I can't sleep

Don't ask why because I have no idea why, I just keep thinking about tons of stuff though my eyes are closed yet my mind is super awake; so I went to the super market to get something to eat, a sandwich, Cola and heavenly made cookies...I ate the whole box and that made me hyper instead of sleepy LOL

Does anyone else have that problem and knows how to solve it?

مادري ليش مو قادر انام اليوم، قاعد افكر ابمليون شي مع ان عيني مسكرة بس مخي شغال نفس اليني، رحت الجمعية اييب شي اكله...شريت سندووس (سندويجة) و كولا و بسكوت مو طبيعي...كليت كل العلبة، بدال ما ادوخ و انام الشكر خلاني اصحى اكثر لووول

في أحد فيكم عنده هالمشكلة و يعرف لها حل؟

Will to live...إرادة الحياة

Probably nobody knows what I am talking about except Kuwaiti people!

The building in the photo above is The Nation's Assembly (The Kuwaiti parliament)...Keep reading

اتوقع محد يدري شنو انا اتكلم عنه غير الكويتين!

المبنى في الصورة فوق هو مجلس الأمة (البرلمان الكويتي)...تابع القراءة

If people had the will to live, destiny will obey!

The night will come to an end and the chain will be broken!

!Who isn't interested in life, will evaporates and fades!
Who doesn't like to climb mountains will spend his whole life in a hole!

When I asked earth: "Hey mother, do you hate humans?"
She replied: "I bless ambitious people and who likes to "ride" danger"...
"And I damn who doesn't keep up with time and live his/her life still like a rock!"

Poem by: Abo Al Qassim Al Shabbi - Name: Eradat Al Hayah (Will of life/ live/ living/surviving) - Translated by: Me

إذا الشّعْبُ يَوْمَاً أرَادَ الْحَيَـاةَ فَلا بُدَّ أنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ القَـدَر
وَلا بُـدَّ لِلَّيـْلِ أنْ يَنْجَلِــي وَلا بُدَّ للقَيْدِ أَنْ يَـنْكَسِـر
وَمَنْ لَمْ يُعَانِقْهُ شَوْقُ الْحَيَـاةِ تَبَخَّـرَ في جَوِّهَـا وَانْدَثَـر
فَوَيْلٌ لِمَنْ لَمْ تَشُقْـهُ الْحَيَاةُ مِنْ صَفْعَـةِ العَـدَم المُنْتَصِر
كَذلِكَ قَالَـتْ لِـيَ الكَائِنَاتُ وَحَدّثَنـي رُوحُـهَا المُسْتَتِر
إذَا مَا طَمَحْـتُ إلِـى غَـايَةٍ رَكِبْتُ الْمُنَى وَنَسِيتُ الحَذَر
وَلَمْ أَتَجَنَّبْ وُعُـورَ الشِّعَـابِ وَلا كُبَّـةَ اللَّهَـبِ المُسْتَعِـر
وَمَنْ لا يُحِبّ صُعُودَ الجِبَـالِ يَعِشْ أَبَدَ الدَّهْرِ بَيْنَ الحُفَـر
وَقَالَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ - لَمَّا سَأَلْتُ :"أَيَـا أُمُّ هَلْ تَكْرَهِينَ البَشَر؟"
"أُبَارِكُ في النَّاسِ أَهْلَ الطُّمُوحِ وَمَنْ يَسْتَلِـذُّ رُكُوبَ الخَطَـر
وأَلْعَنُ مَنْ لا يُمَاشِي الزَّمَـانَ وَيَقْنَعُ بِالعَيْـشِ عَيْشِ الحَجَر

الكلمات: أبو القاسم الشابي - قصيد: إرادة الحياة

I've never voted and will never vote for anyone, they are all cows

عمري ما صوتت ولا ناوي اصوت، كلهم بقر

The Arab Conscience operetta

You can use everything in the following post where ever you want.

On 27th of February 2008, I watched "Al Dhameer Al Arabi" (The Arab Conscience) operetta premiere on Zoom TV, which is considered part two of "Al Hilm Al Arabi" (The Arab Dream) operetta which was produced in 1998.

It's extends for more than 40 minutes, I according to the director, it's might get into the Guinness book for longest non stop song in the world.

It features more than 100 Arab artist, singers, actors, hosts...Etc, and talks about war using real archival videos of events took place in the whole world between 1998 to 2008.

The song is very touching I translated it to English but some parts made non sense because as I always says translating an Arab poem will make it loses the power of it.

Here is a list of some topics been brought up in the operetta:

9/11 attacks, Danish cartoons, Israeli massacres in Lebanon and Palestine, Desert fox, Sharon entrance to Al-Haram Al-Qudsi and the second Intifadha, Assassination of Muhammad Al-Durrah, War on Iraq, Kenya and Tanzania bombings, Bombing of southern Lebanon, War on terror, Resistance, World Peace, Terrorism, Arabism, Freedom of religion, Freedom of expression, Turning ethinic groups against each others, Civil wars, the Arab Dream Operetta, Separation wall in the Palestinian territores, Golan heights, Abu Ghraib prison, Human rights, Democracy, Al-Haram Al-Qudsi...Others

The operetta begins with two legends Wadee'a Al Safi (وديع الصافي) and Mohammad Al Ezabi (محمد العزبي) performing "Mawwal" (An Arab music genre), the actual operetta begins at 6:13 minutes.

It features Arab singers from many Arab countries such as Latifa (لطيفة), Hani Shaker (هاني شاكر), Nancy Ajram (نانسي عجرم), Khaled (خالد), Sherine (شيرين), Saber Al Rebai (صابر الرباعي), Redha Al Abdullah (رضا العبدالله), Amal Maher (آمال ماهر), Khaled Selim (خالد سليم), Ahlam (أحلام), Diana Karazon (ديانا كرزون), Abdullah Al Rowaished (عبدالله الرويشد), Wa'ad (وعد), Ehab Tawfeeq (إيهاب توفيق), Mostafa Mahfooth (مصطفى محفوظ), Amal Hejazi (أمل حجازي), Wa'el Jassar (وائل جسار), Omniyah (أمنية), Ammar Hassan (عمار حسن), Asalah (أصالة), Jailani (الشاب جيلاني), Nancy Za'abalawi (نانسي زعبلاوي), Majid Al Muhandis (ماجد المهندس), Amnah (آمنه), Lotfi Boshnaq (لطفي بوشناق), Yara (يارا), Omar Al-Abdullat (عمر عبداللات), Nawal (نوال), Noor Mhna (نور مهنا), Fatin Helal Baik (فاتن هلال بك), Mo'amin (مؤمن) and celebrities from many Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait.

You can watch full length music video below, uploaded on google video with English subtitles.

I have no idea where did they get all those lyrics for all those singers, you can find them below with English translations (they are not as good as the original Arabic though; I made them just to give you a general idea about what they are saying)

لطيفة

أنا عايزة العالم كله يمد كفوفه سلام
السلم العربي يكون سلام مش إستسلام

Latifa
I want everybody in the world to reach the palms of peace
Arab peace should be a real peace not surrender


هاني شاكر
أنا عربي و رافض صمتي كاتم إحساس جوايا
و الشعب العربي فصفي ح أقول و يردوا ورايا

Hani Shaker
I am an Arab who refuses silence; I am depressing emotions deep inside of me
The Arab people are taking my side, I'll speak up and all of them will repeat after me

نانسي عجرم
يا صاحبي يا إنسان...هنا أو في أي مكان
ببعت رسالتي ليك...نطوي بها الأحزان

Nancy Ajram
Hey human friends…Here or anywhere else
I am sending my message to you, to fold (forget) our sadness

خالد
نبني مع الملايين بالعدل و الإيمان
يالله أنا و أنت نبني العالم أمان

Khaled
Millions of us will build the world together with fair and faith
Let me and you built (spread) the world with safeness

شيرين
أصل البشر إنسان كل الرسل إخوان
موسى و عيسى و محمد بيرفضوا العدوان

Sherine (Shereen)
All people are humans; All messengers are brothers
Moses, Jesus and Mohammed refuse tyranny

صابر الرباعي
و بيرفضوا ذلنا و بيمجدوا الإنسان
الله هو المحبة دينا هو السلام

Saber Al Reba'ei (Saber Rebai)
They refuses our humiliation, they glorify human beings
God is love; Our religion is peace

رضا العبدالله
قلنا شعاع النور في حلمنا الأول
يوصل سما و بحور يا للأسف طول

Redha Al Abdullah
We thought in our first dream that the ray of light, Will reach skies and seas...
But apparently it's taking forever

آمال ماهر
طول لأن الليل خلى الضمير أبكم
لو باقي فينا يوم لابد أن نحلم

Amal Maher
It's taking forever because the darkness of the night muted our consciences
If we had one day left for us a life...We will keep dreaming in that day too

خالد سليم
مات الإحساس جوانا و إلا إحنا إللي أموات
و إلا ضمير العالم خلاص إحساسه مات

Khalid Seleem
Did our feeling die, or are we the dead ones?
Or the world's conscience is the dead one?

أحلام
و سلاح الشجب معانا شايلينه للأزمات
و الناس بتعاني معانا بدايات من غير نهايات

Ahlam
We are always carrying the weapon of deploring to use it in crises
People are being in constant agony, it starts but never ends

ديانا كرزون
قم يا أخي بالدم و إستنهض الهمة
و إصرخ و قل بالفم ما غاب بالقمة

Diana Karazon
Hey brother, stand up
Shout out load what they (presidents) didn't say in the summit

عبدالله الرويشد
سنقاوم مهما قالوا إرهاباً أو عدوان
لن يهدأ قلب فينا حتى نلقى الجولان

Abdullah Al Rowaished
We will resist no matter if they kept calling us terrorists or tyrants
We will never settle down until we retrieve the Golan Heights back

وعد
أنا رافضة أنا هيمنتك تحت ستار الحرية
أنا رافضة رأيك نصحك بإسم الديموقراطية

Wa'ad
I refuse your dominance under the cover of freedom
I refuse your opinion and tips under the name of democracy

إيهاب توفيق
الحرية مش منحة تتفضل بيها علي
إرادتنا تمحي المحنة إصحي يا أمة يا عربية

Ehab Tawfeeq
Freedom is not a grant you dedicate to me
Our will take over our Plight, wake up Arab nation

مصطفى محفوظ
عمر السلام ما كان أحلام بنشوفها منام
الظلم في كل مكان يا ناس كفاية كلام

Mostafa Mahfooth
Peace was never a dream which we see while we are sleeping
Injustice is every where; hey people stop talking and take an action

أمل حجازي
حربك ضد الإرهاب عنوان ظالم كذاب
مفهومك للحرية ضد حقوق الإنسان

Amal Hejazi
Your war against terror is unfair and false logo
Your definition of freedom is against human rights

وائل جسار
أطفال شيوخ نساء تصرخ و محدش سامع
أشلاء دماء شهداء و ضمير العالم ضايع

Wa'el Jassar
Children, old people, woman are screaming while nobody is listening
Pieces, blood and dead people…While the world's subconscious is lost

أمنية
يا أمة صحي الهمة وصلي صوتك للكون
قتلوا رموز الأمة و لا حرك فينا سكون

Omniyah
Hey nation, wake up and let your voice be heard
They killed the symbols of the nation while no one took an action

عمار حسن
هي عادة فينا نرعى حقوق الجار
هذه الشعوب غدت عزماً بغير قرار

Ammar Hassan
It's one of our habits to look after our neighbors
People became a determination without a decision

أصالة
نبكي و دمع الناس دمع بغير رياء
فإذا غفى الإحساس ماذا يفيد بكاء

Asalah (Assala, Asala)
We are crying with the people who are crying for real
If our emotions slept (If we lost our emotions)[br]What our tears will be good for?

الشاب جيلاني
عذراً رسول الله في حرمة الأديان
لو لي مدى أحياه فسأطلب الغفران

Jailani
Sorry the messenger of God, they transgressed the inviolabilities of religions
I will ask for forgiveness for the rest of my life

نانسي زعبلاوي
فبعزة التوراة و محبة الإنجيل
بحكمة القرآن تبقى الأديان دليل

Nancy Za'abalawi
In the name of the Torah's appreciation and the love of the bible…
In the name of the Qur'an's wisdom; religions will always be a guide

ماجد المهندس
غزة بغداد بيروت الحزن بكل مكان
عزيمتنا لا ما تموت راح تقوى بالإيمان

Majid Al Muhandis
Gaza, Baghdad and Beirut…Sadness is everywhere
Our determination will never die; it will get stronger with faith

آمنة فاخر
كلنا إخوان في الأزمة إيد وحدة عالعدوان
كلنا واعيين للفتنة كلنا ملك الأوطان

Amnah Fakher
Our determination will never die; it will get stronger with faith
We are all one family during crisis standing up in the face of tyranny

لطفي بوشناق
لعبتهم هي الفتنة و لازم نكون صاحيين
للفتنة و نار الفتنة و لابد نكون واعيين

Lotfi Boshnaq (Lutfi Bo Shnaq)
Their game is turning us against each others, we have to be awake
We have to realize that and the fire (subsequences) of it

يارا
لا تقول مسلم و مسيحي كلنا واحد إخوان
لا تقول سني و لا شيعي كلنا إسمنا لبنان

Yara
Don't say I am a Muslim nor Christian, we are all one family
Don't say I am Sunni nor Shitte, we are all Lebanon

عمر العبداللات
يا خويا يا عربي إحنا بقينا أغراب
يا صمتنا العربي إنطق كفاية غياب

Omar Al Abdullat
Dear Arab brother, we became strangers
Our silence, return back and speak up

نوال
إرفع جبينك فوق خلي الكلام فعل
يا ضميرنا يا عربي محال موتك محال

Nawal
Raise your forehead (face) in pride and express your words into action
Our Arab conscience, it's impossible for you to die

نور مهنا
الله يا الله عاث بنا الأعداء
ناديت يا الله ما خاب فيك رجاء

Noor Mhna
Dear God, they are spreading around us like lice
I am seeking for your help; I know you will never let me down

فاتن هلال
أيقظ ضمير الأمة رجع لها الإحساس
يا رافع الغمة صحي ضمير الناس

Fatin Helal Baik
I am seeking for your help; I know you will never let me down
Dear God, wake our nation's conscience up…[br]Let her (the nation) feel backs

مؤمن
صحي قلوب الناس صحي بها النخوة
إصرخ بكل إحساس إن العرب أخوة

Mo'amin
Dear God, Let people's hearts wake up...Let their preference for each others wakes up
Shout out load emotionally..."Arab are a family"

Kuwait, desert's lighthouse

I've created this slide show (below) for Kuwait's independence and liberation days using photos I've taken my self between 2006 - 2008 in several locations such as:

Salmiya, Kuwait city (Salmiya side), Kuwait towers beach, Shuwaikh water front, Pylons in Doha, Ras Al Salmiya beach, Mosque in Kuwait city by the dancing fountain, Kuwait city (Shuwaikh water front side), Airport road, Kuwait towers, Kuwait city (locally known as Al Deera), Fatima's mosque, F;ag of Kuwait, Oil refinery and petrochemicals complex in Shu'aiba, Liberation tower, Distillation plant (station) in Doha, Al Seef palace, Maryam Al Ateeqi mosque, Bayan palace, Sharq shopping complex, Kuwait Petroleum corporation, Photos of Kuwait liberation, Water tanks in Bayan, Chamber of commerce and industry, Kuwait Fund.

I used unreleased audio track by Latifa, written by Ahmad Al Kathem and composed by Marwan Khoury...You can find below English translation of the lyrics, it's sounds better in Arabic.

ATTENTION!!!!!!
1. I appear in the video at 2:15 when I was little.
2. Please notice the lyrics and the photos are matching...God I am a true artist but I didn't get my chance yet :(

سويت سلايد شو هذا (تحت) بمناسبة عيد الإستقلال و عيد التحرير للكويت، بصور صورتها شخصياً بالفترة من 2006 و لغاية 2008 في عدة مواقع منها:

السالمية، مدينة الكويت من جهة السالمية، شاطئ الأبراج، واجهة الشويخ البحرية (بحر الشويخ)، أبراج الضغط العالي في الدوحة، بحر راس السالمية، مسجد الديرة بجانب النافورة الراقصة، المركز العلمي، مدينة الكويت من بحر الشويخ، شارع المطار، أبراج الكويت، مدينة الكويت (الديرة)، مسجد فاطمة، مهبط الهيليكوبتر في مارينا مول، علم الكويت، محطة تكرير النفط و مجمع البتروكيماويات في الشعيبة، برج التحرير، مجلس الأمة، قصر السيف، مسجد مريم العتيقي، قصر بيان، محطة الدوحة لتحلية مياه البحر، سوق شرق، مؤسسة البترول الكويتية، صور تحرير الكويت، خزانات الماء في بيان، غرفة التجارة و الصناعة، الصندوق الكويتي للتنمية.


إستخدمت بالموسيقى أغنية لم تصدر للطيفة، كتبها أحمد الكاظم و لحنها مروان خوري...تجدون كلمات الأغنية في الأسفل.

إنتبه!!!!!!!!!
1. أنا أظهر في الفيديو لما كنت صغير في الدقيقة 2:15
2. لاحظ تركيب الصور على كلمات الأغنية....صج اني فنان بس لي الحين محد إكتشفني :(

إني أحبك كيفما تشاء...
كيفما تأمرني صبحاً حبيبي أو مساء...
صيفاً، خريفاً أو ربيعاً أو شتاء...
إن طلبت القرب أحضر...
إن طلبت الهجر أهجر...
أنت عشقي أنت رمز الكبرياء...
وطني أحبك كيفما تشاء

أنت صوتي...
أنت حسي...
أنت أرضي و السماء...
فيك أحلامي و آمالي و أفراحي و فيك الأوفياء...

يا سر هذا الكون يا وطني الحبيب...
يا شعلة لا تنطفي و منارة الصحراء

I love you, the way you want me to love you...
The way you order me night or day!
I love you during Summer, autumn, Spring and winter!
If you asked me to come closer I will..
If you asked me to abandon you, I will walk away!
You are my admiration...
You are the symbol of pride...
My homeland, I love you the way you want me to love you!

You are my voice...
You are my sense...
You are my ground and my sky...
All my dreams, hopes and my happiness exists in you

My beloved homeland, you are the secret of the universe...
You are inextinguishable torch and the desert's lighthouse!

UPDATE (6th of March 2008) My mother cried when she watched the video, my sister went crazy and 2 female co-workers was sad because they think I have a great talent and no one discovered me yet (I swear they said that LOL), my other (2 male) co-workers thinks that I should save it on DVDs and distribute it everywhere.

MAD

I am so F pissed off
I can't remember when was the last time I got that mad....Mad to the point where my head hurts, body get warmer and start shaking!

Oh yes now I remember, 2 years ago when my uncle passed away, but that time I had an outlet...This time I don't!

I am going to explode!

V for Valentine's day | عيد الحب

I don't really celebrate it but I do think that people should celebrate love all year 24 hours 365 days (366 days in this year), plus Valentine's day is being about gifts while it suppose to be about love in the first place...
I've made this tiny video file...

ما احتفل فيه بس أعتقد أن الناس المفروض تحتفل بالحب كل يوم بالسنة مو بس بعيد الحب، عيد الحب صار تجارة بدال ما يصير للحب...
سويت الفيديو هذا...

Oh one more thing....It's Latifa's birthday (the singer) and her official website is hacked on her birthday...What a great gift LOL
You can see the message below in Arabic saying that it was hacked by foreigners because of Latifa's political point of view :D

في شي ثاني بعد...اليوم عيد ميلاد لطيفة، تم اختراق موقعها الرسمي في يوم ميلادها...في هدية لها احلى من جذيه؟ لوووول
شوفوا الصورة تحت :D

It's will be back soon, I just finish the new index page...You can see below...

راح يرجع السايت قريباً، انا توه خلصت إنديكس السايت اليديد...شوفوه تحت...

Update (17th of Feb. 2008), Latifa's site is back and they wrote more details about it next day (15th).

تحديث (17 فبراير 2008)، تم إسترجاع الموقع و كتابة خبر عن الموضوع في اليوم التالي (15).

I was PAID!

WooHoooo....I was paid for my photos for the first time, actually my sister paid me before but that's doesn't count because she was just showing me her support :D

It's a project I've been working since October 2007 and I am done...I am not going to reveal it now :)

It didn't worth this amount of money because I had to go many different locations but I was excited about the project it self plus It will look good in my portfolio.

It's great to get paid for something you like doing for a change :D

أخيراً تم الدفع لي مقابل بعض الصور التي قمت بتصويرها شخصياً، في الحقيقة قامت اختي بالدفع لي قبل ذلك و لكن هذه طريقتها لتبين دعمها لي.

سبب الدفع هو مشروع كنت قد بدأت العمل به منذ شهر أكتوبر 2007 و إنتهيت مؤخراً منه...لن أقوم بالإفصاح عنه في الوقت الحالي :P


أعتقد أن الملبغ ليس كبير نظراً للمواقع التي قمت بتصويرها و بعدها عن بعضها غير أني تحمس للمشروع بالإضافة إلى أنه سيكون إضافة جيدة لسيرتي الذاتية :D


من الرائع الحصول على النقود مقابل عمل أنت تحبه كتغيير :D

Me in the first Diplomats Hobbies Exhibition

It's the first exhibition I participate, I had a tiny place enough for 4 A4 size photos but I had more than 4 photos I wanted people to see, I wanted to post at least 2 night photo, 1 minimal, 1 abstract, 1 portrait, 1 landscape, 1 post processed photo...Etc :(
I printed 9 photos of 50 photos, it was a hard decision yet I had to choose 4 of them but I couldn't do it because they are all like my children, no one can choose from his own children, I gave them all to the Exhibition admins and they picked some of them randomly.

The minister of the Foreign Affairs Prince Mohammad Al Sabah was going to open the exhibition on 3rd of January 2008, but it was postponed to 7th of January 2008 because princesses Sabeeha Al Sabah passed away (may her soul rest in peace).

That gave me more time so I asked some co-workers to help me pick 4 photos of the 9 and they made me more confused :S

The exhibition was postponed again to unspecified date because the minister was busy all week.

On Thursday 11th night on my way home, I had an idea to solve the photos problem WoohooooOo :D
I bought a 10" digital photo frame and problem was solved.

On 13th of January 2008 around 10 A.M., I had a phone call telling me that the minister of foreign affairs Prince Mohammed Al Sabah and the Iraqi minister of foreign affairs Hoshyar Zebari are going to open the exhibition so I have to be there in case they wondered about any of my photos...I know some people are now curious but I am not going to answer that question now :Pp

It was on a short notice so they didn't have enough time to call press, they only contact one person from KUNA (Kuwait News Agency similar to Reuters) and a photographer and "videographer" of the minister's department.
Next day there was a tiny article without any photos and it made me frustrated :(
I decided not to participate in any other exhibition in the future at the time.

On Wednesday the media came but I couldn't make it because someone called me using my brother's cellphone and said "The owner of this phone was transferred to the hospital by an ambulance", can I get any luckier?
I really wanted to be on the cover of "Foreign Policy", "Oprah", "Newsweek" and "Laha" magazine LOL
I am going to sue my brother for that LOL

UPDATE (6th of Februalry 2008) I've changed my mind about it, I like that exhibition despite the media thing :D

A link from KUNA about the event.

COWS COWS COWS :(

I really had no idea how valubale cows are until now, you see the co-op socitey in Kuwait decided to boycott my favorite power milk product wich I usually drink with my cup of tea at home and work because the milk company decided to increase the price, and since the co-op socity's main target is prtecting the consumer wich is the Kuwaiti citisen, they decided to boycott that milk and now I am lost :(

Imagine a cowless world, a world which I will not survive :(

انا توه أكتشفت إشكثر أحب البقر، هذا بعد ما قرر إتحاد الجمعيات الإستهلاكية مقاطعة الحليب المفضل اللي أنا أشربه مع الجاي مالي في البيت و الدوام. هالشي صار طبعاً بعد ما قررت الشركة إنها ترفع سعر الحليب و بما إن الإتحاد هدفه حماية المستهلك و اللي اهوه المواطن الكويتي، فكان قرارهم مقاطعة الشركة اللي تبيع الحليب اللي احبه و من ذاك اليوم و انا احس إني ضايع :(

تخيلوا عالم بدون البقر، عالم انا ما راح اقدر اعيش فيه :(


منك لله اللي كنت السبب

I AM MAD!

I AM MAD!
Originally uploaded by radiant guy

Have you ever taken some photos of certain location (I am not talking about Army base nor the pentagon or the SL*T Condalisa Rice, I am talking about tourism location) and later they did NOT allow you to publish them non commercially in your own portfolio?!
They even had copies of all of them!

I feel back stabbed and pissed off, should I upload them anyway?

P.S. Happy Eid and Merry Christams

I am going to scream place your palms on your ears

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum [Read]

Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum [Read]
Originally uploaded by radiant guy

I had to take some photos of "Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum" (keep reading to know what it is)...
I didn't know where they are exactly although I passed by them few times, so I asked who lived in the exact area where the Museum is...

The Museum consists of three houses located in residential area in Kuwait called "Al-Qurain", many Kuwaiti men of the Kuwaiti resistance group of "Messila" where killed by the Iraqi army on 25th of February 1991 (only one day before the liberation of Kuwait on 26th of February 1991), one of the houses was attacked intensively while the other two houses weren't really effected compared to the first house.

Back to my friend who I asked for direction to the Museum, only this week I found out that the father of my friend was killed in that house too, I already knew that he was killed by the Iraqi army but I didn't know that he was one of the men in "the Qurain Houses" I only found out this week...When I was talking to the phone with him, he told me to say Hi for his father then we both laughed...

I was thinking, well it will be very fast just snap some photos of the houses from the outside then go back home, but one of the guards saw me and asked me if I wanted to take photos from the inside I should do it now because they were closing the museum in less than ten minutes and I said OK.

Until today, I never seen "Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum" in real life, so when I got in I saw all the Iron bars surrounding the walls to prevent the house from collapsing, I kept taking photos and then I reached a room where I found photos of the martyrs with all spot lights and some information written about them such as where they actually work, how many children they had, photos of the children, what they were wearing at the time...Etc

While I was walking from room to other, floor to roof I was looking at the walls and reading all the writings on the wall (some of them were written by them), I has flash backs of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and I begun to imagine what those guys been through that day and how each one felt linking that to the holes caused by the bullets and tanks on the walls with all the writing and stuff it made me cry.

So I decided to share that story with the whole world because I do want people to know what happened there once upon the time...

Photo and description dedicated to the souls of the courageous resistance men in heaven.

COMING SOON!

Soon!
Radiant will shine and everybody will see the unlit part...
Come back soon!
قريباً!
سيلمع شعاع النور و سترون الجزء المظلم...
عودوا للزيارة قريباً!


One more thing, I just had a hair cut...I wanted to get a hair cut for the Eid but it was crowded so I didn't do it until today.
I always wanted to do a photo with water droops and I guess I succeeded :D

ليش الحلاليق كله زحمه بالعيد؟
جنه بس بالعيد الناس لازم يقصون شعرهم غير جذي مو لازم...
المهم انا من زمان كان ودي بصور اللي يكون فيهم نقط ماي, هالشي ما بقدر اسوي بكاميرا عاديه, بس بعد ما شريت نيكون سويتها و نص :D

Feeling black...

I don't know what's wrong with me, I've been sad almost all day :\
Still can't sleep, it's 5:34 A.M. and I have to work in 4 hours...
I feel like a mountain of rocks on my chest (I always feel that way during sunset time but this time it's extended)...Don't get me wrong, I am the most optimistc person you probably knew and will know, everything changes every now and then...
Hmmmm...

Happy Ramadhan [Year 1428] مبارك عليكم الشهر

Happy Ramadhan [Year 1428] مبارك عليكم الشهر
Originally uploaded by radiant guy

Ramadhan (Ramadan) is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It's when Muslims all over the world spend 30 days fasting and bettering themselves in principles of faith.

Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from sexual intercourse (during fasting), violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry and sarcastic retorts, and gossip. People are meant to try to get along with each other better than they normally might. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm.

Fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would be excessively problematic. Children before the onset of puberty are not required to fast, though some do. However, if puberty is delayed, fasting becomes obligatory for males and females after a certain age. According to the Qur'an, if fasting would be dangerous to someone's health, such as a person with an illness or medical condition (this can include the elderly), that person is excused.

The reason Muslims fast is to discipline their body and mind. The absence of food and drink and other pleasures provides a perfect opportunity to concentrate on prayer and worship. Not having the luxuries of life to hand makes it easier to reflect on life and be grateful for what we do have. Muslims use this month to start afresh and give their life a new direction.

Read more at Wikipedia
Here is an idiotic Q&A about Ramadhan LOL

The scariest night of my life [READ]

The scariest night of my life [READ]
Originally uploaded by radiant guy

ATTENTION: This could be the longest blog I ever posted and probably the longest I will ever post...It could be real, spooky (to me) and funny.

On the last weekend, the moon was a crescent; so I thought to take a drive away of the city for Astrophotography...I drove away for so long until I reached an area crowded with huge houses and very dark, I thought it's great since that area is located away of the city lights and close to the sea, I wanted to take some photos of the moon's reflection on the black dark sea with the stars all around.

Anyway I reached that place and kept my car's lights on because it was very dark and I wanted to see all the text around the buttons on my camera; then I begun taking some shots for lighting test; when I am done I turned my car's lights off and begun to take some light testing photos of the moon, stars and the sea....Suddenly...

A 4X4 black car was driving toward me really fast and I was like :O
The car's lights wear very bright and it caused me a tiny headache so I turned my face to the other way, then it stopped like 5 meters away of me...
And that's when I noticed the blue and red lights above the car LOL
Remember, I have a middle eastern look and that means I am a terrorist according to many people in the world (F.Y.I. That's me being sarcastic).
Anyway....

- He asked If there is anybody else with me, my ID, where do I work, my work's ID and If they (my work) knows that I am a photographer and what will I do with the photos I take...Etc
- I said well, It's my hobby and I was trying to take moon shots away of the city lights because it's ruins it, and I am alone and kinda afraid that a group of dogs might pop up anytime and then I have to run really fast like hell (at the time I wasn't in the running mood)...
- He laughed then told me you shouldn't be here and asked me about the camera's film...
- I replied it's digital...
- He asked me to follow him so he could take a look on what I was shooting...
- So I did...
He took me to a room full of monitors LOL
I was like OH MY GOD, what did I get my self into LOL
- He said that he saw me when I got here but he wanted to wait for a while before following me, just to catch me doing what I wanted to do...
- He also said that he zoomed on me and took some snap shots...
- I replied why didn't you tell me? I would smile...
He laughed again then he left to get some water and came back...
-I told him about the last time when I've been into similar thing while I was trying to photograph the national assembly (locally known as "Majlis Al Omma", but obviously this time I've got my self in way bigger troubles...I never blogged that story before but it was kinda funny when you know the details I told him about :D
- He laughed...Then he asked me to see the photos and I showed him...
- Then he told me that I could take some photos in other place and that he'll guide me to it...You could leave now if you want, so I left back to my car (as fast as I could LOL) then he followed me to lead me to a different photography spot, and that's when his phone begun to ring; he went away to answer and he was laughing almost all the time (I could see that) but I had no idea what he was saying because he was far away...
Then he came back and told me that other people saw me on the security camera when I came here and they were checking out...
Then he asked me for my ID again and went back in, probably to xerox it :+
He came back...
Then I told him, did I get my self in some kind of most wanted black lists? LOL
He laughed and said don't worry :D
He begun to tell me about the other place where I could take some photos...
Then told me be safe..
I replied thanks and sorry for the mess and left...
I drove to the place he told me about and I found a sign says: "ATTENTION: STRICTED AREA, NO PHOTOGRAPHY"...

So I had a you turn and went back to Kuwait city :(

I had a photo in my mind that I want to visualize it but I didn't have the chance :(

Anyway I went to a different location, somewhere by Kuwait towers to take a photo of the crescent...I was trying to experiment my lens's maximum vocal length (200 mm) and I actually could see the unlit part of the moon!
The camera shakes when I press the shutter release button and I have no idea where did I lost my remote control (my room is a mess, I probably throw it in the trash LOL)...So I used the timer...Because I didn't want any blurr in the photo...
And that's when a car stopped LOL
- He told me what are you shooting?
- I replied why?
- He said that he is a "Mabahith" (Similar to FBI agent)...
- I asked him for his ID...
- He showed it to me...
- Then I replied shooting the moon...
- He talked for a while then he left...

I moved by the beach to take some photos of the dawn, when I am done I went back to my car and drove to a different spot...

When I was just about to exit to the main road, I noticed a guy shooting Kuwait towers and I was happy and not sure whether I should stop or not because sometimes it makes me nerves when someone do that to me or when people gather around me...
But I did anyway...I was kinda excited about it and I never did it before :D

We talked for awhile about our cameras, I asked him if he knows flickr and about photography spots, I didn't want to stay long although I was excited but I didn't want to bother...
I left to other different spots to have different sessions, then went back home...We were going to meet in another spot but we didn't.
I went back home and I was online...I got a message from someone I have no idea who was it, when I read the email...It was that guy, I was totally surprised because he knew nothing about me...I asked him how did you find me, he said through flickr :D
I guess, I just found a new photography pal :Pp~

3 days weekend...

Starting 1st of September 2007, Kuwait is shifting the weekend from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday.

So this weekend is going to be 3 days instead of two days Thursday, Friday and Saturday that's why I am happy...At least for now :+

Earthquake hits Kuwait!

Well, yesterday (Sat.) early morning around 2 A.M., I was in my room (third floor) on my bed working on a new project when my bed begun to shake and I looked exactly like this ---> :S
ما خليت آيه حفظونا اياها بالمدرسة ما قلتها LOL
I had no idea what was going on, I though USA initiated a new war or invaded a new country in the region or something.

Anway later I went down stairs and asked my little brother if he felt it, he replied NO and laughed, then I went to my mother and asked her too, she thought I was kidding.

On the moring while I was driving to work, they were talking about it on the radio and that's when I knew it was an earthquake ~:O

We never have them in Kuwait or at least we can't feel them when they happen but this one was 4.3-magnitude earthquake, I guess that's why I felt it.

Today, 17 years ago...

Today, 17 years ago...
Originally uploaded by radiant guy

On 2nd of August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait...At the time I was 8 years old (currently I am 14 years old) yet I do remember certain things vividly.
17 years ago I wake up around 10 A.M., I found my family all a wake and looking through the windows, when I asked what's wrong?
They said Iraq invaded us...I looked through the window and I saw columns of smoke everywhere raising in the sky with bombing noise which I already heard earlier but I didn't know what was it at the time.

I do remember that day when my father came back home with my brother, a bullet almost
hit his car's tire.

I also remember my aunt (my mother's sister), she used to record stuff from TV and get them to us so we can watch it, because their house is closer to Saudi Arabia so they can get better TV signals, she used to write "Om Kalthoum" (She is a dead singer) on the VHS tapes to pass through the Iraqi check points.

I also remember when the Iraqi army blown up more than 600 oil fields (more than 1 billion barrels were either spilled in the sea or burned), the sky at 1 P.M. was more like 1 A.M. except there was no moon or stars!

The photo above of my uncle, he wrote our names on the missile as a gift from us to the army of Saddam.

The photo below is a snapshot from Kuwait TV (As seen on many Kuwaiti patriotic songs), my father was driving a school bus with almost everybody in our neighborhood on board, we had a road trip on the liberation day (26th of February 1991) to the north, I am the one in red.

Currently If you visited Kuwait, You will not
realize that a war took place here.

الله يحفظ الكويت و شعبها

!اتفشلوووووون

!اتفشلوووووون
Originally uploaded by radiant guy

غير عنوان الصورة ما عندي تعليق!

AGAINST THE AGONY they WON!

AGAINST THE AGONY they WON!
Originally uploaded by radiant guy

THEY WON!
I am really happy for them, they won the Asian cup for the first time although they've been under massive agony!
When they won the game with Korea, Iraqi people went out in the streets celebrating the victory, 50 were killed and more were injured by a terror explosion.
Their football team consists of many players with different ethnic and religious backgrounds, yet they played as a team and proved to the world that differences means NOTHING.

VIVA IRAQ and f**K BUSH AND CONDOLESSA RICE :D