Blogger power:Safeguard the web for children

February 24th 2007
Budaiya

I have been tagged by my friend eastcoastlife and here it is, to show my support and my humble opinion.

The project Blogger Power is a campaign to safegard the internet for children against pornography.

A Request To All Webmasters Of Adult Sites:

"Please require a password-protected login before allowing even free access to explicit adult content. We understand that selling porn is your business and we respect your right to make a legal living. But understand our legitimate concerns and work with us. You already have the “warning adult content” on your websites. Yet kids, who are not legal customers of your product, ignore the warning. So to prevent them from having direct access to explicit images, texts and sounds, the simplest way is to have a password-protected login. No more “free tours” before a visitor supplies basic information."

In my opinion:
1)Children should be made aware that they are still too young to be viewing such sites and what impact it could have on them or what it may lead them to. Let them know that such sites are for adults only. At their age, sex should be educational and not for entertaintment or leisure.

2) Kids these days are very smart, a lot of them are much better than us adults, with regard to computers. They will find a way, to hack codes and passwords.
For home computers, we can install parental controls and block certain websites while browsing. Or place the computers in the general area of the house.

3) Parents should supervise their childrens online activities. But it is a little sensitive, as to to how much control that you want impose. They can still be online and do whatever they want behind closed doors or when the parents are not home, or they would view them at their friends place.

4) It is important that your kids circle of friends are not into porn, because children and teenagers specially, will want to feel belong to a group and not feel left out.Parents should be role models to their children, whereas friends often influenced one another.

5) Distract the children from such sites, and encourage them to surf or browse on safer websites. Buy them PS Playstations !

6) It is not easy being parents...! Lets hope and pray that our children will be disciplined enough to respect the parents and teachers and instilled it in themselves to be a good kid. Cross the bridge when you come to it. There will be time for everything in life.

Serendipity

February 24th 2007
Budaiya

Friday was a nice sunny morning and as usual I was sitting by the big window watching the world go by. By 9am I could see the marathon runners doing their thing. Some were running and some were walking, but it was all for a good cause.
Shame on me who didnt take part. I dont jog much..but I do enjoy a long walk. The weather is perfect for such walks especially in the evenings.

I have been trying to complete my packing,which just seem to be endless, but I am getting there. Almost.
A friend came to help reformating the pc and hopefully it will not give me any trouble in the future. Had a nice chat while working on the pc, and it was the first time that he got the opportunity to read my humble blog. He was suprised that I had things to write, more so now when things are like a circus here. Clowns on a merry-go-round.

Saw the rerun of 'serendipity', and watching a romantic movie once a while is not a bad idea actually. It refreshes the mind, make me feel its nice to be in love again and definitely good for the soul.

Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.
About Jonathan and Sara, two strangers who met by accident while shopping for their respective partners' Christmas presents. Tussling over the only pair of black cashmere gloves on display, the sudden electricity between them catches them both off-guard. From that first chance meeting, their attraction to one another surprises them by growing stronger, despite the fact they are happily committed to others. Sara is a big believer in letting fate decide the way.And it was a happy ending to them both, when they found each other again...by chance or fate ..! They are meant to be together...and this happens only in movies.

That was the weekend that was gone, and today I continued doing my chores again. Went to the souq to collect my abayas and along the way, managed to pamper myself to some window shopping. I found some beautiful jewellery staring at me in the glass display windows. Let me sleep on it first..!

A little corner in the souq selling local products.

Yesterday's musings ...

February 22nd 2007
Budaiya

The morning started well... promising a sunny day...tea and all.
Got confirmation of my flight ticket. And this is the amusing part.
From the admin:
" I have to confirm with you, according to the company policy we can only issue you a ticket based on the cheapest flight. I have booked you on Kuwait Airways since it is the cheapest, and if you would like to fly QR or EK then you have to top up the difference !"
The date for KU was a day earlier so it is not convenient, so I had to settle for QR, as the next best option as per the itenary. With that I had to top up BD48.
Moral of the story:
1) When they need your service they would get you the first flight out of your home country. Visas arranged and they dont bother much if the ticket is higher in price.
2) When they dont need you, you have to leave via the cheapest flight home.

And then I asked, will you also be charging me to send my cargo boxes to the cargo depot at the airport ?
She said..." Oh no... I will make arrangement for that "

Looking back, now I understand and relate to the bitterness felt by all those that had resigned or just left without resigning. There were a couple of guys who defected to London and Europe while doing some projects there. Smart guys.
A lady who forged a signature and ran away with a large sum of money.
A lady who used the company facilities for her own benefits.
And others who went for vacations and never returned ( at least they dont have to top up the air fares ! )
There was not a soul who left with a happy heart.
Oh..happy days..oh..happy days..!

And towards the afternoon, a friend came, gave me a hug and crackled my ribs!
Some people never know their own strength, on "fragile" people like me...And the doctor said, it will take a couple weeks forthe pain to go.
Meantime I had to bear the inconvenience..! What a life..!

No Matter ...

February 21st 2007
Budaiya

No matter what, there will always be two sides to a coin. Have we been fair when listening to both sides of the stories ? Have we made the right decisions, or form an opinion ? Have we been biased in our decision just because one party is your wife; your ex girlfriend..or someone that you have to pleased or carry a favour; indebted perhaps ? Or your rice bowl depends on it ?

I shall leave it to those concerned, if they can sleep at night knowing that they have been unfair to some.

February 20th 2007
Budaiya

My early morning was greeted by a beautiful sunrise that moves up and become a ball of fire. Promising a bright sunny day.
This morning I went down to the souq to collect my blazer and wondering around for a bit. I will surely miss this place. Like it has become a part of me. Like this is home.
Major renovation works are going on at the bab al bahrain and if it is anything like the perspective shows, it is going to be beautiful. A lot of businesses are affected, but you have to look at the bigger picture in the future. No doubt Bahrain will prosper.


A couple of shots in Manama this morning.

Piggy Bank

February 19th 2007
Budaiya

It was quiet in the office front today since it was an unoficial holiday to mark the Chinese New Year.They had a big party last night and all the **** were there...all lost in the drinking and merry making.
I went out to spend some time with a friend for coffee and sharing a moist chocolate cake and dates pudding.

This morning I had a not so pleasant encounter at the bank. After I finished my transaction at the counter, I requested for a final bank statement. Since I had closed my account it was only logic that I need to see the statement.
The teller said..."You can get it from the customer service"
Off I went to customer service counter but was served by a girl who was not really service oriented and certainly not helpful.
She wanted to charge me BD3 for it.
After being their customer for years and never missed to pay my bills..they cant even give me a print out of my final bank statement.
The only reason I opened an account with their bank was because they are open from 7am to 7pm even on public holidays.
So I told her..that I am so glad that I have closed my account with their bank.
I dont need to write the bank name here, but everyone should know that there is only one bank that opens everyday, even on public holiday...here in Bahrain. "We are open 7 days a week, from 7 to 7"...ahhh..The power of advertisement..!
So I had better take all my 'fills' and put them in a piggy bank..after all it is the year of the PIG. At least I dont need to see the customer service at the PIGGY BANK.

Ten simple things...

February 18th 2007
Budaiya

Ten simple things that make me smile and say.."Life is good"

1) Waking up in the early morning, I love the cool morning breeze, it is so refereshing and watching the sun coming up slowly and the day gets brighter by the minute. A beautiful start to a new day.

2)My first cup of tea, my comfort food to warm up my soul.

3)Going about my daily duties, greetings from friends and workers, people from all walks of life.

4)No bad news for the day, which means things are okay.

5)Phonecalls, SMS, emails from those people who remembers me and treat me as their friends.

6)When people read my blogs, leaving positive thoughts and I am glad that I have met them through the blogosphere.

7)Enjoying smooth rides in the country sides, while listening to my favourite musics.

8)Food... I love food. I love to see food, tasting them, learning how to cook them, trying new recipes and sharing them with friends.

9)Enjoying good health, the most important thing in life. I pray that God will grant good health to all my family and friends and those people that have been good to me.

10)When I am able to render a small help to someone who is in need.