Constantly Seeking Inspiration

Farida's Storage Bin

Yes, I have a tumblr page too. It's a stockpile of headlines I gather from various news sources, blogs, and other world wide web sources. It's the lovechild of my two addictions; news & collecting.
It's  my 'zine of all things that inspire me, reach out to me, teach me, or humor me.

Here's the link to my Tumblr page:
"Farida's Storage Bin"

Check it out or bookmark it for future reference.

The Buzz around Preston Hollow

It's confirmed, the Bushes are moving to the Big D. Not a huge shock, since Texas has been the most welcoming Bush state. What does shock me is the ranch style house they purchased in Preston Hollow. They could have gone for something opulent or a new build. Their selection is quite down to earth.  The H thinks they will probably tear down the homes' and build something new eventually, since the lots are acreages. That is a huge trend in New and Old Preston Hollow, here in Dallas. It's a small community settled in a lush wooded area.It's a little less in your face like Highland Park and University Park; where residents have more show than go. Homes here are varied sizes and prices. From 3-bedroom single family homes to Mega estates. It is also  a diverse community. (Surprisingly.) Homes range from Mediterranean Style Mansions sitting on 4 acres (homes of T Boone Pickens and Mark Cuban) to more popular  1950's Styled Home that have been gutted out with Modern Interiors to retain that swanky 50's vibe. Personally, I love the Brat Pack Homes more than the new builds. Mod has more character. So, in that department, they did a-okay.

There is indeed a thrill factor around here. The two term President has had a controversial and highly judged Presidency. Who can deny that? Now, if the Clintons or Obamas' were moving in, I would join in on the welcome wagon.

There is an excitement of sorts in the neighborhood. {yes, even from Liberals} The "what if" possibility. What if I run into Laura at the Spa? Will the guys  rolling up in Black Suburbans buy produce from the same Whole Foods? Will George W. be shopping at Northpark?  Will they be brunching at Popolos?

What would we say to him? Welcome to Dallas? Thanks for a Good Run?  UGH. I wonder if I will run into them at some point? Literally three streets down on Daria Place; just  might be time to move to a Blue State.

SOURCES:
Preston Hollow is Buzzing about the Bushes

Dallas Dirt: Exclusive Bush Home
Dallas Business Journal
BBC: New home for the Bushes
Washington Post: Back to the Lone Star State
Houston Chronicle: From Pennsylvania Ave. to Preston Hollow

Hate and fear mongering in Ohio.

So a few days I came across two article about "Children Gassed at Dayton, Ohio Mosque". One is from the blog Daily Kos the other from the Huffington Post.

Friday, September 26th ended  a week in which thousands of copies of Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West -- the fear-mongering, anti-Muslim documentary being distributed by the millions in swing states via DVDs inserted in major newspapers and through the U.S. mail -- were distributed by mail in Ohio. The same day, a "chemical irritant" was sprayed through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, where 300 people were gathered for a Ramadan prayer service. The room that the chemical was sprayed into was the room where babies and children were being kept while their mothers were engaged in prayers. This, apparently, is what the scare tactic political campaigning of John McCain's supporters has led to -- Americans perpetrating a terrorist attack against innocent children on American soil. (Huffington Post)

What is this all about? Really open-ended questions to ask ourselves. Seriously, is this it? Have you even heard about this anywhere else? Broadcast News? Why aren't we angry about this? Or should we just glaze over such hate crimes? We are just that lazy it seems. Are we the kind of the neighbor that "turns up the volume" when we hear the outcries in the next house? Or are we free thinking, compassionate beings that are able to speak up against hate crime regardless of race, religion, and demographics?

A friend of mine did a little research and provided with an update. You know if there is actually meat and bones to this story. Thanks Friend.

* On Friday, September 26, at about 9:40 p.m. an unknown chemical irritant was released into the basement area of the mosque by an unknown person or persons. Emergency personnel were called and the building was evacuated.
* One adult and one child were taken to the hospital, treated and released.
* The Dayton Police Department is investigating the incident.
* The FBI is coordinating efforts with the Dayton Police Department.
* The Islamic Society of Greater Dayton (ISGD), the organization in charge of the mosque, is cooperating with Dayton Police in the investigation.
"We ask the community to be patient and to refrain from speculation in this case while the investigation is being completed,” said ISGD President Dr. Tarek Sabagh. “In the present atmosphere following the local distribution of anti-Muslim propaganda in the form of the film ‘Obsession,’ rumors are flying. We need to focus on the facts of this case and not let rumor and speculation take over.”

According to Dr. Sabagh, ISGD will not make further statements about this incident until the investigation is completed.

Let's see how the investigation unfolds.

Writers Strike

Ah, yes, far be it from me to use my creative wit and share with you my thoughts on the strike. I will refrain.
Here are some links, for lazy bloggers, writers on strikes, friends of the WGA, and everyone else in the universe.

Writers Strike Over New Media Rights
So What's this strike all about?
Writers picket outside the studios
Last Minute negotiations
John Ridley: The Writers' Strike Diary

State of Affairs in Pakistan

Seriously, I don't know what has happened to the goverment of Pakistan, or shall we say lack of? I don't know a great deal about Pakistani politcs, but I do know, that locking up Lawyers for protesting, seems pretty unreasonable to me. Of course the picture we see here paints a grim state of affairs, and one can only hope that peace and balance is restored to that country, soon.

Below are links to sites that will help understand the crisis:

Thousands Arrested in Pakistan Defying Musharaff's Crackdown
Rumors Propogate as Pakistan Curbs New Flow
Arrests mount in Pakistan Crisis
Bhutto urges protest against Musharaff

To understand some of the Pakistani perspectives check out these Met blogs:

Lahore Metblog
Karachi Metblog

Day four has passed on. It would be interesting to see what comes of this new obstacle. Let's hope for the best.

"Peace Mom" Cindy Sheehan speaks at University of Dallas Nov 8th on "The Politics and Economics of the Peace Movement"

Information provided by CodePink Fort Worth email:

Thursday, November 8, at 3:30 pm in Gorman Lecture center University of Dallas, "Peace Mom" Cindy Sheehan will speak at a forum sponsored by the Constantin College Department of Economics on "The Politics and Economics of the Peace Movement."
 
Ms. Sheehan was nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize as a result of her leadership in the U.S Peace Movement, having helped found the Gold Star Families for Peace after her son, Casey, was killed in the Iraq War. She also founded the Camp Casey Peace Institute and has appeared before audiences all over the world and participated in many demonstrations against the continuation of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
 
In the forum, she will discuss her experiences in working to establish world peace.  The political and economic difficulties of forming, uniting and continuing a political movement should be of great interest to UD students because of their future leadership roles in their communities as well as professional lives. After an initial discussion, moderated by Dr. Sam Bostaph, Ms. Sheehan will take questions from the audience.

Samuel Bostaph, Ph.D.Professor of Economics and Chairman Department of Economics University of Dallas
Map : http://www.udallas.edu/about/campusmap.cfm

Gap in the News

Dan McDougall of the Observer reports child labor ( as young as 10) in India used in Gap clothing production. Gap was unaware of the subcontracted work.

To read full article click HERE.