Hollow

hol‧low  /ˈhɒloʊ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hol-oh] Sunken, of having a depression or concavity

As I get older, I find that victories get more hollow. I've always wondered how the generals of old felt after winning a bloody battle? What was going through Wellington's mind immediately after Waterloo, immediately after losing 20,000 men? Anyway the exams are finally over and its time to celebrate. Its heartening to see that some form of surrealist art has crept into the Law School Exams via our copyright exam question. Perhaps there is hope for humanity after all. Not being able to sleep the night before an exam due to pain from a partially dislocated shoulder is a minor irritation. Sitting for an exam with a partially dislocated shoulder really gives a whole new dimension to the word "torture". Trying to speed up your writing with two numb fingers is really trying. But finding out after a visit to the doctors, MRI and all, that I cannot go to Iran next week just takes the cake. Anyway, the exams are over and it is time to celebrate. Even hollow victories deserve some form of celebration, don't they?

Cauchemar

We do not dream in words.

Liz and I

Liz and I; Four feet wide.

This photo has a very earthy colour, lots of browns tones, beige, tan and whites, which gives it a grounded feel. I think it even has a portraitesque triangular composition with very sturdy foundations, two size 12s.

A food haven doesn't beat a garden. Enough mind games.

Liz through book

I like grain. I think it gives a photo character.

I've been back from Denmark for about about 5 months and I can now safely say that my Welcome back has finally been completed with a good ole fucked up exam. Welcome Home! The remainder of the day was spent at home lounging over magazines and books, trying to purge Evidence from the system. I think I need to work harder at that.

Integration of Shadows

We all learn to blend in, someway, somehow.

Deconstruction is the key. To find the concepts and values that have been pushed to the background by the necessities of our modern society. To affirm the human possibilities that have been overlooked or forgotten in the privilege of particular societal ideas. The test of one's personal power should be the ability to see through society's belief system to the point of freeing oneself from outwardly imposed attitudes and reactions.

Rubber Soul

Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

Exams are always a good time for reflection. Exams are also good for numbing the soul and killing the senses. Isn't university education supposed to be much more than this? I should not fault the system when the fault is mine for adopting it. But, this is the path that was chosen what seems like an eternity ago. And this is the path that is almost ending. They say its the journey that matters not the destination. With the fall in oil prices I can now safely say that I agree, completely. Choosing to go in the general direction of everyone else when you have no sense of direction can only lead to one thing. Mediocrity. That is my journey, in a nutshell. Not that I resent being mediocre. Rather, I resent my ability to rationalise and vanquish the calls to break off, to break away. Thus, the fault remains mine alone. And so I do penance now for my sins of inaction, consoling myself with the chorus sung by everyone else that money can buy happiness, that money can buy satisfaction; pipping in occasionally with apologetics for the state of my life.

Contradiction

Its not that I doubt your spirituality,
its that I have absolute faith in your humanity.

Conflict avoidance is better than conflict management.
I see the contradiction. I see the light 201120060136

Fallen

Couleur de vie, Couleur de joie

I rather the passage of time be marked by seasons than by events, like exams.

Wonder

Patio de los Leones

One of the candidates for the 7 New Wonders of the World happens to be the Alhambra. I'm quite disappointed that Persepolis, Iran wasn't included. But then again maybe because there's not much of it left. Karnak Temple should have been included but I suppose Egypt is already represented by the Pyramids. Oh well, so people, on your study break go vote for your 7 new wonders here.

Generalife

At the Alhambra
Generalife gardens
Paradise on earth.

Uploading the photos from my 2005 Spanish trip on flickr allowed me to slip away from mugging for a while. If there is only one place in Spain that I can visit again it would most definately be the Alhambra and the Generalife gardens. Where the Patio de los Leones awaits, where moorish architecture meets renaissance features, where one can wonder in the gardens and almost believe that he has found paradise on earth. The Generalife gardens were what the Moorish sultans believed heaven to be. Garden of Eden, Paradise, Heaven, Generalife. We all aspire to the same place. Just through different means.

And when the spirit of Hafez has fled,
Follow his bier with a tribute of sighs;
Though the ocean of sin has closed o'er his head,
He may find a place in God's Paradise.
~ Hafez

Masquerade

Separating the Clark Kents from the Supermen.

Assceories to masquerade, to project an image, to affirm a belief. Who are we when stripped bare of all embellishments?
My reading glasses won't make me an academic superman. But I like to believe that they do.

Window

A surrealist's eye

Max Ernst's lines through Man Ray's medium? Maintain eye contact and watch the lines blur. I've always believed that the strength of a portrait lies in the eyes. How else can you capture a person's soul?

Yellow Fury

Fury, do we dare tackle our demons?

Finallly done with the IT Law Paper. Now revision proper proper can begin. I don't think I've ever been this glad to start revision. I think Law students like cats have 9 lives too, we lose one after each paper. I haven't been keeping track but I hope I'm not on my 9th now.

Yellow Gold

Chasing gold

I have decided that the theme for my upcoming posts will be yellow. Shades of yellow. Picasso's done blue and pink, red is too close to pink, green would cause me to go totaly nature, hence yellow. The IT Law paper should be nearing its end soon. Which means I can finally get down to some serious studying.

Coquette

My Lensbaby, baby...

Taking a break from my IT law paper included IP tutorial this morning, birthday lunch with Ross and an afternoon lensbaby shooting session. The exam preparations are going to be tough with this new lens lying around.

Paperpoly

Having achieved a dominant position over my life, the IT law paper then proceeded to abuse its dominant position by taking away my entire weekend. No balancing tests nor rule of reason need be applied to such exceptional circumstances. Such conduct most definately needs to be regulated, for the maximisation of public welfare.

Working Hands

Hard working hands cooking up a storm

Matt cooked a sumptous feast to celebrate his ORD-ing. I made some tapas for starters while he conjured up French Onion soup, Herb roasted chicken, lamb stew, cous cous and jam rolly polly for dessert. And of course Dad contributed a smashing bottle of French wine. A refreshing break from my IT law ordeal.

Scarf, Profile

En route from Cairo to Aswan.

The headscarf and veil, symbols of religious piety or a shift towards fundamentalism? Today's ST had 2 articles about the veil and scarf issue in Egypt and Turkey. Plus write ups on Faith and Reason and the Catholic Shia Project. Can't think of a better way to kick start the day.