Ill Logic Board

So, my computer picked a fairly inconvenient time to fail me. Last night the screen began to flicker wildly and then froze. After a restart, the display no longer came on at all. Luckily, my model happens to be covered under the iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program, and will be repaired free of charge by Apple.

Tonight I wrote a paper with a pen, on paper. It was weird.

Beh Loghmân pand âmukhtan

Quite possibly the funniest dictionary entry ever written:



UPDATE!

I had no idea that "teaching one's grandmother to suck eggs" was an actual English idiom. The Persian phrase in the dictionary (Beh Loghmân pand âmukhtan) means "to give Loghman advice", which corresponds to the English idiom's meaning, which is to offer advice to an expert.

Teach not thy parent’s mother to extract
The embryo juices of the bird by suction.
The good old lady can that feat enact,
Quite irrespective of your kind instruction.

Ladrones Desnudos

Something rather amusing happened in El Salvador. The funniest part (to me at least) is that both of them have Ninja Turtle names.

I was pretty proud of myself last year when I figured out that Miguel Ángel = Michael Angel = Michelangelo.

the valley of misery and shame

Despair/Hope

Quotes About Men

There were a few nice quotes of the day on my personalized Google homepage today:

"The glory of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it."
- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

"Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be."
- William Hazlitt

Patriotism / Prejudice

So we ended up going last and were cut way short on time and our presentation was wholly inadequate.

(In my Honors seminar we did group presentations about "cultural events". My group attended a performance dealing primarily with the question "What is patriotism?")

So we got up there and the projector was halfway-functional and we got through maybe half of what we spent several hours planning. It was the last ten minutes before Thanksgiving break, so you can imagine how engaged the rest of the class was at this point.

It's ok, though. At least it sparked some good thought and discussion, even if only within our group.

After class the three of us talked about racism and prejudice and how manifestations of these show up in so many places (for example, the presentations that preceded ours).

I'm sure that anything of the sort was completely unintentional and due to ignorance. And I think this is the case with the vast majority of people - racialized ideas and attitudes are present on an other than conscious level and are not usually malicious or intended, but rather inherited from society.

Everyone has prejudices. Overt racists aside, there are basically two groups of people: those who claim to be unprejudiced and pretend there is no real problem, and those who recognize that they are a product of society and do have these prejudices, and who make a conscious and concerted effort to overcome them. We must strive to belong to the latter.

WANTED

Check out this great image Scott made me for my birthday:


The text to the right reads: "WANTED: Daniel "Kool-aid" Mark Greuel in Lourdes, Colon committed crimes of aggravated homicide. He has dark hair, brown eyes, and white skin. HE IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS.", then asks anyone with information to report it via anonymous phone call. Towards the bottom it says, "Let's keep this murderer from killing again! With your help, Swift Justice will be done."

You can also see the original, if you're curious.

Seeking Truth

I was in bed, but could not sleep. I am troubled.

I spent the afternoon reading assignments for my Jesus in History course. It is a challenging course on many levels. Until now, I haven't really felt the effects of this personally, but now I certainly do.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge pointed out, as I posted on another blog recently:

Those who begin by loving Christianity more than truth, proceed to love their sect more than Christianity, and end by loving themselves most of all.

Am I seeking truth, or self validation? That, my friends, is a deeply troubling question to ask yourself.

A large part of teaching others about the Baha'i Faith is challenging them to question their previous assumptions and beliefs. And that's good; it's the only way to get to the truth. But how often do we challenge our own?

Baha'u'llah says:

O My brother! When a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading unto the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must, before all else, cleanse his heart, which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge...He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth.

Wow! Do you know how incredibly difficult that is? I love the Baha'i Faith, I loved the person who introduced me to the Faith, I love being a part of the Baha'i community, I love Baha'is. Am I being blinded? I have acquired knowledge, and interpret things based on it. Is this obscuring dust or revealing light? How am I to know?

What's an interrobang‽

It's pretty much my favorite punctuation mark. It's like a question mark and an exclamation point mixed...bred for its skills in magic.

Día Nacional de Las Pupusas

Tomorrow is the first National Pupusa Day in El Salvador. The pupusa has also been named the Plato Nacional de El Salvador, in DECRETO No. 655 de LA ASAMBLEA LEGISLATIVA DE LA REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR, which is a very amusing document to read, si podés español.

Oh how I wish I could be there to celebrate.

Freedom

Today the US Department of State released the 2005 International Religious Freedom Report

In the Iran section the word "Baha'i" appears 93 times, in sentences like these:

According to law, Baha'i blood is considered "Mobah," meaning it can be spilled with impunity.

In December 2004 and January 2005, nine Baha'is in Yazd were arrested and briefly detained, with their homes searched and some possessions confiscated. On January 14, authorities summoned, questioned, and released another Yazd Baha'i, and four days later on January 18, four individuals came to his home and beat him with batons, inflicting severe injuries to his face, back, and arms. The same individuals, equipped with batons and communication devices, also attacked the home of another Baha'i later that day. On that same day, these same persons went to the home of a third Baha'i and attacked him with batons, causing serious head wounds. This third Baha'i was attacked again on January 25; on January 27 his shop was set on fire.

On February 2 and 3, the Baha'i cemetery in Yazd was destroyed, with cars driven over the graves, tombstones smashed, and the remains of the interred left exposed. Two days later, a gravestone was removed and left in front of a Baha'i's home, along with a threatening letter. The Baha'i community filed a complaint with authorities at the national level, but no action was taken. These events coincided with the launch of a campaign of defamation against the Baha'i Faith in government-controlled media.

We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer-up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment.... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled -- what harm is there in this?

-Bahá'u'lláh

Guest Lecture Response

I had better get some bonus points (or at least a smiley face) for this mad alliteration:

"I was glad to see that Prosecutor Skoggin is aware and considerate of the cruel collateral consequences of conviction, and is not disposed to lightly incur this incredibly incongruous incommodity on a merely misguided miscreant."

Bone Thugs Alarm Clock

I didn't do any homework yesterday, and I stayed up really late last night, but it was totally worth it. Why, you ask?

I present to you the Bone Thugs Alarm Clock. Now, instead of waking up to a loud, annoying sound every morning, you can wake up to a pleasant looping of the beginning of 1st Of Tha Month. But that's not all! It will announce to you the current date! (example)

The program itself is quite simple; it's not very beautiful or feature-laden, because 1) my Java skills are rusty and 2) I can't justify spending more time on it. But it works! It has been tested on Mac OS X and Windows XP, and might work on an older version of Windows.

All you have to do is download the zip file, expand it, and double-click "BTAlarmClock.jar".

CLICK HERE to download! (6.6 MB zip)

Google = da bomb

I came across this on the internet and thought it was pretty funny (and mostly true).

Google is the most powerfull thing ever made in the history of MANKIND, this thing called google (search engine) is like an old man who has so much wisdom and knowledge, you ask it ANY QUestion you want and it will ANSWER it for you, Google has helped me beat my Acne, it has helped me find absolutely everything that I could not have no way done it without it, its like an unbelievable source of knowldge and wisdom but its really just a search engine that brings all peoples minds together, I just cant believe how powerfull google is, 150 time more better then a public library, got a question in life, just ask google.. got a problem?.. just ask google.

I just cant believe how powerfull this creation is of mankind, it is the most incredible creation by mankind EVER! because it knows EVERYTHING. I believe google even has the answer to the meaning of life!..

Ketábkháneh-ye Wilson

OMG, I can't believe I waited so long to pay a visit to the library here! It's soooo awesome!

There are books everywhere! Rows and rows of books!

And it's open until midnight!

I checked out the following:

An Introduction to Persian, Wheeler McIntosh Thackston, Jr.

Honest to Jesus, Robert W. Funk

Descriptive Grammars: Persian, Shahrzad Mahootian

Táhirih: A Portrait in Poetry - Selected Poems of Qurratu'l-'Ayn

AND, with my Honors library privileges, I get to keep them for three months! Sick!

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1042 At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign for ever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed...

1043 Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform humanity and the world, "new heavens and a new earth."It will be the definitive realization of God's plan to bring under a single head "all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth."

1045 For man, this consummation will be the final realization of the unity of the human race, which God willed from creation and of which the pilgrim Church has been "in the nature of sacrament."...The beatific vision, in which God opens himself in an inexhaustible way to the elect, will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion.

Very interesting. I'd never read that before.

From The World Order of Baha'u'llah by Shoghi Effendi:

The principle of the Oneness of Mankind - the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh revolve - is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an expression of vague and pious hope....Its implications are deeper, its claims greater than any which the Prophets of old were allowed to advance...

It represents the consummation of human evolution...

[It] carries with it no more and no less than a solemn assertion that attainment to this final stage in this stupendous evolution is not only necessary but inevitable, that its realization is fast approaching, and that nothing short of a power that is born of God can succeed in establishing it.

So marvellous a conception finds its earliest manifestations in the efforts consciously exerted and the modest beginnings already achieved by the declared adherents of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh who, conscious of the sublimity of their calling and initiated into the ennobling principles of His Administration, are forging ahead to establish His Kingdom on this earth. It has its indirect manifestations in the gradual diffusion of the spirit of world solidarity which is spontaneously arising out of the welter of a disorganized society.

Intense(ive) Ruhi

What a day. Following the anniversary of the Birth of the Báb (yesterday), I was able to facilitate/particpate/collaborate in a study of the unit of Ruhi Book 4 dedicated to the life and ministry of this amazing personage. For nine hours (not straight of course), we read stories and quotations, and shared and discussed ideas relating to the Báb, someone who declared (to a room full of fanatical Iranian clergymen and government officials):

I am, I am, I am, the promised One! I am the One whose name you have for a thousand years invoked, at whose mention you have risen, whose advent you have longed to witness, and the hour of whose Revelation you have prayed God to hasten. Verily I say, it is incumbent upon the peoples of both the East and the West to obey My word and to pledge allegiance to My person.

Wow.

To make the deal even sweeter, I was treated to much delicious food and drink, warmth, laughter, and kindness.

Afterwards we listened to an amazing talk entitled Fadil-i-Qá'iní: The Tamed Phoenix about an early believer in the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh.

I left not only with a large dish filled with Indian food, but an apple, a peach, some chutney, and a jar of pickles. When will the generosity end!?

Literalist Willy

If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. (Matt 18:8-9)

We Are Called

I was pleased to find my all-time favorite church song on the iTunes music store. The particular performance is somewhat slow and boring, unlike the energetic version our choir/congegration did, back in the day, but I purchased it anyway. I especially love the lyrics, especially the last verse:

We Are Called (David Haas)

Come! Live in the light. Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord. 
We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God.

Chorus:
We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly,
We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.

Come! Open your heart. Show your mercy to all those in fear. 
We are called to be hope for the hopeless, so all hatred and blindness will be no more.

Chorus

Sing! Sing a new song. Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we'll walk with each other as sisters and brothers united in love.

Chorus

Update: I found this awesome iMix, every song of which I know well. The music is definitely what I miss most about being Catholic. Closely followed by the communion bread (not the wafers) that they'd make on special occasions. Mmm, mm.

Concierto

This Saturday (October 8), Willy Porter (an amazing guitarist/musician/songwriter/performer from Wisconsin) is playing at the Cedar Cultural Center (just off the West Bank campus-walking distance!). I need someone to go with me! If anyone who reads this is interested, they should let me know.

Eruption Photos

Check out these photos taken from the Calle Principal in Izalco, where I lived:

Closed Doors

Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is

Since 1979, the government of Iran has systematically sought to deprive its largest religious minority of the right to a full education. Specifically, the Islamic Republic of Iran has for more than 25 years blocked the 300,000-member Bahá’í community from higher education, refusing young Bahá’ís entry into university and college. The government has also sought to close down Bahá’í efforts to establish their own institutions of higher learning.

Volcán de Santa Ana

El Salvador volcano spits rock, hundreds evacuated.

Comienza evacuación de pobladores por actividad en volcán Ilamatepec

I climbed that thing nine months ago! I looked down into the crater!

Small World Coffee Hour

Today I went to check out the above-named event here on campus. It was pretty cool. Basically it is a place to eat free food and talk to people from all over the world (mostly international students go). There were so many people from so many places. I met some Chinese, a Norwegian, a South Korean, some Minnesotans, a Peruvian, some Iranians, and some Japanese. There were also people from many more places that I didn't get a chance to talk to. Everyone was very nice. I spoke a bit of Farsi with the Persians and I was complemented on my pronunciation.

I now have something to do every other Friday afternoon. Sweet.

Another Friday Night

There's a guy on my floor yelling out into the hallway: "Hey Charlie! Starcraft! UDP! I'll make it, you join!"

I love it.

What I learned in college today

Today in my honors seminar there was a guest lecturer from Ghana. She taught us about her research about Ghanian children's singing games and how they relate to education. She also told us that Ghanians get their names based on the day of the week they were born and their place in relation to their siblings. Hence, Kofi Annan's name signifies that he was born on a Friday, and that he is the fourth child in his family.

Other random notes:

Wikipedia is the bomb.

The heating plant next door is on fire.

From Wonderful to Awful In Almost an Instant

Tonight I experienced possibly the most extreme emotional swing I have ever experienced.

Around dinner time I rode my bike to Everett's place for Pasta Night. That turned out to be a truly awesome event. The food was simple and excellent, and the company was great. Met some really cool people, played some dominoes, listened to many and even participated in a few conversations. It was just what I needed after almost a week of overwhelming loneliness.

Everett came out, showed me a shortcut to get back to campus. I thanked him, said goodbye. After he re-entered the building, I pulled my newly purchased flashing red light out of my pocket and bent over to attach it to my (also new) bike, when I realized that the fucking seat was missing. Man that sucked. I was tired, and expected and wanted a relaxing ride back, and I got this. I was now not only pissed off (injustice is something that perturbs me, most especially when I am the victim of it), but slightly afraid, knowing that I would be riding alone, in the dark, in an unfamiliar city, without a seat in the presence of thieves.

The ride home was unpleasant as could be. I was sad and angry, wanting to cry, and I couldn't sit down to ease the burning in my legs and back. I took some wrong turns and was further devastated. When I finally got back, all the bike racks were nearly full, and it took me some time to find a place to lock up. When I found one, it took me at least five minutes to get the damned lock on.

I arrived in my room, sweating, hurting, weakened, and tired.

I breathed deeply, walked to the bathroom, washed my face, and said some prayers.

Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God. He is God. All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding.

No, it's Dan

I officially have a speech impediment that makes me unable to pronounce my own name. Here is a very typical conversation:

Someone: Hey, what's your name?
Me: Dan.
Someone: Den?
Me: Dan.
Someone: Huh? Den?
Me: No, it's Dan.
Someone: Oh, Dan. Nice to meet you.

A variant of this is that I will briefly meet someone, and hours or days later they will see me and say "Hey Ben", trying to rationalize what they heard as "Den". This has happened multiple times in the past few days.

I think the solution is introducing myself as Daniel, rather than Dan. (Danny will surely evoke "Denny?"). I've tried this a few times and it seems to work. It also has the side effect of making me sound more classy.

Xue Ya (Organic Snow Buds)

"Organic Snow Buds, known as Xue Ya in China, is hand harvested approximately 1100 meters above sea level in the Fujian province of Southeast China.

"...Rishi Tea's Organic Snow Buds is quite rare and can only be picked from a specific type of white tea plant three days of the year. In China, white teas are believed to strengthen the immune system and consumed during the hot months of the year to cool and refresh."


Yesterday, Andrew and I purchased some of this somewhat expensive variety of tea, and it is quite delicious.

Harebrained Quotes of the Day

"Seeing people in a different environment, among other animals ... teaches members of the public that the human is just another primate."

"A lot of people think humans are above other animals...When they see humans as animals, here, it kind of reminds us that we're not that special."

Efficient Driving Tips

Last night I read up on Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency's Driving the Auto$mart Way tips. (Thank you, Canada.)

I did some unit conversions and calculations and found that following just one of the tips (not speeding) can save a lot of money. Check it:

Let's say you're taking a trip across town that involves a 20 mile stretch of highway. You drive a 2003 Ford Taurus (like my mom) that claims to get 36 miles per gallon on the highway, at around 60 mph. If gas costs $2.75 a gallon (ouch), you're burning about 5/9 of a gallon, or $1.53 on this strech of highway. The stretch takes 20 min to cover.

Now say you're in a rush to get where you're going, so you go about 72 mph for the entire stretch of highway. At this speed, it will take 16 minutes and 40 seconds to cover the stretch. The Office of Energy Efficiency says that an increase from 100 to 120 kph (60 to 72 mph) causes a 20% increase in fuel consumption. Now you're using 2/3 of a gallon, or $1.83. You're paying about 30 cents to save a little over 3 minutes on your trip. Say you do this twice a day for a five-day week- that's $3.00 a week, $12 a month, $156 a year.

This is assuming that 1) Your car actually gets the mileage it's supposed to, 2) There's no traffic and you're able to maintain top speed for the entire stretch of highway, 3) You don't get pulled over for speeding and lose a lot more time and a lot more money, and 4) The price of gas doesn't go up any higher (yeah, right.)

Higher speeds also mean less safety. Figures aside, you're more likely to be killed in a 72 mph crash than a 60 mph one. Speeding is totally not worth it. I will have to remind myself of that.

Startup.

So, following the suggestion of Emily, I've created this blog/world/humble abode/place to ramble and rant, replacing the old danrules. That site had fallen into neglect (as this one probably will), and I wasn't as keen on the self-exalting, arrogant title as I was when I was fourteen. (I think this one is not much better, but like Emily noted, Fernando said it, not me.) So, yes. Bookmark it if you like, but don't expect regular postings for an extended period of time. I have terrible blogging habits.