Egypt - Day 1

I'm on a computer!!! In Egypt! I don't usually have this privalegde when on holiday. Anyway, there isn't much to report about except the flight and the food and the place I'm staying in.. so I'll get down to it:

1. The Flight

We woke at 2.20, got ready by 3.45, I think I must've had little over an hours sleep what with the excitement one usually feels before a flight. Funny thing is, at 4.30 I was with my family at heathrow waiting for about an hour to check in with the luggage... that wasn't so exciting. anyway, it happened and there was a brief goodbye to our parents before we shuffled to the security desk which checks our shoes, liquid bottles and hand-luggage. The first flight to rome (for our transit) was remarkably slow even though it was only a two hour flight, I was so exhausted that i tried to sleep but couldn't get into a comfortable enough position, I can't sleep on chairs :(

We got to rome, it was hot, not so hot that it was unbearable, but hot non-theless, it was 28 degrees. we walked around for a while killing time inside the airport before we had to wait with.. shockingly... other egyptians to board the plane. weird thing is they take you on a bus and transport you to the plane, the stupid driver had no-idea where he needed to go and i was so afraid we were about to head off a plane on a runway. Anyway, the second flight to cairo was remarkably quick as I an Miss. Short fuse played connect four... on PAPER! We are soo cool! (hehehehe). we ate minimalistic aeroplane food and landed after a comfotable snooz. The landiing was pretty crap as the plane hit the ground really suddenly and the next thing I know, we're moving really really fast, so fast that it's scary.

2. The Place

We met our dad's friend and he took us to the youth hostel thingy we're staying, it belongs to the government so it's actually alot nice than what I thought it would be.

3. The food
Not what i expected, I.e we had pasta for dinner.. at like 9! but non-the less I'm not complaining, it wasn't amazing like pasta at Zizzi's or anything, but it was okay.

Till the next time I get on a computer!

Take off!

Right.. so, I'm going on holiday this Monday... Yeah, sorry for not telling anyone. I don't know why but I find myself really un-communicative about those sorts of things. So... I will be going away for two weeks! Although how on earth I could possibly relax about it all is beyond me considering the immense heat of the summer weather in the paticular geographical location I'm going to. I'll post "regular" updates about the things I've done, the places I've seen and the people I meet over there.

So yeah... end of post.... the end.

Airplanes

I really like this song. I'm actually just really liking BOB at the moment. I hope he continues to make good music :D

French lesson 1

So yesterday was the first lesson, I now know how to pronounce the letters f the french alphebet! I also remember the numbers! I can say greetings and the Avoir verbs, alot o it was year 7 stuff, but it surprised me how much I could remember.

On with the next lesson!

Manga of the Month - June

Apollo's song is a remarkable manga by Osamu Tezuka and is a rare story in the sense that it describes the link between affection, love and care in association to sexual intercourse and pro-creation.

The main character Shogo, is the illegitimate son of a prostitute. Growing up in environment of confusion and no maternal affection Shogo soon learns that his mother sins, the uncomfortable way. As he grows up he feels the need to kill animals in the act of mating, as his mental stability falters from time to time he is then admitted into a psychiatric hospital before his attacks transfer from animals to humans.

While unconscious, Shogo meets the goddess of love in a different realm, she is angered by his crimes and then sentences him to a cycle of repeatedly falling in love with the same woman only to be separated from her repeatedly for eternity.

And thus begins Shogo's never ending life, meeting, loving and tearing away from the same woman over and over again. The manga quickly grew painful for me as a reader to see Shogo constantly being separated from his love. But his deep routed detest of affection between two beings was slowly being cured.

Apollo's song included the Greek myth of Apollo (son of Zeus) making fun of cupid for playing with warrior's tools, cupid got angry at Apollo's mocking and so shot him with a gold arrow so he would fall in love with Daphne, he then shot the nymph Daphne with a lead arrow so she could hate Apollo. Apollo then chases after her, wanting nothing but to claim her. When he just managed to catch her, Daphne pleads her father Peneus to save her, and so her father changes her into a Bay laurel tree (I have one in my garden!). Apollo is grieved but vows to tend to her as his tree and makes all famous leaders wear her leaves as a crown (hence Olympic game winner and bay leaf crowns). The story is metaphoric for one who mocks love and then is punished for it.

At the very beginning it brought forth the idea that conceiving a child is the highest proof of affection between two people, and then cuts to a child born from sin and empty lust. The story then discusses the disapproval the child has for anything related to copulation as a result from the lack of parental affection or observing romantic affection.

Apollo's song was not only medically imbibed but also highlighted the need for love between two people in order for healthy peadiatric development to occur. In a way it is saying that affection is a medical requirment.

The manga was not in anyway crude rude or graphic, I think it was a terrific story despite being painful to read. Tezuka delivers again, 8/10 rating.

New Layout

I think the beans make it!

The title picture had to go I'm afraid, it was getting rather old, and a new picture won't hurt anyone I hope.

And I just had to choose Cowboy bebop.. an amazing Manga and anime, which was brilliantly directed by Shinjiro Watanabe.

Let me go find a link.....

*one minute later*

Found it!!!!

http://www.animefreak.tv/watch/cowboy-bebop-english-dubbed-online-free

Any comments, opinions or mean remarks are welcome.

French

Miss. Short Fuse is going to teach me french by bi-weekly lessons. Joy....

To Tell you the truth, I always like learning new languages and it would help me a lot if I learnt french in particular as I'd be able to read a lot more manga that is not translated into English.

I'll put up regular posts describing the progress. :D

La Vie En Rose

I watched La Vie En Rose on Saturday night, in a nutshell it is a disturbing, insightful, brilliant piece of film.

It centered around the life story of the illustrious Edith Piaf, Piaf was the name she adopted at the beginning of her career, her manager commented she was like a bird and so she took up the name 'Piaf' meaning swallow.

Aside from her glitzy success, her earlier life was shrouded in dark neglect, brothels and drugs. Her mother paid her little attention, her father used to work at a circus, he rescued little Edith from her mother's neglect, but I was shocked to find he left her with his mother who ran a brothel... I hope you can understand me when I say that a brothel is no place for a child to grow up in... at all. She nearly lost her sight from keratitis, after she had recovered and some time elapsed, her father took her with her to the circus (a wise move in my opinion) but the working women had grown a deep attachment to the child, possibly due to her innocence and untainted purity, and the leave of Edith was strongly opposed, resulting in a distressing farewell sene. It was at the brothel that Edith was introduced to the act of praying to St. Theresa whom the ladies would visit when seeking solace. Edith's belief of St. Teresa grew up with her in adulthood.

A few years later Edith's father fell out with the owner of the circus and chose to move his act as a solo on the streets of Paris... one word to give you a clue of what he did: Joint Hypermobility (okay, two words). It was then that Edith was suddenly put on the spot at the age of 9 to do something by her father, or the crowd would disappear. She sang, and that's where it started.

Growing up she continued to sing on the street and local clubs (hence not being needed as a working girl), her talent was discovered by a talent agent and she got to taste her term of stardom, until one of her acquaintances died of a drug overdose, that was when she believed herself finished as her own involvement in drug abuse was becoming more aware by the public.

She was also quite the drinker.

She eventually came back when she got an opportunity to sing at a vast music hall, which reinstated her position of excellent singer, as the years went by she was able to expand her career in New York, where she met Marcelle, a famous french boxer, married of course with three children. They fell in love..... yeah whatever, it's still wrong.

Edith had a rather nervous disposition to begin with, but at the death of Marcelle in a plane crash, she wallowed her pain in regular daily injections of what I assume to be cocaine. Five years later she was married to a man I doubt she loved, living in the US and heavily dependent on the psychoactive stimulants. She entered rehab. where she was asked to sing the fame Non, Je ne Regrette Rien, she sang when she got better. but not too much later she was diagnosed with jaundice due to Liver Disease, a result of her unapologetic drinking, from her youth to her stardom. She died as a result.

It was at this point in the film that I felt no sympathy for this domineering, dictating egotistical woman at all. She was a remarkable singer, a gift god gave her that brought her from the slums of Paris to the safety of New York. But she was rude, a drunk, drugged, uneducated and shockingly of all... a neglectful mother, leaving her two year old daughter to die of meningitis when she was still a cabaret singer. She inherited her singing gifts from her own neglectful mother but paid no remark of gratitude or respect to her.

She drank herself to her death and I have to say, she had it coming. By the end of the film I felt no envy, jealousy or admiration towards her. She had a retched life, she obviously could not help the unfortunate start in life, but God gave her the most remarkable gifts in life and she used the benefits reaped on booze. Despite the fame and fortune she died incapacitated, immobile and dreadfully weak, a result of her own infliction and mental dependencies.

Even though the film was not focused on faith or religion, I saw God bestowing gifts on a little girl in poverty, a dramatic turn of a life, the removal from the dark to sparkling lights. But Edith Piaf remained a wretched. To me it widened my eyes on how lucky my life started out and remained, how ungrateful I am to those around me and the comforts I keep shrouded around me.

It was definitely an eye opener.

I feel...

I have a pretty important week this week, I'm pretty nervous.

I've been under quite a few different emotions for some days now. Irritation, anger, sadness, excitement even a sensation of well being.

I am irritated because I feel walked upon, a punch back, the push over.

I am angry because I know all these things and don't do anything about it. And when I do snap, I feel ashamed for upsetting the other person.

I am sad, but sometimes happy. It's strange, I can't really explain it... like feeling hot and cold at the same time.

I am excited because I will be giving an important presentation all about Manga! And I will be going on a much needed holiday next month.

I feel well because I've discovered a vast amount of beautiful land that is literally 30 feet away from my doorstep, walking through it with miss short fuse for 2 hours was wonderful and exciting. Like being a small child and being brave enough to stray from your parents far enough to start exploring.

Last night, more than anything, I was physically fatigued by my family, I'm too old to endure their selfishness, accusations and battles. I just wanted to walk away, as cowardly as that may sound, it probably would have been the best thing for all of us. I'm tired of playing the peacemaker and getting nothing for it.

My trip to the Market

My father took me to a Market today. I think something like this should have been done about 15 years ago, but it was done today and I finally know what a maket is like.

We waited untill the very end of the market day when the fruit would be sold at a very cheap price. It was a little manic to say the least, hands were in air raising money, trying to get the attention of the seller. I did it once, and I felt a very compelling feeling to make sure I got that bag of grapes, a bit like knowing this is the last possible chance to get what you really want. It was indeed, a money making feeling.

In the end I and my dad debated a lot about how much the fruit bought was compared to a normal trip at sainsbury's. We ended up with one water melon, a box of very ripe mangoes (yum yum!) and 4 boxes of white seedless grapes. We intended to buy working gloves for my dad so the wood chips wouldn't give him any splinters, however, we were too late and the gloves were gone! Next week it will have to be then.

We then tried to find a pound shop on a high street near my home, no gloves there either, but the gloves were no where to be found. We made our way back to the car to go home.

But we got stuck in a narrow road with cars behind us and a car in front of us, facing us. It was a big car, with four young men, polish by the sounds of their loud swearing. They shouted orders to my dad while he remained quiet trying to think of a solution, the woman behind the big polish boys was also shouting out orders. Dad tried giving them hand signals to stay calm, but the boys considered dad a light weight- Big mistake.

When he was trying to reverse the stupid people in front of us was not making things easier, shouting orders.

'WAIT!!! Wait!' shouted my dad like a billowing thunder heard after lightning. I'll never forget the look on those boys' faces, just pure shock and fear. My dad can have a pretty scary face when he's angry, I know all about it, but I guess I'm immune considering I technically have half of that scary face. I've never been more proud of my dad for kicking the ego out of those boys.
Dad shocked those kids into silence and the drivers of the cars behind them. Eventually we managed to get out, but heard calls along the lines of 'ya pakistani!' which made me and my dad crack up laughing because the next time they come across an angry arab, they won't go unharmed.

Manga of the Month - May

I'm late doing this... sorry. But i do have a brilliant Manga lined up for this post. It was drawn by the ex-doctor Osamu Tezuka, creator of Astro boy, Black Jack and Pheonix. It was published 40 years ago in 1970 and is considered one of the best medical thrillers made.

It's name is 'Ode to Kirihito' and centres around a conspiracy against a doctor called Kirihito Osanai (western naming) organised by his supervisor and leading professor at a reputous University Hospital. Due to be engaged, Kirihito is sent away to a distant village called 'Doggodale' in order to contract a rare disease named 'Monmow'.

Monmow disease is a cross between Ricket's Disease (bone deformation) and Paget's Disease (facial reconstruction) but later discovered to be a disorder of the pituitary gland (involved in many hormonal functions), the end result is the appearence of a dog, with altered limbs and extensive hair growth, However, intelligence and mental abilities remains fully intact. Despite being a fiction disorder, Monmow disease holds many traits that patients with disabling disease suffer, such as alienation, the feeling of impotence and social inferiority.

The story follows Kirihito's journey to discover the root cause of Monmow Disease, to come to terms with his illness and to avenge the rape and death of his wife. He meets many people, and many towns, where he struggles to gain human identity through his practice as a doctor.

Ode to Kirihito is a remarkable tale of Medical Politics, the medical heirarchy of Japanese healthcare, racism against non-whites (and it's contribution to medical malpractice), Christianity, the choking power of disease, human identity, inteligence vs appearance, displayed humiliation, conspiracy in medical research and Mental illness.

The drawing style is branch off from what Tezuka usually does, but it is suitable and powerfully used in portraying Kirihito's story. A definite must read, and a well earned 9/10 Dessa rating.

The Execution of Lady Jane Grey

I have recently taken a great interest in the corruption of the monarchy of Great Britain. It happened when I picked up a short read at my local library (I love that place. Yes, I am a nerd). It was called 'Treason of the the Tower' most of the tales of those beheaded were mainly directly related to King Henry the VIII. He really was quite a pig, he divorced and killed his wives when he was pretty much bored of them, running after their Ladies in Waiting and maids. Though Katherine Howard really got away with a lot of trouble.

But the tale of Lady Jane Grey really did catch my heart. A young queen of only 9 days. I thought I'd write a bit about her because she really was at the centre of men's greed plotting for the throne after King Edward's death. Jane Grey was a cousin to the children of King Henry VIII. At the deathbed of young King Edward, he was advised to make Jane Grey the heir to the throne, and he consented as written in his will. After his death Jane was pleaded with to accept but she refused. Under the influence of her parents and others she was forced to submit, they also made her marry Guildford Dudley, when she wanted a single life, she was not happy about the situation and refused her husband to her bed. At 16 she was married and Queen of England.

Her succession to the throne was weak, considering her cousins Mary and Elizabeth were more directly related to the former king. After Just 9 days, Lady Jane Grey was charged for "Treason" and locked in the Tower of London, along with her husband. The Wyatt's Rebellion headed by Jane's Father against the possible marriage of Queen Mary to the roman Prince Phillip was what triggered Jane's Execution two years after her imprisonment started.

While in the Tower, Jane was well cared for, she was allowed her books, given fine clothes and the comfort of her Ladies in Waiting. Rome was not happy about Mary keeping her cousin alive, and she very unwillingly signed her Jane's death warrant 2 years later, the Queen did not attend the scaffold at the execution and felt very guilty about it.

Mary sent a catholic priest to convert Jane to a catholic as that would save her from execution, Jane refused and the priest was so moved by her faith that he asked to accompany her to the scaffold. Mary then sent ladies to check that Jane was with child or not, as this would also save her from the axe. But she was not.

Jane was very calm at the scaffold, her last speech mentioned how she did not want the throne, that she had not committed any other sin that being made to take it. The Priest was true to his word and guided her to the stump, she was even worried she did could not find it in her blindfolded form. The headsman asked her forgiveness and it was given. It was said that her lips moving in prayer continued after it was severed from her body, another witness mentioned that they had never seen so much blood soaked by the straw in the floor.

I talk of this because I absolutely love the painting of her execution by Paul Delaroche. Her ladies in Waiting in the background visible by the dim light cast upon them, being utterly devastated, unable to watch. The headsman in red, surveying his victim with an unreadable expression, his axe matter-of-factly in his hand. The priest aiding, guiding, almost bowing to the supposed sinner.

Then there is Lady Jane Grey, at the centre of all luminosity, white, pure, clean, delicate, frightened but calm. She is trying to find the stump, trying to do things right till the very end. What really caught me by this painting is her brilliant white silk gown, so beautiful and traipsing, it complements her very bright presence, it lights up the entire painting and it's dark atmosphere, as though she is the one good thing in that moment, and then we are brought back to sorrow when we see the blindfold over her eyes and remember she is about to die. She is on her knees, yet she is dignified, graceful. It is not something a sinner of treason would wear.

This painting is saturated with unjust judgement, she is portrayed as a martyr and is still seen today as a political victim.

Manga of The Month - April

Okay, so i've not been the most attentive blogger the world has seen, but I do have a pretty good Manga to reccomend. It's name is '20th century Boys' drawn and written by Japan's jewel; Naoki Urasawa, who also authored 'Monster' I think i might've mentioned this, if not then that will be next month's manga of the month.

The story synposis will look lame any way I put it, I just can't reflect how good this manga is. Well, to start off, a bunch of boys made their own hideout in the summer of 1969 where they wopuld play and read manga. It was here that they created a story about the destruction of the world, and how the world was consequently saved, a simple imaginative tale made by little boys, Kenji Endo being at the centre of it (he being the main character). About 30 years later in 1997, Kenji's older sister suddenly makes an appearance asking him and their mother to look after her baby girl. She then disappears, now Kenji has to not only mind his late father's store but look after a baby. Soon afterwards, one of kenji's old friends who used to play in their hideout... dies, supposedly a suicide, but kenji knows better and finds out he's been murdered. By anger and emotion he discovers the murderer was part of cult organisation named 'the friends' the main 'friend' is an annonymous person, whose plan is the destruction of the world. And so the little boy's tale turns into reality and each country of the world slowly undergoes changes at the hands of 'the friends' It is now Kenji's Duty to reverse what he feels he has done.

There's actually a lot more to the story than what i make out. 20th century Boys is a very horrific but poignant story, about childhood, poverty, poltical corruption, family life, failed dreams, failed fathers, governmental power and hope in the face of extreme adversity. I've only read 6 volumes out of the total 22 available, I am very impressed by the portrayal of old, new and future times, in addition to the follow through of characters within the ages. For instance, in the first volume a detective who never spent time with his family is killed, his grandson makes an appearnece 5 volumes later trying to succed his hero of a grandfather.

20th century Boys is a remarkable piece of art, creativity, imagination, science-fiction, and non-fictional topics. It is definitly plausable and I give it a well earned 9/10 Dessa rating.

All of it is free to read on the onemanga.com website.

My tale of freedom

So the exams finished, I'm doing my project, which requires lots of reading, which i haven't even done a quarter of. I'm someone else's desk at my 'work' I like to call it, eating my lunch, listening to youtube songs, and reminiscing about how I was this time last year.

Anyway, I promised myself I'd make a blog post not about exams or manga for once, so I'll chat about the extracurricular things I've been up to:

1. March the 8th I saw Miss. Kon, we had Pad thai! We had chrysanthemum tea! It was amazing, more of a sedative than a beverage. The teapot it came in was see through and you could actually see the flowers swirling around in the hot yellow water, it was probably the most exciting tea I've ever had, second only to Miss. Noozi's fruit iced tea.

2. 9th of March I got to see Miss. Short Fuse in her natural habitat, I was finally face to face with the uni friends that she constantly talks about, I'd prefer if she transferred the insufferable affection she has for her friends to her friends, because I'm tired of having the brunt of it all. I don't mind hearing about them, but the extent that she talks of them is really beyond excessive. Well, It was her birthday, I was most graciously invited to her birthday dinner considering it wouldn't have happened if I didn't step into her social-fear and actually ask permission from our father. She has a very large set of friends, and I hate to disappoint her (i secretly love to), but I didn't like most of them. I suppose it was due to the fact that I knew everything about every single waking hour of her friends lives. It was like an unsuspecting person being introduced to their uninterested stalker. Or maybe it was prior prejudice I harboured due to how often Miss. Short fuse talks of them, maybe it was even jealousy, but it was certain that some of them I disliked because of the atrocious things I'd already heard of them from Miss. Short Fuse herself, what astonishes me most, is that she remains sociable with the same abominable people, she knows this, and she's stupid because of it.

3. 10th March I went to visit my old Uni buildings, even though I'm in the same university, I'm miles away at different campuses and I felt a stronger sense of loss of belonging, that's the sad part of attaching your self to a foundation; you have to break away, and i always end up losing more than I gained. The good bit was that i got to see old friends, which always brings a smile.

4. 12th March, I attended an Orchestra showing, the music played were some of the most amazing music I've every heard and it was all pursued for due to another set of Miss. Short Fuse's friends, despite my love for the music played, I was, at the end of the day, an escort to be present for the return home journey. funny thing was that there was an ISOC event the same day, same time, and I didn't feel any inclination to go at all. Glad I didn't, I don't like being part of a status quo, as horrible as that sounds in regard to the make shift community of Muslim students that i belong to, that's the truth, I am myself, not an obliging member of a group.

5. 13th march, was Miss. Nodi's birthday dinner/Miss. Eyebrow's leaving dinner. As usual, we created a significant amount of noise. so much noise, that we were actually 'shushed' by an annonymous person from another table. The prime discussion was on playing devil's advocate on my homophobia, then poured on the questions from my neighbouring friends of 'what if this person was gay..' We also stumbled upon a dead lookalike of Jonny Depp in a Jack Sparrow outfit.. he was really a spitting image, if not slightly larger than the real thing. never the less, it was a truly wonderful day, on of my best this year. Because it had nearly all my oldest and dearest friends surrounding one, long table, chattering away by volcanic force. We had a pit stop at this super candy shop which had... everything, and I mean everything, it was a miniature williwonker's chocolate factory.

6. 14th March, I think I've decided I don't like wedding, I love segregated weddings, which was what I attended to on this day, but I saw some older ladies moving in rather... provocative ways, one even stood on a table. As you can imagine (try not to) such a sight really did put me off weddings, but thankfully not my appetite (the food was yummy).

7. 21st March, This day was rather momentous for me as it was the day I discovered my Egyptian roots... sorta. I and Miss. Pain in the Ass went to a sort of network event for 2nd and 3rd generation Egyptians in the UK, it was hosted by the Egyptian consulate and I had no idea such an organisation even existed. Well, now they know that young Egyptians do exist too. For the first time in my life I felt like I belonged somewhere, there were other half Egyptians too, and it was nice talking about hour feelings on returning to Egypt. The organisers were a bit cheesy as most Arabs are, and the middle aged women were pretty much all match makers. In fact the event did seem a bit like a 19th century ball, except there was no dancing and all the boys stuck to themselves, while the girls did likewise. One guy did come up to me, and he said the most random thing, asking me if I was some girl on a bus that went to Manchester university. I had to admire the person's courage considering I was surrounded by girls, but he really should have planned for something else in case said girl said 'no', which I did. I wanted to burst out laughing as he practically crawled away.

8. 28the March: I and the sisters decided to go to a charity event called 'Draw a smile'. Surprising as this may be there were significant disadvantages to this. Firstly, the event was organised and hosted by an ex-school mate, I shan't name names, but he doesn't exactly have a clean reputation, despite him never meeting me, I know some details of his personal life I'd rather not have known. Secondly, the entire event was aimed at Egyptians, which meant being surrounded by Arabs which is something I just can't do. But i got to practice the week before by being at the consulate and it paid off... I ignored virtually everyone there. thirdly most of the event was extortionate auctioning, so crap things like a 3abaaya got sold for $150. They even auctioned cakes... they really needed to get better ideas. The main host (same as the organiser) was so annoying in the fact that every two words he spoke was followed by a pause... it got soooooooo irritating! The good news is that I got to see Miss. Hard shopper her mother and sister. I also bought some baklawa, which i got an allergic reaction to later that night.

April: quite a few things have happenned, I don't want to go into detail as i really should be getting back to work, but in summary: I fasted 2 days and nearly fell as a result of hypotension. My grandmother had a few parathyroid glands removed in a surgery performed by my cousin's husband. We all had dinner when my uncle suddenly dropped by our house from Egypt and next thing I knew I had 4 hours to clean the house, we had a delicious barbecue and I actually enjoyed babysitting the kids this time, though I got a bit worried about the knowledge of swear words the 9 year old boy had. My grandma is now fine and walking and doing everything she used to do, which is pretty strange considering she thought she was going to die before the operation. My great aunt from Luton came over the day after the barbecue to visit the 'invalid' and I got to cook Fasulya.

Overall, it's been a mad month.

Manga of the Month- March

I have taken an interest in a certain sci-fi-ish manga called 'Heads'. As both a medical scientist and Neuroscientist I took this manga with a huge pinch of salt. It is about a young man who undergoes a partial brain transplant after being shot at a bank robbery. Okay, so when I first read the blurb I was like O..M..G... this was because just a few weeks earlier I got into a heated conversation about how impossible a brain transplant is with a fellow neuroscientist student (Mr. Exam Superhero) who has a stubborn belief that brain transplants will, someday, be possible.

There's just too many issues that accompanies the remote idea of a brain transplant, among the physiological problems such as connecting the white matter tracts, invading the skull without breaking it in order to fit in a brain, connecting the blood vessels, preventing a stroke, preventing tissue rejection and autoimmune encephalitis, matching tissue types, preserving the brain structure, preventing tissue damage or necrosis in transit and finally: maintaing the memory, personality, talents and capabilities of the patient.

That's beside the numerous ethical issues, like whose brain will be donated, is it okay to use cadaveric brain, rejuvenating a dead man's brain (sounds like something from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein) and entering preternatural boundaries (issues of the soul, life and death).

Brain transplants are not just a fictional thing, there have been previous studies done on embryonic tissue and stem cells in order to transplant them, some with success. The therapeutic possibilities are endless! Dementia (Fronto-temporal dementia, Pick's Disease, schizophrenia and others), neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinsonism, ALS, Huntington's, TSE and others) and neurological function (such as attention, cognition, intellectual capacity, executive function, co-ordination and many others) could be treated and restored.

A load of bull perhaps? Maybe, I personally believe that brain transplants are impossible purely on religious belief, it is impossible to bring someone back after they have died, that is, when their soul has left their body, not simply their hart stopping. It would be playing god which simply is not possible. Even if a brain transplant were to be successful in term of grafting, I doubt it would ever be successful in terms of bringing the personality back.

The only thing worse than dying is living forever.

Back to 'Heads', it brings about a lot of these issues and also considers the public eye. But it is still very early for me to give a blow by blow analysis of the story. All I can say is that it holds a vast amount of promise and I look forward to seeing how it develops. I can see a glimmer of multiple personality disorder coming out from the initial drawings; this sinister feeling that there are two people in one mind, which could damn well actually happen in a brain transplant, that's IF there could ever be a brain transplant.

The drawing style tends to realism, so you could tell just by glancing that it's not some teen rubbish, there is plenty of detail and is certainly worth a look, but this manga cannot be held in esteem for it's drawings, I have seen better talent. But still, the drawing is good.

I'm rather worried as it is the first Horror manga I've attempted, nothing gruesome has come yet, but I know my stomach and it's pretty weak when it comes to horror and suspense. But I'll be brave and stake it out for the sake of medical insight!
Dessa rating: 7/10 but definitely worth a read.

Exam status

Number of exams done: 3
Number of exams to do: 0
Emotional state: Grieved, happy, sad, in denial.
Physical state: feet cracking, tired, headache, breathing again.
Procrasinaional level: 0
Number of days to freedom: 0
Neurological state: depleted.

OMGAAAAAAAAAAAAD!

Days left to freedom: 1
Procrastination level: 207

Exam Status 2

Exams done: 2
Exams to do: 1
Emotional relieved: Relieved, Beyond caring.
Physical state: Aching brain, floppy wrist, sleep deprived.
Procrastination level: 23.
Days left to freedom: 3
Neurological state: Twisted.

Exam status

Number of exams done: 1
Number of exams to do: 2
Emotional report: Stretched, Demented, Scared.
Physical state: Exhausted, dellusional.
Procrastination level: 11 and rising
Days left to freedom: 7
Neurological state: Fried.

It has been Confirmed!!!!!!

It was just confirmed this morning that The FlaminDessa will be speaking on Medical Manga for 20 minutes at the Comics and medicine Symposium on June the 17th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!

Okay, now that the jubilation is here, I've decided to do lots of (relevant) manga reading and hopefully I'll be able to concoct a not-so-overly-excited presentation.

I don't want to burden my friends, but if some of them want to go, then you have to book a place and tickets for students are 25 pounds. I don't want to make them pay that much just to hear me talk manga when it's all free on my blog. But contact me if you want to come along (you know my e-mail address).

http://graphicmedicine.org/#/conference-2010/4536634000

A meal between Life or Death

So when the rare opportunity for me to go out during revision occurred. I took my time and went to a Japanese restaurant for some noodles, as is my form of rebellion.

The menu did not state that the noodles would have sesame seeds, and so I was shocked when the plate came with freshly garnished noodles with sesame seeds. I should have asked for a new plate, but I the genes that I inherited from my mum where screaming 'THAT'S A WASTE OF PRECIOUS FOOD!' So the waitress got the sesame off, which was well done, but I ended up nervously searching each portion of my noodles for sesame seeds.

My form of rebelliousness had turned into a life or death situation.

I managed to extract about 10 seeds, I did not get a reaction, but I had a huge dose of adrenaline just from the fear. When I asked for the bill, the waitress said £4.90, and I didn't correct her.

I Remember

I remember when we used to drive back home from visiting my grandmother's house, it was late at night so me and Miss. Short Fuse lay down opposite each other in the back seats so that our feet were facing each other, I used to tickled her feet and she hated it! By the time we reached home, I always remembered someone carrying me into the house...

I remember when Miss. Short Fuse was so angry one morning when she was 7 or 8 that she threw a kitchen knife at me (a small one), it hit the bridge of my nose and nothing else, she got toooooold!

I remember when i dared to try and wake up Miss Pain in the Ass one morning for school... she slapped me with her windmill arms in her sleep.

I remember when my mum played with me after she brought me home from nursery.

I remember glazing a hand made pot with PVA glue in Year 6.

I remember laughing hard during one cold sahoor during Ramadan, while still trying to stuff food into my face.

I remember my mum asking me questions like 'What day is it today' and 'what is 9 plus 14' in a bid to make me wake up for school.. it was painful thinking.

I remember when me Miss. Short Fuse and Miss. Pain in the Ass made a sort of victory dance when we heard my dad finished his PhD, it was odd cus I didn't know he was doing one at the time, nor what a PhD was.

I remember crying for so long when Miss. Hepburn's mum told my mum over the phone that Miss. Hepburn couldn't come to my 8th birthday party.

I remember being really surprised when I was awarded 4th prize for best 'Wood Project' when I was 10, I still have the prize.

I remember listening to 'Numb' by linkin park in the year 11 common room with Miss. Eyebrows and Miss. Nozi jumping up and down to it.

I remember drawing to pass the lunch hour, I always forgot to eat my lunch.

I remember when Miss. Short Fuse got so mad when I threw her pen down the staircase, that she threw my Harry Potter book down the staircase too...

I remember being so nervous during my Year 3 Quran Competition, especially when the panel asked me to recite a sura I didn't know. I got second place, a Saudi girl got first. It was a Saudi school after all.

I remember openly reading Harry Potter 6 at the back of biology class during year 13 to a punch of listeners, I couldn't have been anymore obvious, I somehow got an A in that module.

I remember when Miss Short Fuse and I, from as early as I can remember, would fight tooth and nail for absolutely no reason, for hours on end. we ended up with red patches on arms and legs as well as several scratches. Mum just carried on washing the dishes. She once looked up when Miss. Pain in the Ass knocked out Miss. Short fuse's tooth.

I remember when mum would force all three of her daughters to wear matching clothes.

I remember learning how to do wadou at school through a song that I've forgotten.

I remember dad making me start writing arabic from the margin as I had a habbit of wandering from the page, making sure my 'rih' was appropriatly round so it didn't just look like a straight line. I remember how he tried to teach me how to pronounciate the vouels like the Dumma, i couldn't stop laughing when he tried to teach me that! I was 4 :D

I remember not being able to sleep before my first day of uni, I remember being completely mad that year. I now cringe in embarrassment everytime I remember those times.

I remember when me and Miss. Short Fuse were playing 'restaurant' with a bunch of mixed toys, and Miss. Pain in the ass asked to join, I said yes as long as she helped clearing up, she left almost immediately after we all finished playing.

I remember how much fun me and Miss. Short Fuse had when we made crowns and wands with super octagons and played 'Queens and 'babies' I was the queen, she was the baby. We had a parade in the living room with random blankets made as capes, not forgetting to wake our wands and keep our crowned heads high.

I remember racing with Miss. Pain in the Ass to pick up the ringing phone, mum always made sure she got there before us.

I remember so much more.... but I can't remember now.

Manga of the Month- Febuary

So, manga time! I know everyone is waiting in so much anticipation for this post! So lets begin:

This month I want to write about a manga that was drawn by the same mangaka as 'Otoyomegatari' (see manga of the month January) it is called 'Emma' and is surprisingly set in 1895 London! The story is about a maid (named Emma) and a gentleman falling in love and the hardships they face to get recognised and marry. Okay so I'm being ultra girly here with the whole 'love trasgresses all bounds' but I really did enjoy this story very very much, the romance was not cheesy or overly 'magical' like some other mangas and novels like to portray. The drawings were very dedicated to the setting of turn of the century britain, showing the mangaka did her research very well, despite being a self-proclaimed london addict. The picture below shows all the merchendise that was how it looked like in 1985, something I never thought a manga would show me. visit this link for more info http://www.mangafox.com/manga/emma_bangaihen/v02/c010/32.html

So why should you read Emma? not only are the drawings very beautiful (though not as great as otoyomegatari) but the setting is a faithful adaptation to the actual late victorian life. Add a controversial romance with background storylines of the hardships of orphans, and presto! You've got a hit manga!

Manga Block

I've made a promise to Miss Short Fuse that i won't read manga until the exams are finished, that's one month away! it's been 2 days and I'm already crabby. :( I don't know how I'll survive this.

On the other hand: Egypt won the African cup of nations for the 3rd time in a row, we get to keep the cup! It was a grueling match against Ghana and they played very well. We on the other hand didn't behave too well.

Of Angina and Football

Yesterday a strange occurrence occurred: 4 members of the family where in Miss. Pain in The Ass's room, screaming at the computer screen; shouting 'GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!'.

Let me explain in detail: as part of the semi finals for the African cup of Nations 2010, Egypt faced one of their previous defeaters on the pitch, Algeria. I'm actually sad that so much animosity resides between the two countries, we are both arab, and muslim, so it's just disappointing in the face of the united muslim nations.

Anyway, Algeria unfortunately defeated us and achieved qualification to the world cup competition, what was more unfortunate was the riots and allegations on both teams of treachery and malicious schemes that followed afterwards, such as food poisoning 7 out of the 11 Egyptian team members by the courtesy of the Algerians. But everything was settled equivocally by yesterdays match: 4-0.

Justice has been served.

But let me go into more detail. Due to a faint at a penalty by the Egyptians, the goal keeper went err.. undisciplined, starting staring down the ref and pretty much shouting to him right in his face.... got a yellow card, unbelievable right... he should've been taken off right there and then, but it was inevitable and he was taken off the pitch in the second half just when things were very very desperate for the Algerian team. in the second half things just fell to pieces for the Algerians, a few men were booked, and 3 were banished from the pitch, they had virtually no defenders and we scored 3 more goals. Zidan even cradled his left shoe as celebration.

Is it okay for me to say, that I felt sorry for the Algerian team, even though they're going to the world cup, even though they played dirty, even though they have a temper like a billowing typhoon? Hmm, someone always has to loose.

Dad was in a very good mood, and kept reciting 'Himuluation!' as we got a goal, we tried to correct him and say 'no baba, it's Humiliation' but he was too happy to be corrected.

Would you believe that all this time my grandmother was having chest pain and angina, not something unusual when you have a history of CVD and heart attacks, accompanied by about 3 stents in your coronary arteries. What could we do? my mum was with her all the time. She's better now, I just feel bad that I enjoyed the match so much.

When the unexpected happens.

I recently heard news that an old school mate of mine passed away. I'm not over-reacting, I didn't even cry, I'm just incredibly shocked, as it's not something you'd have expected to happen. But in fact, I've been enlightened in more ways than one. Her death has reinforced the belief that Allah gives and takes life, and that we mere humans cannot predict when these times happen. Our deaths can happen when we least expect it and we cannot under any circumstances take it for granted, we must work for our life after death, as though we were to die tomorrow.

It makes me feel so small to think I'm worrying about my journal club presentation next week and what career I'm going to enter and what I'll be doing next year. I don't think about the present at all, or how I should improve myself.

Sumayya Dukes was a very warm person, she was an Imperial medic, and had so much to live for, I hope she will be remembered always. Allah Yar7amhaa. May Allah be with her family.

Manga of The Month- January

I'm so sorry I didn't keep up with the manga of the month for December, but I have recently discovered a manga artist who really does have huge inspirational ability, her name is Mori Kaoru. She is a literary genius. The manga that I'll focus on is called 'Otoyomegatari' or 'Young Bride's story'.

The story is a rather controversial one, set in a rural city in an Eastern/Asian rural city (possibly Turkey or Persia) where a woman of 20 is sent to marry a groom 8 years her junior, you might be thinking 'this is so peado' but the manga takes into consideration the normality of this marital situation at the time. Now we are left with all the emotional conflicts and complications of such a marriage.

Unfortunately only 8 chapters has been released, so I can't say much about the storyline as yet, however Mori Sensei has seriously out-done herself with regard to the artwork, such detail and beauty on the pages are not often seen, as most manga tend to have a modern-western setting. The manga has a fresh outlook to me personally as it's been a while since I've had a good look at Islamic-styled artwork, and this manga certainly had a fair share of it:

Putting the artwork aside, I think the way Mori sensei draws the main character (Amira, which means princess in Arabic) is really well done, like, really. I haven't stopped and stared at the drawing style of a main character in a long time, she made me think 'If I was a manga character I'd want to look like her', that's aside from her awesome archery and hunting skills of course.

Overall, a well thought out and researched manga, with incredible potential to bring about cross-cultural education. I absolutely LOVE the artwork! I give it a 9/10.

It's been over a month.......

I feel so guilty that I have deserted my blog for over a month. I'll make this a long post filled with adjectives to make up for my lack of writing.

Well, a lot of things have happened, here's an overview, lets say... an introduction:

1. I had an exam, I know hate a researcher called Braak who lives in Germany and who I have never met.
2. I had a surprise birthday party with fake wine glasses.
3. I baked carrot cakes for people who probably don't deserve cakes.
4. I watched a variety of films this Christmas holiday
5. I stressed out about my future life/career. Again.
6. I was given a telling off by Miss. Short fuse that reduced me to tears.
7. I drew a calligraphy card for a friend of Miss. Short Fuse, and I'm quite proud of it actually.
8. I'm annoyed at our pompous mayor of London for increasing the stupid tube prices... again.
9. I went to a pathology museum with Miss. short Fuse and Miss. Hepburn, and felt really stupid as we all guessed what different organs were.
10. I completed my annual 'tidy up my room' session.
11. I failed to do a December Manga of the Month :(

Now lets get to details.

1.I studied really hard for a 'timed essay' (exam) which was on the pathology of Parkinson's disease, well that's what the organiser's old us, and they are liars. It wasn't on the pathology, it was on staging of pathology, and the stupid lecturer was the 'famous brave one' to stand up to the father of Parkinson's Disease (Braak) and say his staging was crap. so what does he do? he sets the bloody exam on his favourite paper all about how braak was wrong and his tests were done badly. and what do the students do? They study on PD pathology.. why? because that's what we were told to do!!!! GAAAAAAAAAAAAH! All in all, I didn't do very well. At all.

2. The surprise birthday party was a very rare time where my birthday actually got celebrated, and it was also rare because I was happy. I had gold and silver candles on my chocolate cake, with plastic wine glasses and Mr. Kipling angel slices :D there was also dancing, provided by our very own Mr. Fullah and Mr. Kon, it was a wonderful spectacle to see as they were both in unison despite their height differences. Then came the singing... oh dear, I think I was little over exuberant now that the cake and fizzy drinks are out my system, and I whole heartedly regret my actions.. I think I should swear an oath never to sing again. There were presents! can you believe that! I got presents! i usually get presents but their usually from my sisters and something mad from my mum, and that's about it. but for once I actually got presents! It was wonderful! I got scrabble (a brave attempt to correct my spelling habit) and a graphic novel that I finished reading the next day, in addition to some extremely bright gloves, a cute little jewellery box and a newspaper for my grandmother who rejected the idea of reading, unfortunately.

3. I love carrot cakes, and I baked one for my neuroscience peeps, and I just feel like I'm usually left out when we're all sitting together, like I have to fight to say something, maybe it's just my psychotic allergy to being silent , maybe it's my attention seeking personality that dislikes it so, or maybe it's my paranoid self that just feels that everyone doesn't give a damn. I still have a long way to go in terms of socialising peacefully, I can't seem to get it right.

4. Films I watched this holiday (which I shouldn't have done) were District 13 (the main character is much more cooler than my hero- Josh Hartnett, and that's saying something), The holiday (one of the best chick flicks I've watched, and I don't usually like chick flicks). Tim Burton's the Corpse Bride (even though i have the DVD, it's still a really good film). Happy Feet (the story only started happening half way through the film, it does not deserve the high rating it has obtained). Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 (I am now addicted to the Caribbean accent and hope to convert mine to it), I think that's all I watched... lets see what happens next year.

5. Stressing out about my career has also happened again, (it's a yearly thing), I think I just hate not knowing what's going to happen to me, it feels dark, and I don't like that. Unlike last year, I am actually doing applications so we'll see how that goes, though, I never have much confidence, as usual.

6. Miss. Short fuse got very very angry because of me recently and said some rather harsh things, the worst part of it was, that what she said was true. It wasn't just gibberish that you don't mean when people are angry, it was actually meaningful, loaded words. I became hard and cold from her words, refusing to believe their full intensity, giving myself the excuse that she was angry and hence didn't know what she was saying. But she was right. When she had calmed down, we sat down and she spoke less harshly, but on topics that were strongly related to what she had previously said, that made me cry. Her steady voice telling me things I didn't want to hear but always knew. She concluded that I just missed some very valuable life lessons some where along the line and there's not much I can do about that now.

7. I drew a calligraphy and I just want to show it off because I quite like it, even though there are plenty of mistakes in it.
I also drew a card for a neuroscience peep that took ageeees, so here it is for those who are interested:
8. The price for a zone 1 single is now 1.80! next year they'll make it 3 pounds! what is happening to the world! don't you know students can't keep dishing out money to get to places! is their secret intention to stop us travelling or something? I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

9. I went to a pathology museum, did you know, that pathology museum's are awesome! I can't see why anyone would get scared of it, I mean, sure there were a few feet and a black arm, but that was really only scary stuff. In the street, Miss. Short fuse, miss Hepburn and I played charades to pass the time, and Miss. Short Fuse got a little carried away, resulting in some dirty looks for onlookers... Miss. Hepburn's am was to make me understand what she was getting at, and sure enough I knew none of the films, she was acting out, I did do a 'happy feet' one, but they got it within 2 seconds.

10. My room is now clean, I finally have a chest of drawers so I won't have to fathom through my endless piles of folded clothes. The desk, once ridden with empty bottles, highlighters, candles and brochures, is now slightly empty.

11. I didn't do a manga of the month :( I haven't really read much manga in the past month, studies have finally taken priority, but I did start a few good ones and I'll chat about them later. The Saima story will also be written shortly.... or when I have time.