Too many things to update about - at least two weeks’ worth - and in order to do it all justice, I’m going to hold off on it. Meanwhile, those of you who are in the SF Bay Area or the vicinity should stop by Berkeley for a free (that’s right! I said, FREE) event […]

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Since most of you are too horrified or disturbed, I’m sure, to comment on my letter to God in the previous post, I just thought I’d let all y’all know that I’m off to Oakland soon for Jummah [Friday congregational prayers], where I’ll try to repent for my blasphemy. Yes, aren’t you relieved?
Good things about […]

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Dear God,
Have I told You lately how awesome I think You are? Well, You are. I’m sure You already knew that, but I just thought I’d reiterate it. I mean, You’re so awesome, You approach our relationship in the best way ever, which is to say You leave me alone. You let me screw up […]

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Shadows while sitting on the sunshine steps, originally uploaded by yaznotjaz.
The above photo was taken last Friday, while D and I relaxed on the steps of MLK Hall at […]

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Sorry, my wannabe English/Comparative Literature-major tendencies wouldn’t let me bypass all this drama without making use of such an obvious pun. Apparently, I’m not the only one.
Truthfully though, I’m damn tired of the drama - of the emails, the articles, the conversations with friends regarding this mass chaos and fury all over the world. Also […]

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The title is meant to be ironic and tongue-in-cheek. So get off me. Via 2Scoops‘ contribution to the comments box for the last post, I present the following [click for larger image]:
I could write an entire post based around this - lots of deep analysis for why I have been blogging for three years now […]

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Feeding the birds, Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA, originally uploaded by yaznotjaz.
[You can find all my photos from this day here. They’re more fun when you view them individually, so take the time to click through one by one, if you get a chance.]
Three days ago, I stepped inside the County of Alameda Administration Building […]

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Leaving Berkeley at noon yesterday, I couldn’t help but smile at the blinding, brilliant red-orange trees I passed on my way to the freeway. Contrary to popular opinion, California does indeed have fall colors. The world was glowing gorgeously, and I thought about how blessed I was, to have spent the entire day before in […]

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Originally uploaded by yaznotjaz.
I won’t even go into the usual moon-sighting and Eid-celebrating controversy. This drama goes on every year, who are we kidding? Suffice to quote my uncle the good sport, who shrugged and said to my father over the phone, “Well, it’s okay. You celebrated Eid yesterday […]

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In characteristic Yasmine-is-a-Lazy-Bum fashion, I’m a few days late in posting this update. Here’s wishing you much ease and discipline in your fasting, whether it’s for Ramadan, Navratri, or the ten days from Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur for the Jewish New Year. Abhi has a lovely post over at Sepia Mutiny entitled My first […]

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Well, eff you too, originally uploaded by yaznotjaz.
Ramadan is any day now and I’ll need to get started on Project Personal Betterment v.3957975, so now would be a good time to admit […]

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borders, boundaries, blockades
and it’s the way that we will forgive ourselves
and it’s the way that we will for no one else
- Josh Kelly, Amen
I call my friend Z one morning to tell her that I am skipping all my classes and instead studying at the cafe of her favorite Borders Bookstore here in the East […]

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sanctuary speak-outs.
One of the courses I’m enrolled in this quarter is a Community & Regional Development class entitled “Ethnicity and American Communities.” If I had to pick one single class I were absolutely in love with during my entire university experience, this would most likely be it. Interestingly enough, the other likely contenders fall into […]

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ramaban mubarak
Whatever your personal goals are for this year’s Ramadan, I hope you find within you the strength and dedication and drive to fulfill your goals, and to maintain and implement those changes following Ramadan, too. May your fasting become a manifestation of worship and patience. May He accept your repentance and make it sound […]

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brought to you by the color orange

This is where I’ll be at tomorrow. Wish you all could be, too. I’ll be making a special mental note to stalk the UC San Diego MSA table throughout the day, where everyone’s favorite blurker (”blog+lurker”; thanks, Baji!) 2Scoops’ good friends will be selling t-shirts. Isn’t it amazing what […]

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