<BREEDING A NEW CULTURE>

A miracle

Posted by Jennifer Rebecca
Published: 2008-07-17 10:21:21

One recent morning, as I was pulling into a BP gas station and I saw a horrible sight in the middle of the road. A small brown bird had been hit by a car or landed in a puddle of oil or something, because its wing was bent at an unnatural angle and seemed stuck to the pavement. A dozen identical birds were flapping their wings, chirping and screeching all around, and seemed to be trying to help. But every time a car got near, the other birds had to fly up to the electrical wire or over to the... (Read More)

What is going on here?

Posted by Jennifer Rebecca
Published: 2008-07-14 22:31:53

I have begun to pray the obligatory prayers again. Yusuf, probably thinking it would inspire us, set up the ezan machine, a plastic mosque that sings a recorded Arabic call to prayer at the appointed times. The times are slightly off, because our city is not major enough to have its own setting: you have to be a New York or a L.A. to warrant that. When it yelled Allahu ekber Allahu ekber this morning, I jumped out of my skin. I am used to being wrathful at the beep-beep-BEEP-BEEP of my '70s-era alarm, and then, as I remember why I... (Read More)

Pacifism and activism in Islam

Posted by Jennifer Rebecca
Published: 2008-07-10 17:28:03

Something has troubled me since I first began to learn about Islam. It niggled at my conscience. It irked me. It made me feel as if Islam, promoted by Muslims as a 'complete way of life', was destined forever to be misunderstood by non-Muslims because of it. Though I could read with my own eyes the Qur'anic position on warfare — which forbids aggression but permits killing in self-defense — it still seemed like Islam would always fall short against other religions whose theologies appear more pacifist. Though medieval Europe had Christian armies, modern Christians largely dismiss them as antithetical to... (Read More)

A call to U.S. Muslims to be courteous guests

Posted by Jennifer Rebecca
Published: 2008-06-27 14:41:14

I have never been so profoundly affected by an essay. Tradition or Extradition? The Threat to Muslim-Americans by Abdal-Hakim Murad, a British shaikh, is pretty much the best thing ever. As the new 'Jews' of this country, U.S. Muslims must be vigilant not to — ahem, dare I say it? — deserve being labeled Other. The shaikh takes us quickly through the particular struggles being faced among Muslim-Americans. And how America has handled other perceived enemies in decades past. And what we must do to avoid a showdown with an increasingly suspicious host, who has a history of antisemitism. The believer’s greatest... (Read More)

Thoughts on D&D 4e

Posted by Rusty Haskell
Published: 2008-06-27 09:45:15

While on a recent vacation, I bought the Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition Players Handbook. I immediately launched into reading it during a marathon Starbucks session. After finishing up the PHB, I went down to the bookstore and immediately bought the other two core rulebooks. I've made my way almost halfway through the Dungeon Masters Guide, and I finally couldn't bear not sharing my thoughts here on the site. Save versus Wall of Text... Things I Like About 4e Rudimentary tanking is built into the core game mechanics. As readers of this blog and followers of my life likely already know, I've been... (Read More)

Fear fashion

Posted by Jennifer Rebecca
Published: 2008-06-26 13:16:01

This started as a comment to an interesting post I read from awhile back about latte-sipping urbanites wearing Middle Eastern headwear to look cool. It makes me laugh, this hilarious thing Americans do of picking up the outward symbol (kaffiyeh) and not necessarily embracing or even being aware of its political interpretations (tribal affiliation, Palestinian solidarity, etc.) or functional purposes (desert heat/wind). America, so commercial. America, so reductionist. America, so effing funny. Like 30 people left comments on the post. It partially digressed into a discussion between commenters whether Americans, particularly non-Muslims, were 'allowed' to wear 'Muslim' clothing. The Prophet, upon him be... (Read More)

One For The Pointless Accomplishments File

Posted by Rusty Haskell
Published: 2008-06-25 09:03:40

I finally got exalted reputation with Orgrimmar in World of Warcraft this morning on my day off. I promptly zoomed off to the orc capital city and got my spiffy new timber wolf mount. I have spent so much of my gaming time working for this mount that I actually feel like I've accomplished something. I understand that I just increased an integer in Blizzard's database(s) above a required threshold, but that tiny little SQL update feels like I just earned something. And, yes, people I don't know, this in my main character in WoW. I'm the last person alive who doesn't... (Read More)

Pathophobia

Posted by Rusty Haskell
Published: 2008-06-19 15:23:07

So, I've spent most of the afternoon drinking Diet Coke. This is hardly unusual for me, and it's really not the crux of my post but rather the subtle event that leads toward rising narrative action and an eventual literary climax. In any event, because biology works, all this beverage necessitated a trip to the restroom. Again, hardly newsworthy stuff here. Upon arriving in the second floor bathroom, I discovered a scene of pure Lovecraftian horror. Someone, in an apparent fear of pestilence, had unleashed some sort of unholy bathroom ritual involving yards of toilet paper draped across the toilet set... (Read More)

80s Cartoons Ranked By Amount of Money I Spent On Merchandise

Posted by Rusty Haskell
Published: 2008-06-18 06:13:49

Masters of the Universe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Voltron Thundercats GoBots ... (Read More)

Prayers for a food jihad

Posted by Jennifer Rebecca
Published: 2008-06-11 01:07:22

I was having the worst headaches. Every day from morning till night, and sometimes even in my dreams. Pounding or dull, they never really went away. At first I tried to be stoic. But deep in my heart I am a pill-popper. I started allowing myself one Excedrin at work and two Advil at night. I read once that women feel pain more than men, and respond better to medication. Sounds made-up, but I'm going to pretend it's true. My husband, being naturally suspicious of all pills (even vitamins), made me go to the doctor. I always want to burst into... (Read More)