It all started out more than a decade ago... Out of nowhere came the very successful series Sex and the City. The idea was really simple but highly appealing. Four single women, all above 30 (actually up to early 40s) living, loving and experimenting with everything in New York.
Telling their stories as well as hers was Sarah Jessica Parker or Carrie Bradshaw. The free spirited writer who tells her story, her friends stories and shares all of her thoughts on men, women and their intricate relationships in the Big Apple.
The series was based on the best selling book by the same name. The witty and sexy actresses and especially the vibrant Kim Cattrall secured the continuation of this series for Six consecutive seasons.
And a movie launched early in 2008.
This started out an entire wave in entertainment: Older Women Power.
All of a sudden, the world seemed to forget all about young talents. No more sloppy love adventures. The world fell unmercifully in the grip of experienced, powerful and capable-of-seducing -any feeble man Divas.
Women were obviously getting more like wine: They only got better with age.
Examples are many, for your viewing pleasure check out these ones:
- Desperate Housewives: Perhaps the most successful TV series in this category. It revolves around 4 middle aged women and their so called household adventures including everything from a quick sexual indiscretion with the young -just out of the gym- gardener to premeditated -cold blooded- murder.
Now 6 seasons down the line, cougars already increased to 6 instead of 4. We just can't get enough of them.
- Cashmere Mafia / Lipstick Jungle: Betting on these previous successes, TV producers got more and more greedy. They started pushing more series of older women on our screens. These are just two more examples for that.
However, it could not hold any longer. Lipstick jungle featuring Brook Shields, and the ultimately hot Lindsay Price season 2 will not be screened. Although some of season 2 episodes are ready. NBC officials first moved the show from prime time TV spot and then cancelled it altogether.
- The Women - the movie: A movie taking it even one step further. The movie starlets are -of course- way past their prime (Meg Ryan and Annette Baning) They occupy the screen for around two hours struggling against an unfair life. But no need to worry, at the end, they manage to pull it altogether. Everything falls in place as long you are sincere and you take matters into your own hands. An idea i as old as they are as matter of fact. The only young actress (Eva Mendez) is shown as a Bimbo who steals Meg Ryan husband and only appears in two scenes. Furthermore, the movie makes sure not to show any male figures all throughout. Come on!!! This is a BIT too much.
So, this is my humble cry to everyone concerned. Khalas, it is over please get back to young girls doing girly things with nice boys. We just had enough of Older Women Power.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Living in Cairo: A Little Tip
Today, I planned to take my wife to the movies. "We'll run just a quick errand on our way" she said. Being the good husband I am, I conceded. Leaving the building our Bawab approached me.
- Here is you laundry, he said
- Thanks Mohamed
- Aye Khedma ya Basha
I gave him a Pound
We drove to get a quick Birthday present for I don't know whom. Got in the shop, my wife was quick. Gift selected and wrapped. The lady packing the gift gave it to my wife and turned to me with a big smile.
- Koll sana wento taybeen..
I gave her a Pound
Getting out of the parking space, he appeared as usual out of no where.
- Ta3ala, ta3ala, ta3ala... Hop...
I gave him a Pound.
The roll of pounds in my pocket is getting thinner faster than anticipated, I thought.
We got in front of the cinema. Squeezed Calista between two humongous SUV's with customs plates.
We waited and they came. Two guys this time.
- Two pounds ya basha, one of them said
- Ok, when we re leaving, I replied.
- No.. Now, we are not going to wait till midnight, the other replied.
I gave them 2 Pounds
Get me some popcorn honey, I'll go quickly to the toilet.
While I was washing my hands, he appeared right over my shoulder with a small paper tissue in his hand.
- Koll sana wenta tayeb ya basha, he said in a husky voice.
I pushed the soap dispencer twice, rewashed my hands, hoping that he would go away. He didn't.
I gave him a Pound
And another Pound to the placeur (The guy who took you to your seats in the cinema, just in case you didn't know.)
Two hours and one dreadful movie later, getting out of the parking I spotted him running towards us from the very end of the road.
- Aywaaaa, Aywaaaa!!
The roll of Pounds in pocket finished. I just drove off.
I saw him in my rear view mirror curling his lips, weaving his hands in the air and heard him
- Bahwat Akher Zaman Sahih, Ekhss...!!!
- Here is you laundry, he said
- Thanks Mohamed
- Aye Khedma ya Basha
I gave him a Pound
We drove to get a quick Birthday present for I don't know whom. Got in the shop, my wife was quick. Gift selected and wrapped. The lady packing the gift gave it to my wife and turned to me with a big smile.
- Koll sana wento taybeen..
I gave her a Pound
Getting out of the parking space, he appeared as usual out of no where.
- Ta3ala, ta3ala, ta3ala... Hop...
I gave him a Pound.
The roll of pounds in my pocket is getting thinner faster than anticipated, I thought.
We got in front of the cinema. Squeezed Calista between two humongous SUV's with customs plates.
We waited and they came. Two guys this time.
- Two pounds ya basha, one of them said
- Ok, when we re leaving, I replied.
- No.. Now, we are not going to wait till midnight, the other replied.
I gave them 2 Pounds
Get me some popcorn honey, I'll go quickly to the toilet.
While I was washing my hands, he appeared right over my shoulder with a small paper tissue in his hand.
- Koll sana wenta tayeb ya basha, he said in a husky voice.
I pushed the soap dispencer twice, rewashed my hands, hoping that he would go away. He didn't.
I gave him a Pound
And another Pound to the placeur (The guy who took you to your seats in the cinema, just in case you didn't know.)
Two hours and one dreadful movie later, getting out of the parking I spotted him running towards us from the very end of the road.
- Aywaaaa, Aywaaaa!!
The roll of Pounds in pocket finished. I just drove off.
I saw him in my rear view mirror curling his lips, weaving his hands in the air and heard him
- Bahwat Akher Zaman Sahih, Ekhss...!!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Azazel Book Discussion: In The Beginning There Was Man
As I admitted previously, when I first read Azazel, I was not really sure how to feel. Growing up I was constantly injected with ideas totally the opposite of what Azael suggested.
- The Coptic population was under oppression all the time. Anything to the opposite was not even remotely discussed.
- Arius and Nestorius were two heretics that nearly destroyed the entire Christian faith if it wasn't for the bold resistance that the church made and so forth....
In our history school books, the period of Christian Coptic Egypt is totally ignored. Furthermore, the history told by the Church itself, under the best circumstances, is biased and ambiguous.
However, this is not what it is all about or what matters most.
Azael is not just about history and finding the truth.
The book (and then the discussion) is a rare invitation to think and question. Unfortunately a feat perceived by many as a heresy/crime in itself these days.
Three Major points really arose my interest during the discussion:
1) Everything Changes and Humanity Remains:
The same people who built the Pyramids are the same people who embraced Christianity are the same people who built El Azhar to enlighten the entire Moslem world. Civilization, religions, perceptions of religions and world orders. Everything changes but humanity remained.
2) We are still dwelling in past and ancient ideas when the future is ahead of us: We as Middle Easterns have the rare gift of dwelling ruthlessly over the past. We are very good in remembering selectively and fighting futile battles over issues that perhaps mattered 1400 to 2000 years ago. The world has moved on. It is really simple: No one should kill in the name of religion, no one should judge and condemn in the name of religion and No one should rule and own in the name of religion. All throughout history this model failed. Today is no different.
3) Discussions, Ideas and Taboos is our country: Why are we (Egyptians) always so on the edge? We cannot, in the most part, stand discussion and debate? Especially when it comes to religion. Actually, as Youssef Zeidan said during the discussion. We cannot tolerate anything even ourselves!!!
As said in the old play Bel 3araby El Faseeh: We cannot discuss politics, religion, race, sex or football. What has happened to us?
Anyway, the discussion was fabulous in every respect. IT IS the time for change. This could be very well the start...
- The Coptic population was under oppression all the time. Anything to the opposite was not even remotely discussed.
- Arius and Nestorius were two heretics that nearly destroyed the entire Christian faith if it wasn't for the bold resistance that the church made and so forth....
In our history school books, the period of Christian Coptic Egypt is totally ignored. Furthermore, the history told by the Church itself, under the best circumstances, is biased and ambiguous.
However, this is not what it is all about or what matters most.
Azael is not just about history and finding the truth.
The book (and then the discussion) is a rare invitation to think and question. Unfortunately a feat perceived by many as a heresy/crime in itself these days.
Three Major points really arose my interest during the discussion:
1) Everything Changes and Humanity Remains:
The same people who built the Pyramids are the same people who embraced Christianity are the same people who built El Azhar to enlighten the entire Moslem world. Civilization, religions, perceptions of religions and world orders. Everything changes but humanity remained.
2) We are still dwelling in past and ancient ideas when the future is ahead of us: We as Middle Easterns have the rare gift of dwelling ruthlessly over the past. We are very good in remembering selectively and fighting futile battles over issues that perhaps mattered 1400 to 2000 years ago. The world has moved on. It is really simple: No one should kill in the name of religion, no one should judge and condemn in the name of religion and No one should rule and own in the name of religion. All throughout history this model failed. Today is no different.
3) Discussions, Ideas and Taboos is our country: Why are we (Egyptians) always so on the edge? We cannot, in the most part, stand discussion and debate? Especially when it comes to religion. Actually, as Youssef Zeidan said during the discussion. We cannot tolerate anything even ourselves!!!
As said in the old play Bel 3araby El Faseeh: We cannot discuss politics, religion, race, sex or football. What has happened to us?
Anyway, the discussion was fabulous in every respect. IT IS the time for change. This could be very well the start...
The Road, The Machine and Literature (2): The Great Gatsby
"No one really knew who Gatsby was"
F. Scott Fitzgerald can hardly be identified as a "Road" writer. Almost all of his works were dedicated to account for the Post World War I America. The period identified by Fitzgerald himself as the "Jazz Age." After the Great War, the States experienced an unprecedented era of economic prosperity and growth. An entire social class of newly rich families appeared and indulgence in luxury became a trend. This was further accompanied by the total dominance of material pleasures as well as disregard of morals and values. This is precisely what The Great Gatsby is all about.
In 1922, Long Island (NY) was divided into two distinct parts: West Egg where all the New Rich lived and East Egg where the Old Aristocracy resided. A young man, graduate of Yale, called Nick comes to live in West Egg. His next door neighbour is an incredible mansion belonging to a mysterious millionaire called Jay Gatsby. The other side of the bay, in East Egg, is the house of his second cousin Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is married to Tom but their marriage is in trouble. Tom is short tempered and a brut. Anyway, Nick knows that Tom has an affair with Myrtle Wilson the wife of a mechanic whose home and workshop are on the road from East Egg to New York City. In his vast Gothic house, Gatsby throws lavish parties each weekend. One day, Nick gets invited to one of those parties and he ends up meeting Gatsby himself who turns out to be quite young, charming but mysterious at the same time. As time goes by, Nick and J. Gatsby become friends and Jay confides into Nick that he used to love his second cousin Daisy. Also, he asks him to arrange a meeting between them. Nick agrees. The reunion starts awkward but ends up in reviving the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. The story goes on till Tom realises the affair and a tragic end is then inevitable of course.
The story, as mentioned earlier, is not a road story. However, all throughout, the characters are driving from their Long Island homes to New York City (and back certainly.) A lot of the key events happen during these short trips. Tom introduces his mistress to Nick in a drive to the city. Gatsby starts approaching Nick regarding Daisy in also a similar trip. A major sign of Gatsby's wealth is a Yellow "Beautiful" Roadster. Ultimately, the key event of the novel is a car accident that occurs to the Yellow Roadster while Daisy is driving it.
It was just 1922 and cars were relatively new to the society. Fitzgerald meant for this new sign of modern life to play an integral part of his chronicles for this age.
For more about the Novel: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby
For the full Novel: http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fitzgerald/f_scott/gatsby/
F. Scott Fitzgerald can hardly be identified as a "Road" writer. Almost all of his works were dedicated to account for the Post World War I America. The period identified by Fitzgerald himself as the "Jazz Age." After the Great War, the States experienced an unprecedented era of economic prosperity and growth. An entire social class of newly rich families appeared and indulgence in luxury became a trend. This was further accompanied by the total dominance of material pleasures as well as disregard of morals and values. This is precisely what The Great Gatsby is all about.
In 1922, Long Island (NY) was divided into two distinct parts: West Egg where all the New Rich lived and East Egg where the Old Aristocracy resided. A young man, graduate of Yale, called Nick comes to live in West Egg. His next door neighbour is an incredible mansion belonging to a mysterious millionaire called Jay Gatsby. The other side of the bay, in East Egg, is the house of his second cousin Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is married to Tom but their marriage is in trouble. Tom is short tempered and a brut. Anyway, Nick knows that Tom has an affair with Myrtle Wilson the wife of a mechanic whose home and workshop are on the road from East Egg to New York City. In his vast Gothic house, Gatsby throws lavish parties each weekend. One day, Nick gets invited to one of those parties and he ends up meeting Gatsby himself who turns out to be quite young, charming but mysterious at the same time. As time goes by, Nick and J. Gatsby become friends and Jay confides into Nick that he used to love his second cousin Daisy. Also, he asks him to arrange a meeting between them. Nick agrees. The reunion starts awkward but ends up in reviving the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. The story goes on till Tom realises the affair and a tragic end is then inevitable of course.
The story, as mentioned earlier, is not a road story. However, all throughout, the characters are driving from their Long Island homes to New York City (and back certainly.) A lot of the key events happen during these short trips. Tom introduces his mistress to Nick in a drive to the city. Gatsby starts approaching Nick regarding Daisy in also a similar trip. A major sign of Gatsby's wealth is a Yellow "Beautiful" Roadster. Ultimately, the key event of the novel is a car accident that occurs to the Yellow Roadster while Daisy is driving it.
It was just 1922 and cars were relatively new to the society. Fitzgerald meant for this new sign of modern life to play an integral part of his chronicles for this age.
For more about the Novel: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby
For the full Novel: http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fitzgerald/f_scott/gatsby/
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Road, the Machine and Literature (1)
Keeping my promise to the CBC Core Team (and being a fanatic cars enthusiast), I started to research the role that automobiles played in literature. Inevitably, my search took me into a broader spectrum: The literature, of all sorts, written linking together road, man and machine.
Whether or not we are actually on a road, life remains a fascinating journey. However, in an actual car or motorcycle this journey becomes much more exciting.
Literature related to journeys and travels has been there since ever .
The first examples that could come into ones mind are Homers Iliad and Odyssey. Although it does not qualify as a "normal" road trip however the Odyssey might be the first solid example of Journey Literature. The epic poem mainly describes the 10 years trip that Odysseus embarks on to reach his hometown Ithaca after the Trojan Wars. At the mean time his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus have to fight all the suitors that attempt to approach the beautiful queen. Everybody believes that Odysseus is dead except for Penelope. To escape his suitors without much confrontation she promises them she will choose among them upon finishing sewing a pullover. All through the day she worked on it and all through the night she undone her daily work. The ten years just passed like that!
For the full text of the Odyssey: http://www.mythweb.com/odyssey/
Very informally and without any organization or methodology, I decided to discover more authors and novels all related to Journeys, Roads and Cars/other means of transport. Some will readily come to mind like "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and for others the connection will be more obscure like the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I will leave the pavement and embark on my own journey and I hope you guys enjoy..
Whether or not we are actually on a road, life remains a fascinating journey. However, in an actual car or motorcycle this journey becomes much more exciting.
Literature related to journeys and travels has been there since ever .
The first examples that could come into ones mind are Homers Iliad and Odyssey. Although it does not qualify as a "normal" road trip however the Odyssey might be the first solid example of Journey Literature. The epic poem mainly describes the 10 years trip that Odysseus embarks on to reach his hometown Ithaca after the Trojan Wars. At the mean time his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus have to fight all the suitors that attempt to approach the beautiful queen. Everybody believes that Odysseus is dead except for Penelope. To escape his suitors without much confrontation she promises them she will choose among them upon finishing sewing a pullover. All through the day she worked on it and all through the night she undone her daily work. The ten years just passed like that!
For the full text of the Odyssey: http://www.mythweb.com/odyssey/
Very informally and without any organization or methodology, I decided to discover more authors and novels all related to Journeys, Roads and Cars/other means of transport. Some will readily come to mind like "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and for others the connection will be more obscure like the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I will leave the pavement and embark on my own journey and I hope you guys enjoy..
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Latest Sports Scoop: The Mubaraks' Falcons are Ready
Well, I'm not a big fan of Egyptian Papers. However, for some ambiguous reason, I bought Akhbar El Youm today. Scheming between the old, silly and plain lies articles I reached the Sports Section in the enormous 4 parts paper. The Head Title in the Sports section read as "THE FALCONS ARE READY FOR THE CONFRONTATION"
The first thing that came into my mind is that Hassan Shehata, also for some ambiguous reason, decided to change the name of the National Egyptian Football Team from the Pharaohs to the Falcons. I turned in the pages to find the article and confronted the ultimate shock.
In an article spanning a Full Half Page was an in depth analysis and latest news of the Ramadan Football Tournament in which Alaa and Gamal Mubarak are playing. The Falcons turned out to be nothing but the name of the Mubaraks Team. This "International" tournament is taking place in the prestigious Stadium of Palm Hills. Also, this event is obviously arousing the interest of approximately 5 people (the entire line-up of the Falcons), the editor as well as mom and dad Mubarak of course. Hence was the extensive coverage in the so-called "National" Paper.
Seeing this, I decided to take part in this unprecedented interest in popular sports and Ramadan Tournaments. My son Ferry (4 years old) is taking part in the Bowling tournament of his school. Also, I am playing Tennis in the prestigious El Shams Club Open Ramadan T. Accordingly, I will send our photos to Akhbar El Youm accompanied with some "Kofta" comments and see what happen. Our photos, I assure everybody, will be a lot nicer than the huge published photos of the two Mubarak brothers pursuing their Football endeavours.
In a country devastated by Inflation (25%), Illiteracy (50%+) and hundreds still buried in Dweika, The Mubaraks took a stand: They played football in Palm Hills.
Thank you,
Over and Out
From the Pavement - Mafroos
Samih
The first thing that came into my mind is that Hassan Shehata, also for some ambiguous reason, decided to change the name of the National Egyptian Football Team from the Pharaohs to the Falcons. I turned in the pages to find the article and confronted the ultimate shock.
In an article spanning a Full Half Page was an in depth analysis and latest news of the Ramadan Football Tournament in which Alaa and Gamal Mubarak are playing. The Falcons turned out to be nothing but the name of the Mubaraks Team. This "International" tournament is taking place in the prestigious Stadium of Palm Hills. Also, this event is obviously arousing the interest of approximately 5 people (the entire line-up of the Falcons), the editor as well as mom and dad Mubarak of course. Hence was the extensive coverage in the so-called "National" Paper.
Seeing this, I decided to take part in this unprecedented interest in popular sports and Ramadan Tournaments. My son Ferry (4 years old) is taking part in the Bowling tournament of his school. Also, I am playing Tennis in the prestigious El Shams Club Open Ramadan T. Accordingly, I will send our photos to Akhbar El Youm accompanied with some "Kofta" comments and see what happen. Our photos, I assure everybody, will be a lot nicer than the huge published photos of the two Mubarak brothers pursuing their Football endeavours.
In a country devastated by Inflation (25%), Illiteracy (50%+) and hundreds still buried in Dweika, The Mubaraks took a stand: They played football in Palm Hills.
Thank you,
Over and Out
From the Pavement - Mafroos
Samih
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
In Hiding
Inside me are so many things. Feelings, ideas and desires are constantly brewing. Under the stern surface of my being, destructive currents are raging. How can I want so many things I do not have the right to? How do I crave to enjoy so many guilty pleasures? I do not know. One thing I know however, I do not want to fight it. Without remorse I just bury deep deep inside any sign of guilt; a smile on my face.
We go on about our lives pretending. Nothing is really the way it seems. We hide the monster with a sheepish look and fake virtue with cheap courtesy.
Lust is killing me but I don't have the right to even blink.
Crave but do not look, look but do not touch, touch but do not taste,... I curse civilization, morals and society common ways.
I hope no one blames me for this. But from time to time, I will release the wolf to get out for a big feast .
We go on about our lives pretending. Nothing is really the way it seems. We hide the monster with a sheepish look and fake virtue with cheap courtesy.
Lust is killing me but I don't have the right to even blink.
Crave but do not look, look but do not touch, touch but do not taste,... I curse civilization, morals and society common ways.
I hope no one blames me for this. But from time to time, I will release the wolf to get out for a big feast .
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