[Source: Edge of Space]
[Via: you.presscue]
An interesting study from New Zealand says it does…
Satoshi Kanazawa, a psychologist at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, compiled a database of the biographies of 280 great scientists, noting their age at the time when they made their greatest work.
[…]
Within five years of making their nuptial vows, nearly a quarter of married scientists had made their last significant contribution to history’s hall of fame.
“Scientists rather quickly desist (from their careers) after their marriage, while unmarried scientists continue to make great scientific contributions later in their lives,” says Dr Kanazawa.
[Source: ABC News]
Well, I’m not really sure about that, I don’t think it tames genius or turns off the tap as the study says. I just think that in many cases being a researcher or a pioneer in something doesn’t really pay well enough, and with the person’s new obligations, they prefer to take on something more financially rewarding instead of something more professionally/scientifically rewarding.
In the end, I think it boils down to the person’s nature and personality, whether they’re the kind that takes risks and puts everything on the line for their purpose or whether they’re the kind that takes the safe way to financial stability.
Italian property firm Ernesto Preatoni Group will invest 15 billion euros ($22 billion) in a luxury resort of hotels and holiday homes in northwest Tunisia, it was reported yesterday.
The project includes a high-class tourism complex, hotels, leisure centers and ports in the northwest of Tunisia; Work will start before the end of this year and will last 12 years.
So another outside investment in the tourism sector in Tunisia. Tourism obviously is one of Tunisia’s biggest sources of income, and so investments in this area are always very good news; but I really wish we start seeing big investments like this in other areas as well, mainly service-based and production-based businesses; Tunisia has a well-educated workforce in several industries and the government has put in place many incentives for outside investors that should make it a really great destination for such kinds of investments.
Plus, I think it’s very important for Tunisia to diversify the areas of investment and income for the country, as well as build up and modernize different sectors to absorb the newer generations of Tunisian graduates and job-seekers.
[Source: Reuters]
Interesting and important report from the World Bank on education in the Arab world…
[…]
It said that although education was becoming more accessible and the gender gap was being reduced, the region had not witnessed the positive changes seen in Asia and Latin America, particularly in literacy rates and enrolments in secondary schools and universities.
[…]
The report said unemployment in the Arab world averaged 14%, which is higher than other areas in the world, except Sub-Saharan Africa, with the Palestinian territories coming highest with nearly 26% percent.
[…]
The report concluded that Jordan and Kuwait were the top educational reformers in the region, while Djibouti, Yemen, Iraq and Morocco ranked lowest in terms of access, efficiency and quality of education.
Another study carried out in January by the Tunis-based Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation found that 30% of the approximately 300 million people in the Arab World were illiterate.
[Full Report: World Bank Report]
[Source: BBC News]
I think it’s obvious that education should be the number one priority on every Arab country’s agenda, because without it, we’re really going nowhere.
How accessible education is and how many people make it into schools is very important of course, but it’s only the first step, the even bigger step is to have quality: a well built and structured curriculum, a highly qualified teaching staff, well-equipped schools and classrooms, more resources for the students …etc.
I think that in many Arab countries we’ve made big strides in reducing illiteracy and putting the necessary laws and procedures in place to get children to schools, but we still have a lot of work to do on pedagogy, curriculums, environment and more.
Our whole future lies in how well educated our future generations are; That’s how important education is.
[Via: The Black Iris]
Emirati Al Maabar International Investments Company recently announced its plans to build one of its biggest projects in the African Continent. This project is ‘Bled El Ward’ (City Of Roses) on the northern rives of the capital Tunis, in Ariana, on a total area of 5 Thousands Hectares, with a total cost that reaches $10 Billion.
The project will result in the construction of a modern city made up with many components such as the International Health city, water channels in addition to tourist resorts, residencies, sport facilities, Golf fields, and areas for shopping, entertainments and open space.
The project derives its name from the old name of the Tunisian city, Ariana, which is known for its beautiful roses and flowers and its soft breeze.
Its design gets its name from the old architecture history. It is based on the most modernized architecture styles. Furthermore, it gives priority to the environment and nature as whole, with its sea and forests sides. It also provides 50 Km of beaches through its water channels.
The realisation of ‘Bled El Ward’ project will be on many phases. The first is ‘Diar El Fel’ zone that covers 300 hectares, 190 Hectares will be devoted to building. The development period of this project will be 5 years.
Personally, I think it is great that more Emirati companies and businesses are investing in Tunisia, it’s great for the economy, for creating jobs, for modernizing our cities and above all it’s a great example of how we as Arabs can work and succeed together when we really want to.
[Sources: ArabianBusiness, Seoul Times, WebManagerCenter (FR)]
Sheikh Hussein told Ma’an that the mosque was built more than 700 years go, and it was last restored in 1963. It is the only mosque in Umm Tuba.
The Mufti claimed that Israeli authorities have been attempting to wipe out historic Islamic sites in Palestine which is violation of all religious values and international treaties.
He warned of the repercussions and called on the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which is charged with protecting human cultural heritage around the world, and other international organizations to prevent the demolition of the mosque.
[Source: Ma’an News]
Does anyone really have to comment on this?
Don’t acts like this just obviously show how much Israel wants Peace?
It’s pure ill-willed provocation that is destined to fuel even more conflict and close the doors in front of any possible peace efforts.
And then everyone turns around and blames the Palestinians for not pursuing peace.
[Via: CCNWON]
Last night, I got to watch “Atonement“, a movie featuring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, based on the book by Ian McEwan, and directed by Joe Wright.
I read the book a few years ago, and truly enjoyed it a lot, really great book.
Needless to say: the book is a lot better than the movie; but well that’s always the case; still this is a very good movie, worth watching, especially if you’ve read the book.
The movie is nominated for 7 Oscars this year; of which there is a ‘Best Motion Picture of the Year’ nomination.
The story follows a 13 year old girl (Briony) who lets her imagination overwhelm her judgment leading to close family ties being irreparably severed, and a promising young man’s (Robbie) prospects being destroyed; as Briony grows up she comes to grasp the reality of what she did and struggles to atone for her acts.
The acting is very good, and so is the soundtrack, the directing and photography, and the way the story is presented and told. There were details and events that were omitted, as usual in movie adaptations of books, but overall it turned out good enough.
One important thing though is that throughout the movie I found myself thinking a number of times how great the book is and that I might just go back and read it again.
So finally, check out the movie, but you definitely have to read the book.
Check my review of the book here.
I am not opposed to all wars, What I am opposed to is a dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.— Barack Obama
WOW…
The surprise offer of $31 per share, made late Thursday and announced Friday, comes with Sunnyvale-based Yahoo in a vulnerable position.
In a statement Friday, Yahoo said it will “carefully and promptly” study Microsoft’s bid.
[…]
In a letter to Yahoo’s board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer indicated the world’s largest software maker is determined to bring the two companies together.
To underscore its resolve, Microsoft is offering a 62 percent premium to Yahoo’s closing stock price Thursday.
[Source: Yahoo News]
Rumors have been going around for quite some time now that Microsoft would eventually attempt to buy Yahoo, and now they have come true.
If Yahoo shareholders decide to sell, what would it mean for the Internet?
Would it make the companies’ combined portfolios better suited to take on Google?
What would happen to all the different Yahoo services? Especially if they have existing competing Microsoft services? It’d certainly be a shame to see services like Flickr or Delicious take a down turn because of this.
Many questions, and still too early to know for sure what the answers are.
Personally, I would prefer for this deal not to happen, because the way things are now allows for more competition and more creativity. Anyway, even if the deal goes through, I’m not sure it will change much in Microsoft’s position against Google, especially if they start trying to take Yahoo the Microsoft way and start MS’ing their products and services and badly re-branding them.
If the deal goes through, what I think they should do is leave Yahoo a lot of its independence and spirit, not change the product/service names, drop MSN altogether and study quantitatively and qualitatively competing products in the portfolio to take decisions on which to integrate everything into as a brand.
Anyway, I guess we’ll just wait and see how all this plays out. But it has the potential to change a big part of the geography of the online world.
Internet goes down, everything goes down…
[…]
Besides the Internet, the outage caused major disruption to television and phone services, creating chaos for the UAE’s public and private sectors.
[…]
The outage heavily crippled Dubai’s business section, which is heavily reliant on electronic means for billions of dollars’ worth of transactions daily.
[Source: CNN]
And all around the Middle East and beyond as well:
Egypt’s telecoms ministry said 70 per cent of the country’s internet network was down on Wednesday.
India was also affected, losing more than half its bandwidth initially.
Residents of Gulf Arab countries reported a slowdown in internet connectivity and disruption of services…
[Source: Al Jazeera]
This is what’s so scary about technology; we quickly get so used to it, we integrate it into our everyday lives and work, we become dependent on it for everything we do, and then when it fails for one reason or another our lives stop, we’re left crippled and helpless; we can’t go back and we can’t move forward; we just have to wait for things to be sorted out so we can go back to life as usual.
We’re too dependent on technology, and we don’t have a fail-safe plan; a major technological meltdown in the future could bring the whole world to a stand-still; and blow us back centuries into the past.
