Al-Aqsa

Last Friday, as I prayed at the East Lansing mosque, the Imam--who leads the worhship--announced a threat by the Israeli fundamentalist group called "Revava" to overtake Majid Al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem). The Israeli fundamentalists had publicly announced an attack plan last Saturday (9 April). Busloads of Muslims flocked to protect this incredible landmark. Fortunately, the Israeli government has asked all Israeli rebels to back down, fearing a Palestinian uprising. Of course, this doesn’t mean the situation for the people of Jerusalem has improved; it is just a bit of news from the Muslim world everyone should be aware of.

Here is a link to my favorite source of information: the BBC. If you visit one website daily, this should be it.

BBC article

PHOTO: www.ancient-history.nl
Inside of Al-Asqa Mosque

Gas masks

Gas masks
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

The riots this past weekend were great photo opps. This kid is being dragged across ths street because he was taking pictures of the cops.

After a dissapointing loss to UNC thousands of students flooded the streets of Michigan State University campus. In my opinion this was was a tame gathering compared to the incredibile riots in tthe past years. It was amusing to see everyone with there telephone cameras and mini digital camera. In just three years they have become so popular.

The day after the riots I was surfing through some other blogs and this one girl mentioned:

"a rally for workers' rights draws about 100 people.
but, woah, MSU's mens team loses a basketball game and the streets are full of kids."

I definitely agree, it is very sad to notice where students our age choose to expend their energy. I can't imagine how different this world would be if we had thousands of students coming together for a better cause.

closing reception

closing reception
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

This is Leah M's Closing reception. Beautiful art.
no words.

Vern

P1010319
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

Vern


it is wonderful to see everyone smiling when the weather is beautiful. I was productive and also got to enjoy the weather with this litte guy; vern. I really miss having a dog. I hope everyone enjoyed the weather as much as I did.
salaam

MSU and Pakistan

I watched the MSU basketball game against Kentucky last night and it was intense. It feels good to be in the final four atleast once in your college experience. But today I was informed that the Spartans are not the only people in green and while celebrating. The Pakistan cricket team has tied a series of matches agains India.
Go green Go white

BBC NEWS

North Korea

This is a picture of North and South Korea. Does anyone know why N. Korea is totally dark?

jazz drums

Photo: from webpage of drummer world


I enjoyed two hours of some of the best jazz I have ever heard. Jimmy Cobb on drums at the music building, on my route to the library! If you know John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz you know Jimmy Cobb. Even held an entertaining Q&A session.

Khalid

Khalid portrait
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

Sorry, I keep putting up pictures of myself and this is that last one. It just brings back some GREAT memories.

pnl

aesop rock

invert
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

These are the lyrics to the SONG of the freakin' MONTH. It has been making me happy for the past whole week. I hope you like it.


Aesop Rock
No Regrets

Lucy was 7 and wore a head of blue barettes
City born, into this world with no knowledge and no regrets
Had a piece of yellow chalk with which she'd draw upon the street
The many faces of the various locals that she would meet
There was joshua, age 10
Bully of the block
Who always took her milk money at the morning bus stop
There was Mrs. Crabtree, and her poodle
She always gave a wave and holler on her weekly trip down to the bingo
parlor
And she drew
Men, women, kids, sunsets, clouds
And she drew
Skyscrapers, fruit stands, cities, towns
Always said hello to passers-by
They'd ask her why she passed her time
Attachin lines to concrete
But she would only smile
Now all the other children living in or near her building
Ran around like tyrants, soaking up the open fire hydrants
They would say
Hey little Lucy, wanna come jump double dutch?
Lucy would pause, look, grin and say
I'm busy, thank you much
Well, well, one year passed
And believe it or not
She covered every last inch of the entire sidewalk,
And she stopped-
Lucy, after all this, you're just giving in today??
She said:
I'm not giving in, I'm finished, and walked away
(Chorus: x2)
1 2 3
That's the speed of the seed
A B C
That's the speed of the need
You can dream a little dream
Or you can live a little dream
I'd rather live it
Cuz dreamers always chase
But never get it
Now Lucy was 37, and introverted somewhat
Basement apartment in the same building she grew up in
She traded in her blue barettes for long locks held up with a clip
Traded in her yellow chalk for charcoal sticks
And she drew
Little bobby who would come to sweep the porch
And she drew
The mailman, delivered everyday at 4
Lucy had very little contact with the folks outside her cubicle day
But she found it suitable, and she liked it that way
She had a man now: Rico, similar, hermit
They would only see each other once or twice a week on purpose
They appreciated space and Rico was an artist too
So they'd connect on saturdays to share the pictures that they drew
(Look!)
Now every month or so, she'd get a knock upon the front door
Just one of the neighbors,
Actin nice, although she was a strange girl, really
Say, Lucy, wanna join me for some lunch??
Lucy would smile and say I'm busy, thank you much
And they would make a weird face the second the door shut
And run and tell their friends how truly crazy Lucy was
And lucy knew what people thought but didn't care
Cuz while they spread their rumors through the street
She'd paint another masterpiece
(Chorus x2)
Lucy was 87, upon her death bed
At the senior home, where she had previously checked in
Traded in the locks and clips for a head rest
Traded in the charcoal sticks for arthritis, it had to happen
And she drew no more, just sat and watched the dawn
Had a television in the room that she'd never turned on
Lucy pinned up a life worth's of pictures on the wall
And sat and smiled, looked each one over, just to laugh at it all
No Rico, he had passed, 'bout 5 years back
So the visiting hours pulled in a big flock o' nothin
She'd never spoken once throughout the spanning of her life
Until the day she leaned forward, grinned and pulled the nurse aside
And she said:
Look, I've never had a dream in my life
Because a dream is what you wanna do, but still haven't pursued
I knew what I wanted and did it till it was done
So i've been the dream that I wanted to be since day one!
Well!
The nurse jumped back,
She'd never heard Lucy even talk,
'Specially words like that
She walked over to the door, and pulled it closed behind
Then Lucy blew a kiss to each one of her pictures
And she died.
(Chorus x2)
1 2 3...
A B C...

salmon, chai and apples

salmon?
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

This is my contribution to the blog during midterm week.

Build a wireless antenna

Avian Flu

chemistry glassware
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

One of the biggest issues in the world of epidemiology right now is the avian flu. This deadly flu started in Southeastern Asia and is thought to cause the next a pandemic, such as AIDS or polio (which has now almost extinguished). Scientists are rushing to make a vaccine for this avian-flu bug that can be transferred to people. We are still not sure if it will work. You might be able to recall the big flu vaccine shortage earlier this year. Such problems happen because it takes way longer for the vaccines to be made than it does for a certain virus to spread.
According to the Wall street journal, when the right vaccine is discovered it will approximately six months to make enough vaccine to supply 10% to 20% of the US and Europe. Most of the countries in the world are not yet addressing this HUGE issue yet; the US has bought stockpiles of the H5N1 vaccine, but who is to say that the vaccine will work if it is stored.
This Avian flu is especially dangerous because it can mutate to be transferred from person to person. If such a mutation was to happen (not unlikely), it could spread around the world in six months and we would not have immunity to it.

I am done

PS google this up

exdolphins

exdolphins
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

These are the ex dolphins! and they are in it for the dolphin sex. find them on the msu facebook.

Photo: Mr. Jiskra.

New Additions

Vegetarian chilli makes for good get-togethers at the paki pad.

I have set it up so that anyone can comment on my blog even if you are not a blogger.com member!

Also I get to use a dark room now and I will be posting some cool new pics that I develop myself.

Knowledge and money

Knowledge = Power
Money = Time

Power = Energy / Time

Knowledge = Energy / money

Money = Energy / Knowledge

As Knowledge -----> 0
Money-----> infinity

i.e. the less you know
the more money you make

Complimentary joke on my physics equation review sheet

heroin

I watched the movies Trainspotting , Requiem for a Dream , and listened to lots of The Velvet Underground , and that inspired me to take a series of pictures. This one is one of them. I you want more of the craziness e-mail me. It would be cool to have no obligations in life and just go nuts on heroin ...... nah, it is probably over-rated.