H.M.E.M Young Basketball team

My friend Steve was here few hours ago and we were checking some old pictures ( I will be uploading some soon, some of them are halarious ) so we found this... if anyone can help me and tell me what year this is I will be grateful... It should be between (1995-1997).

• The team seems to have 20 members.
• 2 now live aborad and those who are playing basketball till now are only 6.
• Only 4 of them are playing for H.M.E.M
  

Software Review: Google Talk

Google just launched an IM/Voice Service...
http://talk.google.com

The sound quality is even better than skype i give it 9/10....a Must try
I always trust all Google releases and i'm very optimistic about this messenger although this beta release only has the very basics for an IM service... ( text messaging and voice chat ) with no rich text options or web cam... and very modest interface, I see it as a good start.

Software Review: Windows Messenger disabler

Most of the people using XP and MSN messenger face this tiny problem. Not being able to get rid of Windows Messenger which seems to be stuck in your windows startup.
here is the easiest way you can use to get rid of it...
just download this tiny program that will give you the option to uninstall and disable Windows Messenger...
the file is available here

Politics Review: Presidential Elections

I have been avoiding to write about the elections, since I am more into political economy than politics... but they are kinda related aren't they : ). And this is a transitional phase for all Egyptians...and any one who has little knowledge about the events taking place, has the responsibility to increase awareness. I'm writing this post upon demand.
I won't be convering every detail of the elections, but I may be stating some quick facts about the progress that is being done...
so far 67 people have applied for the applications needed for running the elections.
15 representing political parties, 52 independent
they include 3 copts and 1 female.
I also admire the move by Al-Wafd leader Noman Gomaa who took back the decision of boycotting the elections, and taking part in it... After all Al-Wafd is the second beggest political party in Egypt after the National Democratic Party.
Elections will take place on September the 7th.
Lets wait and see what will happen...
I will be posting some quick facts whenever I have any new+significant piece of info

Web Site Review: Ahram Movie Listings

Which Movies available at which Cinemas, by Ahram Weekly
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/list.htm

Business Review: Controversial Windows "Vista" name

After 5 years pause ( longest period between Microsoft Windows' releases) Microsoft is finally releasing its Beta 1 version of Windows Vista today...
The new operating system is promising to be more secure and enhanced graphics and 50% faster booting ( this seems to be the most interesting for me, as I dont trust microsoft claims over enhancing security ).
The name Vista is contravesial, as some non-profit organizations are using the name already as well as a software developing company ( vista.com ).Both the organizations as well as the software company are unhappy with Microsofts new Windows' name and you might see this argument developing towards court cases.
news are here:
internet news
silicon.com

Business Review: WiFi Hotspots in the air!

Intel and Boeing have signed a deal to set up WiFi hotspots on planes... currently there are 70 planes using this service... few months ago I have read that there are plans to provide mobile phone networks too...So I guess we are not going to hear that " please keep your phones and electronic devices off" thing again.. unless while landing and takeoff of course.
I was just wondering, when the announcement of the option of installing mobile networks on board, was made, there were security concerns by the US intellegance agencies ( about terrorists being able to use the phone for hijacking...etc...) isnt it the same case for internet on board? I guess I can use Skype to voice chat with someone right? or even instant msg him?

news are here

Business Review: Adidas to buy Reebok

German Adidas is No 2 in the market, While American Reebok is No 3.This merge will definately increase competition with No 1, that is Nike of course...news are here

WiFi Hot Spots in Egypt

WiFi Directory
Cnet

No more aLiEn sports news

when I added sports news, among the topics i might be willing to cover on my blog, I thought I may depend on credible sources of local sports news...
I was always hasitated whenever I was thinking of posting any news about local soccer, because No one can ever be sure of any news about sports here!
so aLiEn is giving up...
take it from me there is no single credible newspaper/news agency covering sports news without any bias, without exaggerating stories...
but on http://www.reyada.com/articles/ the most reliable sources seem to be from Al-Wafd and Mesaa'
So No more aLiEn Sports news

Egyptian Media News

Starting today all Nile channels ( News, Sport, Culture..etc ) will be broadcasted via ground... Your T.V should be able to receive these channels without decoders on UHF band...
This is a good news for Sports Fans...
and by the way channel 5, will be broadcasted in Alexandria only, same for channel 6 ( Delta )...etc...
I must say I admire the decision by the new minister of Media.
news in Arabic here

Software Review: Konfabulator

aLiEn Recommended
Whats a Konfabulator?
ok few days ago a friend of mine (JP) told me about this...
its a company recently taken over by Yahoo!
Konfabulator is a bunch of tiny programs, what they call "widgets" these programs include weather information, world clock, battery info for laptops as well as WiFi signal stregth, currency converter and many more...
its small its not occupying a lot of memory on my system...
check it... http://www.konfabulator.com/

aLiEn Political Review

Attacks of Sharm El Sheikh has left us all in shock and fear. The message terrorists are sending is clear. They want to hurt our economy, destablize our politics, why is it that news papers like Sot el Omma cannot stop critisizing the government? For God's sake when any country in the world is under attack, all sectors of the society should act in a form of solidarity. Blaming the government at the times like these is not going to solve anything... Terrorism exists in London and New York, what is wrong with you guys?
feel sympathy for the government, right now all what we should care about is how to stand up again and make our economy recover...
Its not time to blame anyone, but the terrorists and those who helped them get through...( probably by illegal means )....
I understand Sot El Omma is crisitizing the government for many policies seen as misleading and all, i understand... but they are simply losing credibility... blaming the government for every little thing is not the solution for our lagging development process... the responsibility is shared by all of us...

Business Review: MG Rover CHINESE

I have been covering the story of MG rover, ever since they started to get into financial problems. after going into administration, the chinese company ( Shangahai Automotive Industry ) that rejected proposals to buy the company before, finally offered to buy the company, but it was not alone, many companies from Iran as well as China and others applied too. And a relatively smaller Chinese Company won the deal the company is called "Nanjing Automotive".
This means many people who lost their jobs back in the U.K will be able to have their jobs again, thanks to the Chinese...
With the collaps of MG rover, there are no other British owned automotive companies...
jaguar and land rover are owned by Ford, Daimler has merged with Chrysler long time ago, Rolse Royce and Bently have been sold to BMW and VW.
News is here

Economy Review: Libya is in demand

A US based Petroleum Company is resuming its business in Libya for the first time in 19 years.
"The company was forced to abandon production in Libya in the mid-1980s, because of sanctions against Tripoli imposed by the US government. Its facilities were taken over by the Libyan state oil company. The US eased economic sanctions against Libya in 2004, opening the door for oil companies to return."
seems like Libya is not the asolated/abandoned "axis of evil" anymore... isn't it ironic? the US calls then so together with Iran and US petroluem companies are performing well and expanding their buisinesses in every country?
news is here