Those iPhone users out there who read Mr. Q will be happy with another little update.

If you’ve updated your iphone to 3.0 then you’re probably wondering why you don’t have MMS or that Camera icon in your messages application.

To enable MMS with QTel, within your carrier settings section just input these settings

APN : mms.qtel
Username : mms
password : mms
MMSC : http://mmsr.qtelmms.qa
MMS Proxy : 10.23.8.3:8080
MMS max message size : BLANK
MMS UA PROF URL : Blank

Note: QTel changed their MMS Settings. Anybody have any new ones?

Not a lot of people know this, but I just thought I’d share what Salam means since if you’re in Qatar, you’ve probably heard it quite a lot.

No I’m not talking about the shop, but rather the greeting. Salam literally means ‘peace’. It’s a way of encouraging people to see and seek peace.

Culturally, the person who enters a room is the one who greets or says “Salam”. A person who leaves the room can also be kind enough to wish you ‘peace’ before leaving.

When in an elevator, I usually smile and say salam, and then say it again as I exit. Of course this is the case in any welcoming environment.

There are a few replies to Salam as well.

“Wa alykum al salam” is the standard response which means “And peace with you too”. However in the interest of simplicity, you can simply say ‘Al Salam’.

So go on, with your new found knowledge, learn to say Salam more! A simple word that’ll give people a smile for the day.

What do these two images have in common? Some of you might be squinting by now and wondering ‘is this a trick question?’ Some of you might not even see the difference! (By the way that photo on the right is not me. I actually resemble the one on the left some mornings though.)

I’m actually somewhat disappointed at the fact that so many people in Qatar seem to thing that Qataris are a strange and mysterious race. Alright I give in, you’re right. Star Wars Attack of the Clones was based on Qataris. We all act the same, wear white, and walk in unison.

On a serious note, I know this might come as a shocker, but we’re all independent. Actually scratch that, I do know some people who act the same but GUESS WHAT? Cliques and groups all over the world exist.

Where’s this spawning from? I hate it when someone has a bad experience in a cue and some Qatari jumps in front and people say “Look at these people”. I hate it when a Qatari speeds down the road and people say “Wow these people have no respect”.

We’re not the borg! Everyone’s different, everyone has their own opinion, everyone has their own dreams and goals. Believe it or not, that rude guy who jumped you in the cue would probably do the same thing to me! The only difference is that I’ve got a big mouth and I know how to articulate my thoughts.

I thought it was funny when someone on a typically negative site (which shall remain un-named) mentioned that Qataris only marry Qataris. Some do, WOW, shocker there, but I know Qataris who’ve married, Brits, Americans, Bahrainis, Germans, French, Spanish, Mexican, and Japanese people.

Believe me, I swear this isn’t some master plan to confuse you, but just like every country in this world, you’ll find ALL sorts.

Alright, I’m off to my weekly Qatari Land Cruiser meet-up. The topic today is how to mess up the economy.

Courtesy of Qatar’s Paperboy

ILQ News Tip! Anyone can get a VF number now!

Did you know that ANYONE can grab a Vodafone sim-card now?

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]

“Vodafone Qatar’s first shareholders can now reserve their numbers in person and pay in cash at the Diplomatic Club between 10am and 10pm until June 27.”

It’s not official, but if you have a Qatari ID you can reserve a number. I’ve heard that quite a few people have done this already and you don’t need to be a shareholder!

Grab your sim card before anyone else!

I was so proud of the fact that Qatar has been taking leaps and bounds in terms of creating a nation that was free.

My country. Qatar. It was no longer the American dream, but the Qatari dream. A country where you could see a developing nation become what so many people had sought. Skyscrapers emerging from the sands; An education city that set the benchmark for the region; a King and Queen who wanted nothing but the best for their people.

I love the fact that Qatar is a blank page. It gives us the chance to take use our minds to draw the future we always wanted. I love the fact that my country is trying to create peace around the world. I could say that MY country cared.

When the Doha Media Freedom Centre was created, “wow!”, I thought, “Qatar’s opening minds now!”. How sad it is that the Centre is no more. How could it exist if there are still those that rely on keeping people blind? I don’t know who they are and I don’t know what the full story is, however at the end of the day if we’re to judge others, we open the door to be judged.

Click here to read ‘The Doha Media Freedom Centre is no more”.

Hey everyone. I promise to get back on track and start sharing what goes on in the majlis and some more Qatari views.

Right now I’ve been extremely busy trying to organize things in my life.

One of the things which I hope to get insight on is with what people are looking for in vodafone. I know I know, everyone hates these, but as Tom Cruise said “Help me help you!”

If you could take a few moments of your time to answer an amazingly simple survey that would be awesome!

Of course please share the link.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Na_2bBH3mfI6cpRKQCoGwJmQ_3d_3d

The Emir, His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, declared the media free in the country in 1995 and with the launch of Al Jazeera, we have shown the world that Qatar is a country which allows different opinions to be heard.

We were, therefore, quite surprised by the outcome of a debate in the Advisory Council on Monday, which called for stringent punishment to be given to Qatar-based journalists who write against the ruler, national security, religion and the Constitution.

First of all, all the above subjects are already protected by the Qatari Law. Second, we must remember that there is a provision in the Qatari Constitution which allows its revision at a future date by the next generation. We have a saying in Arabic which roughly translates into English as ‘one generation cannot control another’. By raising this debate, the Advisory Council has made a generalised conclusion without addressing the issue directly.

We find it strange that the Advisory Council, made up of Qatari nationals, has this kind of opinion when His Highness The Emir has given us the freedom to voice our opinion on issues freely and in a fair manner.

We are concerned as a Qatari newspaper that if these restrictions are imposed on Qatari journalists, they will be afraid to report news and events as they see them. Needless to say, the impact on foreign scribes here would be too deterring.

I am an avid reader of local newspapers. None of them has ever written anything objectionable against the four subjects referred to in the Advisory Council debate. The Advisory Council, I am afraid, has failed to address the issue of irresponsible journalism. Other nations will find it strange that a country which advocates media freedom through the establishment of Al Jazeera will condone such practice. If there is any misuse, it shouldn’t be generalised. Doing this would soil Qatar’s image in the world.

Given this backdrop, we urge the authorities concerned in Qatar to come up with a new Media Law that would protect the freedom of our journalists, especially as the old press legislation was enforced years ago, in 1979.

Khalid Abdul Rahim Al Sayed is the Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula

I posted this back in early April, however I just had to post this again for those who don’t visit ILQ’s forums.

There’s a lot of good in Qatar, and there’s so much potential but where’s my government? I know there are many that are working hard to make a difference, but it’s not enough!

In Islam, we’re taught that we should treat everyone fairly. We’re taught that we should be tolerant and patient. We’re taught that we should always help those in need.

Now’s summer time, and the summer time work hours have kicked in. So if you see any labourers forced to work then contact the Qatar National Human Rights Authority on 444 4012 or 431 6542. Nobody should be working from 11:30-3pm.

I’m proud that Qatar’s own Al Jazeera reports this.

On a side note, it’s funny how many ignorant people there are out there. There are even those who ‘assume’ that by the title of ILQ that it’s all about the good side. No it’s not. It’s about loving your country so much that you want to make it a better place. It’s about wanting others to love it to, and to do that, we have to make a difference.

Classic case of judging a book by it’s cover; or in this case a site by it’s title.