How Small We Really Are: The Size of the Earth

I think you can tell that I’ve been spacetripping during the past few months. I blame it on my reading list.

For now though, here’s a truly humbling perspective at how tiny we are.

I find it hard to believe that we are the only intelligence in the universe, or even in our galaxy.

What do you think?

The Insta-August That Came and Went

By Roba

On August 31, 2012

In Roba

The summer is over. The nights are chilly. The expats have left. The schools have started. The streets are emptier. The places aren’t packed.

It’s September. Already.

But down below is August. Hot August. Crowded August. Crazy August.

Can you really archive time?

2014: On January | On Februaury

Writing Character Descriptions

By Roba

On August 28, 2012

In Geek Culture & Tech

This is cool, didn’t know where else to dump it.

Link

Character Feelings

You can describe your character’s feelings in more exact terms than just “happy” or “sad.” Check these lists for the exact nuance to describe your character’s intensity of feelings.

Intensity of Feelings	HAPPY	SAD	ANGRY	CONFUSED
High	Elated Excited Overjoyed Thrilled Exuberant Ecstatic Fired up Delighted	Depressed Disappointed Alone Hurt Left out Dejected Hopeless Sorrowful Crushed	Furious Enraged Outraged Aggrivated Irate Seething	Bewildered Trapped Troubled Desperate Lost
Medium	Cheerful Up Good Relieved Satisfied Contented	Heartbroken Down Upset Distressed Regret	Upset Mad Annoyed Frustrated Agitated Hot Disgusted	Disorganized Foggy Misplaced Disoriented Mixed up
Mild	Glad Content Satisfied Pleasant Fine Mellow Pleased	Unhappy Moody Blue Sorry Lost Bad Dissatisfied	Perturbed Uptight Dismayed Put out Irritated Touchy	Unsure Puzzled Bothered Uncomfortable Undecided Baffled Perplexed

Intensity of Feelings	AFRAID	WEAK	STRONG	GUILTY
High	Terrified Horrified Scared stiff Petrified Fearful Panicky	Helpless Hopeless Beat Overwhelmed Impotent Small Exhausted Drained	Powerful Aggressive Gung ho Potent Super Forceful Proud Determined	Sorrowful Remorseful Ashamed Unworthy Worthless
Medium	Scared Frightened Threatened Insecure Uneasy Shocked	Dependent Incapable Lifeless Tired Rundown Lazy Insecure Shy	Energetic Capable Confident Persuasive Sure	Sorry Lowdown Sneaky
Mild	Apprehensive Nervous Worried Timid Unsure Anxious	Unsatisfied Under par Shaky Unsure Soft Lethargic Inadequate	Secure Durable Adequate Able Capable	Embarrassed

Pink Floyd Live Jam Session as Apollo Lands

By Roba

On August 28, 2012

In Geek Culture & Tech, Pop Culture

This is possibly the coolest thing you’ll see all month: a moon landing jam session that Pink Floyd recorded at a BBC TV studio during the descent of Apollo 11, the first time human beings ever set foot on another world.

David Gilmour in the Guardian:

It was a live broadcast, and there was a panel of scientists on one side of the studio, with us on the other. I was 23. The programming was a little looser in those days, and if a producer of a late-night programme felt like it, they would do something a bit off the wall. Funnily enough I’ve never really heard it since, but it is on YouTube. They were broadcasting the moon landing and they thought that to provide a bit of a break they would show us jamming. It was only about five minutes long. The song was called Moonhead — it’s a nice, atmospheric, spacey 12-bar blues.

Via the always-awesome Boing Boing

You know what this means?

Pink Floyd was a part of the moonlanding, kinda.

Illustrating Words by Evan Robertson

By Roba

On August 27, 2012

In Art, Design

This is a beautiful series that illustrates some of the words of wonderful writers, created by Evan Robertson. I am not visually blown away, but there is still something worth sharing.

You can view the rest of the collection (and even purchase prints) on Etsy.

Black out your website on Wednesday

By Roba

On August 27, 2012

In Amman, Geek Culture & Tech

Stand up for freedom of speech and freedom of Internet in Jordan on Wednesday.

Black out your site on that day.

Here’s how: 7oryanet.com

للتوضيح لأي عقل حكومي رجعي

By Roba

On August 26, 2012

In Amman, Geek Culture & Tech

A great post from Jordanaholic on the stupidity of Internet censorship:

عندما زار الأمير علي بن الحسين إعتصام الإيتام على الدوار الرابع وجّه الحكومة لتلبية مطالب أي يتيم لم ينل حقه.. بعدها قررت الحكومة فضّ الإعتصام و”تسييج” الدوار الرابع لحجب الإعتصامات المتلاحقة عليه! الملك عبدالله الثاني طول عمره بحكيلنا “الحريه في الأردن سقفها السماء”، والى حدٍ ما هي كانت كذلك، إلى أن أطلّت علينا حكومة الطراونه بقانون لـ”تسييج” الإنترنت!!

للتوضيح لأي عقل حكومي رجعي .. الإنترنت مختلف “شوي” عن الدوار الرابع .. فهو تقنياً مستحيل “تسييجه”! برامج البروكسي التي يستطيع استخدامها المستخدم العادي.. تغير عنوان بروتوكول الإنترنت.. مواقع التصفح المجهول.. الشبكات الخاصة الافتراضية.. وغيرها من الطرق من أصحاب الموقع أيضاً بنشر عدة عناوين عشوائية والكثير الكثير.. فكل ما سينتج عن حجب المواقع هو زيادة التكلفة على الحكومة وزيادة الوقت فقط على المستخدم من الوصول للمعلومة حاقداً على من أضاع وقته! .. بعدين مع إنه عادةً الدول “المفلّسه” هي التي تذهب إلى حجب الموقع إلى أن حتى تجارب الدول الكبيره مثل الصين كانت قد فشلت .. وحتى أعظم دول العالم، أمريكا، التي حاولت أن “تسيّج” وكيليكس كانت قد فشلت .. وأيضاً حاولت إطلاق مشروع اكثر نبلاً “وقف القرصنة على الانترنت” ولم تستطع أن تمرر القانون ايضاً! .. مضطّر اوضحلك بطريقة تانية .. إذا على محيط سياج بحجم الدوار الرابع هناك شخص واحد قادر على اختراقه، فما بالكم على محيط سياج بحجم العالم، بحجم الفضاء، بحجم الإنترنت؟ .. يعني حتى لو وظفتو “الهاكر” السعودي إلي “قال” إخترق موقع إسرائيلي .. الحجب تقنياً فاشل!

بعدين السؤال القوي .. إذا قررت تحجب موقع شو بدك تعمل بصفحته على فيسبوك، تويتر، يوتيوب؟ طب إذا بدك تحجب كلمات مفتاحيه سياسيه أو اباحيه .. كيف الطلاب بدهم يتعلمو عن تاريخ دول معاديه؟ كيف بدهم يتعلمو الرأي والرأي الأخر وتقبل أراء الأخرين؟ بدك تزيد تزمتهم وعنفهم؟ .. طب كيف الأطباء بدهم يتعلمو عن الجهاز الهضمي والتناسلي؟ كيف بدنا نقرأ أخبار مقتدى “الصدر”؟!

10-Step Guide to Looking Forward to the Winter in Amman

By Roba

On August 26, 2012

In Amman

It’s almost September. For those of us who appreciate the summer, September only means one thing: it will soon be winter.

I know we have a couple of months ahead before winter hits properly, but it isn’t really the cold that’s the main problem. It’s the shorter daylight hours. It’s the lower levels of energy. It’s the feeling of a new season.

So… just to keep you (and myself) upbeat, here are ten things you can remind yourself of that are nice about the next six months.

1. Less traffic.

2. Less non-locals, which spells less traffic, less people, and fewer family obligations.

3. Kankaneh.

4. Sahlab, chestnuts, and sweet potatoes.

5. The smell the first time it rains.

6. Less people out of their homes. I really like that.

7. Emptier places.

8. Winter fruits: oranges, pomelo, pomegranates.

9. Ras il abed.

10. Looking forward to the summer; actually missing crowded streets.

Yesterday, we were driving by the Goodbook Shop on the side of Rainbow and two little kids (maybe ten years old) were standing on the street wearing “the scream” masks as cars passed by. It was very funny.