Some architecture

Jumma

As I enter the mosque to pray jumma I am confronted by numerous signs shouting "TURN YOUR MOBILE OFF". Then the speaker stands up and begins his lecture, in a language foreign to the country. You came in to the building full of ambition to be good. So you start to listen to the person as you listen to Quran. Not understanding but appreciating that something good is being said. Then suddenly, the lack of anything emanates from the words and reminders you of your childhood come crashing back. Them boring 9am classes that you sit through silently not understanding anything and enter into a near coma. Then you remember you have a life support machine that can revive you! You pick slowly out of your pocket your mobile phone. Quickly sprawl over it. Trying to stay alive as you look look send an SOS to anyone that will hear your cries. As soon as you have sent the warning you eagerly wait for someone to come and save you. And when they do, you feel the life re-entering your body. So as you awaken again, a glance towards the "turn of your mobile phone" and you reflect on it's meaning. The principle is that it distracts people from god, which in actual fact the thing that is distracting people from god is the speaker. So maybe we should make signs saying "Turn your Urdu/French/Chinese off".

Jumma

As I enter the mosque to pray jumma I am confronted by numerous signs shouting "TURN YOUR MOBILE OFF". Then the speaker stands up and begins his lecture, in a language foreign to the country. You came in to the building full of ambition to be good. So you start to listen to the person as you listen to Quran. Not understanding but appreciating that something good is being said. Then suddenly, the lack of anything emanates from the words and reminders you of your childhood come crashing back. Them boring 9am classes that you sit through silently not understanding anything and enter into a near coma. Then you remember you have a life support machine that can revive you! You pick slowly out of your pocket your mobile phone. Quickly sprawl over it. Trying to stay alive as you look look send an SOS to anyone that will hear your cries. As soon as you have sent the warning you eagerly wait for someone to come and save you. And when they do, you feel the life re-entering your body. So as you awaken again, a glance towards the "turn of your mobile phone" and you reflect on it's meaning. The principle is that it distracts people from god, which in actual fact the thing that is distracting people from god is the speaker. So maybe we should make signs saying "Turn your Urdu/French/Chinese off".

8 film categories

main Theme(emotion) in a film is determined by the genre:

- ROMANCE.....1 desire for love.....2 desire for pleasure
- HORROR.....3 fear of death.....4 fear of the unknown
- THRILLER.....5 desire for justice.....6 morality of individual
- PERSONAL DRAMA.....7 desire for order.....8 desire for validation

so altogether 8 emotions can be displayed in a film.

3 tones to a film: TRAGEDY(--) COMEDY(++) DRAMA(+-)

Balaam in the Quran

Regarding the Islamic view of Balaam, there is no clear reference to Balaam in the Qur'an. However, the commentators argue that he is the one that the following text is referring to:

Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent Our signs, but he passed them by: so Satan followed him up, and he went astray.
If it had been Our will, We should have elevated him with Our signs; but he inclined to the earth, and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our signs; So relate the story; perchance they may reflect.
—Qur'an, sura 7 (Al-A'raf), ayat 175-176[8]
The Muslim commentators explain that Balaam was a Canaanite who had been given knowledge of some of the books of God. His people asked him to curse Moses (Musa) and those who were with him, but he said, "How can I curse one who has angels with him?" They continued to press him, however, until he cursed the Israelites, and, as a consequence, they remained forty years in the Wilderness of the Wanderings. Then, when he had cursed Moses, his tongue came out and fell upon his breast, and he began to pant like a dog.

The story as told by Tabari[9] is somewhat more Biblical. Balaam had the knowledge of the Most Sacred Name of God, and whatever he asked of God was granted to him. The story of Balaam and the ass, then follows at length. When it came to the actual cursing, God "turned his tongue" so that the cursing fell upon his own people and the blessing upon Israel. Then his tongue came out and hung down on his breast. Finally, he advised his people to adorn and beautify their women and to send them out to ensnare the Israelites. The story of the plague at Baal-peor and of Cozbi and Zimri[10] follows.

According to another story which al-Tabari gives, Balaam was a renegade Israelite who knew the Most Sacred Name and, to gain the things of this world, went over to the Canaanites. Al-Tha'labi[11] adds that Balaam was descended from Lot. He gives, too, the story of Balaam's dream, his being forbidden by God to curse Israel. Another version is that Balak, the king of Bal'a, compelled Balaam to use the Most Sacred Name against Israel. The curse fell automatically, and Moses, having learned whence it came, entreated God to take from Balaam his knowledge of the Name and his faith. This being done, they went out from him in the form of a white dove.

Economics; the means or the idol

'...as I have argued all along, no system or machinery or economic doctrine or theory stands on its own two feet: it is invariably built on a metaphysical foundation, that is to say, upon man's basic outlook on life, its meaning and its purpose. I have talked about the religion of economics, the idol worship of material possessions, of consumption and the so-called standard of living, and the fateful propensity that rejoices in the fact that "what were luxuries to our fathers have become necessities for us"' Schumacher

Haatin al-Assam on haste

Haatim al-Assam stated:
Haste is from the Shaytaan except in five cases:
1. Feeding the guest when he arrives.
2. Preparing the deceased when he dies.
3. Marrying off the virgin when she reaches the appropriate age.
4. Paying off the debt when its due.
5. Repenting from a sin when a sin is commit

Louis MacNeice - Snow

Louis MacNeice - Snow

The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was
Spawning snow and pink roses against it
Soundlessly collateral and incompatible:
World is suddener than we fancy it.

World is crazier and more of it than we think,
Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion
A tangerine and spit the pips and feel
The drunkenness of things being various.

And the fire flames with a bubbling sound for world
Is more spiteful and gay than one supposes -
On the tongue on the eyes on the ears in the palms of one's hands -
There is more than glass between the snow and the huge roses.

In the end it is where yout fear is

Today the news read that the dutchess of cambridge was photographed topless. Now many are going to wonder if this is such a thought provoking situation. And they would be correct, because on its own it is such a random event. However if we see it inline with other events in the world we can see some relevence.

Lets take a trip to a few days ago, where an american was killed in lybia. This tragedy was a result of riots which was a result of people filming the prophet of islam in a disgusting light. The general public response was not of disgust but was a pro freedom of speech arguement.

However we see the disgusting pictures of the royal family and there is no freedom of speech discussion. It is recognised by the majority as disgusting and apologies are being made by all parties.

Now lets think, either they dont believe in freedom or they are scared of the consequnces if they fight the argument. Because if they didnt believe in the freedom of speech they would not have published or even taken the pictures.

The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry, And leave us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy." Robert Burns

Here we have our first external [ meaning it is not my experience, but someone else's] post of someone who has gone through an experience that really affected his life, and may affect the course of his life. in the way his life turns out, in the near future and the distant future. as well as shaping his thoughts as an individual. i hope other can benefit from his critical reflections:

Up until the 1st of May, Everything seemed on track for me. I have always been that boy who just loved to excel. From a very young age, I was thought never to settle for second best. Now, this is not to say that I am a genius, it is far from who I really am. More often than not, I always fell below the standards I set for myself, I know you'll say that's a good thing because it made me a force to reckon with amongst my peers, but most of the times, it always left me angry about what could have been if only I tried harder. My dad never really cared about the details of my efforts, all that mattered to him was results. And in over 20 years of academic involvements, the pursuit of excellence now runs in my DNA.

I have a good track record of keeping the right friends close to me, and I believe it helps define who I am. I hate the fact that I didn't make a first class honours in University, but I always take pride in the fact that I had a 2.1, and even first class candidates took me as one of them because no matter how talented the group I find myself, I always had a lot to contribute. An undying thirst for knowledge and excellence made me to travel abroad for further studies, and trust me, from the blast of the whistle; I got off to a flying start. Answering questions in class, initiating intuitive and intellectual discussions and to cap it all up, a B3 overall grade in the first stage of the session (which is a big deal here)

It couldn't get any better, I was on course for what would be the greatest honour of my life, to finish with a distinction. but to be sincere, getting a distinction wasn't priority for me, I would be more than happy with a merit, but anything less will be considered a waste of time and resources, as my dad always told me, "the end justifies the means"

On the 1st of May, out of over-carefulness and the quest for perfection, and of course with a measure of ignorance, I sent my research paper by e-mail to a friend to help check for errors with her own account as I had no access to the such programs. This decision, born out of the fear of failure, proved a dramatic turnaround in my academic experience. My final submission was detected as a plagiarised copy of the draft which my friend accidentally uploaded as it turned out; I had committed the abominable offence as a student. Only two weeks before I was told this, I received a rare commendation from the program leader about the same essay and was to have the work published. As it turned out, I went from grace to grass in 14 days. Such is life. Inasmuch as the punishment of plagiarism (stealing in literature) which a strong part of me takes objection to, because I don't believe one can steal from oneself, has been reduced, the outcome could still have far reaching consequences, I stand a chance of not been eligible to get a merit when I could easily have been on course for a distinction.

I know these sounds like a kid crying over spilt milk, what can I do? I already made it clear that it runs in my DNA. If I were carefree, I wouldn't have bothered to check the originality of my work, and I wouldn't even bother if I had a merit or a pass or whatever. But do I really want to be carefree; do I know how to be carefree? The answer is No. Who am I really living for? Do I care too much about what my folks will make of my performance? Well, I don't live for my folks but I do appreciate their sacrifice for me and I would go as far as being distressed to make them happy. That's how much I value their efforts

This incidence has thought me a lot, it has showed what a friend I am to a lot of people, A lot of classmates have looked beyond the competition to show their deepest concern, some even took it upon themselves to seek advice on my behalf. I will always be indebted to these people. It has also thought me that life isn’t judged based on intention, only God cares about intention. It has showed what a thin line exists between Glory and Shame. 

An amazing friend of mine studying in U.I has also been more than wonderful. She practically made my burden hers and went out of her way to show affection, support, consolation and what have you. I cannot repay her for what she made herself to be in such a devastating period, but I hope she gets all her heart desires.

One thing I ask from the Almighty is to make things get back on track for me before I complete this course, and most importantly, if I have failed to make my parents proud at this stage, may He give me a bigger opportunity to do so in the near future.

A new view

Return

Once I returned last year after travelling, I stopped publishing on the blog. It was through the thinking that no one would want to hear about my mundane ramblings of everyday life. However, to my surprise many people were disappointed that I stop writing and requested that I start again. This time i would like contributions from other people. Their own personal reflections of events. Because everyone has important insights that would benefit others if they were shared. So here begins chapter two of the blog. Hope it's as enjoyable as the last time.

mums school

photographs again....

Mombasa - Lamu

well i have finally found some internet again. and that is on the island of Lamu. just a quick update. lamu is very very very slow place. you have peace of mind. the only traffic is people. again. the posting of pictures will have to wait. and also i more in depth report! mombasa raha as they say. its a place most people will enjoy visiting. chaos, relaxed attitude. and the much safer place then Nairobi. anyway. must go again. peace people

Nairobi

yo! i can't seem to upload my pictures. so unfortunatley people. your jsut going to have to reading.... boring i know. i'm sorry. and my english skills are obviously not the best!..... sitting in Nairobi at the moment. where my mum was brought up. though, i don't think it was the Nairobi she grew up in. it has become a lot more conjested, taller buildings, and busted up streets.... it has a simlar feel to India. though. I felt india was more to do with food, textile and craft. here. it seems more to do with. mechanical stuff.... but i have only seen Nairobi so far.... so we'll see what the rest of the journey has in store..... went to see my mums fathers old factory. it was really nice to see how a simple skrew or a metal water heater and stuff. was made from scratch.... also, the language barrier is another interesting thing. in India i could get by. here its going to be a little more interesting to move around and get things. and not get ripped off along the way lol. anyway.... gotta jet peace.

Oman - Kenya

Ok, so i start my journey to Kenya today. leaving Sohar... to Musact and then landing in Nairobi , hopefully! still have too much luggage! i always remember this trekker me and Laurits meat in the Himalayas. he said he only carries 10kg and he told a story of hos he broke his girlfriends hair brush handle off. because he said it was useless weight lol.... and another friend Aaron who told me how he traveled through India. with just a rucksack. and here is me with so much. i don't even know where it all comes form. it just kinda appears. need to learn how to carry less stuff! but anyway.... hope this next leg of the journey is fruitful! just as the previous two have been.

Sleeping in India

I recently received this [below]and a couple more pictures from Sara. a friend from Sangath, in an e-mail. i was delighted to see the e-mail, that someone could remember me and go out of their way to pick the photographs and send them to me. there are some very thoughtful people in this world. and i met a lot of them in India. may they continue to be thoughtful! a story to note i heard from abdal aziz fredricks.
 Hatim al assam [my spelling may be off] a great great scholar. A woman came to him to ask a question. She came to him, about to ask the question..... and what happens? she breaks wind. she is so embarrassed
 and he sees how embarrassed she is. and he says to her, whats your question!? she asked the question. I can't hear you! he shouts.
 the woman stops and raises her voice. I STILL CAN"T HEAR YOU. WHAT DID YOU SAY? he turns to the people around him and says WHAT DID SHE SAY? Write it down! the scholar shouts.
so the woman begins to write the question down. OH! sorry i didn't hear you. as she was writing the question down. she begins to feel cool. "the guys deaf he didn't hear me, break wind she thinks". 
Hatim al Assam is called Hatim al Assam, the deaf one. for 20 years he pretended to be deaf!! to make the woman feel good about herself.... What people.

All that glitters is not gold

All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgement old
Your answer had not been inscroll'd
Fare you well, your suit is cold.

line in William Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice,

they use the synonym 'glisters'.

Jerry

Oh Man... Good times!.... 9am. "ALI!!" "N and S come running in, "Ali Paa, there is a mouse!". so i'm thinking, oh great i have to pretend i'm not scared and help with a mouse. anyway, the brave soul that i am. i walk into the room, everyones looking at this sofa [new sofa].  remember, i am half asleep at this point because i have not seen 9am for a long time lol. anyway.... the extra food for the house is stored under th sofa, thinkings life fizzy drinks, biscuits etc...  so we begin to take the food out, in search of this Mouse.... no sign of it yet.... everything is out. on the floor... hmmm we wonder.... everyone is stood around this sofa bed. looking into the empty compartment...[its blue btw]. eve.ryone is stook over the empty comparment... in silence... then the mouse pops its head out from under the comparment..... S shouts MOUSE! and everyone pauses, not knowing waht to do. the mouse pauses. everyone is looking at everyone, the mouse is looking at everyone. and then it rushed into the inside of the actual sofa. the place you lean your back.... Damn, he's going to set up camp there, we thought... now it was stuck....we lifted the sofa up vertically and started to smack it. then uncle realised if it comes out. we'll only have to catch it again in another part of the hosue. so we took the sofa into the garden.... continued to beat it.... someone had the idea of cutting the back of it.... so we did. destroying the sofa slowly... slit no mouse.... then we realised. if it comes out. its still in the Garden, therefore still able to get in the house.... now its in from of the house. in the middle of the society. kids are looking at us strangly as we hit thie sofa. and probs people form inside their houses. anyway. we stop... jsut watch the sofa for a while. and the mouse pops its head out.... it looks at us S gets scared and run inside... the mouse does the same..... anyway.... before we knew it the the sofa had been thrown away. it rested peacfully near the public bin. uncle informed aunty about the sofa. she was shocked and confused to the removal of the sofa. uncle said. look "it was either the sofa or the mouse". but it was a new sofa she added "look on the positive side, you got rid of a mouse and you get to buy a new sofa"

and the sofa now lives with a bengali family we saw taking it. little did they know this item comes with a free toy......

0.99999..... = 1

My sister just enlightened me with this 0.999.... is equal to 1

Proof:-

X = 0.999....
10X = 9.999...
10X - X = 9.999.... - 0.999.....
9X = 9
X = 9/9
X=1

therefore 0.999.... = 1

with that, a slight humoured maths joke, for all you geeks,

Q: How many mathematicians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: 0.999999....

Architecture Personal Statement

 “There is a field beyond what is right and what is wrong, I will meet you there”, Rumi said. He challenges the notion of being definitive. For me this was a very powerful moment, where my perspective on life and architecture shifted. I left my undergraduate degree thinking I had finally understood architecture. Then leaving my internship in India I realised how naïve I was.  That field Rumi spoke about became a lot clearer.  It was not just about the definitive in and of itself, it also referred to the approach of the definitive action.  For example, to access a space it may be necessary to make a door. Louis Khan gave 2 metres for the opening, whereas Le Corbusier was a little more generous, giving 2.26 metres. Both knew a door was to be made, but each took an alternative method in exploring the transition. Considering this and other thoughts, I began to embrace a culture far different from my own. India.

Optimum is a word I learnt from my time in Sangath. It means, in brief, to bring something to a level where it has the greatest opportunity for growth, which is what we want architecture to do: to grow and breathe. It must be seen as something that will develop as it interacts with the users. We were also taught to look at previous projects from the office, and then take the questions to B.V.Doshi himself. He proved to be a fountain of knowledge and a great mentor to whom I am ever grateful. Along with the aesthetic, I have also understood the more pragmatic side of the architectural world. I was involved in the many challenges of the profession from demanding clients, late hours, building codes and law, and the logic of engineering. Together they brought a fresh perspective to my outlook of architectural design and implementation.

My final project for part one, ‘New Fallujah’, raised issues of social distress and the need for architecture to provide facilities for a new beginning. At some level I thought this was quite a Romantic dream until I saw projects in Vastu-Shilpa. They are trying to bring life back to places destroyed by earthquakes showing architecture can facilitate a new beginning, which takes people out of turmoil and brings them to a felicitous new life. In the future I hope to be involved in other companies that share similar ambitions.

Being an ECB [English Cricket Board] coach I have gained leadership skills, the ability to understand how to handle responsibilities and how to motivate others as well as myself. I was elected year representative and later Islamic Society president. Not only did I work with others to improve the quality of our own education, but I also worked with people from other courses, to help take our university forward. As the president of the ISoc during the terrorism incident at John Moores’, I had to take the responsibility of liaising with the media (CNN, BBC, Guardian and others) as well as keeping relationships between the Muslim community and the university calm and peaceful. This proved to be a testing time, but one that also proved to be fruitful for my social education.

I believe London Metropolitan is the optimum place for my architectural development. A fifty percent design based course is ideal for enhancing my design abilities in a vibrant city. In addition, the descriptions of the modules [‘The Problem of Irony’ and ‘Forgetting Air’ in particular] present challenges I look forward to tackling and believe will allow me to continue my journey through the vast ocean of architecture. Furthermore, I am more than capable of representing the school in terms of quality and tradition through my experience and character. From the University’s inherent drive to educate, I also believe that knowledge and the desire for it are never lost, only the student must make knowledge the means to a great change, which is what I trust this institution will ultimately provide.

So It Begins

Its that time of year, Easter. When we suddenly realise, "crap we have exams soon!!! i finish soon!!!!" and you rush to your books and begin to crack on in the holidays. Therefore the Easter holidays really become an Easter prison sentence. locked away in rooms all around the world.

HOWEVER, with the invention of the internet. locking the room is just a ritualistic act. the moment we turn on the computer or keep our mobile phones near by. we have opened up far larger door ways. so we risist and we plough through the work. page after page, book after book. its a long journey! one that will make you go slightly mental. get bored for hours on end and make people neat freaks. tidying their rooms to distract them. or become religious. in the end. its all a bunch of craziness.

but, for me. as i sit far away from the chaos for once. i can only enjoy the freedom of that stress. knowing i may return to it one day. so for all those of you struggling along that difficult path strengthen your resolve with stories of people who have achieved great things. and know that with hard work, you too can achieve. also remember,.... how ironic, i forgot what i was going to say. got distracted. hmmm oh well i guess thats the end of my thought. if i remember i'll post a part two haha. peace.

The last words of Spartacus

 

The last words of Spartacus – by Amal donkol (1940-1983). He was a rebel and was was taken as a political prisoner many times in the 60s for his views, and was let out by Sadat in the mid 70s. He died of cancer at the age of 43.



Glory to Lucifer ... worshiped by the wind
Who said No to the face of those who said Yes
Who taught Man to tear down the evanescence
Who said No … so he did not die
And remained a soul eternally in pain


I am hanging from the morning gallows
My forehead is bowing to death
Because it did not bow while I was living
O’ brothers and sisters passing through the main square with your heads bent low
Gliding towards the end of evening hours, down ‘Alexander the Great avenue’*
Do not be ashamed
Do not be ashamed and raise your eyes toward me
Because you are hanging there beside me
Hanging next to me on Caesar’s gallows
Raise your eyes to me
For maybe if you do, and your eyes meet the death in my eyes
The extinction within me might smile
Because you raised your heads up if only once

Sisyphus

The rock is no longer on his shoulders
It is now carried by those who are born in the dorms of the slaves
While the sea
The sea is like the desert, does not quench the thirst
For only tears quench the thirst of those who dare to say No
So raise your eyes up to the hanging rebel
For you will end up like him tomorrow
And kiss your wives
Kiss your wives right here in the middle of the road
For tomorrow it is in this very place that you will perish
Bowing is bitter
And the spider on the necks of men is knitting their fall
So kiss your wives
For I have not kissed mine goodbye
And if you see my child whom I left behind in her arms
Missing an arm
Teach him to bow
Teach him to bow
God did not forgive Lucifer when he said No
And the gentle hearted and the kind are the ones destined to inherit the earth at the end
Because they do not get hanged
So teach him to bow
There is no escape
And do not dream of a world full of happiness
For after every Caesar that dies
Is born another Caesar
And behind every rebel that dies
Is pointless sadness and wasted tears

Salalah Beach

House of Sahibul Mirbat: Muhammad Bin Ali

mausoleum of Sahibul Mirbat: Muhammad Bin Ali

Prezi

My uncle just introduced me to a new software, Prezi. Power Point had its limitations and Prezi has gone out to correct them. turn the limited canvas into unlimited space for a more flexible presentation. and some features. check it out.

http://www.prezi.com/

Bicycle

Gentlemen's Club, The Omani Way

Quote

I am the punishment from God. If you had not commited great sins. God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.
                                   
                                           Genghis Khan

Mirror

you know, i have come to Oman and a lot things have been imported from India, in terms of people and habbits, not just products. when you go to Saudi or the UAE you see the same. in England we have definatley had a lot of Indian influence. come on the "curry" has become a national food. i assume this trend is seen across a lot of countries. in Oman i seem to see just as many Indians as Omanies.

Now, before i left India the news broke that India's population was now 1.2 Billion. i wonder if the population of Indian's outside of India matches that figure. honestly i would not be surprised if it did. can anyone find out? lets see if the inside population mirrors the outside.....

@ Sheikh Samir's House In Uniform

Oman

First i should extend a public thank you to all those in India. for being part of an amazing experience. as the T-shirt i wore towards the end said 'A World Without Strangers' and thats what it felt like. no matter who came, they were always like family. may we meet again soon people! hope your still carrying on the crazy times :) 

anyway, got to Oman safe. its always nice to meet family. thinking of what trip to take next. its looking like Kenya, apparently there is a boat that leaves from Muscat. so i need to investigate this further. 

oh and before i forget, the culture shock from India to Oman was VERY big. i think i'm still feeling it now.

The Gang

Team INFLIBNET [Information Library Network]

The Windows i Have Been Working On

Celebration Dance After Victory

India Vs Pakistan in NID [National Institute of Design]

Re-thinking the Sandwich,

Rethinking the sandwich, 'Indian Ishtyle ;) '. The sandwich consists of, cheese, chocolate, vanilla ice cream, butter and not forgetting bread.... Yum.