Al–Tunsi Market Fire : To See A Catastrophe In Making Under Our Own Eyes

Last week Egyptians especially Cairenes woke up one day to find one of their biggest  popular markets ever destroyed in fire , some of them was shocked , some of them expected it and some of them was surprised to find a market with that name in that place in the first place.
A car veered off the El-Saida Aisha doomed bridge to the market below it killing all the three young men in it and burning down the complete market, yes the complete market. The market was made of small shops and wooden stalls , with high temperature , lack of industrial security and late reaction ; it was like a scene from the apocalypse for thousands of poor families that considered that market its only source for living.

Before the fire (Siad Naga)

After the fire (AP)

Below you can find a video showing the fire taking place, for those who understand Arabic please ignore the inconsiderate creature who was filming the fire and making fun of it without knowing how many families are affected by it !!??

Friday Market fire

You may think that it was a flea market but you are wrong because this market included mini markets for food products from vegetable and fruits beside a famous pets market that used to be held on Fridays. I remember that I have always wanted to visit that Pet market after seeing a beautiful documentary about it on the national TV. I used to know the market as El-Saida Aisha market tribute to the El-Saida Aisha bridge and its pets market as Friday market.

The fish section at the market

 As far as I searched that market was a Mubarak regime product , a direct result of the shanty towns culture , it was a shanty market where you can find anything you want to buy .Here are photos from the market in its golden days.What scares me is that what happened to that shanty market can happen to a shanty town.

The day After (AP)

Despite being a shanty town , the market was so huge as not less than 2 million buyer and seller used to go their on a daily basis making it one of the biggest gray market in Egypt and according to estimation the size of trade there was  LE 3 billion.

After the fire

Now the question for decades this market was there in that location yet the government did not recognize its importance nor contribution to the local trade as if it were its illegitimate child , it did not give damn to the industrial security of this vital location and the fact that it is hot spot for millions of people on a daily basis , there was not even an ambulance or clinic , why is the government angry from the people there after rejecting its decision to transfer the whole market to the middle of the no where !!??
The government as usual did not like the Tunsi market and its people and to avoid any criticism for its hand in the catastrophe , it claimed that it has ordered the transfer of that market from two years ago in to the desert at the outskirts of 15th May city but it was the people who rejected it !!! The people had to reject because it is technically in the middle of nowhere , who will dare and go all that way for them !!??
These people did not study economics or marketing or business administration but they know that location and transportation are important factor for the customer and the business itself. These people , those sellers whom the businessmen cabinet considers insignificant used to work instead of stealing , they worked every single day in that market in order not to depend on a regime that does not recognize their class in the first place.Why could not the regime accept the reality of that market and tired to organize it as much as it could !?? Why could not the business cabinet recognize its importance to the working class that can't afford buying from Designopolis or City Stars !!??
 Back to the fire and its cause , despite it was a car that started the fire yet one can't ignore the role played by Cairo's most infamous bridges : El-Saida Aisha bridge that has a black record of car accidents more than any other bridge as I recall in Cairo. There is something wrong in its design I supposed that made it a scary experience for any driver to cross it especially at night.

Gathering the remains (AP)

 

 

It was the mercy of God that this terrible fire happened at night not in the morning , God only knows how many people would have been killed because of the fire and also the excepted stampede.

The Citadel witnessed a lot of events for sure (AP)

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,Economy,Media,National,Photos,Video,Tunsi Market,Cairo,Society,Middle east,Mideast

We Need This Man Again

With all the movement in the political scene especially with the return of Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei to Egypt , one person I wonder where he is from all this : Judge Zakaria Abdel Aziz.

Do You remember the respectable and honorable Judge Abdel Aziz who led the war of Judges against the regime from couple of years ago !!??

Do you remember how did the noble man turn the Judges' club in to the nation's house of the 20th century during his time !!??

Already this man was among the suggested candidates to run for presidency in Egypt if you remember it.

Judge Abdel Aziz has disappeared totally and vanished from the media after the end of his presidential term to the Judges' club  despite the fact the other judges who appeared with him in that critical area are still in the media and participate in public political events with their same anti-regime views like Judge Mahmoud El-Khadiry who has joined NFC , Judge Mikki and Judge Hisham El-Bastawsi.

I know someone who  knows judge Abdel Aziz personally and he told me about a very noble patriotic respectable man and this is why I feel that we need him in this critical time.

Technorati Tags: Egypt,Citizen Journalism,Egyptians,Judges,Zakaria Abdel Aziz,Zachariah Abdel Aziz,Democracy,National,Politics,Mideast,Middle East,ElBaradei

Photo of the Week : Les Miserables

Les Msiserables

Technorati Tags: Arab,Egypt,Politics,Regional,Photo of the week,Photo,Iraq,Libya,Qatar,Yemen,Mubarak,Qaddafi

Pre-Season Preview: SMU Mustangs

2009 Record: 8-5 (6-2 in C-USA)
2009 Bowl: Hawaii Bowl (beat Nevada 45-10)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: June Jones (9-16 at SMU, 85-57 All-Time)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Texas Tech (9/5), Washington State (9/18), TCU (9/24), at Navy (10/16)

2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 29.2 points per game (5th in C-USA)
Rushing Yards/Game: 109 (10th in C-USA)
Passing Yards/Game: 282 (2nd in C-USA)
Total Yards/Game: 391 (6th in C-USA)

2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 27.6 points per game (6th in C-USA)
Rushing Yards/Game: 166 (7th in C-USA)
Passing Yards/Game: 230 (3rd in C-USA)
Total Yards/Game: 397 (6th in C-USA)

2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.15 per game (6th in C-USA)
Penalties: 63 yards per game (8th in C-USA)

Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 2

Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Kyle Padron, Soph (135 of 201 for 1922 yds, 10 TD, 4 INT, 274 ypg)
Rushing: QB Zach Line, Soph (49 carries for 189 yds, 7 TD, 3.8 ypc)
Receiving: WR Aldrick Robinson, Sr (47 rec, 800 yds, 5 TD, 3.6 rec/game, 17 ypc)
Receiving: WR Terrance Wilkerson, Jr (42 rec, 527 yds, 4 TD, 3.2 rec/game)
Receiving: WR Cole Beasley, Jr (40 rec, 493 yds, 3 TD, 3.1 rec/game)
Tackles: FS Chris Banjo, Jr (86); LB Pete Fleps, Sr (83)
Sacks: DE Taylor Thompson, Jr (5.5)
Interceptions: CB Robert Mojica, Soph (2)

2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #69
Sporting News: #67

2010 Pre-Season C-USA Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #2 in C-USA West
Phil Steele: #2 in C-USA West (tie with Tulsa)

2010 Pre-Season Bowl Prediction:
Athlon Sports: Dallas Football Classic (vs. Purdue)
Phil Steele: Hawaii Bowl (vs. Hawaii)

June Jones went 1-11 in his first year at SMU but rebounded nicely last year by going 8-5 and leading SMU to a bowl victory over Nevada. SMU loses just 13 lettermen this year so they look to be in a good position to equal or succeed their 2009 finish.To find out more about SMU we talked with Ponyfans.com, the #1 SMU fansite.


What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?

STRENGTHS
1. Coaching: June Jones has had something of a Midas touch wherever he has been. He lifted a long-dormant Hawaii program to new heights during his tenure on the islands, and in just his second year in Dallas, he led the Mustangs to their first bowl game in 25 years. Jones is renowned as an offensive genius, and rightly so, but his most important gift might be that of master psychologist. He and his staff have changed the culture around a program that had had just one winning season in the previous two decades. Jones believes in positive reinforcement and has instilled a new level of accountability in his team, from freshmen to fifth-year seniors.

2. Quarterback Kyle Padron: With exactly six starts on his college résumé, Padron already is one of the clear-cut leaders on the team. He has a 5-1 record as a starter and set an SMU single-game record with 460 passing yards in the Hawaii Bowl ... and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. His passer rating of 159.9 was the fifth-highest mark in the nation.

3. Defensive ends: Starters Taylor Thompson and Marquis Frazier completely changed the effectiveness of the defense last year, playing solidly against the run and the pass. Coupled with backup Margus Hunt — who, in his first year of playing football came within one of the all-time NCAA record for blocked kicks in a single season — the Mustangs have the best trio of defensive ends in more than 20 years.

4. Offensive tackles Kelvin Beachum, Jr. and J.T. Brooks: the bookends of the Mustangs' offensive line are big, athletic and technically solid. Beachum earns more accolades, but by the end of the 2009 season, Brooks was the offensive line's best player. These two were key reasons why Padron barely got any pressure at all in the Hawaii Bowl.

WEAKNESSES
1. Depth: Since Jones' arrival, the Ponies have collected some quality starters, but are dangerously thin at many positions.

2. Uncertainty in the running game: transfer Shawnbrey McNeal was a pleasant surprise last year, running for more yards than any back June Jones has ever coached in college, but he is in San Diego now, trying to make the Chargers as a free agent. Chris Butler, Zach Line, Bryce Lunday and Ryan Moczygemba return, but many expect a pair of true freshmen, Kevin Pope and Darryl Fields, to compete for significant playing time — if not a starting role — right away.

Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?

Texas Tech — the easy answer is because it's the next (and first) game on the schedule. The Red Raiders are facing a philosophical change as the players Mike Leach recruited try to master the system new coach Tommy Tuberville teaches, so the Ponies are catching them at the right time — first game out of the chute. But while SMU is closing the gap on the talent difference, Tech still has more size, speed and depth. An upset isn't out of the question, but an SMU victory would still be just that: an upset.


What team on the schedule do you fear the most?

One trademark of a June Jones-coached team seems to be an absolute absence of fear. SMU lost a lot of talent from last year's team, but the players and coaches seem positive their system will work better and better as the talent and depth improve and the players get more and more familiar with the intricacies and nuances of the offensive and defensive systems. If a team has to be picked, TCU is the easy answer after its run into the top 10 last year, but many of the Mustangs came out of that game feeling encouraged by the fact that SMU hung tough with the Frogs for more than half the game in a torrential downpour, and openly speculated about what might have happened had an interception that would have led to a sure touchdown not been dropped (with SMU already ahead, 7-0). Whether the Mustangs could have beaten TCU last year if they had gone up 14-0 never will be known, but the general feeling is that the difference in talent is far smaller than it was in years past.

Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?

Wide receiver Cole Beasley was largely overshadowed last year behind receiving leader Emmanuel Sanders, who was drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Aldrick Robinson, the Ponies' top returning target who finished second on the team last year with 47 receptions and whose elite speed helped him lead the team with an average of 17.0 yards per reception. But Beasley quietly finished fourth on the team with 40 receptions for 493 yards and reached the end zone three times. He is an exceptional athlete with deceptive speed who has improved his strength considerably with increased effort in the weight room over the offseason.

Who is the best offensive player on the team?

It's hard to name someone with just under seven career games, but when an injury forced Padron into the starting lineup last year, the SMU offense changed. The true freshman played with the poise of a veteran, moved the offense efficiently, protected the ball and made plays with both his arm and his feet.


Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?

Cornerback Sterling Moore is another who spent last season overshadowed by teammates, but he is the most physical corner on the team, and maybe in Conference USA. He's not a pure sprinter, but is very strong pressing at the line of scrimmage, has exceptional technique and can go up and fight much bigger receivers for high passes.

What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach its full capability?

A running back — any running back. Whether it's one of the veterans or one of the incoming freshmen, someone has to provide balance in the offense. The Run-and-Shoot is known as a passing offense, but Jones said repeatedly last year that it was McNeal's presence as a viable running threat that allowed the passing game to thrive. When he ran effectively, the defense had to play the run honestly, thereby creating more room downfield for the passing game.


Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?

Kevin Pope and Darryl Fields — running back is a position at which a newcomer can make an early impact because of sheer athletic ability, and both will be given an opportunity to compete early. If they can handle the protection assignments that are required in Jones's offense, either could get a chance to play.

Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?

JUCO cornerback Richard Crawford is fast and athletic, and comes from a pass-happy league in California. Longtime SMU starter Bryan McCann is in camp with the Dallas Cowboys, and two of the youngsters expected to compete for McCann's spot aren't back this year. The team needs Crawford to come in ready to play right away.

Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?

6-6 — the Mustangs lost a small senior class, but that class included a lot of key performers, including WR Sanders, SS Rock Dennis, CB McCann and C Mitch Enright. Jones and his staff are building the program the right way, stockpiling young talent, but while that talent base grows, the Mustangs will call on a lot of young players to fill key roles.


Make sure to check out Ponyfans.com and also visit their message boards. 


Previous Conference USA Previews
Houston Cougars 
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Tulane Green Wave 
UTEP Miners

Next Up: Virginia Tech Hokies

2010 Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
WAC- New Mexico State Aggies

Let The Cold War Games Begin For Real

It is not a secret that the cold war between the U.S and Russia returned back during Putin and Bush presidency which reached to its epic with the Georgia and the American missiles system.

From two days ago the FBI announced the arrest of a Russian spy cell in the States , yes a Russian spy cell in a details that reminded me with the 1960s.

The American media is mad about that spy ring , of course the GOP will use this to revive the red communist fear in the American society and the tabloids  of course will find a golden mine , so it is not strange to find NY Post speaking about 50 Russian uncovered couples in the States or posting a special photo gallery for the beautiful sexy Russian spy Anna !!

Whoever thinks that the cold war was over is wrong and whoever thinks that peaceful relations mean to give a free pass for an old bitter enemy is naïve , really naive .

By the way FSB seemed to be following the old school of the KGB but old is gold and now an good American family will expect their Russian immigrant family as the next Rosenbergs.

Technorati Tags: America,Spy,Espionage,FSB,KGB,Rosenbergs,Politics,Media,Russia

A Close Encounter of First Kind in Al Arish

Last week we found ourselves in front really unusual news from Al Arish : There are strange lights in the sky at night that suddenly appeared from the no where and disappeared to  the no where after few moments of its appearance , in other words : A Close encounter of the first kind !!

Strange lights

Poor Al Arish from all what it suffers whether from the Israelis across the borders and the from the Egyptian regime , now aliens are targeting it !!! Where are Amr Adib , Karm Gaber , Abdullah Kamel and Mohamed Ali Ibrahim from that alien conspiracy to invade Sinai !!??? Already I wish that those 4 get abducted by aliens.

Speaking scientifically and seriously there are many explanations for what happened on that particular night , starting from meteors to the Israeli satellites and reaching to the legendary Aurora 

But honestly this is what Egypt needs right now because we need more excitement.

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,society,video,geek,in the wind's direction,UFO,aliens,aurora,science,Al Arish,Israel,Meteor,Middle East

Pre-Season Preview: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

2009 Record: 7-6 (5-3 in C-USA)
2009 Bowl: New Orleans Bowl (lost to Middle Tennessee 42-32)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Larry Fedora (14-12 at Southern Miss)
Non-Conference Schedule: at South Carolina (9/2), Prairie View A&M (9/11), Kansas (9/17), at Louisiana Tech (9/25)

2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 32.9 points per game (2nd in C-USA, 18th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 181 (2nd in C-USA)
Passing Yards/Game: 235 (5th in C-USA)
Total Yards/Game: 416 (4th in C-USA)

2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 25.8 points per game (4th in C-USA)
Rushing Yards/Game: 131 (3rd in C-USA)
Passing Yards/Game: 261 (8th in C-USA)
Total Yards/Game: 392 (4th in C-USA)

2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.77 per game (2nd in C-USA, 10th in Nation)
Penalties: 70 yards per game (last in C-USA, 114th in Nation)

Returning Starters
Offense: 3
Defense: 9
Kicker/Punter: 2

Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Martevious Young, Sr (132 of 230 for 1861 yds, 16 TD, 3 INT, 186 ypg)
Passing: QB Austin Davis, Jr (108 of 156 for 1165 yds, 10 TD, 2 INT, 194 ypg)
Rushing: QB Martevious Young, Sr (73 carries for 294 yds, 1 TD, 4.0 ypc)
Rushing: RB Tracey Lampley, Soph (21 carries for 122 yds, 1 TD, 5.8 ypc)
Receiving: WR DeAndre Brown, Jr (47 rec, 785 yds, 9 TD, 4.3 rec/game)
Tackles: LB Korey Williams, Jr (119); LB Ronnie Thornton, Jr (110)
Sacks: LB Korey Williams, Jr (8.5); DE Cordarro Law, Jr (7.5)
Interceptions: SS Justin Wilson, Sr (2); LB Martez Smith, Sr (2)

2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #58
Phil Steele: #52
Sporting News: #57

2010 Pre-Season C-USA Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #1 in C-USA East
Phil Steele: #1 in C-USA East (tie with UCF)

2010 Pre-Season Bowl Prediction:
Athlon Sports: St Petersburg Bowl (vs. Cincinnati)
Phil Steele: St Petersburg Bowl (vs. USF)

Southern Miss started out strong last year by winning their first 3 games including victories over UCF and Virginia. All of those were at home and when Southern Miss went on the road they dropped their next 3 games. It was an up and down season that culminated in a bowl loss to Middle Tennessee. The Golden Eagles ended up 6-0 at home and 1-5 on the road in the regular season. We caught up with Drew from the Scout.com site Golden Eagle Pride to learn more about the 2010 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. 


What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team? 

Injured quarterback Austin Davis returns after missing a majority of the season last year due to a broken foot. His presence, along with 9 of 11 returning starters on defense means a lot of experience will be coming back. The defensive front seven all return, with sophomore Jamie Collins moving to linebacker. The linebackers are strong, fast, and will be a strength of the defense.

The biggest concern comes along the offensive line. There is talent from several strong recruiting classes, but they must replace 4 of the 5 along the front. The only returning starter is senior center Cameron Zipp. There are questions as to how the offensive line will be able to jel.

Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?

Southern Miss opens the college football season on a Thursday night game against the Gamecocks of South Carolina. The third game of the year will see Big 12 opponent Kansas making a trip to Hattiesburg. We'll know a lot about this Eagle team before conference play begins.

What team on the schedule do you fear the most?

Southern Miss has adapted an attitude of "anyone, anywhere, anytime." They have always been a school that is known for going to play the best college football has to offer. Saying that, Houston's offensive power gave USM fits last season. Without defensive adjustments, the Cougars will be a tough match-up again. Central Florida is also a difficult place to play and could decide Conference USA East this season.

Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?

Senior starting running back V.J. Floyd has been behind all time leading USM rusher Damion Fletcher and Tory Harrison for three years. He knows the system, has paid his dues, and is ready for a big season offensively. Not flashy, he is steady, solid, reliable, and provides good leadership for this offense.

Who is the best offensive player on the team?

WR Deandre Brown may not only be the best on the team, but could emerge as the best Wide receiver in college football. That is quite a bold claim, but the 6'6 wide receiver has fully recovered from a gruesome leg injury that slowed him last season. That, and having his quarterback returning, could make for a record breaking tandem. Brown has been a model player in spring and summer work outs, has improved his speed and strength, and is ready to show the nation why he should be considered among the nation's best.
 
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team? 

MLB Korey Williams embodies some of the great USM linebackers of the past. Strong, fast, and tenacious, Williams led the team in tackles last season, and was clearly the leader of this defense. He can stuff the run, get to the quarterback, or pass cover. Also watch for defensive lineman Anthony Gray who regularly gets double teamed, and outside linebacker Jamie Collins. Collins saw significant time as a freshman at safety, and possesses freakish size and speed.

What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?

QB Austin Davis had a break-out freshman year. He must return to his old form. A number two wide receiver must emerge to take some of the pressure and regular double teams DeAndre Brown will face, and could come in Jondrick Morris or Quintin Pierce. The secondary, a glaring weakness of the team last season, must step up. Safeties Justin Wilson and Kendrick Pressley must prove they can defend the pass in a wide open Conference USA.

Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year? 

It sounds silly to say, but kicker Corey Acosta out of Memphis may have the biggest impact this season. USM made even extra points an adventure, and ended the season with the lowest extra point percentage in college football. Acosta brings a strong, accurate leg that will be a major upgrade in the field goal unit. True freshman O.C. Brown, offensive lineman out of Memphis, will compete for playing time right away, and JUCO transfer Kelvin Bolden will be one to watch as a wide receiver.

Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?

Redshirt freshman Octavious Thomas was a sleeper in the recruiting class from two years ago. A speed defensive end, Thomas could provide someone to take some pressure off Gray in the middle. Also, newly added Marquese Wheaton from Phoenix, AZ as a JUCO transfer could fill in one of the holes at cornerback.

Who is your pick to take C-USA this year (other than Southern Miss)?

Central Florida looks to have built a solid defense, and they have some skill position players back that make them and USM the teams to beat in the East. Houston will have another stellar offense, and also watch for emerging SMU to make a run in the West with June Jones turning that program around.

Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?

Nothing short of a conference championship will be successful this season. Southern Miss once dominated Conference USA, and has been on the outside looking in the past couple of seasons. They need to win the east and get back to Memphis to play for the liberty bowl for this season to be a success. With a revamped offensive line, 8-4 is likely the result of this season.


Make sure to visit Scout.com's Southern Miss website Golden Eagle Pride for all of your Southern Miss football and recruiting needs.

Previous Conference USA Previews
Houston Cougars 
Tulane Green Wave 
UTEP Miners

Next Up: SMU Mustangs

2010 Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
WAC- New Mexico State Aggies

Follow Up : Unrest In North Sinai As Usual

Despite the official denials that something happened to the Arab gas pipeline and the unconfirmed news that something actually happened to the pipeline especially to the pipeline to Israel , there are some indications from Sinai that some unrests are there.

First of all it is true that the security force took women and children as hostages in Al Arish and after the pipeline bombing news reached to the mainstream media , the security forces have set them free !!

So here is my theory may be no one has bombed the pipeline to Israel but  there were serious threats to do so if the women and children were not  set free and this is why they have been set them free.

I do not understand already why the security forces take women and children as hostages in order to arrest fugitive X or Y , this method proved its failure during the terrorism year not to mention it is illegal , unethical and not  manly.

Today in North Sinai , there was a march organized by thousands of Bedouins to protest the treatment of the police and security forces in the governorate.

I do not know till when they have to express their refusal to the treatment of police which does not understand the Bedouin nature and society. I thought that choosing former Military intelligence chief Mourad Mofi would solve part of this problem but I was wrong.

Despite the official media claims , the policies of the regime in Sinai will turn its people against us and will jeopardize the whole peninsula to danger

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,Democracy,Follow Up,Human rights,Media,National,Politics,Sinai,Mideast,Middle East,Gas pipeline,National security

Follow Up : Protesting Against Al Gomhouria

Here is it , the first protest of its kind near the famous Press street taking place in front of El-Tahrir publishing house as it was announced.
There are dozens of protesters mostly women currently in front of the building chanting anti-regime slogans. Police forces are surrounding them as usual but there is no violence used up till now.
I really wonder if Mohamed Ali Ibrahim is in the building to hear these slogans and feels the real tides of change.
By the way I have read there is a similar protest to be held in front of the Al Gomhouria HQ in Alexandria , does anyone have any updates about it.

An Update from Alexandria : 

Things there are little bit uglier as protesters and activists were arrested and more security presence reaching to the manager of security directorate is already there.
Updates from Cairo :
Here are photos from Cairo's protest (Courtesy : AP)

In front of the building

Protesting the newspaper's treatment

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,Al Gomhouria,Politics,Freedom of expression,Khaled Said,Mohamed Ali Ibrahim,Protest,Stand,Press,Follow Up,Video,Media,Democracy,Human rights

Missing The Whole Point

The appeal court in Alexandria revealed  why late Khaled Said was fired from the Egyptian army, he was fired because he was caught red handed with pot !! What a discovery that proves he was  a pothead that deserved to be killed in that way !!!!???
First of all I really hoped that the army would stay away from all this , second of all the regime should not use the army to play with the emotions of the people because whether he was a pothead or not , it is not our issue here as we have hinted over and over. Our issue here is how he was killed and I believe we have expressed this frequently. I understand that what happened in Alex and across the country is scaring the regime yet this will not make us stop.
Already the regime that claimed at first that he escaped the military service unlike the truth regardless on how his performance was during then ,is not to be trusted .
Now as the official media is disgracefully defaming late Said's reputation to justify his murder in that way , I would like to remind my dear readers that the official media is hailing and glorifying Tamer Hosny who did not only escape from the mandatory military service but faked official documents , a forger who is hailed and looked up as an icon , what kind of sick message we are trying to send to younger generations for God sake in this country !!
If we are going to open and speak about the mandatory military service file , I hope we open it for real and speak frankly about the army connections and family connections people use in order to make their sons avoid the service or at least make it short or comfortable !!?? Shall the official media dare and speak about that !!?? I do not think they dare to because ironically you will find among those journalists who can't believe that Egypt gave birth to boy like Said , those who will use their connections to make their sons escape mandatory military service.
As Egyptian citizens who consider the President and his family as a role model , we ask the Egyptian army to tell us why the President's sons did do their mandatory military services !!?? 
I believe it was much easier for the MOI to confess that the agents did kill Khaled and spares itself from all this drama.
We are doing this now because when little Israa grows up insh Allah , she will not blame us for living in fear. "I found her photo in Khaled's facebook group."

Israa

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,Democracy,Follow Up,Human rights,Media,National,Politics,Khaled Said,army,Mideast,Middle East

At Last Someone From the Witnesses Speak

The murder of Khaled Said happened in the street and many people have witnessed it , some of them dared and spoke to the media while other were scared and waited to testified in front of the general persecutor. I think among the later was the porter of the building where late Said was killed.

The porter of the building where Khaled was killed

According to he said the agents killed Khaled and they brought a police officer and also a doctor when he seemed to be dead , the doctor confirmed that he was dead after that they covered him with a piece of cloth and waited for the ambulance to come and take him.

As you can see the man himself is scared to stand at the entrance of building for fear the police knows he has spoken to the media or to someone with a video camera.

After knowing the crime , there were rumors that people have already filmed the crime when it was happening on their mobile phones and that police was searching for these videos warning the people there from uploading to the internet. I do not know how correct these rumors are but I hope from the bloggers and activists in Alexandria to search and dig for these videos and to try to convince their owners that its upload to the internet will not harm them.

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,Politics,Human rights,Media,National,video,Khaled Said,Alexandria,Police,murder,torture,Mideast,Middle east

Diplomatic Disgrace !!

This is dedicated to our foreign minister Ahmed Abu El-Gait : One member of the Egyptian embassy in London was accused of shoplifting in 2005.

Of course this is only accusation , we do not know if that member was actually guilty or not but at least it is better than human trafficking. Saudi Arabia diplomats were accused of human trafficking and sexual assault too !!

Please read the Guardian report about the crimes of diplomats in UK.

Why do these diplomats think they are in their countries where they can break the law as they want because they got diplomatic immunity !!??

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,Arab,UK,Europe,Saudi Arabia,International,diplomats,Ahmed Abu El-Gait,News,Media,Guardian

Wednesday Previews Now Underway!!!!!

We are currently doing Wednesday previews for our prospective student athletes!!! This is another way to get to know Austin College! Sign up today and come be apart of the GREAT things happening in Sherman, TX!!!!

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A Stand against Al Gomhouria

For the first time in the history of Egyptian Press, people across the nation are invited to attend a sit in against Al Gomhouria newspaper in front of Al Tahrir publishing house tomorrow from 5PM-6PM Cairo Local time.
This stand in is dedicated to express our refusal to the false lies Al Gomhouria and Al Messa have been spreading lies about Khaled Said , his family , his murder and all those who tried to restore his rights thanks to the disgusting Op-eds of Mohamed Ali Ibrahim and Khaled Emam, it is enough that Al Gomhouria was the first one to call Khaled "The Martyr of cannabis"
Before appointed the new chief in editor of Al Gomhouria , Mohamed Ali Ibrahim was unknown to the Egyptian people but now thanks to his provoking and rude op-eds he has become a household name along Abdullah Kamel and Karm Gaber , the provoking regime defender trio in the media.
As I hinted above this is the first public act of its kind against an Egyptian newspaper since publishing the original "The Egyptian Chronicles" by the order of Mohamed Ali Pasha.
I do not know if Mohamed Ali Ibrahim has watched yesterday episode from Gaber Al-Karmoty's show "headline" to see the worms in the meat before defending the government blindly as usual in his daily columns.
Here is the address of Al Gomhouria or to be precise the Tahrir publishing house is : 115 Ramses street , Cairo

 

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You can take the metro to Orabi station where from there you can complete on foot and find yourself in front of the Tahrir publishing house.
You can't missed its building , it is huge ugly one made like an open book !!??
FYI the former chief in editor of Al Gomhouria Dr. Samir Rageb had Jacuzzi in his office  , already I do not think that Anna Wintour of Vogue has a Jacuzzi in her office !!??

Again this is the first time something like this happens in Egypt and I hope that tomorrow people will be encouraged and show in order to send strong message not to Ibrahim but to those who appointed him.

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,Politics,Media,democracy,National,Al Gomhouria,Mohamed Ali Ibrahim,Khaled Said,Follow Up,Mideast,Middle East

Rob Harley Interview

Rob Harley knew that he wanted to play football for the Ohio State University since he was three years old. He grew up hearing stories about his great-great uncle Chic Harley, who was the first three-time All-American at Ohio State. Rob lived out his dream by walking on and playing football for the Buckeyes. Rob also became a part of college football history during his tenure at Ohio State as he was a part of a team that won the National Championship in 2002. Rob graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and is currently working as a College Football Analyst for ABC WSYX in Columbus, Ohio. We had a chance to do a Q&A with a guy who not only works as an analyst for college football but also played the game for one of the most stories programs. Here is what Rob shared with us...


You started your career at Ohio State as a walk-on and were awarded a scholarship for your final season. How did it feel to receive that honor?

Receiving a scholarship was a great honor, but in all honesty it was the “icing” on the cake. I wanted to go to Ohio State since I was 3 years old with one idea in mind, to PLAY for the Buckeyes. The real honor came two years before the scholarship when I played enough in games to earn 2 varsity letters. Going to Ohio State was never about a scholarship, it was always about actually playing/contributing in front of 100,000 fans every Saturday. When it was all said and done I was a 3-time letter winner and that’s probably the thing that makes me the most proud.

You were a part of the 2002 Ohio State National Championship team. In order to win a National Championship the ball has to bounce your way at times. Ohio State played a lot of close games in the regular season in 2002 (beat Cincinnati 23-19, beat Northwestern 27-16, beat Wisconsin 19-14, beat Penn State 13-7, beat Purdue 10-6, beat Illinois 23-16 in OT, and beat Michigan 14-9). Was there a moment or a game that made you think that this might be a "team of destiny"?

That 2002 team was one of the most resilient teams I’ve ever seen. There was a genuine calmness about everyone on the field and the sidelines, that when things got tough we were going to find a way to pull through. I think that was personified in the win over Purdue with the play that Buckeye fans know as “Holy Buckeye.” The stars just seemed to align that day in West Lafayette, and you couldn’t help but get the feeling that the National Championship was our destiny.

Looking back at the 2002 roster there are a lot of guys that have made it in the league (Michael Jenkins, Ben Hartsock, Will Allen, Chris Gamble, A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, Mike Doss, Will Smith, Santonio Holmes, Troy Smith, etc) that were on that team . Who were the unsung heroes on the team?

There were a lot of great players on that 2002 National Championship team, and a lot of guys who got a ton of recognition. Like most teams there are always those “hard hat” or “lunch pail” guys that just come to work every day to play their hearts out because they don’t know any different. Defensive tackle Tim Anderson was one of those guys, taking on double teams in the trenches so they linebackers could roam free. Wide receiver Chris Vance, affectionately known as Spiderman, had some great 3rd down, possession receptions throughout the season. A lot of people forget about punter Andy Groom who had an All-American caliber season, and was worth weight in gold in the field position battle. I think you also have to put defensive end Darrion Scott in there too, he was a force coming off the edge and really made opposing lineman work on every down. The 2002 Silver Bullet defense was a special group that made offenses earn everything they got, it was an awesome unit to watch.

Ohio State is in a lot of pre-season Top 5's this year. Who are the players to watch on this years team?

All eyes will be under center on QB Terrelle Pryor. Can Terrelle ride the momentum of an impressive Rose Bowl game and become a quarterback? In my mind the definition of a quarterback is “game manager.” The Buckeyes have a bevy of talent around Pryor; WR Sanzenbacher, WR Posey, RB Herron, and RB Saine. With that being said it’s Pryor’s job to distribute the ball and make the key decision when it’ll be his time to shine. On defense DE Cameron Heyward will be a monster, he’s gifted with size, speed, and the nasty attitude it takes to play up front in the Big Ten. I think you circle LB Brian Rolle this season, he’s an instinctive player that can run sideline to sideline. Then you have to give love to the big uglies in the trenches so put a spotlight on the 4 returning O-lineman. This 2010 Buckeye squad will rise and fall with the play of the big boys up front.

What is your take on Big Ten expansion? Are you for it or against it? And if the Big Ten does expand further who would you like to see as a part of the Conference?

As a fan of college football I love the idea of Big Ten expansion. Depending on the teams that join the Big Ten it has the potential to give us some unbelievable match-ups every year. Now with the addition of Nebraska we’ll get to see Huskers-Buckeyes, Huskers-Hawkeyes, Huskers-Badgers, or Huskers-Nittany Lions every season. What an incredible addition to the conference, a storied program that will only make Big Ten tradition even deeper. In my mind I’d love to see Notre Dame join the Big Ten, another program with tons of tradition that would create some great games as well. I think I’d throw Pittsburgh in there too, as a program that would be a solid middle tier addition. The only question I have about expansion is, what happens to college football as a whole? The power conferences get stronger, but where are the little guys in all of this? As a supporter of college football it worries me that expansion may make certain teams/conferences irrelevant. The pursuit of money has blinded a lot of people to the real reason college football is great…the actual football. It’s an amazing sight to see college athletes give from every team, division, conference, etc. give it up for every Saturday. I’d hate to see expansion throw a mask over the greatest game on the planet.

Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin seem to be the popular picks to finish in the Top 3 in the Big Ten this year. Outside of those teams who do you see as a sleeper team in the Big Ten that can step up and contend for a title?

I firmly believe that the Big Ten is on the up-swing and you definitely saw it during the 2009 bowl season. The Buckeyes, Hawkeyes, and Badgers are without a doubt the favorites, but I’ve got a feeling Michigan State and Northwestern will be in the conversation at some point. The Spartans have talent at key positions, but it’s really about playing consistent for them. If the Michigan State defense can minimize big plays and win a few ball games, Sparty might just have a chance. Pat Fitzgerald has Northwestern playing good football in Evanston. Biggest question mark will be under center, can junior Dan Persa replace the 2009 Big Ten leading passer Mike Kafka? Persa is a capable player, but expect the offense to try to be a little more balanced as he cuts his teeth. You’ve got to like Northwestern’s chances to compete if you look at their defense. Yes, they lose DE Corey Wooten, but they may just have one of the best linebacking corps in the conference. If the Cats can establish a running game (last year’s leading RB had 302yds), they might be in the discussion in November.

Who do you feel are some of the under the radar players in the Big Ten that deserve more hype and publicity?

Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks will be a headache for a lot of defenses, at 6’4” 240lbs he’s a guy that can get vertical in the seam quickly to stretch a defense. Michigan State QB/WR Keith Nichol, he’s got some wheels and may give the Spartans the option to run the Wildcat. Iowa OT Riley Reiff has become the new BMOC in Iowa City, a guy that the Hawkeyes believe could be the best in the last 10 years. Ohio State LB Brian Rolle will be a force to be reckoned with, he has a great nose for the football and has the ability to make people pay.

What games are you most looking forward to watching this year?

LSU vs. UNC - should be a great match-up, that impressive Tar Heel defense will have a chance to measure itself early.

Boise State vs. Va Tech – the Broncos with yet another chance to prove they belong with the big boys, if BSU can go on the road in Landover, MD and get the win…I’ll be a believer.

Miami vs. Ohio State – this is a mirror image game with two similar athletes under center that are looking to produce consistently and become quarterbacks.

Penn State vs. Alabama – this one should be interesting with the Lions headed down South with a new QB, we’ll get a chance to see what PSU is made of quickly.

Nebraska vs. Washington – I’ll be interested to see QB Jake Locker become “the guy” this season, he has all the talent in the World and it’ll be tested by a stingy Husker defense.

As a former defensive back, who are some of the guys currently playing in college that you feel best epitomize that position and that you enjoy watching play the game?

The Big Ten always has solid safeties and this year is no exception. Iowa’s Tyler Sash is the embodiment of a safety. He has the knack for making game changing plays when the Hawkeyes need it the most. Plays the ball well in the air (6 INTs), and can stick his nose in the box to support the run with 85 tackles in 2009. Also check out Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel. He’s a ball hawk over the middle with 8 INTs last season, and at 6’1” 210lbs a force to be reckoned with after having 102 tackles.

On the flipside of that questions, who are some of the Wide Receivers or Tight Ends currently in college that you are glad you don't have to suit up and try and stop?

There’s always those players that make you nervous and make you think twice about going one on one as a defender. Cincinnati WR Armon Binns is one of those players, at 6’4” he can challenge anyone vertically and he’s a touchdown machine with 11 TDs in 2009. Another beast in the Big East is Pitt’s Jonathan Baldwin. There’s no defender that wouldn’t look at 6’5” 225lbs as a problem. Baldwin isn’t just imposing physically, the kid can flat out play averaging 19.5 yards per catch last season. Virginia Tech WR Jarrett Boykin is another guy who makes it a tough task to go one on one as he average almost 21 yards per catch in 2009. Although he may be a system player Houston WR James Cleveland still produced. He had over 1,200 yards receiving and found the endzone 14 times as a Sophomore.

Not including Ohio State, who is your "way too early" pick to take the National Championship this year? Any teams flying under the radar that you think could make a run for it like you guys did in 2002 after going 7-5 the previous year?

It’s awfully early to be picking National Champions when the ball hasn’t even kicked off yet, but I’ve got my eye on a couple of teams. In my mind Texas has a great shot since they broke in their new QB on the biggest stage in last season’s National Championship game. The biggest question mark is the Longhorn run game. Without a solid effort on the ground this season, young Garrett Gilbert will have a rough time putting the entire team on his shoulders. It may be a cliché, but it’s true…defense wins championships. With that mind set North Carolina (8-5 last season) might have an outside chance of sneaking into the National title game with a defense loaded with NFL talent. The Heels also return their top four producers on offense, if they can find an answer under center it should get real interesting in Chapel Hill.


Thank you to Rob for letting us pick his brain for information on college football. Follow Rob on Facebook and Twitter and visit his blog Harley In The Huddle.

Do Not Eat Meat in Egypt

The regime wants to be vegans , ok it seems that we are going to be at least till the end of the year.

Do remember the infected Indian meat scandal in Egypt from couple of months ago !!?? Now it turned out that despite the fact that our press spoke about it over and over , tons of infected meat have already entered Egypt and guess what !!?? That meat is for hotels and restaurants !! Yes hotels and restaurants.

I do not know about you but I will boycott meat from hotels and restaurants , I will stick to chicken, fish and vegetables.

By the way there is a presidential decree whose number is 160 that bans the importation of that infected meat , should not those who ignored the decree be punished ??

Gaber El-Karmoty spoke about the matter in his popular show 'Headline' where he hosted the journalists from Al Ahrar newspaper who exposed the whole matter in the media . The journalists brought the Sarcocystis infected in front of the camera, it is disgusting. They exposed a lot of scandals on how this meat entered the country

Now to all my readers beware because the minister of agriculture has approved the entry of 10,000-15,000 tons of this meat to the country in the coming month before Ramadan !!

Jordan has rejected that meat , then why we have to eat !!? Even if most people in Egypt can't afford meat , the minority does not have to eat infected meat.

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism,Egypt,health,Follow up,society,Video,Media,Al Ahrar,Meat,Gaber El-Karmoty,Mideast,middle east,Sarcocystis,food,India