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Ramadan Kareem (2012)

Elyas Kashfi / July 19, 2012 / Bahrain, Life / Permalink

That time of year has come upon us once again, Ramadan! There are many reasons it's my favorite month (apart from the religious and spiritual context). Here are a few:

Vimto becomes the official drink of the month (Vimto gets the BIGGEST boost in sales during this month alone!).
Less work, more sleep (never managed not napping in the evening).
Some people are calmer, more friendly (note the word "some").
For some reason food is much tastier.
Related to the above, some food I only enjoy or even eat during Ramadan (like Harees ).
Roads and some places are much calmer after breaking fast.
You have an excuse to stay up at night (or until dawn for some people :-/).
Tents, tents and more tents!
You may end up being invited to someone's every day for the rest of the month to break fast (this can also be a downside).
Eid comes right after .

Of course it's not all fun and games, there are a few downsides:

A lot of food is wasted… Come on, you know you won't eat that whole dish! I at least get full pretty fast during Ramadan.
If you do eat the whole dish above: some people end up in the hospital's ER soon after breaking fast. Take it easy .
Some places do not reopen later, so if you need something you better get it in the morning.
Some people get grumpy during the month. I blame either lack of sleep or their low glucose levels.
Low sugar levels + driving + getting to or from work in a hurry = accidents (plus grumpy drivers).
You feel like you haven't done anything productive in the day, especially if you end up sleeping to pass time.
It's summer, and Bahrain has been witnessing the hottest months in history lately (May 2012 was the hottest in 100 years).

To sum everything up, I wish everyone a Ramadan Kareem

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Summer Updates

Elyas Kashfi / June 11, 2012 / Bahrain, General, Life / Permalink

It has been quite some time since my last post (3 weeks or so) due to me being busy studying for some IT certifications (starting off with the basics with CompTIA's A+) and of course slacking on the blogging.

One big difference to all of us at the moment, or at least those in Bahrain is that the summer heat is starting to creep upon us. This was more evident when some of our ACs weren't upto speed and it took a few weeks from the time we called for maintenance to the time they came over (hint: service your ACs in winter).

I do have something that I never take advantage of in summer, a swimming pool at home. I believe I last swam in it last summer and only once! It's funny when you have something but you don't take advantage in using it, like a saying in Brazil (roughly translated): "Blacksmith's home, wooden spit" (spit as in the thing you stick through meat to BBQ). I know some people with club memberships that go to the pool every single day or those that visit the water park more than once a week.

Now for some site updates: I have removed the Chromium Portable page, a better project can be found in SourceForge under the Chromium Portable name (not mine). In the next few weeks I may add an Android section with apps I am working on, but this page will come up once I publish one of them. Finally I am thinking of including a sort of FAQ section. I noticed many search queries coming to my blog are in the form of questions, and the post taking visitors probably have the question somewhere within the post. So the sections may be: What is…? How to…? Where is…? and under each a bunch of questions and answers (Ctrl + F will be your friend ).

That's all for now, hopefully I will pull myself out of the daily routine and blog as often as before.

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A Tranquil Birthday

Elyas Kashfi / May 13, 2012 / Bahrain, General, Life / Permalink

Yesterday was a Saturday, just like any other Saturday. I woke up at the usual 5 AM (shocking huh?), fed the cat, started the coffee machine and turned on my computer. The usual routine. An hour or so later my dad comes in and gives me a present, a few minutes later its my mom giving me a present. The difference of this Saturday from the others? It was my birthday.

Birthdays, everyone has one. Even things have birthdays, except they are called "production date" or "manufactured on". In my younger years I loved birthday parties, except for one thing: singing happy birthday. I remember that no matter whose birthday it was (mine or others), when it came to the cake and singing I would hide under the table in fear. Until this day I still don't know why and never bothered trying to find out. My birthdays then transitioned to the "invite all your friends to McDonald's" style of birthdays. The good thing is that you get to see everyone, but just a bit noisy. The parties then transitioned to those where you only invite your closest of friends and just hang out. Then at some point, I decided to enjoy my birthday as a regular day. I get the usual calls, messages and emails from family and friends. I hang out with friends if it's on the day's schedule. Other than that, my birthday is a regular day like no other.

Birthdays do have their perks. People treat you extra special that day, the food is different, the atmosphere is jolly and of course there is the cake!

Or what's left of it !

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A Visit to the Dentist

Elyas Kashfi / April 19, 2012 / Brazil, Life / Permalink

Today, dentists are probably one of the most frequented doctors around. Whether it is for routine cleaning or an emergency (like breaking your tooth, or teeth), the dentist is there to assist.

Personally, I hate dentists. Note that I hate them as a profession, as people they are great (in fact there are a few dentists in the family). Why do I hate them? Not really sure, it must have been something that happened when I was a kid. I started going really early to the dentist, I believe my first visit was when I was around a year or so old. My pearly whites were perfect until my early teens when I got a cavity on one of my milk tooth. I believe the procedure to fill it was what resulted in my dislike of dentists. The anesthesia, the needle and that noisy little machine… After that milk tooth fell out my mother decided to keep it some place clear in sight so that I would remember to keep my teeth clean and not result in another nightmare.

My dentist of choice is in Brazil. The attention given is more personal, the technology is better and they've got my complete oral history. Since I used to visit Brazil every year, I had a checkup every year (I know they recommend every 6 months, but finding a dentist you like is difficult). Ever since my little cavity incident, these checkups resulted in a routine cleaning and I was done.

It was approaching almost 2 years since my last visit. I know too long. I have become so traumatized with the cavity incident that I never ever dare be the first to sit on the chair (since coincidentally I decided to be the first that time). I let my dad go first. Next it was my turn and I had never felt so anxious on the chair.

Being a family friend, the dentist and my mother would keep on chatting, so the time I sat to the point where the light shines into my mouth was long. Eventually there I was with a probe scraping, pulling and tugging at every crevice. I would usually get a thumbs up within a few minutes, but this time for some reason it was taking long. Then came the words I dreaded "hmm… there seems to be a little dark spot here…". My world had just turned upside down, my heart started beating quick as I felt the adrenaline rush through my body. A few more scrapes at that same spot, then came that pressurized air, some more pulling, then a bit of pressurized water and some more scraping. Then "oh it was just a stain, all ok!". I was back on earth and if it weren't for the probe and mirror still in my mouth I would have been showing the biggest smile ever! Another routine cleaning later and I was done!

And there you have my thoughts on a visit to the dentist. I wonder how many people fear the chair?

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When the Moon and Planets Align

Elyas Kashfi / February 28, 2012 / General, Life / Permalink

I took this photo a couple of nights ago of the moon (it was a bit windy and my tripod (aka arms) were a bit wobbly). If you look closely (hint: click for full size) you will notice that it is not just the moon in the frame, but two "stars" above and below it. The stars are the planets Venus and Jupiter aligning in sky along with the Earth's moon. It seems like this beautiful sight will grace our skies for a week, enjoy it while it lasts !

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Coping With The Unexpected

Elyas Kashfi / January 15, 2012 / Life / Permalink

It's just been 5 days since I've gone into a new phase of things and had planned to do stuff I don't usually do. Just a day after listing what I planned to do, something unexpected happened (I'm a big cat lover). I had a feeling things were too good, too quiet, too fun etc… I have a saying, something is wrong when nothing is wrong. I doubt anyone has a perfect day. Something, no matter how miniscule (or grand) is bound to happen that you will either shrug off or be like a throwing a spanner into the gears running your day.

How do you exactly cope with the unexpected? Fortunately and, ironically, unfortunately you can't stop time and life goes on. Humans are quite different from any other creature in that we can quickly adapt to our environment (the physical and mental environment we live in). Things don't always go as planned, but you have the power to set things right. Once you realize and accept things the way they are you can start making the decisions to set things back in their places. That still didn't answer the starting question of this paragraph. I don't want to spoon feed answers because this topic is too random for certain answers. My advice: whatever decision you make, do it confidently. Before you know it, you'll realize it was the right decision.

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I Have Become the Proud Parent of a…

Elyas Kashfi / January 14, 2012 / Bahrain, Life / Permalink

cat.

After nights of cat fights in the garden, one of our "garden" cats got bitten on the foot several times. The poor thing's foot got swollen and it was limping. I kept it overnight indoors to see if it improved, but it didn't. I decided to take it to the vet and was told it got bitten 4 times, foot was swollen with pus and he had to be sedated for the cleaning procedure.

All went well and it needs to recover for some time indoors. My parents and myself have become even more fond of him (I was the only true cat lover in the household) that he just might end up staying in (still very traumatized, can't even see other cats at the door!). We have been calling him "filhinho" ("little son" in Portuguese).

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A New Chapter Begins!

Elyas Kashfi / January 10, 2012 / Bahrain, Brazil, Life, University / Permalink

Just a couple of hours ago I bid farewell to my last class. It has been a long and somewhat tiring number of years. I slacked the first couple of years, but I partly blame that on the registration system we used to have (imagine everyone registering for classes in ONE day!). Then came the courses which were only offered during the summer, which I skipped in order to visit Brazil. The third year I picked up a bit, going on overdrive for a semester, which was not a good idea. I blame myself for taking courses intense in numbers… Final year, I got a chance to really pick myself up. I pledged to finish by taking whatever was offered, regardless of the psychological and physical cost it endured. I also worked on some papers that were published, attended a conference and learned from others. I guess everything happens for a reason.

Thoughts were running through my mind this morning. I thought about what I would do now? I now had time to do stuff I used to brush off since it made me feel counter productive (but I ended up being counter productive anyway). I came up with a list:

1. Start visiting the "office" which I have neglected for the past month or so. Probably "work" for at least 4 hours a day on whatever in there.

2. Educate myself. I have started Android apps development, and I am really enjoying. I should probably go deeper into it rather than just scrape the surface like all other languages.

3. Take care of my body. I am not exactly fit, I haven't exercised in only God knows how long. We've got a treadmill, I guess I should make good use of it with the running shoes I bought ages ago . Or maybe I should join the gym.

4. Go out more. My going out life has been mostly home, university, home, movie and dinner with friends on weekends and basically that's it. Maybe should I try the museum or spend the whole day walking around one of the malls. Basically socialize more.

5. Play music. I have abandoned my guitar and bass for at least a year. They are right in the middle of my house so I pass by it every time I visit the living room or kitchen. Yet for some reason that counter productive thought used to haunt me. Think I should change the strings first though, don't want to get tetanus!

6. Travel. Ever since I came back from Dubai for the first conference I attended I always wanted to go back and do stuff on my accord. Looks like that might be happening soon. I also would really like to visit Salalah again (closest you can get to a Brazilian in the GCC btw, minus erm, the beauties ;-P!).

7. Enjoy life! Can anything be that simple?

Noticed I haven't added anything career wise? Did that on purpose. It's in the list but too serious to be put here… I will be putting up a sort of online CV soon with the stuff I've accomplished and the skills I have (small or large).

Another chapter begins!

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The Pomodoro Technique

Elyas Kashfi / January 9, 2012 / General, Life / Permalink

Over the weekend, during my studies I was surfing the Internet during my break. I must say that I usually go studying for an hour or two before taking a slightly long break (30 minutes or an hour ). I happened to come across an interesting technique for time management and being productive, known as the Pomodoro Technique. Pomodoro is "tomato" in Italian by the way.

The technique is quite interesting in that you work in what seems to be small shifts, known as pomodoros. First you decide what you want to do, followed by your shifts. Usually they are 25 minutes each. In between pomodoros you take a short break (usually 5 minutes). After the fourth pomodoro you take a longer break (15 minutes). Rinse and repeat as long as required. Apparently it is commonly used in programming tasks, and thinking about it I used to do pomodoros whenever I programmed. For example, I would program for 30 minutes or so and by then lose myself in lines, requiring me to take a short break before restarting.

I decided to give it a try during the weekend for my linear algebra studies. At first it seemed weird, since 25 minutes seems like nothing, but you would be surprised how much work can be done in such a short period of time! Did it work with my studies? Maybe, I didn't feel fatigued like I sometimes do after studying straight for an hour. I did feel more confident in the exam, although I can't say if it is related to the pomodoro technique or just the fact I studied earlier than usual.

Looks like I will be trying out this technique in other common tasks and see how it goes. I don't know how this would work in the world expected by employers. Would your boss find it weird if you got up every 25 minutes for a 5 minutes break and then eventually for 15 minutes of break?

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The Weekend

Elyas Kashfi / January 5, 2012 / Life / Permalink

The weekend. A break for some, hard work for others. I know that this weekend is definitely going to be a busy one for me. A math exam, a project due, conference paper to go over and submit and some decisions to make. I don't usually have busy weekends like the one coming up. The weather isn't always nice around here, we quite literally have 2 seasons: summer and winter. So most of the time weekends are spent indoors. It might be a visit to a cafe with my laptop and / or friends. A movie the next day (usually the day after the movie is out). Followed by a quiet evening at home to just relax, catch up on some sleep, play games, read a (e)book or a visit to the the mall (the ones with electronics stores are my favorite)

Wishing all my readers a great and pleasant weekend .

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