tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218573692009-06-13T16:04:20.332+04:00Farrukh Naeem, award-winning copywriter and journalist based in Abu Dhabi, UAE blogs about writing, blogging, creativity, technology, and spiritualityFarrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-88197808623551759552009-06-13T15:59:00.000+04:002009-06-13T16:01:15.522+04:00

Can't find the profile name option in your Facebook account? No problem.Just log into your account and then visit this url:http://www.facebook.com/usernameYou will see the username options Facebook suggests for you.Click on 'More' and you can then type in your desired profile name.Best of luck!

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-31568428607607831862009-01-25T12:37:00.009+04:002009-01-25T13:45:09.473+04:00

Yesterday was the first time in recorded history that the residents of Ras Al Khaimah, an Emirate of the United Arab Emirates, saw snow covering the peak of Jebel Jais. This is in a country which is covered with desert sands and has temperatures rising up to 50 degree centigrade in the summer. A country where the local dialect doesn't even have a word for 'snow'!The temperature reached -3 degrees

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-8606658372286394752008-05-11T20:18:00.000+04:002008-05-11T20:25:03.878+04:00

Being an advertising copywriter, I've had a very fruitful time attending the Dubai Lynx Awards - in the first edition last year and thsi year too, when the event grew into the 3 day Dubai International Advertising Festival.I've been blogging the event - recent pictures of creative guys from different advertising agencies in the Middle East and North Africa region celebrating their wins have been

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-48858569869709116332008-04-01T05:16:00.000+04:002008-04-01T05:23:38.948+04:00

The first International Advertising Festival and the 2nd Duabi Lynx Awards were inaugurated today at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre today. I'm blogging the event on my Copywriter Journalist blog.Some of the posts so far are:1. 2nd Dubai Lynx Awards entries cross the 2000 mark in 20082. Dubai Lynx shortlists, advertising seminars and workshops keep delegates busy on Day 13.

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-75460538337670233042008-03-16T12:15:00.001+04:002009-01-26T10:55:55.390+04:00

[UPDATE: 26 January 2009: After receiving a comment from a blog reader saying the toll free number doesn't work anymore, I called 800 555, the toll free number for all Abu Dhabi government departments to ask them what's the new number for the Department of Consumer Protection. After a long, long wait as they searched, I was asked to call 181 instead because they didn't have the number I was

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-88335588814483685072008-02-28T19:00:00.000+04:002008-02-28T19:03:48.055+04:00

Just a quick post to let readers know that my ad blog, one of the most popular advertising blogs in the UAE, is now at http://www.copywriterjournalist.com/So, if you're interested in what's going on in UAE advertising, and read up what a copywriter in UAE has to say about it - welcome to the copywriter's blog!

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-18054272360152513182007-12-07T17:04:00.001+04:002008-02-28T19:00:09.849+04:00

I've been writing ever since I can remember. And for money for around 10 years now - as an advertising copywriter and journalist.But very early on in my career, I had decided that as a matter of principle, I would have nothing to do with people expecting freebies from writers. "It'll only take a few minutes of your time," they'd say.Or in the case of advertising writing, "It's only a slogan,"

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-10288727732294105402007-12-07T16:41:00.000+04:002007-12-07T17:30:12.095+04:00

The Ninja from YouTube gives some hard core tips to writers to get what they want, in light of the Writers' Guild strike.Really funny tips if you are a writers' group anywhere in the world. Or a writer.Technorati Tags:Writers, writing, freelance writer, freelancer, freelance writing, pay for writers, writing rates, scriptwriter, scriptwriting, pay the writer, writer feesAdd to: Technorati Digg

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-21030793889933302572007-10-24T18:16:00.000+04:002007-10-24T18:27:22.722+04:00

YouTube videos just stopped working on my laptop today.The YouTube website is opening up fine, embedded videos on blogs are working okay.But when I click on a video on YouTube website, the video just wouldn't run.This is the error message the site gave me:"Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player."Then, I started Googling for ways to turn on

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-48592262622465899192007-04-21T00:49:00.001+04:002007-05-21T15:09:42.554+04:00

Burj Dubai, the building in progress that you see in the picture I took of it recently, is rapidly on its way to become the world's tallest building. It already has broken the world record for having the highest number of floors in the world - 120 and going strong...Here are 10 interesting things that will go into the making of Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building to be:The estimated building

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-91038595595188705712007-04-17T10:36:00.000+04:002007-04-17T10:46:31.602+04:00

People charge you for information. But on the internet, there are people and companies sharing a lot of valuable information through case studies, white papers and research for free. Why are they doing this when they can make money selling this useful information?Michael Walters, a seasoned marketing consultant who heads True Integrated Marketing, quoted something in a recent conversation when I

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-38936874170119349532007-04-17T09:16:00.001+04:002008-02-28T18:59:15.115+04:00

"Why are you doing this?" is a common question I am asked. "What will you get out of this?" is the next one that surely follows. People only understand instant gratification, I presume.On my copywriter and journalist in the UAE blog, I try and respond to all the reader comments and give tips when they ask for how to get a job in advertising, how to go about looking for copywriting opportunities

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-68248774562243649892007-03-13T04:43:00.001+04:002007-03-13T22:39:39.160+04:00

Blogger enables one to post in Hindi - अब हम हिंदी में बलोगिंग कर सकते हैं सिर्फ एक बटन दबा कर. Of all the languages in the world, the first one available on Blogger.com after English is Hindi. Makes me happy, proud and eager to try the feature.अब हम हिन्दी में ब्लौगिंग कर सकते हैं - और वह भी इंग्लिश में टाईप कर के - कमाल है ना!An excellent and descriptive post on how you can type in Hindi on

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-17297984418782052892007-02-15T05:13:00.000+04:002007-03-13T02:23:07.220+04:00

Creative Majlis - a global network of creative professionals and community service enthusiasts pooling in their skills and talents for social causes - is celebrating its first anniversary. In one year, we have grown from two founding members - Farrukh Naeem and Mayura Sandeep, both advertising professionals determined to use their skills for community service - to more than 300 members across the

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1165081294889329222006-12-02T21:38:00.000+04:002006-12-02T21:41:38.170+04:00

The UAE is celebrating its 35th National Day today. Our prayers and best wishes to a country that is home to more than a 100 nationalities. A country that welcomes people from all cultures and communities. A country where people come to make their dreams come true, and do.As the UAE prepares to move further with its electoral process and a million other progressive things, we wish the best for

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1162902434494825842006-11-07T16:26:00.000+04:002006-12-02T21:50:55.800+04:00

If you care for the freedom of people to express their thoughts on the internet, this news is of use.Peter Griffin of Caferati, a writers group having more than 2,000 members worldwide and a Dubai chapter too, posted me in on it today.Reporters Without Borders has organised an international cyber demo to support freedom of speech on the internet.All you have to do to support their campaign

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1159817941776408552006-10-02T23:33:00.000+04:002006-10-03T00:09:15.513+04:00

Today is 2 October - Gandhi Jayanti - the birthdate of Mahatma Gandhi - the man the world remembers for bringing down a powerful empire through non-violence. The man the world needs most in these warring times.The man we Indians fondly call "Bapu" - or father.Here's why I admire Gandhi Ji, and this is not just because I have watched the recent movie "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" that has made Gandhigiri

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1158824061437746992006-09-21T11:00:00.000+04:002006-09-21T11:41:49.110+04:00

War does different things to different people.It rings the cash registers of arms manufacturers and defence contractors. Oil companies rub their hands in anticipation. Terrorists rejoice at the emotions they can now whip up to recruit for their evil causes.News networks work overtime, enflaming passions further, rather than calming people down - if it bleeds, it leads. Viewership ratings

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1158568231949862212006-09-18T11:59:00.000+04:002006-09-20T15:22:02.706+04:00

People have, in the course of history, committed heinous crimes in God's name and continue to do so - most of us are just too lazy or ignorant to challenge their distortions and lies.Does any religion teach imperialism, greed and aggression? Or are the teachings of religions being twisted by the power hungry for material gains?Jesus (peace be upon him) taught that you should turn the other cheek

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1155548848412953642006-08-14T13:45:00.000+04:002006-08-15T13:09:41.676+04:00

The wars won't stop till we have a 'we-they' mentality. The hate won't stop as long as we are pointing fingers at each other.I admire Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence as a means to put one's point across.A beautiful story that I want to share is shown in the movie 'Gandhi'.A man whose small child was killed in riots came to Gandhi and said they killed my son, now I am going to kill

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1149952727565900472006-06-10T19:17:00.000+04:002006-06-21T17:45:14.940+04:00

There comes a time in everyone's life when they look at what they do, day after day, and wonder if it has any meaning - if it makes life better for anyone other than themselves. That's when we start wishing that we want to do something meaningful.Most of us would like to make a difference to the world we live in, but how? Now there's a great way to get together and pool in skills and talents for

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1148478608761247172006-05-24T17:48:00.000+04:002006-05-27T03:57:47.690+04:00

Dubai has a new forum for writers who like to share their work and network with other writers for peer review. The past few months, I had been working hard to start the Dubai chapter of Caferati - an international writers' forum with more than 1,500 writer members worldwide.Early this month, Caferati Dubai had its first Read Meet - and boy, did we have our hands full with great writing to be

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1145803726622567322006-04-23T17:40:00.000+04:002006-04-23T18:48:46.716+04:00

On my visit to India, I was given a CD recording of a young Islamic scholar's speech on 'Islam and social service'. Now this Sheikh is a passout from Al Azhar University so the lecture was laced with quotes and references from the Holy Quran and hadith.A story from that recording stayed with me about a saintly Muslim teacher who was asked by an old and poor non-Muslim woman to pray to God for her

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1145369380208560662006-04-18T18:06:00.000+04:002006-05-27T16:55:26.940+04:00

The officer at the emigration counter was young, and talkative.As I stood in the queue waiting for my turn, I could see that he was making small talk with most passengers.Some passengers replied to him smiling. Some grimaced. Some looked the other way as he spoke.Was he cross-questioning them? Or just making small talk?It was my turn."Are you Indian?" the officer asked as he trained his eyes on

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21857369.post-1145194648786904552006-04-16T17:25:00.000+04:002006-04-16T17:37:28.796+04:00

I have just returned to the UAE from India - and this trip made me a certified NRI (Non-Resident Indian). How, you ask?My tummy crashed.The way it does for foreigners who visit India and can't take the spicy food.I felt ridiculous carrying a mineral water bottle around, like the firangi backpackers you see in India whose tummies can't take our desi water. The street side stalls called out to the

Farrukh Naeemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12709393897548875616noreply@blogger.com4