Cats in Islamic Culture (Part I)

“The grammarian Ibn Babshad was sitting with his friends on the roof of a mosque in Cairo, eating some food. When a cat passed by they gave her some morsels; she took them and ran away, only to come back time and time again. The scholars followed her and saw her running to an adjacent house on whose roof a blind cat was sitting. The cat carefully placed the morsels in front of her. Bashbad was so moved by God’s caring for the blind creature that he gave up all his belongings and lived in poverty, completely trusting in God until he died in 1067 (oral tradition recorded in the late 14th century by the Egyptian theologian and zoologist Damiri (d. 1405)” (Lorraine Chittock, Cats of Cairo, p. 40).

Dedicated to Aafke: Superhorse

This post is dedicated to my blogging buddy Super Aafke, err I mean Aafke, who knows a gazillion art forms and who loves horses. For those people who followed the adventures of Supergirl back in the days (I am not that old, I just know these things, ok?), she had a couple of pets in the Silver Age. One of these was of course cats. Well you can’t go wrong with cats can you? 🙂 Another was a horse – comet the superhorse. The funny thing about comet was that whenever a comet would pass Earth he world turn into a centaur. This is still within the limits but the most bizarre thing was when in certain comics superhorse would turn into a man! But whatever the case may be don’t forget people there was a horse called comet, a superhorse. Even the man of steel of jealous of superhorse. The story does not end here, after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new more plausible character with the same name was introduced. This time superhorse was a shapeshifter who could changes forms from male human to female human to a horse.

Korean Celebs, American Celebs ….

Is it just me or many Korean celebs like to dress exactly like their American counterparts? And I do mean exactly. You can see examples of these this phenomenon at Popseoul, here, here, here, here and so on and so fourth. I don’t know what to make of it. Is it just coincidence or they are actually copying their style? I don’t want to get all too philosophical with the pop industry but what does this phenomenon imply?

The 6 Things Tag

Well I have been tagged by Aafke who this that it pretty cool to be tagged. Well you asked for it Aafke, pretty soon I am going to invent a new tag just for you. 🙂 Here are the rules for the tag.

1. Post these rules before presenting your list.
2. List 6 actions or achievements you think every person should accomplish before turning 18.
3. There are no conditions on what can be included on the list.
4. At the end of your blog, choose 6 people to get tagged and list their names.
5. People who are tagged write their own blog entry with their 6 suggestions.
6. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged.
7. Optional: You can include the image of the ridiculous Reese’s Puffs list in your post as a reference.

Here is my list of six things.

1. Live in the countryside for a week if you are from a city.
2. Try out at least three different ethnic cuisine.
3. Read the principal text of your own religion/creed/belief system.
4. Visit an art Museum.
5. Tell your family how you feel about everything.
6. Read at least 100 verses by Rumi.

Tagging 6 other people. Come on, I like don’t know that many people in the blog world who have already not been tagged. So consider it done.

Titles of James Bond Movies Starring Darvish

The funny thing about the internet is that time passes really fast. I am like away for a few days and the whole blogsphere has moved on. Yeah, yeah I know there are like a gazillion comments that I have not replied to, ‘ll do it soon. Aafke tagged me and I still haven’t replied to her tag also. And there is the usual Aafesque talent splashed on her posts. Its totally awesome. Lest I forget stinger where is my header. No, I haven’t forgotten. Back to the blogworld. Now that we know the secret identity of Dervish, it would only be fair to speculate on the movies that he would star in. Here is a sampler.

• You only Pray Five Times a Day
• Sufis are Forever
• The Jinn who Loved Me
• License to Give Dawah
• From Arabia with Love
• Masjid Royale

What the … Cyber Actresses

Yet another example of how technology can change our perception of reality. Meet JoA (I think they named her after BoA, a famous Korean singer) a digital actress. She even has an official biography according to which she was born on December 20, 1986, is 169cm tall and weighs 48kg. This makes me wonder if I can trust the digital media anymore. With the internet anyone can pretend to be anyone. Who knows who the person on the other side of the blog is. Here is my list of conspiracies:

May be Aafke is actually Chinese veterinarian living in the African Savannah? What if Lofter actually lives in Mexico city? Stinger is an Urdu Speaking Russian living in Taiwan? Shahrzaad is actually French? What if Baekho is a marine biologist studying whales near the coast of Chile? Darvish is James Bond.

The Adventures of Umm lol cats: Episode III: This Valentine’s Day

Well its that time of the year, I mean its Valentine’s Day. How better to celebrate Valentine’s day than to dramatize a story from my own life. Here is Umm lol cats with none other than Daphne from Scooby Doo. Call me a romantic fool but I think every day should be a Valentine’s Day and every month should be the Valentine’s month and so this is why I don’t particularly celebrate this day but at the same time I also do not criticize people who do so. To each their own. Different Cultural and religious mores can lead to pretty funny situations sometimes as the following story may illustrate.

Disclaimer: I have not met Daphne in real life just in case you are wondering. :p Click on the image below to see the whole comic.

The Adventures of Umm lol cats: Episode II: Indecision 2008

Whenever and wherever you turn on your TV all that you see these days are the elections, elections and elections. Instead of getting mad I thought I should jump into the bandwagon and so here is my 2 cent on the elections. Much has already been written on the (absurd) subject of Obama being a Muslim. Click on the image below to see the whole image.

Umm lol Cats superheroine Manga

The very talented and artful Aafke has created a manga version of Umm lol cats the superheroine. All of you supervillians out there end your trouble making regimes because Umm lol cats will be watching. Well I am flattered. :’)  I have inducted Aafke in the Hall of Fame. What else does this entail? I will have to introduce Aafke in one of the adventures of Umm lol cats comics. Stay tuned. Disclaimer: Since my artistic skills are not as great as Aafke’s so my rendering may not be even half as good as Aafke. 😉

Book Meme

And so it has happened. I have been tagged by Baekho. Without wasting much time on explanations here’s the meme:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people.

The closest book to me is not about Hello Kitty just in case you people are wondering. It’s Edward Said’s Culture and Imperialism. Here are the sentences:

My reaction to this is one of disgust and humiliation! I always remember with joy my early days when, with almost no friends, without anyone to talk to me, without preparations, without influence of any kind, I went before the publuc with my operas, ready to be blasted and quite happy if I could succeed in stirring up some favorable impression. Now what pomposity for an opera!!!

And the five people that I would like to tag are.

1. Aafke
2. Lofter
3. Kimiam
4. Cafe Philos
5. Stinger