شاهدت Duplicity

Great Plot...Great Stars


Ray (Clive Owen) and Claire (Julia Roberts) are in the spy business. At a huge party in Dubai, Ray propositions Claire and he succeeds in getting her back to his hotel room. However, not realizing that Claire is an agent, Ray makes a huge mistake and ends up in a drugged-induced slumber while Claire takes some important documents from him. It won't happen again. Now, five years later, each of them is a corporate spy, on opposite sides, working for two top United States manufacturing companies, whose products run from soap to nuts. One is headed by the eccentric Howard Tully (Tom Wilkinson) and the other is run by conniving Dick (Paul Giamatti). Now, word comes that Tully's company may have a huge new product rolling out very soon and Dick is livid. Why hasn't his spy team been able to sniff out the details and prevent his firm from taking a major hit? And, could it be that Ray and Claire are still a "couple", despite the fact that they now seemingly work to the other's detriment? Here is another winner from Tony Gilroy, who gave the world the powerful Michael Clayton. But, while his former film was very dark, this one is fun, fun, fun and games. As the two principal stars, Owen and Roberts are truly amazing, great-looking, quick-witted, and sneaky. Supporting them greatly, in much smaller roles, are Giamatti and especially Wilkinson, who provides the story's raison d'etre. In fact, when Wilkinson breaks into a huge, gleeful smile at the end, you can't help but share his nefarious joy. The plot, while complicated, is fairly easy to follow, the settings are terrific (Rome, London, New York), and the costuming quite nice. If there is any fault to be had, its probably with the direction and/or editing, for the film could have been "snappier". However, its camera work, complete with revolving rectangles of shots, is inspired and admirable. All in all, if you want to see great actors, saying clever lines in a topnotch film, then, do make time for this one. Felicity will reign after a showing of Duplicity, that's for sure.

مقال أعجبني لـ Thomas Friedman

I was at a conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, a few weeks ago and interviewed Craig Barrett, the former chairman of Intel, about how America should get out of its current economic crisis. His first proposal was this: Any American kid who wants to get a driver's license has to finish high school. No diploma — no license. Hey, why would we want to put a kid who can barely add, read or write behind the wheel of a car?

Now, what does that have to do with pulling us out of the Great Recession? A lot. Historically, recessions have been a time when new companies, like Microsoft, get born, and good companies separate themselves from their competition. It makes sense. When times are tight, people look for new, less expensive ways to do old things. Necessity breeds invention.

Therefore, the country that uses this crisis to make its population smarter and more innovative — and endows its people with more tools and basic research to invent new goods and services — is the one that will not just survive but thrive down the road.

We might be able to stimulate our way back to stability, but we can only invent our way back to prosperity. We need everyone at every level to get smarter.

I still believe that America, with its unrivaled freedoms, venture capital industry, research universities and openness to new immigrants, has the best assets to be taking advantage of this moment — to out-innovate our competition. But we should be pressing these advantages to the max right now.

Russia, it seems to me, is clearly wasting this crisis. Oil prices rebounded from $30 to $70 a barrel too quickly, so the pressure for Russia to really reform and diversify its economy is off. The struggle for Russia's post-Communist economic soul — whether it is going to be more OPEC than OECD, a country that derives more of its wealth from drilling its mines than from tapping its minds — seems to be over for now.

At the St. Petersburg exposition center, showing off the Russian economy, the two biggest display booths belonged to Gazprom, the state-controlled oil and gas company, and Sberbank, Russia's largest state-owned bank. Russian companies that actually made things the world wanted were virtually nonexistent: Two-thirds of Russia's exports today are oil and gas. Gazprom makes the money, and Sberbank lends it out.

As one Western banker put it, when oil is $35 a barrel, Russia "has no choice" but to reform, to diversify its economy and to put in place the rule of law and incentives that would really stimulate small business. But at $70 a barrel, it takes an act of enormous "political will," which the petro-old KGB alliance that dominates the Kremlin today is unlikely to summon. Too much rule of law and transparency would constrict the ruling clique's own freedom of maneuver.

China also is courting trouble. Recently — in the name of censoring pornography — China blocked access to Google and demanded that computers sold in China come supplied with an Internet nanny filter called Green Dam Youth Escort, starting July 1. Green Dam also can be used to block politics, not just Playboy. Once you start censoring the Web, you restrict the ability to imagine and innovate. You are telling young Chinese that if they really want to explore, they need to go abroad.

We should be taking advantage. Now is when we should be stapling a green card to the diploma of any foreign student who earns an advanced degree at any U.S. university, and we should be ending all H-1B visa restrictions on knowledge workers who want to come here. They would invent many more jobs than they would supplant. The world's best brains are on sale. Let's buy more!

Barrett argues we should also use this crisis to: 1) require every state to benchmark their education standards against the best in the world, not the state next door; 2) double the budgets for basic scientific research at the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the National Institute of Standards and Technology; 3) lower the corporate tax rate; 4) revamp Sarbanes-Oxley so it is easier to start a small business; 5) find a cost-effective way to extend health care to every American.

We need to do all we can now to get more brains connected to more capital to spawn more new companies faster. As Jeff Immelt, the chief of General Electric, put it in a speech on Friday, this moment is "an opportunity to turn financial adversity into national advantage, to launch innovations of lasting value to our country."

Sometimes I worry, though, that what oil money is to Russia, our ability to print money is to America. Look at the billions we just printed to bail out two dinosaurs: General Motors and Chrysler.

Lately, there has been way too much talk about minting dollars and too little about minting our next Thomas Edison, Bob Noyce, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Vint Cerf, Jerry Yang, Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Bill Joy and Larry Page. Adding to that list is the only stimulus that matters. Otherwise, we're just Russia with a printing press.

نص روايتي الجديدة

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صوت تغريد طيور ...
الصوت يتعالي بالتدريج ليتحول تدريجيا من شيء رقيق الي شيء مزعج ...
إنه ذلك المنبه الأحمق يحاول أن يوقظني، في البداية بالذوق ثم يتحول الي القوة تدريجيا...
صمتا يا أحمق، انا مستيقظ ولكني لا أستطيع أن أقوم من الفراش لأوقفك. أحتاج بعض الوقت لأستجمع قواي للذهاب الي اخر الغرفة و أوقفك. المرء يكتسب قواه العقلية كاملة بعد النوم في وقت يتراوح من 15 الي 20 دقيقة. إنه لم يدرس علم وظائف الأعضاء علي ما يبدو.

قمت من النوم متثاقلا الي نهاية الغرفة و قمت بإيقاف المنبه الموضوع علي الأرض في ركن الغرفة. إنها فكرتي أن أضعه في هذا المكان الغريب،لأني أوقفه و أنام دون أن أشعر حين يكون علي الكومود بجوار رأسي. أردت أن أجعل إيقاف المنبه شيئا يستلزم ترك الفراش كي أجبر نفسي علي الإستقاظ في موعدي. نظرت في شاشة المنبه. الساعة الان الثامنة صباحا. اليوم هو الأول من مارس عام 2152. لا فارق، كل الأيام تتساوي لدي.

ولكن لماذا أستيقظ الان؟ يا لي من أحمق.اليوم أجازة ولا توجد اليوم أي العاب أو إلتزامات من أي نوع، و التدريبات موعدها في السادسة مساء. اليس من حقي أن أكسر روتين الإستيقاظ اليومي في يوم مثل هذا؟
حسنا لقد إستيقظت و لا فائدة من تقريع النفس الان.

دخلت الحمام الملحق بالغرفة للقيام بطقوس الصباح المعتادة. نظرت الي وجهي قي المرآة الأنيقة المعلقة فوق الحوض. مازال وجهي كما هو، نفس الملامح القسيمة و النظرة المسيطرة المتحدية كما هي.

أشعر بالجوع. يجب أن أعد لنفسي شيئا علي سبيل الإفطار. هبطت الي الطابق الأرضي و دلفت الي المطبخ لإعداد إفطارمرتجل.سأكتفي بكوب من اللبن و بعض الشطائر. وضعت الكوب و الشطائر علي صينية و أخذتها الي الردهة.

وضعت الطعام علي المنضدة الصغيرة و أزحت الستارة عن النافذة التي تحتل جدارا بأكمله و تطل علي حديقة الفيلا. اليوم مشرق و جميل، المنظر من هنا رائع و لكن...
هناك شيء ما خطأ. اليوم مشرق و الحياة جميلة و كل شيء علي ما يرام، و لكني لا أجد في نفسي إستمتاعا بأي شيء أو الرغبة في عمل أي شيء. يبدو أن الغدة المسئولة عن الإستمتاع بالحياة التي تكلم عنها أحمد خالد توفيق – علي الرغم من أني لم أجدها في كتب علم وظائف الأعضاء- لا تعمل كما ينبغي اليوم. للدقة الوقتية هي لا تعمل اليوم ولا الأيام السابقة. إنه الإكتئاب بحذافيره. الإكتئاب كما ينبغي أن يكون...

نظرت الي الطعام علي الصينية. علي الرغم من شعوري بالجوع فإني لا أجد شهية لأن أضع قطعة واحدة من الطعام في فمي. أشعر أن التهام شطيرة واحدة من هذه الشطائر عمل بطولي تتضائل أمامه بطولات هرقل و أخيل و كل بلهاء الأساطير الإغريقية مجتمعين.

لماذا لا أزور أكرم يوسف؟ أشعر برغبة عارمة في رؤيته والإستماع الي حديثه. أعلم أنه لا يطيق رؤية وجهي ولكنه لن يقدم علي طردي. أعتقد أنه لايزال يحمل لي بعضاً من الود القديم.

صعدت الي غرفتي و بدلت ثيابي. القميص الخفيف، البنطال الجينز و الحذاء الرياضي الأبيض الأنيق.أشعر أني نيست شيئا. ما هو يا تري؟ اه، إنه المسدس. وضعت المسدس الصغير بعد أن تأكدت من أنه محشو بالطلقات في الجراب المعلق علي وسطي. لا يمكن لشخص مثلي أن يخرج من منزله دون سلاح.

خرجت من الفيلا و توجهت الي المرآب الصغير الملحق بها. لم أحاول أن أختار واحدة من السيارات الثلاث كما هي عادتي كلما خرجت، و إنما توجهت الي أقربهم الي باب المراب. لا مزاج لدي اليوم للإنتقاء و الإختيار. كل السيارات تستوي، فلو وجدت في المراب حمارا قرب الباب لركبته و خرجت.

ركبت السيارة و خرجت من الجراج ثم من الفيلا. ضغطت علي زر في السيارة لينغلق باب الجراج خلفي و قدت السيارة في الشوارع المحيطة بمنزلي متوجها بها الي الطريق الذي يقود الي الجانب الشرقي من المدينة، او ما يدعوه البعض الجانب المظلم من المدينة.

وصلت الي الجانب الشرقي من المدينة في نصف ساعة. أسير في الطرقات الضيقة غير الممهدة بسرعة بسيطة و أتأمل ما حولي. كتابات بالإسبراي أغلبها بذيء تسب الحكومة أو تشجع بعض الفرق الرياضية، منازل من طابق واحد أو طابقين تفوح بالفقر و القذارة.
بعض الأطفال يرتدون ثياباً ممزقة و يلعبون الكرة و يتبادلون السباب فيما بينهم. عجوز تجلس علي عتبة دارها في ثياب رثة تلتهم شيئا من طبق صدئ، بينما تنتشر أكوام القمامة في كل مكان.
إنحرفت يمينا حيث الشارع الذي يسكن به أكرم. صفيحة قمامة كبيرة مقلوبة علي جانبها في وسط الشارع و قد سقطت منها القمامة. لقد ضيقت من عرض الشارع الضيق أصلا.

ركنت سيارتي- السيارة عرضها أقل بقليل من عرض الشارع أصلا- أسفل منزل أكرم. في الواقع إن وصف هذا الشيء بالمنزل يحتوي بعض المبالغة. هو عبارة عن مبني متهالك من طابقين، كل طابق تحتله شقة واحدة أصغر من الحمام الملحق بغرفتي.

صعدت السلم الضيق الي شقة أكرم. وقفت أمام شقته مترددا للحظة. لا أحب هذا الشعور بأني شخص غير مرغوب فيه. فكرت في أن أعود أدراجي من حيث أتيت، ثم طردت هذه الفكرة و إستجمعت مشاعري و طرقت الباب.
لحظات قليلة ثم إنفتح الباب و ظهر علي عتبته أكرم. تجهم عندما رآني و إرتسمت علي وجهه اشد علامات الضيق، فلو كان الشيطان ذاته هو من يطرق بابه لما كان أشد ضيقا و تجهما.
نظرت في عينيه للحظة محاولا تلمس أدني قدر من الود أو بقيايا مشاعر الصداقة القديمة لكني لم أجد منها شيئا، و كأني أحاول صيد البطريق في الصحراء.
حاولت رسم أفضل إبتسامة لدي و سألته متلطفا:

-"هل ستدعني علي الباب هكذا؟"
-"تفضل بالدخول".

يتبع...

Team of The Season (Egypt 08/09)

The 2008/2009 season was an exciting one in the Egyptian Premier League. Al Ahly with its experienced stars kept the title only after a championship playoff match against attractive side Ismaily. Giants Zamalek had another disappointing season but did unveil some new talents.

Haras El Hodood won the cup and also the rest of the teams have some fine talents. After Egypt's success at the Confederations Cup, IMScouting takes a look at the best 11 players of the Egyptian League in the past season.

We chose the players according to the most common tactical system in Egypt, 3-5-2, with a sweeper behind two center backs.

Goalkeeper: Mathurin Kameni, age 31

The older brother of Espanyol's Carlos Kameni had a simply wonderful season defending the goal of Haras El Hodood. The team conceded only 22 goals in 30 matches, from which 26 were played by the Cameroonian. Kameni, now a free player after finishing his contract with Haras, is an excellent goalie. The 1.95 meter tall goalie has 16 international appearances and a calm head, flexibility, physical presence, aerial ability, positioning sense and technique which are all of a high caliber.

Right Back: Ahmed Al Muhammadi, age 21
The Blackburn Rovers target had a fine season on the right flank of ENPPI, leading the club to a good season. Al Muhammadi, nicknamed "the Egyptian Beckham," recorded 5 assists and 6 goals and provided numerous pin-point crosses from his wing. This season saw Al Muhammadi keeping consistency with his former season, and stabilizing his position as the best right back in the country together with Al Ahly's Ahmed Fathy.

Sweeper: Hany Saied, age 29
Despite Zamalek's awful season, Hany Saied managed to keep his place as the starting sweeper of the national team. Saied, who arrived last summer to Zamalek from Ismaily in a 750k euro deal, had a good season with 28 appearances and 3 goals. Saied, who spent a couple of years playing in Italy, has now matured into an excellent reader of the game. With his experience, technique and brain, there is no sweeper in Egypt that can match him.

Center Back: Ahmed Saied Ouka, age 25
Haras El Hodood's center back Ouka has played for Ismaily, where he didn't receive too many opportunities, until joining his current club in 2007. This season saw his breakthrough. Ahmed was one of the most important parts in Haras's excellent season. This young defender is extremely strong, is quite intelligent and reads the game well, plus has good technique for his position. He has to improve his man marking abilities but showed in the Confederations Cup that he can compete at the highest levels of football.

Center Back: Ahmed Khairy, age 21
One of the most promising players in the country is Ahmed Khairy. This versatile defender, capable of playing as a defensive midfielder or as a center back, and even as a fullback, has the entire package. He is extremely strong, fast, and has fine technique. His shots from long distance are of a very high caliber. Despite initial interest from European sides, Khairy declared his will to stay with Ismaily in order to develop his skills. IMScouting believes he can be a useful addition to many European clubs even now.

Left Back: Hazem Emam Jr, age 20
Perhaps the best thing to come out of Zamalek this season is this extremely talented fullback. We chose Hazem Emam, despite the fact that he is a right back and not a left back and even though Ahmed Fathy had a good season, because Emam's talent is really rare. His speed, dribbling and crossing technique are of the highest caliber. His MVP award in the last Cairo derby is the real proof of his ability. If Emam improves his fitness, he could mature into one of Egypt's finest players ever.

Central Midfielder: Mohamed Homos, age 30
Scoring the winning goal against Italy symbolized the excellent season Homos had. The 30- year-old midfielder scored 7 goals for Ismaily and recorded 6 assists. He returned to the national team after a couple of years since his work rate cannot be matched by any other player in Egypt. Homos's physical abilities combined with a high level of technique make him an excellent central midfielder who still has a couple more years to play and waits now for European offers.

Central Midfielder: Sebastiao Gilberto, age 26
The usually left-sided midfielder is worth a place in our lineup even in the center of park. The Angolan international has made a name for himself in Egypt in recent years, and continued this form this season with no less than 11 assists, most of them for compatriot Flavio Amado. Gilberto is just an excellent crosser of the ball, and his fitness allows him to play at higher levels. It has been reported that several European clubs are after him, but it seems Ahly will be very reluctant to sell him.

Attacking Midfielder: Mohamed Abu Treika, age 30
Egypt's most gifted footballer had a season full of injuries, yet he managed to finish it with 10 goals and 7 assists, helping Ahly to win the title. His performances in the Confederations Cup finally approved him to the entire world as a player who can match the best in the world. His vision on the field, passing ability and timing are all of the highest caliber. His quiet leadership reins over Ahly and the national team. Now he will try to stir the national team to its first World Cup appearance since 1990.

Striker: Papa Arko, age 25
The league's top goal scorer with 12 goals had a great season. The 25 years old Ghanaian striker is already a veteran in the Egyptian league, having spells with Zamalek and Arab Contractors before finding his place at El Geish. This season he finally won international experience having played for Ghana national team for the first time. His pace, strength, movement and excellent shooting skills inside and outside of the box make Papa Arko a very good bargain for European teams.

Striker: Ahmed Gaafar, age 23
Zamalek's newly signed striker is a true gem. Gaafar arrived last summer to small team Itesalat from third division side Sers Layan and had an outstanding season, scoring 11 goals. Gaafar, nicknamed "the Egyptian Luca Toni," resembles Amr Zaki a lot – he is big, strong, mobile and calm in front of goal. His technique and one-touch-play are of a high caliber, which all cover for a little lack of speed. Gaafar is now a national team candidate and it seems he also has the right personality needed for long time success.
***

Players who didn’t make the team but were still impressive in 2008/2009.

Ramzi Saleh – Ahly's Palestinian goalkeeper proved to be a much better goalkeeper than Amir Abdul Hameed, and his performances in the Red Devils' goal were of a high quality.

Ahmed Fathy – The super versatile Fathy had another excellent season, both for club and country. He looks ready for another move abroad.

Sherif Abdel Fadiel – Ismaily's versatile defender has endless stamina and pace. His performances mainly on the right flank were extremely impressive. He is currently on the verge of joining Zamalek.

Hossam Ashour – Ahly's diminutive defensive midfielder is maturing into one of the best in the country. Definitely a player to watch as he has what it takes to make a move abroad.

Abd el Aziz Tawfik – ENPPI's versatile midfielder Tawfik is a member of the national team who still waits for his breakthrough on the international scene. He can play almost anywhere in the defence or midfield, and is a very consistent player.

Abdallah Al Saied – Ismaily's attacking midfielder is only 23-years-old and already showing signs of absolute potential. Al Saied had 12 goals this season in all competitions, and he looks like the natural heir to Abu Treika when the latter retires.

Iehab Al Masry – a 23-year-old striker who scored 10 goals this season showing excellent promise. Able to shoot with both feet and having amazing spin, Al Masry is one to watch in the coming years.

Eric Beckoe – The Ghanaian starlet, top scorer of the Ghanaian league in the 2007/2008 season, scored 6 goals in 13 matches since arriving to Petrojet in January showing rare adaptability from a Ghanaian football to Egypt. This fine finisher is an excellent prospect with a bright future ahead of him.

Mohamed El Gabas – Al Masry's 21 years old striker scored 9 goals this season and earned a move to Belgium side Lierse. Having played for Newcastle's youth system, El Gabas can mature into a world class striker.