Claudius Project

Claudius Praying with hamlet on the background.

Just claudius

Claudius with Gertrude

House of Games Photos

Great photos from a really interesting film from David Mamet.

Why we think we can comprehend everything

Humans think they can comprehend everything well because we have so far in everything that we are still searching for or are we? Apparently it seems that for every matter in which we begin to question our selves about a specific phenomenon or action or reaction we seem to come up with a solution or explanation in the most scientific and understandable way. Thats why as humans we differ so much from animals and that we learn from everything around us. As quoted from the great Einstein "The most in-comprehend-ably scary thing in the universe is that everything is comprehend-able". This statement cannot not be more true as everyday more and more things are understood on a multitude of levels.

Early morning blog

In different period of my life would never be up at 6:30 in the morning writing a blog or anything else, but couldn’t go to bed before I post this one. I feel so good by accomplishing one of the assignments today. I was really struggling to get it done: It is a painting/reproduction from Henry Matisse called Dinner table or Harmony in Red . He painted it in 1908 and it is considered by some critics Matisse's masterpiece.

The painting was ordered as "Harmony in Blue," but Matisse was dissatisfied with the result, so he painted it over with his preferred red and I choose to reproduce it.
It is said that to reproduce a work of art from one of the Masters it is flattering. I though it was pretty difficult . Here is the result. Hope you like it.

Heres it is the original

Max reacting to a Photo Resistor

This was pretty fun, I got the sound to be controlled from a Photo Resistor.

my favorite beer

I don't know how many of you recognize this beer but actually it is my favorite beer. There are many beer on the market and I've tried many of them. Somehow Bud always gave me headache after 2 bottles even with the light version. Most of my friends love Sam Adams because it has rich flavor which I really don't like. Coors never gives me any kind of headache nor sickness. However, there are much more delicious beers if these are made by bartenders. I'm just writing about bottle or can beers which I can get from the supermarket.

More flex sensor progress!!!

I finally got the Arduino board to interact with a program in windows, specifically Max 5.1. It required me to flash a special firmware to the Arduino board called Firmata 2.1. This firmware allows the board to communicate with Max msp (or Max 5.1). Once installed you can open up a patcher (Max project) called Maxuino which contains a set of interactive buttons and meters which will allow you to interact and read/write values to the Arduino board.

Movie

I forgot the name of the movie showed last to last week. But, I totally enjoyed it. All the characters were great. And the whole movie was about small signs in the movie. I got most of them and the professor also explained all of them. The movie exploited many different plots of life. It showed us to enjoy the little things that life gives us. There is no point in running the rat race. We need to live fully. Another key lesson it teaches is that noone is to be trusted. Everyone is a con artist out there. And love makes people blind. But, we are not supposed to get blinded by emotions. On the other hand, it also shows that we shouldnt be all cons. We should care about others too.


The girl's part reminded me of Oedipus and Jocasta. They were blinded by their love. And, they didn't noticed the obvious signs. The Con-Man seems like Claudius and Queen. They both fooled King Hamlet and tricked Prince Hamlet too. So, that movie in many ways portrays essence that we read in the other plays

Giselle vs Chris

I can't forget the debate between Chris and Giselle couple of weeks ago regarding common dorms. Chris rooted for common dorms saying that it is a necessary requirement. Well, I am not against common rooms but I feel that it is not a necessity. And Giselle was completely against it. The arguments she produced were logical and I think Chris' point were more instinctive than practical.

The observing point was that both were arguing from different cultural perspective. South Americans, like Asians and Africans price in a culture based on gender roles. All the cultures are moving forward but live-in is little too early to swallow. On the other hand, American and European culture has broken all the barriers. So, it was clash of opposite cults. And, both were right from their point of view

Columbia State University Dorms

The professor discussed about the dorms in different colleges. In stony brook we don't have Co-Ed dorms. That is the dorms are not shared by guys and girls. Then professor mentioned Columbia University and how they have common dorms. He stated that its a class difference that is preventing Stony Brook from having common dorms.

I don't feel so. I think Columbia University permits common dorms just to prove that it runs with time. Nowadays the difference between guys and girls is diminishing. And, Columbia is trying to prove that it is uber cool. That is not the case. According to me there is no need of common dorms. I think it will create trouble as in guys are not clean and girls are ultra. So there will be differences between both on that. Even though common dorms are not permitted still guys or girls coming over aint restricted. Hence, what is the need of common dorms?

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. Being a foreigner, I find this festival essential to the American life. The fabric of family is rather little loose in American families as compared to other countries. So, this festival acts as a bonding agent for the families. Loved ones from all around the country come back to their homes for Thanksgiving. The sight of all the family members sitting at the dining table, chit-chatting, sharing their daily lives, catching up on lost time. All these scenarios play a key role in keeping the family together.

I feel that we need few more such festivals. I know we have Christmas. But, we should have couple more such festivals. This will help the families communicate more. They will benefit the individuals as they will share few happy moments with their near and dear ones. After Christmas, this is the festival that I enjoy the most.

Tennis

Recently, I came across an amazing fact in the world of tennis. Wimbledon is considered the most important grand slam of all four grand slams. The prize money of Wimbledon was recently increased. Now, the winner of Men's singles title will get prize money of $1 million. On the other hand, the winner of women's singles title will get $750,000.
Now, isn't that blatant sexism on the part of the organizers?

Why such a discrimination in prize money? Men and Women players both put equal effort in the game. Both go through the same pains. Then why do Men get more? Some might argue that men play 5 sets while women have 3 set games. So, change the rules and make women play 5 too. I doubt that women will complain playing 2 more sets if they get equal money as men. World Tennis Association needs to decide fast and make necessary changes.

First Class After Scavenger

I was more than excited to see the reaction of the class after the Scavenger hunt goof up. I was waiting for bullets to fly freely. And infact they did. The debate between Chris, Charise, Giselle and Rita Mary was intense. The ladies were fully accusing us of cheating and foul play and guys on my team were defending their actions by calling them an act to win the game.

I wasn't concerned about the outcome, I was amazed to see the 'Battle Of Sexes' going on in front of me. All through the semester we discussed sexism and its presence in modern day life. I keenly noticed that girls on our side were quiet and guys on the other team were silent too. So out and out it was a fight between men and women. And, it was fight on a silly thing between educated people. Still, noone was ready to throw the weapons.

Post Scavenger Hunt

If the events during the scavenger hunt were fascinating, it got even better after the game. My team had a team meeting after the game was over. We knew few had gone rogue so we din invite them. Rest were all confronted and I was chosen to be the most trustworthy. (Felt so good) Chris decided to change the password thus disabling the other team to post any blogs. It sounded like a dirty trick, but the game was meant to be dirty.

So I agreed and changed the password. And whatever followed was havoc. Everyone tried to log in and were denied thus creating chaos. I think the person who gained the most by this is Professor Baldwin. Because he proved rightly how humans behave by giving us a practical example. It cleared the air around us and made us believe in the reality about human behavior.

Scavenger Hunt

What a great scavenger hunt we had. I think the full credit goes to Professor Baldwin for such a masterstroke. He planned it perfectly by making it an open ended contest.
It was left on the teams and players to call the shots. As we saw right from the beginning, plans were set in motion. Everyone hid their hints carefully. But, hiding them wasnt important. Importance was about keeping yer team mates intact. This was no cake walk as we so it was every man for himself and no-one was to be trusted.

Isn't this the truth of life and human Psyche? It is impossible to trust anyone. After the hints were hidden, people started searching for them; as well as searching for some way to default. I noticed many crossing the line and going rogue. But, when faced with the question they all acted innocently. I think this one game gave idea of human psych very accurately

Charity

Charity has always been important to myself an my family. For as long as I can remember, we have been doing volunteer work as well as donating money to charity. The main reason why we do this is most likely due to my little sister. My little sister has down syndrome. Because of her, my sister and I started working at a camp for the disabled. Recently, I have been taking advantage of my hockey team, and using them to help create fundraisers for charity.

There is something about volunteering and raising money that makes me feel so good inside. I enjoy helping others. Helping others sometimes costs a couple George Washingtons out of my wallet, but I am okay with making that sacrifice. The feeling that you get when you help someone else is like none other. I would recommend it to everyone. Just take a little time out of your day and help someone. Helping someone else will help you. Trust me.

Hard work leads to good things

It has always been said that working hard will get you far in life. Well, I have listened to those people, and worked my tail off in almost everything... excluding some things that have to do with school. There are many things in my life that I have gotten a late start on and worked my ass off to be where I am now. Two examples are Hockey and playing guitar.

I started playing guitar about two years ago. It wasn't something I always wanted to do, but I decided one day just to start. It was very frustrating at first, and at times i would throw down my musical instrument and not pick it up for weeks at a time. But I still had the determination to continue. Today, i have reached a level where some people enjoy to listen to me.

Hockey has been even harder for me. This is a sport where starting young is very important because it takes a long time to learn how to skate properly while doing everything else. I started at age 17, and since then, I have been playing against people who started at age 3. It has been a long road to be the best that I can possibly be, and today I am the captain of the SBU roller hockey team (b team).

I know for a fact that if you work hard, good things will happen. I try to use my experiences to help others.

Cyworld

I love Facebook. Almost everyone has Facebook accounts. No wonder the Facebook website records the second place after Google.com as the most busiest website in the world. I know someone already posted about Korean version facebook called Cyworld. I want to put some additional information about Cyworld. Cyworld is provided by Nate which is owned by SK telecom, the biggest telecom company in Korea. I can put the background music or change a character image called avater. I have to pay for it but worth to have it. Also, there is a cyber space, like WOW game, where my avater can meet others and I am able to chat, dance with them. Cool!!! I want Facebook to integrate these features.

super mario

I love Nintendo especially Super Mario series. I've been playing this game since the first one and it is a surprising news that it has been 25 years since Super Mario Bros 1 released in 1985. I'm pretty happy that I was born in 1984 before its first release. When I visited Bestbuy on Black Friday, there was an advertising Mario section. It showed videos of each Mario series, making me to remember my past life. I've played Bros 1,2,3,world,new DS,new Wii and skipped few titles between Mario World and New Super Mario Bros since I was pretty busy to prepare SAT and high school tests. Finally, Target offered me New Super Mario Wii for 10 bucks less and I had to grab this game. The photo describes the similarity and the difference between DS and Wii version.

Plucking Strings

There are some things that get me all riled up, or stressed out. I have never been they type of person to ever let out my anger and frustration, so what I enjoy doing best is playing guitar. I have only played for two years now, but I believe I am making some progress. I originally wanted to start playing guitar to impress my ex-girlfriend. Before, I even got my guitar, we broke up. Maybe she had a dream on how bad I would be when I started out or something.

Anyways, once I began to play, I instantly loved it. It is not the easiest instrument in the world. In fact, it is quite difficult. I have never had formal lessons, and I have taught myself everything I know. But it is something that I have developed a significant passion for, and will continue to keep playing for as long as my fingers will let me go. The next step would be to be able to sing and play at the same time. However, I think i should work on my voice first. I break glass as it is. One of my friends told me that I had one of the worst voices he has ever heard. I took it as a compliment.

Max MSP

Here are a few more snapshots of the things i did on the programs.

max msp
i worked on a few of these max msp programs but i still liked this line drawing one it was quite amusing i sat and stared at it for a good 5 mins or so. here's a screen capture...

Family togetherness crap

Everyone's family is different. Some are stranger than others, and in my family there is a very little sense of normalcy. We are just an odd bunch of people. But us oddballs have a few things that bring us together. Friday night dinners at grandmas hows has always been going on. Thanksgiving movies, chinese food on christmas, are just two other things that unite us. But the main thing is Hockey. My parents were Islanders fans during the Stanley Cup years, and in the late 80's to early 90's, they lost touch with their inner Ice. However, us kids rediscovered the passion for this wonderful sport and took our parents right back into it. Now, hockey is a topic of conversation. We have season tickets now, and when the islanders are away, you can find us all in the TV room watching professionals putting the biscuit in the basket. When describing how our family bonds, my mother tells people that it is "family togetherness crap."

The wonders of Modern Technology

Oh my! The wonders of modern technology. Currently, I am laying in my bed, not feeling to great (thanks flu shot) and obviously, very very bored. I really wanted to watch some hockey on tv, but I did not want to rise out of my bed and move. So I just flipped open my computer, put it right in front of my face, put on a website, and now I am watching the New Jersey Devils play the Philadelphia Flyers. Maybe one day, I can order food ready to eat online, which can be delivered via email. So not only would I be able to watch hockey, but I could also eat me a juicy steak! It would also be nice if commercials did not exist. I am just saying, that would be totally awesome!

Work!!!

Working at an incredibly busy retail store i have realized one thing... people have no hearts.from morning to night no matter how neat the store is, each customer will take a shot at destroying what one very tired employee worked on for 3 hours the night before until 11. Now why should those customers care if they are paying for the clothes? Thts what anyone would say. But we the employees are not machines, we are human, we are not slaves, but we are workers who deserve to be treated with respect. Many customers forget that and treat us as if we are nothing compared to them. Of course The difficulties we are face are more than just the customer. The managers are another story and they can easily be even worse. Managers are supposed to show professionalism and be an example for the employees especially with their actions. Yet some managers show far from that as they very obviously pick favorites, slack on the job, and holding grudges on misunderstandings.
In fact i have had my own personal experience with one of those issues. One night i had requested to leave earlier than planned and the manager accepted on the condition that i finish all the work i had for that night. Quickly i did as i was told and finished so i could leave. When the time came the manager asked for anther 5 minutes of my time there and i agreed foe she was doing me a favor. Once those 5 minutes were up i asked once again if i could leave and she said to just attend the last customer (i was on the register that night). Then suddenly another.2 customers appeared. By that time it had already been 15 min past the time that we had agreed on for me to leave. So once again i reminded her and with no warning she suddenly became angry and told me that i could not act this way and that had it been another manager i would have been written up. I was shocked at her reaction and felt betrayed by a manager who i believed to be fair and helpful. For
the next few weeks she would bring it up and shove it in my face any chance she could. It was the most unprofessional thing i had ever witnessed and was disappointed in her behavior. Still to this day she does little things to make my work harder for me, funny thing is... it has been a year.

Orchestra

Recently I went with my little sister to the New York Public library of the Performing Arts to watch a classical music performance. I figured it would be good to show her that kind of music. I did not know what to expect but I was looking forward to this different experience and was open to the idea of this different music for my sister and I. When we arrived we found the auditorium easily and saw that all the people in there were mostly adults and seniors. It felt strange to be there with my seven year old sister. We found seats close to the front and waited. Already it felt very different from what I have ever experienced. Soon four musicians came out and began to play their instuments, the violin, the cello, flute, and piano. The music began very smooth and slow. It was very beautiful and relaxing music. The music sounded like it was telling a story that I had to narrate. I told my sister to squeeze my hands when the music got tense and to loosen it when it was soft and relaxed and to remember what instruments were making that effect so she could get more out of it and not be completely bored. She paid attention and I was truly surprised at how much more concentrated and interested she was in the music. Once the concert was over and we left, we spoke about how different and interesting that was. Not that we would ever attend something like that again, but nevertheless, it was interesting.

High School Teacher

I have an old high school teacher who added me on face book a few months later after my graduation, me and the other three hundred something students. I thought it was somewhat strange but was curious so I added him anyway. What I later found out was the truth about this man. He constantly writes about his trips to other countries such as dominican republic and puerto rico and about his “adventures” and encounters while there. He write about sexual encounters and meetings with woman while trying to seduce them and having practically no standards for what is allowed and what is not (age for example). Now as intellectual and intelligent as he may be, there is no way that that kind of person should be teaching teenagers.

I have an old high school teacher who added me on face book a few months later after my graduation, me and the other three hundred something students. I thought it was somewhat strange but was curious so I added him anyway. What I later found out was the truth about this man. He constantly writes about his trips to other countries such as dominican republic and puerto rico and about his “adventures” and encounters while there. He write about sexual encounters and meetings with woman while trying to seduce them and having practically no standards for what is allowed and what is not (age for example). Now as intellectual and intelligent as he may be, there is no way that that kind of person should be teaching teenagers.

The long way home

Going on the subway to work almost every day can be such a pain. Ever had the really smelly bum get on the train cart you’re in and the next stop just happens to be the longest stop on the train ride so you can’t escape? How about when the train is so full that you are breathing down other peoples necks, and then one person gets upset with you for stepping on their shoe by accident? Or better yet, having your headphones on and not hearing that the train that is supposed to take you home is now changing routes and going all the way back to the city? Yea its all happened to me. Makes you just want to yell at the bum to go take a shower, and tell that loud obnoxious woman to take a cab if its such a problem. The subway gives too much stress, more than I need and already have on a daily basis!

Appropriate or Not?

Constantly we hear about disney channel stars portraying an image that all parents do not want their children to be exposed to. Many times I have heard my girlfriend complain as well but I never payed much mind to it. Having a younger sister I should have been concerned but I figured it wasn’t that difficult to keep her away from those things. I thought that As long as she just sees the image disney channel portrays of them there is no problem. As long as she doesn’t know the truth behind these young stars. I never minded, and the songs that they have still sound innocent even with their hidden meanings, but what would my seven year old sister know? Now my view has changed, it is impossible to hide it from them even when I had been so careful. As a morning routine I leave the radio on, with 92.3 now which does not have any music that is too inappropriate and my sister listens as well. A few days ago she approached me and said “Fawzi, I heard on the radio that Hannah Montana was at a party and she drank a beer. That’s not good right?” I was so shocked and upset that she heard this. Now I really dislike these disney stars that are giving such horrible example to kids.