24 and counting inshallah

All, I celebrated my 24th birthday on thursday, it was a fairly quiet bday by my party ways but i had a good time and guess it reflected the new me! aneway i still do not have tbe net properly and i am still in the uk, however upon my return to doha, the blogmaster will be returning properly!!

Guess whos back

Hallllllo da,

I'm back, however not as frequently as i used to be, aneway i will be writing inshallah again on my 24th birthday so watch this space!!

Take care

Asif

I thought I fucked my life up again when i was 19

Ok you would think after my experience when i was 17 it wouldnt happen again but then 1st yr of uni happened and here it went all over again, i was wasting my life away except this time no1 was around to tell me, so it got worse, however lucky for me I wasnt on the right degree for me, and so by chance it worked out and i switches and now thank Allah i have managed to get a grip of my life once again and this time its firmly on the ground....

There you have it the life of Sheikh Asif Mahmood

I fucked up my life when I was 17

For those who didnt know me back then, i majorly fucked up my life, I got decent GCSES after being on the road to medioreism, then at teh start of lower 6th when most people are canning the work to get good offers for uni i was fuckin about, and jus wasting my life away, and came very close to getting thrown out of MGS, thank Allah i didnt and manage to get my life back on track, but it was easily one of the worst years of my life....

Mr UCL-Qatar

You might be interested in looking at the Qatar page in the
international students' section of the UCL website:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/international-students/country-information/middle-east/qatar/

Enough Said....

Mr Construction

I am an official Construction Ambassador appointed by the Construction Industry Train Board (CITB) which is a government initive to get people involved into Construction, and I am one of the Ambassadors!

Footy Legend

Now many of you would believe this but I played for Man Utd when i was VERY young lol like 6-7 for this Man Utd schools, I received awards and stuff, i got them all locked up and still however then i found choclate ecclairs and the rest my friends is history...

Allow the old titles

Man I cant stand doing the now this is qatar titles and im sure you guys hate it, from now on i promise no more titles! Now over the next 5 posts and this (6 in total i will reveal something about myself that you may or may not know)

1) I am a qualified English Teacher (well TEFL) I passed the course last year, and I have taught in China and am now teaching here in Qatar as part of a voluntary thing with work.

There you have it!

R+R 2

All,

I have returned supposedly rested and relaxed though i got little of both whilst I was back in the UK, i did have a awesome time though! I dont understand people who say like if they were loaded like from a lottery they would continue to work, the best thing is when you can jus go out do what you want and when you want and dont worry about things like fiances or when you got to be in bed for or wake up for, thats what R+Rs are like, i just do what i want and when i want and its so liberating and as im working i dont need to really worry bout the finances!

Anyway will update more later on!

Adios

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 74: The 250million pound man

Its only one and half weeks till im back in blighty!

So you maybe wondering who is this 250 million pound man? well its none other than ur author...and why u may ask, well let me give you some history, New Doha International Airport is a huge project, on of the biggest in the world, and unlike most airports or goverment projects everything is to the top end of the spectrum. The project is split into 2 areas(which are further split into 2 more sections so thers 4 sections altogether), and of those sections, the project is further split into buildings or functions/services (such as passgenger terminal, security, labour compound, land reclamation etc) anyway I have 5 packages which have been awarded and in the administration stage, which is the most for my my Area and the value of my projects totals around 250 million pounds which is the second most for my error, when i found out i was shocked!

I mean here i am 23 years old, not even one year out of university, and im managing 250million pounds worth of work its incredible and a true testament in how my company trusts its employees. DOnt get me wrong there are plenty of things i have problems with, however in this aspect I think for people heading out of univeristy should look to companies that really do trust each of there employees and not see the younger staff as soley assistants to the older members...

Aneway im off to pray then sleep


Au-revoir

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 73: Live for the Weekend

Hola,

This is the weekend here in Doha, its my 'Saturday night'i know its friday, but as were one day ahead its like my saturday, aneway. I used to think i would hate working life hwen i was young i would really dread it, however im surprisingly enjoying it. I mean i know you have to work hard all week but the weekend is the highlight is for the weekend. I used to think about how in England everyone lives for the weekend, and in the typical english sake the piss up, however im understanding the love for the weekend alot more!

Aneway i best enjoy the rest of my weekend and will let u know on sunday wot i got up to this weekend!


Adios

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 72: iREST is the future

Hola its the end of may and all I can say is im glad!

ITs been fuckin busy, fuckin crazy but in a way i loved it because today is the day i found the chair of my dreams...

Google iRest its SICK!

Aneway im off!

Bye

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 71: The Next Tiger Woods...

All,

In the continuing evolution of my self and my life, I have joined the Marriott gym to improve a health and social life, I went for the first time today, it was awesome, the pool wasnt freezing but warm when you went in, and the jacuzzi was really enjoyable, I havent been in one for ages. Im not sure about the steam rooms, generally it makes me feel really uncomfortable,I know its supposed to be good for you but i just feel so off... Then come the most crazy aspect of the gym the cold plunge, it was freaking freezing, unbelievable, I just cant believe those people in the Russia who go swimming in ice pools, you jump in and everything just starts attacking u, unbelievable....

Also I have signed up for some extremely expensive golf lessons, i will hopefully pick up the basics, its the ultimate coporate tool, and everyone knows it, however i also think its quite a relaxing sport and different to footy so provides a nice contrast to my life...

Finally I jus heard Utd have almost signed two new players, at least in principle, and will add some much needed colour in the team :P! only joshin!

Aneway walikum salam

Asif

Now that's What I call Qatar 70: Innuendo

I was pointed out by some of my readers the coincidence of my last post, with it being 69 and me talking bout SEXism, hahaha! some people, well they just never grow up!

However these types of Innuendos occur all the time, and more often than not there funny, but sometimes it causes people real discomfort.

The reason im talking bout this, is because a collegue of mine has just moved here and is finding it hard to fit in, and often it is sometimes its hard to make approprite jokes to people, like for some people they will love sexual innuendos whilst others hate it, or racist humour whilst others hate it...

Its often hard to find what people can accept when you meet them for the first time, that is why being tolerant and knowledgable about people is the best way to settle into anywhere you go. I have traveled but not a huge amount but if you are tolerant and knowledgeable i have found more often than not you can land on your feet!

Pretty random things to speak about but its been on my mind!

Aneway au-revoir..

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 69: Sexism

I have wondered often about how in this world sexism affects us, in some ways im in favor of it, and in other ways im against it. Ill give some examples of where I think it can change or stay the same...

I mean in the work place, it if often you see men with the top jobs and you see women with the administer or secretarial jobs, however I feel there is no reason for this to happen and often in work when you do have a manager who is a women you do notice they can come in two varieties, one which is super macho to make up for the oestragen, and the really sensitive/nice ones, who in my opinon make a really good manager and make a good contrast to usual managers...

Sexism also occurs in our attitudes to life,where its ok for women to do certain things like be a housewife but its not ok for a man to be a househusband, its really upsetting how people arent free to live there lives in ways they want.

Its ok for a guy to be with as many girls as possible but if a girl does shes a hoe, if a guy smokes weed its cool if the girl does it its skanky...the list goes on, i mean if my son and daughter did it, i guess i would take the prejucidice of it, and be ok with my son and not so with my daughter, i dont know why but i guess we will always have those prejudices. However when it comes to others like my friends, i dont view my female friends who are off with guys as hoes, or anything like that, and if i have done something who am i to view it as bad on another person and even when I havent done it, i shouldnt look down...but its all too tempting and you need strong will to not become so judgemental...

Sexism will always be around, and as a guy im often going to have sexism in my favour, and in my selfish nature i love it!

I know its a pretty random topic but i been thinking about it alot, and just have become so aware of it with work and with my social life..

Aneway adios

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 68: Donde Esta Stormies Princess

All,

Ok guys, I have to admit im pretty bummed with life, well not life, as its odd to be honest, as my life is actually quite good masallah, however with the whole parents thing and Shamina, its jus getting ridiculous, i have to put a face of happiness on the world whilst inside im full of horrible dilemmas, which very little people understand, and the slightest wrong move in these situations could be decisions you later regret for the rest of your life, its disgusting the feeling the regret that you make one move tthis way, or one move that way, you dont know the consequence of your choices, until its often to late...

I havent been to specfic and I dont intend to be except my mind is really confused with everything....

Anyway adios

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 67: Donde Esta Stormy

Well well, where indeed is stormy, many of u have been emailing!

Well i appoligize for my absense and will be making it up shortly, i havent been up to much except working my tiny in my eyes yet rather large to the other humans eye ass off!

I have a friend visiting me in Doha, Matt Khallumadi ( i spelt his name wrong on purpose :P) aneway pretty cool, as hes my 1st friend to come out here, and so is nice him meeting all my new collegues and friends, its pretty late now, but i will post on sunday inshallah.

Take care

Asif

Now thats What I call Qatar 66: Leaving Qatar

Im in the silver club lounge about to leave doha, my flight jus got called, im not feelin the flight! i cant decide if im going to sleep or watch films and mope about how i wish i had already landed, aneway take care i will be arriving in 8 hours inshallah!

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 65: FPL

Now I know alot of my blogs are football centric and for many of you thats boring, however I cannot make appologizes for it, as football truly is a big part of my life! I love playing, watching it on tv, watching it live just amazing! Im watching chelsea vs man utd, with their second teams, its actually a good game, not so much technically but fiesty, and their has been a load of yellow cards and almost reds...



Aneway Fantasy premier league is like my herorin/cocaine call it wot u want im addicited, i would ring Bilal or Asaker or Baqer or Fern or James or anyone really and find out how my teams are doing, when i watch the games here in Qatar i would be watching it with the computer next to me to see how I am doing, i know how sad this might make me seem, but its the truth im a addict i jus love it!
It all stems from my pre-teen days at the Championship manager camp, wheree I would spend about 20 hours of the day at the computer playing a game for weeks to months on end, and I would treat it like a science, it was unbelievable the dedication I had and I have carried that forward to FPL now, and im not ashmed of it, I jus love it!

Aneway i best go and pack, I will let u know where i finish up in the league!

Take care

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 64: CHAMPIONES!!

Da u have it, Champions of England, and though we aint gig to be champions of europe, i can take it this year! We are two short of Liverpools record of 18 championships, however I think in the next 3 years or so will equal their record...

We defintiely have the foundations in place, Edwin can be replaced by Ben Foster, and the rest of the team is good for the next 2-3 years or so, with hopefully Gerad Pique and Guisepe Rossi coming through the future is bright the future is RED!!


Aneway i been fairly absent in the last week,however will be updating a couple times before i fly off to england, this thursday! where im doubting ill be able to update my amazing blog that much!!

Adios for now!

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 63: It's da end of the month however no rent is due...

All,

Well its the end of the month, and were almost in May, i cant believe it,a third of the year down, jus two thirds left, however when your working their isnt like something to look forward to so much, i mean whats the difference between 2007 and 2008,its just like when your in education each year is a progression to something however here the time scale is nothing and their is no beginging or end...

I have been putting in a hell a lot of effort in my work over the last few months, and as a reward they gave me even more work. its ironic, the harder work the more work you get, however i can honestly say i do enjoy my work, i never thought i would, as when i was growing up i hated all my work experiences and summer jobs, i seldom liked them however i do now!!

Tonight I went to a place called Qatar Guest Centre, you can google it, and its a place for bascially english speaking muslims and non-muslims to go and learn about Islam, its a really good place, and I might enrol in a calss, however im always worried about being trying to press their own beliefs on me, and that includes fellow muslims, i maybe dont follow Islam as I maybe should, and im aware of that, however i jus get touchly and think relgion really is a personal matter and i cant understand why people try to make people think otherwise..

Aneway im off to bed now..its quite late and i dont get much sleep these days cuz of the stupid construction site near my house keeps everyone up in my building, so its not the best conditions to put in a 12 hour day!

aneway adios

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 62:Shamina Update

All,

Its a boiling hot Saturday, sorry i mean Friday, here in Qatar, im so scared of what is going to happen this summer the heat is going to unbearable, Shamina cant stand the heat and i would hate to think of what she would think of the weather this summer...

Well bout Shamina, its still very much in the air, no decisions have been made by my family, we have slightly more progressive talks, when my mum came, there was some testing conversations however if anything brought me and my mum closer together...we had a really good time when she was here. I hadnt really spent quality time with my mother for about the last 5 years, however we spent a good month togehter, reminded me of how valuable my mum is for me and all shes done for me, this made it harder for me to decide between my parents and shamina...

Its really ridiculous how someone has to make a choice like parents and a partner, i know im not alone in this choice, and for many young people from the Indian Sub-Contient, and Muslims of all origins they are from my knowledge having this problem,its such a shame as their is no problem within Islam for being biased on where somone is from, colour of skin, and for a man they can marry anyone of the book ( ie Christian, Muslim or Jew) and for a girl she should marry a Muslim( reason being the father usually dictates the families relgion, however in Judiasm they beleive its the mother that dictates and you can only be considered a Jew if your mother is a Jew). Well anyway in me and Shamins case were both muslim so their should really be a problem but oh wel their is at the moment but iA it will be resolved...

Im coming back next month with the little hope that we can get things back on track, and i will let you all know, however this summer is going to be key, as Shamina will be going to Bangladesh, and so there will be pressure on her if nothing happens between us for her to get married, so that is why something HAS to happen...

Well aneway i best go and bask in sun as its going to be sunset soon, take care...

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 61: There is only one Ronaldo no fuck THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE ROOOOOOOONEY

Well we have started and man utd jus scored, i really freakin luv Ronaldo, however jus as im writing this fcukin Kaka jus scored twice, and now were losing, 2-1, i cant belive it,im so upset...from pure ectasy im on a complete downer...

Well let me tell u all about the wonderful world of Contracts...for those of you who dont know what I actually do for a living, I am officially a Contract Administrator, which officially means I am supposed to administer the contracts by analysisng the payments of the contract which I am invovlved in, chair progress meetings which occur every week to discuss how well the contractor is doing and what else needs to be done, and i have to manage any changes made to the contract which is actually very often normally in Construction. This is because the end-user often changes their mind on what they want or there are surprises when you build something(like finding something historical underground which means u have to build elsewhere) , things like this will result in a change in scope and mean the contractors entitled to usually more money or more time to cmoplete their project...

In addition to this role, my primary role is a Contract Formulator, where before someone is chosen to do the project I am incharge or choosing which contractor does the contract. So I write up the contract and then send it to different companies to bid for the contract, they then submit a technical and commerical bid after a lengthy process of going back and forth answering Tenderers (the name for potential contractors

SOrry but fuck me ROOOOOONEY come on, he jus scored a beautifull worked goal, were battering the itallien bastards now...I CANT STAND AC MILAN, aaaaahhhhrrrrrgggg we cant lose to the punks...


Aneway back to the exciting world of Contracts, so they submit their Tender Bid and we analyse the Technical first and make sure they are technicaly compliant, and we assess which is the best technically. Then after a bit of back and forth and clarifying what the tenders have put in their bid, we finally recommmend which one is the best to the client/end user...Then we open the Commerical Tender and see which Tender can do it for the best price, this is not always the cheapest as it depends what the client is after,aneway depending on the requirements of the Client we make a final recommendation and then negotitate with the tender certain terms in the contracts (cross the T's and dot the I's as some would say) and for this whole process i bascially administer that!!

So there you have it welcome to my world!

Now back to UTds whopping of AC Milan, we are pissing on em at the moment, i would end this entry but i want to wait til the match is over, iA we will get another goal, we freakin deserve it!

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME ON!!!! Rooooooooooney legend scores a beauty, in my excitement i hit the off button on the power cord however i luckily managed to save it! ohhhhh man im jus pumped how da fcuk will i sleep tonight??????

Well adios

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 60: What Fitness?

All,

Well its Monday Evenin here in Doha, im about to go swimming at my friends pool,im jus watchin Lost as i write this, a lot of people think its gone downhill,however i beg to differ, its become more familar but that is more to do with continuity, and now the initial shock factor of the show has gone it relies on more thought proving story lines, and not as much waiting around (ie a little more faster paced now)

I just got backed from swimming, in my effort to get fit im really trying hard,however for some reason i cant and its the most infuriting thing, sometimes i think when you get to a certain age/fitness level, their is no going back, i dont know if that is true, but for me im not seeing a big difference and its really annoying. However I think maybe all the swimming and the football im playing is at least helping my cardio and therefore my heart and lungs etc!

Tommorrow is the Man Utd vs Ac Milan game, im shitting it, i mean after wot we did to Roma I should be confident. however they nullfied us 2 years ago and Ac Milan can control any game i cant wait anyway! ill be writing tomorw as the game is being played...

Aneway take care

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 59: WTF is goin on!

All,

I jus witnessed the biggest bullshit ever,man Utd drew with middlesborough,its a joke, it means chelsea hav the chance of getting the title,im getting so nervous....

Well on a lighter note, my fantasy football had a decent week, I could still do a lot better,its so exciting the last few weeks of the season, the last 7-8 months comes down to like 3 weeks, its a phenomenal feeling but leaves you so bitter when it al goes pear-shaped..

Well my weekend, i played football on Thursday,and scored a fantastic Van-Basten-esque, where i volleyed the ball from one corner of the area to the other side of the top corner of the goal, it was fantastic, i aint scored a beauty like that for ages...

After footy, I went home and got ready for my footy managers leaving party, which was fun, and a very expat affair...it all ended with everyone putting 10 Riyals for killer pool,which is where u have one shot to get a ball if you miss you lose a life, and you have three lives in total, its a really kool game, and good when you have a lot of people.

Then on Friday, I went to Friday prayer, and headed to a supermarket, before going for a swim in the blazing sun!Shortly after I wen to the Diplomatic club for a dinner for all Commerical Bank employees,(in Qatar all the major companies have at least once usually twice a year family fun days, where all employees and their familes are treated to a huge dinner and kinda party, usually at one of the 5* hotels, we had ours in November)well aneway that was good, i had some wicked food!lol

Anyway I have to go so will write more later...

Take Care

Asif

Now Thats What I Call Qatar 58: Bon Anniversie

All,

Today is my 34 month anniversary with Shamina, its been a incredible journey with many twists and turns and more than likely their will be plenty more to come!

A lot of the people I work with are in relationships with their partners/wives back home, whereever they are from, my family is the same, and i guess i am used to it, but to others who are not it seems so weird. I guess it kinda depends on what you value and what you want from life. Clearly you tend to have a better quality of life when working abroad, and if your family doesnt come, you usually get more holidays, so though you dont spend day to day with your family, you have more opportunity to spend quality time with your family. SOmeone i met out here, told me how he used to work mad hours in the UK and never got to see his family, however now that he has come here, he seems them so much more now, and at first i ddint quite understand,however now being here I do see how one can ironically spend more time with the family than actually living with the family.

Also as side note, i think where i am is amazing placed in the world, in terms of traveling, its so wel placed, between Europe and Asia and so you can do alot of weekend trips to England, or Bangladesh/India...

Chelsea just beat West Ham 4-1, though i have little love for West Ham, (the only love I do have is, cuz their from East London and Shamina is from their) I wish they had jus done better, im so pissed, however my fantasy football had a fantastic week, well happy with that!lol!(cloud...silver lining!)

So tomorw is the weekend, cant freakin wait, I will be writing more this weekend,

Take care

Asif

Now that What I call Qatar 57: The Middle East Provst

Dear All,

Its been a hectic time as I have emphasised and witnessed by my lack of entries, things will not be getting much better either but I will perserve, their is a lot I have to to speak about and alot on current affairs I want to discuss...its soo so time consuming!

I have also tried to become a lot mroe health concious, in terms of exercising, and spend time swimming 3-4 times a week, as well as playing footy and table tennis, however i have yet to give up on the DELICIOUS food they have here in Doha, for such a small place the amount of quality good is astounding. It really is, their isnt the greatest variation however the quality is good of what they have.

I am planning my trips back to the UK and Kuwait(to see my dad) and will hopefully hjave two nice trips seeing my family and friends...

well thats it for me, ohhh a couple of news updates I am currently trying to start up a Muslim Expat in Qatar Association (MEQA) and if anyone knows any western muslims in Qatar that would like to join let me know....

Also I have been appointed by my university, UCL, as being the International Recruitment Volunteer for the Qatar/Middle East region! im pretty proud of that!

Aneway take care of yourselves

Asif

Now thats What I call Qatar 56: When in Rome act like Valencian...

All,

Watching Man utd vs Rome, man utd were winning 4-0 at home, now its 6-0 and jus became 6-1. Unbelievable stuff. Chelsea are drawing 1-1 the bastards, I want them out yet at the same time, if they go out they can concerntrate on the league and that could be problems for man utd especially as we still have to play em, however chelski still have to go to arsenal which isnt much these days..

Chelski jus scored the fcukin scum, im watchin it with a romanian friend, he said i shud be proud that English teams are in the semis but i jus dislike em, i have no national pride when it comes to english teams that are in direct competetion with utd...

Well their u have it were in the sems and we win 7-1 i cant belive it its like a rugby score!

As regards to fantasy football as I mentioned i just flopped, i went back for R+R and i jus seriously fcuked up, however i have found my bearings once again and im going for a late surge up the table, its going to be very tough, however I think I can do it,especially with the team that im building!

So there u have it Manchester united in the semis, i cant believe it, inshallah, we can do it! With Chelsea matching man utd step for step then its going to go to the wire, for all three competitions, if this seasons goes to form, then man utd and Chelsea will be playing each other 3 times in like 2 weeks,to decide the competitions!

Its al jus getting too intense, I cant believe it, aneway take care and basque in the glory that is Manchester United...and iA Knutsford Knights(my fantasy premier league team)...


Asif

Now Thats What I call Qatar 55:Last Day with Mum

Hey,

Well I jus dont have much time these days, and like my last entry this will be very a lackluster attempt...My mum will be leaving later today (today being 2.30 in the mornin on Saturday the 7th, here in Qatar)

I have had a lot of work and with my responsibilities at work increasing at a incredible rate and with my mum being here, its jus impossible to do the 9 a month blog entries, however with mum leaving the void will be filled with stormy786!!

Aneway I will be starting to write properly in a few days, so expect some entries at some point!

Aneway take care

Asif

Now thats What I call Qatar 54: The last day of March

Dear All,

I am going to give a lame edition right now,and i wont deny it its because im so tired and with my mum being here and work just pilling up I cant believe how hard everything is at the moment, I will be giving a Shamina update soon once my mum (and my dad) has left, its just so tiring and stressful.

So I have just been so stressed, and really cant right a decent column however this week I should be able to write two good entries...to keep my faithful readers happy!

Take care

Asif

Now thats What I call Qatar 53 : Education Part 2

Now the second part I want to focus on is the MCB(muslim council of Britiain) guide for schools to deal with muslim students, i will give a brief breakdown of the guide, along with other peoples views(from the BBC):

The document says more needs to be done to respond positively to the concerns of Muslim pupils and parents.
It calls for special considerations for Muslims in almost every aspect of school life: collective worship, PE, dance, swimming, exams, school meals, sex education and parents' evenings.

The report rejects from the outset the policy that religion is a strictly private matter that lies outside the school's remit.

It says such an approach makes it "more difficult" for schools to respond positively to the "distinctive" needs of Muslim children.

Dress codes are one obvious source of potential problems. The MCB report is silent on the full-face veil.

But it does say schools "should accommodate" Muslim girls so they are allowed to wear "a full-length loose school skirt or loose trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and a head scarf".

It adds that the headscarf, properly tied, should also be allowed in PE and science. It also says that amulets containing Koranic verses "should not be considered as jewellery".

As for boys, the guidance says they should be allowed to wear beards. Like the girls, they should be allowed to wear tracksuits during sport and PE.

Changing for PE, which is a compulsory part of the national curriculum, is one of the more troublesome areas.

Many primary schools lack separate changing facilities for boys and girls. Younger children often change in classrooms. This guidance says they should use portable partitions.

It argues that all schools, including secondaries, should ideally have separate changing facilities with "individual changing cubicles".

Muslim children "should not be expected to participate in communal showering".

The compromise of allowing Muslim pupils to shower in bathing costumes is not acceptable either, says the guidance, because Islam also forbids being in the presence of nakedness.

Sports involving physical contact (basketball, for example) should happen only in single-gender groups.

Swimming is fraught with difficulties. Again schools are urged "to make every effort" to provide single-sex swimming lessons, as well as allowing Muslim girls to wear full leotards or leggings in the water.

During Ramadan, some pupils might wish to be excused swimming if they fear that swallowing water would break their fast.

There are many other areas in which Muslim pupils need special consideration:

they cannot take part in dance
school meals must include halal options
Islamic Studies should be offered to all Muslim pupils in RE at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level)
schools "should consider" offering Arabic to Muslim pupils.
The list is long: there are stipulations covering music, drama, art, school libraries, provision for prayers, school visits, and raffles.


Yesterday I quoted one of my least favourite newspapers, well to go along with the Telegraph the Daily Express is a equally vile, maybe even more so, aneway when the guide came out, the title in the express was

Muslims demand "Taleban-style" conditions in our schools, and this is why it pisses me off, it causes hysteria and unnneccesary panic, and the target audiance is middle class women (most likely white, and who have little contact with muslims) and so will play to the paranoia of these mums, that the 'muslims' are coming and will ruin you and your children...I have to admit I dont agree with a number of points raised and think its a little ridiculous but there is no mention of the Taleban in that guide and its meant to be a source of reference.
I think there was a need for some sort of a guide, as after all there are 400,000 Muslim pupils in school education and 96% of the them in state school, that figure must be like at least 5-10% of School kids are muslim, which is a huge number, and the teachers who have little knowledge of Islam will need to be more aware incase of cultural snesitiveites. I remeber when I was at school, i used to play on the fact that some of the teachers knew very little on Islam, and would miss lessons or even whole days due to somethign Islamically releated, and I wasnt the only one, and we could get away with that. However I would try pullin that on someone i knew who was clued up in Islam.

Something intresting raised is that the whole focus is on how schools should adapt to Muslim children and not Muslim children should adapt to School, and i think that is partly where we are going wrong. I mean it is a two way process where children come to learn and be socialise and school teach and offer convient venues for intergration and a harmonious society, at an early age a child has no prejudice no preconceptions,and so if you manage to get tolerance at a early age in children then their would be alot less beef(fighting) in the world!

While the MCB is correct to bring awareness of the fact that schools and society in general can indeed do much to become more aware and attune to minority religions, cultures and languages, this document verges on the bizarre. I grew up in Saudi Arabia, perhaps the strictest Islamic State of all, in a school with over a 100 nationalities, encompassing all faiths and traditions. Close to half the pupils were Muslim, and none of these issues from PE to dance were ever a source of conflict.
Saj Chakkalakal, London

The changing for PE issue is one which I think all parents should be concerned about as children develop at different rates and are entitled to some privacy. When I was at school, the girls from two classes got changed in one classroom and did Netball or whatever, whilst the boys did woodwork. Then the boys from the two classes got changed in the other room and did football whilst the girls sewed. And that was a one form entry primary school.
Jan, Birmingham

As someone who teaches in a secondary school I understand the importance of adapting to accommodate as many belief systems as possible. However, I feel that is up to the individual schools to make a decision as to what extent this happens. We are in essence a Christian country, and although I love having a mix of people our society, there needs to be acceptance of the fact that we are predominantly Christian.
Victoria, Brighton

I think that the increase in lack of Christian values has led to problems for the Muslim minority that didn't exist before and that is why the "guidance" provided by the MCB seems so burdensome to provide. Christianity has a lot of similarities with Islam and when our parents settled although they may have experienced racism they still felt safe because the values of Christianity meant that promiscuity was frowned upon and dress codes were modest. Now Christianity has nearly disappeared and politicians keep insisting on "Britishness". What is "Britishness"? Could the British born white person pass the citizenship test? What does a person have to be like to be British?
Zara, Bolton

This is a simple issue, the principle of "when in Rome" should apply here. If I move to a country where the culture is not what I'm accustomed to, it means that I must adapt, not the host country. I would research the culture before I went, not after I arrived.
George Denyer, Glenrothes,

The Muslims should adapt to our norms not the other way round. Do we have the Chinese insisting on everyone celebrating Chinese New Year or Hindus insisting on no beef, no we don't, they adapt to the cultural norms of this country.
Tom, Aylesbury

If a Muslim is allowed to wear a headscarf then other pupils can argue that they are being discriminated against by not being allowed to wear a hat or a hood. Treating a child different because of their religion only encourages a divide to exist. How can you teach children that everyone is equal when they see their friends being treated differently from them.
Sean, Scotland

The face veil is not simply a barrier to communication. Girls should not be required learn to separate themselves from boys and men. Schools are places where girls and boys learn to take their place as equals in the adult world. To allow Muslim girls to wear the face veil in schools would make teachers complicit in the unequal treatment of the girls and boys of one particular religion.
Elizabeth Foster, Oxford

What pupils wear at school is surely not a big issue. I can understand that a school would want everybody to wear the same uniform, but surely a uniform rules could be adapted for certain religious and cultural groups. The other issues: changing systems, employing specialist staff and erecting structures to accommodate Muslim requirements are more of a problem because (i) the cost and (ii) this will start to look like segregation - even apartheid - as different groups are treated differently.
Ken, Bristol

The one thing I have to say in response to the above views, is about the thing of well you live in this country so u have to live as we do, and when were in your country we live like u do. Well the Middle East and Asia dont really pride themselves on demoracy and try to be the 'beacon' of light that is meant to be the example of democracy or freedom. So yes if you lived in the Middle East you are expected to live in more stringent conditions, however if you live in England, despite it being a Christian country is supposed to by its very foreign policy nature supposed to encourage freedom of expression and will, and so for me wearing a hijab or niqab is a form of that expression. I also agree strongly with what Zara wrote, in that we live in a more secular society where relgious conduct has decreased over the years and thats played a large impact in allienating minority groups who still hold on to strong relgious morales...

Thats all from me Folks today...

Now that What I call Qatar 52: Education Part 1

Dear All,

I been reading quite a lot of stuff regarding the education establishment in the UK, and have been overwhelmed by the state that the education system is in. Its absolutetly shocking and its going to get a whole lot worse, here is extract from a article I read by Mike Baker:
Picture the scene: the crumpets are toasting gently over the fire, the college butler is serving tea from the silver tray, bicycle clips and gowns have been removed, and the admissions tutors are settled in their deep leather armchairs, choosing next year's student intake.

As they sift through the piles of Ucas admissions forms, there is suddenly a triumphant shout from behind one tottering tower of papers. A don emerges, holding aloft an application form.

"Eureka! I've found one. Yes, a student from a state school, whose parents both left school at 16 and are now unemployed. And he is from an ethnic minority.

"What's more he was even placed in care for a few years while his parents were treated for drug addiction."

"Yes, but what were his A-level grades?" asks one of his colleagues, peering suspiciously over his bifocals.

"One E," comes the response.

"Oh well, let's offer him a place and a bursary, and do it quickly before the other universities grab him. Think what it'll do for our widening participation benchmarks."

Well basically the reason for the above situation possibly arrising is

"In future universities will be given this information - alongside details of parental occupation, ethnic background and whether or not applicants have been in care - ahead of the admissions process not, as now, after it is completed."

Now some of you deem me as a middle class, and a bit of a snob however i dont think its snobbish to think that if this plans goes ahead then its ridiculous, i mean im all for people from lower income/social standings attaining higher education but why should Children, who just like their less fortunate coutnerparts have no choice of where their family come from, prejudice is both ways.

Now I would never normally agree with one of the worst papers in England however when the Daily Telegraph's editorial commented ominously about "the creation of quotas" and of the middle-classes becoming the new "whipping boys". I had to concur.
Here is a example given in the article Mike Baker

"The problem for universities today is that most of them do not interview candidates. They see only exam grades, a head teacher's report, and a personal statement.

That is not a very rounded picture. Nor is it a very level playing field: some schools and some parents provide more help and coaching with personal statements than others. So, on this basis, perhaps some extra information will help create a more rounded picture of the applicant.

And if two candidates emerge with identical grades and similarly effusive head teachers' recommendations, how is the poor admissions tutor to decide between them?

Suppose candidate A is from an inner city "sink" school and is the child of recently arrived, poorly educated immigrants who speak no English at home.

And suppose candidate B came from a high-performing school and has parents who are graduates.

Which would you say had probably (and hold on to that "probably") showed the greater determination and drive to get to the grades they achieved?

More often than not it would, probably, be applicant A.

However, things may not be all that they seem on paper.

The middle-class student may have been ill, may have a special educational need, or may have endured a broken and unsupportive home.

They may in fact have had to show the greater drive and resilience."

I think what he is trying to say is, we actually require more information not less, and this example does illustrate that with the correct information then universitys can make more informed choices. However knowin if someones parents went to university has in my opinion no effect on weather the child is academically capable to go to university. I agree it might make them better prepared but inviersity is a differing experience for all, i know people whos family never went to unversity and yet they settled in and did well, whilst others whom had generations of families going to university, dislike it and just dont fit in. This shows in my opinion, being sons/daughters of graduates does not provide any indication of whether someone should get into a university or not.

Well thats my one cent, and tommorrow will be my other cent...

Take care

Asif

Now thats What I call Qatar 51: Shamina Update

Dear All,

After my blitz last week, its all be quite at www.stormy786.blogspot.com , that is because my mum has come to town, which means DDAY for me and Shamina...

Its realistically one of the last chances we have to get our well my parents on board before the planned engagement this summer. So I need and want to get my family on board ASAP so we can have a "normal" wedding, now this is going to be turn out in two ways and I will give both scenarios, either way after some hesitation I will most likely be marrying Shamina..

So Scenario 1:

I speak to my mum and she goes AWOL and just refuses to accept Shamina has her daughter-in-law which in turn means my sisters too will reject her as a sister in law and most likely my dad will join the masses and add to the rejection, this will result in me going Solo, and trying to convince her family, to take me on my own and not as part of a family(as is the norm in Bengali Weddings). This will be very hard to accomplish and if they do not come on board then it will most likely result in me and Shamina being unmarried and will go our different ways, as she believes without the support of either parents it was be too hard to have a successful marriage, and I do see where she is coming from.


Scenario 2:

I speak to my mum and after a long and emotional chat I manage to convince her to accept Shamina as her sole daughter in law, and therefore in turn my sisters will accept her as a sister in law and most likely my dad will join he masses and add to the acceptance. Then as a family we approach Shaminas family who duly accept me and my family, and then we plan the wedding and have a engagement in July.

Its so straightforward scenario 2 but its such a distant reality right now, its near impossible to convince my mum, I am a eternal opportunist however Shamina is the eternal pessimist and her pessism has got to me and im nervous as hell bout this. There is a part of me that thinks that playing the fact that im the only son, I might be able to convince my mum, however its a long shot.

This Friday im taking her to Ritz for Brunch, and I am thinking that the perfect time, in a beautiful surroundings with amazing food and company I will tell her that I plan to marry Shamina this summer, and I want her to be part of it.

For those of you that are married, I am so envious you have all of this process out of the way, as its really heart wrenching, the choices one has to make in life. When you think of all the stuff most parents have done for their kids, its impossible to throw that away over someone you have known for a few years, however when that person means alot to you, it becomes a plausible reality, however in a ideal world I would have both and iA this is my ideal world where I can have both. I will continue to be optimistic on our chances, and Only time will tell if the glass is half full or half empty...

Take care

Asif

Now thats What I call Qatar 50: 50 NOT OUT in Qatar

Its the big 5 - 0 here in Qatar, 50 entries whilst I been in Qatar, and lets hope I do alot more.

I have been thinkin of reducing my 9 a month to possibly 8 or 7 as its actually quite demanding and though it doesnt sound a lot it is.

I went out the other night with my functional manager and a few collegues, this funtional manager is quite high up in the company and was really insighful into how the company is run at a much higher level and obviously was good to socilise with the bosses bosses boss!

My work load is manageable at the moment in terms of my every day activity, however as I am a Area Warden, I have a lot of things to do with preparing stuff for the people who living in my area with respect to safety and security. Im also doing this thing called Six Sigma, where using mathamatic formulaes to try to better processes. I am training to be a yellow belt, and hopefully iA i will become one over the next couple of months.

I dont know if i mentioned Merit before, its this competetions that is held by Loughbrough univeristy, and invites people from all over the world to participate in running a virtual construction company. Bechtel has like 4 teams in it, and other companies have like 12 or soemthing stupid like that, aneway we started off really well, and was like in the top 50 out of over 300 teams, however we started to go down and now were just out of the top 100, however were still top of the bechtel teams so we have local bragging rights!!

There is a new shopping centre here in Qatar called Villagio, its amazing, it has a huge Carrerfour with a wicked electrical selection! They jus oppened a virgin megastore which has a really good booked section, and there are not many places where u can find decent books here in Qatar. It has lots of the fashion shops of oxford street, like Topman/topshop, Bershka, Hm,Zara,mango etc but the best thing is the river within the mall. It has a gondolla service for people to take u shop to shop, its such a novel idea, im sure its copied from somewhere else in the world but for me its a novel area.

I have decided to improve my quality of life here in Qatar, as I usually dont spend much money here in Qatar but now I am renting a car, i already had satalitle but now i got like the Platinum package as my mum is coming and also the cricket world cup! its going to be sooo good!
Im getting internet and phone line installed and Im getting my teeth fixed iA lol!(its about time i know!)

Last night saw the return to my illustraious football career with bechtel!it was a cracking performance and though i didnt play much i got really stuck in, shame about us losing 10-0. However I came on when it was 8-0 and they only scored 2 goals, I lost whatever fitness i built up in the last few weeks and now i need to restart again! However the cool thing abuot yesterday was i met someone who went to my old school. He was a couple years older than me, he was playing for the other team and is a teacher here in Qatar, hes enjoyin himself alot here and i think it will be good I know more and more people outside of work, and will hopefully lead me to become a better networker!

Well thats it for today its the weekend for me and if ur very lucky u may get a update over the weekend!

Take care
Asif

Now thats what I call Qatar 49 Incest: An Age-Old Taboo!

Dear All,

I am going to continue my assult on the blogging world with yet another entry! I was disappointed not to find my blog in the list for one of the worlds best blogs, however I have only been doing this for about 8-9 months iA i will be the no.1 blogger on the net, (you can tell im not short of ambitition!)

I watched the Man utd game last night against Uefa All stars and was a really enjoyable game, however didnt think the fans really got into it, and its pretty hard to get into a game where their is not much riding on it. I was watching Fox Soccer report during the half time, and it was so gay the yanks commenting on football, the only guy that had any credibility on the show was a Scottish guy, the others jus seemed like such knobs, Aneway they did make an intresting point in how Man utd and Chelsea could play each other 3 times in one week to potentially decide three competetions. If that happens that will be immense, but my biggest fear is the fact that Squad rotation will become to most important factor and everyone knows Chelseas squad pisses on everyone elses in Europe, due the endless money that was going into the club.I still tink though they UTD could win two of those 3 matches just not sure which ones. I really hope Totenham beat Chelsea, as do Valencia it will be so awesome, as though they'll have less games than UTD they will be so down their morale will be way down! So Chelsea have a game tonight, and if Man City can do their city rivals a huge favour and beat them, then you got to belive the title is heading to Old Trafford!

Well apart from footy, I been reading alot of more stuff online, and thanks Fern for the comment yesterday to the previous entry, and for all those who emailed me comments. I was reading another intresting article, which I have included below( i was going to write a summary but decdied its too hard to condense and the whole thing is generally quite intresting) and thought I would share it with you...)

Incest: an age-old taboo

Forward thinking? Napoleon dropped incest from France's penal code
As a German brother and sister take their fight for the right to a sexual relationship to the country's highest court, the BBC News website's Clare Murphy looks at the history of the incest taboo and how it is changing.

When Henry VIII wanted to be rid of Anne Boleyn, he made sure she was accused of one particularly heinous crime: sleeping with her brother.

According to the great modern anthropologist Claude Levi Strauss, the incest taboo has been the driving force of humankind. By forcing man to find a mate outside the home, disparate, warring clans have been brought together and society has flourished.

Others see the abhorrence for sleeping with relatives as having a primarily biological motive - a human instinct to prevent defective genes being passed down.

"Society has long relied on the family unit as its basis," says sociologist Vikki Bell. "That's why it has been so important to keep family roles clear."

It is not hard to see how incest can make family life very complicated, potentially turning brothers into fathers and mothers into sisters.

Yet while most are clear that sexual acts between a related adult and child constitute abuse and as such must be punished, there is no modern consensus on whether society has the right to ban consensual sex between siblings, or indeed parent and adult child.

Too close to attract

If Sigmund Freud is to be believed, everyone would be sleeping with their close relatives given half a chance. Society had to keep these deep-seated desires in check, he argued.

No need, countered Finnish anthropologist Edward Westermarck, who said that if anything, close association in childhood automatically created sexual aversion - in other words, familiarity breeds contempt.

His theory was tested in a study of unrelated children growing up together in an Israeli kibbutz. Despite the parents being keen on their children forming relationships, the children themselves had no sexual interest in one another as they began to mature.

Here lies the daughter, here lies the father, here lies the sister, here lies the brother, here lie husband and wife, and yet there are only two bodies in the grave

16th Century French poem

The theory was also backed up by another study in Taiwan by a US academic Arthur Wolf.

He looked at two forms of marriage - one in which the two partners married as adults, and another in which the wife was taken into her future husband's household as a young child, growing up with him.

The latter produced more adultery, more divorces and fewer children than the former. This, he said, indicated closeness as children stifled rather than stimulated sexual feelings.

Locked up

But these cases, which in any event did not involve actual blood relatives, fitted uncomfortably with the only well documented case of a society which embraced sibling incest outright - that of Roman Egypt.

For about 300 years, a significant proportion of all marriages recorded were between brothers and sisters.


German brother and sister Patrick and Susan did not grow up together

The relationships appear to have been both social and reproductive.


But there might have been years between the siblings given the high rate of infant mortality, so sibling husband and wives may have barely grown up together.

The phenomenon of genetic sexual attraction - where siblings fall for each other on meeting after an estranged childhood - accounts for some of the high-profile incest cases of recent years.

In the German case, Patrick was brought up in a foster home while Susan remained with the biological parents, meeting for the first time when she was 16 and he 23.

And in the US case of Allen and Patricia Muth, which went to the Supreme Court in 2005, the sister was raised in care, not meeting her brother until she was 18.

Both of them have served prison sentences for incest.


Biological risks

Both of these relationships have produced children with special needs, although whether this resulted from their parents' biological proximity is unclear.

Some geneticists put the risk of producing a disabled child as high as 50%, but this is hotly debated. Opponents of the incest ban also argue there are double standards, noting that no-one would ban those with hereditary diseases from reproducing.

In some countries, the law has tried to take into account the risks while legalising incest in certain circumstances. In Brazil, an uncle and niece may have a relationship provided they undergo health checks.

In parts of the US, first cousins may marry if they are beyond reproductive age or ability.


Our moral guardians don't need to get too worked up about this

Joachim Renzikowski, criminologist

But even in countries where incest between adults is not prosecuted, the rights of both parents and children born of incest are not clear cut.

France dropped incest from the penal code under Napoleon - 200 years ago.

But siblings may not marry, and in 2004, a man who was having a sexual relationship with his half-sister was refused legal paternity of his own child.

In the Netherlands meanwhile, where consensual incest is no longer prosecuted, the legal status of the child born of such a relationship is ambiguous, according to Masha Antokolskaia, an expert in family law at the Free University in Amsterdam.

Sweden is the only country in Europe which allows marriage between siblings who share a parent.

"In many ways society no longer wants the state to intervene in private lives when it doesn't have to," she says. "But it is still not prepared to grant incestuous couples full rights."

There is also debate over how much laws affect behaviour. Some even argue that what is proscribed becomes all the more attractive.

Not according to Joachim Renzikowski, a criminal law professor at Germany's Halle University.

"I don't believe that because incest is banned, there's a certain attraction about doing it," he says.


"But I doubt equally that getting rid of our incest law will result in any measurable increase in cases. Our moral guardians don't need to get too worked up about this."





Well I think the article raises so many questions about mankind and about our society, what is inhearietly right or wrong, why do we take offence to one thing but not another, why is incest worthy of going to jail when its two consenting adults?, does the fact that a brother and sister whom havent been brought up together make it ok to be incesterious?, I have plently more questions and thoughts that were popping into my head, but before all that I want to accredit the people who introduced me to the ideology of Incest, its those fine people who made the show Brookside, (for those who dont know it, its a British Soap, that is based in scummy Liverpool and had a storyline of a attractive sister and her brother fallin in love, it was sick ill be honest and horried plently of people in the UK).

Incest passes racial or relgious lines and is generally seen as a human diesase, i know thats quite harsh, but what I mean is, it can happen to anyone and is irrespective of anything, its like someone getting Aids, in that its fairly random and anyone from any race or relgion is equally succsectible.

I am personally against incest, and the thought of it is sickening, however is that because of the way i brought up, or the soceity around me, if as the article states I was brought up in Roman Egyptian times then would I be more accepting of incest? what is it that makes me sick, especially if its two consenting adults. I am torn in my thinking, however something that i definelty know is wrong is throwing them in prison for it, i dont see how they are hurting or endangering society by being in love with your brother/sister. America and Germany prides itself on their democract ways and if Merkel(I cant stand her personally much prefered Schroder, but thats jus the socialist in me trying to get out) does not allow that couple rights to be together then does it not go against everything they stand for.

I just dont know what to say or think regarding the topic, as i continue to write the more I get confused, as Islamically I know its wrong, but so is Homosexuality, however I also have a belief that people are entitled to do as they please, and as long as it doesnt infringe others in their beliefs or manners than it really shouldnt be a issue.

Well those are my brief thoughts ,and because they are muddled, its clear that for me the issue is one of moral conflict where it goes agaisnt your nature in so many ways that it becomes acceptable in some of the ways.



Anyway take care



Asif

Now thats What I call Qatar 48: Hijacked by the Green Conspiracy

Dear All,


I am starting to get settled back in to the qatari way of doing things. I am in the process of trying to lease a car, I have my eyes set on a renault clio, I like small cars and their alot easier to drive and park, Its cool having a Hummer or a Range but practicality wise the clio does it for me! So im in negotions with the company and hopefully they will agree to my price, i can be a hard bastard when bargaining and its something i really pride myself on. I accept in most eastern countires ill never get local rate however I always try to play the lowest western rate possible!

The draw for the champions league was made the other day and it looks promising for Man Utd, we have Roma which are my 2nd favourite team in Italy after Inter Milan, however the way Man utd are playing this season it will be hard for any team to beat them. I think Man utd must win at least 2 of the 3 tropies that are left, its going to be a REAL tense finish to the end of the year..not only in football but also fantasty football.
I am so pissed with myself, as one of the biggest gameweeks in history and I didnt make any subsitutions coupled with the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea play twice and I have all my Arsenal and Chelsea players on the subbench because they didnt play the previous week. I got so fcuked over its not funny, and basically all my hardwork for the last 7 months went down the hill over one week, its so heartwrenching.

Now about the previous entry regarding the women in Saudi, someone responded to me and because I felt it was very interesting, I will share it with you guys,

part of me, though i hate to admit is, is angered by the way the woman was dealt with. And, due to my lack of islamic education still believes to some extent that women are wrongly treated as inferior to ment eventho they are supposed to be the foundation of the future and all that, which in itself contradicts itself.. but anyway what one of the women said in your quote about islam not being modern enough and needs to update itself, she angered me so much. I dont understand how a religion, which implies divine intervention, can remain a religion if if it is meddled with and men allow themselves to make amendents as and when they please. such carelessness and arrogance defeats the purpose of religion as the words and instructions of God do not remain and this, in turn, leads to the religion being desolved to have just another theology to replace it. in such cases there is no point in religion as it will not serve its purpose.

I know im going on but I just cant put into words how rediculously preposterous i think what these ignorant people say.

Though it is hard to accept, Inequality between the sexes is inevitable despite how we try to get around it in the western world. i dont mean to sound ice aged but men and women do serve different purposed (though there are the few men who serve no purpose at all...but thats another story). if people want to adapt religion then they might as well not follow it because that means that they dont really have the faith that is required anyway. they might as well look into another religion or bocome an aitheist and live a good life anyway.

but how dare she say... All men have a Penis and our lives are pretty much ruled by it. Take away women from the equation and what happens, well Saudi happens, that's what. ? How dare she?? who is this lady and what is her position that enables her to make such sweeping judgements? she's so stupid!





Then the person decided to speak about a programe she saw the other day which was posing an alternative view of the reasons behind global warming and rise in carbon in the atmosphere. aparently, its all natural and the contributions that man makes to the levels of carbon in the atmosphere is next to nothing as the oceans produce vasts amounts of it and if we stopped emitting our carbon tomorrow there would be no impact. the world and the universe follows a certain cycle and we are scientifically at a point where the wordl is naturally getting warmer and ice caps are naturally melting and carbon levels are naturally rising. flooding and other changes in the climate has always happened and is inevitable despite our actions and things will get back to 'normal' in another few hundred years.

The reasons why politicians emphasise on us being more greener is that it is politically and economically more advantageous for the west and when they form alliances and create international laws to firstly curb fossil fuel useage and then to stop it their ulterior motive is to cripple the economies of the countries who have oil resources and make themselves, the countries who do not have an abundance of sources of oil and gas, richer. by making its population more greener they create another field in the economy where they can make profit. by advancing in green energy and solar power generation they cripple oil rich countries as they will not have to buy oil from them and force them not to sell or use it but instead buy their 'green' products. this is why they are producing all these stats to prove how the world is being ruined and pushed to and end.

And it made her convinced me that this whole go green thing might be just one big farce and me being the ultimate conspiracy lover, will always be quick to point the finger and I do think that their is a element of truth but it seems a little like its jumping on the anti-western goverment consiprircay bandwagon.

Now thats What I call Qatar 47: World of contrasts

Dear All,

2 blogs in 2 days well someone has some writing to do right!

Well aneway as some of u may know im a keen photographer and i read the following article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6385969.stm

Which is about this guy winning photograph of the year award at some press event, aneway, the photo is one of the war in lebanon in the summer and shows some lebanese in a mini cooper entering a area that has been destroyed and as usual the lebos look glamourous despite the carnage around them.


I do think its a fantastic picture that does really encaspulate the disgusting world the lebanese live in. For those who dont know me, i cant stand the majoirty of lebanese, at least the ones i met, there incredibly obnoxious, pompous and arrogant. The ones in the uk, the ones here, and the ones i met whereever i gone, and my feelings stay the same. The one thing that i feel they can be proud of is the one thing that the lebanese i meet are ashmed of, and thats Hezbolla. Now I dont regard them as a terroist organisation, and think if you were to label them a terroist organisation then u shud label MI6 or Mossad or CIA/FBI, because despite them not being the offical army of the country they protect their citizens, and with Hezbolla they also provide for them in a underhand way in my opinon. The lebanese i meet feel that they dont have protect them, so I ask them, well who does, and they will reply the goverment, or that they are not intrested about that and it doesnt affect them. So when their is indisriminite bombing and attacks against their family and friends who will they ask or seek protection from? and the reply is, it wont happen again, and this naivety is geniune. The society that exists in lebanon is plastic and i think this picture descipts that.

Finally about lebos i heard this fact that their are more lebos in brazil than in lebanaon, thats disgusting fact and shows what pride they have in their home land.

Aneway I also wanted to quickly speak about the cricket world cup starting next week i cant wait, my beloved bangladesh is in HOT FORM, they beat new zeland who jus thrashed Austrila so using the logic were better than Austraila. IF bangladesh dont win it, then i want england to win it, and if that doesnt happen either india or pakistan im undecided, as India is wheres my dads from and its having quite a few muslim players these days so itsa hard choice, but i cant wait!

Aneway i best be off take care
Asif

Now that What I call Qatar 46: The Unfair lashing?

Its been a while since my last entry and its the first entry of the month which means im way behind my 9 a month target however i think i do have quite a lot to write about this month, with champs league footy back on and the never ending religious and war issues in the world and just my own trials and tribulations.

Today rather than talk about what i been gettup up2 over the last 9 days or so, i want to focus on a article that was brought to my attention by one of my readers from Qatar Living, here is the link

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256980,00.html

Here's a summary:

A woman in Saudi Arabia meets a man in the mall and they get in his car to go somewhere, however i belive they do know each other. The man then kidnaps her, threatens to blackmail with a story about how they're having an affair out of wedlock, and she is raped 14 times by 7 different men in a matter of hours. Some of the men are captured and sentenced, but she receives a sentence of 90 lashes for being alone in a car with a man to whom she isn't married. She's currently appealing to the King to eliminate her sentence.(also turns out her brother battered her because of the whole incident)


I had mixed feelings as to whether i should write about this, as it shows Muslims and therefore Islam in a negative light, and as im fairly protectionist kind of a guy, it goes against my nature. However I feel despite the negative light its just such a terrible story it must be shared.

The obvious feeling is pure empathy for the women involved and outrage at the men and the government. I have been reading up peoples comments to the news stories in chat rooms in the middle east and alot of people are quick to jump on the wahabi hating bandwagon. Now the story isnt so much about the rape but the fact that the women is getting punished despite being rapped.

Now much more relgious people than me will be able to tell you if Islamically she was correct to get in the car or not (it has been reported supposedly she was kidnapped but that could just be a rumour) from my own learnings i believe if she got in the car consciously then Islamiclly its wrong unless their was a need for her to get in the car, (need being something like go to hospital or some sort of important/or emergency situation).

Now people who are brought up in the west therefore have a certain amount of Christian morales, and therefore dont see free-mixing as such a issue as it is in the muslim world, even myself as a Muslim in the west I dont see it so wrong in the UK(albelit im not the strictest muslim) however in the muslim world its completely different and in public its a complete faux-pas. With this in mind, when reading this story try to understand the culture and morales that exist here in the middle east and not for those reading in the UK and whereever, as obviously the decision to punish the women seems ludicrious there is some logical understanding.

It doesnt mean i agree with it, especially in hindsight of what happened. However if she didnt get raped then would it still be right to give her lashes?

Another point is, and this is common phase you hear as a british muslim or a minority if you leave near a strong BNP(british national party, basically nazi wannabes) area, 'your in England now(Saudi for this womens case) you got to live by English law and rules" and for a british muslim that means you get the laws used against u more(such as me at the airport when i was leaving the uk, the electronic thing didnt go off when i walked through yet I was still taken to be searched and everything, whilst most others jus walked through). Well aneway I have to accept the rules as i choose to have England as my home, and though for a lot of countires people cant choose where their home is, Saudis can, and this women chooses to live there and therefore she should abide by its rules.
I know im coming off as harsh, but in no way am i saying what happened to her is what she deserved for getting in the car, and rape is completely haram(unlawful) in Islam, and I hope the men who did it suffer, but that I see as a seperate issue.



Here are some of the comments I have found from other people regarding the topic in chat rooms:

"This something happens across the board. People tend to assume the actions of Saudis are indicative of Islam. However, the contrary tends to be true.
Rape is a major sin in Islam and only in saudia would someone apply the perverse logic of punishing the victim.
Wahbaism in my opinion justifies pre-Islamic cultural habits through an Islamic context.
Please do not look to the gulf for theological enlightenment, Islam itself isn't applied as the religion it's meant to be.
The cultural effect of wahbaism has lead to the perception of being devout seeming to take precedence over the spiritual teachings. Forgiveness for one, is an all too forgotten principle of Islam amongst this particular group.
I for one, as a Muslim am disgusted by this."


“Say for instance if I was in the US which has laws against murder and against drug selling. If I was in the middle of a drug deal when a fight happened. I was shot by someone. The police come and they arrest both of us for the drugs and him for the assault. They will not release me because I was still selling drugs which is against the law. I can argue all not long to the prosecutors and judge that I was the victim- i.e. aggravated assault attempted manslaughter.
The law stands I will still be prosecuted. This is their law in Saudi wheter we agree with it or not. They choose to have their law this way. The law against being with a non-mehram applies to men and women. It is a part of Sharia law rather a Muslim chooses to follow it or not is their choice. However if I am in a country whose laws are such then if I choose to break the law then I have to be ready for the consequences. It is the same as in the US some people saying I was only selling drugs to feed my family.
Newspapers like to report things slanted. The question is was her boyfriend also prosecuted using this law and the kidnapping. It did not say if he was a part of the rape group. A lot of people get outraged with certain laws but in any legal system the fault doesn't lie with the law it is usually the inequality in which it is applied. Selling cocaine in the US is against the law but it is applied differently depending on the form i.e. powder or crack. The legality is not questionable however the application/ powder versus crack is definitely questionable.”


“as a Muslim convert I won't pretend to be an expert on Islam, but I have tried to educate myself on my new religion with open eyes. I'm saddened therefore to see a number of replies to your story that state this is 'nothing to do with Islam and is a cultural thing', I do hope these replies are not from Muslims because this is very much to do with some of the basic tenants of Islam. A Woman cannot be alone with men unless that man is related to her as stated in the Quran or the Hadiths - period. Saudi operates a state of Shariah law and as such its citizens are required to follow that law. Both men and women breaking the law are liable for punishishment as detailed in Shariah.
The fact that the woman was alone in the car was an enabler (and I'm not saying the actual reason this happened) to the act of rape happening. The ideology behind a woman not being alone with a man is that if this does not happen then an awful crime like rape simply cannot be commited. The hadiths clearly state that men typically have weaknesses that can be uncontrolable, be it women, alcohol, gambling etc. A womans lone presence with a man can be the straw that breaks the cames back (yes i know this is really sad but just look at how often it happens!)”


“Is the punishment acceptable - I will leave that to those who know better than I.
Did they both commit a crime, the question that was originally asked - yes, in Shariah law they did.
The punishment meted out to the woman is disgraceful. Sadly though it is a reflection of what can happen in a country dominated by men where woman have little or no rights.
I have always thought that the Muslim religions view of women is its major downfall and marrs an otherwise noble religion in my mind.
It would seem from what I have read and what we have all seen in this country that the segregation of men and women goes against a human beings natural inclinations.
Men and women are meant to be together as equals Men are supposed to pursue women interact with women and they are a big part of our lives.
All men have a Penis and our lives are pretty much ruled by it. Take away women from the equation and what happens, well Saudi happens, that's what.
The Muslim religion for all its plus points is totally ruined by their attitude to women, if there views on Women were to change and adapt to the modern age then it would work.
Sadly this is not going to happen, unlike the Catholic church where the pope can change basic tenants of the religion if he chooses. The Muslim faith is governed by the "book" and is never going to be updated therefore it will only ever be up to individuals to change their personal views and adapt their own understanding of how they personally want to live and interpret the "book".
This is going to be a long slow and painful process and sadly countries such as Qatar and Saudi will always lag well behind the rest of the world when it come to human rights and the rights of the female population.”

Now I wont comment on all of them, as it will take me forever but I thought its quite a varied range of responses and is becoming a really topical issue here in the middle east and thought for the UK readers it’s a intresting topic and would welcome other peoples thoughts.

I would like to finally just say how people now days tend to diss religion(any relgion not just Islam) and say because of stories like this, atheism is much more ethical or high moral ground, however I really beg to differ, as because of religion I believe it really changes most people moral conscious and without it people really would act completely differently as they belive their decisions aren’t being governed the same way. Despite those men most likely claiming they were muslim they aren’t really, and im sure for most people being a athesist doesn’t mean you’re a rapist or a bad person. But what I am saying is that for those that follow relgion they will try to do more good in this world as they belive in their next life (be it them being re-born, or in heaven or hell) they will be judged and that will lead most religious people to be good people.


Anyway welcome back and hope you are all ok!

Asif

Ki--fak London

Hey,

II have been in london for almost a week now, and feels good to be here, but it doesnt feel like home, andi dont know if Qatar feels like home or even knutsford anymore, i dont know if i have a 'home' in the tradiational sense, at least not just yet!

Anyway, let me tell u wot i been up2, I saw one of the most ridiculous things the other day, on a shopping street in London, (pretty much the main one, OXford Street) there wasa shop that described it-self as a shop of Luxury Toilets, where women can pay 1GBP and go to the toilet whilst shopping in a luxury toilet and refresh themselves, however i mean to dedicate a entire store to that was unbeliveable, i mean how the hell did the bank agree to give someone money for that? I jus dont get people nowdays!!

I had my class reunion for uni on Friday night, and it was really good, got to meet up with most of my friends who I hadnt seen for bout 6months, when we were studying we were constantly being told we were the future of the construction industry, and that basically alot of us would go on to become important in the construction industry, and with that thinkin I was thinkin we should always form a strong networking circle, where we can all help each other, and be friends and its good to hvae friends in others companies in ur industry and finally its always good to luk back on some of the best days in ur life with nostaligia and friends from dat time, so we need to continue meeting up, and i was thinkin of making it like once every 6months or so cuz i think that allows us to have enuff time to build up more stories so we dont have awarked silences as well as the fact that i live half way across the world and dont have time to always come back and others are also very busy with their own lives.

I went to the UCL Bangla show on saturday, i been looking forward to it alot cuz last year it was really good however this year it was good in parts there was something really lacking, their was no flow, and was a really mismatched performance, as some people were doing classical music, some hip hop dancing, some awful acting, some good singers, some bad singers, and just far too varied and way off the fusion vibe that man student asian productions try to go for, i still think the organisors did a good job and got alot of people


Ireland was awesome, i mean its everything u expect, full of friendly but passionate people sprinkled with the odd nutter, (one guy started shouting on how he hated england and to kill em all!!), the buildings reminded me of camrbdige as they looked like the colleges their, The shopping was really good and as its EU it meant shops like Zara which are european based were considerbly cheaper their than here in England. One the way their and on the plane back we were delayed and it really sucked as it meant less time in dublin and shamina getting in trouble with her family for getting back so late! I saw so many rats on the way back in the tube at night from heathrow, it was really disgusting and jus makes u think of that horrible statistic that for every human in the uk their is a rat, especially in london, its such a filth ridden city.

And on that note, ill leave you...

Take care

Asif

3 hours in&the bitchin begins....

Dear All,

I'm back in the UK, it feels good though in the time i been here about 3 hours now i got more stressed than in 3months in Qatar! Firstly the MISSION between the plane and and the passport control, nothing like that in Qatar you walk off the plane and within 2 mins ur at passport control, then at passport control their was a huge queue,though its not the worst passport control queue i seen (that honour goes to Moroccon airport, Marakechs one where me and Shamina waited for about 2 hours or something ridiculous in a no-airconditioned building at 1am) it was still very tiresome. Following that the baggage carrosel had some techinical difficulties so had to go to 2 different carrosels, and then my bad was one of the last ones out, and FINALLY buying the ticket for the tube took fcukin time, and people wonder why so many brits move abroad..can u seriously blame them? U dont needto deal with this kinda bullshit in the middle east, if it wasnt for family and friends and Shamina i dont know how much i would come back, i mean it is my home, but days like these make me think how much easier life is over in qatar and how stressful life in london is. Manchester and more so knutsford to me has the good mix of things to do, and beautiful scenary and yet stress-free. I spend 40 quid on travel card+toppin up my oyster, that wud service me to drive like up and down qatar on that! Aneway i shud stop hating, lets c how the rest of the week goes.

Im supposed to be going to London fashion show opening day, but shamina is running late, so not sure, but oh well, i guess in london iz becum more stressed as there are other people i depend on and if those people dont fit to my timetable, i become stressed!

Aneway i best go take care

Now that What I call Qatar 45: The Underdog

Well tonight I leave for Londres man im PUMPED! its goin to be sooooo tight, i cant wait, filled with bare addrenlin for thie worldwind trip, and it does feel like a worldwind trip, i mean im back for 10 days which seems alot, however when you have alot of places to go, alot of people to c and a lot of things to do, its nothing and though its called R+R (rest and relaxation) its going to be far from it....that at least until i reach the great northern town of Knutsford, where one can truly relax whilst basking in the northern sun and sipping the finest water after zamzam...(for those who dont know what Zamzam its the name of the famous spring in Islam that provided water for Maryam(Mary), Isa (Jesus's) mother whilst they were walking in the desert between two mountains when all of a sudden a sprin was found and that same spring provides all the water to those that come to Mecca. So basically its Holy water.)

I watched the man utd game last night, after smoking some shisha at this place called Ras - Al- Nassar, its kinda da place to be for shisa smokers, and for qatar its expensvie like 3-4 quid for a shisa, lol! considering the cheapest place in the uk is a 5 and for equivalent venues in the uk its more like 15quid im laughin! Aneway i was so concked out after the shisha, it felt like they had put next things in it, seriously i was so messed up, hadnt felt like thati n a while, however continued to watch the man utd game, and the other champions league games, and i am glad i did, as the Real vs Bayen game was a fantastic display of two giants of European football going at it, all the spanish teams left have tough fixtures coem to think about it, Valencia are playing my beloved Inter, and Barcelona are playing that scum that damages the great north-west name, Liverpool.
Man utd were there usual cheecky-selves, reminding me of the gloary days with displays like that, where everyone jus begins to hate them, the thing is i have a a tendancy to support the underdog, even when im playing football myself, i always( well not always as if the other team containts pricks I would b even more up for it) want the losing team to close the deficit, maybe not win but close it to make it more intreting and boast the other teams morale. So though Man utd have not won much for the last two years, i have been ok with it, and i really hope we win the league because Chelsea are jus a team full of pricks, but regarding the other compentations I want man utd to win but much prefer when their paying bastards like chelsea or real...

There have been reports that Christano Ronaldo wants to leave, unlike alot of utd fans, who i feel are in denial i think their true, i mean hes a sun-lover, yeh im sure he does like manchester(who wouldnt) but he has his heart set on espania and its so clear, if man utd lose him, they will be in trouble, because we dont have any other good wingers(giggs is not much of a winger now days as he plays centrally alot more) and others are squad players not the kinda players to play in a world XI like C.ronaldo is, they would need to re-invest that money they sell and buy about 2 very good quality players one ofr each wing and players who are the kind to command a spot in the team like Rooney, Scholes, Rio, g Nevile and VDS. Its weird how passionate people get about football, im one of them, howeveri draw the line at violence as i think that stupid, banter is fine but not fisty-cuffs! I can talk about football all day and night, and at time i do lose intrest however their is nothing like going to a game and feelin the energy of a encapsulating game with end to end football, its worth all the ticket price! (and not many games are now days!)

I know this entry has been a rather lackluster one, however i will try to improve next time, still feelin quite jadded from all that smoke!


Aneway i will post again hopefully iA tomrow.

Asif

Now thats what I call Qatar 44: Cultured Europeans

To my readers..

I hope this entry finds you well, I am only 4 days from being back in the UK and I CANT WAIT!!!im so excited!!

I been pretty darn busy since my last entry, and where I left last time was with the big game against Canada. Well we won it 3-1, and it was a hard fought victory against a team that we should have beaten alot more convincingly! I started off as a subsitute and came on with a third of the first half to play in a left midfield postion, I did very little and hardly affected the game. So i started the second half as a sub again, however a third into the second half, I was brought on as it was 1-1 and was told to go in attack to form a 3-4-3 formation as apposed to our usual 4-4-2, I was on the left side of the 3 in attack, however this formation allowed me to have more time on the ball and give me more passing options, I got involved in the game so much so that I won a penatly, I was asked to take it but at 1-1 and we had already missed a penalty I politley declined, the person who did take it missed though, and missed a sitter of a rebound, nevertheless we continued to pound away and my performance generated rave reviews, and really boosted my confidence as well as my reputation within the company. Its weird but like doing well in something completely un-releated to work really does have a profound effect on my work life, such as people being nicer, friendly, more accomadating. I have always said the 3 key ways to be populour is, to be physically strong(people always love someone to protect them from harm, hench people are always populour), good looking (people who are good looking always have friends around them as people like to feel attractive and so hang around people who are good looking trying to boast their own confidence, when ironcially i think it works the other way. in that people are going to compare the two people and will actually make them look worse!) and finally the most obvious reason why people are populour, Money!(everyone loves rich people, goes with two above, in that they feel their part of the power,goodlooks, and wealth if they associate with people of that nature) The above 3 causes for popularity are more applicable to school or uni, however it can also be applied to work. And using that reasoning, I feel that for me I need to understand this is the way people are and with that u handle work or uni life, in that you need to be aware of why people tend to be nicer to other people than others, and learn to accept it.

Theres some beef going on between some of my friends whom are living together, and its a clash of personalities where some of them dont know who they really are, people say when you travel you learn who u are, or when your at uni you learn who u are, the thing is u never stop learning who u r, i agree u learn more about yourself, and your likes and dislikes alot more when your traveling or at uni. You learn at uni what kinda people you can live with, tolerate with, wot kinda friends are really your type of friends, and i dont think its no conincidience that the people who are having the clash are American. Purely because they dont travel as much as Europeans, they dont experience other cultures or what they like and dont like except in a American context, as a European im aware of many other european countries customs and attitudes which vary vastly and because of imigration within europe, people are aware of the customs and attitudes of manya african and asian countries regardless of their own origins. You ask Americans if they have the same global understanding and i can gurantee that they would be no where near as aware of other cultures...This means that for large multinational companies like Bechtel, they will have problems with some of the american staff abroad whoc cant adjust with people from other cultures....

Saying that though, I went last weekend to a managers house for dinner who was American . And I felt like a old man, it was the arch-typical dinner that you would see in the movies except having a brown face on the dinner table as well as the black face(brown in this instance) serving the food. some people may think too much colour in the room, however i was completetly accepted by all and it was a really good experience and I had a really good time. I found out that Sake is like japanese alchol(rice wine or something) and accidently had some in a sauce in the starters. But the food at the dinner was like WOW, i mean there were clams and mussles for starters, and then roast beef and lamb and jacket potatoes with sour cream, it was really good, one of the best meals i had in a long time and i dont eat red meat! some wicked desert that I didnt know what it was, however i was wondering if somethin containted alchol but was burned off does that still make it have alchol?I need to find out for sure however I was thinkin it wouldnt be as alcohol is flamable so if you burn it then it disappears right? or is that wishful thinkin?

Aneway back to the dinner, it was jus a really good night, got to know alot of people alot better, and learnt about this place in Bangkok called the Banana hotel, and I was informed its basically a whore house that has been serving the expat community since the 70's, and just made me laugh so much, because I know exactly the type of people who would go and it turns out they are there right now!! Also found out some unexpected people are regulars, and its a shame that Bangkok has sucha bad reputation yet its one of the greatest cities in the world, for its diversity and the fact that KFC is halal there...

Aneway i got to go but take care and expect to hear from me soon!!

Now thats What I Call Qatar 43: A Mormons Valentines

Happy Valentines Day my readers...

Tonight is my big match, were playing Canada and it shud be a good match as our side is weakened and we all know that Canadians like their North American cuzzins sux@footy! Below is the league table for my footy and the fixtures coming up so u can predict which blog entries will be about football!
Standings
Team
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
Points

InterContinental
2
2
0
0
8
1
7
6

England
3
2
1
0
9
2
7
6

Scotland
3
2
1
0
7
3
4
6

Bechtel
2
1
1
0
6
5
1
3

CNA-Q
3
1
2
0
3
14
-11
3

Shell
3
0
3
0
3
11
-8
0


Copyright © 2007 Christopher T. Bartlett

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Schedule
Home Team
Guest Home
Refereeing Team
Date
Kickoff

Shell (0)
Scotland (4)
CNA-Q
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
7:00:00 PM

England (7)
CNA-Q (0)
Scotland
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
8:15:00 PM

Bechtel (2)
Scotland (3)
Shell
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
7:00:00 PM

CNA-Q (3)
Shell (1)
Bechtel
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
8:15:00 PM

Bechtel (4)
Shell (2)
England
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
7:00:00 PM

InterContinental (2)
England (1)
Shell
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
8:15:00 PM

England (1)
Scotland (0)
InterContinental
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
7:00:00 PM

CNA-Q (0)
InterContinental (6)
Scotland
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
8:15:00 PM

Shell
England
Bechtel
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
7:00:00 PM

CNA-Q
Bechtel
England
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
8:15:00 PM




I been scolling through the news and my emials and here is a intresting email a friend sent me, (thanks Bukhari) and there is a article from the guardian from it...

Step 1. Bomb a country with oil, use any and many excuses.
Step 2. Install a puppet government, too dumb or docile to disagree with you.
Step 3. Rebuild what you destroyed, but only allow companies you have
links with to do the rebuilding at many times the normal cost.
Step 4. Pay these companies with Oil money you have been 'holding' for
the country.
Step 5. Tell your grandchildren, that David Copperfield may have made
the statue of liberty dissappear, But you robbed an entire country in
broad daylight.


Below is a phase in step 4.
Flooding the country with so much money you start refering to it by
weight not amount, so people start handing it out like nothing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2008189,00.html


Its mind bogling the kind of figures that are bein mentioned and where the hell has it gone, its tiehr to insurgents or american corps, either one isnt great really as the people of america and iraq are the ones who are getting screwed, however regarding the american citizens i found this poll quite intresting today check this question about the US election...
WOULD YOU VOTE FOR...

A woman? 88% say "Yes"

A black? 94% say "Yes"

A Mormon? 72% say "Yes"

Source: USA Today/Gallup poll, Feb 2007

Who says the world isnt prejudiced? purely by asking the question and giving those possible answers, its ridiculous. I would want to know how many of the people who were asked, responsed by asking the people asking the questions depends on who the candidate was. As I dont see how someone can make a good or bad president on being a women or being black. A Mormon is slightly different, as his faith could influence the decisions that they make, however saying that i still dont think a persons religious denomination without taking into account the character of that person is correct way of voting for a president!


Last night i watched WWE, it went thru a shite phase however now its gon back2bein awesome, the big PPV is on this weekend, i would love to watch it but i dont have the PPV channel and the timing will be when im at work, but this is nothing to the PPV in April the 1st! Wrestlemania, its like the Champs League final, or the superbowl of the wrestling calender. I cant wait, and with my favourite wrestler, John Cena champion it promises to be a sick event. Also randomly Donald Trump will be on the show at wrestlemania, im trying to get my head around why one of the richaest and famous guys in the US would want to be involved in WWE, whatever the reason its going to be great and i would recommend everyone to somehow see it!

SO the Sunni vs Shia beef, well you hear about it alot here, and in most countries in the Islamic world the shias are a minortiy, and so has never really been a issue. The countries where Shias either equal or dominate the population is Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanaon, India (has the 2nd largest shia population after Iran), and parts of the East Cost of Africa. Im sure there are others however their the ones that come to my mind. Now the Shias in the first 4 of those countries listed are taking control of the country and influencing the way the country goes forward, this has led Sunni countries like Saudi, Jordon, Qatar and Egypt to assess the situation and beef up their own security as they feel intimated by a stronger shia precense in the middle east. I know sunni muslims who ddont like Shias, however I am not one of them, I dont really believe as such in demoninations, i mean their are some forms of Islam that i think are completely distorted (i wont go into it incase i offend anyone) however I think Shias and Sunnis have so much in common that the differences between the two are minor and in my opinon isnt enough if God were to condem one to Hell and the other to Heaven on those beliefs.

So anyway regardless of my thoughts or beliefts the insurangants in Iraq and Lebanon see otherwise, and belive that there are two clear lines and your either sunni or shia (or druzze or christian in lebonanons case). I dont know whos fault it is, and find it incredible how there can be so much hatred, the US finds itself in such a difficult postion, however its a position they put themselves in, you have the Mehdi Army, which is one of the largest Shia armies in the world, and Hezzbolla, both strong Shia armies, then you have Al-Queda on the other side, who are numerous in numbers, has so many sister organisations (eg Islamists in Somalia) funding and represents Sunni Islam, the two sides are sworn enemies, however stuck in the middle of the two is the US and UK army in Baghdad. So it would be logical if someone in the army sugguest let the two destroy each other and then will come in when the winner is weakened and destroy them... and i feel thats what they will do. However their are grey areas, where picking sides is not stright forward, you have Hamas, which is a Sunni organisation and yet is closely linked to Hezbolla which is Shia, and you have Syria which is a Sunni country and it has extremly close ties to Iran(which is Shia) so trying to understand the whole political and socialical process that occurs in this small yet powerful region is the key to finding peace in the world, and yet noone is capatable enough to understand the reasoning why such alliances have formed and why the situation that has arisen has arised. For years people in the middle east has lived in peace, they built beautiful buildings, created wonderful civilasations, however now, despite all the naturl riches that the middle east has, it has so many man made horrors that could ultimetly be the end of it in my humble opinon.


Thats all from me , have a good night, and lets hope your with the ones u love...