:: Noor ::

:: 9.23.2001 ::

It's been a few days since I last wrote, but of course, things have been busy.
The show was a success so I'm quite pleased. And despite the fact that these kinda things are normally filled with beatnik posers, I did meet one promising soul...I shall say no more for now.

Oh, I found a funny posting on BBC online. It not only goes to show how the media has become a complete circus during the "Attack on America" coverage, but also how crazed everyone else is as well.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1557000/1557800.stm

The title of this piece of jounalism, Surfers choose Bin Laden over Sex.
...I say no more.

:: Noor Noor 8:04 AM [+] ::
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test
:: Noor Noor 8:39 AM [+] ::
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This is a very cute video, and the graphics are great. It may take a while to load but it's definitly worth a look (even for you tech. geeks). Just go to this site and hit "the movie" in the centre of the page.
www.warriorsofthe.net/

Anyway, today has been a pretty hectic day, but since the weekend I'm feeling much more productive. We have a new artist at the gallery so there's a lot of work that must be done before the opening. And of course, that also means another cocktail party...it's a good thing I look so good in black.
(Sara, you really should come - these pretentious art crowds are always good for a laugh. and this way you wont blame me for never asking you out).

The artist himself is very interesting too. I should tell him to post his work on the web...for more exposure and such.

That's about it - just work, work, work as always. You'd think a person like me would have a bit more time considering my situation in life. oh well, c'est la vie.

:: Noor Noor 5:17 AM [+] ::
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Well, I've been playing around with the layout and colors of this page. I'm finding it exceedingly difficult since I'm still not comfortable with html formatting. If this page looks strange, keep in mind that it's still a work in progress.
And suggestions are always appreciated.
:: Noor Noor 12:38 AM [+] ::
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www.viceland.com/issues/v8n6/htdocs/AFGHANISTAN/1.php
I came across this website which includes a mini-photojournal taken in Afghanistan. I wouldnít normally recommend such classic time-magazine rubbish, but the images are quite beautiful.
:: Noor Noor 9:55 PM [+] ::
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Iím back home again. I wanted to write while I was away, but I was mistaken about my friendís villa having internet. Fortunately, I enjoyed the solitudeÖit was good to escape the city, if only for a few days. And a necessary absence it was.
Now that I'm home again I can return to my books and study with new interest and focus. I work in a small gallery in the Marais of ParisÖIt isnít very busy, but I have plenty of time for my own, personal work. Right now Iím becoming increasingly interested in medieval art, something I know very little about.
Just for fun, check out this site featuring Medieval images of death and demons. www.godecookery.com/macabre/macabre.htm

At the very least you might find the pictures amusing, although I'm personally very interested in seeing how such a closed people tried to make sense of things outside their realm of understanding. Societies are often defined by how and what they classify as the others, even "abnormal' or "evil". And at the very least it's interesting to see images which were intended to be frightening and horrific (although we today may find than more comedic than any thing else).
I'm also hoping to learn more about this Blog software since I havenít worked out all the glitches (you can notice that I haven't been able to include proper hyperlinks yet). Iím trying to figure out most things for myself, however, in a few days I may resort to help from others.
:: Noor Noor 4:08 AM [+] ::
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For those who do not speak 13th century Italian allow be to translate the words above.
They are from Dante's Inferno "Midway on our life's journey, I found myself in dark woods, the right road lost..."
Read into it what you like but do not expect an explanation from me - I prefer some things left unknown.

Anyway, Iím leaving tonight for the country. It's late, i know, but I find things unnerving in Paris at the moment and I have to take off for a while. I cannot spend one more night here.
A friend I work with owns a villa outside of Lyon ñ I will head there, although I doubt I'll make it tonight.
I'll also be bringing my laptop, so I shall continue to write.
:: Noor Noor 10:38 PM [+] ::
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Well, my friend has finally convinced me to create my own blog after her site has been active for years.
I must admit that I find computers and the internet a bit intimidating. I have always preferred the company of books over television or computers. In fact, I prefer them even over other people. I guess Iím a bit of a loner in that respect. Anyway, Iím going to give this a try and I would appreciate any feedback or helpful suggestions anyone has to offer.

And what a first day to begin my personal journal after yesterdayís attacks. Even though I am writing now from Paris, far away from the terror, people here were also strongly affected. In the public areas there were crowds gathering around television sets, trying to make sense of the events as they unfolded. And of course the American tourists could be seen trying desperately to get in touch with family back home. It was also recommended by authorities in France for all tourists to carry theyíre passports at all times.

I went to school in the States, my sisters and I moved there when I was only 7. And although I now live permanently in France, I consider America to be a second home ñ a place of my childhood. I donít know how to describe my reaction when I first heard of the news. I just my feelings were of both amazement and disbelief. It was like something in a Diehard movie, not real life. Of course this quickly faded when I began to think of the actual loss of life. Of real people.

Today, however, my feelings are quite different. I was born in Algeria, my parents still live there, and now I find myself scared and unsure. Algeria is one of the Muslim countries suspected of supporting terrorism and who knows what will happen in the upcoming months. Even in Paris there is graffiti on the buildings calling for the ìdeath of dirty Arabsî and ìevil Muslimsî. I was raised in both the Muslim world and America and I feel a huge conflict inside. What happened to those thousands of innocent people is too horrible for words, but I also fear for my mother and father, and even myself as the backslash hits. This is a fearful time to be a Muslim and living in the western world.
:: Noor Noor 12:10 AM [+] ::
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