+++ khaki.mango.khuki +++

Caribbean Building Awards 2006

2006-11-24T15:51:00.000-04:00

Hard work does pay off....

sometimes....

Congrats to all the Award Recipients!!!!

Screw, anyone????

2006-05-01T21:12:00.000-04:00

On the way back from Jamaica... I couldn't help notice the screws on the plane wing.

Screws everywhere!!!!

Look how much screw I could get on a plane wing....

A screw for you...

A screw for me...

A screw for everybody!!!!

Wanna screw????

(just kidding! feeling kinda idle tonight)

Tonight, Tonight!!!!

2006-04-22T02:31:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple shots I took tonight of Kingston.

Enjoy!

CSA 2004 Reunion: April 18, 2006

2006-04-19T01:01:00.000-04:00

Tonight, Daren organised a lime, in my honour, at Lorie's place.

What a night!!!!

I didn't want to disturb Buki's sleep, so, I called up Daren asking him to pick me up at the entrance to the residential complex.

It took me 15 minutes to reach the security booth, when Daren called for directions... halfway into the conversation, he runs our of credit on his cell.... i then called him back and the same happens to me. Daren gets lost trying to get find his way to Long Mountain's entrance, so he turns back and heads to New Kingston to do something for his brother.

"You know what... fleck this, I might as well walk down to Lorie's."

It took me 45 minutes, walking down from a hill, to reach Lorie's place.

My legs was killing me!!!! Actually, it still is....

As soon as I turned the corner before my destination, Lorie and her cousin was now pulling up to her home.

Damn, my shin and ankles are killing me.

Well, I have to say that I really enjoyed myself. I was so grateful to be able to meet up with my good friends from my class in CSA.

Daren, Lorie, Marsha & Family, Stacey, Danielle, Racquel, Jason, Everton, Cindia, Jody-Ann, Natasha, Ayesha, Sheldon, Rhoan, Wayne, Gavin and David L.

Thanks alot for coming out, showing some love....

Vacation: Kingston, Jamaica April 2006

2006-04-16T00:57:00.000-04:00

What a vacation!!!!

It has been three days now... and i have been able to relax!!!!

I cannot remember the last time I slept so much....

My dear friend, Bukola, has been accommodating me at her uncle's townhouse in Long Mountain, overlooking Kingston. I don't know how Buki and Ayesha put up with me. =)

What a view!!!!

So far, I was able to link up with my friends: Lisa, Shawn, Cindia, Stacey, Terry, Sheldon, Saran, Michaelia, Janelle, Naita, Monique, Shanelle, Kristina, Richard R., Ninja, Damian E., Negash and Daren so far.... and have been able to speak to friends like Jody, Anna, Keneea, Heather and Natasha.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend when I link up with more of my friends.

Coincidentally, my brother, Dean, is coming across to Kingston from Trinidad on business. Hopefully, I'll be able to meet up with him and go out to dinner at JamRock or Cuddyz. We'll see.

Intelligent Argument.... Very Good!

2006-04-09T02:22:00.000-04:00

This is from an email i got yesterday from my friend, Stacey, and thought that I'd share it with you.

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Intelligent Argument.... Very Good!

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.

He asks one of his new Muslim students to stand.....

Professor: You are a Muslim, aren't you, son?

Student: Yes, sir.

Prof: So you believe in God?

Student: Absolutely, sir.

Prof: Is God good?

Student: Sure.

Prof: Is God all-powerful?

Student: Yes.

Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't.
How is this God good then? Hmm?

(Student is silent.)

Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?

Student: Yes.

Prof: Is Satan good?

Student: No.

Prof: Where does Satan come from ?

Student: From...God...

Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student: Yes.

Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?

Student: Yes.

Prof: So who created evil?

(Student does not answer.)

Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

Student: Yes, sir.

Prof: So, who created them?

(Student has no answer.)

Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son... Have you ever seen God?

Student: No, sir.

Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

Student: No, sir.

Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God?
Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student: Yes.

Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Prof: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as cold?

Prof: Yes.

Student: No sir. There isn't.

(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something.

You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?
In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality.
You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God.
You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at
work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class is in uproar.)

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?

The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain,

felt it, touched or smelt it?.....No one appears to have done so.

So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir.

With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir. The link between man & God is FAITH.
That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

Dilbert!!!! Part 1

2006-04-07T09:02:00.000-04:00

For all you workaholics!!!!

Here is how you can turn your boring ass jobs into comedy.

Here is a lil preview....

Source: http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/index.html

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Also, Dilbert has a House!!!!

HOW BAD IS THAT!!!!

This Blogg is not intended for Architecture Thingamagigs.... but, this is a must see.

Source: http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/duh/gallery/index.html

edge monkeys!!!!

2006-04-04T09:08:00.000-04:00

This is from an article I found at the Architectural Record Website yesterday.

“Edge monkeys” are robots that would close windows, check thermostats, adjust blinds, and “gesture meaningfully to internal occupants” when they are clearly wasting energy. Photography: Courtesy Stephen GGage and Will Thorne
Source: http://www.architecturalrecord.com/resources/conteduc/archives/0604edit-1.asp

"Gesture meaningfully"????

What the hell do they mean by that????

Declan Lee, the Illustrator.

2006-04-02T23:06:00.000-04:00

in my quest to find the origin of the name, declan....
i stumbled upon a website of an english illustrator named declan lee, who now resides in south australia.

http://www.declanlee.com

the above painting is a segment of a piece titled "jacob's ladder", he did in 2001.

the moment i saw it, i immediately became quite fond of it....
it reminded me of....
me.

strange, i know....
but, it revealed so much of myself to myself....
at least, from a psychological point of view.

i also imagined it being a self-portrait of declan lee,
and i can see how it can be possibly be a portrait of myself as well.

beside this, i must say....
i really do like his 'silent' work.

check it out....
enjoy!!!!

Holy Shit.... BMW Comics!!!!

2006-03-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows me from 2001, would know about the BMW FILM SERIES "The Hire", starring Clive Owen.

Now, they're coming out with a Comic Series!!!! How bad is that!!!!

BMW Films has partnered with Dark Horse Comics to present The Hire comic series, six action-packed issues that pick up with our enigmatic hero where the films left off. For this one-of-a-kind project, Dark Horse has lined up some of the comic world's top creative teams. Each issue of The Hire will showcase the talent of one creator or creative team, giving each compelling story a unique look and feel.
Source: http://www.bmwusa.com/bmwexperience/films.htm

The legendary series of short "webisodes" featured A-list directors such as John Woo and Ridley Scott telling tales of the Hire—an enigmatic driver and the passengers that need his transportation and protection. Now, some of the biggest names in comics bring The Hire to Dark Horse!

Matt Wagner (Grendel) tells a story of a spoiled party-girl and her high-speed hunters; Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead) and Kilian Plunket (Superman: Red Son) team the Driver with a schoolteacher with unfortunate mob connections; Mark Waid (Fantastic Four) and Claude St. Aubin (Dominion) tell the tale of a geeky bureaucrat with a valuable secret; and Kurt Busiek (Conan) and Steven Grant (Badlands) with Francisco Ruiz Velasco (Lone Wolf 2100) relate the story of a millionaire businessman facing a very hostile takeover.

- Featuring the talents of award-winning creators Matt Wagner, Kilian Plunket, Mark Waid, Kurt Busiek, and Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell!
Source: http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=13-251

You can go to Dark Horse Comics to find out more about the BMW Films' "The Hire" Comic Series.

Here is a Sneak Peek of "Precious Cargo" written by Bruce Campbell (yeah, that Bruce Campbell) and illustrated by Kilian Plunkett (Superman: Red Son).

I, ASSHOLE!!!!

2006-03-21T17:16:00.000-04:00

do you know how easy it is to be an asshole?

i do....

it's easy....

just say whatever is in your mind without thinking about the consequences.

on the other hand, be aware of the consequences of being an asshole!!!!

some side effects include: loss of respect, loss of friends, loss of blood....

but.... there is a twist....

sometimes, being an asshole is the only way other assholes hear, and on the rarest occasion... listen.

are you an asshole????

i am....

Declan, the Humble Crab.

2006-03-17T19:07:00.000-04:00

Here is little story I found online.

Enjoy!!!!

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Declan the humble crab and Kate the Lobster Princess were madly, deeply, and passionately in love. For months they enjoyed an idyllic relationship until one day Kate scuttled over to Declan in tears.

"We can't see each other anymore..." she sobbed.

"Why not?" gasped Declan.

"Daddy says that crabs are too common," she wailed. "He claims you, a mere crab, and a poor one at that, are the lowest class of crustacean and that no daughter of his will marry someone who can only walk sideways."

Declan was shattered, and scuttled away into the darkness and to drink himself into a filthy state of aquatic oblivion. That night the great Lobster ball was taking place. Lobsters came from far and wide dancing and merry making, but the lobster Princess refused to join in, choosing instead to sit by her father's side, inconsolable.

Suddenly the doors burst open, and Declan the crab strode in. The lobsters all stopped their dancing, the Princess gasped and the King Lobster rose from his throne.

Slowly, painstakingly, Declan the crab made his way across the floor... and all could see that he was walking FORWARDS, one claw after another! Step by step he made his approach towards the throne, until he finally looked King lobster in the eye.

There was a deadly hush.

Finally, the crab spoke.

"Fuck me, I'm pissed!"

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Source: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=713498

what the f*ck is a khaki.mango.khuki????

2006-03-16T13:00:00.000-04:00

anyone who knows me from about 1998 to 2000 would have known one of my internet aliases to be khaki-mango-khuki.

one thing is that, i am not the creator of the infamous khaki-mango-khuki.... i only came up with the name.

it all began one afternoon of a typical weekday, as i was at the house of my dear friend, marsha. feeling a bit idle, she came up with the idea to bake something.... anything.

she proceeded to take out a box of bisquick mix, a bowl and an over-riped mango from the refrigerator.

giggling with glee.... she proceeded, with my assistance, to make this concucsion, or is it concocsion or concockshun.... whatever.... placed it in a small baking pan and left it in the oven for about 20 minutes.

5...

10...

15...

half an hour later, there it was....

soft, golden colour.... the middle of this creation rose without a crack.... it looked perfect!!!!

we sat at the table in the porch, looking over the creation....

with glistening eyes and a curious tongue....

i began to cut into the soft, fluffy exterior....

each of us sat there with a small piece in hand, holding it delicately with just our index finger and thumb.... the final judgement was about to be revealed....

then it happened....

it was the weirdest tasting cake i ever eaten....

marsha's face almost turned green...

and i continued eating out the piece that i alread had.

"GYAAAD!!!!" marsha exclaimed with the cutest smirk.... "throw it away!!!!"

"nah..." i nodded, " leave it there for the others to come and eat.... you know how greedy they are!"

marsha laughed at what i said and went into the kitchen to make another rum n coke to wash out the taste.

as for me, i continued to eating it... and trying to get the hairs from the mango out from between my teeth.... then, i started thinking of a name.

"how hard can it be?
it's a mango cake we made with cookie mix....
that's it....
it's a cake mango cookie!!!!"

by just pronouncing it how it was spelt and then spelling it as it sound....

khaki-mango-khuki was created.

There is something in my mind?

2006-03-16T08:18:00.000-04:00

for a number of years, i have been known to be "the one who never sleeps".

this is not entirely true.... in fact, i don't like sleeping.... and there are several reasons for this.

firstly, i think it takes up precious time. time that can be used to wash + iron my clothes, mow the lawn, and probably get back into sorting out my mom's old stamp collection.

secondly, when it comes to work, research, reading, or the like, i am much more focussed around midnight onward. i absorb and retain more information when i am relaxed and when it's quiet. for example, in my fourth year in the caribbean school of architecture, one of my courses, architectural office practice, i was not able to attend half of the classes.... on the other hand, i had to learn at least 24 clauses, which are by-laws. two nights before the exam, from 1am to 4am, i studied vigourously, pasing up and down the stairs, like a damn madman. the night before the exam, i did the same.... the result, i was able to complete the three hour exam in less than 20 minutes... and passed!!!! suckeye!!!! (trini slang, like 'piece of cake')

thirdly, it's the best time to wonder and stare at the stars. i have been fascinated of the heavens that we see on a clear night. i was lucky enough to have a national geographic explorer's 'map of the heavens'.

my favourite, which is also the most popular, constellation is orion. on the other hand, my favourite star is the orion nubula. the orion nebula is the naval of the greek warrior 'orion'.

orion, the hunter: orion was the son of the sea god poseidon. he was so skilled at hunting that he boasted that he could kill every animal on the earth. the goddess of the earth, gaia, was so offended by his boast she sent a tiny scorpion to stop him. orion was stung by the insect and eventually died. both his image and that of the scorpion were placed in the sky. they are on opposite sides of the sky, so when one is above the horizon, the other is below. the constellation of orion is large and easy to find. it contains many bright stars and the so-called "belt of orion", three very bright stars lined up in a row.
source: http://www.pa.msu.edu/people/horvatin/Astronomy_Facts/constellation_pages/orion.htm

for those who are into ancient egyptology and architectural history, the 'orion belt' is where imhotep derived the layout of the great pyramids of giza. at least, that's what i remember....

artwork depicting orion

image source: http://hsci.cas.ou.edu/images/jpg-100dpi-10in/19thCentury/Aspin/1825/Aspin-1825-Orion.jpg)

telescopic photo of orion

image source: http://gil-galad.home.mchsi.com/astrophotography.htm)

orion nebula

image source: (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0112_060112_orion_hubble.html)

i bet you didn't remember what i was talking about earlier, until now.... lol

it's called 'misdirection"!!!! =)

back to the original boring-ass topic....

it was to my detriment that i learnt that one can't fight nature and not sleep.

the longest peiod of time that i stayed awake and being active without any sleep was 52 hours. the consequence, a really bad hangover after a 12 hour sleep. which was the routine after not sleeping for any amount of time beyond 48 hours.

over time, due to lack of sleep, my mental capabilities started to dwindle little by little.... to the point where i collapsed a couple times. it was really scary to wake up without anyone around you.

i use to take extracts and pills to boost my metabolism in order to study more, stay awake longer and party harder....

in the end, i was actually damaging my brain by depriving it of rest. the brain must rest in order for it to function properly. there are many consequences of not allowing your brain to rest... which is why i am very much against energy drinks like red bull, blue ox, pimpjuice and so forth. if i am in a club partying and suddenly felt a bit tired.... i would quicker drink a cold coca-cola and head home, than to have a few red bulls and suffer any consequence of brain damage or even worse.

here are some interesting sites to check out.
Sleepnet.com™ Since 1995 - Everything you wanted to know about sleep but were too tired to ask ™
Sleepnet.com™ Sleep Test

anyways, that's all i could get out of my head for now....

sayônara!!!!

Blogg!!!!

2006-02-15T21:18:00.000-04:00

geez, why do i get myself into these bloody things that require maintenance, revisiting and worst of all.... my presence (where presence = time = $$$$). lol

damn you, architecnophilia!!!! i can't believe i typed all a dat!!!!

i don't want to sound like a grumpy, miserable "so 'n so".... but its true.... cats can flush toilets with no thumbs!

what the heck.... i must at least take this out for a 'spin'.

hopefully, i might even have some constructive to post.... yeah, right!!!!

wish me luck.... i need it.

aloha + nuff raspeckt to all mah peeps out there.... so far away.

dek