Thursday, April 28, 2005
Ideal Lawz
Looking back on the past two weeks, dayz and nights were spent staring at random equations, which will all be forgotten at the turn of the month. But then again the fact that the equations I was studying appeared random should tell you how far behind I was in my courses!!
During this period of isolation, I came to an interesting realization: my studies and life in general are not all that different.
For example, in one of the courses, we studied the effects of liquids and gases. But because these seemingly trivial subjects are very complex, certain assumptions are made which greatly simplifies everything. That laws that we then come up with are called 'ideal lawz' because they're based on so many assumptions. Now, its another story that in reality these laws that we derive are not true because not everything about liquid n gases is taken into account.
Similarly, we sit and dream about life and what we want to achieve meanwhile choosing to ignore all the harsh realities. Therefore, we live in our 'ideal' world where assumptions of a perfect life are made. But when this ideal of our is broken, much like the lawz of liquids and gases, we're very surprised and let out an exasperated gasp claiming not to have seen it coming!! But didn't we just choose to ignore it in the first place??
To be honest I don't really know where I'm going with this analogy but its an interesting thought nonetheless (atleast I hope so!!).
On a different note, visit the following link to browse through the bids for 2012 Olympics. There are some big guns running: london, paris, moscow, madrid and new york. The bid videos are good and worth watching.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/2570003.stm
As usual, the weather seems to have turned on me as soon as school ended :-(
I had all these planz but the weather has put them all in a turmoil so no MSA bar-b-que (I was really looking forward to it) and maybe even my game will get cancelled. Now I'm really mad!!
(I guess my earlier analogy applies perfectly to this situation)
During this period of isolation, I came to an interesting realization: my studies and life in general are not all that different.
For example, in one of the courses, we studied the effects of liquids and gases. But because these seemingly trivial subjects are very complex, certain assumptions are made which greatly simplifies everything. That laws that we then come up with are called 'ideal lawz' because they're based on so many assumptions. Now, its another story that in reality these laws that we derive are not true because not everything about liquid n gases is taken into account.
Similarly, we sit and dream about life and what we want to achieve meanwhile choosing to ignore all the harsh realities. Therefore, we live in our 'ideal' world where assumptions of a perfect life are made. But when this ideal of our is broken, much like the lawz of liquids and gases, we're very surprised and let out an exasperated gasp claiming not to have seen it coming!! But didn't we just choose to ignore it in the first place??
To be honest I don't really know where I'm going with this analogy but its an interesting thought nonetheless (atleast I hope so!!).
On a different note, visit the following link to browse through the bids for 2012 Olympics. There are some big guns running: london, paris, moscow, madrid and new york. The bid videos are good and worth watching.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/2570003.stm
As usual, the weather seems to have turned on me as soon as school ended :-(
I had all these planz but the weather has put them all in a turmoil so no MSA bar-b-que (I was really looking forward to it) and maybe even my game will get cancelled. Now I'm really mad!!
(I guess my earlier analogy applies perfectly to this situation)
Monday, April 25, 2005
Fish's Eye View
Ever wonder what a fish sees when it looks at you?
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0505/sights_n_sounds/index.html
Alright, enough wasting time..........back to studying......one more till I'm a free man!!!
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0505/sights_n_sounds/index.html
Alright, enough wasting time..........back to studying......one more till I'm a free man!!!
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Countdown
Here I sit past midnight, merely hours away from my first exam in a long time. The countdown has begun!
Am I prepared?
"You're never really prepared," answers a cynic. But in my case, I've forgotten the feeling that rides along side of pro-activeness (if that's even a word).
Familiarity with another concept has become routine. Procastination, they call it, but I prefer my definition of 'excuses.'
Maybe some night prayers might alter my fortune. Well, they better, for my only hope rests with them.
Either way, another term comes and goes. I live with the ever dimming hope of mending my wayz but.........*sigh*......
........some things are just not meant to be changed.
Am I prepared?
"You're never really prepared," answers a cynic. But in my case, I've forgotten the feeling that rides along side of pro-activeness (if that's even a word).
Familiarity with another concept has become routine. Procastination, they call it, but I prefer my definition of 'excuses.'
Maybe some night prayers might alter my fortune. Well, they better, for my only hope rests with them.
Either way, another term comes and goes. I live with the ever dimming hope of mending my wayz but.........*sigh*......
........some things are just not meant to be changed.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Muslim Tartars
I really do want to rant about exams but I've decided not to. You may ask why? Mainly because everyone has them and the last thing they want is to hear other people complain about it.
For those who think they know everything about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, be ready to get shocked. Watch the four videos, a documentary by PBS (highly recommended)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/israel/view/
I read an interesting article the other day and thought to share it with everyone:
"The Muslim Tartars have been in Poland for centuries and there are an estimated 4,000 residing in the country today, occupying a handful of towns. There are of course immigrant communities in Poland as well, but they are not the ones whose history I am tracing today.
The mosques in the settlements of Bohoniki and Kruszyniany were built over 300 years ago when King Jan III Sobieski gave land to the Muslim Tartar officers and soldiers of the Tartarian Company in exchange for back pay.
After I took some photos, the driver in a gesture of compassion, indicated with hand signals that he would approach the nearby houses to find someone, anyone. A few moments later, a large, Polish, Tartar-looking lady with a huge smile and dressed in three-quarter length jeans and a hat emerged from a nearby home. The driver informed her that I was a visiting “American” (must have been my accent), and that I spoke no Polish. She was kind enough to open the mosque for me, while at the same time, a Polish couple who had strayed into the village thought to go inside and take a look as well.
While unlocking the door, the lovely middle aged lady decided that her dress wasn't quite appropriate and donned a jilbab (long Arab-style coat) and a head scarf that are widely available in Poland and notoriously famous. As she progressed to giving us a brief introduction of the history of the mosque and the Muslims in Poland, I looked around.
The 19th century mosque had a cozy atmosphere and whilst I didn't understand a word the lady spoke, the fact that she took the time to explain to the other tourists the history of the Muslims in Poland, followed by a short introduction to Islam, suggests to me that while we couldn’t communicate in this life, she will undoubtedly be one of the people of Paradise, by the Mercy of God."
It is mind blowing if you think about what she does. She lives in pretty much the middle of nowhere, with no real contact with any Muslims and yet has the decency to dress appropriately while entering the mosque!!!!!
I did a good deed the other day and some people whom I knew saw me doing it. They praised me and I felt like the next Salahuddin!!!!!! And here this lady is introducing people to Islam in this remote corner of the world and she would in all likelihood get no recognition whatsoever.................atleast in this world.......
"So, he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it" (al-Zalzala verse:07)
(meaning every good deed, no matter how small, will not be forgotten)
For those who think they know everything about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, be ready to get shocked. Watch the four videos, a documentary by PBS (highly recommended)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/israel/view/
I read an interesting article the other day and thought to share it with everyone:
"The Muslim Tartars have been in Poland for centuries and there are an estimated 4,000 residing in the country today, occupying a handful of towns. There are of course immigrant communities in Poland as well, but they are not the ones whose history I am tracing today.
The mosques in the settlements of Bohoniki and Kruszyniany were built over 300 years ago when King Jan III Sobieski gave land to the Muslim Tartar officers and soldiers of the Tartarian Company in exchange for back pay.
After I took some photos, the driver in a gesture of compassion, indicated with hand signals that he would approach the nearby houses to find someone, anyone. A few moments later, a large, Polish, Tartar-looking lady with a huge smile and dressed in three-quarter length jeans and a hat emerged from a nearby home. The driver informed her that I was a visiting “American” (must have been my accent), and that I spoke no Polish. She was kind enough to open the mosque for me, while at the same time, a Polish couple who had strayed into the village thought to go inside and take a look as well.
While unlocking the door, the lovely middle aged lady decided that her dress wasn't quite appropriate and donned a jilbab (long Arab-style coat) and a head scarf that are widely available in Poland and notoriously famous. As she progressed to giving us a brief introduction of the history of the mosque and the Muslims in Poland, I looked around.
The 19th century mosque had a cozy atmosphere and whilst I didn't understand a word the lady spoke, the fact that she took the time to explain to the other tourists the history of the Muslims in Poland, followed by a short introduction to Islam, suggests to me that while we couldn’t communicate in this life, she will undoubtedly be one of the people of Paradise, by the Mercy of God."
It is mind blowing if you think about what she does. She lives in pretty much the middle of nowhere, with no real contact with any Muslims and yet has the decency to dress appropriately while entering the mosque!!!!!
I did a good deed the other day and some people whom I knew saw me doing it. They praised me and I felt like the next Salahuddin!!!!!! And here this lady is introducing people to Islam in this remote corner of the world and she would in all likelihood get no recognition whatsoever.................atleast in this world.......
"So, he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it" (al-Zalzala verse:07)
(meaning every good deed, no matter how small, will not be forgotten)
Sunday, April 10, 2005
The Last Laugh
Often, my evenings were spent lying on the moist grass as the cool ocean breeze broke across my body. Looking skywards, the dying sun was making one last attempt to barge through the cloud barrier. The leaves on the long winded cocunut trees shook back and forth like a pendulum only to return to normalcy as if following a cyclical pattern. I looked out across the ocean with its umpteen ripples and care free attitude and then back again at my five car garage with a mercedez, prosche, etc only to look behind me at a house fit for kings.
I used to have a poster depicting what seemed like a villa in the Tuscany. I lost it while we switched houses. But the reason for its possession was not what you might expect. It was mine and yet it wasn't. Even though I dreamt about it, I had no desire for it.
Allah's Apostle said, "A place in Paradise equal to the size of a lash is better than the whole world and whatever is in it."
A friend of mine remarked to me the other day that there is no heaven or hell after we die. We turn into dust he claimed. I smiled at him and looked the other way. I didn't feel an urge to try and convince him otherwise for previous encounters with people had taught me a valuable lesson of patience.
There is no point arguing one way or the other. No matter what view you have, we shall all find out in due time, won't we??? We are all bound to leave one day, some of us sooner rather than later. Who will have the last laugh?
..........I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.
I used to have a poster depicting what seemed like a villa in the Tuscany. I lost it while we switched houses. But the reason for its possession was not what you might expect. It was mine and yet it wasn't. Even though I dreamt about it, I had no desire for it.
Allah's Apostle said, "A place in Paradise equal to the size of a lash is better than the whole world and whatever is in it."
A friend of mine remarked to me the other day that there is no heaven or hell after we die. We turn into dust he claimed. I smiled at him and looked the other way. I didn't feel an urge to try and convince him otherwise for previous encounters with people had taught me a valuable lesson of patience.
There is no point arguing one way or the other. No matter what view you have, we shall all find out in due time, won't we??? We are all bound to leave one day, some of us sooner rather than later. Who will have the last laugh?
..........I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
The Approaching Torment
Reading seems to have come to a halt with the advent of the exams but I still do manage to sneak some time in, but barely. Insha Allah, the next book I want to pick up after the exams is by the Nobel Laureate author Gabriella Garica Marquez. Its called 100 Years of Solitude and its quite the famous book from what I hear. It shouldn't be surprising for this is probably the masterpiece of his career.
After reading his first book, Chronicles of a Death Foretold, I fell in love with the little Spanish town where everyone knew of a murder to take place the next day except for the victim. But it was not even the plot that attracted me as much as being lost in the far away South American town with its customs and traditions that enthralled me more, I suppose. One of the images from the book that still stick out is of that of the Pope doing the cross sign in a mechanical motion, which interestingly enough came to life during the extensive coverage of the death of Pope John Paul. Its amazing how the mind works sometimes where an image brought back memories from a book that was read 4 years ago. Man, that feels like ages ago!!!!!
It would be nice to keep up with my goal of reading one book per month, be it Islamic or non-Islamic. Obviously, April cannot take part in this plan but insha Allah after the exams, I'll start again. Up until now, its been The Warriors of God for february and Da Vinci Code for March.
On a different note, it looks like the GIVE event for April will be MCE cleaning. It'd be nice, I guess, to be humbled by such a chore for its easy to get carried away at times. In fact, in terms of rewards, I think this would be right up there with the other ones. I must say though having never cleaned washrooms in my own house, this should be quite the adventure :-)
P.S. Torment = Exams
After reading his first book, Chronicles of a Death Foretold, I fell in love with the little Spanish town where everyone knew of a murder to take place the next day except for the victim. But it was not even the plot that attracted me as much as being lost in the far away South American town with its customs and traditions that enthralled me more, I suppose. One of the images from the book that still stick out is of that of the Pope doing the cross sign in a mechanical motion, which interestingly enough came to life during the extensive coverage of the death of Pope John Paul. Its amazing how the mind works sometimes where an image brought back memories from a book that was read 4 years ago. Man, that feels like ages ago!!!!!
It would be nice to keep up with my goal of reading one book per month, be it Islamic or non-Islamic. Obviously, April cannot take part in this plan but insha Allah after the exams, I'll start again. Up until now, its been The Warriors of God for february and Da Vinci Code for March.
On a different note, it looks like the GIVE event for April will be MCE cleaning. It'd be nice, I guess, to be humbled by such a chore for its easy to get carried away at times. In fact, in terms of rewards, I think this would be right up there with the other ones. I must say though having never cleaned washrooms in my own house, this should be quite the adventure :-)
P.S. Torment = Exams