Two Minutes: A diary note on Future

"We used to have this concept called "future". It implied that, at some point in time beyond now, there would be change. I reject this concept- look at where we are! We are cared for, educated, fed and entertained. I never hear of anyone dying of disease or violence. Things work, people work, the state cares for us absolutely. We can live and die in peace. What more could we want? What change could we want? Even if we could fly to the stars, what would we find there to make it worthwhile? I'm sure that in their wisdom, they have taken steps to ensure that things never change… The idea of future fills me with dread. Better to live in the Moment"

From the notes of the dissident Louk DeSalam, ca 235 STE

After writing this, my fascination with the Arabic word for future "Al-Mostaqbal / المستقبل" grew under the shower. It derives from the root "Q-B-L"- which my Hans Wehr gives far too many translations for. Assuming Mostaqbal has nothing to do with future kisses- one of the many translations is "to kiss"- I translate it literally as "the accepted". Fatalism aside, why is it not more akin to "the expected"- "Al-Montathar"? And is it really not a promise of future kisses? And considered Muqabil (same root- QBL) means equivalent, is this a statement of expectation that you will reap what you sow? Oxymoronically قبل also means before.

Comments

COG I: Good Game, Long Thought (3)

Caram on Games (COG) is an occasional ramble in which I discuss computer gaming, gaming culture and how I perceive them, in an attempt to talk about a medium that I've always been passionate about, or at least enjoyed. Every part is an exploration of thoughts, meaning that it comes together as it is written- so while they may meander for a while, a point will eventually be reached. Maybe. After a lot of words, and sometimes numbers. You have been warned. Let's start with the basics: 0. What makes a good game? This question has as many answers as there are ways to make a game, and most of them are subjective, dependent on how the individual gamer experiences their play, how deeply they are willing to delve into the details surrounding a game and how much time this will take, expectations towards gameplay and stortytelling, the studio and publisher, familiarity with methods of non-linear stories… This answer becomes more complicated from a publication and developmen...

Spring Lessons: Musiksehen Black and White

Note: this post was begun on 03.July 2013, just before Morsi was ousted from power. A long while after the last post, and a second Egyptian uprising against the rule of Mohammad Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood happening as I write, a seemingly unrelated post on a Spring Lessons event that will be taking place tomorrow: Musiksehen Schwarzweiss, or Black & White. The idea was born at the exhibition "Right to Left" curated by EP51 and Uqbar. The exhibition was titled "Arabic and Iranian Visual cultures" and collected works of graphic design by artists from the aforementioned backgrounds. Included, by chance or design, in the exhibition, was a book by Iranian graphic designer Peyman Pourhosein of Studio Khargah . This book revealed to me a visual history of Iranian film in form of posters, vinyl covers, and film stills. Knowing that many films produced before 1979 are banned from screening in the country and connecting the narrative of the Iranian revol...

¡Carambolage Rocks! (Apparently)

Gather the barber shop quartet! Roll the Drums! Fire the Works! Open the ball! Vote Hillary! Raise the topmast! Scour the Plank! Split the Atom! Shiver me timbers! That brought on quite a bit of nonsensical jubilation, finding that iCeah of Wow Legs has nominated Carambolage as a Kick-Ass Blog. In fact I jubilated all through yesterday, pausing only to reflect on Microsofts new Ad, Shelves I'd like to have, Fembots and Virgin advertising. I jubilated through work and through a small spot of partying.I am still jubilant as I write this! And now, my speech: "We've come a long way, yahdiyahdiyah, achievement, blahblah, the people who made this possible, yakyakyak, our sponsors, moohdemoohdemooh, honoured to accept, beehdibeehdibeeh, Mom, God and the stinky state of Berlin. Thangyouthangyouverymuch." So thank you for the Award, iCeah, if you didn't have one already, I'd nominate you right back, Meanwhile, my link-list needs some updating. Also meanwhile, here...

Caramblogage

Search This Blog