by Natasha Tynes | Feb 24, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
Hyundai Corp. Plans to Build Factory in Jordan
Hyundai Corp. has been pushing for the establishment of production and marketing operations for electronic goods in Jordan to expand its businesses in the Middle East. "President Juhn Myung-hun explained the plan to Jordan’s King Abdullah II in person and asked for support in terms of administration procedures and taxation," a company official said Tuesday.
The firm wants to use Amman, Jordan’s capital, as a bridge to the Middle East market, including war-torn Iraq. Hyundai chose Jordan due to its geographical advantages. Jordan’s king allegedly promised administrative and tax benefits to Hyundai Corp. and supported its move to enter the market of neighboring Iraqi, the company said.
Source: [The Korea Times ]
Jordan is moving on the right path ladies and gentlemn. Good things are bound to happen in the kingdom.
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 23, 2005 | Doha affairs, Film, Shutterbug
As part of a growing effort to take charge of our bodies, we have begun taking near daily walks in the evening. We began by walking around our neighborhood of Bin Mahmood but yesterday we took a very long walk along Doha’s seaside Corniche. We walked about five kilometers (for those that know Doha, it was from the Movenpick Hotel to the Sheraton). It was great exercise, although I’m feeling very stiff today.
The weather was just perfect and walking by the sea was extremely refreshing and uplifting. At the end of the walk we stopped by the Sheraton, a bit sweaty and stinky, and reloaded all the calories we burnt by heaving a Fosters draft and gobbling up a pizza. While we were there we ran into some friends going to the movies to watch The Notebook and they asked us to join them. For the sake of spontaneity we did — still a bit smelly and stinky by the way. I’m not going to be cynical and jaded this time. I will tell you that the movie was a love story and very sweet. It is worth a watch.
Before I go I will leave you with some pictures taken at the walk’s end of the Doha Corniche at night.
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 23, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
The Bangladeshi housemaid that won the lottery, has, in fact, received his money. So it was for real after all! There is hope ladies and gentlemen! There is hope.
A Bangladeshi domestic helper who scooped the biggest ever jackpot on the Jordanian Charitable Lottery broke down in tears yesterday when he was presented with his JD250,000 cheque. "I am so happy to win the lottery, it’s a great feeling. I always dreamt of being rich and now I finally am." Abdul Malek told The Jordan Times.
Mohammed Abdul Malek Sekdar, 46, was presented with the cheque by General Federation for Charitable Organisations Fund Secretary General Ahmad Eses during a ceremony at the organisation’s headquarters. Eses said the win has made Abdul Malek a millionaire in his native Bangladesh.
Abdul Malek said he intends to donate some of the money to charitable societies and orphanages in thekKingdom. "This is something dear to my heart," he added.
Source: [The Jordan Times ]
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 22, 2005 | Everyday me!, Film, Food and Drink
We really had an enjoyable evening last night. Along with Amal, we invited my colleague and next-door neighbor Indelib over for dinner. So, the moment I got back from work (around 4pm), I attacked the kitchen, managing to make two dishes — a first for me. The first was Chicken Divan with Broccoli Casserole and the second was Tuna Macaroni Casserole.
Since I didn’t detect any ailments among our guests following the meal, I deduced that the dinner was a success. Indelib brought with her the movie Before Sunset, the sequel to Before Sunrise, so after we had our dessert and choice of coffee or tea, we excitedly pressed play to see if it was as good as before.
Before I share with you my humble review of the movie, let me go back in time and tell you how much I enjoyed Before Sunrise the first time I saw it. I thought it was just perfect — one of the best movies ever made. I loved everything about it: the scenery, the engaging dialog, the romantic flavor and an ending open to interpretation. So you can imagine my excitement when I got my hands on the sequel. I thought it would be an extension of the beautiful dialog and stunning imagery from some ten years ago; I’ve been waiting for the sequel since I posted about it last July.
But I was disappointed. The movie was not bad, don’t get me wrong. It is just that the two protagonists became so jaded through the years and so am I. As a result, the movie served as a reminder of how jaded and less optimistic you become as you grow older — to the extent that you stop enjoying watching movies that discuss being jaded! I really wish I didn’t watch it. I felt it ruined the idea I carried in my head of those two up-beat young idealists wanting to conquer the world in the first film.
This movie revealed characters that I had idolized throughout the years to be young and stupid with unrealistic ideas, as their lives moved on and developed into one big misery. I really did not have to see that! I want my young, happy, motivated characters back. I wanted to cherish the memory of them. Now, after this movie, I find Celine and Jesse to be two immature, fake, whining, pampered youngsters! Ah, I should not have watched it! Ok, enough blabbering. Time to wash the dishes.
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 21, 2005 | Political mayhem, Weblogs
The global web blog community is being called into action to lend support to two imprisoned Iranian bloggers. The month-old Committee to Protect Bloggers’ is asking those with blogs to dedicate their sites on 22 February to the "Free Mojtaba and Arash Day." Arash Sigarchi and Mojtaba Saminejad are both in prison in Iran.
Source: [BBC]
I would like to add my voice to those concerned and demand the immediate release of Arash and Motjaba. For more information read this and this.
