tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99309772024-03-07T04:04:14.340-05:00I groove like thatKhalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-34555713013596823352011-06-01T13:45:00.001-04:002011-06-01T13:45:13.505-04:00I Holga-ed the Sun<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/5783261485/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5783261485_5fe30f47ab.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/5783261485/">Holga</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/">eatpomegranate</a>.</span></div><p></p>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-755404029276477412011-05-17T23:23:00.001-04:002011-05-17T23:25:38.636-04:00With my sister in our favorite shoes<div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtToIpesAS3_YMHCe-exO77n3D-_Juc8KuoC2mPWMPUl6iOD10XkpJpIEgLgR0Pue9433thBhe3btfJNl04zZES3xub5zaCsR1SUYj20BesbHrrpCAW-KcWZpTcFAEOITTaDyj/s1600/IMG_0302.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtToIpesAS3_YMHCe-exO77n3D-_Juc8KuoC2mPWMPUl6iOD10XkpJpIEgLgR0Pue9433thBhe3btfJNl04zZES3xub5zaCsR1SUYj20BesbHrrpCAW-KcWZpTcFAEOITTaDyj/s400/IMG_0302.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607891797220609378" /></a><br /><center><small>Photo by Wajiha Ibrahim. </small></center>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-23018139753450640582010-12-05T22:57:00.005-05:002010-12-05T23:39:38.502-05:00Double ExposureWhen I was about 16 years old my <a href="http://khalidibrahim.blogspot.com/2010/06/happy-fathers-day.html" target="_blank">Dad</a> gave me his 35mm SLR camera. It was my most prized possession. I was always composing photographs in my head and I kept thinking about how lighting would work in various situations. Buying and developing film became an expensive hobby. Every shutter release was costing me a quarter. . . click click click. Twenty five cents per photo was a lot of money for a teenager, especially because I was shooting so frequently.<br /><br />There was a point where it wasn't financially irresponsible to keep shooting film. Eventually I had to succumb to digital photography. Regardless, I never abandoned film. Here are a few photos from one of the best rolls I have ever shot.<br /><br />I shot these on my <a href="http://khalidibrahim.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-olympus-xa.html" target="_blank">Olympus XA</a> using Ilford Delta 100 film. After shooting this roll once, I unwound it, put it back in the camera and shot it over again. The roll was developed under 3 heavy comforters (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4715912442/lightbox/">a make-shift dark room</a>) at my friend Jeana Dee Allen's apartment. I was overjoyed with the results.<br /><br />enjoy!<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/5210353071/" title="Film by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5210353071_d654d29fbe.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Film" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/5210353303/" title="Film by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5210353303_0bab5c00d0.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Film" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/5210353443/" title="Film by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5210353443_69e10a6463.jpg" width="500" height="321" alt="Film" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/5210951314/" title="Film by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5210951314_999aaa36aa.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt="Film" /></a><br /><br /></center>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-74029529298136363732010-07-06T10:42:00.000-04:002010-07-06T14:43:48.231-04:00Ginger Zing!<center><span style="font-style:italic;">This is my guest post on <a href="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/">Beer and Comics</a></span></center><br /><br /><p> </p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_84621.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-838" src="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_84621-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="600" /></a></p><br /><p> </p><br /><p>Ginger is one of my favorite flavors. I have ginger in my green tea, I garnish my food with it, I even use ginger toothpaste for that extra zing every morning. So when I was looking to satiate my ginger craving in <em>The City (</em>NYC) the big “Ginger” sign on this bottle drew me in from across the deli.</p><br /><br /><p>Unfiltered Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost has pure and natural ingredients and a wonderfully fresh mouth feel. Unlike other ginger beers and ginger ales, it doesn’t leave you with an unnatural tongue burn. As you can see in the picture above, the small pieces of ginger settle at the bottom and it is recommended to give the bottle a gentle shake before you drink. It is made it with a surprisingly simple list of ingredients: water, pure cane sugar, ginger, and citric acid . There is only one Whole Foods Market in Michigan that is stocking this ginger ale but hopefully more will start [full distribution list <a href="http://www.freshgingerale.com/where-to-buy.html" target="_blank">here</a>].</p>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-56946957645902383172010-07-02T10:46:00.002-04:002010-07-02T10:50:17.502-04:00Abita gets Sassafras-y<center><span style="font-style:italic;">This is my guest post on <a href="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/2010/05/07/abitarootbeer/">Beer and Comics</span> </a> </center><br /><br /><p><a href="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_6911sm.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-817" src="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_6911sm.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></p><br /><p>Michigan has had absolutely beautiful weather lately and there is no better way to spend a Spring evening than making music with friends. In preparation for watching the sunset from my porch, Ian and I went for a quick shopping trip. As he perused the isles for the best microbrews, I search for root beer. I almost missed the stack of Abita root beer until he pointed out this six pack.</p><br /><p>Abita brews their root beer with spring water and they use cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. This root beer is not very rooty and gives you a very soft mouth feel. Abita has kept the carbonation low so that you can enjoy the subtle taste. I wouldn’t pair it with any overpowering flavors.</p><br /><br /><p>I am really happy to see Abita is making muslim-friendly drinks. I highly recommend their root beer. It has been a fast favorite for me.</p><br /><p>8/10</p><br /><p><a href="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_6914sq.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-819" src="http://blog.beerandcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_6914sq.jpg" alt="Made with spring water" width="250" height="250" /></a></p><br /><p>P.S. Thanks <em>a lot</em> to the Beer and Comics crew for letting me post here! I like root beer almost just as much as they like beer. I look forward to sharing my passion with you all.</p>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-12776204911054297362010-06-20T13:53:00.002-04:002010-06-21T16:29:18.743-04:00Happy Father's Day<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/869577523/" title="Dad by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/869577523_4cf8a94db6.jpg" width="500" height="356" alt="Dad" /></a></center><br /><br />I have one of the coolest fathers on the planet. Because of my Dad (and Mom) my siblings and I got to have the most enjoyable childhood. We had vacations amongst Himalayan peaks and my dad took us for epic motorcycle rides. Even though, we took it for granted at the time, I am glad that he would choose the motorcycle over the car when he took us out. I will never forget maneuvering heavy Pakistani traffic and having absolute confidence in his driving. I think Dads are the only people who get that blind confidence. Those motorcycle rides trained me for all the biking I was to do in adulthood. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/870424194/" title="Shangrila lake by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/870424194_b1abc4bb7b.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="Shangrila lake" /></a></center><center><small>Shangrila Lake, N.W.F.P Pakistan</center></small><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/869576817/" title="Trango towers - Pakistan by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/869576817_4dc38dee86.jpg" width="347" height="500" alt="Trango towers - Pakistan" /></a></center><center><small>Trango Towers - N.W.F.P Pakistan</center></small><br /><br />Here are some more pictures of my Dad being a total bad ass. None of these photos are mine because most of them were taken before I picked up the camera.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/870424530/" title="Dad and uncles by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1328/870424530_b32870147e.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Dad and uncles" /></a></center><center><small>My dad on his motorcycle with my uncles</center></small><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/869576003/" title="My dad at a dinner by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/869576003_55d67f7b6f.jpg" width="393" height="500" alt="My dad at a dinner" /></a></center> <center><small>My dad (far right) at a military dinner. </small></center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/870425180/" title="My dad was a paratrooper by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1102/870425180_3818a4d539.jpg" width="500" height="401" alt="My dad was a paratrooper" /></a></center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/870423994/" title="Bell SA 330 by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1178/870423994_acb2529db2.jpg" width="500" height="347" alt="Bell SA 330" /></a></center><center><small>Getting ready to fly the SA-330 Puma</small></center>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-35704175444889460202010-06-16T22:50:00.006-04:002010-06-16T23:35:50.437-04:00MotorcycleMy friend <b>Iron</b> John Logan made this motorycle from an old steel bicycle frame. He rebuilt the frame to accommodate the fuel tank and a snowblower's motor. I got to test ride it yesterday and it brought back memories of my <a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/869576937_a4cc5c4b4b.jpg" target="_blank">old bike</a>. Regardless of the engine size, there is something exhilarating about motorcycles. I love this bike.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC8VRaa58AeSBpOU198vZBks5-vrwv7o8Po8j2xirWm9LeQmzQ9P7USZpvF9PYMSe0C5eqcr_3289khzer-2Q-SWg8b2zriCkQ5nd0UsEs9ozSsDNVbLMsjv69fGizfJ2bhzx/s1600/IMG_8586.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC8VRaa58AeSBpOU198vZBks5-vrwv7o8Po8j2xirWm9LeQmzQ9P7USZpvF9PYMSe0C5eqcr_3289khzer-2Q-SWg8b2zriCkQ5nd0UsEs9ozSsDNVbLMsjv69fGizfJ2bhzx/s400/IMG_8586.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483577332968897794" /></a> <center><small>Cherry Hill Neighbourhood, Lansing, MI. Hugh C. modeling for me. </small></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYob4tJGBshKXwYJKqSY_d6s0b-T-3qNU-PK_L2r9gbbwRd9_PFYMgFsCbtpkkoFlNpFtvbevj2CVjn6cHHDomu5uQ-qLHcUdh3H8skM2lXl94gM2a8mx7rSbzHvqKF1H1jCPI/s1600/IMG_8625.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYob4tJGBshKXwYJKqSY_d6s0b-T-3qNU-PK_L2r9gbbwRd9_PFYMgFsCbtpkkoFlNpFtvbevj2CVjn6cHHDomu5uQ-qLHcUdh3H8skM2lXl94gM2a8mx7rSbzHvqKF1H1jCPI/s200/IMG_8625.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483577067052402098" /></a> <center><small> The motorcycle </small></center>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-12390175242159068912010-03-02T11:46:00.002-05:002010-03-02T11:58:49.261-05:00Sickle Cell Anemia in Nigeria<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezgut6u_PiGnLzLtBj4T5OP07kW9OBa79iN75_5NWDyS7vMLtluTUC4CDerr9JuAM-otH3LlBZNj7PSmIJ6SlVRDCcTGmu7ypoBha0VNT4CrH4mVzTrK5xXqNst4KsyDsZR-7/s1600-h/Nigeria+Sickle+Cell.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezgut6u_PiGnLzLtBj4T5OP07kW9OBa79iN75_5NWDyS7vMLtluTUC4CDerr9JuAM-otH3LlBZNj7PSmIJ6SlVRDCcTGmu7ypoBha0VNT4CrH4mVzTrK5xXqNst4KsyDsZR-7/s400/Nigeria+Sickle+Cell.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444079155329889986" /></a><br /><small>Photo from: <a href="http://www.migration4development.org" target="_blank">Migration for Development </a></small><br />My professor (left in front row) just sent me this article about a sickle cell genetic counseling seminar we conducted in Abuja, Nigeria. <br /><br />Article: <a href="http://www.migration4development.org/content/nigerian-diaspora-doctors-join-medical-experts-nigeria-raise-awareness-sickle-cell-anaemia" target="_blank">Nigerian diaspora doctors join medical medical experts in Nigeria to raise awareness of sickle cell anemia</a>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-32433457220477568192010-02-03T23:50:00.003-05:002010-06-14T15:28:56.631-04:00He was always cute in my eyes<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4329628410/" title="CuteOverload by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4329628410_3f89eeba16_o.jpg" width="500" height="395" alt="CuteOverload" /></a><br /><br />Aurailieus is on <a href="http://cuteoverload.com/2010/01/29/i-hate-it-when-clients-meddle/" target="_blank">Cute Overload</a>!Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-16597328173409038212010-02-02T13:07:00.002-05:002010-02-02T13:15:17.442-05:00The fifty is nifty but. . .My 50mm prime lens is incredible for portraits and low light settings but I am really starting to miss having a wide angel perspective on the world.<br /><br />I shot a roll with my old film SLR and here are a few of the pictures.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4320830867/" title="Playing with my old kit lens by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4320830867_0518726749.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Playing with my old kit lens" /></a><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4320831117/" title="Tower Plaza by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4320831117_61a7219769.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Tower Plaza" /></a><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4320830509/" title="Berkey Hall, MSU by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4320830509_e9fe9010c9.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Berkey Hall, MSU" /></a><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4321563800/" title="Classroom by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4321563800_d54af62a14.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Classroom" /></a><br /></center>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-44464128686041458942010-01-15T00:12:00.004-05:002010-01-15T00:37:45.164-05:00Notebooks from recycled paperToday, I went through my recycling bin and sorted out all the pages with single sided printing. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyuxdstl9gwWeX7_P-h3lxwxd8zSPhuwEbCqgUcvZsTnt7VDbkjUfHLxlnYuZu0Q_mCFlfPBw53MkHsO4SG_xnQtsAHBax5Nq-4kZDa7kYiXwIw2zL7xsj8xBUfXucYkcbEPk/s1600-h/0_IMAGE_068.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyuxdstl9gwWeX7_P-h3lxwxd8zSPhuwEbCqgUcvZsTnt7VDbkjUfHLxlnYuZu0Q_mCFlfPBw53MkHsO4SG_xnQtsAHBax5Nq-4kZDa7kYiXwIw2zL7xsj8xBUfXucYkcbEPk/s400/0_IMAGE_068.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426833347837698242" /></a><br /><br />I took half the stack to Kinkos for binding and with the other half I made <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Recycled_Material_Composition_Book">my own composition book</a>. <br /><br />BAM!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLopWk8zYaomzo-Na9MjBLlBwnrVrCx340jpDSw305P6Guqjs3117Qi8FHY9I5OqToNGowDupKiDicVusKfzizXYa-8D-oXez9LnpL7ynNGIMBXgsc-__uFqSaHYeWRgOXBVw/s1600-h/0_IMAGE_070.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLopWk8zYaomzo-Na9MjBLlBwnrVrCx340jpDSw305P6Guqjs3117Qi8FHY9I5OqToNGowDupKiDicVusKfzizXYa-8D-oXez9LnpL7ynNGIMBXgsc-__uFqSaHYeWRgOXBVw/s400/0_IMAGE_070.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426834080371836498" /></a>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-44056044520183558442010-01-01T19:48:00.001-05:002010-01-01T19:56:42.130-05:00Happy New Year 010110<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA39-QrMeWyg5SnR5Oj-ZXPlFJndZammwVjScNMMYgehqYNh4Ziz2zqBWhhsXfDPcE0c0cEmtkzPV0iVq2OoAAHBm2UVRaoeY5H9tBLgtQC2ysYUAwMf86P4WdNIYBLL-Occ3F/s1600-h/IMG_0197.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA39-QrMeWyg5SnR5Oj-ZXPlFJndZammwVjScNMMYgehqYNh4Ziz2zqBWhhsXfDPcE0c0cEmtkzPV0iVq2OoAAHBm2UVRaoeY5H9tBLgtQC2ysYUAwMf86P4WdNIYBLL-Occ3F/s400/IMG_0197.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421939847775568722" /></a><br /><br /><br />I wish you a very Happy New Year.<br /><br />I hope 2010 brings great things to all our lives.Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-29309219725249604552009-12-22T15:52:00.001-05:002009-12-23T00:49:11.706-05:00Aurailieus wants attention<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iJXW9RCsSP-DsflBTY2-vIIn8LUVQjYpT_xQLCKTgXjc8V_LhlFZTpmt5qM8cZQQL7xHJQ9pKP-F9Yg7gVexD2JerPpt7esNtQ2hX17w0K0GTyzMQu5ba-6-4jofjh-c2VGw/s1600-h/IMG_0363_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iJXW9RCsSP-DsflBTY2-vIIn8LUVQjYpT_xQLCKTgXjc8V_LhlFZTpmt5qM8cZQQL7xHJQ9pKP-F9Yg7gVexD2JerPpt7esNtQ2hX17w0K0GTyzMQu5ba-6-4jofjh-c2VGw/s400/IMG_0363_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418166926669944514" /></a>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-28051402693628149962009-12-20T20:44:00.000-05:002009-12-22T15:58:17.036-05:00Be Like Obama<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4198306195/" title="Obama by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4198306195_bb321c2d39.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Obama" /></a></center><br /><br />This is a children's notebook. I saw it on a hospital counter in Nigeria. Kinda made me think of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06dQSwnxBbM">"Be Like Mike"</a> campaign. <br /><br /><center><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/06dQSwnxBbM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/06dQSwnxBbM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></center>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-67614251621890997472009-12-10T10:51:00.000-05:002009-12-19T20:32:52.303-05:00Twins in Lagos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92D3X4y9hLIypWbRHtQQthKFYNKr7-AuWADsNsz7RjPTerc6A4RS7E3PP-7ZuIArzRR8tSynEVLselufGRlzT0UYMUPK-iRJrmgt-aOzqhRrXc9iFRT2XGn_pyvydutgu5GPp/s1600-h/Kano+and+Lagos+100.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92D3X4y9hLIypWbRHtQQthKFYNKr7-AuWADsNsz7RjPTerc6A4RS7E3PP-7ZuIArzRR8tSynEVLselufGRlzT0UYMUPK-iRJrmgt-aOzqhRrXc9iFRT2XGn_pyvydutgu5GPp/s400/Kano+and+Lagos+100.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415527270186761698" /></a><br /><small>Photo: Lagos 2009</small><br /><br /><br />Like most other large cities in Nigeria, when traffic stops in Lagos, street vendors trickle their ways into the streets. I have seen street vendors selling anything from phone chargers and wall clocks to fried plantains and boiled eggs. As we drove out of the Lagos airport we saw these two ladies, both with twins(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibeji"target="_blank">Ibeji</a>) on their hips asking for food for their children. <br />Two studies conducted about three decades ago estimate that Nigeria has the highest twin birth rates in the world (Golding, 1990; Naylander, 1978). A town nearly 50 miles north of Lagos boast the highest incidence of twin births. The dizygotic twin birth rates vary by region but monozygotic birth rates are constant around the world. <br /><br />In the scientific community there are many hypothesis regarding environmental factors that determine multiple birth rates. Similarly, most Nigerians have their own impression of why so many western Nigerians give birth to twins. A few people mentioned that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_people" target="_blank">yoruba</a> <br />diet was the main factor, while others suggested various enviromental factors.<br /><br /><br /><small>Golding, J. (1990) Factors associated with twinning and other multiple birth. In Golding, J. (ed.), <i>Social and Biological Effects on Perinatal Mortality. Vol. III. Perinatal Analyses.</i> Bristol University, Bristol, pp. 21-66</small><br /><small>Naylander, P.P.S. (1978) Causes of high twinning frequencies in Nigeria. In Nance, W.E., Allen, G. and Parisi, P. (eds), <i> Twin Research. Part B: Biology and Epidemiology.</i> Alan R. Liss, New York, pp. 35-43.</small>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-41973199033226958972009-12-06T15:12:00.000-05:002009-12-09T15:08:50.242-05:00Village birth attendantsWe recently visited a village outside of the federal capital territory of Nigeria. The route was unpaved and a 4x4 pickup truck drove us in. I can't imagine how much rougher that trip would have been in a smaller car. An NGO founded by an architect and an urban planner is doing a lot of work at this village. We got a tour of a new school being built there. Apparently the Japanese embassy is also funding a lot of the new construction. <br /><br />After the tour, we went into the settlements and talked to people who spoke either Hausa or English. Considering the treacherous route to the nearest hospital very few people make the trip unless they are in a dire state. Understandably women aren't able to make the trip to the hospital to deliver their children either. <br />Someone told us about a local birth attendant. This is a picture of where many women in the village deliver their children. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4172594016/" title="Birthing center by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4172594016_4f53a34543.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Birthing center" /></a>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-17292945499197583382009-12-04T11:21:00.000-05:002009-12-22T15:59:22.659-05:00Jumma in Abuja<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/3050263966/" title="Abuja National Mosque by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3050263966_6175ee1b23.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Abuja National Mosque" /></a></center><br /><center><small>Photo: National Mosque shot in 2008</small></center><br /><br><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4157666599/" title="After Jummah by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4157666599_936d7d63ed.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="After Jummah" /></a></center><br /><center><small>Photo: People socializing after the Friday prayer 2009 </small></center><br /><br />I went to the Nigerian National Mosque in Abuja for the Friday prayer. <br />Fortunately the Nigerian Muslims don't have to worry about a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/29/swiss-minarets-ban-referendum" TARGET="_blank">minaret ban</a>.Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-82317803856496846262009-12-02T16:57:00.000-05:002009-12-02T18:13:55.216-05:00In queue for petrol<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWplo1OOsV6oCT5yNJDuS4vbzN_snUzJBLLVApURNtzGEOMbHxhLWeF2H_oe6JyTWHgED9k0Ds8JvutXtEA4FfswwB_czmE_nM-FAnaBdR8ufKE04GgQEx8SQxC_Vd3vR4cOaY/s1600-h/Kaduna+and+Keffi+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWplo1OOsV6oCT5yNJDuS4vbzN_snUzJBLLVApURNtzGEOMbHxhLWeF2H_oe6JyTWHgED9k0Ds8JvutXtEA4FfswwB_czmE_nM-FAnaBdR8ufKE04GgQEx8SQxC_Vd3vR4cOaY/s400/Kaduna+and+Keffi+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410767390790734418" /></a><br /><br /><br />Petrol stations in the Federal Capital Territory have been hoarding gasoline in anticipation of a hike in crude oil prices. There is a chance that the Nigerian government will deregulate the sale of gasoline in the country. It is suspected that the petrol stations would hike the prices whenever there is a shortage. All around Abuja you can see mile-long lines of people in queue for gasoline. Our driver had to wait 8 hours to get the car filled up. Some people have been spending nights in their cars to keep their spot in line. For emergency situations people buy gasoline in jerrycans for two or three times the regular price.Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-74522159278472090182009-11-26T01:10:00.001-05:002010-06-14T15:26:42.435-04:00Turning things around<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4145036606/" title="Waiting... by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/4145036606_ee9b445949.jpg" width="339" height="500" alt="Waiting..." /></a><br /><small> Photo: A woman waiting for medical care outside the hospital. (as shot) November, 2009 </small><br /><br />In low-resource health care settings physicians have to acclimate in order to provide the best possible care to their patients. It is important to best utilize what is available to them in order to make a diagnosis. Two days ago we went to a clinic in Nassarawa state, Nigeria; just a little north of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). <!– more –> Alongside the highway we saw many scattered settlements. People from these small villages go to a central hospital to receive the most pressing medical care needs. <br /><br />Physicians at this hospital make diagnoses without basic lab tests or equipment. Our project provides these physicians with a bacterial culture machine which may be used free of charge. On our last site visit we were shocked to notice that at this hospital the bacterial culture machine has only been used a handful of times. The local physicians have become habituated to practicing medicine in a low-resource hospital. Adding basic services provided at other hospitals is perceived as a burden to the physicians' diagnostic regiment.<br /><br />Hopefully, we can turn this around.Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-76061287788388130432009-11-24T15:46:00.000-05:002009-11-24T16:35:01.511-05:00Happy Birthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0ZIa0Us3fgfb_Pjr05uP9nncAekh0s5lriN2JO8msk1jSq20K3rZ05-apjfhktFfGjmL-sEl3xOu_CZoQrSv1Vy-zSKheZ5zG6I0p6sQZUuJA2OcA-Wsu3NLLigg-SXv9abI/s1600/Nigeria+Carnival+088.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0ZIa0Us3fgfb_Pjr05uP9nncAekh0s5lriN2JO8msk1jSq20K3rZ05-apjfhktFfGjmL-sEl3xOu_CZoQrSv1Vy-zSKheZ5zG6I0p6sQZUuJA2OcA-Wsu3NLLigg-SXv9abI/s320/Nigeria+Carnival+088.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407776567887597554" /></a><br /><br /><br />It is nice to be back under the Nigerian sun. Today was my first full day here. We woke up around 7 am and started the day with fried yam. Later in the afternoon we were invited to the Nigerian Ministry of Health to make a presentation about the sickle cell project. The public health division was incredibly enthusiastic and very supportive about the what our team is doing. It was the division director's birthday today. While we were there people sang her the Nigerian version of the "happy birthday" song. This version was so different from what I am used to in the US that I don't think they will need to pay the Time-Warner any royalties. The song ends with "how old are you nowwww? How old are you nowwww?". She turned 59 today. <br /><br />In the evening we went to a huge carnival with people from all the Nigerian states representing their respective cultures. More pictures to come on my flickr site when I get back to the US. <br /><br />I think we are off to the outskirts of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT) tomorrow. <br /><br />peaceKhalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-58800410965709497942009-11-18T11:25:00.000-05:002009-11-19T12:15:15.384-05:00My Olympus XABoth my parents love photography and I grew up around cameras. My parents took most of our childhood pictures on an <a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/olympus/xa.htm">Olympus XA rangefinder camera</a>. I remember this camera was a precious item in our household. My dad bought it from one of his photographer friends in the early 1980's. <br />In the last few years my parents have moved on to digital photography and I am starting to inherit all the awesome film gear. Recently, my Mom gave me this Olympus and I have been shooting with it regularly. I feel guilty for letting my DSLR collect dust on my shelf. <br />My style of photography totally changes when I am taking pictures with a film camera. I can't do any test shots to quickly check my exposure or to see how light is falling on my subject. I have to think much more and it is really fun to go lo-fi once in a while. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4076661607/" title="Grandriver, Lansing by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4076661607_34f721337b.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="Grandriver, Lansing" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">This is a picture of Grand River (Lansing, MI) about a block away from my apartment.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4077439718/" title="Jamaica Palace by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4077439718_b4da1dfc38.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Jamaica Palace" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">This is Eric at an incredible Jamaican restaurant in Lansing. They blast Jamaican music all day. </span><br /><br /> <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4076686881/" title="Light leak by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/4076686881_b1f5a583a5.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="Light leak" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I had to open the back of the camera in a (not so dark) room. This was an unexpected result. The light leak is perfectly over the manhole.</span>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-61827328096202688762009-11-12T12:03:00.000-05:002009-11-12T12:05:08.152-05:00My friend's dream<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4036151680/" title="Baker Wood Lot by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/4036151680_2c70d81244.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Baker Wood Lot" /></a><br /><br />Dude,<br /><br />Last night I had a dream that we were high school friends and we were<br />in the amazon trying to save children from slavery under this evil<br />baker. Bread was made by a windmill and the children had to shove all<br />the ingredients down these Tim Burton-like tubes as fast as they could<br />before this roulette wheel came and chopped their fingers off. Once<br />the children got too old, the old lady chopped them up and baked them<br />into bread.<br /><br />We tried to get the media involved by telling the children's stories.<br />But, the rest of the world was deaf and blind and couldn't think about<br />anything but the loss of their senses. ...They just ate bread.<br /><br />So...<br /><br /><br />I woke up.<br /><br />I still feel a little strange about that dream.<br /><br />But, on a more positive note - we were high school superheros trying<br />to save children in the Amazon. That's pretty bad ass.<br /><br />I think maybe I'm watching too much Highlander. If you're interested,<br />I want to share my love of that beautiful 1990s TV show. It'd be good<br />stress relief for you. It's completely mindless.Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-72844122445315749442009-10-30T12:19:00.000-04:002009-10-30T12:28:34.236-04:00My Sugar Gliders<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4048420075/" title="Meet Aurailieus by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/4048420075_94802d1f91.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Meet Aurailieus" /></a><br />Meet Aurailieus: He is typically pretty relaxed but this day he was really interested in what is happening outside the window. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4049177050/" title="... and Josephine by eatpomegranate, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4049177050_6396552291.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="... and Josephine" /></a><br />Here is Josephine. She is the curious one and has a really short attention span. I love her.Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-75651937729858321212009-10-16T23:33:00.001-04:002009-10-16T23:33:42.757-04:00Orange<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4017810041/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/4017810041_ed6ce8bec8.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4017810041/">Orange</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/eatpomegranate/">eatpomegranate</a>.</span></div><p>Another memory of this Michigan fall.</p>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9930977.post-31681435579684944682009-10-11T14:54:00.001-04:002009-10-11T14:54:52.731-04:00Meet Rusty<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4000476355/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/4000476355_33446e8e7d.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatpomegranate/4000476355/">IMG_2088</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/eatpomegranate/">eatpomegranate</a>.</span></div><p></p>Khalidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07542643312565784150noreply@blogger.com0