#Hala’ib Triangle in Photos : Camels Market in #Shalateen

Here is the third part of the Hala’ib triangle in photos series. After the amazing photos of Shalateen port and the village of Abraq in Shalateen , this time it is about the famous Camels market in the city of Shalateen.
The Camels market is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. It is the biggest market for camels in Egypt. The camels come from Sudan in a long trip led by their herders. Their temporary stop is at that market in Shalateen waiting to be sold to the camel merchants that come from all over the country in a long trip.
Now this time the photo slide show is a mix of photos by photographer Yasser El Rasoul and famous Photo journalist/dear friend Hossam el-Hamalawy.

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#Hala’ib triangle in Photos : The village of #Abraq by Yasser EL Rasoul

And here is the second part of The Hala’ib triangle in photos series. I started it with a photo slide show from Shalateen Port. This time the slide show is from the small village of Abraq in Shalateen.

These amazing photos were taken by talented photographer Yasser El Rasoul.

Abraq is 130 kilometer away from city of Shalateen in the North West.

Its people are from the Beja people ethnic. The Beja people are from the oldest ethnic groups in North Africa , it is enough to know that they used to fight along with the ancient Egyptians. Yes sir they are so old and so unique.

Now the village of Abraq is extremely poor as you can see in the photo , its main water source is that water well bearing the village name in the slide show “it looks amazing”. It is not about living in nomadic environment , it is about zero supplies and utilities. The people of Arbaq work mainly in pasture but some of them go to the mounts searching for coal in order to trade it with food especially Wheat in Shalateen main market.

What I say in this post is based upon the testimonies of the young humanitarians that went there and saw what they were not prepared for.

Amazingly the people there are content and they do not ask for more. They also are not angry from the valley or from the State that it neglected them.

The Egyptian Food Bank and Resala helped the people of Abraq before , there are also independent youth mostly from Islamists organizing food and medical supplies caravans.

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No #BassemYoussef This weekend or next week, someone fears a little joke "Updated"

Doaa El Adl's latest cartoon about Bassem

And millions waited for Bassem Youssef and his show “El Bernmag” tonight and their wait was in vain because CBC network decided to cancel his episode. After few hours , the channel announced that it was going to suspend the show.
You can imagine the uproar and anger this move created among the show’s loyal fans especially from revolutionaries.
The Pro-Mubarak/Military/ElSisi fans are happy and they can not deny where as the Muslim brotherhood/Islamist fans are reminding us on how there was more freedom of expression in time of Morsi. “Despite Bassem Youssef was being sued for insulting the president as well Blasphemy”
Several political and media figures including those supporting El-Sisi are against the decision of the channel.
Bassem Youssef is already in Abu Dhabi and his mobile phone  is closed. The CBC issued a statement about its decision. Here it is.

We were surprised with the media content delivered to us today in the show "al Bernmag" as it violated what was mentioned in CBC's last statement about the show.The violations show that the producer of the show and its presenter Dr. Bassem Youssef were not committed to the editorial policies of CBC channels. Being committed to CBC editorial policies was mentioned in the signed contract between us and the show producer. We drew the attention of the show's producer and its presenter after airing the last episode that they should be committed to what was issued in the channel's statement. In addition the producer did not present to the channel all the episodes of the previous season despite he received all the sums agreed in the contract and even asked for more sums in order to produce additional episodes ; the thing that is considered another violation to the contract. Thus CBC decided to suspend the show till all the technical and commercial problems are solved.

Mohamed El Amin , the CEO of CBC

So Bassem Youssef’s show is suspended till further notice !!
Wow now CBC remembered that there were episodes from last season that were not presented by the producer !! I remember in one of the interviews Bassem Youssef stated that the CBC budget allocated to the show was not enough to produce such show in this way !!
I do not know how Bassem Youssef and his producer are going to work again with CBC next Week.
Well Monatesser El Zayat , the famous Islamist lawyer who is claiming to be Bassem Youssef’s lawyer “I am not sure about this” said on Al Nahar channel TV that Youssef’s contract with CBC stated that there were no restrictions what so ever on the show or its content.
According to Big Pharaoh who attended the show’s shooting last Wednesday , Bassem did not speak about about El Sisi but he rather spoke about the media reaction in Egypt about his season premiere as well Al Jazeera Channel’s media bias. Big Pharaoh also added that in the third part of the episode Bassem slammed CBC for their disgraceful statement last week.

OK since several of the people who attended the shooting are already talking, I too attended, he did bash CBC real hard.
— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) November 1, 2013

In the episode, Basem Yousef did not touch Sisi. He did bash CBC and expose its double standards.
— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) November 1, 2013

Screenwriter Khaled Diab said on his twitter account that sources in CBC told him that CBC board decided to suspend Bassem Youssef’s show three days ago in order to avoid any future mocking or criticism of El Sisi.
For the record Bassem Youssef mocked CBC and its hosts in his season 2 premiere from a year ago on its screen. 
The reactions have not stopped up till now. #BassemYoussef and his show as well #El Sisi  are trending on twitter in Egypt now are according to Trends map.

Egypt's trends map

They are also trending in Lebanon and Jordan.

In Jordan and Lebanon

Some journalists are quoting military sources that the army had nothing to do with suspending the show.
People are attacking CBC on its official Facebook. Also another group of angry viewers made a Facebook page calling the people to erase the channel from their receivers in solidarity with Bassem Youssef.
Our former vice President also commented about the suspension of the show.

حرية التعبير هي أم الحريات . اذا اقتصرت علي من نتفق معهم فهي شعار أجوف. الشجاعة هي في الدفاع عنها وليست في قمعها. تحية وتقدير لباسم يوسف
— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) November 1, 2013

The freedom of expression is the mother of all freedoms. If it is only limited to those who we agree with then it is an empty slogan. It is bravery to defend it and not to suppress it. Respect and appreciation to Bassem Youssef.

Of course people are attacking ElBaradei as usual claiming that he neglected all the problems of Egypt and cared only for a silly TV show. It is not about a silly TV show I am afraid but rather freedom of expression.
Thanks to CBC’s hypocrisy days before Morsi’s trial , the military will find themselves in a deep shit internationally. Already AP and Reuters have run stories in no time on how the world famous satirist was cancelled.
Now people are comparing on how there were more freedoms in time of Morsi  when there is none in time of the interim government aka in time of El-Sisi as now comparisons are being done in real time in social media. Now the world will see what happened in Egypt as a coup more and more , no PR company will help whitewashing your tarnished the interim government. The Muslim brotherhood internationally is thanking Mohamed El Amin and the CBC morons for this golden opportunity to prove that Morsi was much more welcoming to opposite views !!
I am already waiting for John Stewart and his two cents about his friend in Egypt.
It is enough that Reem Magued is absent and now Bassem Youssef’s show is cancelled this weekend , I wonder what will happen to Yosri Fouda when he returns to ONTV later this month !!
Updated on 3/11 : 
The Egyptian presidency says that it has nothing to do with the decision of the channel as it is an internal decision of CBC. 
Bassem Youssef's crew issued a statement and comparing to that scandalous statement of CBC , it is very reasonable.  
According to the statement that was published in the official Facebook page , the show's crew members were not notified that the channel suspended the show and they knew the news just like anyone else in Egypt from TV. 

Post by ‎البرنامج؟‎.

The statement also stressed that the show's production company "Qsoft" had abided to the agreements with CBC contrary what the channel claimed. Nevertheless the show's crew announced that it would not make any further statements to the media for fear it would harm "the company's position". 
Knowning the deep shit they made the CBC is trying to play nice now , its TV hosts issued a statement claiming that they were standing with Bassem !!

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And #ElBaradei has become the enemy of #Jan25 and #June30

Here is Ahram Arabi magazine’s cover for this week.
The magazine publishes the blacklists of the 25 January revolution and 30 June revolution enemies and members of the fifth column. The cover includes a group of photos for public figures; some of them are Muslim brotherhood supporters and some of them are not Muslim brotherhood supporters but rather democracy supporters.

Among the photos and the names featured in that blacklist : Mohamed ElBaradei “yeah ElBaradei is from the enemies of the revolution !!” , Amr Hamzawy , columnist Balel Fadl and singer Hamza Namira !!
I have not read the rest of the names as it seems that it has not been published online yet but you can say it is a mix between the Islamists and Pro-Democracy faces in Egypt including the faces that criticized publicly the policies of the current regime. ElBaradei’s resignation because of the use of force in dispersing the Raba’a and Nahdaa sit it , Hamzawy’s criticism to the dispersal as well the McCarthyism in Egypt and Balel Fadl’s recent firing op-eds in Al Shorouk warning from any future dictatorship “Here is a translated example for one of his latest op-eds” earned them a spot in the blacklist !!
They even included Mohamed Abu Tarika because he supports the Muslim brotherhood !!
The state-owned magazine publishes a blacklist for public figures as fifth column and as enemies for the revolutions of January and June. This means something for sure if you connect the dots to that campaign working perfectly in the media to defame 25 January revolution.
There is even an active hashtag on twitter called “Fifth_Column” in Arabic where people share the names of those agents sabotaging Egypt and its army from public figures and human rights activists.
The list of the fifth column that works against the nation and the army for the sake of the Muslim brotherhood and United State include the following : Mohamed ElBaradei , Amr Hamzawy , Reem Magued, Yosri Fouda , Wael Ghonim , Mahmoud Saad “He returned back to air recently on the same channel” , Mona Seif, Alaa Seif , April 6 Youth movement members , Israa Adel Fatah , Wael Abbas , Asmaa Mahfouz and revolutionary socialists. These are the primary 25 January suspects in Egypt.
According to the people who are keeping this hashtag active , the fifth column agent is anyone who dares to speak about his rejection to human rights abuse and state of emergency as well to that “War against terrorism” rhetoric and military trials and above them military/police state !! Of course in their view all these points mean that you are against the army thus you are a fifth column that wants to bring the Egyptian state down after the fall of Syria and Iraq.
Ironically most of these names “except Wael Abbas” supported the 30 June and called for it.
In short these names are those who supported the original 25 January revolution and stood against the violations of SCAF. Of course there are other similar hash tags now on twitter like “The January Setback” as people buy more of the conspiracy talk.
Sadly enough this McCarthyism flourishing in Egypt is forcing to people to rethink their positions and even fear to express their opinions freely online or offline as before for fear of the backlash.
Reem Mageud’s TV show is stopped on ONTV for no apparent reason , of course I can not imagine someone like her appearing in the channel now. Wael Ghonim does not update Kolena Khaled Said Facebook page , in fact he does not update his own Facebook page for God sake !!
All this makes the youth that believes in the revolution disappointed and desperate , their voices are not heard because the people will attack anyone who say anything different. Some young people I know unfortunately believe that the deep state of Mubarak has won and there is no other option except to leave the country.
Of course it is a long road but you can not blame them when all the media whether TV or radio or press or even social media is full of Ultra-nationalism,McCarthyism and old ugly faces from Mubarak’s era returning back. People are affected by this extensive propaganda.
It is a long road but you not blame them because they are now trapped between two hells with no third road to escape , with no hope , with no true leadership that can inspire and unit them once again. They want to revive their hope once again.
ElBaradei has left Egypt and is back to the blacklist of the State owned media after being the Vice president of Egypt. Unfortunately that old man was the one that used to give young people hope for true change.
We need a new hope.

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#Saving_History : Destroying our History by our hands

When the tragedy of Mallawi museum took place last August , some people blamed foreign parties and enemies of standing behind the looting and destruction that took place in the Upper Egyptian museum just like what happened in Iraq.
Unlike Iraq , I believe we do not need foreign enemies and parties because so far I am afraid to say we are own worst enemy when it come to how we destroy our history and heritage.
After all the looting happened to the ancient Egyptian archaeological sites and the attack against old Christian churches and monasteries , we continue our attack on the Islamic heritage of Egypt.
From couple of weeks ago I was surprised and shocked like many “I Believe” to know that part of the 17th century Youssef Agha mosque was turned in to a Shoes shop o!! Oh yes a Shoes shop !!

Shoes shop in 17th century mosque !!

First of all I will be lying to say that I even knew that this beautiful mosque existed in Egypt. It is in old Cairo and it was built by a Mamluk Amir Youssef Agha Al-Hinn in 1625. It was a mosque and a school. This beautiful mosque is besides the Islamic museum and the Cairo security directorate.

The Mosque before the shop "Mohamed Msobeih"

It is very beautiful mosque. Here is a photo gallery in the old days. “Most of the photos are from researcher Mohamed Msobieh’s forum.

I am sorry but from what I see that the Cairo governorate , the local council and the police are all involved in this crime because you can not open a shop like that without licenses and permits from the government !!
FYI the mosque is registered as a monument. It was also renovated after the 1992 earthquake.  You can also read more about the history and architecture of that mosque from this informative e-book.
I do not know why TV channels launch a true campaign to save the heritage and the  history of this nation for real instead of that campaign to fight terrorism full of racism and hatred.
Archeologists are demanding the government to change the minister of antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim as soon as possible. It was their demand from the start.
I think we need make more noise about this unaccepted attack. If you are okay that a Shoes shop opens a branch in a mosque that is regarded , tomorrow do not be sad when you some foul and falafal sandwiches in some ancient Egyptian site.
We are indeed our own worst enemy !!
The nation that sells its history for wealth , deserves none!!

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The Stork is Free !! Our #Spybird

Ok this is a follow up for the Spy Stork story. It turned out that the Hungarian Stork is called Menes and it has become the most famous stork in the history of modern Egypt. After all how many storks are detained for espionage and how many storks got visits from animal rights groups in detention while detained humans are denied from this right !!??
Menes is released and is moved Salugah & Ghazal Protected Area, near Aswan.
Here is the free bird.

:)

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Another Friday of Rallies , protests and Anticipation

CHere is another Live blog for the protests and rallies planned by the pro-Morsi supporters today. There will be not less than 28 rallies in Cairo and Giza alone.

The Pro-Supporters today are not going to street alone today , Revolutionary Socialists are going to protest the release of Mubarak despite the criticism of other revolutionary powers for choosing the same day like the Pro-Morsi supporters.

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#Egypt From More than 100 years In Color

The Brooklyn Museum published on Flickr this amazing collection of photos or rather Lantern slides taken in Egypt in year 1882. Yes in 1882 and they are in color , it is just amazing.
The photos were taken in different parts of Egypt in 1882. It is just amazing to see how our country and our people , our ancestors looked like during then. This is how Egyptians lived then. There are extremely old photos from Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Assuit , Luxor , Aswan and the newly founded Suez Canal and its cities like Ismailia.
You can a whole photo gallery with more than 100 photos from that year.
I was running through the photos and try to see how places had changed. For instance the photo of Wadi Es Sebua made me wonder about the fate of the ancient temple as I did not know before that we had an ancient temple with that name. I found that it was located in Lower Nubia in Egypt and it had to be displaced because of the Aswan High Dam. 

Just imagine that those photos were taken in 1882. Just see the photos you may be looking for your grandfather without knowing.
It is worth to mention that in 1882 Egyptians and their Egyptian army as well Sudanese under the leadership of Ahmed Orbai rebelled against their ruler Khedive Tewfik. Unfortunately this rebellion , this revolution was ended with occupation when the Khedive asked the help of the British. The British wanted to protect the new Suez Canal by all measures. This was one of the oldest invasions I believe using the minorities paper.
The Orbai revolution was the first time the Egyptian army of the Egyptian modern State truly stood with the people.
I wish people to learn and read about that revolution and its lessons.

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No Electricity , No Bills

As Egypt began to be hit by a new wave of blackouts for long hours from North to South Egyptians , some Egyptians began to think to object in their own way : They will not pay the electricity bill.
People are leaving messages on their doors and gates that they will not pay the electricity bill.

Tanta : we are not pay the electricity bill 

Why to pay for something they do not get especially in exams season !? 
Hers is a Facebook event page as well a Facebook Page for the campaign
This is a peaceful pressure tool I believe whether you or disagree and yet millions are harmed as a result of having reactive government that did not act as it should since last summer. It is worth to mention that there is increase in the electricity bills.
Since last summer 2012 and the massive blackouts we suffered from in the country as well with the shortage in fuel , there have been warnings that the blackouts will continue in summer 2013 and yet from what I see the government did not do anything to prevent or to stop this new crisis or even prepare for it. I swear to God I know that this crisis goes back to time of Mubarak during the summer but what the new democratically elected president and his government have done regarding this pressing problem for two years !?
I am tired of having reactive governments before and after the revolutions. I am tired of having a government that does not save energy itself , why on earth we find light posts in the daylight working ?? Why can not we have solar light post like solar billboards for God sake !?
Now part of the government responsibility as well the NGOs and the media to be frank in this time is to provide people with alternatives trying to save energy.I am not speaking about Hisham Qandil’s type of advices like all the family members stay one room wearing cotton underwear and one air conditioner is on. I am speaking about energy saving bulbs. I am speaking about instructions for emergencies whether health emergencies or security emergencies.
Again it is not the role of the government only but the society and its NGOs as well.
I am speaking about using solar charges for mobile phones and other devices. I am speaking about encouraging people especially in new communities and rural areas to use solar heaters. I wrote about this before and I will continue to write about it again. By the way I heard that people in areas like October and Sheikh Ziyad began to think about buying solar generators ‘rich class’.  I do not know why the government does not support those people and help them , at least it will lift some of the burden.
Already I can not believe with that amount of sand and sun we have got in Egypt , we do not manufacture solar heaters and solar plates . For God sake we were the first to try solar energy !!
By the way we will face even tougher times with upcoming fuel problem in the summer.

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And Who is that sick person behind this stupid act ?

Just today people in Alexandria were shocked in the morning to see the beautiful and iconic Mermaid statue disfigured by some assholes , yes assholes.

Some idiot or idiots threw blue paint on the beautiful statue made by famous artist Fathy Mahmoud. I am so angry.
Anyhow a group of Alexandrian activists are having an event to clean the mermaid next Friday.

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After the Jews of Egypt , Watch The Italians of Egypt

Just like Jewish community in Egypt , there was big Italian community in Egypt prior 1952. The community found a place in Egypt since 19th century.Spot 1 and Al Jazeera Documentary decide to explore the history of this community.

The Italians of Egypt_trailer from SPOT1.TV on Vimeo.

When I think about it Egypt was much tolerant and open to the other with its cosmopolitan nature past more than today despite in the past we did not have many educated people like now.

I know that we are paying the price of the wrong nationalism policies adopted in 1960s and have been used since then by our presidents. These nationalism policies turned in to ugly chauvinism.

The documentary was already screened earlier this year and according to its official Facebook page its DVD in Italian is available in Europe. I would like to see the documentary so I will search if there are other versions translated in to English or Arabic.

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Egyptian Chronicles Present : The Eloquent Peasant

As we are celebrating one of Egypt’s oldest feasts today that goes back to the days of ancient Egyptians aka , I thought of celebrating it this year differently. I proudly present this short film master piece by late Shady Abdel Salam : The Eloquent Peasant
Sham El Nessim
The Eloquent Peasant is one of the oldest and interesting stories from ancient Egyptian literature when it comes to the social and political life of ancient Egyptians. To fight back the injustice Eloquent peasant aka Khun-anup would write nine amazing messages standing for justice and criticizing the ruler.
Here is the short film produced in 1970 after the break.

The eloquent peasant

Unfortunately there are no English subtitles available in this restored version which actually is the best on YouTube. Nevertheless here is an English translation for the story with the original text.Here is another translation for the ancient story.
The original manuscript of the Eloquent Peasant is available in the British Museum 
I hope you enjoy it and think about the messages of the eloquent peasant and about how we do not learn from our great history.

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Happy Sham Nassim 2013

Happy Sham Nassim and Happy Spring Day to all Egyptians and to all the people all over the world. And It will not be a true Sham Nassim without its national anthem.

Soad Hosny : It is spring time

Yes I do not even get bored from posting this every year.

Of course it is not that spring as the weather is extremely hot in Cairo and Giza  yet the capital and its twin city on the other bank of the Nile  are amazingly blessed with empty streets now. I believe that not less than thousands of families have left Cairo and Giza heading to resorts all over the country in this short vacation. It is a good thing now both cities are bless now.

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Happy Easter 2013

Happy Easter to all those celebrating it all over the world today especially in Egypt and Syria.
This amazing cartoon by Doaa El Adl summarizes everything I want to say. It is answer on all those who are saying we should not say Happy Easter to Christians.

 And so Happy Easter ,Happy Easter , Happy Easter 

So Happy Easter and things hopefully insh Allah will be better next year.
 

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Happy Mother’s Day From #Egypt

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers in Egypt and the Arab world.
This was the first post stamp issued in Egypt to commemorate the National Day in year 1957

Mother's Day 21-3-1957

And here is the Google Doodle for the Day from Google Egypt.

Also here is the Mother’s Day song for the year by the legendary Soad Hosny from Lyrics of Salah Jahin and the music of Kamel El Taweel from the Egyptian National TV archives. “Legends summit”

Good morning my majesty

It is worth to mention that Egypt was the mother of the idea to have the Mother’s Day on March 21st in the Arab world thanks to the famous Amin brothers in 1956. The Amin brothers adored their mother as well their godmother , the mother of all Egyptians Safia Zaghlol.
The mother’s role in Egypt and how it is highly regarded is rooted deeply in our folklore without knowledge now. From Isis to Virgin Mary to Lady Zeinab
Today also is the first day of Spring and is the Nairoz for the Kurds and Baha'i's by the way.

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How has the #MB become the biggest challenge to #Jan25 Revolution ?

I wanted to write this post from a long time but as usual I was lazy enough to do it but my dear friend Bassem Sabry’s latest column in Al Monitor made me to write it. 

 4/20/2012 protest One hand to build the nation

I began to believe that the Muslim brotherhood has become the biggest challenge to the 25 January Revolution and its biggest liability ever. I am afraid that the famous group that nobody can deny its participation in the revolution is hurting and even jeopardizing it in the worst ways ever especially with their policies and plans the whole idea of 25 January revolution.
Of course here when I am speaking about the Muslim brotherhood as in Presidency , Freedom and Justice party and the  Muslim brotherhood.
The intelligentsia in Egypt know that the Muslim brotherhood took over the rule breaking all the promises they gave to the fellow revolutionaries whom for years stood to defend the group against Mubarak regime. The intelligentsia also know very well how the MB and their policies are completely opposite to what the 25 January revolution called for from principles “Bread, Freedom , human dignity and social justice”.
The Muslim brotherhood’s neoliberal policies will not reach to social justice nor it will provide bread. We have seen what happened so far to human dignity and Freedom especially with the continuing violation of human rights cases from torture and that hate towards media in Egypt nowadays.
When Mohamed Morsi was elected a president he chose several Pro-revolutionary faces like Ayman El Sayad , Sakina Fouad and Samir Marcus as advisory and aides yet he did not listen to them at all. I do not need to bet that if he just listened to them things will be different. Of course  I do not need to say that he is listening to the MB guidance office.
The MB says that the political opposition forces "mainly from revolutionary faces like ElBaradei and Sabbahi" are working to make Morsi fail where actually the MB is doing the job perfectly. Morsi and MB are the ones who digging their failure grave by pursuing the same dark path of dictatorship in order to fulfill Hassan El Banna's big vision of MB Caliphate. 
Still I fear that the average Egyptians do not look to the MB as a danger on the revolution but rather a product of the revolution. I fear that the average Egyptians will hate the revolution day after day with the failures the President and MB are causing in the country. I fear that the average Egyptians who were happy to oust Mubarak and took the streets will see the MB’s control as a direct result of the revolution.
Of course people do not want to admit that they chose and brought the MB willingly through democratic processes aka elections. People elected the Muslim brotherhood and refused to try other alternative because “ They knew MB and the MB is good as they are Islamists”
I fear that people will miss the Mubarak days even if they were not from the privilege class that enjoyed these days yet they are missing that feeling of state control and security.
From two weeks ago “Ana Asf Ya Rayas” { I am sorry Mr. President} Pro Mubarak page reached to nearly 900,000 likes since its launch from two years ago. The Pro Mubarak/Shafik/Omar Sulieman supporters and apologists are having their dreams come true using all their talent to spread lies on how Mubarak’s era was much better than the MB’s rule and how the revolution is bad.I see daily posts in my Facebook timelines from friends sharing on how things were better in time of Mubarak at least when it comes to security and some how “economy” was allegedly much better.
I fear that people are having short memory because things were not that better in time of Mubarak , it was on the verge of explosion sooner or later. We had fuel and water shortage from time to time. All research centers all over the globe were predicting unrests after Mubarak whether caused because of his regime’s economic policies or because the fight over power between the military and Gamal Mubarak as well Islamists and Gamal Mubarak. Many people believe that Mubarak and his regime were right to violate human right
Unfortunately the MB’s failures in Egypt are not affecting the revolution in Egypt but also in the Arab world as well. Recently more people in Egypt began to see the revolution in Syria as another foreign attempt to bring it down using the Islamists and the MB who are destroying Syria in the same way they have done it in Egypt. I am not speaking about uneducated Egyptians but rather educated Egyptians.
The MB and their allies in Gaza from Hamas are hurting the Palestinian cause for the first time in Egypt. The Anti-Palestinian sentiment is finding a place in Egypt for the first time since 1948. Average people wonder why President Morsi care for Gaza than Port Said. Average people also fear that Hamas may have a hand in killing our soldiers and began to think that the president is not telling the truth. I do not need to speak on how that “Palestinians are coming, Palestinians are coming” media machine is working like hell. Yes they are differentiating between Hamas and Palestine but in real world people do not differentiate.  
In the end the MB has become a burden on the revolution and we have to admit it not only in Egypt but in the Arab world.

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#9March : The trial part 2 #UA07 #PortSaid

Egypt is holding again its breath as we will resume the trial of the Port Said stadium clashes. Today expectedly the New Cairo Criminal court will announce its final verdicts regarding all the defendants.
I said expectedly because there are leaks regarding today’s verdicts. One of the most important leak comes from the presidency itself , from none other than the President’s advisor for legal affairs Mr. Jadallah who claimed that the trial will be adjourned.
Another scenario expected after leaks that the official 21 defendants’ death sentence announcement will be adjourned because the new Mufti has to study the case “more than 1000 papers” to issue his decision regarding the death sentence. If the case is delayed , things will be extremely bad.
The Ultras boys began to show up at Ahly Club. Some say that their numbers are less than the numbers that showed up on last 26 January 2013. If not all the Ultras members show up at Ahly club in Zamalek then the rest of them are going to appear else where.

The Ultras at Ahly Club "Kareem Yaccoub"

Some eye witnesses say that a group of Ultras members appeared in Tahrir square Metro station. Either they head from there to Ahly Club or the Ministry of interior.
It is worth to mention that the army built at night another wall near the ministry of interior.
On the other hand Port Said is also anticipating the verdict. The police disappeared totally from the city. Most shops are closed. You know the calm before the storm. This is Port Said now.

Calm Port Said "Haitham El Tabei"

Live update below
The army helicopters are back hovering in Port Said’s sky.
The families of the Ultras martyrs have not showed at the court strangely.

The court room from Egyptian TV "Kareem Yaccoub"

Here is a link with Live broadcast from several TV channels in Egypt. The National Egyptian TV has got the exclusive rights to air the trial from the court room in the Police academy. The National Egyptian TV sold the broadcast like in football matches.
Live coverage in the way 

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#EgyWeather : Sandstorm alert

And today we are having not so nice sandstorm in several cities in Egypt. Among the cities that got its share from the terrible sandstorm in Egypt today : Cairo, Zagzig, Fayoum, Suez "Canal city" and Ras Ghareb and Hurghada  "Red sea".
The main ports in Suez city and red sea have been closed.
Here is a photo for how Cairo looks today from Gregg Carlstorm's hotel window.

The sky in Cairo is a lovely wall of dust this morning twitter.com/glcarlstrom/st…
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) March 8, 2013

It is extremely terrible especially for me , my nose is blocked and eyes are hurting me. It is the typical Meshir weather.
I think this bad weather will affect the usual protesting activities in Cairo today.

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The Day When Egyptian Pop fiction Godfather died !!

Last week on February 24, 2013 many Egyptians as well Arabs from different generations were shocked to hear that famous and legendary pop fiction author Mahmoud Salem passed away.
The man left in silence that did not suit his contribution to Children and mystery literature and Pop fiction in general in the Arab world.
I remember seeing Mahmoud Salem speaking on TV about how he started from young crime journalist in El Helal Press corporation before Nationalization and then moved to Children magazines like Mickey writing mystery stories and so before his saga with crime and mystery “The 5 adventurers” series would start.  That series was our original “Scooby Doo” series in the Arab world yet more serious with more crimes and cases from murder to forgery to even espionage.
Tewfik aka Fatty , Nossa, Loza, Mohab, Atef and their dog Zinger who live In Maadi were heroes for generations for real in the Arab world. When the man died , I found friends in Tunisia and Morocco from grown ups still have these books. I already have couple of these books yet I can not find them. Of course my mom and aunts also read them.

The Five with their famous faces

I wanted to be from that gang when I was a little and read their books. I want to have adventures like them. I believe millions of kids and teenagers in the Arab shared the same dream. I believe all those who read this series wished to live in Maadi area.

It began as recommendation by the amazing Nadia Nashat to have a series of books in Egypt based on the Five Find Outers series. Still it was not a matter of translation only. He produced more books than the British series and was more successful. Of course not richer I suppose as he got paid LE50 per issue in late 1960s !!
I think Salem would not be successful and produced all those books with original plots and riddles inspired from the Egyptian society if he only translated the British series. I believe he was indeed inspired but that was the beginning the rest was from his rich imagination. The success of the “5 adventurers” was beyond “The Five find outers” , already the Egyptian Five have become pop culture icons till this day while I do not think anyone remembers the British Five.
In 2007 Salem spoke about how the 5 adventurers were actually an attempt to restore his memories as lonely introvert boy who moved with his family in Northern governorates due to the work of his father as naval officer. That boy created his own world of imagination till the age of 14. That boy turned to be the God father of Arab pop fiction without doubt.
Here is online archive for 76 books from the 5 adventurers. Here is link with the whole series.
In late 1970s he presented another successful imagination of the Arab teenagers “The 13 devils”. A group of young Arabs working to save their nation in some clandestine organization. All the boys had a huge crush on Lebanese Elham as I can recall.

Here is online archive for the “The 13 devils” series.
In his rare TV appearance from couple of years ago I felt the pioneer author did not have positive opinions about the 23 July Coup despite he was considered a Nasserite who paid a price for his political views. When he was asked he said that El Helal Press corporation was better before Nationalization and did not praise the Nasser era as I have expected it. Of course personally I believe as a human being you should not stick on your views forever especially you earn experience and gain knowledge by age.
I wished that the Egyptian presidency would mourn the loss of that pioneer author but I do not think that they paid attention and even if they did , the presidency would not mourn him as his last Op-ed in Tahrir newspaper was criticizing Muslim brotherhood harshly.
Here is the archive of Salem in Tahrir newspaper.
Salem’s role and contribution in Arab Pop fiction was more than great. He was the god father of that genre in the Arab world. He was the man who paved the way for authors like Nabil Farouk and Ahmed Khaled Tawfik.
May Allah bless your soul Mr. Salem for your great work. Even if officials ignore you , we will always remember you more than you think.
I think our graffiti artists should paint some graffiti for the five in Maadi dedicated the late author. They are our cultural icons by the way.

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#PortSaid : A civil disobedience for the second day in row

And the angry and sad people of Port Said continue their civil disobedience for the second day in row. Yesterday was the first day of civil disobedience that surprised the whole country. The civil disobedience from what I understand is from 6 AM to 5 PM. The official working hours.
The city and its people are still angry on how there is no official reaction at all regarding their civil disobedience. Only today the minister of justice Mekki has assigned a judge following the ministry of justice to investigate the clashes of Port Said  on January 26 and 27 !!!! This is the first official reaction regarding what happened and is happening in Port Said.
The MB media machine is starting to blame the former NDP regime members Port Said where as the official media including the official press like Ahram Daily newspaper is blaming the Ultras Green Eagles accusing it of “paralyzing the city” !!
Yes the Ultras Green Eagles members are playing an important role as I know from people and activists on the ground in organizing rallies and they have been be pushing the factory owners in the Industrial zone “Some time by force” and the investment zone but let’s agree on something : If the people of the Port Said did not support this move , they would not join from all classes and areas. We would not see women and students as well workers and employees joining the rallies.
The people of Port Said are extremely angry from the murder of those 45 victims in cold blood where as no official decided to comment about what happened on those two days. It is enough that the only time the elected president decided to speak about the city was in Germany where he proudly told the world how the people of Port Said tried to bring down the army helicopters. The people of Port Said feel that they are humiliated and now it is beyond a football match. 
The army units in the city are protecting the important official buildings. There are two sits in the city currently including one at the governorate building and the other one at the Court.
Today over 40,000 workers did not work and nearly 30 factories were shut down with losses of $ 20 million in those two days only. 
One important remark people should recognize that in this movement currently in Port Said there are barely any signs for any political power or movement
Now there is important escalation happened today when the workers of the Naval arsenal joined the protesters and left work at 2 PM. Of course the Suez Canal authority issued a statement that the work in the vital canal is fine and it is not affected but what is happening in Port Said. 
It is worth to mention that since last January 26th & 27th the Muslim brotherhood members above them famous MP Akram El Shaer disappeared from Port Said. The man whose popularity made the NDP crazy in the elections is no longer the city.
Again I will use Storify in order to make our lives easier with all the photos from the city.

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