Letter to Julia 20111231

Happy new year, Julia! Yes, you are my girl, I love you and I want to marry you. You know, I don't blame you for wanting to spend the Christmas and New Year doing things you used to do as a child, because of your memories, and the happy moments you associate with them. Just remember that I cannot be married to a non-Muslim, so you must keep your philosophy and acts of worship sincere and exclusive to Allah. I personally do not associate any happy memories or best days of my life to any public holiday, or birthday even. I find that my best memories happened on days where I don't even remember the date. Those non-descript, average days when God grants me a taste of the perfect feeling. So whenever I have to follow you on your jaunts home for you to spend time with your parents during the holiday season, I would most likely be in retreat at a mosque, or locked up in a room. InsyaAllah, nothing political would happen. Of course, there are Christians and Jews who are righteous and sincere in their devotion to God. But the human condition is set, and corruption is rampant, and I have to guard and purify my own Islam, and you are my wife. Now do you see how expansive the universe is? Now do you see how far-reaching your part is in this human drama?

Let me repeat that I have no intent or desire to travel anywhere ever again except for the following reasons:

1. to Saudi Arabia, to fulfil and complete my Hajj,
2. to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA to keep my promise with the mysterious piano player,
3. to Germany to get my wife Julia, and anywhere with Julia for her sake, for her happiness.

Yeah, I've decided that I'll go to Germany to get you, when Allah permits me to do so. Otherwise, I will just stay here in Perlis, and create music here and not go anywhere, no tours, no traveling at all. Maybe I might go do some shopping, then again maybe not. After all, the quality of the local food supply is very high, and will stay high as long as the environment is clean. Anything else can be imported, insyaAllah. So if anyone wants to hear me channel, with my singing, the ghosts of Karen Carpenter, Billie Holiday, and Janis Joplin by the Will of Allah, then they are just going to have to come here to Perlis. InsyaAllah.

Letter to Julia 20111228

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hello Julia, my love. How are you feeling? I pray you are being patient, and trying to slow down, and taking good care of your beautiful self. I assume you have been busy being social during the Christmas and New Year's season, because of the friends, family, and upbringing you have had. I suppose it is easy for me not to celebrate thus season, but not because of the Islam I have. I hardly even celebrate the 2 Eids, other than the prayers and charity. I do enjoy the fasting month of Ramadan, so I guess that is what I celebrate. No, I'm not some stifled up old "fuddy-duddy"- look at my rock and roll past! I'm certainly not an angel or a prophet. I guess I'm merely a rockstar. But I am kinda too lazy to "Mach Schau" for everyone. That's probably one of the reasons why having a fashion show going during my concerts is a good idea. Dance routines have a bad habit of being too damn pagan.

The Qur'an is not here to bring us distress. It is an admonition to those who fear Allah. Life is certainly a trial, and what we feel in the Qur'an to be a hassle, is actually a guidance to the righteous. What if there is that bit of information we need to save our own lives? Or even that bit of information we need to secure an important business? "The most valuable commodity I know of is information, wouldn't you agree?" (from the movie "Wall Street") In the end it is the devil who is the hassle, the trifling annoyance that gets in the way of our happiness, and rewards for our hard work.

Long ago, when Cain killed his brother Abel as an act of jealousy, Allah ordained to the children of Israel that if someone killed a human, other than for murder or the spreading of mischief in the land, then it would be as if that someone killed a whole people. But this did not stop people from commiting evil excesses, and today killing is a numb act of news. What occurs today is part of the countdown to Judgement Day. The Plan of God is to keep the Hour hidden, partly so that the transgressors will increase in iniquity, and the burden of their punishment thereof.

Letter to Julia 20111226

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi Julia. Are you OK, and taking good care of yourself? Don't go showing off now, for there's nothing to show off. Just slow down, and be patient. Do you believe that, like in that old saying, "birds of a feather flock together"? I think it's true to an extent. I do think we suit each other. I'm not sure that good people attract only good people, because life is supposed to be a trial. But I'm absolutely certain that evil people attract evil people, and not necessarily as "allies". Evil is as evil does, even to other evils.

I pray you are eating properly. As my girl, you are automatically an endorser of food products. So don't go showing off. Enjoy, but don't show off. You did not choose Islam: Allah chose Islam for you, and if your relationship with God is sincere, then less and less humans are having an influence on your Islam. But fear God, not people. Anyway, the world is watching you eat. You do understand what is "halal", right? When your knowledge increases, then you must exercise more patience. Allah delineates details of what is forbidden to eat in verse 5:3, as follows:

1. carrion,
2. blood,
3. the flesh of swine,
4. food on which has been invoked the name of other than Allah,
5. that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by being gored to death, and that which has been partially eaten by a wild animal unless the meat was able to be slaughtered in due form,
6. that which is sacrificed on altars,
7. division made by gambling.

This verse is not the same as the other verses I printed for you in terms of detail. That is because Allah is being Lenient to those who are learning how to practise Islam. Seafood is exempt from the above conditions, as long as it's still good and pure. If any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful. Now, when something is printed as "halal" on the label, it usually follows the above details. But couples like us are on the edge, so we find ourselves in the above 7 scenarios more often than not. Study the Qur'an SLOWLY, seek protection with Allah from the influence of the devil, and say "In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful" before the first bite.

You are most certainly the center of attention, aren't you? I like to hide, personally. I'm sorry I can't be there with you to shower you with love, and help protect you, but I'll do the best I can from where I am, until we are well and properly married to each other, insyaAllah. God is the best to help and protect, anyway. If you are sincere about increasing your knowledge, then know this: Muslims know that Allah is above the need to have a son.

Letter to Julia 20111224

Hi Julia! Did you miss me? I miss you, my love. I long for us to be married, and be with each other all the time in love and happiness in this life, as well as the hereafter. Ya Allah, please grant us that. It's nearly 3 years since I proposed to you. I don't remember exactly when I posted my proposal, but I'm sure you and your friends remember. All I know is that I didn't have enough wealth to give you and our children a good life, and I still don't. It's not your fault, Julia. You're just a girl. But you're MY girl. InsyaAllah, God will grant me the means soon to free you from your constraints, so we can be happily married.

I've been so exhausted lately, I don't know why. Usually I go to sleep at midnight, then wake up at 3am, do about an hour's worship, then stay awake until the Fajr prayer at 6am, then go back to sleep until about 9 or 10am everyday, without an afternoon nap, for a total of 6 to 7 hours daily. But yesterday, I fell asleep right after Asr, woke up for sunset, slept again at midnight, did only 20 minutes worship at 3:30am and slept again, woke up for Fajr at 6:30, then passed out until 10:30am. That's about 10 hours sleep. I feel kind of out of it even now. Well, we can't be all sprightly and chipper 100% of the time, can we? I'm sure there are some days when you aren't all your usual enthusiastic self. That's OK, sweetie. I love you all the same.

My parents gave me a little money recently for doing yard work, so I bought some food. I got some sushi fixings, while I was buying my axe! Well, there was a grocery store next door. I also bought some fresh cod at the night market, it came with some roe. The Japanese like to douse their sushi rice with vinegar, but I can't handle a lot of vinegar- it hurts my stomach. So I rolled my sushi with plain rice, cod slices marinated in light soy sauce, cod roe, roasted peppers, fried egg, and green onion shoots. It tasted sweet, almost like a dessert! For some reason, it attracted mosquitoes. You know, those blood sucking insects. I couldn't find any wasabi, so I used sambal belacan instead. That's a Malay condiment, which is a hot pepper sauce, sort of. Want some sushi?

Qur'an 20111224

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

73. When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, the unbelievers say to those who believe, "Which of the two sides is best in position? Which makes the best show in council?"

74. But how many generations before them have We destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye?

73. Say, "If any go astray, the Compassionate One extends to them until, when they see the warning of Allah, either in punishment or in The Hour, they will at length realise who is worst in position, and weakest in forces!"

Mary 19:73-75
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If any go astray, the Compassionate One extends to them until, when they see the warning of Allah, either in punishment or in The Hour, they will at length realise who is worst in position, and weakest in forces!

Letter to Julia 20111221

Hi sweetie! Are you hanging in there? Take good care of yourself my beloved, and have patience. I just got a new axe, with which I am going to do yardwork. It's a big un, the type Paul Bunyan used to carry. You don't know Paul Bunyan? Neither do I, but I think he was a giant lumberjack in Canada or something. Anyway, it's a big axe, and it's heavy! It doesn't have much of an edge, even though I spent most of the afternoon trying to sharpen it. I guess it's supposed to function as a sort of sharp sledgehammer, where the weight and momentum thereof causes most of the damage. I need it too, because the long and short machetes I have don't have the balls to demolish trees and stumps. It's made in China, but it has a German brand name. Interesting. There's this blue paint all over the head, which started peeling as I tried to sharpen it. So, I spent most of the night scraping the blue paint off, until Sasameki Koto 13 came up on Shadowplay TV, and it occured to me that I had to write to my sweetie, so I stopped scraping and started to write and tell my sweetie about my new axe. It's an axe, not a guitar, even though I could sure use an American Deluxe Strat and a Gibson SG 6/12 doubleneck, but that means I should also get a tube stack along with those. I'll settle for a local tube stack. Malaysia is reputed to make some mean tube amps, y'know. But I wouldn't turn away a Marshall or Krank tube stack. Anyway, it looks like I'll be building up more bulk with this axe, and maybe become very buffed and macho. And you thought you were marrying a chick singer!

An average sincere Muslim has to give open warning to the heedless about Judgement Day, and that all humans will have to face God, because everything belongs to God. Some of these humans think they hold you in bonds and contracts, but everything and everyone belongs to God, for God to do with as God pleases. The day will come when the axe of distress will fall upon them. Now, the command for Muslims to give open warning to unbelievers about God and Judgement Day is stated distinctly and repeatedly in the Qur'an. Allah made it somewhat easy for me today, since I am a writer and I blog the Qur'an, but the earliest Muslims had to live as a minority in a pagan society, so they preached their warning in person at the footsteps of the Ka'bah in Mecca. Too many Muslims today haven't a clue of that difficulty because they live in a Muslim majority and they preach to the converted, in fact they pass it over as unimportant and passe, and some even rabidly join cults. I remember being a street musician, and my reading the Qur'an on the streets of Tempe, Arizona, USA. I remember what it's like to have to carry out the commands of Allah as stated in the Qur'an, in a society of non-Muslims. I know what it's like to have to pause work at a pizza joint when it's really busy, to go and pray in the toilet. It sucked, but I did it. The earliest Muslims had it much worse, to the point where God commanded them to fight. Then imagine Abraham, after attaining Awareness of God as a teenager growing up in a family of pagans, having to preach to his own father, to stop worshipping statues. Compared to all that, I feel clueless too. Ya Allah, please have mercy on me, and make my work easy.

Letter to Julia 20111219

Hi there my beloved Julia. How's the spotlight treating you? Do you enjoy being the center of attention? I like to hide, personally. I've always been somewhat of a recluse. Even when I play guitar, I like to crank up the distortion, overdrive and feedback so I can hide underneath all that. Miracles do happen Julia, and they happen everyday. Like the conception of a child, the sprouting of a seedling that turns into a mighty tree, to the songs and migration of birds. It's just that humans pass over those miracles because they want to satiate their own selfish gluttonies. But two people separated by oceans and other barriers can come together and be united in love and marriage, and stay in love and marriage for two lifetimes, with the power of Allah. You must pray! Did you know that your prayers infuriate those who wish to imprison and harm you? So please keep your faith, and maintain your prayers.

Don't forget who you are Mrs. Global, and that the goal in anything and everything that you do is to SLOW DOWN. Remember this law of mass media: the audience wants to run you into the ground as quickly as possible, as miserably as possible, so don't let them. Please look after your precious body. Please try to hide your beauty and be prepared to shield your face with your handbag or book when going out in public. Wear shades or glasses for eye protection. Avoid conversation, especially with strangers and mass media. If you have to say something, tell them you're trying to get closer to Allah and you don't want to talk to any humans.

Letter to Julia 20111216

No Julia, it's not me who's trying to restrict you: it is life that restricts you. Even if you had many lovers and swam in diamonds and wealth, wouldn't you feel suffocated, without a purpose? It's not merely the urge to spawn: some people can hump away in public without shame like donkeys, and when Judgement Day arrives, they wouldn't even get arrested for it. No, we seek a purpose in this life because we are not free, so in love we seek a spiritual love, a soulmate. Experimenting with love and lust is corruption imprisoning itself in corruption. You are MY girl, I am the one who loves you, and wants to marry you. The only thing that holds me back is that I don't want to give you my poverty. That is so, because I'm the only human who has faith enough in the music Allah gave me, to invest everything I had in it. Some people say, "It's your music, so you pay for it." I say the inspiration is from Allah, and I am responsible for it.

**sniffle** It's not mango season yet, but the mango tree is blooming and fruiting. Alhamdulillah. The fruit is the high quality type, called the Harumanis. I look forward to eating it. I'm having to fight hard just to sing lately. This sinus allergy is death to my voice. It's like my voice lives on the border of the enemy, in a dynamic equilibrium. **sniffle**

Qur'an 20111216

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

105. They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord, and the fact of their having to meet God: vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgement, give them any weight.

106. That is their reward: Hell, because they rejected faith, and took My Signs and My messengers as jokes.

107. As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the gardens of Paradise.

108. Wherein they shall dwell: no change will they wish for themselves.

109. Say, "If the ocean were ink to the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it for its aid."

110. Say, "I am but a man like yourselves, the inspiration has come to me, that your God is One God. Whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner."

The Cave 18:105-110
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If the ocean were ink to the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it for its aid.

I am but a man like yourselves, the inspiration has come to me, that your God is One God. Whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner

Letter to Julia 20111215

**sniffle** Oh dear, I got the sniffles again. I seem to get the sniffles every other week, huh? Maybe even more than that. I've never been this vulnerable to sinus allergies in my life. It's the environment: I hated living in the desert, but the plus side is I hardly ever got allergy attacks. Perhaps this time it's all those amra and mango blossoms in my yard. No, it's not mango season yet. To who it may concern, I can't sing when my nose is stuffed up. Sinus fluids destroy my voice, and accelerate exhaustion. I've been able to sing every day for the past few months, alhamdulillah, due to a regiment of sinus cavity draining. Let's pray that I don't have to empty my sinus cavity in the middle of a concert.

Ah, how I longed for you this morning when I woke up. I want to marry you, Julia. Are you maintaining your prayers, and taking good care of yourself? I want your chastity, Julia. Do know that I am faithful, insyaAllah. I talk to very few people, most of the time only to my parents and my kitty. I had pepper steak and rice for dinner. It was awesome, thank you ya Allah, for the knowledge and the bounty that You have provided for me. I've been using sugar in my savory dishes quite often lately. Not enough to overwhelm, but it's handy to cut acidic bases like chilli or tomato paste. My parents don't like sweet savory dishes, but I don't mind the sugar as long as it doesn't overwhelm the savory.

Until the time when we can buy our groceries and cook our dinner together, please be patient and faithful, and guard yourself from the corruption of others. Make no mistake, the end of the world is coming up soon. But before the armies come pouring down from the high ground to commandeer all the natural resources, perhaps Allah will grant us happiness together, in this life as well as the hereafter. You are my girl, Julia. I love you.

Qur'an 20111215

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

102. Do the unbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared hell for the unbelievers for entertainment.

103. Say, "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?"

104. Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good through their works.

The Cave 18:102-104
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Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?

Letter to Julia 20111213

But snakes eat mice, thus exerting some control over the vermin rodent population. I often hear those loud squeaks outside at night, but they don't come in my house, at least I haven't found any evidence of them (droppings, nibblings, etc). It's probably because I don't have any food. And Chee Cheah is a worthless mouser, she's so spoiled. But I don't want neither snake nor mouse in my house, so I pray they keep their power struggle outside.

All power is with Allah, and Allah grants power to whom God wills. Everybody wants to be somewhere else, "The grass is greener on the other side", you know the saying. The poor want wealth, the wealthy want more wealth, men of power want more power, etc. Sure, I could use more money, but I have absolute faith insyaAllah, that Allah will sustain me. It's not as if I don't work at it, although the fiscal rewards don't come quickly enough for some people, but who wants to please those who have no faith anyway? But I don't really want to go anywhere. I despise the city, so I love the kampung. I'm tired of travel: I've seen enough of the world to know that people are the same everywhere, and the rest is just photographs and adaptation to environment. Luxury can be imported, but there's nothing more luxurious than doing whatever I want with my time. No, I don't really want to be anywhere else than where I am now. I want you here with me of course, but that power too is in the care of Allah.

Hey, I just heard a squeak coming from inside...

Qur'an 20111213

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

83. They ask you concerning the Two Horned One. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story."

84. Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and means to all ends.

The Cave 18:83-84
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I will rehearse to you something of his story.

Letter to Julia 20111212

Hi Julia. Are you hanging in there, my love? Of course I think of you all the time, and I pray you are doing well. I have been spending much time in the yard. Remember I told you that my little house is right next door to my grandfather's house? Well, the house and the compound has been overgrown with vegetation, and looks like a miniature jungle. I've been clearing the area out. It's an obvious hazard to the kids and people going to and fro on the road to the local elementary school, and it's right next to my house, so I certainly get the creeps having to look at that eeire old house covered and surrounded with vines and gloomy trees. It's a slow process, because I'm cautious, lazy, and can only work when it's cool enough to work, namely the two hours before sunset right after the Asr prayer. Being slow is for the best though. The compound is crawling with monitor lizards and snakes. Big snakes too about 2 1/2 meters long, most likely cobras, but I'm not sure because they always run when they sense me, and therefore not in a fighting mood. InsyaAllah.

Letter to Julia 20111210

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Life is like the rain. God sends it down from the sky, it nourishes and rejuvenates the vegetation, which bears flowers and fruit, then becomes dry stubble which the wind blows. Meanwhile, God is the Only One Who prevails over all things.

Oh, I'm getting old, Julia. I sing and play the drums for two hours, then I feel like passing out. Two hours! When I was your age, I could go on all night, and dance as well! Well, my wisdom makes the music better, but I gave up much of my libido along the way. But a young man usually has no idea what to do with his libido. What the hell am I saying? Well, you can have what's left of my libido, Julia.

HOW TO COOK WITHOUT COOKING OIL

Perhaps you would like to cut down on the oil content of your foods, or perhaps one does not have access to cooking oil because it is too expensive or unavailable because it was sold in bulk to a wealthier buyer. Most foods, no matter how fat-free, have some level of oil content. Most packaged oils today are produced from plants like soybeans, corn, coconut, peanut, olive, sesame, oil palm, flax, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed etc. While it can be tedious to press or boil meal to extract oil, that is certainly how the ancients did it back whenever, and most of them were dirt poor. Mulch the grain/seed into a meal, then press for oil. Or heat the meal in water, then separate the oil from the water.

More efficient would be to stretch one's oil dollar. One way is to fry items in a closed pot, preferably with the food elevated above the oil by using some sort of grille, so the food does not come in contact with the oil. The oil is heated to evaporation, and coats and cooks the food. Very hot! But less oil is used, and the food tastes less oily. Of course one can recycle cooking oil by straining it, and reusing it. I've heard stories of Italian housewives deep frying calzones in iron drums filled with ancient olive oil.

Animal fat is the way to go for a dense oil supply, plus protein at the same time. Don't throw away that beef fat or chicken skin! Cook the beef or chicken fat first in a dry pot or pan, then separate the oil to be used for cooking vegetables. Animal fat is denser, so you would use less of it. Not too much heat either, because burned animal fat leaves a lingering stench which is unbearable. Now, one would assume that ground meats like sausage would generate more oil, which can be true. But gyro meat, which is beef and lamb sausage, leaves an oil which is disgusting and totally inedible, and is only good for greasing bicycle chains.

Funny, huh? Tick, tock....

Letter to Julia 20111207

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

But out of my cave again comes this reclusive writer, to do some work! For to Allah belongs all power. Oh Julia, I really want to snuggle up with my sweetie on a bunch of fluffy pillows, and kiss longer. The problem is that I'm actually some sort of workaholic, I actually enjoy working, at things that I enjoy working at. But since I'm also a contradiction, I'm lazy, and just want to snuggle up with my sweetie on a bunch of fluffy pillows, and kiss longer. But I guess I can get up to cook a nice meal for my honey, if I have the right ingredients. How about a cheese and asparagus omelette with grilled jumbo shrimp, with a bunch of sweet purple grapes on the side? Ah, alhamdilillah.

Once upon a time there were two men. God granted one of them two gardens, surrounded them with date palms, and in between the two gardens there were cornfields. Each garden brought its produce without fail, and in the midst of them flowed a river. This man boasted to the other that he had greater wealth, honor and power. And he went into his gardens with an unjust state of mind, saying, "I deem not that this will ever perish, nor do I deem that my time will run out. Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find something better in return." The other guy said, "Do you deny God Who created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then fashioned oyu into a man? For my part God is Allah my Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. Why didn't you enter your garden saying, 'Allah's Will! There is no power but with Allah!' If you see me less than you in wealth and children, it may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and God will send thunderbolts and turn your garden into sand, or the water will run off underground and you will never find it." So the gardens were destroyed by calamity, and the owner was filled with regret, saying, "Why wasn't I appreciative to God while I had the chance?"

Qur'an 20111207

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

28. And keep your soul content with those who call on thier Lord morning and evening, seeking God's Face. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this life, nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the rememberance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.

29. Say, "The Truth is from your Lord." Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject. For the wrongdoers We have prepared a fire which is like the walls and roof of a tent will hem them in: if they implore relief, they will be granted melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!

The Cave 18:28-29
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The Truth is from your Lord.

(God does have a sense of humor! Life in hell is often referred to in the Qur'an as "entertainment", where, in the example of verse 18:29, an inhabitant kicks back on a couch of flames, and drinks a cocktail of melted brass.)

Letter to Julia 20111205

Hello again, my beloved beautiful Julia. Are you maintaining your prayers, and taking good care of yourself? I've been holing up here in my cave, and I've been marveling at how things turn full circle. The more things change, the more the stay the same. I remember praying over and over again for God to get me out of the pizza joint, out of the food business, and out I went, on a crazy rollercoaster which is too long-winded to explain. But I still have to eat. And since I don't have money, I have to make the best I can out of cheap stuff. And suddenly, the cheap stuff becomes expensive, but how can it be my fault, since I don't have money to buy the expensive stuff? So, I'm always looking for options. Lord, I hate the food business. BUt I'm never going to work in a restaurant ever again, insyaAllah. I pray that you are able to eat properly without other people making a huge fuss. Probably not, but hey you are just so gorgeous, I love you, and I want to marry you. So you must try hard to take good care of your precious body.

Then I remember long ago, when I had no skill at singing. People kept complaining and criticizing my singing, wanting to replace me, telling me how to sing, etc etc etc. Do it for the music, they said. Maybe I was being superficial, I don't know. You can't stay in music business if you don't love music, y'know. Today, since Allah gave me some ability to mirror some famous singers, I am hated even more. See what I mean: trying to please the crowd is the worst mistake in art. But that's Rock and Roll, I suppose, it's the nature of the beast. Except for the kids, of course. Whenever I practise, they seem to pop out everywhere then instantly evaporate, like ghosts. Maybe they were ghosts.

Whoops! I'm talking too much. But I gotta talk to my sweetie, y'know? She's so beautiful. I have to run back into my cave now, and just kick back with my kitty, and watch Shadowplay TV. As for you, you are my wife, then your closest friends are the ones who believe best in God. So keep that circle closed, and do not take for friends and intimates others outside your ranks, for they will not fail to corrupt you. Their mouths already speak hatred, and what their hearts conceal is far worse.

Qur'an 20111206

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

21. Thus did We make their case known to people, that they might know the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgement. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. Said, "Construct a building over them." Their Lord knows best about them. Those who prevailed over their affair said, "Let us surely build a place of worship over them."

22. Saying they were three, the dog being the fourth among them. Saying they were five, the dog being the sixth, doubtfully guessing at the unknown. Saying they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say, "My Lord knows best their number: it is but few that know them." Enter not therefore into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear. Nor consult any of them about the Sleepers.

23. Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow,"

24. Without adding, "So please, Allah!" And call your Lord to mind when you forget, and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer than this to the right road."

25. So they stayed in their cave three hundred years, and add nine.

26. Say, "Allah knows best how long they stayed. With God is the secrets of the heavens and the earth, how clearly God sees, how finely God hears! They have no protector other than God. Nor does God share God's Command with any person whatsoever."

The Cave 18:21-26
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My Lord knows best their number: it is but few that know them.

Allah knows best how long they stayed. With God is the secrets of the heavens and the earth, how clearly God sees, how finely God hears! They have no protector other than God. Nor does God share God's Command with any person whatsoever.

Letter to Julia 20111203

Hi Julia my love, how are you feeling? I'm just sitting here, writing a love letter, and watching TV. It's been a busy week for some reason, but unproductive. I did a lot of unnecessary running around. For instance, I went to the government clinic to pick up some antifungal cream for my left toe, but it was a long wait because the place was packed, as it usually is. Normally I am prepared to wait, but that day my stomach had some urgent business to attend to, and it started to protest, so I took my stomach home to the comfort of the toilet it so loves, as opposed to a public restroom in a public hospital. That's another reason why I don't like to travel anymore: I don't like to be far away from my bathroom! Wouldn't you prefer to use only your own restroom that you are familiar with? Especially considering the lack of privacy we have to put up with? It's not as simple as taking a roll of toilet paper along with us wherever we go.

Well, I guess I'm stubborn, huh? God gave me this baby, and I have been raising it alone for many, many years already. And I want you. I don't have faith in the morning, then turn back in the evening, like some others. Now please excuse me, I'm going to go and hide in my cave.