Category Archives: Linguistics

The study of language structure (grammar) and meaning (semantics).

Helpful Arabic Language Media Resources

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Sabeel Media is a great resource for Arabic language videos ,  and Arabic language MP3 audio downloads (podcasts). They produce videos and other media resources in several languages and dialects.

For instance, Sabeel recently released some new videos in their Arabic Culture and Life series – entitled “Reliving Harat Abu Awad”. It’s an interesting glimpse at a historical theatrical tour (in 1991) of “Harat Abu Awad”, the famous Jordanian play, in five U.S. cities. Including some never before seen documentary footage! In this segment, we will meet the artist Nabil Mashini (Abu Awad), the artist Hassan Ibrahim (Marzooq), the artist Rashida Dahani (Um Awad), and the producer of the theatrical tour, Mr. Samir H. Haddad. Also, the artist Musa Hijazin who will play the oud and sing on stage with Marzooq and Abul khil (Ghassan Mashini).

Sabeel Media also offers a collection on DVD of 12 short films:  Scenes from the  Heavenly Books, which contains short stories (video clips) – Stories of the Prophets in the Bedouin dialect of Arabic.  You can preview many of the Sabeel Media videos on the Sabeel Media YouTube channel, or the Sabeel Media Vimeo channel.

Along with Arabic language resources, they have recently added some Indonesian. You might also be interested in their FREE downloads of original poetry, featuring many audio podcasts in the Stories of the Prophets series.

Babbling Bubbleheads

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This unique YouTube video, by Candy Spilner and Allan Rubin, captures some interesting aspects of epistemology, conversation, language, art and music. The video may seem pointless, even stupid — at first glance.

Look closer. Observe carefully.

It depicts the babbling bubbleheads who (having no deep understanding of the shortness and fragility of life) continue talking about nothing important — until suddenly (pop)  — life is over.

When was the last time you had a deep conversation about the meaning (and purpose) of life — with someone you love? Pop! Too late — your life is over. Babble, babble, babble … bloop! It mocks and ridicules post-modern foolishness, babbling bloggers, pontificating political pundits, promise-breaking politicians, TV talking-heads, shameless gossiping twitter-heads, and the continuing cacophony of all our careless conversations. In the babbling bubbleheads we see with penetrating perception – a reflection of ourselves.

I Will Destroy the Wisdom of the Wise

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γέγραπται γάρ· ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν, καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν ἀθετήσω.

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

γεγραπται γαρ απολω την σοφιαν των σοφων και την συνεσιν των συνετων αθετησω.

I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER, I WILL SET ASIDE.

Works of John Locke - page. 81 - Quoting the prophet Isaiah

Works of John Locke - page. 81 - Quoting the prophet Isaiah

לָכֵן, הִנְנִי יוֹסִף לְהַפְלִיא אֶת-הָעָם-הַזֶּה–הַפְלֵא וָפֶלֶא; וְאָבְדָה חָכְמַת חֲכָמָיו, וּבִינַת נְבֹנָיו תִּסְתַּתָּר

Top Ten Reasons to Love Ruby on Rails

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Joe McGlynn from CodeGear wrote a great article for Dr. Dobbs Journal.

He lists 10 reasons to love Ruby on Rails. The first reason really resonated with me since I’m a systems architect, and I understand the dangers of over-architecting solutions

“1. Many line-of-business applications do not require over-architected, complex and costly software systems to operate. Over-engineering applications increases costs, wastes time and dilutes competitive advantage. Rapidly-constructed software applications that deliver essential functionality with good scalability and low maintenance costs are easily achievable using Ruby and the RoR framework.”

Check out all 10 reasons in the DDJ article.