The Band's Visit

In low-tech theater in down town Palo Alto, i spent little less than a couple of hours with a couple of friends and a couple of their friends, watching an Israeli movie about an Egyptian Police music band lost in a remote town in Israel.

Egyptian roles where played by Palestinian actors, who despite having trouble with the accent, looked very Egyptian (ta7ya el we7da el 3arabia).

The movie was not heavy on politics, if saying that Israelis would very smoothly welcome Egyptians to their homes is not a political statement.

Hahaha ... Crazy Soccer !!!!

Don Corleone!!

"I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom, but I taught her never to dishonor her family. She found a boyfriend; not an Italian. She went to the movies with him; she stayed out late. I didn't protest. Two months ago, he took her for a drive, with another boyfriend. They made her drink whiskey. And then they tried to take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor. So they beat her, like an animal. When I went to the hospital, her nose was broken. Her jaw was shattered, held together by wire. She couldn't even weep because of the pain. But I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life beautiful girl. Now she will never be beautiful again. I went to the police, like a good American. These two boys were brought to trial. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison - suspended sentence. Suspended sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the courtroom like a fool. And those two bastards, they smiled at me. Then I said to my wife, for justice, we must go to Don Corleone."

My First Golf Class

No no! Don't get this wrong. It's not my new MBA character surfacing - lol. It's just that Golf turned out to be an addictive game. If u spend 30 minutes and at least get one ball right u r hocked, u r in it for some time.

I remember i made an attempt back in Alex a few years ago but I gave up after two failed strokes. But a couple of weeks ago i went with Nicolas, my French friend, and he managed to get me to hit my first golf balls high in the sky, and it felt good :).

Now here at Stanford, if u like a sports u'll have no problem watching it, learning it, or practicing it, and u won't have to pay much either. So here i am today taking my first beginners class.

It was funny to find a few of my MBA classmates out there as well. But still this had nothing to do with MBA ... lol.

Unlock Ur Imagination

Wouldn't have expected to be take by this movie, but it was sensational and magical one. Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet made an awesome performance, and it didn't hurt to have Dustin Hoffman around.

"Finding Neverland" makes u think whether or not imagination is all that matters. Can u escape reality by letting the reins of ur imagination? Can ur dreams replace ur surrondings? I believe this can be true in many things.

Greatest Ace Ever!!!

WOW Andi Roddick!!!!!!

Competitive Tennis! Ohh I almost forgot.

It has been more than 10 years since i played a competitive tennis match. Here i am doing it again. But this time playing for Stanford GSB in the C4C competitions.

This is far as the good news go. I lost in a mixed doubles game to a couple from UC Berkely. The team won this match overall though. It is true that I then won another mixed game against a couple from pepperdine, but that was not an unofficial one.

I couldn't play the final match because first i was so tired after those two matches. Second i didn't want to be responsible for losing any more matches especially that the team had many other players.

One thing i decided after this game is that i want to get back in shape.

"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed"

In 1977 Steve Biko a noted nonviolent anti-apartheid activist in South Africa was arrested under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967. He suffered a major head injury while in custody, and was chained to a window grille for a full day. After several days, he was loaded into the back of a car and began a 740-mile drive to Pretoria where he died shortly after arrival. The police claimed his death was the result of a hunger strike. He was found to have massive injuries to the head, which many saw as strong evidence that he had been brutally clubbed by his captors.

Biko, who studied medicine, developed an intense concern for the development of black consciousness as a solution to the existential struggles which shape existence, both as a human and as an African. In his words, "The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."

Today Egyptians are expected to vote over constitutional amendments that allow for a Terrorism Law that superceeds the articles that related human rights. More Bikos to come!!!

PS: Thanks for makers of "Cry Freedom" for making people aware of Steve Biko.

Parents & Children, could there be Rivalry?

Have you watched "proof" starring Antony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow? I just did, and a key question came to me afterwards. How do parents & children c each other's achievements? What if those achievements are of a competitive nature? What if one's success highlights or implies the other's failure? What if the one who is failing is the one desperate for success?

If those question's seem awkward watch the movie and you will know what i mean - Hopkins and Paltrow are doing a great performance.