The Value of Photos

I came across this Kodak commercial I saw years ago, but it really does sum up things nicely.

Consumption: Watch the Story of Stuff

I saw this a while back and just got reminded of it today after talking to another friend about our consumption habits. Definitely watch it when you get a chance.

Henna (Mehndi) Tattoo Applications Made Easy

Every single Indian & Pakistani wedding that I photograph has the bride having henna (aka mehndi) applied to her hands and feet, a tradition that has been around for probably hundreds if not thousands of years. I've even had a few western brides that have also incorporated this into their own wedding.

No matter what the occasion, people like the idea of having a tattoo just for fun, and since henna isn't permanent, it makes for a great solution. Anyone can try a new design every week if they want, and all without any remorse of a permanent tattoo.

I thought I'd share this very cool method I found with those that may not know how to apply henna the 'easy' way. It's a method similar to how tattoo artists trace a design on a paper and apply it to the skin. With the henna, you use a Speed Stick deodorant. Interesting, right? You can find complete instructions at Henna Caravan, where they also offer quality supplies if you want the good stuff. Enjoy.

Why Mom's Are Super & Have No Time

(Nick Galifianakis for the Washington Post)

Just came across a great read about why moms don't have time for everything, yet can still do everything. This article gives a short and concise insight to those who don't have kids and don't exactly know what's involved. My own mom and my sister Ayesha, and other countless mothers come to mind because I see how much they do and I just love and appreciate them for all their hard work and dedication to their families. So to all you moms out there...super thanks!

Article by Carolyn Hax

"Carolyn:

Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group . . .

Okay. I've done Internet searches, I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don't do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy -- not a bad thing at all -- but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.

Tacoma, Wash.

Relax and enjoy. You're funny.

Or you're lying about having friends with kids.

Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them.

Internet searches?

I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand, while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom-friends are either lying or competing with you, is disingenuous indeed.

So, since it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. In list form. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, clean, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces the kind of checkout-line screaming that gets the checkout line shaking its head.

It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15.

It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier.

It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends, well-meaning and otherwise. It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.

It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything -- language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity. Empathy. Everything.

It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy, and then, when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend, a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you to mutual friends, or marvel how much more productively she uses her time. Either make a sincere effort to understand or keep your snit to yourself."

1.5 GIG Panoramic

I came across a very cool image of the inauguration that has been circulating worldwide. It's a panoramic shot that allows you to zoom in very close to people and still be able to see all the details. This is due the fact that the picture is made up of 220 images stitched together.

The photographer, David Bergman, used a Gigapan device, which holds the camera and clicks the shutter through a programmed sequence to capture the entire scene you want. Sounds like a fun toy to play with.

Check out the image HERE.

Read David's blog entry regarding this historic photo HERE.

World of Prejudice

I recently had an interesting conversation with a person working for the Baltimore city parking & fines collection agency. A little background first: I apparently ran a red light ticket back in October and for some reason, I never got any letter with the picture and all. I found out that the date this violation took place was the same day I was in an unfamiliar area trying to find an address. What really sucks is that because I had no clue that I owed money, the DMV sends me a letter stating that they have flagged my registration, which expired in January 2009. Turns out, I've got to pay 'flag' fees to the DMV and Baltimore city for this one red light ticket before I can renew my tags.

Anyway, here I am on the phone after some running around and after hours of being placed on hold (2 hours!), I talk to a woman to give her all of my confirmation numbers for my payments, and other paperwork information...So now, this is what happens next:

Woman: "Can you verify your name for me?"
Asim: "Yes, the last name is spelled S-O-O-F-I...Soofi. First name is Asim...A-S-I-M."
Woman: "Oh, okay I wasn't sure if this was really your account I was looking at. I didn't hear an accent."
Asim: (moment of silence) I'm sorry...what?
Woman: "You know, you don't speak with an accent, so I didn't think this was your name."
Asim: (Awkward silence continues)
Woman: "...it's a foreign name, you know..."
Asim: (pause, thinking) "Interesting. You do know a foreign name doesn't mean you speak with an accent?"
Woman: (Realizes my tone has changed a bit) "I'm just sayin'...I'm just being honest."
Asim: (I'm a bit perturbed and just want to get off the phone) "Is there anything else you need?"
Woman: "No that's it."
Asim: "Okay, by the way, what is your name?"
Woman: (Gives last name)
Asim: "Okay, thank you. Bye."

It was an interesting experience and I'll be honest, it did put me off a bit. I'm extremely patient and understanding with people, but it's just a little sad to hear this kind of stuff. Some people just don't realize what they are saying and you just have to try even harder to be even more patient.

Here's the funny part, I got a little more later on. I was working late last night, and hadn't eaten dinner. I was in the mood for some hot wings, so I decided to head over to my local Applebee's. I walk in, and I am met by the hostess. Just as I'm about to say that I'm heading over to the bar to sit...hostess gets in the first line.

Hostess: "Hi. Are you going to sit over there with those guys?"

She points towards a booth in a corner. I turn my head and see several guys sitting there. To my surprise (yeah right) all of them happen to be of southeast asian descent (middle eastern/pakistani/indian). I turn back to her and just told her, "No, I'm going to sit at the bar."

Just made me go 'hmmm.'

Unfortunetly, not the first time my outside appearance, my ethnicity, or my name got me into these types of situations. In fact, here's a plain old straight to the face statement made by a wedding planner just a short while back, "Asim, I'll be honest with you...The only reason they don't want to hire you is because you're not Jewish."

In this world we live in, there are many degrees of prejudices and I've learned to adapt to them. You just have to try harder to excerise your cool and think with a clear head. People come from many backgrounds and values. Sometimes, it's not their fault if their thinking is different. It's just that they haven't been taught what a diverse world we live in and how not to judge people by their appearance, background, or even their name.

I have always believed that no matter who you are or where you come from, just live by setting a good example as a human being. People will always have good and bad prejudices and that won't ever change unfortunetly. Some is just innocent ignorance and some can be intentionally cruel (yes, have stories of those too).

We can't change the world with the snap of a finger, but a good place to start is with yourself.

Of course, some could really use a little diversity training...

Funny: Software Wife 1.0

This is something I had to share...it's pretty funny. My sister sent it to me and since I'm technically all about 'weddings' it's quite appropriate ;) Enjoy!

Letter to Tech Support
Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 . I soon noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources. In addition, Wife 1.0 installed itself into all other programs and now monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Poker Night 10.3 , Football 5.0 , Hunting and Fishing 7.5 , and Racing 3.6 no longer run , crashing the system whenever selected.

I can't seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run my favorite applications. I'm thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0 , but the uninstall doesn't work on Wife 1.0 . Please help!

Thanks,
A Troubled User.

Tech Support Reply
Dear Troubled User:

This is a very common problem that men complain about.

Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 , thinking that it is just a Utilities and Entertainment program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and is designed by its Creator to run EVERYTHING !!! It is also impossible to delete Wife 1.0 and to return to Girlfriend 7.0 . It is impossible to uninstall, or purge the program files from the system once installed.

You cannot go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is designed to not allow this. Look in your Wife 1.0 manual under Warnings-Alimony - Child Support . I recommend that you keep Wife 1.0 and work on improving the situation. I suggest installing the background application ' Yes Dear' to alleviate software augmentation.

The best course of action is to enter the command C:\ APOLOGIZE because ultimately you will have to give the APOLOGIZE command before the system will return to normal anyway.

Wife 1.0 is a great program, but it tends to be very high maintenance . Wife 1.0 comes with several support programs, such as Clean and Sweep 3.0 , Cook It 1.5 and Do Bills 4.2.

However, be very careful how you use these programs. Improper use will cause the system to launch the program Nag Nag 9.5 . Once this happens, the only way to improve the performance of Wife 1.0 is to purchase additional software. I recommend Flowers 2.1 and Diamonds 5.0!

WARNING!!! DO NOT , under any circumstances, install Secretary With Short Skirt 3.3 . This application is not supported by Wife 1.0 and will cause irreversible damage to the operating system.

Best of luck,
Tech Support