Dear MAN .. I miss you

Dear MAN

I miss you.
I know that I wake up next to you every morning - But I miss you.
I know that I go to bed next to you every night - Still I miss you.
I miss listening to you.
I miss looking into your eyes as I talk to you.
I miss the funny thing your nose does when you laugh.
I miss the other funny thing you nose does when you get mad.
I miss your silly jokes.
I miss the stories you told me a hundred times.
I miss holding your hand.
I miss your embrace.
I miss being in love with you.
Don't you?
Don't you miss me?

When we first met my heart promised you eternal and unconditional love; but somehow I let my heart down. My day to day life consumed me and our love suffered. Being your dutiful wife and the mother of your kids made me forget that I am also your lover and best friend. I saw you drift away and I did nothing to stop you. I saw the gap between us grow wider and I was too proud to draw myself closer to you. Today, you looked at me for the very first time in a very long time and I realized what has become of us.

How did we become roommates? How did our sentences become so abrupt? How did we grow so far apart? I do not want to blame you for letting our love fall into stagnation. I am reaching out to you now and I am asking you to help me resuscitate our love. Can we start over? Can you take my hands in yours one more time? Can we still walk that designated path together? I am willing to forget how the way you looked at me the other day hurt me. I will also forget how your words cut deep in my heart. I will forgive our last fight and our every fight. I will erase the marks my tears drew on my face. I will renew my love vows, will you listen?

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Say "NO" ... while you still can!

An easy guide to men who are BAD for you ... from The Poison Tree, Planted & Grown in Egypt

Mr. Perfect
He was young, tall, dark, handsome, successful, well off, and open-minded. Mr. Perfect was willing to see me even though he knew that I was living on my own, I had a career, I traveled a lot, and I am not the compromising type. Mom was certain that she would get to see me in a wedding gown in no time!

I asked Mr. Perfect if he was the faithful type. The question just flew out of my mouth and it was too late to take it back. All it took from Mr. Not-So-Perfect was a clear audible "NO" as an answer to my question, to bring my green-eyed monster out of its cave. I repeated my question again highlighting the facts that I expected my husband to be loyal; that I liked to play fair and square; that it was a two way street; that from a religious stance, marital infidelity is a big sin that men and women get stoned to death for.

Again I kept getting nonsensical replies from the groom-to-be. Matrimonial devotion did not seem to suit his notions. Of course Mr. Not-So-Perfect had every right to walk away. With his God-given qualities and mouthwatering attributes he could easily land any girl he wanted for a marriage bargain. Why would he bother with me and with my "radical" opinions? Why did he have to justify his actions and keep his promises? He did not need to resist temptation if he knew in advance that he would be forgiven.

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OTV takes a dive in my black box

Re-posted due to technical errors in the first post

Yasmine Abdalla
CEO & Managing Director
OTV

Dear Yasmine

I have hesitated a lot before writing you this note but after a long thought process, and against the advice of all my good friends, I decided that I owe you this much. I also decided not to publish what I have to tell you in any of the magazines that I write for to avoid any awkwardness. I hope you manage to free yourself for half an hour to read my lengthy communiqué.

First of all I would like to thank you for making me a familiar TV face – I will not go as far as saying a celebrity. I remember when we first met you told me that you are “making a somebody out of nobody” … that was not very nice of you and at the end of the day time will be the best judge on what is the definition of a “somebody” and a “nobody”. But yes, I owe you my first appearance on TV and I admit that I trained for almost a year and a half at your channel. Looking back at my early recordings, I have to admit, I have come a long way.

I would also like to apologize for breaking one of your rules; no one will become a star on my account (محدش هيتنجم على حسابى) … yeah … we have all heard you promise and threaten. This brings me to the main purpose of this letter – I know a thing or two about marketing and a thing or two about management; hence some advice is due:

1) There is a huge difference between a manager and a leader; one gets lost in the minute particles of the day to day operations while the other is blessed with vision. I have been watching you stumble and lose vision. What is the vision of OTV? What is its mission? Who is your target audience? Why are you in business? If, as a viewer, I cannot identify your competitive edges, then you have lost your way. I played a mapping game with my students in class and they could not position OTV.

2) Leaders invest in their teams while managers milk their staff. I will not talk about your presenters here; I will talk about me – a guest. What was threatening about me growing and shooting other programs? A true leader would have seen this as an asset to the show. My success as a writer, trainer, presenter, or whatever job I do will only add to my role on OTV. But … yeah … no one will become a star on your account!

3) Leaders are accessible to their teams while managers hide behind closed doors and procedures. I did not backstab you when I took part in another program. I presented my idea to the producer who presented it to your head of production and for some reason the answer I got was: “we are sorry. We have no budget. Good luck.” I clearly explained that I will pitch the idea to someone else and again I was wished good luck. If you did not know that story, then you have an internal communication problem. If you knew it, then you had no right to look upset when I finished shooting the show and scream exclusivity.

4) Leaders welcome information whereas managers walk around with their ears and eyes wide shut. I tried to call you to tell you that rumor has it that you instructed your producers not to host any veiled girls on their shows if and whenever possible. I have nothing against the principle but when I learnt of several incidents where the guest was brushed off because she was veiled, then it was my duty to let you know and you should have listened in private to what I am now telling you in public. Those guests are talking and now there is a huge question mark about the intentions and the direction of your channel.

5) Last but not least, the idea of exclusivity on guests is not very bright. I am sure you know that by now. Successful businesses operate on win-win situations but you thought you controlled all the strings! To add insult to injury, you gave me 24 hours to make up my mind or else I will be kicked out of heaven! When I asked about what was in it for me, I was told that I got to be on TV … how lame?!! When I asked for more time and more money in return for my undivided commitment, I got a semi termination of services email … how professional!! Did it even occur to you that I passed on all events and commitments on Sundays because of my segment … because I gave you my word … but again ... why would you care?

Yes, I am angry, sad, bitter, pissed off, and offended … but now that this is off my chest … I can resume with my life while you try to keep your head above the water.

Yours truly,
Marwa Rakha

فى صندوقى الاسود OTV

عناية الأستاذة ياسمين عبد الله
أصغر مديرة برامج فى العالم
مديرة قناة

OTV

بعد السلامات و الذى منه

انا اترددت كتير فى كتابة الجواب ده و على الرغم من نصائح المقربين و المقربات، انا برضه ركبت دماغى و قررت انا ده واجب وطنى عليا. انا كمان قررت انى مش هنشره فى اى مجلة مطبوعة انا بكتب فيها علشان مش عايزة احرج حد معايا. من فضلك بقى فضى لى نفسك نص ساعة علشان تستوعبى الكلمتين

قبل كل شئ انا احب اشكرك انك خلتينى وجه مالوف على الشاشة – انا مش هتمرع و اقول انك خلتينى مشهورة. انا مش هنسى لما قلتى لى اول ما اتقابلنا انك هتخلقى حد معروف من حد نكرة. طبعا هى كانت حاجة سخيفة منك بس برضه انت اللى قدمتينى للناس و قعدت سنه و نص تقريبا بتمرن فيكم و لما بشوف حلقاتى الاولى بلاقى فرق جامد جدا ... و بكرة الزمن هيقول كلمته فى موضوع النكرة ده

و كمان انا احب اعتذر لك على خرق قاعدة الادارة الذهبية بتاعتك ... ياما سمعناكى بتقولى ان محدش هيتنجم على حسابك و ده بقى مربط الفرس و سبب الجواب ده اصلا. انا اصلى اعرف كلمتين فى التسويق على كلمتين فى فن الادارة فقلت واجب برضه افهمك غلطك

أولا فى فرق كبير جدا بين المدير و القائد. واحد يا ولداه محتاس فى تفاصيل اليوم و مشاكل الشغل و العك بتاع الموظفين اما التانى فربنا انعم عليه برؤية واضحة. انا بقالى مدة عينى عليكى و شوفتك بتقعى و تتكعبلى و تفقدى الوجهة اللى المفروض تطابق رؤيتك للقناة. لما نيجى نقارن بين تصريحاتك اول لما القناه فتحت و بين النهارده هتفهمى انا قصدى ايه. لا الرؤية واضحة و لا المهمة باينة و لا حد عارف مين هو جمهورك المستهدف و لا ايه مزايا القناة التنافسية ده حتى الطلبة بتوعى احتاروا فى تحديد مكانتها التسويقية

النقطة التانية بقى ان القائد بيستثمر فى فريق العمل بتاعه، على عكس المديرين اللى كل همهم استنزاف طاقة الموظفين و كأنهم عبيد. انا مش هجيب سيرة المذيعين و المذيعات ... انا هتكلم على موقفك منى انا ... ضيفة فقرة العلاقات العاطفية فى مسائك سكر زيادة. ايه بقى اللى ضايقك لما صورت برنامج تانى؟ انت تكرهى الخير للناس اللى بيشتغلوا معاكى؟ لو بقى قائد حقيقى كان شاف ان نجاحى الشخصى اضافة للفقرة و للقناة ... بس صحيح .. انت حالفة ان محدش هيتنجم على حسابك

اما ثالثا فالقائد دائما بابه مفتوح لأعضاء الفريق ... يحب يسمع لهم و يفهم منهم اما المدير فعلى طول مستخبى ورا كرسيه و عامل ودن من طين وودن من عجين. يا ياسمين انا ما لفتش من وراكى و لعبت الدنيئة لما صورت مع ناس تانية. انا اخدت فكرتى للمنتجة بتاعتك و هى عرضتها على مديرة الانتاج و بعدين اتقال لى ان مش هينفع و ان مفيش فلوس! و انا قلتلهم انى هعرض الفكرة على حد تانى و هما قالوا لى ربنا يوفقك. لو انت اول مرة تسمعى الحكاية ديه يبقى انت عندك مشكلة حوار و تواصل بينك و بين الناس بتوعك. و لو كنت عارفاها يبقى ايه اللى عفرتك لما شوفتى الحلقات الجديدة و خلاكى تطالبى بالحصرية؟ حصرية على ضيفة فى فقرة مش مذيعة و لا صاحبة برنامج! .. اه صحيح مانتى قلتى انك مش هتدفعى فلوس فى شغلك

النقطة الرابعة حساسة شويتين و انا كلمتك علشان اقولها لك بينى و بينك بدل الفضايح ديه بس طبعا انا نكرة و مش ينفع انك تردى عليا! فى كلام كده بيقول انك اصدرت تعليمات للمعدين انك مش عايزة ضيفات محجبات علشان مش منظر. انا مش هعلق على الموقف انا مشكلتى فى طريقة التنفيذ ... لما الضيفة تتسأل لو هى محجبة و لا لأ و لما تطلع محجبة يتقالها انها مش تنفع. عيب كدة! دلوقتى بقى فيه أسئلة حول توجهات القناة يا استاذة و الراجل الأمير نجيب سويرس هو اللى هيلبس العك ده

أخيرا و ليس اخرا فكرة الحصرية على الضيوف ديه فكرة مش نيرة خالص و انت اكيد عرفتى الموضوع ده. بس للمستقبل لازم تفتكرى ان المؤسسات الناجحة مبنية على مبدأ المكسب المتبادل و الشراكة مش سوق النخاسة! ده انت أمرتينى يا الدفع يا الحبس .. يا أسلمك حريتى يا بره! و اكرمتينى بمهلة 24 ساعة اقرر فيها .. مش لطيف خالص الكلام ده! و لما طلبت مدة اطول للفقرة و فلوس عدلة جالى ايميل شكر و انهاء خدمة و طبعا مخطرش فى بالك ان انا بقالى سنة و نص بعتذر عن اى حاجة يوم الاحد علشان انا التزمت معاكم ... يالا ما علينا

انا اقر و اعترف ان قرارك و تصرفك ضايقنى و لسة مضايقنى و حاسة كدة بنوع من الاهانة و المرارة بس انا استريحت كتير بعد ما طلعت اللى فى نفسى .. اروح انا بقى اشوف شغلى و انت خليكى فى اللى انت فيه

سلام
مروة رخا

Let's mutilate more women!

How would you react if you saw three young girls who are no older than eight years of innocent age holding signs calling for legalizing female genital mutilation (FGM)?

On May 23rd, I wrote a post mourning the current victimization of Egyptian women and children. Today I stumbled upon the online version of Al Dostor newspaper where Deputy Mohamed Al Omda dragged his three little girls and his mother to the People's Assembly street where they demonstrated silently against the new children's law. MB representative Dr. Abdel Hameed Zaghloul and some other ladies joined them and they all held banners and signs warning against the new laws.

Deputy Mohamed Al Omda said that this strike is a protest against the clause that incriminates FGM. He believed that we, as Egyptians, gave our backs to numerous valid "fatwas" - legislations - by trustworthy men of religion like the late Sheikh Gad Al Hak of Al Azhar. Al Omda clearly stated that "we" reject and resent all American legislations and imported laws that want to impose values and traditions that will be relinquished by the Egyptian society. The angry Deputy also warned that the impact of incriminating FGM will lead people to earlier unhealthy methods like unqualified nurses and barbers - yes barbers used to circumcise girls and boys!

Al Dostor's article quoted MB representative Dr. Abdel Hameed Zaghloul who said that he fully supports and endorses all the deputies who are against the passing of any law incriminating FGM. The MB representative added that the whole MB body, regardless of their political inclinations, are pro valid constructive opinions. "As a physician, I vote against this law that is clearly another episode of the European and American agenda to corrupt our customs and belief system that is inspired by Islam and Sunnah - a religion that pleads for virtue and preaches against profanity."

Fatma, Zeinab, and Roukia Mohamed Al Omda said that they came all the way from Upper Egypt and took their positions next to the People's Assembly in defense of Prophet Mohamed and his Sunnah, and as a statement on behalf of Egyptian girls who are against the anti-FGM law.

OTV takes a dive in my black box

Yasmine Abdalla
CEO & Managing Director
OTV

Dear Yasmine

I have hesitated a lot before writing you this note but after a long thought process, and against the advice of all my good friends, I decided that I owe you this much. I also decided not to publish what I have to tell you in any of the magazines that I write for to avoid any awkwardness. I hope you manage to free yourself for half an hour to read my lengthy communiqué.

First of all I would like to thank you for making me a familiar TV face – I will not go as far as saying a celebrity. I remember when we first met you told me that you are “making a somebody out of nobody” … that was not very nice of you and at the end of the day time will be the best judge on what is the definition of a “somebody” and a “nobody”. But yes, I owe you my first appearance on TV and I admit that I trained for almost a year and a half at your channel. Looking back at my early recordings, I have to admit, I have come a long way.

I would also like to apologize for breaking one of your rules; no one will become a star on my account (محدش هيتنجم على حسابى) … yeah … we have all heard you promise and threaten. This brings me to the main purpose of this letter – I know a thing or two about marketing and a thing or two about management; hence some advice is due:

1) There is a huge difference between a manager and a leader; one gets lost in the minute particles of the day to day operations while the other is blessed with vision. I have been watching you stumble and lose vision. What is the vision of OTV? What is its mission? Who is your target audience? Why are you in business? If, as a viewer, I cannot identify your competitive edges, then you have lost your way. I played a mapping game with my students in class and they could not position OTV.

2) Leaders invest in their teams while managers milk their staff. I will not talk about your presenters here; I will talk about me – a guest. What was threatening about me growing and shooting other programs? A true leader would have seen this as an asset to the show. My success as a writer, trainer, presenter, or whatever job I do will only add to my role on OTV. But … yeah … no one will become a star on your account!

3) Leaders are accessible to their teams while managers hide behind closed doors and procedures. I did not backstab you when I took part in another program. I presented my idea to the producer who presented it to your head of production and for some reason the answer I got was: “we are sorry. We have no budget. Good luck.” I clearly explained that I will pitch the idea to someone else and again I was wished good luck. If you did not know that story, then you have an internal communication problem. If you knew it, then you had no right to look upset when I finished shooting the show and scream exclusivity.

4) Leaders welcome information whereas managers walk around with their ears and eyes wide shut. I tried to call you to tell you that rumor has it that you instructed your producers not to host any veiled girls on their shows if and whenever possible. I have nothing against the principle but when I learnt of several incidents where the guest was brushed off because she was veiled, then it was my duty to let you know and you should have listened in private to what I am now telling you in public. Those guests are talking and now there is a huge question mark about the intentions and the direction of your channel.

5) Last but not least, the idea of exclusivity on guests is not very bright. I am sure you know that by now. Successful businesses operate on win-win situations but you thought you controlled all the strings! To add insult to injury, you gave me 24 hours to make up my mind or else I will be kicked out of heaven! When I asked about what was in it for me, I was told that I got to be on TV … how lame?!! When I asked for more time and more money in return for my undivided commitment, I got a semi termination of services email … how professional!! Did it even occur to you that I passed on all events and commitments on Sundays because of my segment … because I gave you my word … but again ... why would you care?

Yes, I am angry, sad, bitter, pissed off, and offended … but now that this is off my chest … I can resume with my life while you try to keep your head above the water.

Yours truly,
Marwa Rakha

Fuck Offff!!!!!!

Who? A man!
Do I know him? No!
Then why?

Today, I got a call from this guy who happens to have a problem and who needed advice. I am usually very tolerant but today it took me a lot of self control not to butcher his life as we spoke. I am serious ... I have not been that enraged in a very ... very .. long time!

He was engaged ... they broke up ... she got engaged ... he cannot believe it ... she is over him .. he cannot move on.

Fine! What's new then?

The details ... I will just summarize the points here - and this is not my opinion of him, this is what he told me:
1) For x number of years, she loved him, took care of him, listened to him, absorbed his anger fits, patched his ego, and forgave all his mistakes ....................... AND HE DID NOTHING BUT RECEIVE HER LOVE AND MAKE HER FEEL LIKE A PIECE OF SHIT!

2) He slept with her to make sure she was no longer pure and that she would never leave him

3) He chose her because she would make an ideal wife and mother; she worshipped him, had no previous experience, and does not have any requests

4) Whenever they had a fight, she was the one who put in all the effort to win him back .. even if it was not her fault

One day .... she left ... what does he do?

1) Call her mom and tell her that he does not want to marry her daughter because he loved her; he wants to "fix the mistake" because they were together like man and wife

2) After shocking the mother ... he called the father and told him the same thing

When I asked him why he did that .... he said he wanted to use them as pressure points on the girl and force her to marry him!!!

When that did not work he sent her in writing that she is his and that she will never belong to anyone else .. he threatened to maim her by cutting off her ring finger, her whole arm, or disfiguring her

When her dad called his dad ... he insulted her dad and called him names for the whore-of-a-girl he has

She got engaged a month after they broke up ...

He turned to God .... and promised him to pray, to force her to get veiled, to raise good muslim kids, only if He give him a second chance with her!!!

He came to me because .... he wants her back, cannot trust women any more (after what his pure angel did), and he wants my advice on how to fix it!!

Moving to my website: www.marwarakha.com

Hi again

As you have noticed, I am slowly moving my blogging and other activities to my website www.marwarakha.com

If you want to receive updates on my articles, TV shows, Radio appearances, books, and events please enter your email here and subscribe to my newsletter

http://www.marwarakha.com/index.php?categoryid=1

I have added more OTV episodes here

http://www.marwarakha.com/index.php?categoryid=19

and I have uploaded radio Horytna program here http://www.marwarakha.com/index.php?categoryid=30

I am still working on the forum :)

God .. we are ignorant and stupid but please have mercy on us!

What is this now? A group on facebook created by Samir Ahmed demanding the confiscation of Mohamed El Tohamy’s novel – A Human Being on Hold! Samir Ahmed has appointed himself as the public defender of morality, the judge on Mohamed El Tohamy’s nationalism , and decided to fight evil with evil and let the cries of war fill the sky! Samir, in the description of the group says:

“This is a novel that has to be confiscated because it negatively portrays the Egyptian identity as though the Egyptian is a hypocrite price-less principle-less person.” Then Samir goes on listing his personal interpretation of certain chapters and incidents in the novel and finally tells the author that if he did not know the difference between right and wrong he should ask a Sheikh instead of spreading his ill-intentioned thoughts that will damage him and gullible readers. Finally he describes Mohamed as “a fake pretentious destructive storyteller” and he calls for confiscating the blasphemous novel before it reaches the hands and the minds of our little Egyptians.

METRO - the first adult Arabic graphic novel - confiscated

Between the agony of the author and the shock of the publisher – Mohamed El Sharkawy who was in prison at the time after his arrest on April 6 – I read Humphrey Davies’ - the translator - note on wordswithoutborders.org:

Magdy El Shafee's Metro, the first adult Arabic graphic novel, is set in a chaotic modern Cairo pulsing with financial and social insecurity. Shihab, a young software designer who has been forced into debt by corrupt officials, decides to get out of his dilemma by taking “direct action”: robbing a bank, with the help of Mustafa, his loyal but reluctant sidekick. He finds himself caught in a vortex of financial and political corruption; the only relief comes from Dina, an idealistic journalist. In this extract Shihab plans and executes the robbery with surprising results.

I was lucky to have one of the Arabic copies so I flipped through it looking for what could have possible upset the big boys. Nothing clicked! Yes, there were a few words here and there along the lines of “little shit” and “asshole” and, whether we like it or not, they are part of many people’s daily vocabulary. And yes, there were a few illustrations of Shihab and Dina in bed … no Kama Sutra here … just illustrations of naked bodies! The story itself sheds light on the government’s corruption and on other social ailments that are consuming what is left of the Egyptian identity.

Naira El Sheikh, the publisher’s fiancée told Reuters that the police made the accountant, who was the only person in the office, sign an undertaking to ensure that any copies returned are sent to the vice police and she interpreted the raid as an act of revenge by the police, who were much criticized in 2006 and 2007 for their treatment of Sharkawi during an earlier spell in custody. Police also took away contracts and downloaded the phone number memory from the land line. The vice squad usually deals with sexual offences but Naira said the novel had no more sex than other recent publications which have not had trouble with the authorities.

Upon speaking to Mohamed El Sharkawy after his release, he said “I don’t get it; METRO was in the Cairo book fair and it has been widely sold ever since – so where were they then? On April 20, Magdy El Shafee was subpoenaed and he was accused of “disturbing public morals”. On April 21, right before my final release, I was questioned on the political overtones of the novel. We were both released and the case is pending court review.” Concluded the publisher who said in the author’s defense that “METRO is reflective of the real society we live in yet it is pure fiction with no particular names or direct accusations.”

Naira El Sheikh is more concerned with the illegal procedures of the confiscation; “the people who barged into the office had no court order, on what basis were they authorized to confiscate the book? Who gave them the authority or permission to withdraw all copies from bookstores before the court rules for or against the charges? Now the publisher lost money and the writer lost face while they will start investigating the case after the confiscation already took place.”