I am so going to be broke soon! Someone restrain me from going to the mall! It’s insane how much you end up spending on stuff you probably don’t need when you see that sign!

If two for one is incredibly dangerous, what about THREE or FOUR for one. I should stay away from the mall when the holidays hit! The economy sucks, my saving bonds are falling, and I am jobless with savings that will not last at this rate of spending. Damn capitalism! DAMN IT!

Advertising, Angry, Blah Blah, Whatever!

Surprisingly, I got an inspirational email this morning from someone that thought I am a publisher and I write for newspapers or magazines because of my writing style. So, I came up with a great idea! You know me and my great ideas eh? I come up with a million of them a day.

Here we go, I decided that I will start an internet based monthly magazine of Arabs from Generation X. I am going to make it broad and it will focus on ages 20 – 35 18 – 35.

These will be the topics:

1. Growing up abroad as an Arab.
2. Media influence on Arabs abroad and back home.
3. New ideas that changed Arab’s view on society and the world.
4. Arab politics and it’s effect on generation X’s view point of the world.
5. Latest news from around the globe that effect Arabs.
6. Arab’s contribution to society and the world. (ie. science, technology, etc). Great place to write a profile of a colleague or friend who deserves recognition.
7. History, what have Arabs done that shaped the world?
8. Cartoons and art work by great Arab talent.
9. Humour.

etc.

How will the magazine be distributed?

I am going to test it first, and try to put together a magazine and distribute in pdf format from my site. In other words, it will be an e-Magazine. Then, as it gains popularity, I will create it’s own individual domain name, and have it there.

What can I do?

Contribute an article that you deem worthy to put in this magazine. However, I will have the final say, and I will be editing it. I will also be contacting great Arab bloggers out there to contribute. I will actually see if the bloggers are willing to contribute an amazing blog post that they have written to the magazine.

Will I get paid?

For the first few issues, no. When I do get the website up, and start having advertiser’s support, then each writer will get a share of the profits.

Do I have to use my real name?

No. You can use your nickname or domain name as your signature. Everyone is entitled to their privacy.

When will the first issue be out?

If I get bloggers and non-blogger’s enthusiastic support in the next couple of weeks, then an issue will be out in the first week of November.

Do I have to be Arab?

No. Diversity is what I am looking for. If you are non-Arab, than you can contribute your ideas and your view point of Arabs and the Arab world. What do you think of Arabs? It could be a topic area in the magazine.

Sounds good, but can I write anything?

It depends. I like a bit of variety in my life, and so does everyone. I will allow you to write anything, positive or negative, but refrain from using profanity and mocking of people. Also, I like a bit of professionalism, and writing like an adult!

I am not that good of a writer, but I want to contribute.

Are you a cartoonist then? Or you can write, but not in English. It’s ok, since I will be editing it, I will take the responsibility of getting it translated and grammaticaly corrected. I got time.

I really want to be a part of this, more than others!

Sure. You want to be an assistant editor, or layout designer, or anything, then be my guest. The more people, the merrier!

I don’t want to use the contact form.

I know. It is a hassle, and you cannot attach files. Just email me to rebelliousarabgirl (at) gmail.com

So what you think? Do you think there is potential there and you will read it or be part of it?

UPDATED: I have been trying to contact some people, but they DON’T HAVE ANY CONTACT information on their blog. How do people contact you? So, please, if you are reading this, anyone who is interested, email me so we can talk, and to permanently store your info!

Advertising, Angry, Blah Blah, Random Thoughts, Ranting as usual!

I am giving out a book titled: Girls Of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea. It’s a great book. It is written as a series of emails to one another to an online forum/group of the stories of four Saudi girls. If you are interested in knowing a bit more about the Saudi girls way of living, then you will learn a lot about it! You will definetly enjoy it!

How to enter?

1. You have to be an active member of my site. As in comment all the time, participate in various discussions, come up with topics for me to write about that interest you or want my opinion on.

2. You have to spread the word of this contest and my blog. As in advertise the site for me on your blog or in social networks such as Digg, Facebook, Stumbleupon, etc.

Who can enter?

Anyone can enter from anywhere in the world. The book is written in English! If you like reading English that is.

Contest deadline?

September 30, 2008. Winner will be announced on my site and contacted via email the next day. I will mail out the book soon after. I will not be responsible if the book got lost in the mail. So if you live in a country that has iffy mail problems, then don’t blame me! :p

Advertising, Blah Blah

Hello Entrecard lovers. I am going to be selling my Entrecard points. I will no longer be advertising the cards on my site. I have 2363 points. Who ever wants to buy them, please email me a bid. The price starts at $20.00 Canadian. I will send you the points right away once I receive the money.

Thank you!

Advertising

You see my friends, I came up with a great internet plan a week ago. A lot of Arab bloggers or Arabs in general who visit my site are not very fond of me. Therefore, I decided to prove them wrong for whatever reason they have based on my personality or writing. I don’t care because to each his/her own choice. So what I did is that I introduced to the world last week Araby Blogs as a non-biased site to network all Arab Bloggers. A lot of people told me to not tell anyone it is me and keep it a bit of an enigma. I didn’t want to. I had to advertise the new site somehow and I have no shame or fear that I made the site. So far Google mashallah 3aleeha has indexed Araby Blogs very well and people are actually searching for Arabic Social Networks, and guess who they choose? Within a week I reached 500 visits a day. Not bad really for something that has been online for a week and not advertised much at all.

So, I wanted a way to gather people so I introduced Araby Blogs to the world. I didn’t want it to be just another RSS feed aggregate, but the site to have a meaning to Arab bloggers and those who are interested in reading Arab blogs such as mine. I decided to write the simplest, most honest, the cutest, and straight forward blog reviews. I continually add new sites to it daily. I wanted to make people happy, and people who didn’t use to like me or didn’t really talk to me or come to my site came back because I did something that meant something. I used my skills as a programmer, my talents as a graphics designer, and my popularity as an Arab blogger to put a smile on their face. What else can I ask for but to put a smile on someone’s face and make them happy? It makes me happy with all my heart.

Those bloggers may have never been recognized for their efforts. Some Arab bloggers out there have to be recognized for their writing. I know the feeling. I was interviewed and featured on many sites by Arabs and non-Arabs mostly because I wrote something that meant something. Others do too and they need to be recognized and this is my way to give back to my people and help them out. Initially, I wanted to look deeper into the site and turn it to an investment. However, to have a network to socially engage and get to know more bloggers is a lot more rewarding. I love reading blogs. I love reading a real story that is not fabricated for an audience. Also, my apologizes, I don’t actively comment on people’s sites that much, but I do read them. I read a lot!

I think for those people who love reading books and go through 1 or 2 books a week or more are amazing people. I don’t know how you can do it. But, don’t you think that bloggers write more than that sometimes and read 10 times more than that? I am a critic. I won’t deny it. I do read a lot of blogs and books at home. Reading is a skill that people need to enjoy again, however, the most forgotten skill that people don’t use much is writing.

I will be honest with everyone now. When I first started my blog, I had one thing in mind, and it obviously was not to improve my writing skills but just to send a message to the world. Now, I want to send a message to the world by articulating my ideas through well written words that I post online. I will never say I am a great writer. I am just like everyone else out there. A blogger who loves to write and send a message to the world. I want everyone who is a blogger to think about how they are writing, and why they are writing. Are you a blogger who is writing for your self only, to your friends, or to an audience? I used to question my self a lot every time I published a new post, who am I writing to and why? Took me about 2 years till I discovered that I can write for my self, question my self, write about issues that effect me as an individual, and for the rest of the world to read and relate to.

The best emails, as the one I posted earlier today are the ones that say, “I am like you! I think like you exactly!” Do you think like me, or I am just sharing an experience that you went through, but no one to discuss it with? Someone else out there has felt the same way, and that’s why blogging is so popular. It’s the way you present your stories to the world, and how you can get your audience to relate to you. That’s what I think is the hardest skill a blogger can ever have. That’s why I am reviewing many blogs on my other site to show to the world that there are so many people like me and just need a way to recognize them.

And yah.. for those who didn’t know it was me who made Araby Blogs, and are wondering why I keep using “we” in everything I write on there, is because “WE” the Arab bloggers who are making the site bloom into something positive and colourful for the world to read.

Thanks so far!

Advertising, Blah Blah, Random Thoughts, They said what?