"to die, to sleep - 

to sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub,

for in this sleep of death what dreams may come..."

william shakespeare, hamlet

i spent the last month laughing my a$$ off

because caitlan moran is such a funny, witty writer. her book "how to be a woman" will entertain you from start to finish. i have to admit there were a few references i didn't get; mainly because i didn't grow up in england, but most of it is just plain hilarity. a british broadcaster, tv critic and columnist at the times; she won the british press awards (bpa) columnist of the year '10 and the bpa critic of the year '11. the book follows her life from a young age in such an amusing way, covering the most awkward situations. she promotes the idea of feminism as simply protecting female rights and not the typical ideology that feminist women run around burning their bras and hating men. i've attached a few excerpts that really cracked me up. they don't do it justice though. 

on the versatile and indirect prevalence of sexism despite it not being as obvious as the past:

on the expectations of every woman to have children:

on weddings:

if you want a good laugh pick it up asap. 

xx

obsessed with indoor libraries

who wouldn't be? ever since i was younger i wanted my own library; something between contemporary and classical. a place where i look forward to spending time in and where i can focus 100% minus the adderall. the following are so different but each have something quirky about them. 

classically quaint.

too modern, but comfy.

a ladder is a must. a bit too country though. 

i love this, i'd add a fireplace and a bit more of a classical touch.

a bit too zen-ish for me, but there's something really mesmerizing about it, it just sucks you right in and puts you in the zone. 

xx penguina

goodbye dubai

i spent yesterday on edge dreading the thought of needing to postpone my flight to london. for the record don't attempt to renew your residency a day before leaving unless you want to risk missing your flight. never something i want when it means more time in this heat. in my defense i'm not the one who deals with it. note: always check expiration dates. i'm now 25 (not sure how that happened) and daily realize something new i need to start being responsible for. boo. what happens when we have children? speaking of those little ones, the reason i'm itching to escape is to get to san fran where my sister-in-law is due any day now! not sure how to contain my excitement of having an ickle nephew to make as weird as me. 

luckily i woke up to great news - my residency was renewed. likewise, so were my energy levels, which prompted me to have somewhat of a productive day from a more shallow angle. i managed to get what i needed from the tailor, i love him he works magic. i worked out ie. walked on the treadmill in my new zaggora pants (check them out- they're supposed to make you burn more - sweet!). i think they're actually a health hazard in the uae though. i then attempted to tan and failed. it lasted 15 minutes. so much more to do and i'm a little scared of packing, but at least i have the necessities ready:

1. passport

2. ipod

3. new book to read

4. big red

i'm set.

xx

nook worm

so i'm really excited about my nook. yup, that excited i had to pose with it like that. it's cool, i embrace my nerd. i love books and still buy them for the library i will one day have, yes, with dangerous sliding ladders and secret passageways; but the idea of not having to carry a brick slash harry potter slash porn - in my defense i did NOT know anything about 50 shades of grey before i started it,  around doesn't sound too bad to me. i'd written a post about the nook a year ago, my brother works on the interface so i remember trying it out. i made it pretty clear to him that i liked it then.... he chose to ignore my hints, thanks tamer :p 

i suggest you guys check it out. you're practically carrying a whole library in a tiny tablet that's easy to read from, esp with its glow light. considering it's summertime, it's the perfect time to invest in one for the beach/plane. you can also highlight words or look them up. very nerd friendly. it's also much cuter than the kindle. lots more personality. i'm attached.

happy readings :)

xx penguina

olden misery

oh the woes of being an adult. if this at all sounds familiar to you, there's actually help on earth. that poor old man is probably still sitting on his drunken star. love how the little prince just peaces out. 

xx

MUST TRY: Nolus Cafe

it's been a couple months now that a friend of mine has been trying to get me to try nolus cafe in al bandar (between abu dhabi and dxb via the yas route). i finally checked it out and man am i happy i did. this place stresses the "healthy eating isn't always bland eating" point to another level. it's just the sort of place i wish i'd find more of in the uae. good thing it's not close to my house otherwise i'd be there daily. 

why's it so good? it's an afghani restaurant with a simple yet eclectic menu. the whole shebang for breakfast including the eggs (any way you like them ;) the fluffy treats i.e. pancakes/waffles (all served till 4pm fyi), and the lunch and dinner options are great when you want choice, and terrible if you're indecisive; you'll never be able to settle for just one dish. 

firstly, there's the always fun option of creating your own salad/sandwich/burger with the freshest ingredients. the salad comes in a huge bowl which really excites me, because when it comes to a salad, i'm a fiend. there's always a soup of the day, main meals that are all cooked with the right spices and apparently a great list of desserts. one dish i can't wait to try is there borani kadoo: sautéed squash in a sauce of saffron, cardamom and spices served on a bed of garlic yogurt. hmm.. maybe avoid it on a date. the word kadoo always reminds me of the restaurant helmand in boston; for the heartiest meals i'd always go there. nolus doesn't have the exact same atmosphere and the food is much lighter, but i love it as long as it's tasty and leaves me sated. 

 it's got a very fresh and organic atmosphere, looking directly out onto the water. apparently when the weather is nice, there's nothing better than enjoying the view with a nice meal. 

i started off with a delicious cream-free tomato basil soup (i stress cream free because i hate creamy soups and love it when a place can pull it off without). i created my own salad: spinach and mixed lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, lots of avocado, grilled chicken (i'm very skeptical about chicken in restaurants but this one was so tasty), hearts of palm, asparagus, flaxseeds and sautéed mushrooms. basically a whole bunch of green (i was going extra healthy). 

i then tried the salmon kabob which was tenderly cooked to perfection in my opinion.

i'm pretty easily satisfied when it comes to food, i don't need anything fancy, and since i prefer to eat more healthy options, what i like is pretty straightforward. this place brings all of that and more. if you want a burger while your friend has a salad, or breakfast while your friend wants lunch it's all readily available. 

i also loved the bathrooms and their cheeky labels - "those who sit" and "those who stand." i'd be worried if it confused anyone...

the one distraction i did have was the server who seemed to be rushing to catch a flight with every order. what i definitely don't want to hear when i'm out enjoying a meal is "maybe, if the chef has time." first of all, if i'm asking for a new dish that's not on the menu, sure, or if i'm at la petite maison where you don't dare change a single thing, fine. but at a casual spot to eat that isn't even full, if i ask the server to split my salad between two bowls to share with someone else, he should be able to make it happen. way to be extra disdainful and scold the person trying to enjoy a meal. also, if you offer fresh juices, don't tell me you're not sure if you can squeeze me a little bit of fresh lemon. i hope i don't bump into him again.

but like i said, that's the only distraction. i would eat at nolus daily if i had the chance, and i can't wait for my next meal there!

xx penguina

why the smurfs were communist

- they live in an egalitarian utopia

- each smurf has a particular skill

- no system of monetary exchange

- papa smurf - karl marx

- brainy smurf - leon trotsky

- the food was equally distributed

- no form of barter

- similar clothing except for papa smurf

- no mention of god, similar to communism which leans towards atheism

- gargamel -> capitalism as he wants to turn the smurfs to gold to satisfy his own greed

xx penguina

le petit prince in motion

“to me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. and I have no need of you. and you, on your part, have no need of me. to you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. but if you tame me, then we shall need each other. to me, you 

will be unique in all the world. to you, I shall be unique in all the world…”

xx

Want to Educate Yourself?

For a lot of us, we wish we paid more attention in school, for some reason NOW we're much more interested in scooping as much education as we can into our brains. If you are one of these people who wants to give themselves that second go at learning everything from "arithmetic to physics, finance, and history" check out Khan Academy. You can learn everything you want at your own pace. Oh yeah, and it's free!

Since I'm on the topic of learning at our own pace, I have to recommend Lynda.com to those of you who aren't familiar. I spend hours on this site, mainly on Photoshop and Lightroom tutorials. This one isn't free, but it's perfect and will teach you everything about any software in detail. I prefer taking these online tutorials rather than courses because you can always take note of the videos and return to them whenever you need a recap. 

Logos with Hidden Messages

I love witty logos, here are some that I liked mainly because I've seen them before and haven't noticed the "hidden messages."

Ok I haven't seen this one before, which I'm kinda happy about, but found it simple and direct. 

I always figured the logo was of the Swiss Alps but didn't see much creativity in it. Noticing the bear makes me appreciate it so much now.

I never noticed the 'C' either and I'm at Carrefour at least once a week! 

It's so true, I did just think the arrow was a simple line, the last thing I would have thought was 'a to z'

I'm not familiar with the above logo's company, but definitely found it worth adding to this list. 

Never would have pointed out the outline of Australia. Maybe if I saw it on a more regular basis.. 

I see this logo regularly at the mall and never cared much to analyze that what looks like sloppy writing is actually the Eiffel Tower.  

I've had this logo pointed out to me before but was still surprised seeing it again. 

[via Graphic Design Blog]

Good Morning DXB - Choosing your next book became so much easier!

I'm constantly looking for new books to read. I usually make sure to have one lined up once I'm done with my current book and at times can't help but start two simultaneously. My previous roomie, Zaina, who always enlightens me with useful tips, just introduced me to which book.   

which book is your source for finding the book you want. With its panoply of specific genres everything is organized superbly, which is something I really appreciate (yeah I'm a perfectionist.... leave me alone I'm a scorpio). Anyway, you can create your own lists and share them with friends or stick to the W Lists which have different genres such as:

• Comfort zone
• Short and sweet
• Laugh your pants off
• Weird and wonderful

On the left you are given options and can rate the level you want in your book results. You can then specifically rate your preference for "character, plot and setting." Check out the image to get a better understanding. Such a great site - thanks Z xx

Mispronunciation Alert

Just in case you were excited John Boehner's name was pronounced differently.
I wasn't at all.....

On Chesil Beach.. My Thoughts..

On Chesil Beach is a great way to prove how lack of communication in general and pride will screw anything up. There were moments that left me so frustrated while reading. Why  do people have to be so proud? Is it necessary with someone you absolutely love? If it means losing them forever and potentially ending up with no one, I think not. That's exactly how Edward Mayhew felt when he was older and certainly much wiser, realizing his true love was the one woman he let walk away. Missed the train on that one buddy!

Of course I initially felt his pain when his WIFE ran out of the hotel room after he got too excited before actually consummating their marriage..... (talk about keeping your disappointment on the dl). But he knew she was inexperienced and prude, couldn't he find it in him to forgive her? Clearly not when his manhood was threatened. When will you boys realize it's just a body part, it's not what makes you who you are! Fine, I skipped the part where she mentioned she'd rather he cheat on her than have sex with him. But seriously, are you doubting your seducing abilities? She is human after all.

I'm sure McEwan had a lot of points to make through his story, but the underlying message I was left with is that a couple should explore their relationship sexually before tying the knot... just to avoid any nasty surprises on the wedding night. 

"This is how the entire course of life can be changed – by doing nothing. On Chesil beach he could have called out to Florence, he could have gone after her. He did not know, or would not have cared to know, that as she ran away from him, certain in her distress that she was about to lose him, she had never loved him more, or more hopelessly, and that the sound of his voice would have been a deliverance, and she would have turned back. Instead, he stood in cold and righteous silence in the summer’s dusk, watching her hurry along the shore, the sound of her difficult progress lost to the breaking of small waves, until she was blurred, receding against the immense straight road of shingle gleaming in the pallid light." 

Ian McEwan, On Chesil Beach

Word of the Day

u·biq·ui·tous/yo͞oˈbikwətəs/

Adjective: Present, appearing, or found everywhere

You know when your tongue just isn't a happy cookie and makes sure you mess up a word at all costs. I'm pretty sharp at pronouncing most English words, but I had such an internal battle trying to pronounce this one today. 

It's still threatening me. 

A New Smart Cookie

One of my favorite things to do is spend time in bookstores, especially small, cozy ones. Since my brother started working at Barnes and Noble though, going to any other bookstore is beyond deceitful. 

I did stumble upon such a warm and adorable one in Palo Alto, CA that I couldn't resist going into  -because it was so cold outside of course... Anyway, under most of the books were personal reviews on note cards;  I don't remember blinking. I ended up leaving with nothing because according to the reviews I'd have to buy over 500 books to feel alive and gain more perspective. It doesn't help that I judge books by their cover and creativity is at it's maximum these days. Then again, the main reason I kept my wallet in my pocket was because I was on vacation and my luggage was already 10 kilos overweight. 

After my brother got over my infidelity, he realized he had the perfect solution (from Barnes and Noble of course). He's a software engineer there, and introduced me to the new Nook, which he worked on. I have to say his team did a great job. It's simple, small, light and just like a cookie (I don't know...). It has great features I've always wanted while reading a book. For example, clicking a word and getting an immediate definition, or the ability to share quotes directly to facebook, or sharing your reading status (not sure who does that) or even recommending books to friends by email, facebook or twitter. 

Despite how impressive the new Nook is, I'm not ready to become an exclusive e-reader, the thought of only Nooks, iPads and Kindles taking over does make me a bit sad. I'm too much of a romantic to give books up and I'm definitely owning a library with a ladder in my dream house. Owning a Nook could potentially destroy that dream. 

Either way, if you're more loyal to electronics these days or if you're a romantic like me,  I will say that for those times you want a library of books at the weight of around 7 oz, the new Nook is definitely the right cookie for you.

Biggest Demonstration in History: We Are Many by Amir Amirani

We Are Many from Amir Amirani on Vimeo.

Need Some Friends? Try Bahrain :)

Apparently Bahrain made it to #1 on the world's Friendliest Countries list. The data was found by "The Expat Explorer Survey" done by HSBC Bank International.... if that even matters. I don't really find that too hard to believe, the only thing I think of when Bahrain comes to mind is the friendly social life everyone is part of. Then again, considering it's about one sixteenth of a freckle on a zoomed in map, it's size and lack of EXTRA exciting things to do at all times (I know, I know it's getting better) makes a social life necessary for survival.

The rest of the list is:

#2 Canada
#3 Australia
#4 Thailand
#5 Malaysia
#6 South Africa
#7 Hong Kong
#8 Singapore
#9 Spain
#10 USA

Apparently "the UAE received some of the poorest scores on the integration scale" alongside the UK...  that's just perfect...

Just Some Perspective

iTunes U

Regretting what you studied in college? I hope not, but if you are OR if you want to keep learning without going back to school, check out iTunes U! One click on iTunes U in iTunes takes you to lectures, language lessons, audiobooks and many more. With over 200,000 free audio and videos from some of the best universities and museums from all over the world, you can spend hours learning from your iPod or PC. Such a great opportunity and great way to gain more skills to add to your resumes.

Learning is a journey that should never end.