Gibran on Mercury, Mira in New York

Place: A crater on Mercury
Mood: Blurred
Song: Don't Give Up * Peter Gabriel feat. Kate Bush

Could Mercury have its own prophet? Or is it the first Lebanese stepping on the smallest of the solar planets?
News is that the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has just approved in late August to have a crater on Mercury to hold the name of the Lebanese renowned poet, writer and artist Gibran Khalil Gibran.

Mercury is known for its craters, all of which hold names of deceased authors, painters and artists. These names facilitate the work of researchers studying the planet.


Gibran Khalil Gibran had to move from Bcharre in Lebanon to the US with his family in the late 19th century and that's where he fulfilled his studies and his artistic and literary career flourished. But his heart remained in Lebanon, for he wanted to be buried in his native land.

In mid-August, my dear friend Mira has decided to head to the US and follow her dreams. What I love about her is that once she has an aim, she achieves it no matter what. And now that she's in New York, I have full faith in the path she'll be pursuing for the next couple of years. I don't doubt a single minute that she'll be successful and get the positions that everyone dreams about.

But before that, and I know the road is tough, I'll be taking it next year, I wish she'd enjoy things as they come. She has enough to worry about and hope she'll have a kick at this. And then we, the close gang, will always be there!

"Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don't give up
Please don't give up"

Here's what I would like to tell her:
You know you can and will make it, just jump into the waters. They'll be cold at first, but they you'll enjoy them. You can't be a good swimmer if you're afraid of water!

And you know you have to make it because Gibran needs another Lebanese on Mercury. And it won't be just any Lebanese.

Good luck beautiful Mira! :-)

Let's Shoot Stars!

Place: Comet Swift-Tuttle

Mood: Stargazing 

Song: The Stars * Patrick Wolf

"And all the Unseen came into sight

The pull, the scales, the dark, the light

Mama, Papa, voila! The night!"

From The Stars by Patrick Wolf

Who said comets bring bad omens to Humans? Well actually they might. And the origin of this post came with me having a funeral and a wedding on the same day, that is Wednesday the 12th of August. Bad fate for some and better fate for others? I don't know if this is a true potion coming from a comet or rather the Wheel of Life, people coming and people leaving. 

In any case, here we are inside Comet Swift-Tuttle, the main originator of the greatest meteor shower of the Perseids that peaks generally in this period of the year. So wait, we're not exactly talking about a Comet anymore here, but about this meteor shower which radiant is in the Perseid constellation, hence its name, the Perseids, with more than 100 shooting stars during its peak.

In any case, I'm not the strongest defender of the comets bringing bad omens, but I certainly am a staunch advocate of making wishes when you see a shooting star, just for the sake of it. And I did, that night, during the wedding. 

I did not have to wait too long for the answer I was expecting, for a couple of hours later, I got a phone call that would answer my request. And since I am having a troubled time at my office, that phone call was everything I needed to reassert my faith in the path I was about to follow.

So maybe you won't be able to witness a comet in your life. But you'll see plenty of shooting stars. Who knows what they could bring you! 

And to accompany a magical night, here's a magical setlist with the songs I have been enjoying lately.

01. The Stars (by Patrick Wolf) - from the album The Magic Position [2007]

Mama, I saw the stars tonight

Orion, the plow, the burning bright

Cannot recall where I drove

An empty lane, the lonely road

Home

So to kick off this journey, what's better than Patrick Wolf's own journey towards the stars? I love this little song. It's dreamy and takes you straight to the Kingdom of the Stars. Each one has a special star, why don't you check if yours is waving at you tonight?

02. New Age (by Tori Amos) - from the album Strange Little Girls [2001]

Had a funny call today

Someone died, someone's married (...)

And something's got a hold on me

It's the beginning of a new age

Oh you little sick little fucks, yes

It's the beginning of a new age

And through the distinct sounds of the Wurlitzer, Tori (or Tori's character anyway, the Librarian pictured here) launches this cover of Velvet Underground's live version of New Age, which opens her cover album Strange Little Girls. It's the song that pushed me to write this entry. How can you have a wedding and a funeral during the same day. And how many people are born, how many die, how many give birth, how man get married, how many divorce in one day. Is that Karma? Is that the true balance of life?

03. If You Want a Rainbow, You Must Have the Rain (by Annette Hanshaw) - from the Sita Sings the Blues OST [2008]

Take your share of trouble

Face it and don't complain

If you want a rainbow

You must have the rain

And speaking of Karma, here comes this exquisite animation film by Nina Paley who brings the voice of late 1920's jazz starlet Annette Hanshaw to recreate the story of Sita, wife of Rama, in this Indian tale. I have never heard this song prior to watching the film, and I must say it's everything I could think of at the moment. Without rain, no rainbows. So if I truly wanted the rainbow that's about to change my life, I know I have to get rid of all the rain that has been pouring on me.

04. The Time Is Now (by Moloko) - from the album Things to Make and Do [2000]

Tempted by Fear, and I won't hesitate

The Time is now, and I can't wait

Give up yourself onto the moment

Let's make this moment... Last

Whatever this moment is. As long as it's enjoyable, let's make it last. I truly enjoy this song by Moloko. Now I still like Roisin Murphy's solo career, but I think Moloko had a distinct sound. And this album, while less electronic and more organic than its predecessor, is still a beautiful treat to the ear. Murphy challenges her voice all through. So wether it was the phone call I received, the wedding I was enjoying, or the meteor shower, I wished the moment lasted longer. And hence I advise anyone to enjoy the true moments while they last. 

05. Feelin' Love (by Paula Cole) - from the City of Angels OST [1998]

What would I place with your hot conscious

Oh baby babe babe babe

I will be your death the moon light

Take your time

You make me feel love

Last thing I would expect from the passage of a comet, from a dozen shooting stars, from wishmaking, is to discover love. Or rediscover love. Or feel love. Or feel loved. Normally I am not into this type of songs, but this has to be the sexiest sassiest hot and steamy lovesong ever. Is it the sensuality of Paula's voice, is it the direct horniness of the lyrics, is it the oh-so-awesome steadiness of the drums? I don't know. But this song WORKS. And to this amazing person, among the numerous ones, who has been making feel love and loved lately, bless you wherever you are :)

Magic...

Place: Beiteddine

Mood: Enthusiastic

Song: Dance Me to the End of Love * Madeleine Peyroux

It all happens if you believe in magic. Unfortunately, if you don't then you're missing on a lot of matters. A tad lot of things can be experienced only if you believe in the power of magic to transcend you into another realm.

And here are two perfect examples of pure magic, in completely different settings.

Last night, on the 22nd of July during the Beiteddine Festival in Southern Lebanon, came an enchantress whose enthralling voice could transpose you into her own personal universe. And one could only enter her realm if he believed in magic.

I was introduced to the music of Madeleine Peyroux exactly a year ago by my dear friend Oskar while on a trip to Iceland. I was instantly charmed by the distinct voice of this lady who reminded me in a strange way of Billie Holiday. And in a couple of months, I got my hands on her three albums, eventually purchasing her latest upon its release. And when I knew she would be performing in Lebanon, I couldn't but get tickets instantly.

Madeleine Peyroux said she had been long awaiting to sing in Lebanon. And finally she was here, performing a seemingly short yet consistent one and a half hour set.

While the beginning was slow (the first couple of songs did not ring strong with the audience), it all fell into place gradually, leaving the audience asking for more. The folksy singer alternated between jazz and blues, sometimes mixing the two and reaching different heights with each song. She interacted with her band, was extremely chatty (in French and English) with the audience, and smiled throughout her set.

She played songs from each of her 4 studio albums, from the delicious "I'm All Right" (which she introduced as "a cheerful breakup song") from her masterpiece Half the Perfect World (2006), to the oh-so-touching "This Is Heaven to Me" from her equally brilliant Careless Love (2004) as well as songs from her debut 1996 album Dreamland including the encore "Walkin' After Midnight". She also introduced new songs from her latest album (Bare Bones, 2008) such as the extended yet still impactful version of "Instead", the album opener, during which she presented her four-piece band).

But some of her real treats were the covers of her mentors Leonard Cohen (the exquisite "Dance Me to the End of Love") and Bob Dylan ("You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome") which both got raving applause, as well as two well-known French tunes, "J'ai Deux Amours" and the singalong finale "La Vie en Rose".

My personal favorite of the night had to be her rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's "La Javanaise" which already is flawless on CD. Yet last night, it was ethereal and much more intimate with the whole band joining Peyroux in half a circle facing the audience.

And while I believe the concert in itself was not extraordinary, it was what was needed to "dance to the end of love." And if you had that pinch of magic that was conveyed by Peyroux throughout her performance, then you sure were delighted as much as I was last night.

Shifting into another kind of magic, a Natural one this time. Or rather a celestial one. The July 22nd Solar Eclipse which was visible totally in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China and up to Japan.

Believed to be the longest total eclipse of the 21st century and clocking at 6 minutes and 39 seconds at its longest, it was seen by millions who traveled to witness it, particularly to India where many aimed at taking a spiritual bath in the sacred waters of the Ganges River just as the eclipse was happening, as you can see on the photo below taken in Varanasi, India, where the Ganges was flooded with visitors (photo credit bluerasberry/Wikipedia).

There, superstitious astrologers were defying scientists by presenting the nefarious consequences of the eclipse, usually thought to bring bad omens in ancient times.

But whether one believes in these omens or not, one cannot but contemplate the sheer beauty that is presented to his eyes, especially with the coming of the diamond ring spectacle.

Ain't that magic too?

(photo by Lutfar Rahman Nirjhar from Bangladesh)

Touring the Universe!

Place: the Universe
Mood: Floating
Song: Weird Fishes/Arpeggi * Radiohead

This is apparently my 100th post. Or so says my blogger page. I've been blogging since July 2006. It looks like it was yesterday!

And to celebrate this, I thought it would be wonderful to Tour the Universe with me. A sultry ride from our neighboring planets to the far ends of the illuminated darkness. We could straddle a comet's tail and immerse ourselves in the realm of the unknown.

And that sounds suitable since 2009 has been named the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). In 1609, which is exactly 400 years ago, Galileo has pointed his first ever telescope to record (and discover) as diverse sightings as the craters of the moon and into the core satellites of Jupiter (which are now known as the Galilean moons since he discovered them first on January 7, 1609).
In 1609, Kepler has also published his lengthy 650-page Astronomia Nova in which he tackles the "laws of planetary motions." His oeuvre is believed to be a key work in Scientific Revolution.

Now to make this ride even more enjoyable, here's a setlist that attempts to match the bedazzling spectacle that will be offered to our eyes.

01. Mercy Street (by Peter Gabriel) – from the album So [1986]
nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs in the cold light of day
there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone



We start our journey with an inviting Mercy Street. A beautiful ballad which begins with what looks like scintillating stars slowly pinpointing above our heads and persuading us to pursue them. The song in itself has a very ambient feel and has such a soothing vibe.
Mercy Street was written as a tribute to poet Anne Sexton.

02. Lully's "Turquerie" As Interpreted By An Advanced Script (by Murcof) – The Versailles Sessions [2008]







Now that we're into the dark sights of the Cosmos, what better than Murcof to lead us into the sinuous paths of the universe and the obscure gateways to the constellations. Save its name, this track is sheer genius. It's like three songs are mixed together. It start has nothing to do with its finish and the singular effect of pipes intertwining with industrial electronica is ostentatious. The Versailles Sessions is a commissioned work, and is not the follow-up to the momentous Cosmos, which will be Oceano to be released sometime in 2009.

03. Spring Haze * live (by Tori Amos) – Legs and Boots Washington, DC [2007]
and I found out where my edge is
and it bleeds into where you resist
and my only way out is to go so far in
billowing out to somewhere
billowing out luna riviera





We are halfway in our journey. And you who thought the universe is a quiet place are just wrong. It's just full of guts. And sometimes action. You could feel buoying alongside the celestial winds. Spring Haze is a song that IS full of guts and action. And it is a song meant to be played live. In this 2007 mind blowing version in which the song resurrects and takes full shape, especially in the bridge during which a marriage between the piano and the organ takes places under Tori's tireless hands. Her last note resonates so well and long enough to remind you that you are IN the cosmos.

04. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (by Radiohead) – from the album In Rainbows [2008]
In the deepest ocean
The bottom of the sea
Your eyes
They turn me
Why should I stay here?
Why should I stay?




As you reach the core of the thousands of burning and sometimes lurid galaxies, Radiohead takes you by the hand and pushes you to feel every possible sensation in your pulsating body. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi makes you want to run endlessly and effortlessly. I feel thousands of rainbows cuddling through the twirling guitars in this song. The lusciousness of the vocals as well as the wailing backing vocals is a winning combo!

05. Confessions Nocturnes * live (by Arthur H) – Showtime [2006]

La nuit est tiède
J'aurais tellement voulu
Déposer sur tes lèvres
Un autre baiser
Mais déjà tu t'en vas
Pourquoi la vie est si belle
Oh pourquoi la vie est si belle

To end our night out, here's grand finale in French, to take us back home in sheer beauty. Pourquoi la vie est si belle... (why is life so beautiful). This ballad is majestic. Arthur's voice complements the comforting arrangements.

After our intergalactic ride, I can only wish you starry dreams!

"Vehemently Heinous"

Place: Dark Matter
Mood: Angry
Song: Enjoy the Silence * Depeche Mode

Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
from Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode

I know it's not very healthy to have my first post of 2009 as angry, but I find writing to be very healing. I dedicate Vehemently Heinous to every possible cunt who tried to make my 2008 miserable. Well, first, these so-called humans are less numerous than the number of fingers you have in a single hand. And second, needless to inform you that you failed lamentably.

But anyway, let me tell you something, if you're not up to what you write, don't write it, you'd only make a fool of yourself. Otherwise, and as the song says, Enjoy the Silence!

Vehemently Heinous

Stupid
Among other things you said
Would you sound any sweeter
If I were Dead

I heard you chanting your antinational anthem
Next to your fire of words
That you have just fed

But I was told it was too cluttered
And as the electrified flames sputtered
It chopped your body to shreds

I never knew you were so good at missiles
But when you shoot in another direction
Only you would morph blood-red

You might want to think it over
Before your bury yourself
In your own bed

Time is between us
And, who knows,
You might always be ahead

But in case you still think you’re Cupid
Just take those damn oranges with you
And wander instead

Because those who claim intelligence
Are still unwelcome
Even in the realm of the Dead


According the the scientific David Darling encyclopedia, www.daviddarling.info, Dark Matter is:

"matter that can't be detected directly, but whose existence can be inferred on the basis of how objects we can see move."

And I firmly believe that Dark Matter is not only found in space, but in some vile humans too.

Mars V/S Venus

Planets: Mars, Venus

Mood: Festive

Song: You Know Me * Roisin Murphy

It's getting hot in Beirut much sooner than expected.
We're in late March and it's already 32 degrees. What the hell!

I suggest we take two separate trips, to Mars and to Venus. We could go with the Mars Express or with the Venus Express (which are the ESA's spacecrafts that have been orbiting around the two planets for some time now).

(Magellan's topographical map of Venus)

Known to be widely dissimilar, the dual Expresses have found striking similarities between the atmospheres of Mars and Venus. While the atmosphere of the first planet is cold and very thin, the second's is hot and very thick. And yet the same processes are taking place on both Mars and Venus.

(Mars photographed by Hubble)

In contrast with the Earth that has a protective "magnetosphere" that protects it from the solar radiations, Mars and Venus are open to all sorts of solar winds that interact with their atmospheres since they are not defended by a magnetic field.

We assume we are lucky to have one!

So are you into the hotness of Venus or you'd change directions and hit the coldness of Mars?

In order to make this ride more fun to both planets, and as hot as the weather is in here, here's the Absolute Pornfunk Setlist of the month (part 2). Six deliciously funky songs to represent the 1970's, the 1980's, the 1990's and the 2000's.

01. Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder) - from the album Innervisions [1973]










02. Sing It Back (Moloko) - from the album I Am Not a Doctor [1998]










03. Ride a White Horse (Goldfrapp) - from the album Supernature [2007]










04. Big Time (Peter Gabriel) - from the album So [1986]











05. Just Can't Get Enough (Depeche Mode) - from the album Speak and Spell [1981]










06. You Know Me (Róisín Murphy) - from the album Overpowered [1998]

Uranus: Within the Fog

Planet: Uranus
Mood: Foggy
Song: Under the Water It Glowed * Eluvium


Is it the fog of the water?
Is it the water’s fog…

Can water be foggy?
Will I subside in such a bog?

Uranus.

It could be zilch,
It could be unvoiced,
A space I could never lug

Would it carry me instead
When I would play the dead
In this oblivion of jitter and snug

I mend my being there
I sense a shrug
A light emerald storm churning
A distinctive aura twirling
Uranus glows from its entrails
Nonchalant and smug

It is the fog of the Water
Water does have a fog

Yet Water digressed from Uranus
It’s the planet’s own fog

Uranus,
I am my own fog


According to Crystal Links (http://www.crystalinks.com/),

"Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and the third largest (by diameter). Uranus is larger in diameter but smaller in mass than Neptune. Uranus was the first planet to be discovered that was not known in ancient times; although it had been observed on many previous occasions, it was always mistakenly identified as a star.

One of the most distinctive features of Uranus is its axial tilt of ninety-eight degrees. Consequently, for part of its orbit one pole faces the Sun continually while the other pole faces away. At the other side of Uranus' orbit the orientation of the poles towards the Sun is reversed. Between these two extremes of its orbit the Sun rises and sets around the equator normally.

Uranus is the sky god and first ruler. He is the son of Gaea, who created him without help. He then became the husband of Gaea and together they had many offspring, including twelve of the Titans. Uranus is the ancient Greek deity of the Heavens, the earliest supreme god. Uranus was the son and mate of Gaia the father of Cronus (Saturn) and of the Cyclopes and Titans (predecessors of the Olympian gods)."

'Cosmos'

Place: Oort Cloud

Mood: Away

Song: Cometa * Murcof

In late September, the much-awaited album by Murcof has been finally released. Entitled ‘Cosmos,’ the 6-song EP was everything I could have asked for.

Mexican composer Fernando Corona is the genius behind it. His fourth release after 2002’s critically acclaimed Martes, 2003’s Utopia which combines remixes from his debut album as well as new tracks, and 2005’s Remembranza, a far more complex work which pushes the concept of minimalist electronica even further.

Yet Cosmos is nothing like its predecessors. A broody music – a scenery that emanates from the empty yet complex state of the universe and rings deep inside the complex yet empty state of the human mind.

Before kicking the journey into Cosmos, here’s a tiny description of the Oort Cloud, title of CD’s final track (picture below)
Quote from Wikipedia:

The Oort cloud is a postulated spherical cloud of comets situated about 50,000 AU from the Sun. This is approximately 1000 times the distance from the Sun to Pluto or nearly a light year. The outer extent of the Oort cloud places the boundary of our Solar System at nearly a quarter of the distance to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Sun.

Although no confirmed direct observations of the Oort cloud have been made, astronomers believe it to be the source of all long period and Halley-type comets entering the inner solar system (some short-period comets, based on their orbits, may come from the Kuiper belt).

Track 1 – Cuerpo Celeste
A slow outset.
A recurrent motif.

Soon the the organ.

Alarm.
Alarm.

The motif. The outset. The organ. The outset. The motif. The motif. The motif.

Alarm.

Cuerpo Celeste.
We’re on track to the inner galactic lands of the Cielos – the Skies.

Track 2 – Cielo
Flaming.
The machinery is set.

The pace is lifted. Further. Deeper. Further. Much further.
Piano drops that invigorate the ride.

Pulled away by magnetism towards something. Anything. Whatever. Bounding towards the pace.

A stop.
Can I look?

But the pace heads off.
Further. Deeper. Further. Even much further.

We’re away.
In the Cosmos.

Track 3 – Cosmos I
Waking Up.
Lights bleached.
Lights fainted.

Lights gathering.

A silent Light storm
Twirling.
Propelling Machinery into a Cyclone of Stars.
Galaxies.
Systems.
Entities.

The Cyclone fuels its turbulence.
It gears its escalating prohibitions.

Machinery emanates from within yet is trampled upon.
Forces.

It tries again to get out of the multiple Tentacle.
Cyclone is feasting on its own land.

Machinery escapes.

Tentatively.

Another dim light in the far end. Cometa.

Track 4 – Cometa
The light approaches.
Directly.
Steadily.

Impetuously.

Machinery is transfixed in time and space as Cometa heads near.
Progressively.

A Halo of sorts.
Sounds. Lights. Colors. Materials.
All tickle Machinery.
And showcases its Monstrous Tail forward.

The dim light collects it ‘Impressive’ trademark and crashes away into other destinations.
Into the subterranean core of the ‘Cosmos’ Track 5 – Cosmos II
Machinery awakes from the mess.
A clutter of elements that blinders.

A throng of claret points emerges in several spots.
Enticing.
Encircling.
Enveloping
Endeavoring to ingest.

Into the deep,
The burgundy,
The dark red,
The dismal red.
The hollow red.

Pure Red.
Ingesting.

Is it Lifeless? Am I Lifeless? Is it Full of Life?
Am I ingesting?

Sudden Nebula Silk.
I see.

Track 6 – Oort
Driven.
Machinery dashes.
A scenery of perfectly disparate colors melting.
The first thunderous carillon.
The disparate colors still dissolving.

The second thunderous carillon.
And colors in the background.
Suspended into each other unnoticing.

The third carillon.
The colors gasp a last breath.
A final one.

The fatal carillon.
Fading breaths
Dying breaths.

Yet marching.

Oort.
The end of the nightmare is the beginning of the nightmare.
The closest to Home.

Am I really heading
Home.

To the Heart of the Galaxy

Constellations: Summer Constellations (Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius)
Mood: Evasive
Song: Sleep * Conjure One

It's summer.
It's hot.

A delight offers itself to your naked eyes in the summer. The flamboyant constellations of Sagittarius (the Archer) and Scorpius (the Scorpion) shine out in July for the inhabitants of the mid-Northern hemisphere.

The Archer is believed, in Greek Mythology, to be pointing its arrow to the heart of the Scorpion, on its main first-magnitude star, Antares.

Apart from the fact that both are very perceptible, you can clearly see the Milky Way, the galaxy in which the Solar System is located, in that direction. In fact, the dwindling heart of the Milky Way lies in the Sagittarius Constellation.

To guide you in your enchanting journey, here is a small setlist that will kick with beginning of the expedition (Jabo's Night Out), then the dark skies in which stars start to pinpoint (Waiting for the Night), to the reaching of the outer ends of the Milky Way (the music of Subterranean Homesick Alien), and onto its most condensed areas in the Sagittarius constellation (A Forest), leading to the closing stages of the outing which marks the return (through the song Sleep).

Enjoy the ride!

01. Jabo's Night Out (Plej) - from the album Electronic Music from the Swedish Leftcoast [2003]

"Get your freak on

Get-get your freak on"








02. Waiting for the Night (Depeche Mode) - from the album Violator [1989]




"There is a star in the sky
Guiding my way with its light
And in the glow of the moon
Know my deliverance will come soon"




03. Subterranean Homesick Alien (Radiohead) - from the album OK Computer [1996]



"I'd tell all my friends but they'd never believe me,

They'd think that I'd finally lost it completely.

I'd show them the stars and the meaning of life.

They'd shut me away"



04. A Forest (The Cure) - from the album Seventeen Seconds [1980]




"come closer and see
see into the dark
just follow your eyes
just follow your eyes"





05. Sleep (Conjure One) - from the album Conjure One [2002]




"Kindred spirit of candle light
I won't sleep unless you
Sleep with me tonight

Deep with me tonight..."

Here's where the Solar System is supposed to reside in the Milky Way.

Killed...Killed...Killed... KILLED

Galaxy: Whirpool Galaxy

Mood: Weird

Song: The World Is Not Enough * Garbage

"I feel safe
I feel scared
I feel ready
And yet unprepared
The world is not enough"

The whirlpool galaxy. One of the most important spiral-type galaxies to be known.
Look at it.
A magnificent structure. But something intriguing, bloodcurdling resides in it. The beauty in it screams horror.

Change of situation.
The Earth.

In one single week (among several dreadful events):

200 killed in Sao Paolo air crash (Brazil)
80 killed in dual attacks in Kirkuk (Iraq)
36 killed in attacks in Karachi (Pakistan)
24 killed in Mumbai building collapse (India)
09 killed in 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan (Japan)
01 killed in pipe explosion in New York (USA)

Terrorism…
Natural disasters…
Human mistakes…

Where are we heading to?
The Whirlpool is sucking us deeper … into more disasters, more terror, and more human failures…