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Since international versions are sooo expensive ($1500/10 blocks), I often wish our craftsmen were more professional to properly tailor-make such brilliant ideas. Can you imagine how cool that would look against a wall?

We have been spending these gorgeous weekends apartment shopping. We usually just park our car somewhere and then walk for a couple of hours, enjoying the weather while looking around. Our destination today was the 3rd-5th Circle district. We started at the 5th Circle, which was full of high-rise, crowded housing projects that reminded me of Cairo and Damascus. We walked down to the Fourth Circle, and the area in between was very nice, but also crowded. Unfortunately, we did not see a single sign for a house on sale, so we crossed over to the Third Circle area (the Jordan Hospital side), and ohhhh, my God.

I fall in love with that area every time. The problem is, the deal with these old neighborhoods is that they are usually not advertised in the newspapers or in real estate agencies. But I REALLY want a house there. We are looking for something small (around 110-150 sq m), rennovated/new, and that is under 80 thousand JDs to buy. In a calm area where I can read outside without being bothered.

Everyone keeps laughing at me and telling me that I’m dreaming. Which perhaps I am… but I hope I’m not.

So I’m wondering if anyone has heard/seen of any apartments in the 3rd/4th/5th Circle district that would fit what we’re looking for. A number… Precise directions… anyone selling? I’d really appreciate some help.

Thanks!

A lot more images here.

I think one of my favorite phrases ever is “Google it.” This phrase tends to usually piss people off, for reasons that I cannot fathom, because I can’t really understand people’s dislike of finding stuff out on their own.

I guess the Japs (naturally) are more affectionate towards Google though, because the newest trend in advertising is the replacement of URLs with… ta da… search boxes. Complete with recommended
search terms. I think that’s both awesome and brilliant, plus, it’s much easier to remember keywords than URLs. (source, via)

I do not see that happening in the Arab world anytime soon, because we seem to not be as comfortable with finding our own information.

Spring is here and with the sun burning so brightly over head, I don’t think it will last long.
This is my first year spending spring in an office rather than on the green campus of Jordan University, and although our office is quite a hot one with all the glass, paper, and steel, I really miss taking pictures of Amman. But hey, on the bright side, we’re switching back to DST (right?) in a few days and that means that I have a few more hours of daylight after work.

For now, I’ll share this picture, courtsey of Mahmood, which I could not help but stare at for a few minutes.

 

She looks pretty gorgeous there, doesn’t she?

Quite honestly, I have no idea how I feel towards additions to historical monuments. On one hand, it’s changing history, on the other hand, it just really becomes a part of the accumulated history of a certain monument.

But anyway, my opinion aside, they’re pimping up the Eiffel Tower for its 120th anniversary by adding an observation deck designed by Serero that will go up next year. I think it looks like my grandmother’s crochet tablecloths.

The concept of the design is rather amusing:

Generative Design: The design is based on a generative script,
creating branches out of the primary structure of the tower. Inspired
by the structural concept of Eiffel of three-dimensional cross bracing
beams, the script unfolds along curved lines the “DNA” of the tower.
The script used the existing structure at the top of the tower ( a 10
by 10 meters cube) to generate 3 structural weaves, which are
interconnected. These layers are combined to create a woven complex,
which is based on the redundancy and the non-repetition of patterns to
increase its structural performance. In opposition with modern
engineering (based on the concept of repetition and optimization), the
project for the Eiffel tower extension is based on an alternative model
of high performance.

So, what do you think? Cool or not cool?

(via, link)

Josef Hartwig’s Bauhaus Chessmen ($450) via Uncrate

I’m currently not in a pro-Nike phase, because the quality of their shoes have degraded to such a level that a 150 JD Nike shoe really isn’t much better than its fake counterpart downtown for 5 JDs. I’m also especially annoyed at how the canvas material traditionally used to make Converse shoes has changed to plasticy BS after Nike acquired Converse in 2003.

But anyway, I guess sometimes when a person takes the trashy stuff they produce to produce something acknowledged as trashy, it’s actually cool. The Nike Trash Talk, in collaboration with Steve Nash, features an upper that’s made of leather and
synthetic leather pieces collected from the factory floor. In addition,
the mid-sole uses factory scrap foam, and the outsole uses less toxic
rubber and incorporates Nike Grind material from outsole manufacturing
waste.

Not only is it recycled, it also looks pretty good.

(via Uncrate)

I am at that stage where I really have no idea whether to enjoy the gorgeous August temperatures in mid-March or feel sorry for the spring that’s already burning away before it even started. I guess I’ll take the first option… I love the summer.

It never occurs to me to think about yet undiscovered fruits, vegetables, flavours.
Then I found this list of foods that were generally unknown in the Middle Ages. It makes me laugh to think how all the medieval-portraying cartoons such as Sword in the Stone and Robin Hood are full of feasts of turkeys, potatoes, and bananas!

Here are some items that the European Middle Ages never tasted: bananas, spices, peppers, cocoa, coffee, peanuts, potatoes, tea, turkey, and tomatoes. Check out the entire list here.

How could a person possibly describe the most important woman in their life. How could they muster words that represent the gushing emotions in which one experiences when thinking about her.
I sat, staring at my screen, wondering how could I possibly even begin to describe, to explain, to put to words. I opened my folders and stared at pictures of us, I recalled all the happy memories, and wondered what sort of post would do this love justice.
My mother, you see, is the sort of person you can’t possibly just love. Her youthfulness, her endless optimism, and her spirited soul make her precisely the type of person to dislike such superfluous, overdecorative words, which I seem to be so fond off.
When people meet my mother, they are always amused by how much I dress like her, act like her, look like her. But no one is ever surprised- because there’s really no one else I’d rather dress like, act like, and look like. My mother was never just a mother, she is was also my first best friend, the sister I always wanted, and the mentor.

I love you mommy, inti 7ayati. Happy Mother’s Day :)

I don’t even know if DMX is still popular, but he was pretty hot when I was in high school. Anyway, here’s a really, really funny interview with DMX that reminds me of a conversation I had with my cousin a few years ago:

Basem: “What did you call the cat?”
Me: “Whitey.”
Basem: “Why, is that because she’s white?”
Me: “Yes.”
Basem: “SHIT, that’s SOOO RACIST!!!” (dead serious)

Anyway, to the DMX interview:

The Listenerd points us to this fantastic XXL interview with rapper DMX that covers many topics, including the presidential election. A felon, DMX can’t vote, so he’s not paying too much attention to the process.

Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.

You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!

Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!

Barack.
What the **** is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?

Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?

Yeah.
What the ****?! That ain’t no ****in’ name, yo. That ain’t that nigga’s
name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the **** outta here.

You’re telling me you haven’t heard about him before.
I ain’t really paying much attention.

I mean, it’s pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga’s name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack
Obama. What the ****, man?! Is he serious? That ain’t his ****in’ name.
Ima tell this nigga when I see him, “Stop that bullshit. Stop that
bullshit” [laughs] “That ain’t your ****in’ name.” Your momma ain’t
name you no damn Barack.

So you’re not following the race. You can’t vote right?
Nope.

Really cool awareness test. Watch here, and concentrate hard. Via 2:48 AM.

Because of this. And this. And that.