Memories are not for sale

Last weekend, there were mend and maintenance works in my grandparents' house. They are trying to patch it up again to be in a good shape. I'm afraid they intend to sell it. Grandma died recently after the death of my grandpa by 10 years bequeath that grand house with a small agrarian land and some trivial possessions.
Anyway, that house represents a special meaning to me. I spent most of my childhood years over there and always it brings back delightful and painful memories.
I was in the garret trying to gather, rearrange, and organize some stuff there, when I saw an old closet with few boxes surrounding it. I felt curious and I wanted to see what things were hidden there. I found things I didn't use to spot them for years, such as, my deceased grandpa glasses which he didn't like to put them on, my uncle's helmet, old watches…. etc.
I opened couple of the cardboard boxes and I found plenty of audio cassettes and videotapes. I remember that my mother used to listen for and watch most of those tapes when I was a kid. I quickly hurried to bring a recorder and try to play those magnetic tapes to find out if they were still valid or not. And to my surprise, they still can speak! Songs of the 70s, 80s and early 90s like, "final countdown" by Europe, "let it be" by Beetles, "brother louie" by Modern Talking, "big in Japan" by Alphaville, "eye of a tiger" by survivor and some albums for Bee Gees, Michael Jackson (when he was black :P), Pet shop boys, George Michael. Mom was a big fan of George Michael, but what a disappointment when she knew that she wasn't Georgie's type. I also found some box sets of famous blockbuster movies in the 80s (Rocky tetralogy, Indiana Jones, Conan the barbarian, Rambo, the good the bad and the ugly…. Etc. The amazing thing is each item of that stuff is in a good shape. When I asked about how could they survive so far. They answered me that my uncle (he's now in Ankara) was keeping them in this form.
I really got 20 years back and I felt sorry for selling this big house.
Anyway, I just wanna congratulate you, fellas! Merry Xmas and happy new year.
See you next year! ;)

The president of the Global States

Lemme at first, congratulate you American people who voted for Senator Barak Obama and hope that he would lead your country to great success.
However, I think it's a bit unfair to restrict voting for the next US president to American citizens only. Who leads the White House leads the world. That's why; non-American people should have electoral rights to elect the president they like.
I'm not American, but if I had the right to vote then I would vote for Senator John McCain. The reason why I would vote for that aged senator is because of his attitude concerning the withdrawal of the US army troops out of Iraq. I totally agree with the republicans that the US troops shouldn't leave Iraq soon. There is a lot of work still need to be done on the ground. Iraq hasn't built strong military and Police establishments yet. Their army needs some more time to be strong, immune and firm against any possible threat.
Therefore, leaving Iraq alone is simply not the change we need, dear Obama.

Back in business..

Hi, all!
Long time no see, eh? I'm sorry for being such a lazy ass but I will justify my long absence to the same old excuse: "exams and study". Infact, not only the study took me so long to stay outta sight. I really lost the enthusiasm of blogging (what a shame!) that's because I didn't find any interesting subject or issue to talk about... Anyway, I have to say that I'm OK. I have finished the exams and I'm supposed to enjoy the long summer holiday. I have passed all the the exmas of the 2nd course, however, I wasn't such lucky in the 1st course. I have one item to prepare for the 2nd round in September inorder to be a senior. :)
Since I have some free time, I decided to take advantage of it by going to gym. I intend to gain some weight and it seems I'm on the right path as my weight increased by 4 pounds (about 1.8 kg). I think I will renew my subscription another month. Hehehe, don't think that I'm planning to be the new gigantic Mr. Olympia like Arnie Schwarzenegger or Dorian Yates. Also one of the up-dates to mention is that I'm growing a beard. And here, I wanna assure you that I'm not turning into a fanatical bastard. ;) With new popped up muscles and a stylish beard I'm designing a different new look.
Anyway, I wanted to talk about this...
I was browsing my note-book couple of days ago, when I found this note:"August 21st 2004, Iraq has done it. the Olympic soccer champions have made it to the semi-finals". I remember I wrote this note just after Iraq's winning over Austuralia in the quarter final of the summer Olympic games in Athens 2004. Four years have passed since that day. Unfortunately, our olympic soccer team wasn't lucky this time as they failed to pass the preliminary stage of the asian zone. The other olympic teams (such as Basketball, Handball, vollyball... etc.) weren't luckier than the football team. Their poor results didn't prompt them to play in next Olympic Beijing Summer Games. Our teams failure is an expected result if we consider many effects:
a. The lack (absence) of the governmental support to the whole sport system in Iraq. The sportal foundations and establishments are left in wrecks.
b. The weak perfomrance of the Iraqi Olympic committee and its various federations.
c. Excluding soccer, other sports in Iraq are suffering from the insufficient interest and support by the public and/or the media.
That's why the Iraqi delegation was supposed to include only 7 athletes to participate in the olympiad in less than two weeks from now. However, the Iraqi public was shocked to know that Iraqi athletes have been banned from participating in the Beijing Summer Games by the International Olympic Committee because the government seized control of the country's olympic committee. It happend after Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Malinki 's government disbanded olympic committee and other national sports federations. Iraq's former Olympic committee was dismissed last month by government officials, who said the group was corrupt and not functioning properly. The Iraqi government then turned control over to its Minister of Sport. The transition was a violation of the Olympic charter, which requires national committees to be elected by sports federations in each country. Iraq's previous Olympic committee had been elected in 2004. The IOC ban would affect seven Iraqi athletes: two rowers, two sprinters, one archer, one weightlifter and one competitor in judo.
As far as I'm concerned, it's painful not to witness the flag of my country fluttering in such global carnival. I think it's a great loss espically for those seven of athletes after 4 years of challenge, insistence and hard training who were finally going to represent their country, they have to be terribly disappointed.

Sandman is walking around!

A whole month since the last time I posted in here. I'm too busy these days with tons of works and assignments for my college. Anyway, I decided to post whenever there is a big important event...
Iraq was hit yesterday by sand storms resulted in the suspension of flights from and to Baghdad International Airport, and led to a poor visibility of less than one kilometre what compelled many citizens to stay home. The expertscities the negligence strategy «green belts» near the Sahara made Iraq the spring season of sand storms. The sand storm is coming from the east of the Mediterranean because of the difference in temperature between yesterday and the day before it. Sand storms cover most areas of Iraq and will move gradually to the southern areas simultaneously with the decrease in temperature. Also the scarcity of rainfall during last winter caused an increase sandstorms expected to occur in March and April of every year. Anyway, the weather got better this morning, but as I'm posting this article there are some yellowish heavy winds outside. I think the storm is being regenerated again.

Cheney's in town!

Yesterday's afternoon on my way back home, it was normally to see the huge number of vehicles in Al Jadiriya where the Unviersities of Baghdad and Al Nahrain and some important offical departments lie. It is the rush hour. But at that hour all the roads lead to other districts of Baghdad were blocked. I saw some US armored vehicles and soldiers were proliferated. Therefore, I decided to walk till I get the "Two-layered Bridge" which was called previously during Saddam's regime by "The Leader's Bridge". It was about 20 minutes on foot to go from my university to that bridge. But when I got there, I was surprised when the US soldiers told the people that the walking through that point was prohibited. I asked one of the people there about how long they had been waiting in the streets, he answered me that they were waiting for about 2 hours. *pouts*
"I can't wait forever! It will get dark soon!" I mumbled and then I decided to ask a sweaty suntanned Yankee...
Me: "Hey, sir! Will it take so long?"
Yankee: "Oh, I've been here since couple of minutes... I don't know! No one is allowed to walkthrough the square". He meant the Alhurriya 'freedom' sqaure.
Me: "So, what's the big deal?"
Yankee: "Cheney's is in town! The vice-president."
Me: "Oh!".... "Oh, shit! We'll stay here forever!" I whispered based on the fact when Ahmedinajad visited Baghdad.
After that the exhasted yankee tried do some light aerobics.
Me: "Tough day, eh?"
Yankee *rolls eyes*: "Everday in Iraq is a tough day!"
Then the talkie he had informed him that the road would be open again in 5 minutes.
And indeed, the soldiers hurried to their Hummers and Humvees and left the sqaure. I took a taxi to cross the bridge and get back home. I witnessed from above the bridge some black armoured american made vehicles parking in rows near the house of "Abdul Aziz Al Hakim" Chairman of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
When I got back home, the two "gentelmen", Cheney & Al Hakim, were on TV for a press conference.
I thought that Dick Cheney was visiting Iraq to celebrate with me and deliever G. W. Bush's congratulations on my birthday, but I was disappointed to know that Mr. vice-President was there in a middle-eastrn trip and he was visiting Iraq on the 5th anniversary of the war!! *sighs*
Hey, guys! Today, I'm 24! ;)

A visit to a bazaar

Yesterday, I accompanied my mother and went to the main bazaar near to our neighborhood (Ad Dora Bazaar). In fact, I haven't gone there for more than two years since it was closed and evacuated when all that shit happened.
I used to visit that bazaar a lot since I was a kid. I bought my favorite collection of comics and magazines for kids from a small corner shop. People used to go there to buy their daily life needs, i.e. food (veggies, meat, milk products.. etc), clothes & textiles, house equipments, toys, stationery supplies. You could find also some pharmacies, barbershops, and shops for selling electrical and digital devices (mobile phones, PCs, TVs, washing machines, fans.. etc) and many many more.
One of the familiar themes of that bazaar is OPEN-AIR markets where things are usually cheaper than in shops. Also People used to meet and sell things from the back of their cars which known by "car boot sales".
Ad Dora bazaar was considered one of the largest bazaars in Baghdad if it wasn't really the largest. Thursday evening was the best time for young men to stop at that bazaar as girls often used to go shopping; such as clothes, lingerie, cosmetics and other girls' stuff.
However, the sinful hand of the terrorism didn't let the life to keep going in that bazaar as the turmoil and the death chapters arise. Lives of many innocent people were taken away unjustifiably. The whole thing started with murdering certain individuals; I remember they killed two guys one was selling birds seeds and the other was an old man who was selling cigarettes and matches. I was there when these two poor men were executed, I heard the gunshots but I hadn't witnessed that bloody scene. Later, the killing rate increased, more people were falling down and markets were closed one after another day by day.
Gunfights began to take place everyday between some gunmen (rumored from Al-Qaida) and Iraqi police. The US army often intervened to curb those militias.
Anyway, plenty of procedures and actions were taken to make that bazaar under control. I mean under the control of the American & Iraqi forces to restore stability and constancy to Ad Dora neighborhood generally and to its bazaar specifically. Yesterday, I felt that the life is flowing back in the veins of that bazaar. I can't claim that it's back 100% to its normal, no, The bazaar is changed a lot and many markets and shops are closed & some of them are destroyed by fire. And now you can find some giant masses of concrete are piled together to form walls to block some entries and exits. I asked my mother about the souk and she said that it is getting better there. My mother was there to witness the final days of the ruined souk before it was closed completely. I asked her also about that middle-aged guy who used to sell magazines, newspapers and comics and she answered : "Hon! May he rest in peace! He's been killed.". I really felt sorry about that man as if he was some relative of mine. It's like I've lost another bookmark of my childhood. And what the fuck he did to take a shot to the head? Do his newspapers or comics represent any kind of threat? That's bitchy!
Anyway, one can get veggies, fruits, eggs, meat, milk and milk products from there. You can get some equipments for your house from that bazaar. I saw some clothes markets are open! Ah, girls! You still can buy your cosmetics and lingerie as well. ;)
One funny thing I'd like to tell you about is that when mom and I were walking back home. It was afternoon and the streets were calm and quite when people were having their lunch or a nap. A scary bark broke that dead silence was coming out up from no where. It was an ugly dog running towards mom and it was trying to attack her. My mother made a funny scream and soon she began to run away. The view of his drooling mouth and scary fangs was frightening. However, I grabbed mom's arm* and as a quick reaction my mom slapped the dog with her purse. The dog stepped back and cancelled the idea of terrifying that woman. My mother didn't know if she was crying or laughing. The situation was thrilling but hilarious in the same time. We couldn't stop laughing until we got home safe.

* If you saw a dog running towards you, don't run. Stay calm and steady and try not to show your fear. Dogs can smell the fear inside you! Believe me, I had experienced this in real.

Wake up! It's snowing out there!

Yesterday's morning, I woke up on my sister's voice saying "Wake up! It's snowing out there!". I heavily tried to look at the clock with half closed eyes... "Sis! It's a sick joke!" I replied. But she insisted to get me up and get outside to witness that unfamiliar event. Well, it was cloudy, therefore, I moved my bum out of my bed and grabbed a jacket and went outside. And "Hell yea, it's snowing!". It was amazing thing to watch and feel those soft white chips falling from the sky. They were melting as soon as they touch my warm hand. I've never expected to watch the snow falling on our city.
Anyway, it's cold over here in Baghdad these days. The electric power is off since the beginning of this year, the tap water is available in days unavailable in others, the mobile network coverage is very bad over my nieghborhood & the landphones are out of reach since only god knows when. But the important thing is the security stituation, which is kinda stabled. But I think as a human being, I have the right to enjoy a comortable lifestyle by providing the main civil services like (electric power, feul, water, land phones... etc.). Anyway, let's enjoy the view of snow and hope that the sex part comes later! ;)