Calculating the Derivative? Calculus? Hunh?

Whoa...what happened to fish? And the Middle East? And sand?

Got to thinking, I needed to brush up on some old skills. Found a fun tidbit for you math junkies out there...enjoy :)

http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-a-Basic-Derivative-of-a-Function

Just Chillin'

We had a lovely relaxed weekend with a 'very tiny weekend trip' with some wonderful friends to a water park, followed up the next morning with brunch at a superb Indian food place. All the weekend fun ideas were courtesy of the good friends. By the way, that's Munchkin #1 there on the left in the blue shirt. Munchkin #2 was off with her friend in another area of the park.

After a crazed and way stressful week, it was so lovely to kick back in a place that was green and fun. Now, as I sit here at the computer, I continue to feel the peace listening to the munchkins chattering happily in the living room about the game they're playing while the husband sits here on the bed strumming his guitar.

I have not read a newspaper for days which is probably not a bad thing even though I'm beginning to feel a bit disconnected. I know that I am starting to turn my thoughts towards the home country. That homesick feeling is kicking in just a bit. I'm so very grateful for plane tickets home for a winter break.

Peace.

Wake-up and smell the coffee

As the munchkins do some reading before bed in the reading corner of our sitting room, I decided to sit down and read a bit on the computer. Wow, I felt like I just smelled my morning coffee!

Have a read about news in the region:
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/government/uae-stands-behind-saudi-action-to-protect-yemen-border-1.524419 From the UAE

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_YEMEN_SAUDI?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT from all over via the Associated Press

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/world/middleeast/06yemen.html from the New York Times

As an added interest bit, I found the following lecture summary: http://www.al-bab.com/bys/articles/schofield00.htm

And on a TOTALLY different note:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/world/asia/30clinton.html?_r=1&fta=y Very interesting stuff.

Now, I'm wide awake. Maybe a cup of herbal tea.

Peace.

A line from Yoda (many thanks to George Lucas)

To borrow from Yoda in an old Star Wars movie, "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." (At least I think that's the line). So true, so true.

I was recently reading some news, and it got me to thinking.

The things that we say and do have ripple effects. For instance, as a young student, people called me 'nerd' and 'dork' and 'snob'. Ok, fine. I thought to myself, "Self, nerds rule the world. I'm going to get a great education and show them all!" Which I did. And, I've lived a rather exciting life so far! So does that make me a snob? Maybe...

Other kids hear these things growing up and they turn anger inward. They don't love or like themselves. This even happens to adults.

When we make a nasty comment, or say something bad about somebody else (and I'm as guilty as the next person for doing this), it has a ripple effect. So now, let's take a look at Yoda's line.

We tend to fear what we don't understand. Maybe something bad happens in the world so we blame someone we don't really understand. We are angry, and we fear. If people are afraid of something or someone, if they don't understand, then we have mistrust. If the misunderstanding grows, the mistrust grows and we can become full of hate. Right on Yoda, right on.

Things we say may feel like jokes to us, but they can be bitterly painful to others. Words are powerful.

I was helping a friend with some on-line jewelry shopping and came across a bracelet that read, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace." The line is from a prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (13th century). Here's a link: http://secure.jamesavery.com/jewelry/search/product/B-553L/Instrument-of-Peace-Bangle-Bracelet/

We all need to do our very best to be instruments of peace no matter what our faith is, where our home country is, or who we 'are'.

Peace.

And, as a nod of thanks to George Lucas for my borrowing Yoda's line, here's a link:
http://www.starwars.com/

All dressed up

I really enjoy getting dressed up in fun clothes. Good friends of ours recently gave a Diwali party, and of course we had to have clothes for the event.

My outfit was all silk and I had it custom made for about $11 U.S. plus the cost of the fabric (about $70 U.S. - a bit pricey for here). The husband's outfit we picked up at a local 'hyper market'. My outfit I will probably wear to a cousin's wedding this summer. It is SO VERY comfortable.

I'm happy that it's the weekend. I'm looking forward to some down time with the family. It's been a busy-ish week. Munchkin #1 has had fever and sore throat, my 'helping out' has been busy, and paperwork for my helping out has gone missing. So, monthly meetings that I am a part of, I may have to forgo for a few months while the paperwork is sorted.

So, food, family and time on the beach are in order.

Peace.

A bit of quiet

I was just now reading an on-line newspaper from my chosen home in my home country. You know you've picked a quiet spot to live when the newspaper contains absolutely NOTHING! There was a bit of local sport news, but that's it. A few obituaries, one flat for sale, but that's it! How lovely is that?

I have a bit of quiet today since Munchkin #1 is home sick from school. Poor guy - fever, sore throat, headache. I gave him a bit of Brufen, and he seems happy enough to sit and watch cartoons.

What have I done today? Chatted on-line with a dear cousin back in the home country. He is very busy these days, and we hadn't communicated for months. It was lovely. And, I've done a load of laundry, a load of dishes, and I've been working on finishing a book I borrowed by Philip Jenkins, "The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity." Now, before folks get concerned about the title, the book is actually about how the 'demographics' of Christianity are shifting from the U.S. and North Europe more 'Southward' to borrow from the author. It's been an interesting read. And no worries, nothing about mass conversions or anything. I'm about halfway through it, and I really need to return it next week.

I can certainly notice that the season here is changing. The humidity is down, the dust is down, and the air seems crystal clear. One can now see for a great distance. It certainly makes for beautiful afternoons.

Well, I must go check on the Munchkin and find a cup of tea or coffee or something. I'm feeling a touch sleepy!

Peace.

To Western Eyes - a different twist to the niqab?

Staying true to myself....I'm very interested in religious issues and women's issues. So, needless to say, the following story was of tremendous interest to me:
http://gulfnews.com/news/region/egypt/cairo-worried-over-growing-extremism-1.520905

I know women who wear the hijab (head scarf), I know women who don't. I know women who are Muslim, but you'd never know it by the way they dress. I know women who are Muslim who cover-up more in public than say the average 'westerner', but they don't wear a hijab or a niqab. Have I ever worn a headscarf? Certainly, but my hair still showed, and I didn't look nearly as stylish as many other women I know who do. But, it allowed me to maintain a certain level of modesty and anonymity traveling in places where seeing a woman with her hair covered was more the norm. When I have covered my hair, it's been for practical reasons rather than spiritual.

Coming from 'the West', I'm used to reading about women who feel oppressed by scarves and veils. I think this is the image that is usually portrayed 'in the West' about Muslim women. My personal experience in this region has been the opposite.

I guess that's what makes this particular news story so interesting to me. I do think it would be interesting to hear about how women involved in this news story feel/think about it.

Personally, I would find having my face covered to be very uncomfortable. But, that is a matter of personal choice and opinion, isn't it? For me, and again this is all opinion.....if a woman chooses to cover, she should be allowed. But, I (again opinion) do not believe that a woman should be forced to cover her head and/or face. I'm not trying to get into the religious implications with all this, just simply talk about clothing and personal choice.

As a side note, I've known Christian women who also cover their hair for religious reasons. Yet, I never hear word about that in the press. Why? No clue, but I find it interesting. Certainly stuff to think about.

Peace.