28.5.2009

A misdirected sms lead to a great open up, which resulted in a greater enlightenment, then a new friend was gained.

From here and there

The hectic crazy routine will not end any time soon, on the contrary I just got assigned to a new project and I will be happy if I can find peace in the weekend :)

أستغرب من اللي يتعدون الزحمة و يدشون حارة الأمان "بدون وجه حق ولا لحاجة ملحة" علشان يتعدون خلق الله اللي واقفين بنظام و بالدور و حترمين نفسهم و غيرهم، و كأن الدنيا خلت من الناس و النظام و المشاغل و تفرغت لهم! و بقدرة قادر اصبحت لهم الأولوية على الغير و اصبح التقليل من إحترام الغير شطارة!؟

Flipping through my almost finished moleskin I found a lot of memories, tasks, food orders, shops and galleries to visit, events to attend, I realized for a moment there that how crucial written documentation is! Documenting life or what we see in it I think is one of mankind's messages in life.

و من ضمن الخرابيط في نوتتي التالي من نتاج عدة مواقف و أيام

١
كم أغبطها ،،،
لأن اقصى طموحاتها، أن تعرف ماذا ستطبخ غداً

٢
كم ألومه ،،،
لأن اقصى مفاهيمه، الناس

٣
كم أفتقده ،،،
لأني عندما وجدته، وجدت عثرات الحياة

٤
كم أحبها ،،،
لأنها لم تملك ما أملك، و ملكت ما لم أملك ،،، و أملك


حاشية:
٣: لأننا تتعلم من العثرات
٤: لأنها لا تعي ما تملك

Langues de Chat [EN: the Cats' Tongues] from Galler is highly recommended! go for the White Praline and Dark Parline :) Their store in Kuwait is in the Avenues, between Swarovski and Zara Home.

نتمنى ،،، ميخائيل نعيمة

يقول إبن نعيمة

نتمنى وفي التمني شقاء

وننادي ياليت كانوا وكنا

ونصلي في سرنا للأماني

والاماني في الجهر يضحكن منا

غير اني,وان كرهت التمني

اتمنى لو كنت لا اتمنى

نتمنى وما التمني سوى مهماز

دهر يحثنا للمسير

فصغيرا قد كنت اطلب لو كنت

كبيرا ولي صفات الكبير

وكبيرا,لو عدت طفلا صغيرا

واستردت نفسي نعيم الصغير

أمس في حديث ما طرت لي هالأبيات، و افتاحيتها "نتمنى و في التمني شقاء" و على الرغم من اني متفائلة بشكل عام و احب الامنيات لانها تحفز الانسان على الانجاز و خصوصا لو كان له نظرة واقعية في للأمور اللي تجري حوله و هم خطة عمل يمشي عليها علشان ينجز اللي ايتمناه، و ساعات هالواقع يصحيك و يقولك بصراحة ان امنياتك غير قابلة للتحقيق و ذلك نظرا لعدم توافق الشروط المقيدة لمساحة التطبيق فعليك اما انت تغير الأمنية او مساحة التطبيق! لكننا كبشر لا نرى حاجز المستحيل كافٍ ليثنينا عن التمني، فإن كان به شقاء ام لا فنحن نحب التمني
:)

المثير للإهتمام اني اذكر امي بمناسبات مختلفة تقول الشطر الأول من هالقصيدة، و لما سألتها عنها قالت لي هذي من اختج و لما سألت اختي قالت ايييييي هذي خذيناها ب أولى ثانوي و كنت اسمعها لأمي، و سمعتها لي كاملة للحينها حافظتها

Kuwaiti National Assembly Elections 2009

The Kuwaiti national Assembly (Parliament) elections came after a dissolving decree from Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah, that was justified by the lack of cooperation between the National Assembly and the Government. The most surprising in the 2009 elections was the winning of 4 women (from 3 different districts, out of 5 districts). Women in Kuwait were granted their political rights in 2005, and in 2006 elections were held but no woman won any of the 50 chairs in the parliament, now in 2009 FOUR women made it!

The women elected to the 50-member national assembly in Kuwait are, from left, Aseel al-Awadi, Rola Dashti, Salwa al-Jassar and Massouma al-Mubarak. Women gained the right to vote and run for office in 2005, but Islamists urged voters not to elect any.

These 4 Kuwaiti women are the first to make it to the parliament and by that they are placed in the first line of decision making and are official speakers of the people in Kuwait and the Gulf countries, however with this lovely achievement the over all newly elected members in the up coming National Assembly are not so different from the previous ones, there are changes and very surprising results for the increase & decrease in the popularity of some very old candidates who used to be in the top ranks, I personally do not have my hopes up but wish for the best and wish for this parliament to last longer than the one proceeding it.

In my personal opinion the two biggest highlights in the 2009 elections are the women wining 4 chairs, for the first time will enter our National Assembly, and the Kuwaiti people's wish for change that reflects their hopes for ending the increasing uncooperative relation between the Government and the National Assembly.

I am very proud of the winning of four Kuwaiti women and hope for more awareness and focus towards the really important issues that will make a new brighter Kuwaiti future.

علشان الكويت

بجهود شبابية بسيطة و قلوب مشبعة بالكثير من حب الكويت قام موقع و حملة "علشان الكويت" في زخم الحزازيات و الفرقة التي تشق الوحدة الوطنية و التازيم ما بين السلطتين التشريعية و التنفيذية تأتي مجموعة من شباب الكويت المحب لهذا الوطن ليذكروا الكل بأن الكويت هي ضميرك بلسان ذوي الخبرة

و تستمر تلك الجهود لتحذيرنا من العنصرية



و تذكيرنا و تعريفنا بمعايير اختيار مرشحي مجلس الأمة



و أخيرا و ليس آخرا محاربة السلبية



و هي الرسالة الأهم في هذه الايام! مع حالة الملل التي يعيشها الشعب الكويتي من التأزيم و مع اغراء الورقة البيضاء "و اهنيه انا قاعده اتحرش بماد م٢٠٠٠ و بو جيج" فلا اؤيد اليأس و العزوف عن الترشيح، كما نقول "الشق عود" و التغيير لن يحصل بين يوم و ليلة، و لكن للكويت علينا حق و علينا ان نقف بجانبها و نسعى للأفضل ولا نسمح لليأس بالتسلل لقلوبنا فمازالت الكويت جميلة ولا يجوز ان نتخلى عنها و من اجدر منا ككويتيين ليساند الكويت؟

الخطوة الأولى هي الوقوف بجانب الدستور، و الترشيح بنزاهة لكي لا نسمح لمن يرى مصلحته فوق الوطن بأن ينفرد بصناديق الاقتراع! التراجع هو تسهيل لمهمة من يريدون دمار الوطن و بناء ال"أنا" و الفئوية و شق الصف. الإقدام على الترشيح هو واجب وطني و الأوجب منه هو ما بعد انتخاب المجلس....

بعد فشل مجلسنا السابق بتمثيل الأمة! فعلينا ان نعي لخطورة ما نحن فيه، فان كنا نرشح و من ثم نذم بمجلسنا الذي رشحناه اذن الخلل قابع فينا! و ان صلح اختيارنا فحتى المكائد و الفساد لن يتمكن منا و من مجلسنا ولا من حكومتنا، و ان تمكن من الحكومة فلنا مجلس يراقب و يوجه....

الخطوة الثانية و الأهم هي بناء المواطن الكويتي و زرع روح المواطنة و إعادة تعريف الشعب بها، فكلنا راع و مسئول عن رعيته. و ما يلي بناء الفرد هو مراجعة المجلس بكافة تحركاته و بالأخص متابعة من يدخل المجلس للتنفيع و نخر جسد هذا البلد بالفساد، فكم كويتي فكر بمراجعة محاظر اجتماعات المجلس بدلا من متباعة ما تكتبه الصحف؟ و هي متاحة للكل بموقع مجلس الأمة


الترشيح و عدمه خيار، و انا اخترت ان اكون ايجابية و ان ارشح و ان لا اتخلى عن الكويت لاني احبها

AKS - عكس

AKS is a group of independent Kuwaiti film makers, lovely talents gathered in a rather odd name that stands up to get your attention, the small 3 letter word provoked my curiosity of why AKS in particular, yet I never thought of asking them why AKS, sometimes the charm in leaving some blanks here and there is enjoyable.

From the documentary Occupation 101 I knew about Cinemagics and since then started attending the screenings they hold, when ever I can, I must say it has been and is a great joy! In the future I will write more about it to promote such an amazing opportunity to see the art of movie making from all over the world and not only from Hollywood.

Last Saturday was a very special screening night, 4 Kuwaiti short movies were screened, it was an enjoyable evening and event, here goes my review of the 4 movies:

1. The Sniper - القناص : by Dawood Shuail

It's the shortest in run time, yet enjoyable, the story revolves around a sniper caught in a cat and mouse chaise, and it reminded me of "Enemy at the Gates" it was a very simple movie, it can be elaborated more I wished for it to be longer, but المخرج عاوز كده :) and I totally respect that and enjoyed the movie.

1. Hosha - هوشة : by Faisal Al-Duwaisan

Fisal Al-Duwaisan is a pro in photography I have seen his work in P2BK, and in many scattered places around the net. In Hosha the cinematography is amazing, you will be stunned of the level of professionalism and well use of light and technology! The trailer says a lot about that. The story is simple and touching, also an enjoyable movie.

1. Just Human - مجرد إنسان : by Omar Al-Masab

It's more like a preview of what is next in Omar Al-Masab trilogy of a trip to explore the human being, its a simple animated movie, all what you see is simple black and white sketches, a perfect color combination that diverts the attention to the ideas displayed, no distractions what so ever. My full judgment will complete when the trilogy does too, but I can say that I have high hopes in whats next. Me likey.

1. Banana - موز : by Meqdad Al-Kout

Is probably the longest in run time. The trailer is very simple compared to how complex the movie is and how controversial it was in the reviews from Kuwait and from the interview with the director in an Egyptian magazine. The performance of Nizar Al-Qandi, the hidden humble actor/artist with many talents, is very impressive, he played a part that took out a lot of his potentials out loud, and yes he can make you hate him, sympathize with him and not just laugh with him. Although its a short movie but it has a lot of depth in it, idea wise, symbolism was strongly used in it and many messages were sent with in the movie. Yes it's not easy for our community to accept such a movie but on the other hand he does display a lot of matters that are kept at the end in our list of interests! In the time with the consistent need for us to shed light on them instead of hiding them. I certainly enjoyed the movie very much.

About the controversy made by Banana I say that movies send a message! Some might say that when actors / directors describe their work as messages to the community, they really don't mean it! But I say yes most of them do, and Al-Kout certainly does! Art can make us think and provoke our community. We are human, we will never be prone to anything in this universe, one day we are very happy and every thing is clear, but what the next day hides is unknown and it can carry many contradictions to the one proceeding it! Opening up and discussing our problems, finding solutions is far more better than keeping them hidden, hiding will one day turn them into a tumor that will eat us up. The movie is not suitable for young people and is a wake up call to discuss rather than hide the problems any man or woman can face when confronting their sexual identity and needs, and some people among us and around us face that confusion and may get lost in the process of surrendering to the idea of tabooing any thing related to sexuality.

Last but not least, the above 4 movies participated in the Gulf Film Festival held recently in Dubai, it is worth noting that there are other Kuwaiti (co-Kuwaiti) movies that participated in the festival and the winners from Kuwait are:

- Amer Alzuhair
WHEN THE PEOPLE SPOKE - PART 3
Special Jury Prize
Official Competition Documentary

- Meqdad Al Kout
MOUZ (BANANA)
Special Jury Prize
Official Competition Short

- Omar Al-Masab
NAKED HUMAN
Special Mention

P.S: Pictures taken from "AKS" Facebook group.

From me to the readers

أسعدني قبل اسبوع والد مثابر يسعى لتحقيق ذاته بإثناء و إطراء اسعدني و له اوجه كل الشكر

و أسعدني اليوم أحد القراء بتاج من الإثناء على ما اكتب

جميل ان يرسم البسمه على شفتيك من لا تعرف و يقدر ما تفعل في وقت لا تتوقع به التقدير او الشكر حول نشاط تمارسه بين ثنايا وقتك كل ما سنحت لك الحياة بان تتفرغ لعمل ما تحب و ان تسطر بضعة حروف قد تلاقي الاستحسان، فلكل قارئ صامت او متحدث
،،،،،

شكرا جزيلا

Terrible writer's block!

It hit me for two weeks or so :/ I can not write anything! I have a lot to say and write about but can not get into the act of actually typing anything!

The main and most direct reason is the extreme exhaustion I feel after work, the end of any fiscal year and the beginning of a new one is always loaded with work. Therefore when I come home I have the minimal amount of ability to sit with the family and catch up then its either reading or watching DVDs, and its mostly watching those days, reading is becoming a hard activity, too much concentration is needed.

However today I decided to go out with my self and clear my head, hmm well that decision was assisted with the lack of interest for those around me towards my favorite activities. Nevertheless I came with a less distracted mind and the will to write again :D I will not guarantee any charming posts but they will be a lot :D inshallah.