the New Scene

the New Imperative

"I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something good in men that really yearns for discipline."

Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers Football Coach; 1913-'70

As I spend hours upon hours toiling over MCAT material and honing verbal skills, I can't help but feel how important it is to live a life of discipline; discipline of mind, body and spirit. This realization, a conclusion in the making for a sometime now, actualized in this post, is something I have yearned for a longtime, and tasted time and time again. It is by no measure an easy feat, but one that requires conviction and perseverance.

As a devout Muslim, it is not only a desire but an imperative. A Muslims day starts with the remembrance of God, in the morning prayer (Fajr), which is to be preformed before sunrise. This mandatory prayer requires implementation of proper sleep habits. While many fall back to sleep after prayers (myself included so many times before), the few that stay awake enjoy a special period of the day. The twilight hours are a unique and perfect opportunity for reflection and personal growth. The air is cooler, fresher, quieter and more serene. Actions in the early morning set the pace for the rest of the day, whether its getting an early start at work, academia, a morning run, spiritual development, whatever it is, the rest of the day just seems more fruitful. To adhere to this type of living is an achievement in itself and bound to lead to a much more fulfilling life.

Inspired by Muhammad

"I believe in coexistence, so did Muhammad" and "I am inspired!!"
http://www.inspiredbymuhammad.com/

Got this from a CAIR tweet. Very cool UK ad campaign!

Congratulation Class of 2010!!!

I'm not part of the the graduating class this year, but having gone through the feelings last year, I know what it feels like..... the immense sense of accomplishment for the past 4 years, anxieties of moving on to a new future, maybe even with its uncertainties, but enjoy your moment, because you more than deserve it!!! To all my friends part of the class of 2010. Congratulations!!! and best of luck in all your future endeavorers! :D

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thoughts

"Every day may not be good... but there's something good in every day"

Smoking Baby

Indonesia and the rest of the South Asian Island nations are easy prey for Tobacco companies because of lax to no regulation and payed off politicians. As a result, theres is an endemic nicotine addiction spanning several generations and many communities. Check out the smoking baby:



And more importantly recognize WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY on May 31st! See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_No_Tobacco_Day

Peace.

Moonwalking Birds

Moonwalking Birds!! Michael Jackson would be proud. Just saw this on Nature (on PBS). Thought this was great!

Dreaming in Kabul

American Indie Rock..................from Afghanistan!

Surprisingly not bad, reminds me a bit of Oasis. Check it out and lemme know what you think!



Apparently their the first rock band from Afghanistan

Great Story on Giving Self-Sustaining Aid to the Third World

Bringing a Better Life into Focus - CBS Evening News - CBS NewsCBS Evening News: Bringing a Better Life into Focus - Nonprofit Gives Locals the Chance to Start a Business While Providing Vision Care for Underserved Communities

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/05/eveningnews/main6463605.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea

Here's the link to the org
http://www.visionspring.org/home/home.php

Into the Abyss

Next month or so are going to be intense for me, so going to drop off the radar for a while and give it my all. See y'all on the other side!!

Peace!

Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders

I picked up this book from the library today, Hope in Hell by Dan Bortolotti. The book offers an insiders look into the world of doctors without borders, a organization I admire strongly and may one day be a part of. I wanted to share a potion of the back cover of the book.

"Doctors Without Borders sends more than 3,000 volunteers annually to conflict zones, refugee camps and anywhere else in the world where medical care is desperately needed.

Volunteers often work in poor and dangerous places. Some are traumatized, kidnapped, even murdered. many watch their idealism become disillusionment, their friends become strangers. Others feed on the adventure, fall in love, or find the family they never had."

Yikes! This is definitely not an undertaking for the faint of heart. I can't wait to dive into this one and get a better idea of my aspirations for the future. Expect updates and reflection in the coming weeks.

An Appreciation for the Scale of Things

As an aficionado of the sciences, I have grown to appreciate the size of the molecular world and all that's in it. And its amazing to see how different microscopic organisms and molecules relate to each other. However at times that may become difficult when your dealing with units like nanometers. I mean how in the world do you relate to a nanometer! (yes I know its 10^-9 meters), but most of us lack any intuitive sense of what it is.

So ever wonder how the size of an atom compares to say a hemoglobin, or even a chromosome to a blood cell? Egg to a sperm? Well wonder no more.

The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah put together this amazing model on the relative size and scales of the microscopic world. Cell Size and Scale

Even more so, check out:

Inside a Cell
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/insideacell/

The Sympathetic System (Fight of Flight Response)
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/cellcom/

Cell Communication
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/signals/

Wondering how they look in real life?

Red Blood Cells (above) and Purkinge Neurons (below)- Courtesy of Wellcome Images

Surronded by Books

The only thing better than spending every waking hour surrounded by books, is being able to spend it outside writing your own story.

In the Pursuit of Knowledge

"Acquire knowledge, it enables its possessor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armor against enemies." Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)

Sand Mandalas: The Neverlasting Art Piece

Found this interesting! I'd hate to thing what would happen if you mess up while making it.

Warren Buffet & Bill Gates: Keeping America Great

What is in a Name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell just as sweet."
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet act II, sc. ii

Recently I've realized that my name is not as unique as I once thought it was. It's still strange to most westerners and even easterners, but no uncommon. The same mispronunciations, questions, awkward award ceremonies..... all these things I had come to know with my own unique name was no longer exclusive to me; I now shared those experiences with a number of other individuals, one of whom just happened to take my place as I left UCLA. Contemplating my own now shattered uniqueness, I was led to realize a name is only outward label. Who you are and what defines you as a unique individual, is not defined by a name, but it's who you are inside, how you carry yourself, your past experiences, dreams and aspirations and beliefs. These are the things that really define you as an individual and contribute to your unique place in history.

3 Points: McGrady's journey to Darfur

In 2007, Houston Rockets Shooting Guard, Tracy McGrady traveled to Darfur with an organization called Enough Project. His experience was documented in this documentary.

Westwood Homeless, Brilliant Painter

A familiar face to many of the students attending UCLA living in Westwood village. William Laga, characterized as a tall, slender, and shabbily dressed homeless man, could often be found at the corner somewhere by CPK, strolling about and often mumbling to himself. The schizophrenic man, who has lived on the streets for more then three decades, finds peace for his shattered mind on a blank canvas with an array of colors. He makes a weekly trek of 16mi to Pierce College to sit in on art classes and take a weekly shower at their gym. However, his story remained unknown to the countless bystanders about him.

On Christmas Eve of last year, art patron, Marcelle Danan, stumbled across him as he sought refugee from the rain. Seeing his innate talent she brought him to her house, and for the next few months supplied him with art supplies to fuel his passion. With the help of Danan, Laga has begun to sell his paintings and is becoming a internationally recognized painter. He is currently working in Paris, France. The story originally aired on KCAL 9.

A Touching Story: Amazing Painter, Homeless Man

Homeless Painters First Art Show

Texting while Driving

Many states have passed laws against talking on a cell phone while driving, but many are yet to enact a law against texting while driving. Only 10 states and the District of Columbia have bans on texting while driving, and ten more are set to join this coming January. California enacted the law earlier this year, prohibiting any texting by any age driver. Other states have criteria of age and place in regards to texting.

Nonetheless, texting while driving seems like a absurd thing to do, however it happens often enough (I've done quick texts in standstill traffic). But many opponents argue how is it any different from digging something out of the dashboard or even the all to famous girl doing her makeup behind the wheel, all having the same potential of being as disastrous as texting. However, statistically speaking according to the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration, in 2002, 955 deaths could be attributed to drivers on their cell phones and a study at Virginia Tech reveals there is a 23x greater chance of getting into an accident while driving compared to a driver focused on the road.

There is also the issue of enforcement. How can officers enforce a law that involves a discrete action. The use of cell phones are hardly limited to texting. And most often the case is the driver doesnt text in an officers face while driving. It is a subtle act, that often times is never intended. However, I think it boils down to a moral obligation. Texting while driving is not only putting yourself in danger, its potentailly putting the people around you at risk, and endangering countelss of innocent lives.

Whatever the outcome of future debates, texting while driving is no lesser of an evil than driving under the influence. The UK released a PSA to deter teens from texting. Note it is a reenactment, but nonetheless a horrifically staged depiction, especially when considering the human toll in real situations.