Today, I’m thankful for Diversity: biodiversity, cultural diversity, diversity of genotypes and phenotypes, diversity of landscapes, foodstuffs, all of the variety in this world. Alhamdulillah!
Allah tells us some things about diversity in the Quran, and it’s worth reflecting on and marveling at His magnificence and benevolence in creating all this diversity. Continue reading “Diversity”
The past 4 years have been an absolute blessing, all praise and thanks be to God. May He grant us many more together, and keep us growing together, Ameen.
Today, I’m thankful for “creeping sharia,” the slow, clandestine spread of Islam throughout this great country. I know that may be frightening to some, but don’t worry: despite it’s spread, Islam and Muslims still form only a tiny fraction of American society (3% or less) and so-called “sharia law” of the type practiced in some oil-producing and war-torn nations halfway around the world is not in any way encroaching on the Constitution or the rule of law here in the U.S.
Islam is here, though, and Muslims are establishing themselves all over the land. Allahu Akbar!
Continue reading ““Creeping Sharia””
In Surah Al Haj, Allah azza wa jall reminds us:
فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ فَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَبِئْرٍ مُّعَطَّلَةٍ وَقَصْرٍ مَّشِيدٍ
And how many a city did We destroy while it was committing wrong – so it is [now] fallen into ruin – and [how many] an abandoned well and [how many] a lofty palace.
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ
So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.
May Allah open hearts as we travel through the land, seeking fortunes, educating ourselves, or simply enjoying some hard-won vacation time with significant others, Ya Muqallibal qulub, thabbit qalbi ‘ala dinik, Ameen. Continue reading “A reminder for the traveller”
For #DianaDay, I went to Tyler, TX in connection with another project.* I went with, perhaps, a few too many cameras…
It strikes me now that this might be a bit excessive. 5 cameras, 3 formats, 5 focal lengths, all with Superia 400. #believeinfilm pic.twitter.com/qBxdTHkhsy
— James Cockroft (@jam_esc) August 5, 2017
Excessive, perhaps, but now, with film developed, I have a chance to look at the different formats and think some about the various use cases I have for them, maybe more effectively grab the right camera(s) when I’m on my way out the door in the morning, or head off for a trip, maybe. Continue reading “Tyler, TX: pro-am & toy”
Mom came to visit us for a couple of days last week, and on Saturday morning, at Samie’s suggestion, we visited the Water Gardens in Fort Worth.
This year is just flying by.
It’s already time for another issue of Tiny Plastic Box, Jon Wilkening‘s fun Pinhole 365 Zine! Continue reading “Unboxing Tiny Plastic Box – Volume #5”
