"To do two things at once is to do neither". This was said by a Roman slave, first century BC.
I read an interesting article about how multitasking is making us dumber and drives us insane. I must say I really hate living two paths. In this I mean doing masters and working at the same time. It takes its toll on you in the end. I wish I could focus fully on one thing. Each task constantly threatens and alleviates the focus on the others leading to doing nothing good in the end.
Anywayz, read the article if your interested:
CLICK HERE!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
AaaaHhhh...Vacations
I'm back from a long awaited vacation in the UK. Now it has disintegrated into history and memories. Only one emotion describes the state I'm in now...Depressed :(. It was an awesome two weeks. Now I'm back to work and back to my routine life.
Then again could have been worse. EL humdulilah 3ala kol shai2.
It was a fun two weeks.
Then again could have been worse. EL humdulilah 3ala kol shai2.
It was a fun two weeks.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Build Up vs. Deep In it and Random Thoughts
How often is the build up to something much better than the actual event that takes place after the anxious wait. In many cases it is. I live on dreams, hopes, feelings that just maybe something may happen. Even though all the odds point the other way, I insist on delving into the daydreams of things that never can be. It is true that nothing is impossible. But we can tell when things are impossible. Impossible is possible. Somethings were never meant to be. If I was to say, "I'm going to be the first Egyptian in Space!". Could that be true, remotely true, even possible? You tell me! I would bet it would never happen. But then my brain could go into daydreaming hyper-drive and imagine out a whole concise, logical and detailed scenario of my dreams become reality. Then I start to analyze the situation I'm in now and try to find a way to get me closer to the dream.
The truth maybe that I have a war to win. If I win that war I may be, just may be somewhat closer to what I want to have and be. Time can only reveal so much. We never see too far into the future. We can expect but life is certainly mysterious in its ways of showing us things. I have made up my mind as to what one of my new years resolutions will be. The only discouraging aspect of this is that they have been the same year-out and year-in. Its the same old story. I fight and fight for something and then slip back down the mountain side. I get hyped up and do marvels and not to soon after I see them diminish and drown in my own soul. The next year dawns and yet again I dream of winning. I can only wonder now if what I want will ever be solidified into reality of life. It can be done and I know it. I can do it but am I up to the pain and sacrifice that scatters the reached path to this goal.
Does truth dictate that somethings were never meant to be? Are the feelings of being doomed in a dungeon-state make our minds switch on the dreaming daze. I find myself these days delving into it all to often. I sit there or lie there living the impossible as if it was very much possible
Maybe I'm going through this thought now as I'm on vacation in a very different world to the home I call home these days. I'm on holiday in a place that I consider my second home. It could have easily been my first home but due to some fortunate or unfortunate events has become second. I see them as fortunate events that have twisted and turned my fate. I see things here that I long for. I see things here that are close to who I am in blood and flesh. I see common things. I see dead things!! hehe. In the end I am who I am. I think im going to have another post about this.
Back to the prevailing thought; I can never forget the adrenaline rush and excitement bubbling in my blood before a trip. I love it! I always remember later being on the actual trip and thinking: Here it is! Its happening. Is this what I expected! Is it as good as the build up before it. In some cases it is and in some cases it flashes before your eyes as your enjoying the trip and soon its only a memory. A memory you look back on and long to change things and long for more and long for those days to come back.
I stand there knowing that I could have been in a much better situation if I had sacrificed a little along the path to that situation. You know there is a prevailing chance that what you want will never come but you insist and insist and your brain resorts to stargazing to prevent the progress of insanity. It gives me peace of mind.
I don't really know what I wanted to say in this post. Its just one of those random posts that are a spill out of a core dump :D. I need to every once in a while dump my brain into writing. Feels useless. It feels aimless, target-less and goal-less but it does feel a bit good. Well maybe not as good as Im coming to the end of this post. Well I feel neutral now. I feel I will try and fight harder for the war I must win.
What war is that? you ask. The answer lies in a quote I heard a long time ago:
"The greatest battles in life are fought within the inner most chambers of the human soul".
It sounded something like that. I cant remember it verbatim but it holds basically the same meaning. The war is something and everything. Life is a struggle to become who your subconscious and conscious want to be.
The truth maybe that I have a war to win. If I win that war I may be, just may be somewhat closer to what I want to have and be. Time can only reveal so much. We never see too far into the future. We can expect but life is certainly mysterious in its ways of showing us things. I have made up my mind as to what one of my new years resolutions will be. The only discouraging aspect of this is that they have been the same year-out and year-in. Its the same old story. I fight and fight for something and then slip back down the mountain side. I get hyped up and do marvels and not to soon after I see them diminish and drown in my own soul. The next year dawns and yet again I dream of winning. I can only wonder now if what I want will ever be solidified into reality of life. It can be done and I know it. I can do it but am I up to the pain and sacrifice that scatters the reached path to this goal.
Does truth dictate that somethings were never meant to be? Are the feelings of being doomed in a dungeon-state make our minds switch on the dreaming daze. I find myself these days delving into it all to often. I sit there or lie there living the impossible as if it was very much possible
Maybe I'm going through this thought now as I'm on vacation in a very different world to the home I call home these days. I'm on holiday in a place that I consider my second home. It could have easily been my first home but due to some fortunate or unfortunate events has become second. I see them as fortunate events that have twisted and turned my fate. I see things here that I long for. I see things here that are close to who I am in blood and flesh. I see common things. I see dead things!! hehe. In the end I am who I am. I think im going to have another post about this.
Back to the prevailing thought; I can never forget the adrenaline rush and excitement bubbling in my blood before a trip. I love it! I always remember later being on the actual trip and thinking: Here it is! Its happening. Is this what I expected! Is it as good as the build up before it. In some cases it is and in some cases it flashes before your eyes as your enjoying the trip and soon its only a memory. A memory you look back on and long to change things and long for more and long for those days to come back.
I stand there knowing that I could have been in a much better situation if I had sacrificed a little along the path to that situation. You know there is a prevailing chance that what you want will never come but you insist and insist and your brain resorts to stargazing to prevent the progress of insanity. It gives me peace of mind.
I don't really know what I wanted to say in this post. Its just one of those random posts that are a spill out of a core dump :D. I need to every once in a while dump my brain into writing. Feels useless. It feels aimless, target-less and goal-less but it does feel a bit good. Well maybe not as good as Im coming to the end of this post. Well I feel neutral now. I feel I will try and fight harder for the war I must win.
What war is that? you ask. The answer lies in a quote I heard a long time ago:
"The greatest battles in life are fought within the inner most chambers of the human soul".
It sounded something like that. I cant remember it verbatim but it holds basically the same meaning. The war is something and everything. Life is a struggle to become who your subconscious and conscious want to be.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Social Networking
I think social networking has to be one of the best inventions this century. It is in my opinion the true link between humans and society and the cyber-world of the Internet. Too bad I didn't think of an idea like that! Actually many thought of it. There is a number of them out there: Hi5, Orkud, Facebook, MySpace...etc. Hi5 twisted dirty and somehow did not attract our attention as much as Facebook and MySpace did.
I've always been dumbfounded by the links between the virtual world of the Web and the real world and how the former imitates the latter and how real-life relationships can be built up by the virtual world. I used to think, if I had the chance to date a girl I met off the Web - I wouldn't do it because it would feel unnatural. It would feel eerie and not so normal. Nowadays I think it is kind of normal because it does happen in real-life in the end.
So the winner is social networking. People send out their wedding invitations on Facebook. Astonishing I must say. The missing link between real life and the virtual life.
I've always been dumbfounded by the links between the virtual world of the Web and the real world and how the former imitates the latter and how real-life relationships can be built up by the virtual world. I used to think, if I had the chance to date a girl I met off the Web - I wouldn't do it because it would feel unnatural. It would feel eerie and not so normal. Nowadays I think it is kind of normal because it does happen in real-life in the end.
So the winner is social networking. People send out their wedding invitations on Facebook. Astonishing I must say. The missing link between real life and the virtual life.
Talking To Cyberspace
Why do you talk to the cyberspace?
I for one do it because I like to write! It removes the burden of ideas from upon my back. Its a way of documenting your thought. Its a way of crying out without facing the shyness of distress before other people...hehe. Its a way of conveying your ideas and hoping that someone out there will trip over your blog and share the same ideas or feelings or find your blog interesting!! We do it because we are human and we like to talk and express ourselves. We do it to "fadfad" (an Arabic term), to let our heart bleed out its secrets, to speak to nothing because nothing just absorbs and does not answer back. Nothingness just listens. It may be the best listener of all.
When I find myself talking to void. I'm not really talking to void. I'm talking to God. I speak out to him and ask for his forgiveness or help. inshAllah.
So I write to be heard by no one at all or by someone who will ping me back and put a smile on my face OR make me think more and "analyze this" which will lead to more and more posts and to an exponential search space...lol. Well this hasn't happened yet so lets hope for the best!
I for one do it because I like to write! It removes the burden of ideas from upon my back. Its a way of documenting your thought. Its a way of crying out without facing the shyness of distress before other people...hehe. Its a way of conveying your ideas and hoping that someone out there will trip over your blog and share the same ideas or feelings or find your blog interesting!! We do it because we are human and we like to talk and express ourselves. We do it to "fadfad" (an Arabic term), to let our heart bleed out its secrets, to speak to nothing because nothing just absorbs and does not answer back. Nothingness just listens. It may be the best listener of all.
When I find myself talking to void. I'm not really talking to void. I'm talking to God. I speak out to him and ask for his forgiveness or help. inshAllah.
So I write to be heard by no one at all or by someone who will ping me back and put a smile on my face OR make me think more and "analyze this" which will lead to more and more posts and to an exponential search space...lol. Well this hasn't happened yet so lets hope for the best!
Friday, January 04, 2008
Taxation Without Representation
TWR is a common scenario seen in third-world countries. "Taxation Without Representation" is the renowned slogan that echoed throughout the grieving thirteen colonies of pre-"Police The World" America. It came about as the American colonies had to pay taxes to the occupying British Empire. In spite of these taxes Americans had no representation in the British parliament and hence did not have any rights associated with these taxes. The British tried to suppress this outrage by allowing "virtual" representatives of the American people to attend parliament. This of course caused more commotion as these representatives knew nothing about America.
As we look at this glimpse of Earth's history, we cant help but see this happening all over again. It is happening ever so insidiously hidden away in another context; taking taxation and never seeing the return of this money to the streets. All we can see are the "virtual" representatives. The mouths are filled, minds kept busy with the pettiest of life and the lips are stitched. You cant keep burying and burying the earth you stand on.
As we look at this glimpse of Earth's history, we cant help but see this happening all over again. It is happening ever so insidiously hidden away in another context; taking taxation and never seeing the return of this money to the streets. All we can see are the "virtual" representatives. The mouths are filled, minds kept busy with the pettiest of life and the lips are stitched. You cant keep burying and burying the earth you stand on.
Beneath A Century of Ks...Gears of War
All I can hope for now is to dip below the century of Ks. Its a war I must win InshAllah. Now a battle, always a battle. Later another shall rise. Overall the war must be won. I try, try hard but in vein it seems.
I'm pretty close now to the century. I may cross the line this coming week. I may, just may before I travel next week. It is the traveling that started this battle. It is also usually around this time each year that I get the urge to wage the war again. I click on my gears of war and mount the reigns onto my jarred mind. Almost all battles I have won have rebound. I hold my ground but I get tired and slowly slip back.
It can be done. Nothing is impossible. Possible is not impossible. It is the thought that I will see people I have not seen for a long time that fuels this battle. Onslaught after onslaught, I try. I try and try but the urge flows back. I push harder and harder but the wall caves in.
All I can do is try. Thats all I can do is try my best. Somewhere along the line with the busy days of life I will break through the ironclad wall. I shall crush it once and for all and live a new life. One free from this burden I hold up upon my shoulders. A new life it shall be.
I'm pretty close now to the century. I may cross the line this coming week. I may, just may before I travel next week. It is the traveling that started this battle. It is also usually around this time each year that I get the urge to wage the war again. I click on my gears of war and mount the reigns onto my jarred mind. Almost all battles I have won have rebound. I hold my ground but I get tired and slowly slip back.
It can be done. Nothing is impossible. Possible is not impossible. It is the thought that I will see people I have not seen for a long time that fuels this battle. Onslaught after onslaught, I try. I try and try but the urge flows back. I push harder and harder but the wall caves in.
All I can do is try. Thats all I can do is try my best. Somewhere along the line with the busy days of life I will break through the ironclad wall. I shall crush it once and for all and live a new life. One free from this burden I hold up upon my shoulders. A new life it shall be.
Raining Apples!!!
When I think about friends, I think about apples.
Its the time of year of eid al-Adha, the triad of christmas days (eve, day and boxing day), the Hajj and the beginning of the mid-year vacation. Its a time of festivities and relaxation after long hard work in academia. Its a time when it rains apples!
I have soo many people I have to meet! Im actually torn between all of them. They say it's a blessing to have friends, many of them. I believe this true but sometimes I'm cursed by the way I'm stretch between all of them and in the end I'm left with a sheared brain and soul panting for breath.
Don't get me wrong, it is an absolutely wonderful thing to have friends. Without them you couldn't lead a decent life. The pros of having many friends definitely out-weights the cons. There is no debate here.
Lets get back to the falling apples. So as I mentioned this is a time when people come back to their mother-land (although my mother-land is not where I currently stand) for the wonders of such a blessed time of year.
Unfortunately I cant help but say that this time has been accompanied by silent sadness with the death of soo many loved ones. God bless their soles (inshAllah).
So I have five friends here in Egypt now. Most of them I have seen and some I haven't had the time to. I hope I see all of them before they leave...
I see friends as apples, some sweet and some sour. The sour you know to learn about yourself and the sweet you know to help and be helped inside and out. Friends are a blessing.
I hope I catch all the apples before they go away.
Its the time of year of eid al-Adha, the triad of christmas days (eve, day and boxing day), the Hajj and the beginning of the mid-year vacation. Its a time of festivities and relaxation after long hard work in academia. Its a time when it rains apples!
I have soo many people I have to meet! Im actually torn between all of them. They say it's a blessing to have friends, many of them. I believe this true but sometimes I'm cursed by the way I'm stretch between all of them and in the end I'm left with a sheared brain and soul panting for breath.
Don't get me wrong, it is an absolutely wonderful thing to have friends. Without them you couldn't lead a decent life. The pros of having many friends definitely out-weights the cons. There is no debate here.
Lets get back to the falling apples. So as I mentioned this is a time when people come back to their mother-land (although my mother-land is not where I currently stand) for the wonders of such a blessed time of year.
Unfortunately I cant help but say that this time has been accompanied by silent sadness with the death of soo many loved ones. God bless their soles (inshAllah).
So I have five friends here in Egypt now. Most of them I have seen and some I haven't had the time to. I hope I see all of them before they leave...
I see friends as apples, some sweet and some sour. The sour you know to learn about yourself and the sweet you know to help and be helped inside and out. Friends are a blessing.
I hope I catch all the apples before they go away.
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