Blog Day
Np - Sigur Ros - Saeglopur This song is way to cool. I can't wait for the full album to come out. Anyway, 31st of August is 'Blog Day'. I've been tagged by Sam (paradoxicpages.blogspot.com). The tag is basically that I have to talk about 5 blogs 'that are different from my own culture, point of view and attitude'. Arghhhh I have to THINK!!!! :S Very well then. Lets see. First of all, a blog I don't have linked from mine, but the first to come to mind. Its called 'You Only Live Once'. The author, Cat, beautifully expresses her thoughts, insights into life, and anything else that comes into her mind. Shes wonderfully eloquent, optimistic and downright refreshing. She doesn't post enough, which is the only problem with this blog. But hey, we can change that ;) http://candyflossweb.blogspot.com/ The second blog that comes to mind is CrazyRed's blog, 'Journal Of A Twisted Mind', which I have linked. Heres the link anyway: http://krazyred.blogspot.com (mind the k) He hasn't updated it since July, which is unfortunate (also the fact that its blue :p). Its an awesome blog, dedicated almost entirely to football - a world I know altogether too little about. The last few posts are less football oriented, and give you a greater look into his mind. What I like about this blog is that, when I read it, there are so many things I agree with, and so many I dont. Its also very honestly written - unlike mine, its not written to be read (:p) but written exactly as he himself would speak it, I find. It comes straight from the heart. The third blog that comes to mind is that of Arabian Princess (or, as we lovingly call her, Arby!).'UmQusai's Thoughts'. Arby's a pure professional, at least thats how I see her, and her blog gives me no reason to see her any differently. Of a very traditional background, she has a deep respect for her culture and traditional way of life, and yet understands modernization more than many of us would like to be able to say we do, and through the blog she shows how she tackles this (and integrates it into her life). It makes for interesting reading. I find she also has a great respect for other points of view, something thats often lacking in people's rationale. http://http://umqusai.blogspot.com/ Am I at three or four? This is easier than I thought! This blog I was hesitant to include, because it hasn't been update in a while, but I just checked, and its been updated lots since I last checked! (July... :s) 'A. Woman In Black'! An American, working in Oman, talks about her daily life in this completely alien culture (alien to her that is - although this is Oman, theres always something new to discover, even to us Omanis ;) ). I love her writing style and her sense of humour, and the way her mood shines through her posts - be it happy, excited, depressed or whatever, you can really feel it. Again, as with CrazyRed's its that honest post-writing style. This is one of my favourite blogs, and I'm glad its being updated again! http://http://onewomaninblack.blogspot.com/ The last blog, well, this was the first one on my mind originally. But the blogmaster doesn't want me to reveal her blog address, or even her name. Its a private blog, for her and close friends only. She knows who she is though ;) Its been a while since I visited (I lost the address and I haven't had the chance to ask you! When you read this, please PM me your blog address!). Its one of the coolest blogs I've ever written. Primarily it deals with her life and her struggle through university, but the culture is completely new to me. I simply love the way shes always optimistic about everything, and brutally honest. The way her angst is expressed, and the way she deals with it. I'm not really sure what I can say that would differentiate it from any other, but..well, this is a tribute to her blog :) Phew, that was tough. There were other blogs I wanted to mention - Muscatis is notable, its probably my favourite blog. Its very interesting, but I didnt feel it fit the criteria. Same with Sam's blog, but again it didn't quite fit. Mbarak's would probably have fit, but I guess it didnt cut the list. Next time maybe :) Have a nice Blog Day!
Posted by illogicist at 1:42 PM
Green Day
np - Andromeda - Encyclopaedia WARNING - an elitist music post. If you dont like that, dont read it :) Green Day won 7 of 8 awards they were nominated for at the MTV music awards. Suddenly everyone's hailing the 'return of rock' to the mainstream. The media circus never fails to amuse, yet never succeeds in impressing. The first 'punk rock opera'. First of all, let me make this clear: I despise punk rock. I am personally offended when they label Rage Against The Machine 'punk rock' because RATM is one of the most awesome rock bands to emerge, probably one of the the original 'anti-establishment' bands (back then anti-establishment actually meant something, and wasn't just another creation of establishment itself). Punk Rock Opera. What is it? Something new? No, just a concept album, this time punk rock (a concept album is an album where theres a definite theme running through all the songs). Concept albums are pretty cool, but nowhere near new. Opeth are about to release/just released (not sure) a new album, Ghost Reveries, which is a concept album, their second concept album. Its a pretty good album, not as good as their first, Still Life. Anyway, I listened to American Idiot. I don't much like it. In fact, I don't like it at all. Its got 2 good songs, 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' and 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams' (which is ruined by the silly end - you simply can't attach a progressive element to a song that runs without progression for almost for minutes and end it at that). Everything is else average, mediocre. The nine minute songs are with minimal progression. But then again, they aren't a progressive band, they're a 'punk rock' band. So don't make nine minute songs, simple. Not that there isn't anything good on this album. I quite like Billy Joe's vocals, and there is a little creativity here and there when it comes to the guitar work. But not much - not enough to be heralded one of the best albums of the year, especially not in 2005 (I think it was 2004 though). 2005 has been the year where so many amazing albums have been released - at least in the underground. I'll tell you what album I'm looking forward to. A band called Novembre - none of you will have heard of them - are releasing an album in a few months, after years of silence. No website, no press releases, one of the best bands I'd heard just disappeared. And suddenly they're back out of nowhere. Of course, the media will let this one go. What interest do they have in underground Italian progressive metal, a band not signed to any of the major labels and without a major fan following? Opeth have had great success, and I suspect this album, Ghost Reveries, will launch them further into the mainstream - and thats good. They're a great band, and they deserve all the exposure they get. They haven't compromised their musical integrity, and they dont make silly music videos and the like. Anyway, its not like Green Day are any worse than most rock bands - probably better. But I hate, HATE, hate it when the media makes such a big deal of completely underserving things.
Posted by illogicist at 5:19 AM
Pizza Hut's Kids Meal Policy!
The other day, my sister and her friend went into Pizza Hut for lunch. They weren't particularly hungry, so they each ordered the kids meal - I think its a small pizza and a drink for R.O. 1. The waiter told them, "I'm sorry, but we only serve the kids meal to children under 8 years old." Inquiring why, the waiter just said its their policy. So they asked for the manager, because really, its pretty stupid to deny your customer something because they aren't eight years old. The manager came out, and defended the policy. When asked why this policy exists, he would say that they were losing money on that meal. Hmm. I'm not sure how you can lose money serving bread, cheese and carbonated water for a rial, but hey, the mysteries of Pizza Hut shall never be revealed to us hungry mortal consumers I suppose. When questioned further, he would say "its crystal clear ma'am, its our policy only to serve the kids meal to children 8 or below." Now, if I were in her position, something ugly would have happened, because I am not used to having people insult my intelligence over something so trivial. 'Its crystal clear'. Whats crystal clear to me is the stupidity of the Pizza Hut policy. Another thing that bugs me is this 'Minute Maid' orange juice in McDonalds. Why would I care if my orange juice was Minute Maid, a brand you dont generally get in the shops around here, or Al-Rawabi? And in Burger King in Dubai, they advertise that they use some special brand of beef. Why do I want this special beef? Assuming its halal (and I assume it is), what the hell difference does it make dammit? Why does everything have to be a brand? Im worried about this new trend of American branding thats pushing its way into our market, where every little thing has to be branded, as the examples above. I dont care if my burger beef is from New Zealand or Salalah, provided its halal, clean, and tastes good.
Posted by illogicist at 1:52 AM
Omani Blog Awards
I'm not sure what this is about, and I doubt I'll qualify for anything, but heres some support.
http://oba2005.blogspot.com
:)
Posted by illogicist at 1:51 AM
Well I'm Back
Indeed I am, after a much-needed holiday within my much-needed holiday, I'm back on holiday from my holiday (if u get what I mean).
Posted by illogicist at 1:45 AM
Today
Well, its been a while since I've done this, but heres a post entirely about what I did today. With pictures.My cousins from London were in Dubai, so they came down for the day. We had a pretty good time, watched the sunset from Shari3 7ub, then went on to Mutrah Souq. Saw a lot of cool stuff there, a lot of which I'll post pictures of. Spent a few hours just browsing and haggling with salesman, etc. Got 2 old old coins, one 18th century and one 19th century, which is pretty cool. Then we went to Kargeen, I had this Steak De Paris or something, which was pretty good, but AS USUAL they forgot something from what we ordered - and this time it was my steak.Ok pictures:
Hmm..this is old. Ok this was in Abu Dhabi, the IKEA there had this, and I swear I cracked up when I saw it. I wonder if anyone decided it was funny to take a crap in the fake ikea toilet, because when i lifted the cover ther was a plastic thing blocking the hole saying the same thing.
Pizza Hut, Al Ain. Also last weekend (with Abu Dhabi). Plate of french fries, how unappetising...
I saw this Camera at Carrefour here. It said 9.9 megapixels...and look at the price. 60 rials. You gotta be kidding me. I asked to pick it up, and I swear, it felt like plastic. I asked if it was real or a display model (like the phones). The lady started laughing and told me it wasnt really 9.9 MP, it was 3.0, but 'could display on the screen up to 9.9 MP resolution. Umm...okay.
Pizza Hut, Al Ain. On one of the side doors, which was locked. I cracked up at this too. I tend to get excited at bad english...
A (very) skinny chicken in Al Ain..
Aha this is from today. Thats the Mona Lisa on the coin. On the other side it had Leonardo DaVinci. It looked old, but my sister thought it was fake, so I didnt buy it. I need to do some research on the authenticity of it.
This is a ring I saw at the Mutrah Souq. I swear I would have bought it, except that it was 25 rials. Its so awesome! :D
The front of that Leo Da Vinci coin. Its a little blurry. Any info anyone can provide would be much appreciated.
This is that fort, as u walk left from the Mutrah Souq towards that little roundabout, then Riyam. Its awesome.
Here the fort is glowing. It may be blurry, but the nightvision on my camera is awesome.
A view of the corniche, not very good.
Was in the video shop in MQ, saw this pic, and I SWEAR, its the EXACT IMAGE of my old headmaster, Mister Sumrain!
While at Kargeen, my cousin ordered a banana milkshake. It was cool that they actually had the top of a banana on the glass.
Umm...a fork. It just looked...nice?
This was AWESOME. I just wish that Pajero was an Escalade or something, the size difference would have been more noticeable. This was tonight outside MQ, parking lot.Aha, some pics from Jabal Akhdar, finally. Heres a few, I took myself. These are downsized, if anyone wants the fullsize of these, contact me.
Last few images, practice calligraphy, from a guy at the Mutrah Souq. Really cool stuff, he did all our names as well. He gave us one of his old practice sheets. Check it out.
...and thats that. Phew! Never again!
Posted by illogicist at 1:00 PM
Obligatory Silence Of Elevators
I have to admit, I ripped the title off. Not another song, but a book :p so it doesn't count. But this is my newest song, the one I'm working on. Once again I'm having problems linking different sections - keeping it progressive without making it disjointed. Its always hard, but I think this time instead of drum transitions I'll do it with synth/keyboard. 'Obligatory Silence Of Elevators' is actually a working title - thus far the song is far too energetic for the title :p Its at about five minutes length right now, I think I'll extend it to seven minutes or so...not sure whether to keep going into new territory or link the end with the beginning, as I usually do. Hmm.
Posted by illogicist at 4:57 AM
Soapbox
NP - Infected Mushroom - Cities Of The Future Added 'Soapbox' to my blog links. http://soapbox03.blogpsot.com In the words of Samyah, " this is just a place for us three friends to talk about stuff we talk about when we're hanging together in a mall, but since we're all going to be misplaced in a about month an online blog will be our connection to eachother. " So there you go :)
Posted by illogicist at 1:03 PM
Post
Post. Post post post.
Posted by illogicist at 2:11 PM
Off For The Weekend
NP - Dream Theater - Home
The city- it calls to me
Decadent scenes from my memory
Sorrow- eternity
My demons are coming to drown me
...
Help- Im falling, Im crawling
I cant keep away from its clutch
Cant have it, this habit
Its calling me back to my home
...
I remember I was told
theres a new love thats born
For each one that has died
...
Her story- it holds the key
Unlocking dreams from my memory
Solving this mystery
Is everything that is a part of me
...
Help- regression, obsession
I cant keep away from her touch
Leave no doubt, to find out
Its calling me back to my home
...
===============
On a completely unrelated note, I'm off to dubai for the weekend. Later folks!
Posted by illogicist at 3:14 PM
