Taking Over Traffic System

Fake or not, that's cool

London

I am thinking to go to London next month for a long weekend. It might be the reason I decided to post this.

Sit back and enjoy day and night images of London on the below video.

London Day from urbanTick on Vimeo.

ABBA Experience

Many knows ABBA as being one of the bands who shaped out pop music in history, and their musical influence still to this day noticed i.e. many recent movies had one or two songs from

Music fans taking in London attractions can experience the magic of Swedish super group Abba at a new exhibition.

AbbaWorld is a new exhibition at Earls Court, London was opened end of last month, 27 of January. It offers visitors the chance to get interactive with the group's legacy through more than 25 different rooms, from an illustration of their legendary music, to stage costumes and memorabilia, and a look at the instruments and personal belongings from band members Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Frida.

The exhibition runs until March 28th, 2010, and more information can be found on the official website of the exhibition.

This is a must for any ABBA fan, actually for any good music fan

Who did say that I only do headbanging on heavy metal music (as someone who used to visit by blog once put it)?

I like ABBA, and this exhibition is some place I would like to see.

Guide To Arabic Satellite TV Channels

Below is a guide to all Arabic satellite TV channels with links to their websites.

Most of these channels can be seen on Nilesat and Arabsat satellite, this means that people in Europe using Hotbird satellite to receive channels will not be able to view all of these channels.

On important thing to notice in the development of satellite channels is the number of Iraqi channels broadcasts. I remember that till the end of 2006 there were 28 channels after it has been only two channels before 2003.




- الفضائية السورية Syria Satellite Channel
http://www.rtv.gov.sy


- قناة الدنيا السورية Addounia TV
http://www.addounia.tv

- قناة الرأي السورية Arrai TV
http://www.arraitv.net

- قناة المجد للحديث الشريف Almajd Al Hadeeth Al Nabawy

http://www.hadeeth.tv

- قناة تونس Tunis 7
http://www.tunisiatv.com

- قناة بيئتي Beeaty TV
http://www.beeaty.tv


- قناة الخليجية Al Khalijiya
http://www.khtv.tv

- قناة سلطنة عمان الثانية Oman TV 2
http://www.oman-tv.gov.om/tvara

- قناة مسايا Massaya
http://www.massaya.tv

- قناة التجارية Al Tejariah TV Channel
http://www.altejariah.tv

- قناة جامعة القاهرة للتعليم المفتوح Cairo University 1
http://www.ou.cu.edu.eg

- قناة العراقية الفضائية Al Iraqiya Satellite
http://iraqimedianet.net/tv/index.htm

- قناة العراقية أطياف أو العراقية الثانية Al Iraqiya 2
http://iraqimedianet.net/tv/index.htm

- قناة العراقية الرياضية Al Iraqiya Sports
http://iraqimedianet.net/tv/index.htm

- قناة روتانا كليب Rotana Clip
http://www.rotana.net/RotanaNew/TV/tv.aspx?page=Clip

- قناة روتانا طرب Rotana Tarab
http://www.rotana.net/RotanaNew/TV/tv.aspx?page=Tarab

- قناة البركة Al Baraka TV
http://www.albaraka.tv

- قناة الحكمة Al Hekmah TV
http://www.alhekmah.tv

- قناة أفاق العراقية Afaq TV
http://www.afaq.tv

- قناة ميلودي تركس Melody Trix
http://www.melodytrix.tv

- قناة Fun TV
http://www.funtv-eg.com

- قناة OTV
http://www.otvinvest.com

- قناة سكوب Scope TV
http://www.scopecenter.net

- قناة أفراح Afrah TV
http://www.afrah.tv

- قناة فتوى Al Fatwaa
http://www.fatwatv.com

- قناة القيثارة العراقية Al Qiethara Satellite Channel
http://www.alqiethara.tv

- قناة بحري Bahry TV
http://www.bahry.com

- قناة روسيا اليوم Rusiya Al-Yaum
http://www.rtarabic.com


- قناة وطن الأردنية Watan TV
http://www.wtv.jo

- قناة الصحراء Al Sahraa TV
http://www.alsahraa.tv

- قناة الوطن الكويتية Alwatan TV
http://tv.alwatan.com.kw

- قناة المستقلة Al Mustakillah TV
http://www.almustakillah.com

- قناة الأمة Al Omma TV
http://www.alomma.tv

- قناة الفيحاء Al Fayhaa
http://www.alfayhaatv.net

- قناة شــدا Shada TV
http://www.shadatv.com

- قناة الأقصى الفلسطينية Alaqsa Satellite Channel
http://www.aqsatv.ps

- قناة أطلس للسفر و الثقافة ATC
http://www.atctv.com

- قناة عرب Arab TV
http://www.arabtv.ae

- القنوات التعليمية المصرية ERTU
http://www.ertu.org

- قناة التعليم الابتدائي و الإعدادي المصرية Primary and Preparatory Education Channel
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_edu.html

- قناة التعليم الثانوي المصرية Secondary Education Channel
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_edu.html

- قناة التعليم التقني المصرية Technical Education Channel
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_edu.html

- قناة تعليم اللغات المصرية ******** Education Channel
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_edu.html

- قناة التعليم العالي المصرية High Education Channel
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/highedu.html

- قناة التعليم العالي الثانية High Education Channel 2
http://www.oucu.edu.eg


- قناة المنارة العلمية المصرية Al Manarah Science Channel
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/highedu.html

- قناة العربية الاقتصادية ABC : Arab Business Channel
http://www.businessnewstv.net

- قناة الفجر الفضائية Al Fajr Space Channel
http://www.fajr.tv

- قناة صلاح الدين العراقية Salahaddin TV
http://www.salahaddintv.com

- قناة بلادي العراقية Beladi Satellite Channel
http://www.beladi.tv

- قناة الفرات العراقية Al Forat
http://www.alforattv.com

- قناة تميمة Tamima TV
http://www.tamima.tv

- قناة الهدى Huda TV
http://huda.tv

- قناة أبو ظبي Abu Dhabi TV
http://www.emi.ae

- قناة الواسطة Al Wasta
http://www.alwasta.tv

- قناة الرسالة Al-Resalah Satellite TV Channel
http://www.alresalah.net

- قناة روتانا سينما Rotana Cinema
http://www.rotana.net/RotanaNew/TV/tv.aspx?page=Cinema

- قناة الحرة عراق Alhurra Iraq
http://www.alhurra.com

- القناة الأولى المصرية ERTU 1 Sat
http://www.ertu.org/tv_channel/ch1.html

- قناة النيل الدولية Nile TV International
http://www.niletv.net.tf

- قناة المصرية الفضائية Al Masriya
http://www.ertu.org/esc/esc.html


- قناة المنوعة الليبية Al Monowa
http://www.ljbc.net

- قناة سيليفيجين Selevision
http://www.selevision.net

- قناة الراي الكويتية Alrai TV
http://www.alrai.tv

- قناة الهداية الليبية Al Hedaya
http://www.ljbc.net

- قناة المشكاة Al Mishkat Channel
http://www.almishkat.tv

- قناة ميوزيك بلص Music Plus
http://www.gbs.ae/gbs/music.htm

- قناة دبي ون Dubai One
http://www.dubaione.ae

- قناة دبي الرياضية Dubai Sports Channel
http://www.dubaisports.ae

- قناة ســما دبي Sama Dubai
http://www.samadubai.ae

- قناة دبي الفضائية Dubai TV
http://www.dubaitv.gov.ae

- قناة الشارقة Sharjah TV
http://www.sharjahtv.ae

- قناة سبيس تون عربي Space Toon Arabic
http://www.spacetoon.tv

- قناة نجوم Nojoom
http://www.nojoomtv.com

- قناة سي إن بي سي عربية Space Toon Arabic
http://www.cnbcarabia.com

- قناة الشرقية العراقية Alsharqiya TV
http://www.alsharqiyatv.com

- قناة الاقتصادية Al Eqtisadia
http://www.eqtisadia.tv

- قنوات شبكة الأوائل ADD

http://www.adduniverse.com

- قناة الحرة Alhurra
http://www.alhurra.com

- قناة فلسطين الفضائية Palestinian Satellite Channel
http://www.psctv.com

- قناة المغربية الأولى Al Maghribya
http://www.almaghribia.com

- قناة السودان الفضائية Sudan TV
http://www.sudantv.net

- قناة سلطنة عمان الفضائية Oman TV Satellite
http://www.oman-tv.gov.om/tvara

- قناة البحرين الفضائية Bahrain TV
http://www.bahraintv.com

- قناة الكويت الفضائية Kuwait TV 1 Satellite
http://www.moinfo.gov.kw

- قناة المحور المصرية Mehwar
http://www.elmehwar.tv

- قناة الكويتية الثانية Kuwait TV 2
http://www.moinfo.gov.kw

- قناة الكويتية الثالثة Kuwait TV 3
http://www.moinfo.gov.kw

- قناة الحوار Al Hiwar TV
http://www.alhiwar.tv

- قناة الأزياء العربية Fashion TV Arabia
http://www.ftvarabia.com

- قناة الليبية الفضائية Jamahirya Satellite Channel
http://www.ljbc.net

- قناة النيل للأخبار Nile News
http://www.nilenews.tv

- قناة النيل للأسرة و الطفل Nile Family and Kids
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_family.html

- قناة النيل للمنوعات Nile Variety
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_var.html

- قناة النيل للدراما Nile Drama

http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_drama.html

- قناة النيل للرياضة Nile Sports
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_sports.html

- قناة النيل الثقافية Nile Culture
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/NL_culture.html

- قناة التنوير Al Tanweer Channel
http://www.ertu.org/Nile_Chan/tanweer.html

- قناة دريم الثانية Dream 2
http://www.dreams.tv/arabic/dream2

- قناة الواحة Al Waha
http://www.alwaha.tv

- قناة نجوم 3 Nojoom 3
http://www.nojoomtv.com

- قناة تي إكس تي TXT
http://www.txttv.tv

- قناة شات كوم Chatcom TV
http://www.chatcomtv.tv

- قناة المجد الفضائية Almajd Space Channel
http://www.almajdtv.net

- قناة دريم 1 Dream 1
http://www.dreams.tv/arabic/dream1

- قناة دي دبليو تي في عربية
http://www2.dw-world.de/arabic/dw-tv

- قناة مزيكا Mazzika
http://www.mazzika.tv

- قناة إي تي في ETV
http://www.entv.tv

- قناة مزيكا زووم Mazzika Zoom
http://www.mazzika.tv

- قناة الكوثر Alkawthar TV
http://www.alkawthartv.ir

- قناة الرافدين العراقية Al Rafiden TV
http://www.alrafiden.tv

- قناة سبايسي Spicy
http://www.spicyland.tv

- قناة بغداد الفضائية Baghdad Satellite Channel
http://www.baghdad-tv.net

- قناة البغدادية العراقية Al Baghdadia
http://www.albaghdadia.com

- قناة الناس Alnas
http://www.alnas.tv

- قناة إم بي سي 1 MBC 1
http://www.mbc.net/

- قناة إم بي سي 2 MBC 2
http://www.mbc.net/

- قناة إم بي سي 3 MBC 3
http://www.mbc.net

- قناة إم بي سي 4 MBC 4
http://www.mbc4.net

- قناة العربية Al Arabiya
http://www.alarabiya.net

- قناة حواس Hawas TV
http://www.hawas.ae

- قناة العقارية الاولى Al Aqariya TV
http://www.alaqariya.tv

- قناة العقارية الثانية Al Aqariya 2
http://www.alaqariya.tv

- قناة زي عربية Zee Arabiya
http://www.zeearabiya.com

- قناة إم بي سي أكشن MBC Action
http://www.mbc.net/

- قناة أخبار المستقبل Future News
http://www.futuretvnetwork.com

- قناة الشارقة الثانية Sharjah TV 2
http://www.sharjahtv.ae

- قناة ميدي 1 سات المغربية Medi 1 Sat
http://www.medi1.com/medi1/index.php

- قناة ميلودي عربية Melody Arabia
http://www.melodyarabia.tv

- قناة المغربية الثانية 2M Monde
http://www.2m.tv

- قناة سبيس تون بور Space Toon Power
http://www.spacetoon.tv

- قناة الشبابية Shababiyah TV
http://www.shababiyahtv.com

- قناة العفاسي Alafasy TV
http://www.alafasy.tv

- قناة الجزيرة الانكليزية Al Jazeera English
http://english.aljazeera.net

- قناة أرتينيز ART Teenz
http://www.art-tv.net

- قناة اقرأ Iqraa
http://www.iqraa-tv.net

- قناة الفضائية الأردنية Al Ordoniya

http://www.jrtv.jo/jrtv/index.ph

- قناة المستقبل Future TV International
http://www.futuretvnetwork.com

- قناة ميلودي أفلام Melody Aflam
http://www.melodyaflam.tv

- قناة روتانا زمان Rotana Zaman
http://www.rotana.net/RotanaNew/TV/tv.aspx?page=Zaman


- قناة البداية Al Bedaya
http://www.zawag.tv

- قناة أبو ظبي الرياضية Abu Dhabi Sports
http://www.emi.co.ae

- قناة هاي تي في Hi TV
http://www.hi***.tv

- قناة أصول Osool
http://www.osool.tv

- قناة الأنوار Al Anwar TV
http://www.alanwartv.com

- قناة العالم Alalam News Channel
http://www.alalam.ir

- قناة المجد للقرآن الكريم Almajd Holy Quran
http://www.quran.tv

- قناة حنبعل التونسية Hannibal TV
http://www.hannibaltv.com.tn

- قناة الكاس القطرية Alkass
http://www.alkass.net

- قناة مرح Mara7
http://www.mara7.tv

- قناة إن بي إن اللبنانية NBN
http://www.nbn.com.lb

- قناة هي (قناة المرأة العربية ) Heya TV
http://www.heyatv.com

- قناة الجديد اللبنانية New TV Sat
http://www.newtvsat.com

- قناة المنار اللبنانية Al Manar TV
http://www.manartv.com

- قناة إل بي سي LBC Sat
http://www.lbcsat.com.lb

- قناة روتانا خليجية Rotana Khalijiah
http://www.rotana.net/RotanaNew/TV/t...age=Khalijiyya

- قناة السومرية العراقية Alsumaria
http://www.alsumaria.tv

- قناة السعودية الأولى Saudi Arabian TV 1
http://www.info.gov.sa/portals/tv/index.php

- قناة السعودية الثانية Saudi Arabian TV 2
http://www.info.gov.sa/portals/tv2/index.php

- قناة الرياضية السعودية Al Riyadiah Satellite
http://www.info.gov.sa/portals/tv3/index.php

- قناة الإخبارية السعودية Al Ekhbariya
http://www.info.gov.sa/portals/tv4/index.php

- قناة قطر الفضائية Qatar TV
http://www.qatar-tv.net

- قناة السادسة ( قناة محمد السادس للقرآن الكريم ) Assadissa Maroc
http://www.rtm.ma

- قناة الرياضية المغربية Arriyadiya
http://www.rtm.ma

- قناة الجزائر (الثالثة ) Algeria 3 (Thalitha TV)
http://www.thalithatv.dz

- قناة نسمة ( قناة ستار أكاديمي المغرب العربي ) Nessma TV
http://www.staracademy-maghreb.com

- قناة عجمان Ajman TV
http://www.ajmantv.com

- قناة إنفينتي Infinity
http://www.infinitytv.tv

- قناة أي إن بي اللبنانية ANB
http://www.anb-tv.com

- قناة نجوم 2 Nojoom 2
http://www.nojoomtv.com

- قناة الديرة Al Deera TV
http://www.aldeeratv.com

- قناة فواصل Fawasel TV
http://www.fawaseltv.net

- قناة نجوم 4 Nojoom 4
http://www.nojoomtv.com

- قناة بروز Borouz TV
http://www.borouztv.com

- قنوات الجزيرة الرياضية Al Jazeera Sport Channel
http://www.aljazeerasport.com

- قناة الجزيرة للأطفال Al Jazeera Children's Channel
http://www.jcctv.net

- قناة الجزيرة مباشر Al Jazeera Mobasher
http://www.aljazeera.net

- قناة الجزيرة الإخبارية Al Jazeera Channel
http://www.aljazeera.net

- قناة الديار العراقية AldiyarSat
http://www.aldiyarsat.net

- قناة نورمينا الأردنية Nourmina Satellite Channel
http://www.nourmina.tv

- قناة إل بي سي أوربا LBC Europe

http://www.lbcsat.com.lb

- قناة عشتار العراقية Ishtar
http://www.ishtartv.com

- قناة الآن Al Aan TV
http://www.alaan.tv

- قناة صانعو القرار DM TV
http://www.dm-tv.tv

- قناة جونا Jawna
http://www.jawna.tv

- قناة غراس Ghiras TV
http://www.ghirastv.com

- قناة النهرين العراقية Nahrain TV
http://www.imnsr.com

- قناة ليبيا الرياضية Libya Sports Channel (Riadia)
http://www.ljbc.net

- قناة البديل الليبية Al Badeel
http://www.albadeel.tv

- قناة الليبية الرياضية Libya Sport
http://www.ljbc.net

- قناة الليبية Al Libiyah TV
http://www.allibiya.tv

- شبكة قنوات أوربت شوتايم OSN
http://www.osnetwork.com

- قناة مرحبا Marhaba TV
http://www.marhabatv.com

- قناة روتانا أوربا Rotana Europe
http://www.rotanaeurope.net

-aشبكة قنوات النيل NTN
http://www.ertu.org

- قناة المسار العراقية Almasar Satellite
http://www.almasartv.com

- قناة البابلية العراقية Al Babeleyia Sat Channel
http://www.albabeleya.net

- قناة الموصلية العراقية AL Mowseleye TV
http://www.almosullia.com

- قناة العدالة Al-Adalah
http://www.al-adala.com/home.htm

- قناة فاميلي Family TV
http://www.tvfamily.net

- قناة djmusic
http://www.djmusictv.com

Iommi Facts

Iommi Facts is a website dedicated to the legendary guitarist. Every single person who know me personally and through my blog knows that Iommi is my all time favorite guitarist.

He managed to top the throne through all my years listening to heavy metal, and his latest masterpiece on The Devil You Know is a living proof.

As described by its owners:

" This website is a work of satire created by Tony Iommi fans, based on an idea by Rodrigo Teixeira.
We are not and we do not claim to be in any way affiliated to Tony Iommi in any manner.
This website is just a humoristic hommage to the man and his music.
None of the “facts” on this website are true. "

Interactive | A Traveler's Guide to the Planets- National Geographic Channel

"The best interactive guide to planets in the solar system.
"

A Traveler's Guide to the Planets interactive takes you on an interactive trip to the planets.

View >>

Blaze Bayley - Promise And Terror

This album is on its way to be delivered in my home post box. The reason I am looking forward to this album is because it has been recorded by the same band who did "The Man Who Would Not Die", my favorite album for 2008.

I mentioned that before, didn't I?

I listened to three songs from Promise and Terror, and believe me, this album is exactly the same as it predecessor, and maybe better. In addition, all the articles I read about the album gave positive review as describing it as being tight, powerful, dark and really heavy.

Will this album be on top of my 2010 albums? that remain to be seen.

Arabic Books in Amsterdam

Some refer to it as not a good commercial idea, but my visit to a district in Paris where a number of Arabic bookshops located there – they were closed by the time I arrived, I was a bit early, so I waited in a cafe and decided to visit the Arab Institute in Paris. I have never been there.

This institute, as I heard is the effort, financially mainly, of all Arab countries in the 1990’s. The exception was Iraq because it was under the economic and political sanctions after invading Kuwait. The building is astonishing and so huge. The library does not only have Arabic books, but also English and French, maybe more, but the number of the books and the variety was something I would spend hours in it, not to mention spending a lot of money at the end.

I bought six books from there, if someone like to know

After leaving that place and on the way to the airport I kept on wondering why there is no such a bookshop in Amsterdam? Never mind the cultural awareness thing that an Arabic Institute have in a European city, so I skip that for now, but what about a bookshop and why there is none in Amsterdam equivalent to Ibn Sina bookshop in Paris, for example?

I asked this question before and there were many answers, but all of them pour into the same pot: Arabs don’t buy books, so a bookshop will loose money. I had my suspicions then, but when I went two years ago to a Dutch bookshop to buy Saidety magazine for my mother, I asked the buyer about such a thing. By the way, Saidety is a Gulf-published magazine focusing on women’s life of all ages, in addition to celebrities and entertainment news.

The buyer was originally Turkish, he told me with frustration that only that magazine is available in Arabic, and even this magazine is hard to sell in Amsterdam, because people think that it is too expensive!

Does this means that Arabs in Amsterdam are less educated, and that their counterparts in Paris or London are more literate and more eager to spend a cent on knowledge and information?

10 Things I Hate About Airports and Flights

1 .The stomach burn and the feeling of acids tearing up your stomach before or during the trip.

2. Buying a sandwich or something at an airport and the seller wears an ugly and bored face.

3. Seeing travelers at the airport or in the airport who think of themselves as God with the way they look down at other passengers.

4. I don’t mind seeing a stewardess that looks stressed with tired eyes or difficult to smile, but I hate most when a stewardess plays the strict teacher role and passengers as her naughty and lazy students.

5. I hate young boys who pick on girls during flight as if they are going to have some extraordinary romantic experience in such environment.

6. Travelling with no book or something to read is disastrous to me. I can’t get into an airplane, take my seat with no book or magazine in my hand.

7. Child crying before departure! What a dramatic situation. I know there are some parents who feel helpless, families don’t travel that often so mostly they are not prepared for such a situation, but most travelers believe that a crying child is annoying.

8. Traveling in summer and have air-conditioning switched off before departure just make blood boils inside me, especially if it has been announced that there is a delay. It didn’t happen on this flight, but I remember it happened to me a couple of times.

9. Speaking of announcements, I don’t think it is a good idea to have an airplane captain or a stewardess talking in another language unclearly. Passengers will depend on their instinct to understand what has been said through these little speakers.

10. I hate male passengers who take their shoes before and during the trip, or those who stretch forward to reach the end of the chair in front.

Jazz

I kept on wondering about the reasons, why I objected my wife when she asked me if I would like to accompany her to Michael Buble’s concert? More to that, why I don’t have the mood to get a Jazz CD and play it, not in the car, but at least at home? I used to love this music genre, what went wrong? I know that mood is the main driving force that makes a person listen to a certain music style at a certain time in the day.

Why am I saying this?

For the past 30 minutes, and maybe be more I am just sitting in the parking car next to one of the most crowded and commercial shopping centers in Paris, watching people walking by or crossing the street, staring at the magnificent architecture that shaped these yellowish curves of historical Parisian buildings in front of me, and jazz music playing in the background from a French radio station called Jazz TSF JAZZ.

Guess what, they are playing Michael Buble on this radio station among many Jazz pioneers, such as Louis Armstrong.

I asked myself if I would ask my wife to go to a jazz concert, or to Bubles’ when I get back home. Yet, I still doubt it.

Maybe this is the Paris Effect!!!

Fady Andraws

I was listening to the radio when I heard `Hayda Mish Ana`, a song by a singer called Fady Andraos, or Fadi Andrawos.

I never heard of this singer before, maybe because I don´t follow Star Academy, the Lebanese show where his talent became known to millions in the Arab World. 

The song is solid, an arrangement that is mainly heavy metal with Lebanese accent lyrics. There are some little gothic element in the middle of the song, I consider a little weak, but did not ruin the song. I like the chorus of the song, very catchy, not to mention the excellent guitar section of the song.

I googled Fadi, I thought he was Lebanese, no, he is Palestinian but living in Lebanon, and found a short interview of him on YouTube talking about different things… Some information on this young talented singer are

His influences are James Hatefield of Metallica, David Coverdale of Whitesnake, and Axel Rose of Guns N´Roses, among others he did not metnion

He has an album and three singles/ video clips.

He loves Lebanese legendary singer, Milhem Barakat, and would love and will be honored if he worked together with him in the future.

There are plans to do a duet with a RAP or hip hop singer.

Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the last piece of info, why??

I don't know what the end result of such cooperation would be, I mean what the song would be like, but do we need a rapper here to achieve fame?

Fady, if you happen to read this, dive in more into heavy metal and hard rock, your song (and heard part of the Lebanon/Palestine song) are excellent. From what I heard, you can be a pioneer in bringing the genre to the middle east, with such talent and determination, Fadi can do that.

The voice that Fadi Andraws has is without any doubt unique. When I say unique, it means different, it means that when someone hear the voice it is easily recognized.

While listining to this song, more than once I had the feeling in certain parts of the song, especially in the lower tone singing parts that I am listening to Geoff Tate of Queensryche. It is not the same voice, of course, besides, Tate pitching high notes cannot be compared to, but in lower notes, the clarity and rawness of Fadi’s voice is extraordinary. Hey, no one knows, maybe Fadi can have a try that in the future and show people how pitching high notes as Tate does.

Keep on rocking, Fadi

Below is the video clip of the song Hayda Mish Ana

Time to go for a walk in Paris before the time of my appointment, maybe I will find Fadi’s CD in a record store!

Arriving in Paris

last time I came here it was one year ago, it was late 2008, by car, but this time I decided to take a flight to this beautiful city. While waiting in the airport to get picked up I thought of writing this post. Paris is one of the cities I like to visit on regular basis. I never thought of moving in and live in it, but I just like to visit it at least once a year. Such trips intrigues me to check out what changes took place, on its people, the way everyone lives…etc

After I took my bag and went through customs the first thing I decided to do was to go outside and have a smoke before I came back in this huge waiting hall to start writing this post.

First observation is seeing English language adverts on different places hanging around the airport- it seems that Sarkozy’s love and affection with the US and its language has made its effect on the way French who are known for their pride of their language change the way they advertise for commercial products.

I remember seeing English language banners and adverts in my last visit and I discussed this with my people here, but it was way less to see compare it to this time and what I have seen in the past hour or so.

The trip to Paris from Amsterdam was smooth, it is only 1 hour and a half so no one would notice anything, especially people like me who like to read while going on trips. By the way, this is the first time ever that I resist what I call a personal ritual that I used to follow every time I travel: to buy a book or a magazine, maybe because in the back of my mind I thought of the length of the trip, as I said, it is just a matter of an hour and a half, or less maybe, The Guardian newspaper was sufficient as a substitute on this trip.

Talking about travelers, it sometimes surprises me when hearing two people talking non stop while on a trip. It is just amazing the energy that some people have to just talk and talk and talk with no pause in between and no care for others who, for example want to sleep or want to have some quiet time reading something. It is normal to talk, to have a conversation with your travelling partner, but to have a continuous conversation with comments on that person and the other in low voice, and in Dutch, this is some kind of annoying. Besides, who said that Dutch language is a secret language, did they think that no one would understand them? I thought half of the airplane have Dutch passengers on it.

Back to the airport, not a lot of people like to visit Paris at this time of the year, I guess, and this might be the reason not seeing a lot of people around. I don’t know if this has something to do with the economic crisis, or whether the winter-crisis that hit northern Europe had its part here too.

Actually, where I sit it looks like a train station or a big bus terminal to me, more than an international airport.  The lighting, the shops, even the faces of people roaming around, it doesn’t look like an airport.

And for the last 5 minutes, I don’t know who is the hell is fiddling with the main microphones. On the main loud speakers everyone can hear the cracks of the microphone being moved, like a cleaner is wiping the table and moving the microphone around while doing his work.

OK, that’s it for now, going for a smoke.

Amsterdam, Most Romantic City???

The last thing I could think of is to consider Amsterdam as the most romantic city in the world!! I was surprised while watching an old episode of Smallville last weekend when Lex was asking his girlfriend if she likes to go to an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

I lived long enough to identify this beautiful city as being something but romantic. Amsterdam is a very commercial city - in spite of the decline in the number of international companies opening offices in it due to a number of reason that I am not going to discuss here. Amsterdam is a city for fun of all sorts, mainly for young adults, actually it is the city where "sex, drugs, and rock n' roll" can be perfectly applied to.

Many agree and I heard it from many visitors as well as locals that Amsterdam is not a city for families, and many families realize that the time has come to move out to another city when their kids has reached certain age.

In addition, Amsterdam to me is a symbol of a spectacular architectural beauty with its unique houses built tightly next to each other and queued on each side of the dark-gray edge colored of its canals.

It has been once said that it is the only city in the world where all languages in the world is spoken, and I am talking about people who are living in the city and not tourists who come and go. If I am not exaggerating, 90% of Amsterdam inhabitants nowadays are originally from countries all around the world.

Speaking of languages, the dominant language any observer can hear most is Spanish - I think more than English itself. There are a lot of Spanish youth roaming the streets day and night. I would simply see there is harmony in the relationship between the two, because Dutch too love to go to Spain a lot - Even men and women who are retired from work, they go and buy a house in Spain because of the sun mainly.

There are a plenty of places in Amsterdam but my favorite one still to this day is Kalverstraat. I used to go for a walk on that very long street every Saturday. It is one of the most crowded street (if not the most) in all Amsterdam, pedestrians are only allowed to use that street - the police will stop you and maybe fine you if caught riding a bicycle on through that street.

Yet, on a second thought one can argue that all what mentioned above can in fact make Amsterdam a romantic city, depending on the definition of romance, but would such a definition can be equal when taking a city such as Paris as being a romantic city? or maybe Rome?


Image by liketobite

Not Fully Fit, But Doing OK

I am back! still alive after a week of trying to recover from the fall I had one day before the end of the year. On that day, very early I felt dizzy and everything around me started spinning before I lost consciousness.

Last week I spent the time trying to get a reason or an explanation for this dizziness with no success, and what made things worse is the unbearable pain started to feel in my neck and my left arm - with numb feeling of left fingers. I went to the hospital and took photos, and I am not going to talk about the procedure in hospitals and the lack of ability to diagnose sickness by specialists here in spite of the advanced technology available.

The only thing I managed to get were a number of appointments at the hospital for next month, yes, next month!! Until that time, my doctor said two things: Can't find a thing that caused me to faint, or what caused the pain in my neck. The doctor(S) also asked me to take things easy and this applies to work, driving, movement...etc

My apologies to all friends who sent me emails asking about me and I also wish everyone best wishes and that 2010 bring all wishes and dreams true.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Get Well, Ronnie

The man with the giant voice. I was shocked when I heard the news of Ronnie James Dio diagnosed with stomach cancer, and that he is taken to hospital for medical treatment.

First time I heard Dio's voice on tape was on Black Sabbath's album "heaven and hell" when it came out in 1980. The album was and still considered ahead of its time with the way songs were made and mixed. From that moment Dio became one of the biggest influences on me musically with his opera like way of singing his selection or taste of music composition with the different bands he played with for more than two, three decades.

I saw Ronnie James Dio for the first time live with Heaven & Hell two years ago. I was like wow, God bless. Such a devoted musician and humble person on stage

For those who would like to give their support and love for the Ronnie, Dio.net website has created a page for fans to post their pictures and wishes for Dio, and on different website, among them the great Deep Puprle hub created a "wishing well" page for same purpose.

Get well soon, Ronnie, I and millions are waiting for the new of you beating that nasty beast.

I am sure that day will be a big festivity all around the world when we see you on tage again

From my heart, all best wishes for health, happiness, and long living.

In The Lift

I was wondering

You are taking the lift upstairs to the 5'th floor. No one in the lift but you and another man who want to go to the 4 floor.

Mind you, there are some lifts that are really slow, so the time it takes feel like endless.

It is sometimes irritating, because there is a delay one floor, but that is not the issue.

What would you do? Keep silent? rolling your eyes up and down.

Remember, I am talking about taking the lift at work place, and not taking the lift while you are going up the Empire State building while on a visit to New York city.

Some people just turn their look to the opposite side of the person standing next.

Start a converstaion with that person? what about? throw a light joke?

What I do, usually I take a quick look at the person with me in the lift, it is like investigating the mood and what to say. Based on that I might start a conversation.

Get Rid of Your Culture!

Below is a new study on what it is defined as the "integration" issue in the Netherlands, came out of a study / research results done by a government-social institute:

" Almost 40% of the Dutch think there are too many immigrants in the Netherlands, a drop of ten percentage points on 2000, according to a new report from the government's social policy institute SCP.

The report also shows both the native Dutch and immigrants consider new arrivals should learn the Dutch language and leave behind their original cultures."

Source DutchNews.nl

I agree that learning the language of the country you are living in is essential. In fact it is the most important thing to do after arriving in a country, before searching for work or get adapted with new life and new society, but to leave behind original culture??

This is the most bizarre thing I have ever heard.

Week of Concerts

last week was a historic one, for me, to be part of a festivity, celebrating the arrival of great musicians, from west and from the east.

I posted earlier the three concerts I have been to and what an experience.

The first one was last Tuesday at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, watching the legendary British band Deep Purple, one of the bands that made the genre Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Click here to read my post on that concert .

The second concert I have been to was of one of the most talented and prominent American Metal bands, it is Alice in Chains. I have never seen them before, so it was a new experience to see them as it is for them with their new singer, DuVall. Click on the link here to read the post on that concert

It just became more beautiful, I mentioned it as being historical for me, especially with the third concert.

Kadim Al Saher!

The legendary Iraqi and Arabic singer had a concert in Brussels, Belgium. That was extraordinary for me, an eye opening. I know that Al Saher is known for his classical Arabic language songs, but listening while watching his performance doing his songs live for the first time was something sensational.

Read here my experience attending Kadim Al Saher concert, it was indeed exceptional and a good finale to my week of concerts.

Week of Concerts 3: Kadim Al Saher - The Living Legend

I am proud to be one of the thousands of fans attended Iraqi legendary singer, Kadim Al Saher concert in Belgium last Saturday. This is the first time ever that this European city host a concert for the Iraqi legendary singer.

This is another reason I am proud to be on that show.

There were fans of all ages; families, young and old, from different countries, such as Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Palestinians, and from western countries too. Like me, I came all the way from Amsterdam, there were people who travelled from Germany, Sweden, France, and other European countries. Many were already very early arrived at the Paleis des Beaux-Art (Center for Fine Arts). While smoking at the main entrance of the center I watched people in their cars trying to find parking space with the stereo loud playing the latest album by Kadim Al Saher, Drawing with Words.

The hall was nice, but before I was skeptical of what kind of acoustics it can produce from a performance like Al Saher's? I was right, and sad, not only because the design of that hall was not up to the altitude and the size of the music played, but the person sitting on the soundboard, in my opinion, was someone who is obviously lacks the least of experience related to control a band playing oriental instruments in such a concert hall.

I wondered if the band did some sound check in the first place!

What made things worse was the technical failures. During the first song, for example, and after less than 5 minutes of Kadim Al Saher singing, his microphone went off. That didn't ruin the moment, the public continued that part of the song with the backing vocals, while another technician brought another mic for Kadim Al Saher.

Through the whole concert, almost two hours I didn't hear neither the Nai or the Oud sound.

Very sad!

Musicians in Al Saher band were the victims, especially that anyone can see their perfect musicianship throughout the show; one time the keyboardist (whom playing and the sound of his keyboard remained the entire show hardly heard) another time one of the violin players, a third time one of the percussionists, and even the drummer, all were making signs to the sound engineers every now and then to fix the sound of their instruments.

Outrageous!!!

That sound engineer should be sentenced to life in prison

Yet...enough talking negative

That concert was not doomed, such things happen. Belgium concert was a great success. It was not a music performance or a band show only, it was the chance for thousands of people to show their feelings; joy, pride (of their country), happiness, honesty interacted between perfect musicians and the public towards their idol, Kadim Al Saher.

It was a night a night to remember, forever.

I said that about Dream Theater's concert last month

By the way, this is one of the very little concerts I went to where I hear people cheering with the presence of their beloved singer and his band to the level that you can't hear the music. Chanting, singing loud along with the music, and the singer, shouting Kadim's name with a tone with full of love in their voices, there was laughter, joy, anticipation to the giant who was standing before them on stage. That was the situation on that show. It was not quiet at all, but not chaotic either. Even the singer was surprised when he began singing the first verse of the song "Layla", all was quiet, listening, Kadim Al Saher paused and with a beautiful smile addressed the public in Iraqi dialect "... this is the first time... you become soooo quiet just like that..."

The public exploded with laughter followed by big applause.

The public stood for Kadim Al Saher when he arrived on stage with the biggest welcome anyone can see for an artist accompanied by deafening applause. The flashes from the camera's did not stop, in spite of the early warning by the organizers of the show that taking pictures of filming is only allowed in the first 5 to 10 minutes. During the show there were people who struggled with the bodyguards to get to Al Saher closer just to have a simple handshake or an autograph, not to mention those who brought presents for him. There was a young women who tried to approach Kadim Al Saher on a number of times between and during songs, but did not succeed. At the end of the show and while he was walking towards the exit she ran towards him and ... almost there, one foot distance from him, but the body guards were faster and stopped her. I thought she collapsed afterwards and have been dragged away.

I was disappointed with one thing, that no single song from the new album played. Kadim Al Saher asked the audience what they like to hear. I thought that was one time, but I realized that the legendary singer meant to please his audience by asking them what they like to hear. On one occasion and after the end of one of the songs, a group on one side of the hall started singing "hatha al loon..." (this color on you...), immediately he turned to his band and asked to play the song... I was happy to see live Qusay, the main violinist in Al Saher band, playing his solo part like I used to hear on tape years ago.

I can't remember all the songs played, but below are some played:
- Hel Indeky Shak (Do you have any doubt)
- Mustebbida (despot)
- Hatha al loon... (this color on you...)
- Baghdad
- Layla
- Ahibeeny (Love Me)

Kadim Al Saher talked about the agony of the Iraqi people, taking the members of his band as an example of the Iraqi people who have been in a lot of trouble traveling across the world, and wish that the agony, the suffering of the Iraqi people, all Iraqi people will end one day, and that his message to the world is of peace and love, two things as the ultimate wish for Iraq and its people.

I realize that whatever the words, the sentence I can put in this post, it won't be up to the standard describing how great this singer is. The lesson I learned after all: Kadim Al Saher is not only a genies, Kadim Al Saher, he is extraordinary person, with musical wit. His musical conduct, composition, and technique while singing, in addition to his attitude on stage and during interviews has put him side by side with Arab music stars such as Abdel Wahab and Abdel Haleem Hafidh.

I guess I am not saying something new about a great and wonderful person, like Kadim Al Saher, but at least this is what I think and feel.