In search of knowledge

Due to my brothers take-over of the nintendo DS, I had to look for a new hobby. I wonder if it's wise to work on a new project, while other 'projects' aren't done yet. Is it possible for me to combine them, to manage my little time properly so that I can do the right thing? I hope so, because working one project at the time just isn't my way. Whenever I feel inspired, I just have to act upon it. And so it is the case with my latest hobby-project.

Eventhough I am officially a psychologist now, I don't feel like one. Mostly because I'm not working atm :p Another factor is that I don't feel specialised enough. Mostly because I'm not working atm :p:p
SO, I've decided to educate myself further in the field of ISLAMIC PSYCHOLOGY! -- which has nothing to do with how muslims try to indoctrinate non-muslims or anything like that ;) in case you were wondering ..

No, I am interested in the Islamic views and perspective on the human being and it's psychological (emotional, social, cognitive, moral, etc) development. I've found some very interesting websites, that can help me in my search, and if you're interested in the subject then don't hesitate to visit them.

Koranische psychologie (dutch)
Muslim Psychologist (blog)
Islamic Psychology Online (articles and books)

And you know, to be honest, this is way much more fun than playing Zelda.
(but I do hope you finish the game soon bro!!)

edit 03/2008:
new links
Islamic Psychology 1
articles Islamic Psychology

Superstorm expected

I received a disturbing fwd-msg today, about a superstorm hitting the Netherlands in November 2007. Why would something that happens all over the world be disturbing, if it were to happen in such a small country in the world?
Well, because ... I LIVE THERE!! :p

In short: there's gonna be one storm between the 8th and the 13th of November, this is not the superstorm
The big one is expected between the 24th and the 28th of november, with winds going with more than 200km/h!! This will surely mean the end of the Netherlands, with half of the country under sea-level ..

The email I got said it was a dutch translation of the english text on weatheraction.fi - the prediction is made by a guy named 'Piers Corbijn'. Sceptic as I am, I went to the site.

Not suprised to find that no such site exists. There is however a website called weatheraction.com also naming Piers Corbijn, so perhaps that's where I may find this disastrous forecast. But I couldnt find any article or comment or statement regarding the Netherlands. No search results showed up when I typed 'superstorm' ..

The site however seems to be from a freelance forecaster, you can buy your forecasts there.. : It rieks of scams and hoaxes, so I left the site. Feeling a bit more reassured that there probably isn't gonna be a superstorm after all.

..

..

or is there? Do you remember the 'hilarious' prediction of a US-something-something-department? The one they made halfway the 90's, in which they said the Netherlands will be flooded in. .. 2007!! I remembered and .. Oh I found something ..

here it is:
"Key findings of the Pentagon Report:
· By 2007 violent storms smash coastal barriers rendering large parts of the Netherlands inhabitable. Cities like The Hague are abandoned. In California the delta island levees in the Sacramento river area are breached, disrupting the aqueduct system transporting water from north to south"
(source: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0222-01.htm )
..
tutututututu (twilight zone music)
.

Newest Zelda

It has been released and I got it the first day. Well sort of, I bought it 'for my sister', because she's the one with a Nintendo DS.

The Phantom Hourglass. I LOVE it!! The gameplay is so much fun with the DS-pen (stylus) and a whole lot easier than the other Zelda-games. There is something annoying about the game though and that is the temple. The monsters in there will chase you whenever they see you, and since there is no defeating them you have to avoid being seen. This doesn't only take a lot of time, it is also immensely tricky. And time isn't something you have in the temple. What's worse, when they get to you and hit you, you lose time!! (and a heart)

Nevertheless, i still LOVE it, and can't wait for my sister to finish the game. So that I can borrow it!

NY's gonna explode!!

Wait, stop, hold it right there!! I know I'm a muslima and that I write some Islam-related posts, but I can assure you that this post is in no way whatsoever linked to al-Qaida.

I'd like to write something about my favourite series at the moment 'Heroes'

The characters all have special powers, the idea is similar to x-men - you know, next level in evolution and stuff. And they are learning about their powers and the good, bad and ugly that they can do with them. One thing is sure, New York will explode unless these characters, the heroes, find a way to stop it.

Funny thingy in the series is, how everyone has his/her own ideas of what a hero is. Very intriguing to watch. It was also fun to spot Stan Lee.

..

what else.. I can't say too much without giving away any spoilers, so just go and watch it ;p

Ban on Qur'an?

Seriously?
Yes, the Dutch politician Geert Wilders has made himself popular and impopular again. He claims that the Qur'an, the Holy Book of muslims, is a fascistic book and should be banned from the Netherlands. Mosques should be forbidden to sell them, and there should be a penalty on having a copy at home. It's the same blabla we've been hearing Geert Wilders say, ever since he popped out with his blonde coupe. Im not shocked to hear these words from him.

I am shocked however to hear other politicians reply on his statement with the words "The wholde idea is unrealistic. There's no way we can ensure such a ruling."
Unrealistic?!! Try 'unreasonable' or 'ridiculous' or how about 'idiotic filled with stupidity and not worthy of a serious reaction'!!
What am I, a dutch muslima, to think of the term 'unrealistic'? I know exactly what it means, it means that they agree with Geert Wilders and would want nothing more than a way to get rid of the Qur'an, but putting a ban on it would simply not be realistic ..

And people wonder why muslims in the Netherlands complain so much and take a defensive attitude.

I Tube on youtube.com

I've decided to enter the youtube-dimension.
Hmm.. no, I have to put that differently.

I've decided to enter Umar Haroen to the Youtube-dimension.
: )

Here he is:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XKjGL8YDVSU

I was surprised to see how many ppl post a video under the name "very cute baby"
;p

still looking..

Now that I've exchanged my glasses for lenses, I can see more clear then ever and that may help me find a job.

Bright as I can see, it's hard for me to look on the bright side of life - tu du tu du du du du. After sending out letters since March, I now finally got an invitation. They expect me next monday in Utrecht, which is so close (monday is only 4 days away) and yet so far (Utecht isn't around the corner).

What do I do with the baby? Take along or leave with Dadi-ji? My husband probably can't come along, so I must leave Umar Haroen behind for a few hours. I'm scared :P

I am happy though for the invitation, all the other institutions seem to have forgotten about me. I phoned one up, 2 weeks ago, and they said they were still doing letter-selections. I don't understand all this sloppiness .. do they need people or what? And if they're not interested, they could at least turn me down politely .. or not politely, at least I would know that my services are not welcome.

Meanwhile, I'll see what will happen monday and keep looking around..

update 17-05-2007:
The interview went almost horrible. When I left i had the strong feeling that the leader of the project didn't like me. And probably I was right. I didn't get the job ;p The reason - I wasn't exactly wat they were looking for as a teammember.. well, their loss :D

muslim directory

My aunt in England told me about the muslim directory that they use over there. It's an easy way to look up products and services provided by the muslim community.
Why don't we have anything like that in the Netherlands? I for one would find it very useful!!

And of this week, the 22nd of April to be exact, we do have one in the Netherlands. It just isn't finished by far, but there is something to build on.

Hooray! And check it out: http://alleshalal.nl

SABR

= patience (arabic)

And of Thursday 12th of April, it's also the name of an Islamic student's association in the Netherlands. With my husband (who actually is a student) and my son I witnessed the opening of this association. Eventhough I couldn't follow everything of the program, things like that happen when you have a kid, I'm happy that I went. I think it's important for anyone who approves of such an association to show up at these sort of events: we are all needed like a bunch of cheerleaders, a main core of support, a backbone.

So what does this new student's association stand for, what are they willing to achieve, and most importantly .. was the opening any fun? :)

They started of with welcoming messages and moral messages like: "Everything comes in time, for those who have patience" and "Patience can be learned"

--
They've set up 6 goals:
1) To inform religious and non-religious students about Islam
2) To stimulate the experience in spiritual value of religion
3) To stimulate integration among students of different backgrounds
4) To support intereligious dialogue in order to increase respect for each other
5) To look after the interests of students when it comes to their education
6) To increase social involvement of the students

Sounds neat eh? That's what I thought. Insha'Allah (Godwilling) they'll achieve these goals and any new ones that develop. It 'only' needs a lot of hard work and of course .. patience.

For more information see http://www.sabr.nl/

ps. The food was delicious - always important at any event ;)

Occulo Reparo

Bad news. My Glasses broke. I tried to tape them together, but it didn't work. I even tried Occulo reparo, but you need a wand for that spell.
Good news. I have sunglasses made for my eyesight. This is very good news, because my eyesight is so bad that I can't see anything without glasses. It was also very sunny this week, so I didn't look all too weird.

Bad news. New glasses cost a lot. I have to pay around €350,- per glas, and around €100,- for a new frame. Quite a lot money for someone who doesn't have a job.
Good news. Lenses are much cheaper, €100,- per lens.

Bad news. Lenses hurt and stuff. You can lose 'm. You can break 'm. They're difficultly put in the eyes.
Good news. Lenses are cheaper. And they look good ;)

So I'm getting my contactlenses this week, I can expect a phonecall on Saturday.
Hooray.

edit:
I received a phonecall on the next wednesday. A bit later than expected. Doesn't matter, cause now I have lenses!! Yeaii! (and a little ouch)

Islam in the Netherlands

As a muslima I believe that the Holy Quran is the Word of Allah. I do not only believe it is, I testify that it is! And with me all the muslims in the world, I'd reckon. It would be therefor very unrealistic to search for muslim editors who'd come together and make a 'legal' version of the Quran for the Netherlands.

What?! A legal version of the Quran?? What does that mean?!

I don't know. All I read was this newsarticle (in dutch)
http://www.parool.nl/nieuws/2007/APR/05/p1.html

So now all the politicians in Holland can come together and discuss the matter, but it won't change a thing. In believing that the Quran is the Word of God, I also believe that therefor it can not be changed be men.

Fruit 'n vegetables

Umar Haroen (the baby) is allowed to have some fruits or vegetables for 1 meal in the day. That's big news for us, of course, for every new thing about the baby is a major thing for a parent.

The day before yesterday he had his first banana, alright, half a banana. He really really really liked the banana and everything was still clean when he had finished it. Yesterday, same story, half a banana - deliciousss!.

Today I tried something new, the banana was new and that worked so this would work as well. I thought.. and I thought wrong. I had a piece of broccoli on the menu for him, I like broccoli myself and since Umar Haroen is my kid, he might like it as well. Well, he didn't like it.

Lucky for me that I did, because his dad wouldn't have it either ..

First blog on blogspot

This is it then. My first blog here. I hesitated for a while, whether I should start another blogblog, yes another.
The other one I had, I've decided to give up. I'm afraid it won't be long until the same fate will befall this blogblog.

I was never any good in keeping up with anything, especially diaries.

Till then I'm here. Oh and before I get overloaded with comments on my english, don't bother .. english isn't my first language, dutch is. So, that explains, right?

and this is a sentence I probably will use a lot: "the baby is awake, gotta go", because i have a six month old baby who is awake a lot.

Like right now. So : ) gotta go.