A Sort of Introduction to The Bedouins

Welcome to our newly refurbished desert. And as we move from dune to dune, together, let me tell you something about ourselves.

Bedu, the Arabic word from which the name bedouin is derived, is a simple, straightforward tag. It means "inhabitant of the desert," and refers generally to the desert-dwelling nomads of Arabia, the Negev, and the Sinai. For most people, however, the word "bedouin" conjures up a much richer and more evocative image--of lyrical, shifting sands, flowing robes, and the long, loping strides of camels.

We are here to conjure that exact magical existence within our lives. We sit in a circle and interact - That's the idea that went behind in creating this blog.

And for all of these you just need to be a Bedouin yourself - be part of the community. All you need to do is mail me at clownscape@gmail.com letting me know that you'd like to become a Bedouin yourself. And I'd send you an invitation to join in as a co-author, along with a detailed mail about some of the basic stuffs in this blog. The rest is pretty simple - accept the invitation, if you don't have an account with Blogger already - it's ask you to create one. Do it. And you're ready to post. For those of you who already have an account, you'd see this blog add up on your dashboard.

After you've gone through the introductory mail and you feel you've more questions, you can always ask them over here (as comments on this post) or mail me back with your queries.

But before you make a decision to join (or not to), take a stroll. Wait! Lemme roll the magic carpet first. Okay. we're ready.

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

The Bedouin Lounge

Mind some coffee? Or is it just listening to your folks that interests you? The Bedouin Lounge is the place you come for all of these and more. Yeah, people! It's the place where you can sit back and enjoy or be part of the events - take the centrestage; find out what your fellow bloggers have been saying and include your own inputs on the same. Whatever you say in any of the events in here would be carefully organized manually with what everyone else had to say. Be creative, be funny, be nostalgic or serious. Your thoughts always count. And what's more - you do so in front of an audience that's always present - the tribe of Bedouins, flesh and bone, always ready to react from the inner core of their hearts or by a perfect rationality if the needs be. We all know our folks and I hope you won't disagree with me on that.

Here's a list of events that's currently going on in the Lounge. Check 'em out! .... And don't forget to take part. See ya in some other part of the tent.



THE BEDOUIN STUFF

• GET INTRODUCED TO THE BEDOUINS
• MAKE SUGGESTIONS
• BEDOUINS' NEWSROOM
• BLOG ARTCYCLOPEDIA

THE ON-GOING EVENTS

1. BONFIRE TOPICS
2. PSEUDO-PHILOSOPHICAL SOUP
3. CREATIVE CROSSINGS
4. VISUAL GALLERY
5. SPECIAL EVENTS

So, if you consider yourself to be a wanderer, mail me at clownscape@gmail.com and I'll add you as a co-author which is all you need to take part in most of these events. It all comes with a Bedouin's metaphorical wardrobe.

PSEUDO-PHILOSOPHICAL SOUP

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

"The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it."

- Bertrand Russell

" What if nothing exists and we're all in somebody's dream? Or what's worse, what if only that fat guy in the third row exists?"

- Woody Allen

" I think, therefore Descartes exists."

- Saul Steinberg

I think you've already got a fair idea of what would be the general mood in this tent. If you haven't as yet, then you've perhaps been all too philosophical and my suggestion would be you stop being thus if you want to take part in this philosophical discussion. Now let me answer your queries -

What is this discussion all about?

Philosophy.

Who can take part?

All people who know little or nothing about philosophy.

How is that possible?

It's not.

Then, how do I take part?

Look, you've already started considering yourself as one of those "people who know little or nothing about philosophy". But you've still been a part of this discussion. Haven't you?


Discussing about philosophy can be fun when you assume that you know nothing about it - because it gives you infinite freedom on what to discuss and how. You don't need to remember all the "-isms" [such as rationalism, existentialism, post-structuralism, prism (oops, sorry not the last one)]. We'll create our own Pseudo-philosophical universe (yeah, whatever that word means!)

HOW TO PLAY

First of all, there would be a topic. Second of all, the entire discussion would be taking part in the comments section in form of dialogues (as in a drama). Third of all, each of you'd be playing a character - You may choose to play as yourself or any other character chosen by you (say, "The Senator" or "Spiderwoman"). In case you choose to play someone else, mention the character you're playing in your very first comment. Fourth of all, anyone can take part in this dialogue including NON-MEMBERS. Last of ... whatever's left, each discussion would run for exactly a month after which no more new comments would be allowed.

If you have any questions ask them here (as comments), otherwise move on to This Month's PSEUDO-PHILOSOPHICAL SOUP and take part. Make it funny and have fun!

"To all those who still wish to think about man, about his reign or his liberation …who still ask themselves questions about what is man in his essence…who wish to take him as their starting point in their attempts to reach the truth…to all these warped and twisted forms of reflection, we can only answer with a philosophical laugh -- which means to a certain extent, a silent one."

- Michael Foucault

CREATIVE CROSSINGS

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

Feeling creative? Want to set your imaginations free in words? This is where we challenge you to a "creative crossings". That being said let me tell you how it works -

Every month you'd be given two words starting with an alphabet. Let's say, "creative" and "crossing" are the two words. Your job is to connect this two seemingly unconnected words with a third word of your choice starting with the same alphabet and write something creative. Let's say, you chose the word - "challenge". Your job would be to write a story, a poem, a dialogue or for that matter, anything creative using the three words.

There would a winner every month - based on who derives maximum relevance and meaning using the three words. Your piece may be as long or short as you wish. You may submit as many entries as you wish, the only constraint being that you cannot choose the same word twice. For instance, if you've already used up "challenge" you may choose - "constraint", "cannot" or maybe, "choose". Even, "cannibals" would be accepted.

How to Publish

Mention the 3rd word starting with the chosen alphabet of the month, that you've opted for, at the beginning of your post.

Publish your post in this blog and select-copy-paste this link at the end of your post - this entry is meant for CREATIVE CROSSINGS. You must do this so that I can understand that your post is meant for this section. I, on my part, will make sure that your entry is submitted under COMPLETED CROSSINGS. At the end of the month a winning entry will be selected.

Don't forget to check the other entries of your fellow bedouins and comment on them.

Did someone ask about the prizes? Well, we are too poor for that. The only prize you get is that your name gets featured for the next month on the walls of The Bedouin Lounge

CREATIVE CROSSINGS # 1

Here are the two words for this month -

1. Bullet
2. Blind

COMPLETED CROSSINGS

Add Yours!

If you feel like reading a few more fiction and/or poetry blogs, visit our BLOG ARTCYCLOPEDIA section.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

Sorry! It seems we don't have any Special Events going on inside this tent.... But you can always suggest one. After all, it's you who decides on what goes on in this tent (section).

So, come on, think, think, think of something!

VISUAL GALLERY

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

These are the walls that are specially reserved for all your visual blogposts - which means that this is where you post all your photography and/or paintings.

How to Publish

Publish your posts containing paintings and photography in the Bedouins blog and select-copy-paste this line at the end of your post - More Visual Posts Here. You must do this so that I can understand that your post is meant for this section. I'll make sure, on my part that your posts are featured under the BEDOUIN VISUALS. There are no rules whatsoever.

And oh yes.... before I forget.... There's one restriction - In none of your visual media may you use colors close to ultra-violet or infra-red. The Bedouins authority have imposed a ban on them.

BEDOUIN VISUALS

Share Yours!

If you feel like viewing a few more painting and/or photography blogs, visit our BLOG ARTCYCLOPEDIA section.

MAKE SUGGESTIONS

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

We welcome all your suggestions in this section. If you think this blog could be improved or some more fun and informative sections can be added to it, don't think twice to suggest it over here. Also, we're mostly looking to add SPECIAL EVENTS in which the community could participate and enjoy. So, if you have any new ideas for such, do enlighten us.

At the same time, if there's any kind of problem you're facing while posting or otherwise, this would be the right place to tell us.

There's anything else in this world that you'd like to steer our attention towards, let the voices be heard!

BLOG ARTCYCLOPEDIA

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

An on-going anthology of blogs dedicated to any form of art.

This section is still in its initial phase. So, your inputs are welcome. If you think you know of any blog that's dedicated to these art-forms or if you think your personal blog is dedicated to the same, let me know and I'll try to feature the blog(s).

Photography

Coming Soon!

Paintings

Coming Soon!

Fiction

Coming Soon!

Poetry

Coming Soon!

BEDOUINS' NEWSROOM

Welcome to The Bedouin Lounge

The Newsroom is divided into two sections.

1. Bedouin News - Read and post news pertaining to the bedouins (members) and this blog.
2. General News - any article pertaining to this world or beyond that can be described as news.

Select-copy-paste this link at the end of your news article: Read more news here

Bedouin News

Add yours!

General News

Add yours!