thefuturenow;989670 wrote: lol You're soft. Your genes are not going to survive. But being kind to people is a survival mechanism too and ensures my likeability and safety in the pack dee, I'm sure someone would have taken Apo out a long time ago in a prehistoric/caveman era

Just added this book to my to-read list for the holidays: Manage Your Day to Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind. One of my favourite things to do is read what writers and thinkers have to say about their work process, so this is right up my alley “Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work.” - Chuck Close “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” - E.B. White

"Shockingly, when we look at some of the most elite musicians in the world, we find that they aren’t necessarily practicing more but, instead, more deliberately. This is because they spend more time focused on the hardest task and focus their energy in packets — instead of diluting their energy over the entire day, they have periods of intense work, followed by breaks. Not relying on willpower, they rely on habit and discipline scheduling. Studies have found that the most elite violinists in the world generally follow a 90-minute work regime, with a 15- to 20-minute break afterwards."

Khayr;989653 wrote: You are the Yang. The mercy that is needed and Apo is the Ying with his unapologetic truthful comments. Both sides are needed for balance. There are different and more constructive ways of being "unapologetic and truthful," and Apo's way of doing it is unnecessary and cruel, perhaps even triggering for an individual who is considering self-harm. It just serves no purpose. What you and Apo don't seem to understand is that depression isn't something you can simply snap out of with a harsh talking to, it's a real mental condition that requires treatment, understanding and support.

Khayr;989648 wrote: I agree with Apo on this point and many other points. If you have have good health and sanity and more than one pair of clothes, then you are blessed. Don't validate shaytanic thoughts and whispers. Depression is a normal emotional state ل ةحزن اِن اللهُ معنَ, but suicidal thoughts are satanic and lead to a dark and downward spiral. Like I said, any point Apo may have had was lost in his crude and insensitive wording and his decision to attack Guje, rather than express sympathy and suggest a different perspective on the world. Depression is NOT a normal emotional state, occasional sadness is part of a healthy range of emotions, but chronic depression is a mental illness that requires intervention. And I absolutely will validate someone's feelings, hear them out and suggest they get the help they need if they are depressed and/or suicidal.

Alpha Blondy;989643 wrote: i don't know what to say. i'm lost for words.''our children''? Maury Povich is still alive, somaha? :cool: Stop trying to be cool and play along dee :mad:

Alpha Blondy;989637 wrote: how wonderfully romantic. Can we come up with something less pathetic to tell our children than we met on an internet forum? Maybe rewrite our first dates to something more respectable than qat, shisha and YouTube vids at your house too.

Alpha Blondy;989634 wrote: Abdi Warabe = Silsilada Guba veteran Saffz = a descendant of the marriage treaties, following the Silsilada Guba war. Wrong, my mom is a modern feminista who proposed to my dad when they were both university students in Lebanon

Wadani;989632 wrote: U did? Goorma? May 2012, I think... I wasn't there for research then but thought I'd do some interviews so I could have recordings of a few important people in case I decide to work on SL someday.

Wadani;989629 wrote: Haaji Cabdi Waraabe is the main pillar of peace in the northern Somali regions. This man has led a pious and peaceful life, and even forgave the killer of his own father after being sent by his clan with a rifle and a group of youth to get revenge. He not only forgave him but is now married to that mans daughter. He said in an interview the he never missed a prayer and has never committed zina in his entire 100 some odd years on this earth. He was also a proponent of education during the colonial era and was even sentenced to death at one point by the Sand-dweller Suldaan of the time who was a bitter enemy of the British, who believed they would use these schools to prosetyize Somali children. Also, he has never taken part in clan wars or any camel raids, and said the battles he's taken part in were defensive and to reclaim looted camels. Odaygu waa caajaaib wallahi. I interviewed him once, and it's amazing how sharp and lucid his mind still is at his age. He also personally knew my great, great, great grandfather, which was hilarious to me (I'm guessing when he was young, he may have seen him in old age)

Alpha Blondy;989627 wrote: or what? I'm going to have to dump you again, this time over your continued, blatant disrespect of my reer abtiyaal.

Alpha Blondy;989621 wrote: sand-dweller supremo Abdi Warabe is alleged to be on the wrong side of a century lakinse he's a complete failure. :cool: ;) Leave Abdi Warabe alone :mad:

Haatu;989611 wrote: Great for South Africans. To me he's just another man. Haatu... what??

Haatu;989606 wrote: Trust me I would love to study it but circumstances dictate otherwise. It's your decision of course, but I will never understand the type of calculation people make to study subjects they don't enjoy. It's antithetical to the very idea of the university, of learning, knowledge and ideas, and there's only a marginal difference in opportunity between a bachelors in a social science and a bachelors in the sciences/math. Anyway, understandably I have strong opinions on this, and I'd much rather have Dr. Haatu, professor of African languages and literatures as my colleague than deal with yet another Somali engineer or accountant

I knew this would happen soon given his health and age, but I'm so, so sad to hear this. One of my heroes. RIP Madiba, huge loss for the world.

Nelson Mandela just died. NO MADIBA :(

Haatu;989598 wrote: I've seen the courses they offer and I would love to study there but a degree in Somali won't feed a family I disagree completely Haatu, UK has a horrible economy for all degrees, at least as a linguist (or anthropologist, another area SOAS is great at and would allow you to study culture as well) you'd be doing something you love and contributing to knowledge about Somalia/Somalis, which is something we desperately need. A doctorate in particular (which are super short in the UK, 3 years I believe) would open up a number of other career opportunities, and chances are a job in academia will mean a better income than what you have in mind now. Plus there's always opportunities to be a basaas back home for your foreign government, like SP I just think it's a shame to see a kid who is clearly passionate about a certain subject and has the intellectual curiosity to do it professionally worry about feeding his hypothetical family and end up studying something else!

Haatu;989587 wrote: Anytime. One of my hobbies is researching all things Somali. I would love to do the same thing Safferz does but for Somali but alas we make do with what we have. Why not study linguistics, Haatu? Martin Orwin is at SOAS, you know

Haatu;989588 wrote: ^^You're telling me that guy decided to take a picture instead of help that poor kid?!? The kid was already at a food centre, and he chased the vulture away. Obviously there's much to discuss about the ethics of photojournalism and whether it's exploitative to photograph people in conditions like this, but there's a lot of misinformation about the context of the photograph and what could have been done for the child. Anyway, really crude and unnecessary post Apophis, someone here with fragile mental and emotional health shared something I doubt they have ever shared with those who know them, and you have no idea of what this person has experienced or goes through to be in that state. Depression isn't a sign of weakness.

Nothing against Aussies, Khayr I'd love to visit sometime but from Boston, I'd be looking at 20+ hours of flying (I believe Sydney is a 14 hour flight from LA), and I can't stand being in the air that long. The 14 hours from here to the Horn is more than enough Alpha Blondy;989584 wrote: is that contractible? somewhat concerning, maha? check this interesting fact.......................Koalas are solitary animals that typically have a certain territory. Males mark this with a scent gland that they rub against trees. by the way i'm a quiz master. i've watched so many quiz shows. once applied for Mastermind. is there a way for us to challenge each other fairly without cheating? general topics? I don't think humans can contract it from them, but apparently it's a huge issue and contributes to their decreasing population. I'd *love* to beat you in trivia Alpha, I don't think there's any way to ensure no cheating if we find a quiz online to compare our scores, but you have my promise that I won't google anything I don't know? How about we pick one of the quizzes from Sporcle?

Alpha Blondy;989579 wrote: i didn't know that, abti. thanks. here's a little interesting fact........koala bears never drink water. they get fluids from the eucalyptus leaves they eat. more interesting facts: http://uselessfacts.net/category/facts-of-the-day/ Did you know most koalas have chlamydia?

Khayr;989564 wrote: Saff just needs and dare I say it - A Man. I think that she would be supportive and would give deference to her man. She is a likeable and brave nomad. Anyways, what is your latest essay on anyways? loool Khayr naga daa ciyaarta A man who gives deference to me, yes. I'm writing a review essay at the moment to synthesize some of the reading I've been doing lately... tracing the creation and evolution of colonial and postcolonial states in Africa, and how the African state-building process has historically differed from the European experience, which is what much of political theory relies on and assumes universal.

Guje;989542 wrote: Thanks for caring but somethings no one can help you safferz, you have to face them alone. No, you don't -- the same feelings of depression that have you thinking about suicide are the same ones that make you think you're alone and that your thoughts aren't unhealthy. Considering suicide and saying you hate living are NOT the words of someone with good mental and emotional health, there are doctors, counselors and professionals that can help you treat depression, and suicide prevention/crisis hotlines with people you can talk to and who will give referrals. Everything you've described *can* be treated with therapy and the right medication, but the first and most difficult step is to seek help, so please reconsider!

Guje;989526 wrote: slightly unrelated but do you know that Kevin Carter committed suicide 3 months after winning the Pulitzer Prize for a photograph of a starving toddler being stalked by a vulture. There is no day i don't think of suicide, sometimes i think me being on this earth was a mistake. but suicide would devastate my family and that be unfair. i hate living most of the times. Fcuk this miserable world. Are you getting help, Guje? Sorry you feel this way

^^ Take note, guleed -- posts like this are why I asked the admin to introduce a "block user" option that extends to the forums rather than simply PMs, and why I described Hawdian in the terms I did. Hope it's apparent to you now that he's a troll who has been harassing me on SOL for months now. DoctorKenney;989436 wrote: It also helps to actually be interested in what you're doing. If you're studying something you couldn't give a damn about, then you'll definitely procrastinate. I think this is more effective for people whose procrastination is rooted more in laziness/unwillingness to work, rather than those who do it as a response to stress/pressure and anxiety. It seems counter effective but most people's reasoning for procrastination has to do with the latter, and feeling paralyzed and overwhelmed when they know they have to get going to start an important task. That's certainly been my experience, as much as I love the work I do - so my strategy is similar to the one you suggested, working in "pomodoros" (25 minutes work, 5 minute break cycles) and breaking down the day's tasks into smaller work units and achievable goals. guleed_ali;989493 wrote: Procrastination is bad but made worse when you think you're best work comes out in crunch time. I started to convince myself that I would not get any work done until I'm right up against the deadline. But time management and prep work leading to the finish is definitely a better way to go. I actually do produce my best work under the time constraints and pressure of an impending deadline, but the stress is not worth it. Using a timer during my "work units" has helped me recreate those conditions somewhat, I focus on getting as much done in those 25 minute blocks before the buzzer goes off.