobile I wanted to get for a loong time. And the first thing I did after getting it is looking for Warez for it.. I think that I am a criminal too.
Internet & Technology, Jordan, Movies & Entertainment
I really can’t understand my friends, don’t they just get bored from repeating the same thing over and over again ! basically, for the past year or so, my friends had been gathering 3-5 times a week, and playing Trex. And as I hate that game, and not a good player for them to consider me a player, I stay outside their play circle.
Seeing them fighting about the same things “dagait 3al sanak .. karti kart dinari .. laish ma labasto el shaihk”, and the very loud fight after each round of the game, it just makes me sick. I really can’t stand this game because of the way I see them while they are playing it.. basically they will be detached from the world, a full focus on the cards, and counting what’s in and what’s out, and so on.. each time I know that they are gathering and playing Trex I convince myself not to go, but sometimes I do.
About Me
Today we had our 4th Jordan Bloggers meet up, and it was really great, and probably the best. Roba had a nice post about it, with pictures.. a must see.
What what great about this meeting, that it was a just a relief. Seeing how everyone enjoyed the meeting, and having the complete anonymous stop by for a minute to say hi, and thanks to everyone blogging, really made me feel that I am not wasting my time.
The recent vote in Jordan Planet really stressed me out, and I even considered closing Jordan Planet for some time to think things out, and prepared a page for it. The reaction I got for the voting idea was not what I expected. Nevertheless, it went on.
Now after that meeting, I guess it somehow gave me the energy to continue, as well, having Jordan Bloggers offering help in the planet thrilled me.. Roba will be taking care of the “Weekly Highlights” Blog in the Planet, as well, Lina will be managing the “Amman This Month”. I really hope that it will work out now.
Regarding the voting and so.. the results of the voting will be reflected on the planet soon, but I guess there will be no other voting.. I will return to making decisions on who’s in, and who’s out. I had much less headache that way :) As many of the bloggers said in numerous occasions “Voting is not the best things Arab do”.. although it is offensive, but it seems true..
Internet & Technology, Jordan Planet
Well yesterday the Jordan Planet Vote was announced. Basically my hope is that by having the Jordan Bloggers vote on who’s in and out, we will have a much better Planet (Jordan Planet). I couldn’t help think about some of the similar TV shows, where a team decides to cut people out.. such as Survivor, or weakest link. But I hope that the end result won’t be as ugly as it gets with those shows :) Read more…
Internet & Technology, Jordan Planet