A friend of mine wrote the article below which I thought was interesting to share:

The madness of International development assistance
Ethiopia is one of the most ‘green’ farmlands in the world. Over 80% of the country is blessed with plenty of rain all year, which is the main reason for the fertile farmland that according to international observers, ‘almost everything will grow on it’. And even though the population of Ethiopia has grown with an exploding population of 33.5 million in 1983 to 90 million in 2010, the country has still enough farmland to feed their entire population.

So what is the cause of the famine among the people of in the south -dryer- part of this African agriculture paradise?

Why the need for another concert by Bono and U2? Is it to collect money for the starving people or for their own ego? I would put my money on the last option because while lip syncing how unequal the world wealth has been divided, the super-millionaires of the rock band like the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, are officially registered in The Netherlands due to the friendlier tax climate.

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You’ve probably already read about the new Facebook feature that is going to be introduced soon called Timeline. Well if you’re interested in activating it right now for your account you can do that by following the instructions below:

1. Log into Facebook
2. Type “developer” into the Facebook search box and add the developer app to your profile.
3. Go into the developer app if you aren’t automatically prompted.
4. Create a new app and give it a name. You don’t have to create anything serious, this app can be private and seen only by you. Read and agree to the terms on the Platform Privacy agreement. Here is where you will need a verified account.
5. Look for the “Open Graph” and click “Get Started Using Open Graph.”
Create a test action for your app like “watch” a “show”
6. Now you’ll end up in the action type configuration page. Change some default settings and click through three pages of settings
7. Wait a couple minutes
8. Return to your Facebook home screen and you should get an invite to try Timeline

Some examples:

- The entire economy of Singapore
- All the illegal drugs in the world
- The GDP of Denmark
- The combined GDP of Israel, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon
- The Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, Stephen King and Twilight franchise combined

Check out more examples [Here]

Everything you need to know, very helpful. [Link]

Jackass star Ryan Dunn died in a nasty car accident today. Pretty messed up. [Link]

The Alfa gas station on the Gulf Road near Shaab Park is finally open. Their mini-market and fast food restaurant are still closed though.

Eleanor the Mustang from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds is currently being displayed at Marina Mall.

Some of the bodyguard training scenes look like they’re something out of a movie. [YouTube]

Thanks Abdullatif

Just yesterday I was thinking about how my Z4′s headlights were looking like they needed a face lift and then today I get the following message from Al Falah Car Wash:

Al-Falah Car Wash & ShowShine Detailing will soon be offering Headlight Restoration and Windshield Repair! As well as full Express Detailing services!

Talk about perfect timing. [Link]

On October 10, 2010, people across the world participating in the “One Day on Earth” project will capture an unprecedented global video snapshot of a single 24-hour period. Participants, ranging from teenagers with cell phones to Academy-Award nominated documentarians using the latest HD cameras, will film the world from their own perspective. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with “One Day on Earth” …to help the project reach participants in 100 countries with low bandwidth, making it a truly global initiative.

“One Day on Earth” currently has a growing number of thousands of filmmakers and inspired citizens representing over 190 countries.

The results of this unique collage documenting the countless stories of triumph, tragedy, hope and fear that take place each and every day, will be made into a feature-length documentary to be released next year. In addition, all the footage shot as part of the project will be publicly available via an innovative online searchable archive. The scope and range of this material will provide an invaluable resource: a database of films that deal with some of the most important issues facing our global community.

UNDP Field Offices will provide logistical support at local and regional levels, including the collecting of video data in areas of low bandwidth. With the distribution of 120 HD cameras provided by “One Day on Earth”, UNDP fieldworkers in many different countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Rwanda, Sudan and Uruguay, will have the opportunity to participate directly in the project. UNDP staff participants will film their work, their colleagues and their communities, providing a vibrant and immediate glimpse into the organization’s vital development work and its impact on people’s lives. As the countdown to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 continues, their contribution through “One Day on Earth” will highlight the challenges and obstacles they face in working to achieve the Goals.

“The MDGs are not just aspirational goals. They are about improving people’s lives by reducing poverty and hunger; empowering women; increasing access to the essential services of education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation,” said Stéphane Dujarric, Director of Communications at UNDP. “The One Day on Earth project offers a key opportunity to personify these issues to the international community, as well as spark a dialogue to create a greater global consciousness.”

“One Day On Earth” will also reach over 450,000 students in 64 countries through the distribution of free digital educational toolkits on media literacy. The United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), the UN Department for Public Information and the UN Academic Impact programme —which links over 320 universities in 70 countries— will contribute as well. Vimeo, a video sharing site that provides a platform for people to host and share their videos in high quality, is providing the necessary bandwidth to host the “One Day on Earth” archive, as well as promoting the project to its online community of over four million registered users.

For more information, contact:
riham.alreshaid@undp.org

or visit:
www.onedayonearth.org