Reading list

This morning right before coming to work I finished Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginedes . Ah, what a treat!

It is the story of a hermaphrodite embarking on a journey of self discovery and the hurdles faced on the way. It is witty, amusing and so beautifully written, showing the work of a truly talented writer.

The book also sheds light on the life of the Greek immigrants who settled in Detroit in the early twentieth century and how they adjusted to their new surroundings.

If you are looking for an engaging book to read, this is the one. It is certainly a phenomenal novel, worthy of winning the Pulitzer Prize

Next on my reading list are a number of books:

So many books, so little time!

Zarqawi, damn you!

Due to the nature of my job as a news-person, I am almost unaffected by regional political mayhem. But there is one current affair that infuriates me to no end: The fact that the notorious Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi is actually Jordanian. I still can’t fathom how this pedophile thug who runs around beheading people comes from the country where I was born and spent some of the happiest days of my life.

What makes the situation still worse is that because I’m working in a newsroom I’m cursed, always subjected to the most recent updates of Zarqawi’s ill doings. The minute I hear his latest news I get this irresistible urge to hide, to run away from the scandalous piece of information generated by my fellow countryman.

I’m not sure if I am becoming overly obsessed with Zarqawi’s nationality but I notice that for some reason news outlets covering his wrongdoings tend to highlight his country of origin. In almost every news item I see Zarqawi referred to as: "Jordanian-born militant" or "Jordanian fugitive" or even "Jordanian al-Qaeda ally." It is always "Jordanian" this or "Jordanian" that. No one fails to mention his birthplace! Ah, the shame!

I remember back in the old days when Jordan was not a country that everyone immediately knew when I was asked my place of origin. Many thought it was a city in the US state of Georgia. Others joked about it being a country named after Michael Jordan. It was still a fairly small, unknown Middle Eastern country. Things are not the same anymore. Due to the satanic deeds of Zarqawi and his followers my nation has been stained forever.

To Zarqawi and his cronies, I say damn you! I will dance a dance of joy and sing a song of bliss the moment you are brought to justice for your hideous crimes. Shame on you for tarnishing the reputation of my country and shame on you even more for acting in the name of God.

Ah, Jordan, I miss ya!

Monkey, parrot foil attempted burglary

ZARQA (Petra) — A monkey and parrot team that entertains customers at a Zarqa cafeteria scared off a burglar who sneaked into the premises at night. The café owner kept the parrot who knows words like “my love,” “liar,” “thief,” “welcome” and “goodbye” — to amuse his clientele, while the monkey served them ashtrays and napkins. The burglar was heading for the cash register when the parrot started shouting “thief… thief” and the monkey pelted him with ashtrays and plates before turning on the light. Several young men near the café jumped in to help but the burglar had fled the scene by then.

Source: [The Jordan Times] Via: Ameen’s musings

Peter Cincotti, anyone?

Cincotti
I recently got introduced to the music of Peter Cinocotti and I’m really enjoying it.

His music is mainly a mesh of jazz with some revisits of pop tunes. If you like Nora Jones, you will dig this guy. I’m not a huge jazz fan but Cincotti’s music has really grabbed me. Highly recommended.

Qatar to use robots in camel races

Robot Jockey Doha is set to substitute robots for jockeys in camel races in 2005, denies abusing child jockeys.

By Faisal Baatoutn

(DOHA) — Qatar is set to substitute robots for jockeys in camel races, a favorite sport in the oil-rich Gulf region which has faced widespread criticism over the use of child jockeys from the Indian subcontinent.

But the sport’s supremo in Doha insists Qatar never abused child camel jockeys in the first place and that the plan to use "robot-jockeys" within the coming year was not in response to protests by human rights groups.

"We have successfully completed three phases in the production of the robot," the president of the organizing committee of camel races in this Gulf state said.

"We are awaiting a visit by the engineers handling the project to start the fourth, and probably last, phase," said Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Faisal al-Thani.

He said the robot was being developed by a Swiss company but would not disclose further details, citing the terms of the contract with the unnamed firm. The robots are expected to be ready in 2005.

Source [Middle East News] via [Sabbah]

Curious, very curious. Hopefully we’ll get the chance to see this while we are still here.

(more…)