Happy New Year  to all my readers.

I’m pondering over those who’ve survived my mixed text over the years, with new elements of intrigue and curiosity that have filled the corners of this blog. I find myself staring into an abyss of uncertainty that makes me reflect on the words “i can buy happiness”.

2009 was a year full of challenges that (on most levels, i feel) that i fell short of.
I misread the plot, took the wrong map, i drank the fuel and incinerated the inspiration, and all in all the infrastructure of my reality came crashing down on me as 2009 drew to a close.  The reality about life is, there is accountability attached to ones actions.

Blogosphere is steering away from personals and becoming increasingly content focused. The world never sleeps and in our strive for change, we shed sleep and pickup unhealthy habits. We spend a year going through the motions and trying to stick to our new years resolutions. This is a good easy guide to being true to our resolutions and there’s also an easy way to implement  6 changes in our habits.

For 2010 – i’m setting lots of goals, but making  only ONE resolution…

i’m going to be selfish. i’m taking what i want from life. No excuses. No procrastination.

i hope 2010 will be a year of making things happen, and not just getting things done for myself, as well as my readers.

Wishing you a fun filled 2010

Yet another brilliant logo from Google

Some Gandhi Quotes,

- words that have lived on long after his assassination -

What if you met Mr Perfect.

You suit each other perfectly but Mr Perfect is damaged, emotionally strained, or has been really jaded by life.

What would you do?

i can’t stand whiney ass guys :/ Don’t complain! it’s not sexy!

Table Mountain is one of the rare natural landmarks of South Africa, and has been nominated as one of the possible 7 New Wonders of the world. (Article pending)

Living in Cape Town for 4 years now, I’m greeted daily by the sight of the mountain standing tall in the distance. It’s only when living here, one realizes how dependant one is on the mountain for direction. It’s the most identifiable landmark viewable from just about anywhere in Cape Town. The last week was eventful with Table Mountain catching alight. Fire spreading rapidly while fanned by the south easterly winds.

I took a drive to get a better view, of course… curiosity killed the cat, but I’m sure she had a pretty interesting life until then. It was scary. The mountain looked covered in lava.

It was one of those events that shake you because you don’t know what may come, how it may travel, and there is no surety that it will die off. The type of event that makes you seek refuge in your faith.

Areas were evacuated. Emergency services were on standby. Tension hung over Cape Town mixed with a flame tinted night sky and the scent of smoke and fire. Fortunately disaster management services were able to douse out the flames by water bombing the affected areas.

See Related articles:
The Cape Town Fire  – imod
IOL Feature
Devil’s Peak is burning

Just afew pics and links to enlighten those who missed it.

Cosmetic surgery fixes the flaws and lets one change certain elements to be more appealing, however there is a point where cosmetic enhancements turn into addiction.

Silicone implants are no longer a topic that is broached with raised eyebrows and open jaws (seldom shock related).  How much silicone can your body endure until it’s viewed as a threat to the recipients wellbeing?

Sheyla Hershey’s massive 38KKK breasts have been declared the world’s biggest boob job, according to Britain’s Daily Star.
- Read more

Sheyla Hershey - World's Biggest Breast Implants

Sheyla Hershey (28)  is the current Guinness World Record holder for the largest breast implants.

Sheyla at size FFF

Her dream of one final chest upgrade was dampened by Texas state laws which limit the amount of silicone that can be put into each breast. The limit in Texas is 1,000 cubic centimetres of silicone per breast. She travelled to Brazil for her last procedure and is now a size 38KKK.

3 days till valentines day and stores are adorned in reds and white. Teddy bears, roses,  cards and gifts.  Valentines is over an commercialized day of love appreciation, that has both men and women succumbing to its stabs at showing emotion. Commercialized aptly to target women as being the more emotional gender, it leaves men with a barrage of ideas to spoil their significant other.

Is this pricey love day commemoration just for women?
Apparently not!
Despite men portrayed as being incredibly emotionally dyslexic, valentines day has its humour as seen on recent ads:

Of course there’s a classic from the past … for love appreciation

Pondering these two things leaves us at yet another point,

women are not as easy to understand as men would think:

Lastly, For geeks out there, the ultimate valentines flowchart

Every woman knows that its difficult to find the perfect gift ideas for guys:

Geek guys, guy-guys, devoted dad, achiever or adventurer.
The ulitmate Gift Guide this V-day for the boys:

The years 1992-1995 brought images of the war in Bosnia, explosion upon explosion, documented. I was 10 years old when I realized it was history in the making. Burned onto my mind since then was the image of a boy (no older than I was) being carried to hospital, his head and eyes bandaged, and his mouth crystallized in a silent scream of agony. I cringed at the bloodstained image on TV. . . I shed tears, and then I refused to pay any mental or visual attention to war or politics for many years that followed.

2009 has just begun, the world watches helplessly over the war in Gaza.

Television brings to us many visuals.
(See also: Scenes from the Gaza Strip)
The internet, newspapers, emails and text messages are littered with information about Palestine. The world is ailing. Media societies are in shock, we’re seated in our not so perfect lives watching war unfold, day after day. The Muslim world is silent. Not even a murmur!

Mobile phones beep, another march to show your support for Palestinians. Another congregational prayer – a Janaza (prayer for the decease prior to burial)- for all those who’ve lost their lives. Deep sighs suffocate us and our hearts bleed for those losing their lives, their loved ones, their sight, their legs, their arms, and even their hope. The death toll climbs daily… and yet… the world watches.

Gaza is bleeding. People Concern themselves with the rights and wrong of Israel vs Palestine. They make calculated deductions of history, political motives, as well as religions.

Erase your every perception and consider this: YOU could have been born to any faith, race or country.

Place yourself in Gaza.

How would you feel or react if your every living moment feels like a death sentence, waiting on the next bomb blast?

Imagine it was you, running through a war torn land, waving a white rag (peace flag) so you will not be killed.

This could have been you!

You’re splattered by the blood of your injured 4 year old.
The child’s agonized screams drown your thoughts, and she clutches at you in desperate need for comfort and safety.
Would you look the next bomb blast in the face and say:
‘I deserve to die’?

Would you?

This could have been you

It is by chance that you were born to a different life from them.

Dear Readers,

Taking a brief hiatus. The last few weeks have seen the holiday mood slip in.

Check back on 7 January for more fiction, prose, poetry and abstracts.

Seasons Greetings

Hasina Suliman