Spray paint

I recently discovered a great graffiti artist. He calls himself Banksy and has been relatively successful keeping his identity hidden. Of course, it makes sense to keep undercover because graffiti is illegal in most places. During an interview with The Guardian in 2003 he told them that not getting caught made him enjoy his work: "The art to it is not getting picked up for it, and that's the biggest buzz at the end of the day because you could stick all my shit in the Tate Modern and have an opening with Tony Blair and Kate Moss on rollerblades handing out vol-au-vents and it wouldn't be as exciting."
Most interesting of all are the nine incredible images he made on Palestine's controversial west bank wall.

For his latest exhibition at 'Crude Oils' in Notting Hill, London, he has painted Monet's Water lilly pond but has littered it with shopping carts, Van Gogh flowers but with no flower, Jack Vettriano's dancer's in the rain but with people disposing nuclear wastes in the back ground and Warhol's Marilyn poster but instead has Kate Moss in the picture. Also, in order to walk through his gallery you have to step over hundreds of rats walking on the ground.

BAM!

PHOTO: "everything for everyone and nothing for ourselves"

Don't be a cow

Photo: This is what I think about Michigan weather.


Who will win the next Nobel Peace Prize?
11:4 Viktor Yushchenko
7:1 Bono
14:1 Colin Powell
16:1 Bob Geldof
20:1 Ravi Shankar
25:1 Hugo Chavez
33:1 Pope John Paul II
250:1 Tony Blair and George Bush

VIA: The Atlantic Monthly

Pumpkin what?

Pumpkin Curry

500 g ( 1 lb ) pumpkin
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped3 fresh green chiles, seeded and chopped
8-10 curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 1/2 cups (12 fl oz) thin coconut milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (4 fl oz) thick coconut milk
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds


Peel pumpkin and cut into large chunks. put into a pan with all the ingredients except the thick coconut milk and mustard seeds. Bring slowly to simmering point and cook gently, uncovered, until pumpkin is almost tender. meanwhile, grind the mustard seeds with a mortar and pestle and mix with the thick coconut milk. add to the simmering pot and cook for 5 minutes longer on a very gentle heat.

Serves 6


BAM!~!!

Pick up the November '05 issue of Utne, there is a great article in there; Take Back Islam. Also, if you are an MSU student you can read the full magazine online, through the MSU libraries electronic resources.

Take me for a ride

PHOTO: by Adil
This motorcycle took me for the sweetest ride around the hills or Rochester. My brother's friend let me take it out for a spin and I think I was gone for way longer than they expected. It was crazy to ride the same streets as I used to ride RHONDA THE HONDA (CBR F4i), brought back some of my greatest memories. Of course, it was NO comparison to the insane power Rhonda had, but two wheels are ALWAYS better than four. GOSH! i miss motorcycles so very much.

South Asia Earthquake Walk

PHOTO: This kid lives with my grandparents. Jun 2005

I drove back home to Rochester this past weekend. My parents have some Pakistani satellite channels, so I got to see a lot of footage from the Northwestern territory of Pakistan and India. My father is part of the Pakistan-American Association and with the help of IAGD (Islamic Association of Greater Detroit) they mailed a truckload full of sleeping bags and tents to Pakistan. Hopefully we can match those efforts here in East Lansing.
There is an awareness walk this weekend, so please let a lot of people know. Adil Ibrahim and Junaid Mattu is coordinating this walk and I have his email below incase you want to volunteer.

SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE WALK:
29th October 10:30 a.m. Starts @ MSU Union
To participate or volunteer contact:
Adil Ibrahim
ibrahim4@msu.edu
248-880-2506
or
Junaid
mattujun@msu.edu
240-441-4491

BBC has some very realistic pictures of the aftermath of the earthquakes.

URBAN

My brother is organizing an awarness walk for the earthquakes in Pakistan. I will post here as soon as I know more details.


PHOTO: by Elizabeth Jean Samanen

After school Kevin and I am going to go to chicago and become bike messengers.
I can't stop looking at the following links. Some of the videos take a while to load, but I assure you that they are worth it.

Check it
LUCAS BRUNELLE has attached two cameras to his helmet and he has made some incredible vidoes. It is crazy to see what you can do on the road with a nice bike, some cars and pedestrians (moving trees) to make it interesting.
IFBMA (International Federation of Bike Messengers Associations)
WCBMA (Windy City Bike Messengers Association)

Pakistan

PHOTO: This picture was taken this past summer in Pakistan.

I am sure by the time you see this post you will have heard about the record breaking earthquakes in Pakistan. Thanks to all the people who called me to see if my family was ok. I really appreciate it and it means a lot to me. Luckily my family is doing well but there are tens of thousands of people in great need of help. I am setting up an account so I can send money back home. Feel free to let peole know about this through your blog. I want to have money ready to be sent there by October 25th.

We have been in touch with our family very regularly and getting updates.

Salaam

Drum

Lately, I have been following around the drumline on MSU game days. This past game was dissapointing indeed, but I have never had more fun watching a drumline. I have some videos of the "drum off" between MSU and U of M, and if you would like to see them shoot me an e-mail.

Drugs

Life is really good without a tv in my room. Whenever I do get a chance to watch, something ends up bothering me. Today I saw an ad for a prescription acne med, and the drug company "coached" how the teenage viewer should ask their "parent unit" to get them the drug . . . based on a TV ad! The American Medical Student Association has a pretty good article regarding this.

PHOTO: helicopter over the riot

can you dig it?

No matter how many bikes I research, nothings seems better than the Trek X01. I was looking into buying a sugar glider because I really needed a pet in my life, but unfortunately it seems like a bike would be so much more fun. This is such a tough decision. You decide.

PHOTOS: of course I didn't take these. VIA the WWW

candle

candle
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

I should be helping with the hurricane along with my Red Cross co-workers. It is sad I can't be there.

Picture 143

Picture 143
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

I was in Homer, MI visiting Kevin this weekend and I had a little accident on the lake. So I will be looking like a true gangster for the first week of school. I need to think of good stories to tell people who ask me what happned.

Picture 149
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

PHOTO: VIA Libby S.

Home Sweet Home

car fun
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

Photo: Driving the streets of Rawalpindi.

I am back in Rochester for the week, Asher house (East Lansing) treated me well. I came across this pretty funny advertisement and I thought I would put it up here for your viewing pleasures. I hate to advertise for this company but it is funny.

coffee

Khalid

Khalid
Originally uploaded by pomgernate.

I have been in a pretty stressed out state lately. So I thought I would post a picture of care-free happy times.
I don't mean to make this a poem blog. But here is another One I really like. VIA Mat Buss

Alexander Pope
Solitude: An Ode

I
How happy he, who free from care
The rage of courts, and noise of towns;
Contented breaths his native air,
In his own grounds.

II
Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire,
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.

III
Blest! who can unconcern'dly find
Hours, days, and years slide swift away,
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day,

IV
Sound sleep by night; study and ease
Together mix'd; sweet recreation,
And innocence, which most does please,
With meditation.

V
Thus let me live, unheard, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me dye;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lye.