"software is too frustrating"

that's the first thing written on humanized.com. and then you have "But not all of it." and "We're here to help."

I've been trying out Enso (view video demo), and I like it.


it allows for quick jumping between windows, easily opening programs, and as you could see in the video, some text manipulation. uppercase/lowercase, spellcheck, etc, quite handy to have it available regardless of which program you're using.

check out their about page, and be sure to read their philosophy. it's a sane, human goal they have - I just hope they succeed with it!

One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs

And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.

that's a part of the poem by Saib-e-Tabrizi, a tribute to kabul, that inspired the name of the book, a thousand splendid suns, by khaled hosseini. now you might remember me recommending the kite runner, which I absolutely loved. this meant that I had very high hopes for a thousand splendid suns, and I was not disappointed...


the story is very similar to the kite runner in many ways. the set is in afghanistan, and describes the story of two girls with vastly yet similar lives whose fortunes get intertwined. it deals with losing close and loved ones, about the terrors of the war, and the situation there. it's ultimately a sad, sad story, but there's so much joy, love and hope in between. I found it a bit hard at first to connect with the characters, but from halfways through the book, it just grips you all the way to the end.

I really suggest reading this one too, khaled hosseini is an amazing author. obviously you should read the kite runner first, but definitely pick this one up after.

I am the terror that flaps in the night...

I am the wrong number that wakes you at 3 am...
I am Darkwing Duck!!!


just check out these lovely entrance lines - they're guaranteed to make you laugh. also check out some other great quotes - enjoy!

marvellous pictures

I can't help but marvel at the pictures one can take... my recent favorites are from the fountains on terrace 9:




it's almost impossible to fail... see the new album here.

you can run, but you can't hide...

... from yourself. let me explain.

a lot of people try to pack up and move, leave for another city or even country, when they feel that they're standing still in their life. or perhaps they've gotten into a routine or pattern that they're not happy with and want to change it. moving to a new place will allow them to start all over again, and this time "do it right".

here's a reason why it won't work: wherever you go, you'll always bring yourself with you. as einstein is attributed to have said: "we cannot solve our problems with the same mind that created them."

what is needed is a change of self, a personal transformation. this can be done regardless of where you are, but usually comes with some great effort and possibly. you will need to change some inherent parts of yourself that perhaps have grown accustomed to and sometimes even partly enjoy, but in the long run will not be good for you.

so what is it that can help? here are a few quotations from the Bahá'í Writings:

... the Divine Elixir that can, alone, transmute into purest gold the dross of the world, and have been empowered to administer the infallible remedy for all the ills that afflict the children of men. No man can obtain everlasting life, unless he embraceth the truth of this inestimable, this wondrous, and sublime Revelation.

Bahá'u'lláh

Such is the potency of the Divine Elixir, which, swift as the twinkling of an eye, transmuteth the souls of men!

Bahá'u'lláh

Without the intermediary of the Holy Spirit, man would remain dull, helpless and deprived of attainment. But touched by that Divine Elixir he becomes tender, loving, responsive, and capable of every perfection of existence.

'Abdu'l-Bahá

the Divine Elixir is nothing other than the Word of God: "Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame..."

it is just for us to read, ponder and meditate upon them.

my jani's gone

another of our lovely janis leaving to go back, and I'll miss this one too. she was the one that cleaned my desk, and left sweet notes in the mornings. on her last day, I left my camera and asked her to take a picture. here's one of my favorites:


the last weeks or so, we also started having some nice, random conversations on the white board. we'd write something, she'd reply back, etc:


another jani's gone... :(

"for you a thousand times over"

I just finished the kite runner by khaled hosseini. in three days. it is one of the most amazing books I have ever read, easily top10. it's a mixture of emotions - joy and happiness, anxiety and sadness - and everything in between. it's a really gripping story, and there's no excuse whatsoever to not read it. go find it, now. and don't put it down until you're done with it.


and yes, I'll admit, I cried in the end.

9 Reasons Not to Date a Tyrannosaurus Rex

this is so stupid, but still so funny. how anyone would ever come up with the idea of dating a T-Rex is way beyond me, but here are at least 9 reasons not to.


read and enjoy!

serving at a world heritage site!

I am officially serving at a UNESCO world heritage site! here is the unesco news post, with a bit more information here:

The Bahá’i Holy Places in Haifa and Western Galilee are inscribed for the testimony they provide to the Bahá’i’s strong tradition of pilgrimage and for their profound meaning for the faith. The property numbers 26 buildings, monuments and sites at 11 locations in Acre and Haifa, associated with the founders of the faith, among them the Shrine of the Bahá’u’lláh in Acre and the Mausoleum of the Báb in Haifa. It also includes houses, gardens, a cemetery and a large group of modern buildings in the neoclassical style that serve for administration, archives and a research centre.

and the Bahá'í World News site. doesn't make much of a change about serving here, but it's nice that it gets official and worldwide recognition. this place is not only absolutely beautiful but obviously carries a lot of historic weight with it.

typing speed gone

I realized I haven't done any serious typing for quite some time. I just started typing a few things up now that I have to get sent out, and it's disappointing how slow I feel. I used to be easily consistent around 90-100 wpm (words per minute), peaking about 10-15 higher up than that, but now I'm down at a measly 70-75 wpm. it's annoying, think I need to practice a bit more.

I just played rock, paper, scissors...

... about who would hold up the door for who.

I won. I got to hold up the door.

quadruple-Bahji, chill evening, finished book

it's been a while since I wrote anything here... mostly because there hasn't been much interesting to share, and I'm not really in the mood to do too much thinking either, it seems.

but the weekend produced a series of experiences in Bahji that I will remember for a long time. on friday afternoon I got to go out there and spend some time in the Shrine, something that I very much needed. since most people work on thursday afternoons, I got to be more or less by myself. it is quite amazing to be able to experience that, and a memory that will stay with me for a long time. here's a shot from that afternoon:



the next day we had youth prayers out there. this is a time when nine people are selected to say prayers out loud in the Shrines, with all the youth inside too. just as there's a special feeling of being alone inside, there's also something special about being so many youth inside, all praying together and it's a great bounty to be able to be a part of it.

a few hours later, I volunteered in security, out in Bahji again. being around the Shrines at night, with absolutely no one else around is indescribable. standing just outside at 1.30 taking pictures is... quite something else:


the shift was nice and calm, which felt kinda nice. nothing too much to worry about :) and here's a shot from quite early in the morning:


after the shift, I took a shower and went for dawn prayers. although I didn't have much time, it was another special moment. and the end to a weekend that I will long remember.


although that wasn't it, I also managed to get my hair done:


finally got the corn rows I wanted. soon it's time to cut ;)


with such a hectic weekend coming to a close, and the other evenings being quite filled up, I decided to take a very chill evening yesterday. I went home after work, my flatmates were just on their way out, so no one else was home. as I had gotten a few books, I decided to finish one of them, in praise of slowness. somewhere in between I cooked and ate, while reading about 150 pages or so. the book in itself presents an interesting concept, slowing down in a society of ever-increasing speed, but in my opinion doesn't present too good of a case for it. I found it to be a bit too much general stuff and facts for each section (food, work, studying, sex, raising children, etc) with a bit of a personal story, but that's it. some of the suggestions and tips require way too much money, whereas others are more or less common sense. I like the concept in itself, and have taken a bit of a more control of how much and what I do, the book left a bit more to wish for.

all in all, quite some hectic times :)