Thursday, September 29, 2011

This is Not Islam..!!



Unless been in a Campaign or a Protest..
Unless been a Fanatic or an Activist..
Islamic Prayer is a sacred Ritual and Spiritual Test..

Pity; the time of Anarchy Fest..!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

World Eonomy..


I tried to understand the World Economy on my own way
Based on CIA surveys in 2010:
Some economic data for sample troubled and secured countries..
I can see the odd numbers that are associated with unrest
It seems if:
Service Sector is getting higher than 70%, or
Exports are below 10%, or
Public Debt is 60% or above..
You would need not only austerity measures..
But crisis preparedness..!!

The uncontrolled growth of service sector means extraordinary growth of technocrats, knowledge based professions and virtual products.. This how the famous financial products were created, promoted, served and inevitably led to the financial crisis of 2008..

Similarly, the decline of the exports; which are the value of tangible products; would discourage investors and entrepreneurs from producing tangible products; which are required for peoples’ life.. Such industrial or manufactured products will be traded for real moneys..!

These comparisons have no political merits..
Yet; politicsa are within; for planning and managing economics..!

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Financial Cancer



It is shocking to hear..
It is hard to comment..!

The Hummingbird..



To celebrate the wonderful life of Wangari Maathai..
Let's all do the best we can.. no matter how small it is..


Character of a Leader..


A dangerous tendency among Arabic speakers that military are just failed ones who hold fire arms.. You can find many evidences thorough the present history.. The advocacy claims how the recent political changes; led by “sincere” young military; had ended up in unprecedented chaos, painful back wording or sever corruption..

Till end of 1970th; almost all 3rd world nations had gained independence, new socioeconomic looks and cultural inspirations by young military; who had used their "fire arms" to bring the change.. When the newly-born civic generations claimed to be more knowledgeable and capable; they cursed the military for all the evils.. They forgot that no military had claimed mastering civil knowledge; apart from Gaddafi..!!

It was a viscous circle of root/causes.. The public decline military capacity to led; dishonoring their profession.. Then the new military breed lose the substance of their existence: Leadership.. Only the military can “naturally” conceive strong leadership.. Not the civic institutions.. This fact had been kept hidden from the 3rd world crowds; who kept searching among the civic totems for leaders..

Recently; with massive lobbying from politicians and academics, institutions start to draw a syllabus for civic leadership; particularly in MBA programs; which are led by various interpretations of “Art of War”..!

It is not a matter of siding to one against the other, as both civic and military form the capacity of our society.. People should get real and be aware that no one can exclude the other from the patriotic formulas.. We all shape the nation and the culture.. We all defend both..

Pls. follow these wonderful episodes, where Maria Bartiromo of CNBC glues civic and military excellences.. The mighty; yet meaningful American way..!!


http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=1592373403#eyJ2aWQiOiIxNTkyMzczNDAzIiwiZW5jVmlkIjoiL01CUENBV01LY1R4bHkvSXd1RTg0QT09IiwidlRhYiI6ImNvbW1lbnRzIiwidlBhZ2UiOjEsImdOYXYiOlsiXHUwMGEwTGF0ZXN0IFZpZGVvIl0sImdTZWN0IjoiQUxMIiwiZ1BhZ2UiOiIxIiwic3ltIjoiIiwic2VhcmNoIjoiIn0=

Thursday, September 22, 2011

PMP Certification News


 
Good day all
This would be a very short article and specific to those who are interested in PMP certifications. For those not familiar with ‘PMP” this refers to the Project Management Professional certification, one of the Project Management Institute (PMI) certifications.

 
Facts
The following data is PMI officially published data (all data is up to the end of August 2011)
  1. The number of those holding the PMP Certification in the world is: 466,163
  2. The number of PMP earning their certification between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011 (12 months’ period) is: 48,273
  3. The average number of new PMP in the 12 months period in previous note is: 4,023
  4. The number of PMP in July 2011 jumped from the average of 4,023 to 13,869
  5. The number of PMP in August 2011 (last month) also jumped from the average of 4,023 to 14,295
  6. In summary, in two months we have had close to 30,000 PMP about 60% of the full year before!

 
Why the Change
Obviously no one knows the exact answer. However, what we know is:
  1. The PMP exam changed at the end of August 2011
  2. Historically we know where there is an exam change the number of PMP candidates jump
  3. Usually the reason for the jump is that people and professionals who has been considering or studying for the PMP and delaying the exam, they make the push before the change since a change brings uncertainty.

 
Is this good or bad?
You be the judge!
Until next article – wish you success in all your endeavors!

 
Mounir Ajam
from West Asia
21 September 2011
http://sukadipms.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/pmp-certification-news/

 

 
My Impressions..
10 years ago, both PMI and PMP certification were not known among many practitioners, apart from the IT professionals. I remember how the numbers were in 2003, as hardly 47,000 were PMPs, while PMI had set a target to achieve 100,000 members by 2004.
Earlier; almost no one could pass the “horrific” exam from the 1st try..! This is when PMI had started “enterprising” the certification; which had been reflected in amazing revenues and consequential activities. Exam was made easier, Educators were encouraged everywhere, and HR specialists had some way or another realized the assumed value of certification..
This is what the numbers tell about multiplying the members by almost 7 times and the PMPs by almost 10 times.. People are not getting further smart or have more study time.. Observation tells that true value is not in certification but in sustainable membership.. Also, membership numbers should be logically higher than the certification’s..
Is there any added value or true professional interest..?  
Simply, what is the rate of obtaining PDUs and renewal of membership or certification..?
I guess if we have fresh numbers of demographics and geographies about membership and certification; we shall visualize the true status.. !!

 

 

 

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Marriage & Death..



Marriage and Death, are the most seriously celebrated events in life.. The rituals for both are principally the same across all religions, doctrines, and cultures.. If something would deny racial categorization, it would be the core concepts and ceremonies of Marriage.. If something would deny social ranking, it would be both agony and culture of Death.. Religions, philosophies and doctrines would not gain publicity without addressing Marriage and Death along with War, Wealth and Worship.. There is a mysterious bond among these five core elements of human culture..!

Both Marriage and Death were expressions of the natural cycle of life.. The advocated intellectual and philosophical interferences had accidently ruined people's stability and sanity..  Hurdles to natural marriage had created the controversial LGBT, the devastating Pornography, and the destructive Extremism.. On parallel; attempts to fight natural death had generated the breakthrough in Medicine, the innovative Leisure and both Urban pollution and congestion..!

Among the early civilizations, and  limitedly to some groups of today, worshiping genitals as sacred symbol of the marriage doctrine was likely common.. Notably, early humans had come to understand the mechanism of pregnancy and birth; yet were unable to understand the secret powers within conceive and genetic transmition..

The announcement of marriage was and stills mandatory; which draws the ownership or the parentship of the potential kids.. This is the great maintenance of both personal ego and spousal relationships.. Defining the de-Facto code is a great divide among legal and cultural systems; not because of the legitmization of the relationship, but due to procedures and implications of its announcement..

There are many hidden signals within the publicity of marriage; which fairly merchandizes females from the custody of a parent into another of a husband.. The integrity of breeding mechanism is critical issue in both consciousness and subconsciousness of Mankind.. Therefore; no wonder that each religion had come with a considerable set of regulations on marriage and all associated concerns..

The Neanderthals had discovered burial as a way to dignify their dead ones.. Those shallow graves were the evidence to know them after more than 30,000 years.. The spread of their territories around the Mediterranean had enabled to understand the evolution of Mankind..

Regardless of the processes of dealing with the remains of a deceased human being; by inhumation, immurement, cremation, by-exposure, dissolution, or sky-burial; the corpse was implicit agreed for gradual deppreciation; once rituals of death are completed..! Yet, its preservation is mere social or political rather than religious..!

The dead body would be cleaned, perfumed and decorated as a start.. Then presented to the public in that lifeless state.. The dead face is exposed to identify, either publically to Klan’s or privately to Kin’s.. Cries are endorsements of death rather than expressions of loss.. The sacredness of graveyards or cemeteries are related to living costumes rather than the death itself, therefore; the description of their dishonor widely varies..!!

This was part of the draft preamble for my never-done-academic research on "The Surviving Middle Eastern Rituals of Marriage and Death.."
Therefore, it is emotionless controversial..!!!

Human or Not..?


Many had tears in their eyes while whatching..
Yes, watching, not sharing the taste if those lift-overs..
What any of us had done to make the world a better place..?
It is that complex to provide solutions for simple wishes..?

Yes, "Poverty" is needed to know how "Wealthy" we are..
Meanings are only known by contradictions..
You would never value "Food"; unless you are Hungry..!
You would only feel the word "Happiness"; if you are Not..!
........
You will never feel "Human" unless you are Not..!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Legalities vs. Morals..

A Niqabi at the early stone-fights at Cairo's Tahrir square on Jan 2011

In today’s world; in some cases: Legalities contradict Moralities..

While no one would pursue agreeable actions without Legalities; Not all actions are Morals..

Similarly; While Morals require actions to revive, Not necessarily the actions are Lawful..!

Not a Political Dilemma..!

Always in any game, debate or action; there are two sides; at least..
Supporters and Opponents..



They are categorized on two independent layers: Idealists and Pragmatics..
Who are in favor of philosophical or religious ethical structure; believing in the mandatory cultural referrals of any actions..
And who are in favor of the concluded value or returns of the actions; believing that actions are survival rather than discretionary..


Among the two groups; people are divided, fighting and would exchange hatred as well..


Applying this role; to any worldly location of unrest, will understand, choose-sides and move-on..
The problem is centered in the growing number of people who don't understand, confused and fear-to-death-frozen..
The mass-media machine had erased people’s capacity to know what’s going on..
This explains the growing number of NGO; driven by sharing information, secrets and conspiracies of the happenings around..


This also explains the mistrust, disobedience and discomfort between governments and people..
Wikileaks was not new as its phenomenon was always there in practice since dawn of governments.. It just complies with complexity of processing and today’s technology..


Politicians certainly are not confused about such dilemma, because politics is never attached to any code of ethics, but the code of compliances; if any..!!



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

10 Laws of Power


I know how Maquiável was inpired by the bloody corrupt history of Rome
I did not publish becauae I endorse; but because they part of our intellecual and cvultural legacies..
Some contains nice ideas, others are not..
It is up to your own taste

Friday, September 9, 2011

Back to Senses..


Coming back to logic..

Since dawn of history, innocent civilians pay the price of military operations..

Yes, thousands of Muslims and Arabs were accidently victimized in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; as collateral damages of military activities against operatives who were shielded among civilians..

But, almost 4000 we deliberately targeted at WTC towers, because they carry US IDs.. It is well known that 9:00 am is the peak hour of office occupation..

Let’s spill the facts, to restore our senses..!!

There are two groups of scenarios: a non-Muslim conspiracy or a Muslim one.. So, it is a conspiracy either way.. Once it is so, naïve analysis should be withdrawn, allowing for various complex visualizations.. However, we should acknowledge that all security, spy and intelligence agents are talking to each other, despite their political banners..!

The non-Muslim scenarios are based on testimonies of bizarre events and the complexity which Al-Qaida is incapable to manage. These scenarios are:
  • Port Authority led plot to replace the aging towers amid real estate price hikes and escalations..
  • CIA led plot to get rid of critical x-files at tower #7..
  • Jewish led plot to undermine the growth of Islamists and Arabs in western hemisphere..
  • The mystery of Flight 93..


The Muslim scenarios are simple and widely materialized across mass media:
  • Admissions made by Bin Laden and his lieutenants..
  • Records of FPI & CIA on restructuring the chain of events and terrorists..

Across the “sexy” investigations, analysis and stories, there are lots of revenues, media ratings and lobbies.. Despite the volume of public suspension and skepticism, the media empires keeps boiling the September 11 event till another would replace..!!

Bottom line: the world post 9/11 is never the same..!!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Change Syndrome..



An Egyptian citizen beaten by Police officers prior to Jan 25th;
and another beaten by Army officers 3 months later..!!


"The difference between treason and patriotism is only a matter of dates."
Alexandre Dumas (The Count of Monte Cristo)


A quote to simplify all happenings around..!!
Most of the failed heads (done or ongoing) were named heros at some point of time..
People ususally have short memory; otherwise change (natural or forced) would never happen..!!

I wonder; today's heros, where will they be in tomorrow's events..?

Maturity of political culture and system is about preventing the nations from wasting their own time or committing epistemic suicide on failed controversies.. On the contrary; enable the creditable mechanism to avoid any vacuum of self-discipline and/or mass-order associated with leaderless anarchy; which would simply send the communities into bottomless spirals..

Certainly, the Arabic commons are the victims of the current messy situations.. They had only asked for a bit of justice and freedom, not the bizarre and confusing alleged changes to the regimes..

Throughout history, many atrocities and backlashes were made in the name of the Public.. Maybe they started so, but they ended up with the creation and decoration of new dynasties, powers and millionaires..!!

It is well known and often repeated; of how revolutionary events would turn on itself, beaten its own limps, eaten its own flesh and slaughter its own leaders.. This is where maturity counts.. and lacks..!!

Both alleged dictators and democratic fighters are proven short of capacity to visualize and lead towards the future..
None is credible to receive peoples’ consent to act or to live..
Wrongdoing is equal to ill-vision..
Both are fairly and typically condemned by death..!

Case Study: Arabic Spring..!

Political Change is a natural process; which had successfully brought forward the humane civilizations and brilliance.. No one would claim that change is always peaceful; on the contrary; it is often emotionally violent; yet bloodless..! Changes would turn ugly or bloody when confrontation escalates among the rival groups, in absentia of political leadership or sovereign culture..

The wisdom tells that change is a long term process; which is fueled by enthusiasm, mentored by experience and funded by average wealth.. Rivals would know their parameters in supporting a point of view, and when they have to step down for the majority to dominate.. If such contract is not observed, minority would shake the basis of public confidence and automatically turn change into civil unrest and bloodshed..

Throughout history, it was never a coincidence nor a plan to avoid shaking the civil service.. All radical or moderate events of political change were commonly aware that the civil service is a sacred establishment, which in case of interruption would undermine the entire honorable purpose.. History tells lots of lessons; which are only ignored if the political players are childishly immature or unreasonably arrogant.. I believe this the case across Egypt..!

On parallel; If both media and mass communication are unprepared for such a holy national task; they would lead both elite and commons into emotional chaos.. Differences between news broadcast and news analysis is fine and critical.. Small words of probabilities or exaggerations would dramatically change the course of public actions.. This is the case of Tunisia, Yemen and Egypt too..

Certainly, no nation would proceed ahead without broader agreement on its holistic and patriotic wishes for both present and future.. It is the packages that generations deliver from a precedents to ascendants; nevertheless the sole definition of a nation or a country.. When such taboos are exposed to cultural attack, driven by the newly claimed national interest; the very foundations of change as peaceful natural course of action are biased and malfunction.. This is the case of Sudan, Syria and Libya..

I believe that Arabs should spend more time to understand the political practice and culture in Lebanon and Morocco; while understanding the political landscapes of Jordan, Iraq and Mauritania.. Said that, as how obvious the divide between group of Arabs who have referrals, and who had turned them down..!!


متلازمة التغيير السياسي

قال الكاتب الشهير الكسندر دوماس في روايته الشهيرة الكونت دي مونتي كريستو ، أن الفرق بين الخيانة والوطنية ليس سوى مسألة توقيت
لعل هذا الاقتباس يفسر ببساطة ما يحري من حولنا

معظم الملوك والرؤساء والقادة (سواء فشلوا أم لا) قد تم تسميتهم أبطالاً عند نقطة معينة من مسار الزمن
عادةً ، الناس لديهم ذاكرة قصيرة الآمد ؛ وإلا ، فان التغيير (الطبيعي أو القسري) لن يحدث أبداً

وأتساءل ؛ أين سوف يكون أبطال اليوم ، في أحداث الغد

نضج الثقافة والنظام السياسي تمنع الناس من أن يضيعوا وقتهم أو يرتكبوا الانتحار المعرفي في مواقف الخلاف.. وعلى العكس من ذلك ، تمكن آلية القيادة من الانضباط الذاتي أو الجماعي ، من أجل تجنيب الفوضى ؛ التي يمكن أن ترسل المجتمعات ببساطة الي قعر اللولب الحياتي

بالتأكيد ، الجماهير العربية هم ضحايا أوضاع الفوضى الحالية.. لقد طلبوا فقط القليل من العدالة والحرية ، وليس التغييرات الشاملة والمربكة للأنظمة القائمة

على مر التاريخ ، تم ارتكاب العديد من الفظائع تحت اسم عامة الشعب.. ربما جماهير الشعب قد بدأت المطالبات ، ولكنها انزوت مع إقامة السلطة الجديدة ، وحلفائها من القوى السياسية وأصحاب المال

فمن المعروف جيدا وكثيراً ما يتكرر ، كيف أن الأحداث الثورية قد تنقلب على نفسها ، وتصيب بنفسها أقدامها ، وتذبح قادتها ، وتأكل بنفسها لحمها.. هذا هو مايحدث فيما بين النضج السياسي والافتقار اليه

وثبت أن كل من الحكام المستبدين والمقاتلين الديمقراطيين ذوي قدرة بسيطة على تصور المستقبل
لا يملك أيٍ منهما المصداقية لتمثيل موافقة الشعوب في تخطيط وادارة الحياة
هذه المخالفات تتساوي مع الرؤية الفاشلة للحكم
كلاهما يستحق الموت

دراسة حالة : الربيع العربي

التغيير السياسي هي عملية طبيعية ، والتي أدت الى تألق الحضارات الإنسانية.. لا يمكن لأحد الادعاء بأن التغيير هو دائما سلمي ، بل على العكس ، هو في غالب الأحيان عنيفاً عاطفياً ودموياً

التغيير قد ينقلب قبيحاً عندما تتصاعد المواجهة بين الفصائل المتناحرة ، في غياب القيادة السياسية أو الثقافة السيادية

الحكمة تقول أن التغيير هو عملية طويلة الأجل ؛ ويتغذى من خلال الحماسة وإرشاد ذوي الخبرة وتموله ثروة الطبقة المتوسطة.. المتنافسين السياسيين الناضجين يدركون اطار التعبير عن مواقفهم وكيفية دعم وجهة نظرهم ، ومتى يجب عليهم التنحي مقابل حق الاغلبية في الهيمنة السياسية ، وإذا لم يتم عقد مثل هذه الآلية ، فإن الأقلية سوف تهز أساس ثقة العامة في النظام السياسي ، وتلقائياً سوف يؤدي بدوره إلى الاضطرابات الأهلية وسفك الدماء بين الجماهير

على مر التاريخ ، لم يكن من قبيل المصادفة تجنب زعزعة الخدمة المدنية.. ففي كل الأحداث المتطرفة أو المعتدلة يدرك دعاة التغيير السياسي بأن الخدمة المدنية هي مؤسسة مقدسة لا يحزو المسمس بها ، وان انهيارها من شأنه أن يقوض الغرض السياسي كله

التاريخ يقول الكثير من الدروس ؛ والتي عادةً يتم تجاهلها إذا كانت الأطراف السياسية صبيانية غير ناضجة أو غير معقولة أو متعجرفة ، وأعتقد أن هذا هو الحال في مصر

على التوازي ؛ إذا كانت كل وسائل الإعلام والاتصال الجماهيري غير مستعدة لمثل هذه المهمة الوطنية المقدسة ، فهذا من شأنه أن يؤدي لخلق الفوضى العاطفية بين كل من النخبة والعامة.. فالأخبار والتحليلات الإخبارية التي تبث الخلافات بين ما هو على ما يرام وما هو حرج ، أو بعبارات صغيرة عن الاحتمالات والمبالغات ، سوف تحدث تغييراً هائلاً في بناء ردود أفعال العامة.. هذا هو الحال في تونس واليمن ومصر أيضاً

بالتأكيد ، لن تمضي قدماً أي أمة دون اتفاق واسع حول الشمولية الوطنية في الحاضر والمستقبل.. فمن المؤكد أن الأجيال تستلم تراثها من الأصول إلى اللواحق ، لذلك فإنها التعريف الوحيد للأمة.. وعندما تتعرض هذه الثوابت أو المحرمات الثقافية للهجوم ، من قبيل ادعاء الحداثة المصبوغة بالمصلحة الوطنية ؛ فان الخلل قد يصيب أسس التغيير السلمي والمسار الطبيعي للاداء.. وهذا هو الحال في السودان وسوريا وليبيا

وأعتقد أن العرب يجب أن ينفقوا المزيد من الوقت لفهم الممارسة السياسية والثقافة في لبنان والمغرب ، مع فهم المسارح السياسية في الأردن والعراق وموريتانيا..

إن الفجوة واضحة بين مجموعة العرب الذين لديهم مرجعيات ، والذين كانوا قد انقلبوا عليهم

People's Porn..!!


When we talk about 200,000,000 internet users, certainly, all assumptions and constraints are different.. Adding to this, a totalitarian regime, which cares less for some particular values and ethics.. Then, the scenario tells about unlimited phenomenon that would engulf the entire human race..!!

Much of the discussion surrounding Chinese Internet culture has centered on the rise of online human rights activism, but the emergence of an online erotic culture that openly describes individuals' personal sexual activities has also been evident in recent years.

Associate Professor Katrien Jacobs‘ research at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on “People's Pornography” has investigated the culture of ‘Do It Yourself' amateur porn on the Chinese Internet, as well as the interplay between pornography producers and consumers within the state's censorship mechanism.

Below is a transcript of an interview conducted by Ronald Yick and Oiwan Lam about the upcoming publication of Professor Jacobs' new book, People's Pornography: Sex and Surveillance on the Chinese Internet.

Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei



Friday, September 2, 2011

Reshape of a Role or Rebirth of a Soul..?


Turkey suspends all military agreements with Israel: minister

Turkey says it is expelling the Israeli ambassador and cutting military ties with Israel over the country's refusal to apologise for last year's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday Turkey was downgrading diplomatic ties to the level of second secretary and that the ambassador will leave Turkey by Wednesday.
Davutoglu also said Turkey was suspending all military agreements signed between the former allies, saying "it is time Israel pays a price".
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/other-world/turkey-suspends-all-military-agreements-with-israel-minister-1.860383?localLinksEnabled=false


Politics tell not to trust any Politician.. Strategy tells never to be optimistic..

Politicians are players in a ruling game.. They do whatsoever necessary to seat on the throne as long as they can.. This is the only prove that they pursue a successful career.. In such a game, all cards are playable, all resources are lawful, unless proven illegal and all friends are potential enemies.. The universal code: People are the challenging Rituals, Voting is the horrified Doomsday, Ballots are the verdicts of Judgment and Appointment is sole Afterlife..!!

Despite how strategy focus on the macro interests of a society, it is structured by fine aggregates and particulars.. Strategy is often driven by the unthinkable.. Not pessimism but cautionary planning; which defines the successful preparedness and readiness.. Within that context; it is about road-mapping the surroundings and circumstances to support the chosen goals.. It is the monopoly of people, friends and enemies towards particular environment; forming timely political landscapes..!!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Rebuild The Dream..



"Over the past month more than a quarter million people have endorsed the Contract for the American Dream. That's a big deal. Progressives are uniting behind a set of real solutions for fixing our broken economy.

We're coming together because the Contract was built by our movement from the ground up. More than 70 outstanding organizations got involved and helped to make it happen. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in crafting the ten-point plan. It's our plan.

But the Contract isn't just an inspiring document. It's a plan to transform our country and it's up to all of us to make it happen. So today we want to open up the door once again and ask for your best ideas for putting the Contract to work.

What are your best ideas for actions people can take to help turn this Contract into a reality?"

For a refresher, the Contract for the American Dream consists of a simple but powerful ten-point plan:

I. Invest in America's Infrastructure

II. Create 21st Century Energy Jobs

III. Invest in Public Education

IV. Offer Medicare for All

V. Make Work Pay

VI. Secure Social Security

VII. Return to Fairer Tax Rates

VIII. End the Wars and Invest at Home

IX. Tax Wall Street Speculation

X. Strengthen Democracy



http://front.moveon.org/

RIM Dooms Day..!



Can Research in Motion (RIM) Survive a 2012 Doomsday?


Research in Motion (RIM), which only four years ago was a tech industry darling due to the success of its revolutionary Blackberry smartphone, has now been placed on death watch by many analysts, who believe that the company has been effectively destroyed by Apple. In this year alone, shares have lost over 60% while the company delayed its flagship Blackberry line and launched a poorly conceived and received iPad imitator, the Playbook. Google's purchase of Motorola at a 63% premium has led speculators to buy shares RIM's devastated stock, which currently trade in the high $20s, in hopes that another tech giant will buy out the company at a similar premium. Regular investors, however, should stay clear of RIM, as it currently is showing all signs of an imminent implosion.

http://www.investorguide.com/

Iranians in Malaysia.. A Time Bomb..!


Above the outdoor cafés of this city's trendiest suburb, some 60 exiles are busily dubbing Brazilian soap operas, Japanese cartoons and American music videos into Farsi. They work for GEM-TV, a privately owned, Dubai-based bootleg satellite station that beams the modern world into Iran from a broadcast station in Malaysia. This Southeast Asian nation is becoming, in the words of GEM-TV host Abed Rangamiz, "famous as a place to jump" from Iran's harshly religious regime. "It's the best of three countries that freely give us visas," Rangamiz says with a shrug. "The others are Turkey and Turkmenistan."

The Iranian influx is small but growing fast. At present, there are about 60,000 Iranians, studying, working or waiting for visas in this relatively easygoing, multiethnic Muslim-majority country. Iranians hold shares in an estimated 2,000 Malaysian businesses and occupy about 15,000 spots in Malaysian universities. Tourist arrivals from Iran jumped 14.3% to 116,000 last year. And, observe new arrivals, words of Persian origin, such as dewan for hall and anggur for grapes, have long been part of the Malay language. Most Iranians in Malaysia bask in the comforts of a life free from ideological pressures and from, in one exile's words, "bribing the police every time you want to have a party." Malaysia has become the base for frequent "Persian disco nights" and glitzy concerts by famed singers — in one performance earlier this year, during the Iranian New Year in March, there were singers calling for the overthrow of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; it was not part of the program.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2090301,00.html?xid=rss-world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Fworld+%28TIME%3A+Top+World+Stories%29#disqus_thread

I shall copy a thread of discussion from the Facebook..!