9 wierd things about everyone

I know it's a lame copy/paste post, it's so funny I had to share it...

1. People who point at their wrist while asking for the time.... I know where my watch is pal, where the heck is yours?
2. People who are willing to get off their butt to search the entire room for the T.V. remote because they refuse to walk to the T.V. and change the channel manually.
3. When people say 'Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too'. You got that right! What good is cake if you can't eat it?
4. When people say 'it's always the last place you look'. Of course it is. Why the heck would you keep looking after you've found it? Do people do this?
5. When people say while watching a film 'did you see that?'. No Loser, I paid $12 to come to the cinema and stare at the stupid floor.
6. People who ask 'Can I ask you a question?'.... Didn't really give me a choice there, did ya sunshine?
7. When something is 'new and improved!' Which is it? If it's new, then there has never been anything before it. If it's an improvement, then there must have been something before it, couldn't be new.
8. When people say 'life is short'. What the heck?? Life is the longest thing anyone ever does!! What can you do that's longer?
9. When you are waiting for the bus and someone asks 'Has the bus come yet?'. If the bus came, would I still be standing here?
   
10. HE3HE3
    
    
    

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

As much as an avid reader I am, I have never come across a book so gripping (other than Harry Potter of course). But still, it's one heck of a book. I mean seriously, how many books have you read that are as good as this one? Well let me make it a bit clearer to you.

Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old kid who lives in New York and goes to boarding school, always has problems. Trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes and he doesnt know that it's because that he is the son of one the Olympian gods (Ancient Greek gods like Zeus and his dudes). He is a demigod (one of his parents is human and the other is god) and monsters target demigods to feast on. Unfortunately, Percy learns this the hard way after battling his undercover math teacher who turns out to be a monster. After going to the only sanctuary on earth for demigods where no monsters are allowed, Percy has to train to become a true hero and stop a war waging between the gods.

The story takes place in modern-time America and brings ancient Greek culture to our daily lives. That's what makes the book so darn good. It's funny, amuzing, interesting and all the good adjectives you would use to describe a book. It's a definate 2 thumbs up and anyone who reads this post should read it 'cause you'll never regret it.
p.s. The first book of the series is The Lightening Theif. Just so you know.

Prison Break Season 4, Episode 11 (I think)...NO SPOILERS IN THIS POST

This week, Prison Break was unique.  It was awsome, fantastic, smart, gripping, and all the good adjectives that Shakespeare made up.

And just because i can't give anyone a hand, i'll give the guys at FoxTV this post, because it's the most i could do, for making the best Prison Break episode that I have ever set eyes on.

No trip. AGAIN!

Yeah so this year, we're under the pressure of having external exams in May so we can be mdalla3een and whine to the administration on anything that bothers us.

So we told them that we needed to go on a trip to get releived of our "stress" (ya right!) and have thaw out a bit and so we decided to go the Dead Sea this Thursday.  But to our awesome luck, the Ministry of Education decided to make a new rule that says "no school trips after November 15th." so we're stuck in Amman this thursday with SCHOOL which makes it all the worse.

The same thing hapenned in grade 8 when we wanted to go to Aqaba, everything was ready when something bad (i can't remember what) hapenned.

It's just so frustrating

Becoming a Photoshop Geek

Ever since i was young, i loved to draw and watch other people draw. Especially my mom, and especially when she used Adobe Photoshop for it, but i had never really learned how to use it. Until I was inspired by the amazing creations of my classmate/friend Khaled and so i thought, why not get ago at it. The first few tutorials i tried out were extremely hard since i didn't know a single thing. But then i got used to it. And below is the fruit of my/Khaled's tree;


By the way Khaled, I'm expecting you to mention me in your blog.

On Obama and the campaign

And so for more than a year now, everyone has experienced the presidential elections in one way or another. Whether you couldn't watch Prison Break because of the elections or wether you're interested in politics or whether you're just an avid reader of Yahoo!News or whether you live in America.

And so it was finally over yesterday with me very excited during the course of the past 48 hours to see who will become the next leader of the leading nation of the world.

And so to start off, see ya later Bush. You can go back to your cow and chicken barn in Texas and never show us your monkey and cruel face again. MA3 EL GAL3A!

As for myself, I have, let's say, supported Obama by not wanting McCain to win because Obama's face looks much more optimistic and friendly, whereas McCain looks grumpy which can pose a threat to the rest of the third world countries.

But who knows? Who knows if Obama is better than the one before him or if he'll help make the world a better place or stop the war in Iraq? People seem to be very hopeful after hearing that people are proposing that he'll become a muslim and just directly take all the troops out of Iraq. COME ON PEOPLE! COME TO YOUR SENSES! We're on earth here not mars. There's something called common sense. Someone can't just do that all at once.

So anyways, congratulations to everyone who voted for Obama for getting what you wanted and for having a kind-looking president as a leader for your country.

And congrats for Obama too for being the first African-American president of the USA. It's really a milestone in US history and hopefully this will put a stop to racism.
And congrats to me for finding a topic to blog about.

A response to Mab3oos's post - Generation Y

It's true. Arab guys try to act like they're fashion know-it-alls. They try new types of looks and hair styles and without any good results, try to imitate western actors. But the worst part of it all is " wearing your pants around your knees and thinking that you are cool " - Mab3oos.
So this is how a clever caricaturist defines the meaning of generation Y.
This is how it goes;
Generation Y are the people born between 1980 and 1995. And this is why:

The Heart Attack Grill

It's a fact - Americans love to eat. They love food. Especially junk food with so much fat that gets to a point that looks gross and they adore HUGE sandwiches. It's a disease. Bad for the heart, makes you obese and ugly. Apparently, Americans know how bad fat is for you and your heart and that it precipitates on the inside of the arteries which can stop blood from reaching the heart, causing death. So that's why when they decided to make the greasiest, biggest, ugliest hamburger i have ever seen, the called the restaurant the Heart Attack Grill as if they were doing their part of raising people's awareness that eating there might cause heart attacks. If people do get heart attacks, it's not their fault, the didn't make them eat and they made a point that their burgers are deadly. YA RIGHT! It's just scary how big these burgers are.Their burgers are so bad and they know it that their waitresses wear nurses uniforms. And it's no joke, Americans eat that much. But look at me, not Americans eat this much, stupid people eat this much. So sorry to ever healthy American.

Biology becomes fun - Anatomy of the eye

Miss Reem, the bio teacher, took us down to the lab. FINALLY. After all those weeks of waiting for the eye sheeps to arrive, they did. And so we went, lab coats and smiles of excitement on.

We were actually given tools to bisect the eyes ourselves. Every 3 people got an eye and it was the funnest experience in my life! It really felt gross at the beginning but at the end, you couldn't get enough of putting the needle through the eye.

Those pink things were the layers of fat around the eyes and the black stuff is the pigment in the choroid which helps to trap light and the transparent sol is the viterous humour which helps to refract light and the lens and the suspensary ligaments are in there but they're hard to see.

And we really saw it. We saw the lens and the iris and the ciliary bodies and the suspensary ligaments and the viterous humour and the choroid. So it really made a difference to actually see the insides of an eye. Instead of just looking at the neat picture of the eye in the book, we got to look at this which is way cooler than theory. By the way, that little transperent thing beside "the eye" is what's left of the lens after falling into many hands.


Sorry if i grossed someone out. BUT THAT WAS FUN!!!

Going crazy with chemistry

Mr Abdessalam. The Chemistry teacher. He is now the most wanted guy among students for acts of complete idiocy and awful teaching. Over 1.75 meters tall with matted dirty black hair and little eyes behind glasses slipping down the nose. His most noticable feature would be his awful grin that goes from ear to ear. It looks like somebody cut his mouth open. Just like the Joker in Batman.

No seriously if you find this guy anywhere in your neighbourhood, beware because you would be looking at a criminal that doesnt know how to teach chemistry. This guy just comes to class with the biggest grin available for sale and gives us 35-page summaries of things we never took. Then he says that it will all be explained in the near future. Then he tells us his boring plan in teaching. And he just drones on and on and never finishes.

Then, when he finnally starts to explain the lesson, he forgets that mankind invented a board to write on, especially in chemistry class. He just talks chemicals and acids and bases and substances. He keeps talking (without writing, as though he were chatting with us) about with chemicals are reactive and which are inert and which ones produce what when reacted with others and through all that he expects us to absorb what he is saying and understand that.

On top of that, he has the worst jokes ever. He thinks he's funny but after he says something stupid, the only one with a smile on their face would be him. If it wasn't rude, everyone would just boo him out of the class.

And we have a chemistry quiz on tuesday. Nobody knows how to pass it and i don't either so this post is just a place to vent some of my anger in.

No but seriously, if you see him anywhere just call 079 - 555 - 1215 ( please don't call because this is a random number that may belong to someone).

Parkour

Although many people don't know what it's called, they do know how it looks like. Everywhere in the world, in TV commercials and posters, parkour is present. By defenition, parkour is getting from point A to point B in the fastest and most efficient way possible. It involves jumping from very high places, and from building to building, in cool and fast ways. It involves climbing really high walls. It involves being partially aerodynamic and being fast and rolling. But it involves jumping alot. That's why i vainly thought it was a monkey sport with no meaning. Untill i actually tried it out.
Parkour isn't the easiest sport out there. Nor is it the safest one. But it sure is cool. When you do parkour, you get this feeling of ecstasy and freedom. You feel like you're leaving the world behind you and just focusing on how to land safely on the ground. You can't take being good at parkour for granted. It takes lots of practice. And you can't expect yourself to be safe and sound in the air. Something has to go wrong.
So yesterday, me and my friends went to Al-Hussain park after seeing that there were some ideal places to practice parkour in. We spent alot of time trying to do parkour moves and learning new ones . And surely, lots and lots of things went wrong. My friend Khaled landed on his back after a 2 metre high jump all becuase he got his leg caught in the wall he was jumping off. Ouch. I fell on my knee on a ramp and it still hurts. That hurt. I got several cuts and bruises and my hands became numb and i became sweaty and my clothes became filthy and my bones became heavy and my eyes were hard to open because of the sleepiness and my stomach was killing me because of hunger but my blood was full of adrenaline because of the excitement and fun i was having. Although it was frustrating at times because there were jumps i couldnt do that looked so simple. Adding to that, I barely slept at night.
So what i'm trying to say here is that, although parkour isnt the most popular or safest sport around, it's a hell good and fun sport. There's nothing to lose in learning how to do it. Bruises will fade and cuts will clot and heavy bones will become light and sleepless nights will become nights full of good dreams. Eventually.

Prison Break season 4 ep 8

Tuesday. It's the day i come back from school and go right onto the computer to watch the next episode of the almighty TV series, Prison Break. Actually, Prison Break is what keeps me going during those boring, dull chemistry and physics lessons. Whenever i get fed up with forces and ammonia and sulfuric acid and magnetism and speed of reaction and all that shit, I remember that there is a fresh, new episode of Prison Break waiting to be watched. So the adrenaline starts flowing and I cheer up. Especially when me and Khaled Al-Shareef talk about it. It's as exciting as a TV series can get.

So yesterday, I stormed into the empty house to find the computer on and waiting. Without hesitation, i type in www.cucirca.com into the address bar and press enter. Then, I look for the eighth episode on the list of episodes and i find that it's not there. What a disaster. I felt completely devastated. And now I'm angry at stupid fox for showing the preview of the episode which gets you all excited and then just not showing it all in the sake of a stupid presidential thing. Presidents can wait. McCain can wait. Obama can wait. Palin can wait a bit untill she can show off. It's time for Prison Break. I guess we'll just have to wait another boring, dull, 7 month, annoying, never ending week. It's just ridiculous!
But at least there's a soccer game today. I hope England wins!!!

Weird and rediculous quotes written on my friends' notebooks

This is gonna be a really short poste;

• When i see you, i know the beautiful of the world.
• Together we grow up should never depart

What i get from the first one is that you're what makes the world beautiful and the second one just tells me that we'll grow up together and we'll never split.

God knows what else is out there in the part of the Arab world that wants to be like America

Amazing Stats - Post #3

I'm a, you can say, avid reader. I like to read books, magazines, articles, blogs and everything with letters in it. And to look at these stats is kinda disappointing.

• 58% of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
• 42% of college graduates never read another book after college.
• * 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
• * 70% of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
• * 57% of new books are not read to completion.
• * Most readers don't get past page 18 in a book they have purchased.
• * A successful fiction book sells 5,000 copies.
• * A successful nonfiction book sells 7,500 copies.
• * A New York Times bestseller sells 250,000 copies.
• * On average, a bookstore browser spends 8 seconds looking at a book's front cover and 15 seconds looking at the back cover.
• * Each day in the U.S., people spend 4 hours watching TV, 3 hours listening to the radio and 14 minutes reading magazines.

Amazing Stats - Post 2

This post is related to cereal. Yes i know, i was amazed to find such a webpage in the fist place;

• Americans buy 2.7 billion packages of breakfast cereal each year.
• If laid end to end, the empty cereal boxes from one year's consumption would stretch to the moon and back.
• The cereal industry uses 816 million pounds of sugar per year, enough to coat each and every American with more than three pounds of sugar. The cereal with the highest amount of sugar per serving is Smacks, which is 53% sugar.
• Americans consume about ten pounds, or 160 bowls of cereal, per person each year. But America ranks only fourth in per capita cereal consumption. Ireland ranks first, England ranks second, and Australia ranks third. 49% of Americans start each morning with a bowl of cereal, 30% eat toast, 28% eat eggs, 28% have coffee, 17% have hot cereal and fewer than 10% have pancakes, sausage, bagels or french toast.
• In terms of dollar value breakfast cereals are the third most popular product sold at supermarkets, after carbonated beverages and milk. Cigarettes are the fourth most popular item followed by fresh bread and rolls.
• In 1993, more than 1.3 million advertisements for cereal aired on American television, or more than twenty-five hours of cereal advertising per day, at a cost of $762 million for air time. Only auto manufacturers spend more money on television advertising than the makers of breakfast cereal.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go have some cereal.

Werid Stats - Post 1

• It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown. Smile, it's alot easier than frowning.
• A baby acquires fingerprints at the age of 3 months
• A sneeze can exceed speeds of 160 Km/H
• A beetle has over 300,000 different species.
• An elephant has four teeth
• A cow has four stomachs
• A giraffe has 7 bones in its neck, just like a human
• The armadillo always gives birth to twins
• The tongue of a chameleon is almost twice the length of its body
• A newborn kangaroo measures around 2.54cm (1ins) in length
• The brain uses a quarter of the bodies oxygen
• California uses more gas than China
• The stock market has lost 7.1 % of it's value on September 15, which is about $4 trillion dollars in value
  

School's daily routine

At about 6 am: I reluctantly get up from my warm and beautiful bed to get into my blue carrefour-type uniform and hurriedly grab a Nutella sandwich.

6:15. Waiting for the bus to come in front of the building with my brother talking in my ear, for which i am not in the mood and too sleepy to reply. The bus comes at 6:25

6:25 - 7:15. Sitting in the bus on the seat directly in front of the door which is annoying because you have to hear the engine and everyone coming into the bus while trying to sleep. You can also faintly hear the bus-driver's rantings and ravings over the rumble of the engine.

7:15 - 7:30. Sitting with my friends talking about everything about anything and sometimes arguing about which soccer team is the best (obviously Manchester Utd. Qais thinks it's Chelsea. What a retard) or frantically solving homework that we were too lazy to do at home or was too hard to solve alone. Occasionally, if there is a quiz, we'd revise it.

7:30 - 7:40. The worst part of the day.الطابور. This part of the day involves standing in lines to do daily morning exercises and sing ridiculous anasheed while being to sleepy to feel what's really hapenning. Then we have to read Quran and stand for the National Anthem and then we'd get yelled at by MR.Ramadan sometimes and then we'd trudge up the 50 stair staircase to the IGCSE section. Then the first lesson starts.

7:40 - 2:10. Get bored to death with never-ending lessons like physics math biology chemistry engilsh arabic IT and that's about it. The lessons seem to go on for ever themselves and after each lesson there is another never ending lesson where we have to write and make up excuses for not doing homework and try to talk to our friends without getting caught and trying to remember what quizzes we have next week.

2:10. Allah finnally bestowes his mercy upon us and allows time to go on so that the bell can ring. You would see me frantically putting my things away and thinking " astalavista school. untill tomorrow" and running towards the bus.

That's what happens to us everyday in school. I think prisoners should be sent there as a way of torture without physical abuse. It's just unbearable

This Ramadan

Maybe to people Ramadan means Bab el 7ara 3. Maybe it means being hungry and losing weight. Or maybe it's just another month in yet another year. But to me it's different. THIS Ramadan was different. And i'll miss it in every second it's gone.
This Ramdan i went to tarawee7 almost everyday. And i started praying. And i became religious rationally.
This Ramadan, i watched bab el 7ara 3 which wasnt as good as 2. There wasn't all the action and there wasnt Abu 3esam, Allah yer7amo.
This Ramadan was special because my friends and I strengthened our relations together to an extent that i don't think it can be strengthened any further, becuase every weekend, we would get together for Iftar at one guy's house. Today, we're going to a guy named Khalid Masoud.
This ramadan was special because my grandmother came from USA and my aunt came from UAE.
This ramadan was special because me and Qais beat Omar and Amer in soccer. That's cuz we played with England.
This Ramadan was special because Dimitar Berbatov joined Manchester United.
This Ramadan was special because i got the highest mark in Biology.
This Ramadan was special because i got 20 in chemistry.
This Ramdan was special because i looked at this dish:
But seriously, this Ramdan has a special place in my heart for all the reasons mentioned above and for the fact that i got to know a special someone that will never leave my mind. This post is for you

Sorry

I'm really sorry I couldn't make it to your 3azoomeh today Khaled. Just so you know, it wasnt' because of the game cuz i wasn't even watching it.

You have got to see this: China's Olympic Garden. AMAZING

I don't think anyone will forget the beautiful opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics this year. Nor will anyone forget how Argentina beat Brazil so bad to the gold medal in soccer. But there is something that no one will ever forget and will hopefully be maintained forever for our children's children to see. It's the Beijing Olympic Garden. It's just amazing. Be prepared to blow your mind. I think the garden is so beautifully constructed that it portrayes the beautiful Chinese culture with modern sport. It's a job well done!

What do people have against the new Facebook?

People these days are really getting on my nerves. WHY DO YOU HATE THE NEW FACEBOOK SO MUCH???!!! I mean, the old Facebook isnt any better and if anything, it's worse. And besides, can't you just accept the fact that you don't have to make petitions for every single thing that pops into your mind? Or do yo just want to make a revolution against anything? There is also a type of group which is just stupid like the one highlited in yellow in the picture above. And the types of groups that make no sense like : The best ideal in life. WTF???! And there is also another type of group that you aggree with but are to embarassed to join because it's nerdy or dorky. The ones highlighted in red are the ones against the new facebook. It's just rediculous!

The Biggest Flop In History

In as few words as possible, this movie is a complete disaster and the facts show why:
Budget: $2 million
Box Office: $30
Yes you read that right. It wasn't $300, it wasn't $3000 and it definetley wasn't $30000. Im guessing that only 6 people watched it in the cinemas. Who were they and how did they feel when they got out?

And back to school again

So today, i woke up at 6:15, went to the washroom, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and got dressed to go to school. Back to the morning routine of boring school days. But anyways, holidays were starting to get boring.

I got to school at 7:15 and boy, oh boy was i happy to be back. For some reason, the thought of going back to school was making me feel excited for the past couple of weeks. Maybe it's because there's practically nothing to do here in Amman except being a lazy couch potato and watching movies all day long. And then everyone starts watching Noor. But that's a whole different story. Stupid Noor. A complete waste of an hour.
It was surprising though to see that so many of the teachers have changed. That's how it is in the Islamic Educational College: They got top teachers of the highest caliber and with good experience, who later demand a raise but the school refuses to give them more money. I wonder how many good teachers we have lost because of that awful reason. Too many good teachers get replaced by beginners who know nothing or fairly little.
There's also the matter of the "new & improved uniform". Other than the fact that it looks horrible and just like the clothes that Carrefour and Safeway employees wear (some shade of light blue) we're not supposed to be in school without it (whoever doesnt wear a uniform gets kicked out). Now that's not the problem. The problem is that i went twice to the school to buy a uniform only to be told that they're out of shirts of my size. So naturally, i go to school without a uniform and i got told off for not waring one. And when i wanted to go buy one from the main office, they wouldn't let me go. I don't know what they're expecting of me! So today i went to school after school to prchase a uniform but then again, they didn't have any of my size. I don't know how the guy managed to pull out 2 shirts for me from out of nowhere. Oh well, at least i got something to wear for tomorrow!
And there's also the fact that they have reconstructed the school so much for some reason without even making a new field for us to play soccer in. We still use the preschool field.
But enough complaining, all in all the school was good. At least im not a lazy couch potato anymore.

A 1-minute Question Paper for A-level Exam

I am doing my O-levels next year for the IGCSE program. I've been fretting over how hard the exams would be. Below are 2 FAKE question papers for the A-levels which are for 11th and 12th grade. This is how any IGCSE question is: hard when you're in the middle of a test, and " oh no why didn't I answer it like that" when you know the answer. The question turns out to be easy.I dare you to soleve the question paper without cheating. If you do answer them correctly, Mashallah

Scroll down for answers.

Idiot sightings all over America

IDIOT SIGHTING:
We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us thatone of our problems was that we did not have a 'large' enough motor on theopener. I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Searsmade at that time, a 1/2 horsepower. He shook his head and said, 'Lady, youneed a 1/4 horsepower.' I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said,'NO, it's not.' Four is larger than two..'
We haven't used Sears repair since.

IDIOT SIGHTING
My daughter and I went through the McDonald's take-out window and I gave theclerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. Shesaid, 'you gave me too much money.' I said, 'Yes I know, but this way youcan just give me a dollar bill back.' She sighed and went to get the managerwho asked me to repeat my request. I did so, and he handed me back thequarter, and said 'We're sorry but they could not do that kind of thing.'The clerk then proceeded to give me back$1 and 75 cents in change.
Do not confuse the clerks at McD's.

IDIOT SIGHTING:
I live in a semi rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the localtownship administrative office to request the removal of the DEER CROSSINGsign on our road. The reason: 'Too many deer are being hit by cars out here!I don't think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore.
'From Kingman , KS .

IDIOT SIGHTING IN FOOD SERVICE:
My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for 'minimal lettuce.' He said he was sorry, butthey only had iceburg lettuce.
From Kansas City

IDIOT SIGHTING:
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employeeasked, 'Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?' Towhich I replied, 'If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?' Hesmiled knowingly and nodded, 'That's why we ask.'
Happened in Birmingham , Ala. (not in America)

IDIOT SIGHTING:
The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it's safe to cross the street. I wascrossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if Iknew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people whenthe light is red. Appalled, she responded, 'What on earth are blind peopledoing driving?!'
She was a probation officer in Wichita , KS

IDIOT SIGHTING:
I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself andfor the sake of her life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.
A deputy with the Dallas County Sheriffs office, no less.

IDIOT SIGHTING:
When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up ourcar, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the servicedepartment and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driversside door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried thedoor handle and discovered that it was unlocked. 'Hey,' I announced to thetechnician, 'its open!' His reply, 'I know. I already got that side.'
This was at the Ford dealership in Canton , Mississippi

Maria von Trapp Returns to Home That Inspired The Sound Of Music

Maria von Trapp, whose character was portrayed by Julia Roberts in the famous 1965 blockbuster hit, The Sound of Music, has returned to her family's house in Salzburg, Austria.

"I'm back home again," said Maria von Trapp in Salzburg, after spending several nights in her childhood home, which has been transformed into a hotel.

The house once belonged to the von Trapps, who became famous after their story was told in The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews, which is a story about...I think most of you know the story of how she made the single guy's children come to like music and be more social and how they marry at the end and move out of Austria.

In real life, the von Trapps' property was confiscated by the Nazis and SS chief Heinrich Himmler moved in. SS barracks were built in the garden and the property was secured with barbed wire and armed guards.
After the war, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood bought the villa from the family in 1947.
The religious order later moved into a nearby building and rented it out to the business partners who spent €500,000 to convert it into a hotel.

The real life villa does not appeare in the movie as the von Trapp's house is portrayed by a sea-side castle and the inside of the house was filmed in various studios in Hollywood.

The whole article, which I read from here, interested me because it's a confirmation that the Sound of Music was inspired by a true story.

Artemis Fowl : A Book Review

Ever since i finished reading the Harry Potter series, I have been looking for the second perfect book of all time. I read the Golden Compass and all it's sequels (i.e. His Dark Materials series) but they weren't extremely good. I read The Diary of a Wimpy Kid parts 1 & 2. Those were funny but not my type of reading: no fantasy, no adventure no action. Still, Wimpy Kid was aw some. I read the Count of Monte Cristo. That was my second favourite book of all time until I read the first book of Artemis Fowl.

Artemis Fowl is a book of a 12-year-old criminal mastermind whose father went missing. His father was on a ship taking a shipment of large amounts of cola to Russia for sale. The Russian Mafyia wouldn't let an Irishman interfere with their market. The ship was bombed and Fowl's dad went missing. Everyone thought that he was dead but Artemis wasn't convinced. He had a plan. When Artemis has a plan, it's not any old rescue plan. It's a plan that was thought up by one of the most brilliant minds in history.

Artemis' plan was to abduct a fairy and ransom her out for gold worth $15 million. The fairies I'm talking about aren't the bedtime fairytale fairies who are loving and caring. These fairies are dangerous. These fairies are lethal with technology and magic to beat the guts out of anyone. Anyone that is except Artemis Fowl.

I recommend this series for anyone who is looking for a gripping fantasy, adventure and slightly action book. It's addictive.

Thank you Essra for recommending this book. I really appreciate it.

Office Boy- This story made me think and wonder...

A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft . The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. "You are employed" he said. "Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start".

The man replied "But I don't have a computer, neither an email."
"I'm sorry", said the HR manager, "If you don't have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job."

The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive by this way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled everyday.

Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US . He started to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied, "I don't have an email ".
The broker answered curiously, "You don't have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?!!"
The man thought for a while and replied, " Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!
That man is me. Hehe no I'm just kidding I just felt like putting a dramatic end to this story.
So, this story made me thing and wonder: is it true or not?

This one is funny as well- New airline rules

Attendant: Welcome aboard Ala Carte Air, sir. May I see your ticket?
Passenger: Sure.
Attendant: You're in seat 12B. That will be $5, please!
Passenger: What for?
Attendant: For telling you where to sit.
Passenger: But I already knew where to sit.
Attendant: Nevertheless, we are now charging a seat locator fee of 5. It's the airline's new policy.
Passenger: That's the craziest thing I ever heard. I won't pay it.
Attendant: Sir, do you want a seat on this flight, or not?
Passenger: Yes, yes. All right, I'll pay. But the airline is going to hear about this.
Attendant: Thank you. My goodness, your carry-on bag looks heavy. Would you like me to stow it in the overhead compartment for you?
Passenger: That would be swell, thanks.
Attendant: No problem. Up we go, and done! That will be $10, please.
Passenger: What?
Attendant: The airline now charges a $10 carry-on assistance fee.
Passenger: This is extortion. I won't stand for it.
Attendant: Actually, you're right, you can't stand. You need to sit and fasten your seat belt. We're about to push back from the gate. But, first I need that $10.
Passenger: No way!
Attendant: Sir, if you don't comply, I will be forced to call the air marshal. And you really don't want me to do that.
Passenger: Why not? Is he going to shoot me?
Attendant: No, but there's a $50 air marshal hailing fee.
Passenger: Oh, all right, here, take the $10. I can't believe this.
Attendant: Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?Passenger: Yes. It's stuffy in here, and my overhead fan doesn't seem to work. Can you fix it?Attendant: Your overhead fan is not broken, sir. Just insert two quarters into the overhead coin slot for the first five minutes.
Passenger: The airline is charging me for cabin air?
Attendant: Of course not, sir. Stagnant cabin air is provided free of charge. It's the circulating air that costs 50 cents.
Passenger: I don't have any quarters. Can you make change for a dollar?
Attendant: Certainly, sir! Here you go!
Passenger: But you've given me only three quarters for my dollar.
Attendant: Yes, there's a 25 cent change making fee.
Passenger: For cryin' out loud. All I have left is a lousy quarter!What the heck can I do with this?Attendant: Hang onto it. You'll need it later for the lavatory.

Nature Strikes Again - A One in a Billion Photo

No photographer, regardless of skill, expertise, positioning or anything else could hope to set this shot up. It is truly a 'one in a billion' photo.

This one is FUNNY- New cell phone law

YOU HAVE TO READ THIS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. JUST READ IT ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM SENSELESS. IT'S FOR YOUR OWN SAKE

According to a proposed new law that would go into effect July 1, 2008 you will no longer be able to use a cell phone while driving unless you have a hands free adapter. I went to Circuit City and they wanted $50 for a headset with a microphone for my cell phone. Having a friend in the cell phone business, I talked with him and was able to come up with an alternative, working through Office Depot. These kits are compatible with any mobile phone and one size fits all. I paid him $0.08 each because he bought in quantity. Then we tried it with Motorola, Sprint, Verizon and Nokia units and they worked perfectly. A photo is attached so scroll down & take a look and let me know if you want one. Also, forward this to anyone you know, who has a cell phone, and who may want one!

KEEP GOING DOWN

KEEP GOING DOWN

KEEP GOING DOWN

KEEP GOING DOWN...THIS IS NOT A JOKE

KEEP GOING DOWN

KEEP GOING.....

Spain Euro Champions 2008

Although I am a supporter of England, who, unfortunately didn't qualify to the Euro 2008, I supported Netherlands throughout the tournament until they failed to qualify to the semifinal stage having lost to Russia. After that, I just wanted Turkey to win for their awsome team spirit and sportsmanship. Unfrotunately, they lost to Germany. I have despised Germany from the beginning of the tournament. So naturaly, I wanted Spain to win the final having seen their class and style in playing football.

So yesterday, I was cheering my head off after Torres scored a brilliant goal. Just perfect. I just feel sorry for my friends who support Germany and turned off their cell-phones once the goal was scored.

This is for you Qais. And Omar who started supporting Germany once he saw FARES doing it. So this is also for Fares. :D

P.S. My cousin uses a Germany soccer jersey to wipe the dirt off of his 2006 Honda Civic. I gave him a tip yesterday: don't ever wipe your car with a german shirt because the car might get even dirtier.

The Blue Whale: The Biggest Living Creature. EVER.

This is probably the coolest nature video I have ever seen. It makes you look and wonder in amazement at this awsome creature. It's just so cool. The music in the video is just right as well.

I just have on thing to say: WOW!

Hamley's in Jordan

Many people have noticed the toy shop Hamley's opening in Mecca Street near Applebeas ( i don't know if that's how you spell it but i think you get me) and to be precise in the same building as IDdesign. Hamley's is undoubtedly one of the coolest toy shops in the world. Just like Toys R Us. The original Hamley's is in London and it's a 7- storey building and on each storey, there are toys of different categories like girls, toddlers, boys, teenagers, electronics etc. They even have a Lego section.

Many people have been wondering if the Hamley's in Jordan would be the same as the Hamley's in London. Here's my response: although the Hamley's in Jordan isn't 7 storyes high and not as popular as the one in London, it's still a franchise and according to what i took in business class, a franchise should be similar to the original business. So there you go, of course Hamley's wouldn't be the same, but it would still be great!

Euro 2008

For the past week, at 7:00 PM and 9:45 PM, i have been sitting on my comfortable couch looking at the TV screen with Al Jazeera sports channel on. This is because for the past week, at 7:00 PM and 9:45 PM, on Al Jazeera Sports channel , Europes top national teams play against each other for the title of Euro 2008. This is a highly addictive competition as it takes place every 4 years, so I feel that i have to watch it because i'll regret it once it's over.

Even my friend whose not really into soccer is following the action of Euro. That describes how important and gripping this competition is.
We have now reached the quarter-final stage of the competition and I HOPE NETHERLANDS WINS!!!

School's Out

Whenever I think about " it " i can't beleive that it's actually true and finnally here.
Whenever I'm bored, I think about " it " and then i cheer up.
For about a month now I've been looking forward to " it ".
"It" is the best time of the year for anyone around the world.
"It" is the summer holiday.

We're finnally done those tough exams which teachers use to torture students.
We're finnally done with the bad feeling that tomorrow there's a quiz that I didn't study for. Or a homework that I forgot. Or double physics in the morning (precisely on Monday morning). Or having to miss a soccer game late at night because there is school the next day. Or, most importantly of all, STUDYING.

Me and my friends have so much to do in the summer vacation. Some of which would be watching movies, swimming, body building, some of my friends are learning how to play the guitar. But what we really wanna do is have fun by any means possible. For example playing with the Wii night and day. Oh well, i hope this summer turns out to be an unforgetable one.

SUMMER TIME IS FINNALLY HERE.

Did You Know?

It blew my mind when i read these facts and i didn't beleive them at first but nevertheless, they're 100% true.
Here they are:

1. Elephants are the only animals that don't jump.
2. Your heart has the strenght to shoot your blood 10 M in the air. WOW
3. The tounge us the strongest muscle in the human body.
4. People are more afraid of spiders than they are of death!
5. All polar bears are left-handed.
6. Crocodiles cannot stick their toungues out.
7. Butterflies taste with their feet.
8. A cocroach can live 9 days without its head. It only dies because it cannot eat.
9. Starfish have no brains.
10. A duck's quack has no echo. Nobody knows why.
11. It's impossible to sneeze with you eyes open.
12. A mosquito has teeth.
13. Thomas Edison was afraid the fact (just in case you were wondering, Thomas Edison is the dude who invented the lightbulb.)
14. It's impossible to suck/lick your elbow.
15. 80 % of people who read this fact try to suck their elbows. Don't be one of them.

Red Indians Aren't Extinct After All After This Amazing Discovery

Yesterday, an tribe in the Amazon was discovered. The tribe was undiscovered and was still in the early stages of life. Uncontacted. Undiscovered. Insophisticated. No technology. Just huts and Tarzan-like clothes. Take a look;I forgot to mention the bows and arrows. I wonder what they thought of the airplanes that flew over them. :D