Doha Photos 1

A batch of photos I took during my time in Doha. Will upload more over the coming days. More available on my flickr

Gods of Wind

Haven't updated for a while coz I've been out and about ALOT! Am back in New Zealand =) Been three days since i got back and tomorrow is the first day of uni and to be honest I am kinda worried about the coming year since I am going to be doing honours. Inshallah 5air.

I generally feel pretty darn tired at the moment, just a random thought.

Anyways, here's something I drew called Gods of Wind. Took me about 5 hours. I like reading about Mythologies and folk tales of different cultures, thusly this drawing has been inspired by a mythological Japanese God.

Click on Image for larger

New York Jews take to street in support of Gaza

I posted a report about a month ago on the 10,000 New York Jews whom attented a pro-Israel rally infront of the Israeli consulate on the 11th of January, 2009. That was a rather shocking demonstration. People cheering the bombing of Gaza and the killing of Palestinian civilians, some yelling “Wipe Gaza off the Map” and no one questioning the reason behind this all.

Well, another demonstration is happening in New York, but of a different nature. Only 1 tenth of the number that attended the pro-Israel rally, but still heart warming.

PHOTO ESSAY ~~ NEW YORK JEWS TAKE TO THE STREETS IN SUPPORT OF GAZA

Gaza Aid Convey Incident

I was just wondering when will the British Gaza Aid Convey face any incedents on it's journey, when lo and behold I come across this:

Report: Nine arrested in England by terror police en route to Gaza

There is no mention of criminal activity in the report as far as I can see.

To Gaza with love

Britain's Valentine's day gift to Gaza of an aid convey began it's three week journey yesterday =)

Gaza aid convoy due to leave UK BBC - Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:01:40 GMT

A convoy of 110 vehicles is due to leave London for Gaza to deliver £1m of humanitarian aid. Hundreds of volunteers will act as drivers during the mission, which is organised by umbrella body Viva Palestina and backed by Muslim groups. Its 5,000-mile route will pass through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Respect MP George Galloway, who will help drive the convoy, said a peaceful "intifada" was sweeping the UK. The Gaza Strip is facing a humanitarian crisis following Israel's recent three-week offensive. About half of Gaza's population is dependent on UN food aid. 'Beleaguered population' Other backers of the mission include the Stop the War Coalition, the Respect Party, the Anglo-Arab Organisation and several UK trade unions. It will include 12 ambulances, a boat and trucks full of medicines, tools, clothes, blankets and shoe-boxes as well as gifts for children. Mr Galloway said it would be the largest convoy of British vehicles to north Africa since the days of Field Marshall Montgomery. "There is an intifada sweeping Britain," he added. "It is a massive and peaceful movement in support of the beleaguered population of Gaza and Palestine. "It is happening everywhere, but is especially strong in the north of England and especially among young Muslims."

source

Park

A New Taste of Drama/Horror

I've been a fan of many series out there, mostly the lame ones and rarely the serious ones when it comes to TV shows. I've always been a better fan when it comes to anime freakiness, but I guess both addiction and passion for either died after I threw bleach in never to see again anime and started reading naruto manga (only). I haven't watched any kind of series nor recall me having the eager to watch the next episode as soon as it comes out and I have to admit that nowadays anime don't appeal to me too much. Soul eater was a disappointment, I didn't like it at all. The last thing I watched was californication season one in two days 2 monthes ago just because I bought it thinking its another how I met your mother-like series. I don't feel like watching lost for some reason, even though its the best series out there. So I was just randomly searching I discovered a BBC not so new series that caught my eye embracing the name 'Being Human'. It was aired in 2008 as a pilot, but now its going to be reaired as a full series.

"Being Human is a British television drama/horror series, broadcast on BBC Three. It stars Lenora Crichlow, Russell Tovey and Aidan Turner^[1] as three twenty-something characters trying to live a normal social life, despite being a ghost, a werewolf and a vampire.

Following the success of a pilot broadcast in February 2008, a six part series began on 25 January 2009 on BBC Three.^[2][3]

The show uses the little known belief that vampires must be invited over the threshold in to a private building, seen works such as Joss Whedon's shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. This is seen in the second episode in which Lauren asks Mitchell to invite her in to the house or else she would have the conversation with him in the street."

- Said wikipedia

Now I never was a fan of buffy the vampire slayer and I was not an angel constant watcher, but this sounds pretty much 'more' appealing and different. In Addition, I loved the editing and acting in a BBC show Hustle.


Characters:

Mitchell
Aidan Turner plays the good-looking and laid-back Mitchell who, in contrast to George, has the gift of the gab and an easy confidence with the ladies. But he is also a blood-sucking vampire struggling with going cold-turkey from the blood he craves.




Personal: I bet this guy will give us some sexy moments.

George

Russell Tovey reprises his role as the lovable George, battling with his double identity as a mild-mannered and geeky hospital porter who for one night a month is transformed into a flesh-hungry, predatory werewolf.

Personal: I have a feeling that this is my favorite out of them.



Annie
Completing the flat-share trio is Annie, played by Lenora Crichlow, a talkative ghost lacking in self-confidence and desperate for company. Annie is still pining after her boyfriend, whom she was due to marry before the fatal accident that left her with her ghostly affliction - and who happens to be the landlord of their flat.

Personal: One word. "Boring".


I'm certainly going to follow this, I'm already downloading the first two episodes and I will be reviewing each one. The major issue here is that BBC is a bitch when it comes to releasing episodes for the next episode has 27 days left. to be aired I presume one episode each month with more than one hour length.

Kul Tuv & Lehitrahout.

Aphotic Melancholy

Click for larger.



I light a candle
So warm it is on my fingertips ..!

It's radiant glow
lighting another candle in my heart...

A flicker of hope
I raise my hand high, ablaze with brightness ...

To finally see
to finally be free from the gloom ...

From the inky
murkiness I have waded through for so long...

From the silent
solitude I have digged through for so long...

Radiant brightness
is what I crave, is what I thrist for ..!

Higher and higher
I lift my light, piercing it into the darkness...

But my warm glow
my flicker of sanity and hope
in the aphotic darkness of my melancholy ...

does not burn bright
does not burn bright
does not burn bright ...




Forever wandering
Forever grieving
Forever waiting
Forever stranded

My little angels

Click for larger and more clearer image

Melinda Test

Just a music and camera test using my Melinda.

My little sister got absoulety terrified when she saw this xD Poor thing lol. I don't think I'll be showing her anymore videos of Melinda, she kept telling me not to let her walk into her room when she is asleep at night.

Mind you, it's just a test, so not wow. Very jerky and limited movement.

Purple and Brown

I LOVE THESE GUYS!

So random, so weird, and they just wont stop laughing hahaha xD

A couple of my favourite vids of theirs. It's awesome how they speak a universal language lol.

Loner (4)

Note: this post is espically written for one of my blog readers =P

Oh blog reader, forgive me for keeping you on a cliff hanger for so long xD

This a story about racism I wrote when I was 14 years old.

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - cont

Chapter 3

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4

Mr. Carter opened this door slowly, for there was little noise coming from inside the classroom. He called out for the teacher to join us in the corridor . I tried to smooth down my clothes and hair so that I'd look presentable but it seems thatI had lost control of my arm at that point of time, for all I ended up doing was giving myself a sharp smack on the thigh.

The teacher also beckoned me into class the same way Hammed's teacher did. However, my mother got a hold of me first. She grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me around to face her. She looked deeply into my eyes, gave me a strong hug and a kiss on my cheek, finally releasing me. My father patted me on the head and wished me good luck.

The teacher called out my name this time as she beckoned me to her once more. She was much younger than Hammed's teacher. Her features were delicate, her smile really gentle. She reminded me of the fair maidens often mentioned in children's nursery rhymes and fairy tales. She put her hand on my shoulder and gave it a little squeeze.

I looked back, wanting to catch a last glance of my parents, but Mr.Carter was standing in the doorway's frame blocking the whole view. He was speaking to the students; something about welcoming new students and making them feel at home.

STUDENTS!

I turned my head jerkily towards the entire classroom. Eyes were all on me, everywhere I looked. I heard someone whisper "black" but I wasn't paying much attention to actually realize what they meant. I remember thinking they were probably referring to my clothes, as I wasn't wearing the school's uniform.

The teacher told me to sit at a desk located at the front of the class. She informed me that her name is Mrs. Mills, followed by her introducing me to the students, telling them my name and where I come from . She then asked the students to introduce themselves individually to me. Many of the girls smiled shyly as they told me their names and I smiled back at them. Corrine, the girl who was sitting next to me in class, got asked by Mrs.Mills to show me where to hang my coat and bag. Corrine was a very pretty girl, with fair skin, light hazel eyes and a long sheet of auburn hair. I followed her to the corridor outside the classroom and she showed me where all the lockers were. She gave me a key and the combination number to one of the lockers ( I suppose she got given these earlier by Mrs. Mills). Finally, Corrine showed me where the toilets were and informed me the school's break timings.

We walked back into the classroom, and I felt myself turn hot in the face due the noise level subsiding distinctively as soon as I entered the class. I seated myself at my desk and concentrated on checking wether my nails were neatly trimmed or not.

Mrs. Mills told me that for three quarters of an hour every morning, the class has"Quiet Moment" where students are to read any book they chose. I loved the idea because I love reading. I have my own personal collection of books stacked on the shelf above my bed, and every night before my bedtime I'd read for an hour. I felt this relaxed me, and I end up with a good night's sleep.

I didn't have a book with me at that moment, so Mrs. Mills told me that I could choose a book from the class' small library in the corner. There were many colorful titles to choose from, but my eyes dropped on a particular book called "Kiss the Dust".

It's written by Elizabeth Laird and told the story of a thirteen-year-old Kurdish girl names Tara, along with her family, as they struffle to stay alive and together in a time ravaged by war. In the opening, Tara and her best friend Leila are walking back from school when suddenly two army Jeeps appear. Their horns blaring, the two Jeeps screech to a halt infront of a mosque. There are boys standing infront of the mosque, one of them holding a paper. An officer grabs the paper, tears it, then gets ready to shoot at the young boy who was holding it. Suddenly, an old mullah runs out of the mosque waving his arms and pleading with the officer not to shoot at the boys. The officer fumbles with the revolver, points it at the old man and shoots. The young boy tries to escape, but was not fast enough. A soldier stuck his foot out and tripped the young boy, and shoots him as he lay face down on the ground. Tara and Leila watched all this happen right before their eyes, hardly believeing what they saw.

The street with all the shocked peeople, the dead old mullah, the dead young boy, Tara and Leila suddenly melted into the classroom as I heared the voice of Mrs. Mills break in. She announced that "Quiet Moment" was over. The bell rang and we had English for the first period with Mrs. Mills.

Sami Yousef - Asma Allah

Something serene and meaningful, Am sure you will like it =).

Jakarta - One Desire

The video is so cute lol. My little sister is crazy for this song, I played it several times for her on my lappie and now it's grown on me.

Sasha, Speedy and Kami

Walking around the garden ^_^
















More piccies of the gang here

Networking site cashes in on friends

Facebook is planning to exploit the vast amount of personal information it holds on its 150m members by creating one of the world's largest market research databases.

In an attempt to finally monetise the social networking site, once valued at $15bn (£10.4bn), it will soon allow multinational companies to selectively target its members in order to research the appeal of new products. Companies will be able to pose questions to specially selected members based on such intimate details as whether they are single or married and even whether they are gay or straight.

The company, which has struggled to make money from advertising, has been demonstrating the benefits of its new instant polling tool to some of the most influential business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Source

Haha xD Facebook was eventually gonna give into the darkside =P Marketing Research LOL!

It might prove useful in a way though: getting feedback from users all over the world on a certain issue, kinda like how Twitter works.

At the conference, Facebook asked a range of questions to its users around the world, before feeding the answers back to delegates within minutes. It selectively-targeted users in Palestine and then Israel with the same question about global peace, before debating the results at a discussion forum. It also asked 120,000 US members whether US President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package would be enough to save the US economy. Almost 60pc said it would not.


Phat Adds:

Watch the following video, which talks about stuff we ignore in facebook. Its actually pretty scary.

Extremists exist everywhere

But I must say, these guys are pretty hardcore. Shoving another person in that way, tsk.

Americans are welcome in Israel