Thoughts

MODESELEKTOR feat. Thom Yorke - Shipwreck

2011-11-26T04:26:00.001-08:00

MODESELEKTOR feat. Thom Yorke - Shipwreck from TONY T. on Vimeo.

SWYP: See What You Print

2011-09-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

SWYP: See What You Print from Artefact on Vimeo.

Artefact created a radically simple printer concept called SWYP. See What You Print. To learn more:artefactgroup.com/#/content/swyp

Mazeeg is out now :)

2011-09-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

MAZEEG IS A CLOTHING LABEL , DEDICATED TO UNIQUE GRAPHIC DESIGNED TEES .

i just ordered mine it's comes with beautiful packaging

so check out Tees collection here

MOVE by y Rick Mereki

2011-08-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films.....
Rick Mereki : Director, producer, additional camera and editing
Tim White : DOP, producer, primary editing, sound
Andrew Lees : Actor, mover, groover
All Music composed and performed by Kelsey James (kelseyanne.james@gmail.com)
Soundtrack available here:
itunes.apple.com/au/album/play-on-move-soundtrack-single/id456257170

Life in a Day

2011-08-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

What happens when you send a request out to the world to chronicle, via video, a single day on Earth? You get 80,000 submissions and 4,500 hours of footage from 192 countries. Producer Ridley Scott and Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald took this raw material — all shot on July 24, 2010 — and created Life in a Day, a groundbreaking, feature-length documentary that portrays this kaleidoscope of images we call life. National Geographic is bringing it to theaters starting July 24, 2011. Prepare to be amazed.

sandra rijks photography

2011-08-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

L'attente...2010

neilda costa photography

2011-08-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

Astronaut Suicides (new)

Life(Stream)

2011-07-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Life Stream Band Camp Page

CLICK HERE

cinemagraphs

2011-07-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

via from me to you.

Harmonic Transformation by The Human Experience

2011-06-26T14:21:00.001-07:00

<p>&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://harmonictransformation.bandcamp.com/album/harmonic-transformation"&amp;amp;gt;Harmonic Transformation by The Human Experience&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</p>

" pause the mini-player to avoid noises "

PINA - Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost

2011-05-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

PINA - Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost - International Trailer from neueroadmovies on Vimeo.

PINA - A film for PINA BAUSCH by WIM WENDERS.
Official Site: pina-film.de/en/
Join PINA on Facebook: facebook.com/pina.film
Neue Road Movies: neueroadmovies.com
PINA premieres in the official selection of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival (out of competition) on 13th of February.
PINA is a film for Pina Bausch by Wim Wenders. The feature-length dance film was shot in 3D with the ensemble of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch and shows the exhilarating and inimitable art of the great German choreographer who died in the summer of 2009, inviting the viewer on a sensual, visually stunning journey of discovery into a new dimension: right onto the stage of the legendary ensemble and together with the dancers beyond the theater, into the city and the surrounding industrial landscape of Wuppertal – the place that was the home and center of Pina Bausch's creative life for more than 35 years

18 يوم days

2011-05-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

A group of ten directors, twenty or so actors, six writers, eight directors of photography, eight sound engineers, five set designers, three costume designers, seven editors, three post-production companies, and about ten technicians have agreed to act fast and shoot, with no budget and on a voluntary basis, ten short films about the January 25 revolution in Egypt. Ten stories they have experienced, heard or imagined.

By Seif El Din Khaled in spain

2011-05-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

Granada

by Seif El Din Khaled

By Seif El Din Khaled

Seasons Part 1 by The Echelon Effect

2011-05-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://theecheloneffect.bandcamp.com/album/seasons-part-1">Seasons Part 1 by The Echelon Effect</a>

Pheel

2011-03-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

pheel

Solidarités International et BDDP

2011-03-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Unlimited veulent faire couler de l'encre

by BDDP Unlimited

Solidarités International et BDDP Unlimited veulent faire couler de l'encre from BDDP Unlimited on Vimeo.

-
To mark World Water Day, on March 22nd Solidarités International and its agency BDDP Unlimited will roll out a campaign to build awareness of the scourge of undrinkable water.
Today, it is estimated that 3.6 million people, including 1.5 million children under the age of 5, die every year of diseases borne by undrinkable water, making it the world’s leading cause of death.
Yet the public isn’t aware of it and political leaders do not demonstrate the drive it takes to end the terrible deaths. The campaign calls on journalists to spread awareness of this scourge and appeal to readers to sign a petition that will be personally handed to the French president during the 6th World Water Forum in March 2012. To evoke the silent and invisible threat of unhealthy water, BDDP Unlimited opted for a minimalist approach that is both visually appealing and surprising, using water and ink exclusively. The spot shows the power of ink to reveal the invisible.
The spot, created by BDDP Unlimited, produced by Hush and directed by Clément Beauvais, a young director, illustrator, musician and photographer. His multiple talents and mastery of various techniques enabled him to both create the drawings and direct the spot. The campaign will be seen from mid-March on TV, in cinemas, on the Internet and in print. A dedicated web site, votregouttedeau.org, will gather

Expose

2011-03-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Expose is Egypt's first international photography magazine. It's published every two months and it specializes in everything related to photography & photographers.

Their goal is pure education and entertainment through many images that were carefully selected from photographers all over the world.

Their mission is to provide training courses at the highest level to anyone who wants to learn photography, in addition to the many interesting useful articles, imaging techniques, glimpses of the lives and techniques of many Egyptian and International photographers.

WEBSITE HERE

Order your copy now and we will deliver it to your door for 20 L.Ewww.expose-mag.com/order.

Or call 01502252525 for more information

-------------------------------------------------

click the photo for larger size .

Amro Dessouki's photostream

amro have been featured in expose mag in the first issue, i felt so happy seeing his work published in the first photography mag in egypt

pleasure ..

2011-03-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

KEATON HENSON

2011-03-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

quick bit about yourself.My name’s Keaton and I’m an illustrator/artist and songwriter from London. I spend most of my day drawing strange things with lots of hair, writing/recording songs, or watching Columbo.

through a typical job, from the initial idea to a completed piece.
Well, I usually start by just going outside and gathering a bunch of ideas in my head, sorting them into piles of good and bad, then sometimes I’ll do some sketches but usually just go straight into the final drawing. In most cases I start by drawing a rough shape, which helps me figure the composition, then I kind of fill it in with whatever idea I’ve had. Once I’ve finished the drawing, I scan it and either colour it or send it straight to print.

Disney or anime? Toilet-wall graffiti or photorealism?
Well, Disney feels a bit like Coca-Cola or Nazi Germany to me, so it never really grabbed me. I don’t think I was ever bored enough to truly get into anime, and toilet-wall graffiti is something I don’t pay too much attention to (but do wonder how people have the time to do it in there). Photorealism has been totally obsolete since the camera was invented. It’s the art equivalent of men in guitar shops ‘trying out’ guitars and playing 20-minute blues guitar solos.

Do you prefer working freehand or doing as much as you can on computer?
I really love to draw. The computer stuff’s fine for colouring if the client has asked for it, but for me I’m happiest when I’m just drawing in ink on paper.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?
God knows. I spend most of my time indoors so mostly see cool things on TV or out the window. There’s a pretty cool bird drinking from a puddle out there now.

What artists/illustrators do you look up to?
The guys I majorly admire are Sam Weber,
Chris Norris,
Dan McCarthy and
Jonathan Viner. There’s a ton more but I’d say those guys really are the most incredible artists.

I say it in a lot of interviews and always feel I shouldn’t have, but I really think if you want to be an illustrator you should just draw, (or paint, or whatever you do). Basically, I think university for art is a ridiculous concept. If you’re considering studying any kind of art at uni you should think about how much you enjoy drawing, how much someone else can actually teach you about how to develop YOUR style, and whether the time might be better spent drawing for two years and trying to get real art jobs.

I see countless unique, awesome artists going to uni, and coming out with a dated style you can only define as ‘art student’. They’re suddenly terrified as the three years I spent begging for paid jobs are just beginning for them now and they’re nearly 25.

See more of Keaton’s awesome work in FRONT every month (on the Secret Language page as well as loads of one-off stuff) and on his site keatonhenson.com.
Also the ultra talented fella has turned his hand to music. Check his video here

http://www.myspace.com/keatonhenson

original post here

monaco reps

2011-03-05T05:01:00.000-08:00

Eva from monaco reps on Vimeo.

Still from monaco reps on Vimeo.

by monaco reps

Pharmacy by Noah Kalina

2011-03-05T04:56:00.000-08:00

Pharmacy from Noah Kalina on Vimeo.

Pharmacy by Noah Kalina

update.. .

2011-03-05T04:55:00.000-08:00

pictures that look like this .com

by noah kalina- check out the blog

-----------------------------------

pretty impressive , check the link out

-----------------------------------

Enric Galceran

photographer & film maker

Technology is a Dead Bird

2011-03-04T09:03:00.001-08:00

Tessa Drummond - days like this

2011-02-28T08:26:00.000-08:00

she's brilliant

2011-02-25T06:08:00.001-08:00

pause mini player to avoid noises

RainBow

2011-02-18T05:03:00.001-08:00

update..

2011-02-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

Epic

-----

H&M Home Reflection

-----

TRONIFIED AMUSEMENT MAGAZINE

Commercial for EF Language Schools. by Albin Holmqvist

2011-02-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

Language & Typography

Directed by Gustav Johansson (gustavjohansson.com)

D.P by Niklas Johansson, fsf (niklasjohansson.com)

Typography by Albin Holmqvist (albinholmqvist.com)

Music by Magnus Lidehäll (twitter.com/magnusthemagnus)

Produced at Camp David (campdavidfilm.com)

(( PAUSE the music player to avoid noises ))

:: Barcelona ::

EF - Live The Language - Barcelona from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

:: London ::

EF - Live The Language - London from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

:: Beijing ::

EF - Live The Language - Beijing from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

:: Paris :

EF - Live The Language - Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

shades of mediocrity's ..

2011-02-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

check out Shades Of Mediocrity's PhotoStream on Flickr

totally my inspiration <3

Broadcast - Come On Let's Go

2011-02-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

pause mini-player to avoid noises ...

You won't find it by your self . You're gonna need some help
And you won't fail with me around . Come on let's go

I will tell you if you change . And who's been saying things
It's hard to tell who is real in here . Come on let's go

You know who to turn to . Now everything's changed
Come on lets go . Stop looking for answers
In everyone's face . Come on let's go

What's the point in wasting time . On people that you'll never know
Come on let's go

When you're looking for a friend . But it's empty at the end
When everybody's disappeared . You won't be alone

If you want I'll compensate . If you over estimate
So there's nothing left to fear . You won't be alone
You know who to turn to . Now everything's changed
Come on let's go . Stop looking for answers
In everyone's face . Come on let's go

What's the point in wasting time . On people that you'll never know
Come on let's go...

i know it's too late ,... but u jus can't miss the songs :)

2011-02-06T05:30:00.001-08:00

album name

Songs for Christmas

sufjan stevens

band namby Sufjan Stevens

take whats yours

2011-01-26T14:53:00.001-08:00

le sherifs

2011-01-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.myspace.com/lesherifs

Le Sherifs - Fallin' from Le Sherifs on Vimeo.

instagram

2011-01-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

instagram app on iPhone , it's pretty nice .. Made those photos today
© Hassnaa Mohamed 2011

Hauschka at NPR: Improvisation

2011-01-20T06:33:00.000-08:00

Pause Mini player to avoid noises before you play this..

On Music - ways to dig music

2011-01-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

On Music - ways to dig music by Hassnaa Mohamed .

you're favorite tracks won't be the famouse ones ,

always get the discographies and listen till u find smth that inspires you ...

so easiest way to get discographies is to get www.bittorrent.com ,

and browse music on btjunkie.org , at least that's what i do ..

never stop at a certain genre , listen to everything , you might get surprised :D

and sooner or later you figure out ur favorites ,.. then search for similar artists to your faves

i always search for similar artists to my faves on www.last.fm , the site is just perfect ..

so pick up names and Utube 'em , myspace 'em , then get the albums ..

download the Last.fm Scrobbler http://www.last.fm/download

check out stereomood.com this site never disappointed me :D ..

get to know musicians , good musician would get u high minded

always dig for the unknown bands , the new ones , check out covers on Utube ..

they can be even better than the famous ones

i won't talk about the bliss of playing a music instrument ,

it's a whole different issue even if u're not good at it . .

accept Music , different languages , different cultures and statements no matter what

you'll always find smth that inspires you ..

get an iPod ;) , streets would feel better .. i promisse ,just make sure u won't get hit by a car :D ...

check out different versions of ur fave tracks ..

SHARE music always share music , and listen to the shared ones

uhmm , in actually i think that u should share anything that inspires you

then you might just make someone's day , while u don't even know .

remember the lyrics of the songs that stuck on ur ears

and Google the songs by it's lyrics ..

oh never put ur fav tracks as ur ringtones :D

you'll hate 'em like hell later on ..

Oh , and please please please Get good Headphones or in-earphones :D

so u won't miss the good parts :)

notice the hidden instruments ..

and http://www.thesixtyone.com/

Enjoy .

You..

2011-01-17T05:22:00.000-08:00

photographed by me 7 jan 2011

Silence - Quiet Cities by Fabian Krueger

2011-01-16T16:22:00.000-08:00

Foxes giveaway ends up on jan 20 :)

2011-01-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

Foxes

Tabitha Emma

The prize pack includes (pictured above):

1 x Devon Smith ‘Cat Rabbit’ print

1 x Nut & Bee 2011 desk calendar

1 x pack of Artist collaboration gift wrap and tags

1 x Bam Bam Creative fawn necklace

1 x blue/white pack of bakers twine 1 x green/white pack of bakers twine

1 x set of Nut & Bee buttons

If you want to be in the draw to win these gorgeous goodies, simply check out their websiteand then leave a comment about what you think of their store. here For an extra entry become their fan on facebook

Olive Manna

2011-01-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

http://www.olivemannashop.com/

updates ..

2011-01-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

from the blog "this is not my work"

---------------------------------

HANNAH NICOLE

she's quiet beautiful

---------------------------------

a merry mishap blog

pretty nice and intersting blog

---------------------------------

natalie jost

---------------------------------

enjoy <3

time for update :)

2011-01-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

this post is totally inspired from oh,hellofriend

www.papernstitchblog.com

Tricky - My Mermaid

2011-01-06T15:43:00.000-08:00

pause mini-player to avoid noises before you play that

Tricky - My Mermaid lyrics

------

Doesn’t matter about the time we take, Doesn’t matter about the lies we make
Go slow.
I think of how you’re making me mad , I think of all the love we had
Feel so.
Always question never quenching your thirst, Let me die when I lie to you first
I follow.
When I’m with you it’s from within, I know you can see through my skin
I’m hollow.
I need you to feed me once more, I need you like I needed before
I’ll grow.
I’m floating I’m flying I’m dying , I’m floating I’m flying I’m dying

I said you needed like you needed before, Said I didn't know what feeling was for
Said you need me that you meet at five,You don’t show I don’t I’m alive
My pulse slow , My pulse slow

I’m floating I’m flying I’m dying, I’m floating I’m flying I’m dying

say hello to me little friend :)

2011-01-02T13:40:00.001-08:00

some of my fav songs

2011-01-01T03:17:00.000-08:00

All Eyes On You - Philip Selway

Fade Together- Franz Ferdinand

Land Of Talk - It's Okay

Four Tet - Unspoken

Over the Rhine - Desperate for Love

System of a down - Roulette

Deer Tick - Piece by Piece and Frame by Frame

Pete Yorn - Rock Crowd

CocoRosie - Good Friday

Alter Bridge - Blackbird

Vashti Bunyan - Turning Back

Mastermind Theatre - Pictures of Audrey

Meklit Hadero - Leaving Soon

Arms and Sleepers - Seems

Radiohead/The Bends - Nice Dream

Blaudzun - Midnight Room

Happy 2011

2010-12-31T04:31:00.001-08:00

i'm not quiet sure who made it

Whale

2010-12-28T09:51:00.000-08:00

by ohhellofriend california Shop

------------------------------------

i wish if i could get this whale necklace

too bad im saving to get a slr camera on the new year's eve

i think i'll just keep the pleasure of wanting it ..

maxwanger

2010-12-28T09:43:00.000-08:00

http://maxwanger.com
http://www.maxwangerblog.com/

you need time to check out those amazing photography sites

2010-12-28T09:27:00.000-08:00

thanks to Not Common People

for sharing all this ...

make sure to take ur time in each site or photostream

it worth it .

http://www.radenkovic.org

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Katherine Squier's photostream

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mary_robinson's photostream

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LEVAN KAKABADZE

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mma Brown's photostream

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BLANCA GALINDO

---------------------------

http://noelwells.com/

sweet sweet blogs ..

2010-12-27T16:45:00.000-08:00

michelemaule Shop
.............................................

http://renee-anne.com.au/blog/

.............................................

http://muchlove-anna.blogspot.com/

.............................................

SusannahTucker shop on etsy

.............................................

http://www.charlotteboeyden.be/
also check out darcy rogers

.............................................

http://sone-van-zyl.blogspot.com

.............................................

CHRISTMAS BAKING

2010-12-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

Check out Tabitha Emma's blog

some blogs worth sharing like this one

one of the posts that made my day actually

--------------------------

" Well as you can see I have been busy decorating and baking ready for christmas. I always get excited about creating a theme and making lovely things for christmas. I am going with a forest theme and using blue/turquoise as the accented colour. Oh and doilies seem to be a bit of a added theme too. Hope you like it! If you missed my earlier post, here are some more decoration pics. "

-Tabitha Emma's original post.

hilary walker

2010-12-23T16:54:00.001-08:00

http://www.hilarywalker.com.au

on the side of my bed ..

2010-12-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

shot by Me

check out my flickr here

so on the side of my bed you find ..

Prophets stories
Paper Crafts - edited by Lucy Painter --- a little keep calm button :)
'7abbet hawa' -Waleed Taher
Going Home - Harriet Evans
Halcyon Bird Ep - Eva Ellingworth <3
After Eight - chocolate&mint
iPod classic
my lens

and of course cellphone and my little tiny camera :)

Brice Portolano

2010-12-20T14:48:00.001-08:00

check out his blog here

kristine may :)

2010-12-20T11:29:00.001-08:00

check out her photo stream here

she's amazing .. :)

Roland Albertson

2010-12-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE NOW :D

Elizabeth Gilbert's talk on creativity at the 2009 TED* Conference

2010-12-15T13:31:00.001-08:00

updates

2010-12-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

pretty awsome concept check here

check out here

check it out here

Niklas Aman

2010-12-11T03:59:00.000-08:00

damn interesting

2010-12-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.lcdvf.com/

2010-12-08T15:19:00.000-08:00

msgs for stranger '8

2010-12-06T15:51:00.000-08:00

Dear stranger


   if you just stop being so damn interesting
   if u just stop popping up everywhere i go

   Hassnaa

weekly giveaway - oh, hello friend

2010-11-22T13:30:00.000-08:00

weekly giveaway - oh, hello friend

re-blogged from Oh , hello friend

dani :

I realized I haven't really done many giveaways for my own shop. So here it is! A lovely giveaway for not 1, but 2 pocket watches. Keep one, give one to a friend. Or keep both, it's really all up to you! ;) So stop by oh, hello friend + don't forget to follow me on twitter & facebook! ps: sorry for the very delayed post!

win: Your choice of any 2 pocketwatch

necklaces, $60 value!

3 chances to win!

( COMMENT TO WIN )

simply visit oh, hello friend and leave a comment

with your favorite item from the shop.

( +1 EXTRA ENTRY )
Twitter or Facebook about this giveaway.

Come back & comment with the link!

*note: if you twitter, please tag it with @ohhellofriend

so I can keep track of entries!

( +1 MORE EXTRA ENTRY )

Become a twitter / blogger follower or a facebook fan,

Leave a comment letting me know which site you follow for an extra entry!

*note: please only comment once for what site you are a follower of

Giveaway ends on monday, November 29th at 8am, pst

Please check back next week to see if you are the lucky winner!

msgs for stranger '7

2010-11-22T13:19:00.001-08:00

find out the old good stuff you don't use ,

and give it away , it might just make some stranger's day :)

those people gotta be most appreciated for such hard work

2010-11-22T06:13:00.001-08:00

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

my last winter song

2010-11-21T11:42:00.001-08:00

Suzanne Vega-Nine Objects Of Desire-10 Honeymoon Suite by hassnaamohamed

pause miniplayer to avoid noises

:)

2010-11-19T15:34:00.001-08:00

http://soytuaire.labuat.com/

Big Bro is watching

2010-11-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

Gokhun Guneyhan's Portfolio

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Big-Brother-is-Watching-You/341751

Danny Santos II

2010-11-15T20:04:00.001-08:00

Danny Santos II's Portfolio

Oren Lavie - don't let your hair grow too long .

2010-11-15T16:18:00.001-08:00

Don't Let Your Hair Grow Too Long - oren lavie by hassnaamohamed

Pause MiniPlayer To Avoid Noises .

Live with Less

2010-11-15T16:17:00.000-08:00

it's a really really good concept .,

always find smth that u can give away

something that is good and useful

check out the concept here

he Street is a Catwalk

2010-11-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

check out Here

msgs for stranger '4

2010-11-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Stranger ..

   I'm giving away 94 days out of my thought ,
   and i choose not to be addicted to your existence
   i'll be trying to make your everyday , selflessly .

   Hassnaa

:)

2010-11-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

http://ruffledblog.com/

le hiboo

2010-11-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

www.le-hiboo.com
impressive

Holger Pooten

2010-11-13T05:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.holgerpooten.com

i gave you all

2010-11-11T12:57:00.001-08:00

pause mini player to avoid noises .

update .

2010-11-11T05:15:00.000-08:00

check out the rest of the concept here

by Minga

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M&E 's Portfolio

----------------

msgs for stranger '3

2010-11-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

Dear stranger

     i'll be trying to make your everyday selflessly :)

   sincerely Hassnaa

Lauren Booth: I'm now a Muslim. Why all the shock and horror?

2010-11-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

- Lauren Booth
- The Guardian, Wednesday 3 November 2010
- Article history

Lauren Booth . . .'How hard and callous non-Muslim friends and colleagues began to seem'.

Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

It is five years since my first visit to Palestine. And when I arrived in the region, to work alongside charities in Gaza and the West Bank, I took with me the swagger of condescension that all white middle-class women (secretly or outwardly) hold towards poor Muslim women, women I presumed would be little more than black-robed blobs, silent in my peripheral vision. As a western woman with all my freedoms, I expected to deal professionally with men alone. After all, that's what the Muslim world is all about, right?

This week's screams of faux horror from fellow columnists on hearing of my conversion to Islam prove that this remains the stereotypical view regarding half a billion women currently practising Islam.

On my first trip to Ramallah, and many subsequent visits to Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, I did indeed deal with men in power. And, dear reader, one or two of them even had those scary beards we see on news bulletins from far-flung places we've bombed to smithereens. Surprisingly (for me) I also began to deal with a lot of women of all ages, in all manner of head coverings, who also held positions of power. Believe it or not, Muslim women can be educated, work the same deadly hours we do, and even boss their husbands about in front of his friends until he leaves the room in a huff to go and finish making the dinner.

Is this patronising enough for you? I do hope so, because my conversion to Islam has been an excuse for sarcastic commentators to heap such patronising points of view on to Muslim women everywhere. So much so, that on my way to a meeting on the subject of Islamophobia in the media this week, I seriously considered buying myself a hook and posing as Abu Hamza. After all, judging by the reaction of many women columnists, I am now to women's rights what the hooked one is to knife and fork sales.

So let's all just take a deep breath and I'll give you a glimpse into the other world of Islam in the 21st century. Of course, we cannot discount the appalling way women are mistreated by men in many cities and cultures, both with and without an Islamic population. Women who are being abused by male relatives are being abused by men, not God. Much of the practices and laws in "Islamic" countries have deviated from (or are totally unrelated) to the origins of Islam. Instead practices are based on cultural or traditional (and yes, male-orientated) customs that have been injected into these societies. For example, in Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive by law. This rule is an invention of the Saudi monarchy, our government's close ally in the arms and oil trade. The fight for women's rights must sadly adjust to our own government's needs.

My own path to Islam began with an awakening to the gap between what had been drip-fed to me about all Muslim life – and the reality.

I began to wonder about the calmness exuded by so many of the "sisters" and "brothers". Not all; these are human beings we're talking about. But many. And on my visit to Iran this September, the washing, kneeling, chanting recitations of the prayers at the mosques I visited reminded me of the west's view of an entirely different religion; one that is known for eschewing violence and embracing peace and love through quiet meditation. A religion trendy with movie stars such as Richard Gere, and one that would have been much easier to admit to following in public – Buddhism. Indeed, the bending, kneeling and submission of Muslim prayers resound with words of peace and contentment. Each one begins, "Bismillahir rahmaneer Raheem" – "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate" – and ends with the phrase "Assalamu Alaykhum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" – Peace be upon you all and God's mercy and blessing.

Almost unnoticed to me, when praying for the last year or so, I had been saying "Dear Allah" instead of "Dear God". They both mean the same thing, of course, but for the convert to Islam the very alien nature of the language of the holy prayers and the holy book can be a stumbling block. I had skipped that hurdle without noticing. Then came the pull: a sort of emotional ebb and flow that responds to the company of other Muslims with a heightened feeling of openness and warmth. Well, that's how it was for me, anyway.

How hard and callous non-Muslim friends and colleagues began to seem. Why can't we cry in public, hug one another more, say "I love you" to a new friend, without facing suspicion or ridicule? I would watch emotions being shared in households along with trays of honeyed sweets and wondered, if Allah's law is simply based on fear why did the friends I loved and respected not turn their backs on their practices and start to drink, to have real "fun" as we in the west do? And we do, don't we?Don't we?

Finally, I felt what Muslims feel when they are in true prayer: a bolt of sweet harmony, a shudder of joy in which I was grateful for everything I have (my children) and secure in the certainty that I need nothing more (along with prayer) to be utterly content. I prayed in the Mesumeh shrine in Iran after ritually cleansing my forearms, face, head and feet with water. And nothing could be the same again. It was as simple as that.

The sheikh who finally converted me at a mosque in London a few weeks ago told me: "Don't hurry, Lauren. Just take it easy. Allah is waiting for you. Ignore those who tell you: you must do this, wear that, have your hair like this. Follow your instincts, follow the Holy Qur'an- and let Allah guide you."

And so I now live in a reality that is not unlike that of Jim Carey's character in the Truman Show. I have glimpsed the great lie that is the facade of our modern lives; that materialism, consumerism, sex and drugs will give us lasting happiness. But I have also peeked behind the screens and seen an enchanting, enriched existence of love, peace and hope. In the meantime, I carry on with daily life, cooking dinners, making TV programmes about Palestine and yes, praying for around half an hour a day.

Now, my morning starts with dawn prayers at around 6am, I pray again at 1.30pm, then finally at 10.30pm. My steady progress with the Qur'an has been mocked in some quarters (for the record, I'm now around 200 pages in). I've been seeking advice from Ayatollahs, imams and sheikhs, and every one has said that each individual's journey to Islam is their own. Some do commit the entire text to memory before conversion; for me reading the holy book will be done slowly and at my own pace.

In the past my attempts to give up alcohol have come to nothing; since my conversion I can't even imagine drinking again. I have no doubt that this is for life: there is so much in Islam to learn and enjoy and admire; I'm overcome with the wonder of it. In the last few days I've heard from other women converts, and they have told me that this is just the start, that they are still loving it 10 or 20 years on.

On a final note I'd like to offer a quick translation between Muslim culture and media culture that may help take the sting of shock out of my change of life for some of you.

When Muslims on the BBC News are shown shouting "Allahu Akhbar!" at some clear, Middle Eastern sky, we westerners have been trained to hear: "We hate you all in your British sitting rooms, and are on our way to blow ourselves up in Lidl when you are buying your weekly groceries."

In fact, what we Muslims are saying is "God is Great!", and we're taking comfort in our grief after non-Muslim nations have attacked our villages. Normally, this phrase proclaims our wish to live in peace with our neighbours, our God, our fellow humans, both Muslim and non-Muslim. Or, failing that, in the current climate, just to be left to live in peace would be nice.
original post here

.. not so proud of :D

2010-11-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

mafeesh 7aga - massar egbari

2010-11-05T16:41:00.001-07:00

Mafeesh Haga - massar egbari by hassnaamohamed

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msges for strangers . 2

2010-11-05T14:23:00.001-07:00

Dear strangers ,

before u tend to exist into my life for a while ,

make sure that u won't change ur mind , and disappear
| just don't let me down .

sincerely Hassnaa

...

2010-11-05T06:17:00.001-07:00

artist unknown .

Brilliant concepts

2010-11-04T17:19:00.001-07:00

http://www.koendemuynck.com/

:)

2010-11-04T16:40:00.001-07:00

Papierkrieg from Makaio Tisu on Vimeo.

Massimo Volume - Cattive abitudini

2010-11-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

Huge thanks to Ivan

Download Album here

disgusting & Brilliant portfolio

2010-11-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

Ted Sabarese's Portfoli

mad .

2010-11-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

give us a little love

2010-11-02T09:43:00.001-07:00

FALLULAH - GIVE US A LITTLE LOVE from martin de thurah on Vimeo.

...

2010-11-02T07:54:00.001-07:00

By: Colwyn Thomas

moments

2010-11-02T06:31:00.001-07:00

Moments from Everynone on Vimeo.

Good Morning/Good Night Poster

2010-11-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

dolce

spinning

2010-11-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

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Was it loneliness that brought you here , Broken and weak
Was it tiredness that made you sleep, Have you lost your will to speak
Was the earth spinning round, Were you falling through the ground
As the world came tumbling down, You prayed to God what have we done

Free me from these chains I need to change my way
Heal these broken wings I need to fly far away, far away, far away

Was it emptiness that made you weep, No more secrets to keep
Was it bitterness that gave you time, To forgive your sins
Was the earth spinning round, Were you falling through the ground
As the world came tumbling down, You prayed to God what have we done

Free me from these chains I need to change my way
Heal these broken wings I need to fly far away
Free me from these thoughts long forgotten down below
Take these angel's words give them life to carry on, carry on, carry on
Free me from these chains...

......................

note

2010-11-01T11:27:00.001-07:00

i've got the most professional dad in ruining my day in few moments , but i don't blame him , he doesn't even know me , tabee3y that he would judge me from how i look . thank you day for ruin me :|
and thank you tho for making it harder to love u ..

dear stranger

2010-10-29T04:35:00.000-07:00

eka shoniya's photostream

dear stranger , maybe one day

we get to have breakfast together :)

stats

2010-10-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

WOW i really didn't know that's someone is actually checkin this blog , like ever :D
i was shocked knowing that ive got visitors from the states and france , iran , india
and the Uk :D pakistan , germany & netherlands , i couldn't be more happy
that's just awsome ,
i thought no one ever comes over , cause i barely get comments :)

damn it

2010-10-24T15:59:00.001-07:00

my own crafts .

2010-10-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

that's a sample for the students to work on stuff like these
im supposed to let them make the designs tomorrow and the papers work the next week , ..
wish me luck on that project ...
it took me like an hour to make the design and the paper work

:) and u already see the mess hehehe

inspired by http://www.behance.net/zimandzou

Alpinestars - Burning Up

2010-10-23T05:17:00.001-07:00

pause the mini-player to avoid noises before u play this