Disclaimer: Somewhere on this blog are multiple grammatical mistakes, spelling errors and obscure Star Wars references.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

On this glorious day..



2.3 Billion people all over the world came together to celebrate in union, on this glorious day,





... my Birthday


(and Eid..)



:D


xx


M

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

SUPERCALIFRAGALISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!

SHE BOUGHT IT!

SANA BOUGHT ME AN XBOX360!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



*faints*


*dies*





PS. I LOVE YOU!!!!



*dies again*


M

Monday, November 12, 2007

MUST BLOG THIS!

The moment I saw this video I KNEW I was blogging it.

It speaks for itself...




xD


M

Sunday, November 11, 2007

>.<

Well no excuses this time, it HAS been awhile since I bothered to keep my little website up-to-date. Either way, with more updates on my life, here we go!!!

MAHE is getting better. It is NOT growing on to me, rather I'd like to believe that I'm having that calming, normalizing influence on MAHE. I've even got some people who've told me to correct their pronunciations whenever I catch them off guard. So there! Progress!

MAWF has restarted activities and I'm scheduled to give a presentation at the DAA come Sunday (I believe). Run of the mill thing and a part that I enjoy carrying out. Apparently I've got quite the convincing tone. Also, have a wish kid to work with now. Some boy in Abu Dhabi who wants a playstation. Not much of a wish really, but hey, something to work on.

I AM a bit miffed at Khadija (Current Director) for "demoting" me of sorts. But let's see, I plan on making headway once again!


A video I found. Hilarious!

THIS...IS...SPARTAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!



Well, football season started and we have a tournament coming up next week. Let's pray that I'm playing. Let's pray that we win.

Grr. I put on weight again!


That's all for now!


Cheers!

xx




M


Monday, October 29, 2007

Degradation/Degression..

This topic is something that I've partially written on earlier, but after a recent discussion with a new friend, I stumbled upon some points that I felt, deserved blogging about!

Either way, the topic at hand is Degradation and/or Degression.

I'm not much in the mood to give a super killer blog post right now, but I'm just gonna make a quick mention of something that you oughta think over.

Has anyone noticed how people cannot be f***** to read about anything but death and destruction? Has anyone noticed how most bestsellers involve death, corruption at the highest levels, deceit and/or lies? Has anyone bothered to find out WHY there are so many deaths in Darfur, rather than when Paris gets out of jail?

Summarized:

The irony will always be that people will forever love to read about it in newspapers, hear it on the radio and watch it on television, but it will never be something that the can handle if it's upon themselves.



We're all so f*****.


M

A New Blog.

For reasons unknown I decided to start a new blog. Possibly a place for a more professional approach to. Maybe somewhere where I can post stuff that does NOT have any personal/social effect, but more of a professional approach.

Or I might not continue the blog at all.

Who knows?


Muhammed Ali J




Take care!

xx



M

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Shouting Out.. to You..

You know what I realized, Sugar? I've dedicated so many posts on my blog to things and people that don't really matter or I don't know very well but I never really dedicated anything to you. Not that it's the most beautiful thing on the planet (my posts) or anything worthwhile, but I guess it's best to put to paper (or the internet) what you really are. To me.


Babe.. You're the single most beautiful person that I've come across. You're near perfect in every way. And I really like the association that we have. Remember the beach? YOU were right. Who says people don't say how good we look, already? 'Course they do! 'Cuz we ARE.

You're beautiful.
You're intelligent.
You're funny.
You're bumbling.
You're spastic.
You're lowely.
You're snotty.
You're gassy. (You get that from me...)
You're an airhead.

You're a lot of things. All of them, I'd give anything for (with the possible exception of the gas). Some of the flaws that you keep mentioning, so what? They're flaws, and eventually you'll rid yourself of them.



Smile, ALWAYS. Reason being, you're loveliest when you're smiling. God is witness.


:)


*crazy hand signal*

*again*


M

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

NIONIEL!

...... SHOW YOURSELF!!


:P


M

Monday, October 08, 2007

Filler

I hath noticed that I tend to use small blurbs when trying to write a post, just for the sake of posting. Look through my last 20 odd posts, and you'll find that most of them are either video posts or smaller, non-great-piece-of-writing pieces.

Aah, well. I must start to try and post more ARTICLES and PIECES on this here blog. I wish someone would give me a topic every 2 or 3 days. That way I'd write on them and my blog would seem partially intellectual.

I like my blog. I really do. I like the way the layout has finally found itself. I went from the all-white background that I initially started with and experimented with many different colors. The final layout, that you now see, is my finished product. Although I must be completely honest, I took some inspirations from a few other blogs. These are:
So there. I pulled some ideas from these blogs and it helped me carve the final layout that you now see and, hopefully, adore.

Anyway, I'm glad I decided to start a blog.

Also, please help with ideas, and drop suggestions for articles that I should write on.

And, since I've been doing it a while, yet ANOTHER trailer... This time it's for the Hitman movie.



Cheers!!

xx

M

Friday, October 05, 2007

The Comebacks

Well, if I'm now promoting movies, why not promote another one eh?

Trailer says all.



xD

M

Thursday, October 04, 2007

The Kingdom

From a moviegoer's point of view, this movie is going to be KICK BUTT. I'm really psyched to see it. Interesting enough story line, mixed with a heavy dose of adrenaline and the nice garnish of controversy, and there you have it, The Kingdom.

From what I've read on some critic pages, the best actor is Ashraf Barhom, who plays the Saudi Colonel Al-Ghazi. He whoops Jamie Foxx's butt. Pwnd. From what I've seen I'd like to think that he's one of the plus points of this movie.

And, contrary to popular belief the movie was not shot in Saudi. It was mainly shot in Phoenix, Arizona. And here's the kicker for us, Emiratis and Expatriates alike. The movie was also shot in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates!! As for how controversial the movie is going to be, I'm gonna wait until AFTER I've seen it. After which I shall, depending on the movie, tear the movie apart, or, set it on a pedestal.

Enjoy the Trailer! Oh, and the song is, 'Bullet the Blue Sky' by U2. The song was from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, and it's a shoutout against the then-American policies towards South America. Bono was well involved in it, hence the band dedicated a song to it.




Can't wait!


M

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

MSN bummers..


Don't you just LOVE MSN chatter...

*paste*

...reverend... - | To Endless Times.. (L) [ In Other News: Mmm.. Pie... Pie GOOD.. says (10:26 PM):
HI HI HI HI HI!!!!

Exstacy <3 {ChocoLate Star} says (10:27 PM): HIE HIE HIE HIE HIE HIE HIE !!!

...reverend... - | To Endless Times.. (L) [ In Other News: Mmm.. Pie... Pie GOOD.. says (10:27 PM):
HOW ARE YOU!!!

...reverend... - | To Endless Times.. (L) [ In Other News: Mmm.. Pie... Pie GOOD.. says (10:27 PM):
*SQUEE*

Exstacy <3 {ChocoLate Star} says (10:27 PM):
GREAT !!!

Exstacy <3 {ChocoLate Star} says (10:27 PM):
AND YOU !!?!

...reverend... - | To Endless Times.. (L) [ In Other News: Mmm.. Pie... Pie GOOD.. says (10:28 PM):
AWESOME!!! MY CAPS BUTTON IS STUCK... I DONT KNOW HOW To.... oh.. there we go.. never mind...


*end paste*


xD


M

Saturday, September 29, 2007

And I'm Back..

Greetings. :)

I beg my audience's forgiveness. After a relatively hyperactive month (August, a record - breaking 16 posts!), this month has been one of the lows. I would throw an excuse about how University is getting to me and the workload puts me under great strain, but that would be a lie.

University's a joke. Well, at least the course that I'm doing AT this University is.

A BBA degree isn't a very valued degree. It's not a specialization like medicine, dentistry or an engineering field. You don't learn anything specific. What you learn is mainly theories about how to run things from businesses to people to resources. Which really isn't much because what you learn in class (Theory), is much different from what really happens in the working world (Practical).

A lot of people that I've spoken to have told me that the BBA is a nothing degree. You learn how to work on the job. You won't learn it during class. I'm inclined to agree with that. Either way, it's been about 25 days since we began classes at MAHE and I can safely say that there's not been a single day where I've sat down and hit the books.



Oh, and I detest the amount of bogus people in MAHE. It gets to me.


Correction:

I detest bogus people.




Aaah.. Much better..


M

Monday, September 17, 2007

Unlocked iPhones for sale in UAE

The text of this post is just what the title reads.

I've got iPhones. They're ready to work in the UAE, because I got them unlocked.

Plus point is: They're software unlocked so no hardware nibbles took place. What you get is all APPLE iPhones with no restriction on networks so it'll work in the UAE or any other place for that matter.

We guarantee the software unlock. It doesn't work, your money back.

And speaking about money, each iPhone you buy will set you back AED 3000/- . By this Thursday (20th of September) I'll have the Demo pieces as well so you can come and see that they work if you require the proof.

Call me on 050-7199175. I'm gonna keep my number up for as long a I'm selling the phones, so feel free.

xx

M

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Updates Vupdates

Very sorry for the lack of activity on my blog lately but have been caught up with University life at MAHE.



It sucks. *displays emotion of pure hatred/detest/disgust etc etc*

Sometimes I feel like this Angry German Kid, minus all the Counter Strike references. Or replace them with references of MAHE.




As for everything else, it's all good. Slowly getting out of shape, but starting Ramadan I shall shed some animal fat. At least that's what I hope to do.

"I'm a little teapot,
Short & Stout,
This is my handle,
This is my spout..
"


I'm having Mallu-Tourettes. That is so nasty maan.



Fuck.


*angry*

xx


M

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Go Tee

For a month or so I let the hair on my chin grow, so as to finally show off the delights of facial hair. It looked.. interesting.. Either way, I shaved it off today, and for the first time in a month I saw my chin. T'was like meeting a long lost friend. My lack of facial hair growth intrigues me at times. It's like God wanted to save me the pesos on shaving gear.

"I will never let you fall,
I'll stand up with you forever..
"

The song below this post, Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Appartus. Isn't it lurfly? <3 .. Very akin to what I'd like played at a wedding or so.


MAHE.. or bust..


Prayers are always answered. You just gotta be patient. Diligence and persistence are the keys.


I feel quite good. Considering the change of lifestyle in the past week I feel a lot better than I normally would. Shtank you. In other news: Sehr's back! yay!


I begin my second University this Saturday, making today the last day of my Summer. So I guess no more nocturnal tendencies and late night snacks. But wait, my classes begin at 12:30pm. Ok, so we're still with the late nights :) Whoo!


I need to pick up a good art. I dunno, drawing, painting, knitting (?!?!?!) . I've already began the singing, but then anyone can sing. And I'm no Jennifer Hudson. I'd like to be Ben Burnley though. Fabulous voice.


I always thought that writing was my art. I dunno how true that is, because a lot of people write and it's their various styles that either make it arty or not. Because I mainly write about personal events and thoughts etc etc, my writing style is far too narrative and generic. AND I'm a realist. Together, these two don't go far in producing Bacon-esque work. What really piques me are the various commands over English. I wouldn't say that I'm the best, but I'd like to think that I'm good. And I know that my daily usage of the language is on par with my writing. However my daily writing may not be on par with my command. I went blog-hopping just now and visited some blogs, whose authors I know. And I was able to very visibly identify the different styles. I liked some and while others not so much. What impressed me is that some people have a far better command over the written while others, such as myself, have better command over spoken.

So I came to a conclusion. English is a language that can be changed to suit one's taste. I can speak better than a lot of people, but I know that a lot of people can write better than me. My style is very narrative and chatty, but I guess that's what suits me in the world of literature.


"When I see your smile,
Tears run down my face,
I can't replace,
And now that I'm stronger,
I have figured out,
How this world turns cold,
And replaces my soul,
And I know,
I'll find, deep inside me,
I can be the one..
"


I'm gonna play that song at my wedding....


:)


M

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Your Guardian Angel..

Here...



:)


xx



M

Monday, August 27, 2007

Yeah.

I remember when I started this blog I imagined it would be a place for my satire and dry humor. Didn't really imagine it would turn out to be more like an online rant/vent/moan - fest. Weird.

After 8 months, I guess I can finally say (with no doubt), 'What else could go wrong?'

"I'm a lot less,
Than I thought,
You're a lot less,
Than I knew..
"

Disappointing friends, disappointing grades, disappointing scholarship news, drunk f***s in Wranglers, death in the family, lying teachers, the list goes on.

"All the things that I used to say,
All the words that got in the way,
All the things that I used to know,
Have gone out the window..
"

I'm an underachieving Eff-up. My brother said it too, though not in the same words. I don't blame him, I'd probably call myself that too. Gosh, I'm so self-pitying right now, I disgust myself even. *must snap out of it* ... Go away..

"All the things that she used to bring,
All the songs that she used to sing,
All the favourite TV shows,
Have gone out the window..
"

Gosh, some people have some effed up nerve.


xx


M

Argh.

Yup. No scholarship, and measly Financial Aid.

Why?

"Your parents are in the high income category"

Eff that.


xx

M

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

WTF IS GOING ON!??!

No really. WHAT THE EFF IS GOING ON!!? How much can be dished out in one lifetime?!

After an effed night's sleep I woke up to (ironically) find out that my morning just got a whole lot worse. Amongst the confusion to which I woke up at 6:30am I was able to find out that someone in my family passed away. After the initial shock, turns out my pregnant first cousin lost her baby daughter during childbirth. My cousin's still in the ICU. I lost one of my nieces before even knowing her. I'm devastated but I can't even begin to imagine what my cousin and her husband are enduring.

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon.

Pray for them.



M

ToaDM - Santa Monica

My current band fetish: Theory of a Dead Man.

Song: Santa Monica

Enjoy!








xx

M

Friday, August 17, 2007

And so it begins...

After much ado about.. well.. nothing in particular, My University life begins in roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes. From today until the 25th, I undergo Registration and Orientation etc etc. 26th is the first day of classes. Sometime in this week I will also be informed about my scholarship. I'm currently very on-edge about everything, but head above water always.

:)


"All my designs simplified,
And all of my plans compromised,
All of my dreams sacrificed..
"

Aah.. PT <3 (Note: No subliminal messaging involved, they're just currently playing on iTunes) I've been under the weather today, ever since I woke up. Head spins a bit and am sniffling. Otherwise I'm A-Ok. Shtank you. Someone said that there's no one older than a High School Senior and no one younger than a University Freshman. That is oh so approprioso. I intend to purchase a few final C&H Books that I found at Borders the other day. So please start paying up. I accept cheques and plastic.


"We're both looking for something,
That we're afraid to find,
It's easier to be broken,
It's easier to hide..


Looking at you, holding my breath,
For once in my life, I'm scared to death,
I'm taking a chance, letting you inside..
"


xx


M

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Few Days till..


A few days from the moment of publishing, I'll either be like a randy bunny on LSD, or, deader than your average roadkill armadillo on a Texas highway. Y'know what I noticed? No ones results are just, 'Ok'. They're either Crap or Awesome. Bust or Boom. Sink or Swim. No floating allowed.


"Somebody once asked,
Could I spare some change for gas..
"

In a week or so, I'll know about my scholarship. Let the pant-wetting begin.

Someone mentioned to me that I'm a softie and that I forgive easy. Wtf. I'm no softie! I PLAY RUGBY FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!


"And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?
Was it everything you wanted to find?
And then you missed me while,
You were looking for yourself out there..
"

Once again, I find myself without mode of transportation as the extra car we had has to be returned and my sister resumes taking the Peugot away from me. I'm pretty darn spoilt (I'm pretty sure I've spelt that incorrectly. 'Spelt' too) to say this, but, IS THERE NO GOD! I need wheels! Maybe I could strike a deal with the folks. I get and keep scholarship = I get and keep Car. Hmm..

Might just work.. I oughta wait until they're either very tired or very happy. Or both.


"Let's go out tonight,
Where the lights all shine,
Like I knew they would,
Be mine all mine,
Baby I'll be good.
Pray for me..
"



xx

M

Monday, August 13, 2007

Lifehouse and Vertical Horizon Set

I'm putting together a little album consisting of Lifehouse, Vertical Horizon and Deathcab for Cutie covers, Mali might be featured on some of the tracks! Requests accepted if I am familiar with the songs.








Sunday, August 12, 2007

I need...



...that DAMN SCHOLARSHIP!!!!!!



M

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Teh New(er) Page..

"Honey why're you calling me, So late,
It's kinda hard to talk right now..
"

Aah, Hinder. Not much of a fan, but I have developed a particular liking to this song. Been listening to a lot of older more conventional music lately. Yes I have.

A friend introduced me to this older band. I really like them judging by what I've heard so far and I likey. Theory of a Dead Man, is what they're called. Pretty decent. They were signed by the terrible Nickelback, which probably shows in the similarity, but this band is far better. Songs AND Videos.

"Sit back, and relax,
And wait for the morning..
"

I'm doing a lot better. Thanks.

My typical desi family (I love it either way) is now perpetually glued to the television screen. India Vs. England yaar.

BEOWULF!!!! Omg! *chokes* TEH MOVIE!!!!!! I've been waiting for this moment my entire teenage life! Robert Zemeckis directs this CGI movie. Ray Winstone, of no particular fame, plays the warrior Beowulf. He's done minor roles in The Departed and Chronicles of Narnia.

But HERE'S the kicker!

Guess WHO plays the Mother of the monster Grendel. The latter is the first villain, while his mother plays the final villain. Guess WHO??


Wait for it....



*cue drum roll*








Angelina Jolie! *wooot!*

I can't wait. *sigh*


Feast your eyes:




Ain't it Lurrrrflyyy..


"He looks to the left,
He looks to the right,
There in a golden ray of light,
Is his open man,
Just like he planned,
The whole world is his tonight.."


xx


M

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Miracle..

This is for you. A parting gift, if it were..


~ Miracle

Fight for each other..
Defeat the world..
You keep some of my purple..
I'll keep some of your gold..
You'll give up my bad ways..
I'll give up your good powers..
Leave my sorrow and pain..
And I'll leave your flowers..
We'll make pretend..
But that'll never be enough..
"Sorry to lose you my friend.."
"I'm sorry to lose you my love.."


xx

M

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Run.Shoot.Score

-=A dedication to my past=-


Let me ask you a question,
are you fond of crashing into the ground?
Driving yourself right over the edge
for thrill on your way down?

Burning your bridges, illusions of trust
Learning the ditches by falling in dust
When it comes down to it, in the end, you see
Everything's gonna be fine for me.

Getting real stronger by passing your test,
No I don't love you, this air is NOT blessed.
And I'd drink to forget you, if i was a drunk
Or smoke to forget you by puffing on junk,

But who needs that, when I'm still alive?
Who needs the anger, the hurt, the strife?
Who needs to touch you, to make you their wife?
Cause now I can say, "I still have my life.."

Stickers and stuffed toys..Remember the heat..
It takes a lot to make what's bitter, real sweet..



Copyright, Ali Emara ©, 2007

Monday, August 06, 2007

xD

Ok ok ok ok ok I promise, LAST post for today.

Went out with friends, and had a nice laugh today. Was very.. err.. revealing..

"Some say, we're never meant to grow up,
I'd say they never knew enough..
"

I stumbled upon another idea for a business venture today, as I was driving on the floating bridge. T'was very insightful and it might even have a decent amount of potential. It's going to very obviously need a lot of hard work, but I might just be able to pull it off with the right type of contacts etc etc.

I STILL NEED TO CLEAN MY DAMN ROOM! :@

It turns out that most of the missing books were in my brother's bathroom. Yes he likes to read while pooping and apparently my books are worth being taken to the john with.

I'm not poor because I have no money... I CHOOSE not to have any money.. Aah, the powers of PERSPECTIVE.. Effing A yes? Thank you Naddy!

"Somebody once asked,
Could I spare some change for gas?
"

My brother arrives in 2 days. Eff. That mainly means it's the couch for Yours Truly, and probably a little more added scrutiny on my social life. But nothing that I can't handle I'm sure. *said the sacrificial lamb*

I've got a Lifehouse CD that I was going to give away, but can't anymore. Not much of a CD buff myself (I only have very few). I'm more of a stolen-mp3s-via-Limewire fiend. But, this CD holds it's own value and will remain with me for all eternity.

This is an edited transcript of what was the original post. From then, to now, stuff has never looked better, and this I can say with no bias.

Funny story:
Two days ago, I prayed for strength to do what I was going to do that day. I did it and I came out well. I thought my prayers had been answered and that, that was the strength I was looking for.

Today morning, my prayers were really answered and I was able to do something I normally would not have. There is a God!


xx


M

...Breath

I'm waiting, I'm praying, realize, start hating..


M

I'm in love with RON BURGUNDY! [Gasp! TWO posts in ONE day!!]

For all of you that've seen Anchorman, here was an unused or deleted scene from the same movie. Champ's declaring his love for Ron. Aweshum.

My second post in the same day! Gosh! Will wonders never cease!




xx

M

Teh new page..

"..Breathe in for luck,
Breathe in so deep,
This air is blessed,
You share with me.."

Hello joyous and wonderful readers. Yet another post. Yesh. Yesh thish ish another posht. I actually am not quite sure as to what it is that I wish to rant about but who cares eh?

"..I can't stand to fly,
I'm not so naive.."

Today was a weird day. Filled with emotions of sorts. Shit happens, and everyone wants to avoid unpleasant eventualities. But, alas, no sleep for the brave.

I've begun to notice how, many of my books are missing. And it is beginning to irk me. I'm missing ALL of my Covert One series, by Bob Ludlum and can not find ANY of my awesome Clive Cusslers.

"..My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me..
So wont you kill me. So I die happy.."

Ali snapped his guitar string while singing. T'was hilarious! xD

Tonight I sat down with someone and planted the seeds to a band that we might start. This will obviously be done without knowledge to my lovely parents who would want me dead for doing such. We have a lead singer and a rhythm guitarist. Need a lead, bass and a drummer. I know what we're gonna call it, but am not gonna post it until we've confirmed it so as to keep it hush-hush.

Masroor B wants me to get to bed earlier and earlier. This does not please thy Nocturnal Lord of the Night.

"..But what you miss is love,
Everything below and up above..
"

Work has FINALLY taken a coherent shape and a final goal is now in sight. It's still a lot, but at least now seems a lot more do-able than what it was a while ago.

And final rant for tonight. My scholarship seems to have progressed beyond Financial Aid, and so it would seem that great news is on the horizon. However final news is yet unbeknownst to me, and I wish to be knownst immediately! Pray for me, please.

"..You never really know,
What it is, not until it goes,
And if it comes again,
A Miracle
"


xx


M

Saturday, August 04, 2007

I Collide...

"...If I drive all my patience away,
I collide,
I might drown in the wells,
That are made in my eyes,
Here I go again,
I'm lost again, again,
But I collide with..."

Ali wrote these lyrics for the band Repeat Offenders' 'I Collide.' Well done bro! The excerpt above is just the chorus and by far the best part of the song.

I've been in a little war with myself lately. 50% of me wants to do something, while the other 50% wants me to do the exact opposite. 'Tis quite confusing, I tell you!

Yeargh. Have to go to MAHE and apply tomorrow. Still no news from my scholarship from AUS, hence must start opening other options. *crosses fingers for Scholarship*

Made two very close friends in the past week. Weird how the people you least expect to, try and help out so much. Life works in weird ways. God has a sense of humour.

I still miss her.

Had an upset stomach last night. Didn't sleep a bloody wink. The night was full of tossing and turning, accompanied with the occasional dash to the loo. Literally, I stayed awake in bed for a good 3 hours before it was time for me to wake up. Stupid frankies. Stupid BC.

T-t-tigger likes his new desk. He prefers to sit between the speakers on my table, right next to the cds and the lamp. I was considering changing his name to, 'Hobbes,' after the character from Bill Watterson's, 'Calvin & Hobbes.' I <3 C&H. :D ... My favorite comic EVARR!!! Too bad he stopped drawing them :( . I need to clean my room. It's a bloody mess. I think someone barfed somewhere downstairs. There's an evil smell coming up the stairs and I'm scared to go investigate. T'was probably my nephew.

xx



M

Friday, August 03, 2007

Mmmm...pixel goodness.

I've had this saved in my drafts folder for about two months now, and it's high time I post it...

"Inspired by the research of Pawan Sinha, who had found that people can recognize faces using just 12 14 pixels' worth of information, we wondered if people can distinguish between faces and non-faces with even less information. So, last Friday, we asked CogDaily readers to try to identify faces as small as one-quarter the size of those used in Sinha's study: just 6 by 7 pixels."

via Cognitive Daily.



Hokay, so let's introduce a little fun to the blog. Okay?
Okay!


Let's go.
Below is a picture of a famous personality, pixelated and edited. Lets see who gets it first.




Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting




Aaannnd go!


Saturday, July 28, 2007

Home...

On old cobblestones, his feet tear,

They drag him roughly, but resistance he offers none,

Then why?

A Coward, he was called, but sacrifice is what he had done,

Then why?

The last meal, well finished, But hunger stayed,

His last bath, much taken, But filth remained,

His eyes, well dried, But pain lingered,

Judges offered no pity,

The noose offered no escape,

Yet this was not his place,

So he smiled, and made his way home.

- Farheij


xx

M

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Boom Shakalaka Boom Boom

What I've totally got figured out is that if most of the readers didn't already know who I was they'd automatically assume that I'm a woman, looking at my totally mind-blowing mood swings. It's the shiznit.

God has a sense of humor. A nasty one, at that. I have come to this utter, and final epiphany whence I have now realized that God placed a woman's pancreas and liver in my otherwise masculine body. After a little more than a month or so on hormonal medicine, I believe my vital organs have come to discover their full potential and turn me into a woman once a month. For a week or so. But there's no bleeding. That would be disgusting. Very disgusting.

I've seen that I now regret many things that I have said, done, typed and texted over the past month or so and I have absolutely no alibi save the fact that the, 'woman in me took over.' Yes I am now displaying my covert womanness although I would very much like to clarify that I AM still a male with male tendencies, hobbies, features and organ.


Ugh.



M

Guilt

Guilt. What is Guilt? When someone does a misdeed and then feels guilty about it, how many different ways are there to translate that emotion? I can think of a few.

Number 1: Real Guilt
Real guilt. A simple way to describe Real guilt, is when after committing the misdeed, you feel guilty about your actions, correct yourself, apologize, and then stay away from the vice and never return to it. Ideally a perfect "Sorry" scenario. Made the mistake. Felt bad. Apologized. Never did it again.

Number 2: Partial Guilt
Now see, this one is KINDA tricky. Very similar in fashion to Number 1, but subtle differences make it partial. Obviously you commit the misdeed first. But, at that moment you feel NO guilt attached to the action. Then, external circumstances persisting, things go back to normal, and then you admit to the misdeed and apologize to it. So you weren't guilty about it at the time of committing it, but felt the burden to inform later on. Also very acceptable and normally leads to good things

Number 3: Selfish Guilt
Selfish Guilt is the kicker. Selfish guilt is the guilt you feel NOT because of the actions you committed, but rather from the embarrassment of being associated with them. Sorta like, "I did that. Shit. I don't mind it and I'm not changing it, but shit, I did it either way. That sucks, what a bummer." Sorta like Ethnic Cleansing in Africa, only with apologies. They mean the apologies, but their actions totally cancel out their words. And as the words of age go, 'Actions speak (much much) louder than words.'

Hey you wanna judge people? Judge their damn actions.

And if you're feeling guilty, refer to above mentioned categories, and try and categorize yourself.

Now that's effing rich innit?!

xx

M

Saturday, July 14, 2007

The Sailor

Oceanic breezes chill his bones, but he minds not

The chatter of 'is mates blows o'er his thoughts,

Sight of land or pier, called o'er the decks,

A hint of a smile, now his night becks,

His sack on his back, a glance to the bridge,

Forward march, towards the hills,

Past the pubs, and past the women,

Past the glut of man, with hunger insatiable,

See those children, playing marbles on cobblestones,

See those drunks, stiffed on cheap ale,

Reach the bridge, towards where home lies,

Reach closer to, where the soul beckons,

Smell the scent, of an intoxication long wished for,

For six months have passed, with no aroma,

But lo! Here lies the Sailor's heart,

For he is at home, at last.

- Farheij


I came across this poet, while doodling on the internet. I'm gonna be the first to admit that this poem isn't exactly Pulitzer material. In fact it's really plain and simple. It also seems that the author's thoughts aren't coherent but more concurrent. Like he has many ideas, but can't decide in what order to place them, so just puts them down as they pop into his mind. But I liked idea behind the poem. So I'm posting it. My blog. =P

xx

M

Probaby the best ever...

Lately I've been finding myself having more and more patience to put into words my train of thought. Very cliched I know, but what was the point of this blog then? Either way, I guess as you deal with different scenarios in your life, you tend to discover a hidden part of you that manifests itself. With each new experience in your life, you tend to discover another hidden talent or feature or aspect about your personality, your life or yourself that you never knew existed before.

So I guess lately I've been having epiphany after epiphany in my life and the irony is that many of them are hormonal based. No, I'm NOT slowly turning into a woman, but I have been on an adrenaline rush lately so I'm gonna cop out and blame most of my theatrical summations of life on that. So anyway, here I am sitting on my father's laptop at 1:03am waiting for something magical to happen. Hopefully it will. I've got faith. I've got it in bulk. coughDragonMartcough.

We had guests all day today and that was a drag but the highlight of my day today, was a little quotation that I read while leafing through one of my father's old Amateur Photography books. My Dad isn't a photographer, but he likes to sound like a man with a hobby. Meh. I'm babbling, moving right on. As I leafed through the giant book, I reached the section that spoke about, 'capturing beauty in it's true form.' The section spoke variously about different ways to capture a variety of items ranging from scenery to nature to even models etc etc. As I glanced through ONE quotation definitely caught my eye.

" Beauty is the summation of the parts working together in such a way that nothing need be altered, added or taken away "

The speaker was an Italian Painter by the name of Elio Carletti. I tried then to look him up on the internet but found squat. All I DID find was that this line was used in a Nicholas Cage movie. Bummer.

Continuing, I fell in love with that line almost immediately. The funny bit is this line was so appropriate to something that I was telling someone lately, and it couldn't have been summed up better by this line. I could go on and on about analogies and incidents and events and whatnot but I guess what needs to be said was said.

I really don't know what the point of this post is. It's complete and total ramble, but it soothed my crave to write something out. So there.

xx

M

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Revelations

The last two months have been quite the roller coaster ride for me. I've witnessed both extreme highs and extreme lows and they both occurred with very few gaps. Hence the roller coaster analogy. Either way. I've realized a few things about myself that I hadn't until now. And this post is entirely about ME so please, let's not have any misconceptions eh?

I've realized that I'm about as moody as the next person. I used to believe that I was always calm and composed at all times. Cool as a cucumber and all that jazz. However, I now believe that that's what I THOUGHT I was but in reality I'm no different from your Joe Nobody who has mood swings. I have them too. In fact lately I might be having them more than the average bloke. Sometimes I can lose faith in all humanity and myself, while only moments before/after I would think I'm invincible and humanity always prevails. I previewed myself from a God's Eye view. Previewed my life and the last two or so months. I saw how I changed with time and moods. I saw some mistakes that I made, and some that I should've stopped.

I've realized that I'm not invincible (Yes I realize I'm contradicting the previous paragraph, but hear me out ok?). Yes I am NOT invincible. I just have really high confidence and a high guard. I can take anything, if not a lot, but I'm not invincible. I always believed that I was, and that nothing would faze me. However that is not the case and like any other individual I am also fazeable. Which kinda sucks because now I know that I'm vulnerable and that does kill the whole self confidence thing I had going for 19 years.

I've realized that a lot of things are never under your control. And you (me) have to accept that. I have to realize that even though there are many things that you cant do without, they are not under your control.

I've realized that when you've done everything that you can and all your options have been exhausted the ONLY (ONLY!!!) thing you can do is wait. And the occasional prayer. Waiting sucks, let there be no doubt in this matter, BUT if it's the only thing you CAN do then, beggars cant be choosers.

I've realized that no matter how much I have learned that I am not as invincible as I believed I was, I will NEVER stop being hopeful and optimistic. That's one thing that I realized that I always will be. Optimistic and Hopeful.

I've realized one final thing. I will never give up and I will always be there.

xx

M


Friday, June 29, 2007

Omg, How Are You?!?!?!!?!

A lot of people have been asking me the above question over and over and it's beginning to piss me off majorly. So from now on whoever asks me will get the same damn reply. I'll give them a link to this page and they can read for themfuckingselves.

  1. I have a pair of cracks in the knuckle of my right ring finger
  2. I have a busted knee
  3. I have hyperventilation
  4. I have weird blood pressure
  5. My long term plans were just raped by a mountain goat
  6. I've slept a collective of 4.5 hours in the past 3 nights
  7. For some crazy reason I'm drastically losing weight, that I shouldn't be
Am I ok? You do the effing math.

xx

M

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

The Best Laid Plans.

Mike Tyson said, "When any boxer enters the ring he's got a plan. Until he gets punched right in the face." A lot of people thankfully never get to witness this first hand. Unfortunately for yours truly that's almost exactly what happened. Only it was something more of a 'I had almost reached the knockout punch, but slipped and fell and got knocked out myself.'

How many of y'all have seen the 1999 movie called, 'Best Laid Plans.' It's a Murphy's Law-esque movie. Some guy decides to rob a bank. They make a plan. Simple yet effective. What could possibly go wrong. etc etc. Climax scene. Movie over. Credits start rolling. It really wasn't as much of a box office sensation, but I just feel it suits the mood just fine.

The last two months or so have been a total fuckjob and it's been hard trying to cope. Emphasis on, 'trying'. Finally about a little more than a week and a half ago, I thought that everything was over, and I was walking out of the ruins. You know, the whole schabang. Cleaning up, hiding scars, covering bruises etc etc. I thought it was over, but I knew there was a lot of patching up yet to be done. Sorta like maintenance on a bullet - ridden plane that's JUST made it out.

Unfortunately that once again ended one night ago. Monday night to be precise. The irony is that I had plans for a good amount of time after that, and I missed it by a matter of HOURS. I'm am now trying to come to terms with the fact that I probably missed something awesome by only a fraction of time, and that irony is a game best watched and not played.

And as a final piece of advice: Murphy's Law IS always correct.

xx

M

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Introducing...

Hello readers.

If you're wonderful enough to be loyal readers of my blog you would have noticed that my last post was in fact not mine at all. It was my newly appointed co-author and contributor to this blog, Uzma Atcha.

Now I finally have a squeaky, shrilly, opinionated, emotional, high-pitched voice on my blog. Things are definitely being shaped up. But less like shaken-up more like tall-glass-in-front-of-an-opera-diva scenario. Uzma has a wonderful style of writing and can be seen in her very own personal blog right here. I was planning on doing lovely Uzma's introduction to the blogosphere much earlier, but due to the onset of my examinations, and a particularly randy mountain goat called Core Mathematics 4, I was delayed.

Uzma is short, cute and looks a lot like the character Faye from the webcomic Questionable Content. She is also the one who got me hooked onto that webcomic and I owe her for that. This young lady has an awesome command over English, and is very fussy about it's misuse. You oughta catch a glimpse of her face when she hears modern rap music. Worth a million. Quite the connoisseur of Indie rock, Uzma listens to bands that most mainstream idol worshippers would not recognize even when drunk and hallucinating the green giant wearing striped socks and belting out some tunes from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Well, I could go on about this wonderful person for hours, but for a quick summary go here.

Either way she is both an awesome writer and a very important person in my life, and I truly will enjoy her company here. Thanks for joining me, and welcome aboard!

xx

M

Monday, June 11, 2007

Anything? You sure about that?

Hey guys!

Mali said he'd like to shake things up a bit on his blog, and what better way than to add a female's opinion, especially since he'd always ask me to proof read his posts and correct the many grammatical errors, anyway.

So here comes Uzma, adding the grotesque, overly emotional posts that this blog lacks (not that it was a bad thing).

Here goes my first post:

--


Picture this.

*cue fog machine and old school music here*

You're at the local grocery store, waiting in line at the checkout with an obscenely large trolley overflowing with junk. You're crossing things off the two page long list with that imaginary pen of yours, checking if you've picked up everything everyone in your family had wanted. Pickles? Mmhmm. Fabric Softener? Yep. Batteries? Got it. Toilet paper, fresh milk, cheetos for the movie? Check check check. Finally, the woman's credit card a customer in front of you works and you're next in line. You carefully maneuver the cart two inches ahead, avoiding the portly man's behind.

The phone rings.

"Hello?"
"Hey, you done at the supermarket?"
"Just checking out. Why, do you need something?"
"Erhm...yeah"
"What? Hurry up because this guy here in front of me is already paying."
"I just wanted something to drink."
"Like what? Tell me quick and I'll pick it up for you."
"Oh, I don't know. Something fizzy-like."
"Like what?"
"Anything, really."
"Like what?"
"Anything."
"Hurry up and make up your mind, Godddamnit.:
"Seriously, anything."

Mind you, I was just asking if they wanted me to pick up something out of courtesy.


To settle this problem that faces hundreds of thousand of indecisive people the world over, in Singapore, they've come up with crazy-ass drinks called "Anything" and "Whatever". Pretty cool, eh?
"Anything" could be Cola, Cola With Lemon, Apple, Fizz Up, Cloudy Lemon, or Root Beer.
"Whatever" consists of a range of iced teas.





To visit the site, click
here!
To see the second ad click here!

All I can say is, you guys asked for it.


--Lhjunkie
Xx

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Terrorism has no religion. Part 2

Hey readers.

After writing my last post I felt compelled to find the video because words could not express that message. Well I found it but unfortunately can't embed the video here.

So I decided to let you be able to download this video. Right click on the link below and click "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" (depending on what browser you're using). Download it and watch it on any media player. For the non - tech savvy, download the VLC Media player from the internet first.

The Kidnapping

Terrorism, indeed, has no faith or religion. Please leave comments about the video and the situation at hand. Much appreciated.

xx

M

Friday, June 08, 2007

Terrorism has no religion

Last night for reasons unknown, I stayed up till around 4:30 am after returning home at about 11:45pm. I watched, 'Snatch' on MBC2 again, and following that I saw what was possibly one of THE most pointless movies ever, Waterworld. That took a good 3 or so hours and that's probably what kept me up for so long. In fact at 4:30am when I DID go to bed, that damn movie was still going on. And I'm glad I didn't stay awake to find out what happens. That movie sucks. Kevin Costner should stick to producing. Or anything BUT acting.

Either way, terrible acting notwithstanding, during that time, I saw a very interesting advertisement. Well it wasn't an advertisement per se, it was more of a publicity video of sorts. It was a video about the war in Iraq, but not between the Americans and the Iraqis but rather between the warring sects of Sunnis and Shi'ites.

The video was well shot. It started with POV (Point of View) shot of a man with a cloth masked over his face being hustled somewhere by loud men yelling at him in Arabic. Finally, when the mask comes off, the hostage is facing one of his captors, a man clad in army fatigues, a black vest and a black balaclava, sporting an AK-47. The POV shot stops and then the camera pans out and you see the hostage strapped into a chair with 3 such men around him, one in front and 2 behind.

Simultaneously after this, the director plays a flashback in black and white. A busy Iraqi marketplace. Families and people on their daily hustle and bustle minding their own business, doing their own thing etc etc. Focus on, we see our hostage with his family. He has a beautiful wife and two lovely children around 6 and 8 years old. A boy and a girl respectively. Quite the family picture.

Scene changes back to the present: The captor smashes the butt of his AK - 47 into the hostages face, and asks just one question:

" Enta Sunni walla' Shi'e ? "

Translated: " Are you Sunni or Shi'ite? "

Once again the camera pans back to the marketplace where this near perfect family goes about buying groceries and meeting familiar faces. Suddenly, there's a disturbance as an old BMW swerves dangerously into the market place.

Camera pans back to the hostage scenario. Captor hits Hostage again. Again he asks, "Enta Sunni walla' Shi'ie?"

Four men burst into the marketplace brandishing AK - 47s and firing wildly into the air and at random stalls. People duck and fall everywhere to try and avoid getting shot. Mothers grab their children while men try to cover their entire families.

Another hit to the face. "ENTA SUNNI WALLA' SHI'E?!"

The family in the marketplace gets dispersed, the father fell away from his family near the feet of one of the gunmen. The gunmen continued their rampage for some time. Finally when they felt they did enough they grabbed some men, shoving one into the back seat and another into the trunk, before flooring the pedal of the old BMW and zooming out of there.

Another hit. Followed by another. "ENTA.... ENTA SUNNI WALLA' SHI'E??!"

Slowly, people in the marketplace stood up. The sounds of frantic mothers and scared children are commonplace. Men are yelling at everyone, asking if anyone's hurt, has anyone been shot.

Hit. Hit. Hit. "SUNNI WALLA' SHI'E??!!!"

The mother of the family stands up and does a quick head count. She's fine, her two children are fine. Where's her husband? She remembers the gunmen snatched some people. Then she remembers her husband falling at one of the gunmens feet.

The hostage was thrown out of his chair onto his knees. The butt and his face were acquainted once again. "Enta.. Enta ajibni.. Enta Sunni? Ow, Enta Shi'e?" (You.. you answer me. You Sunni? or You Shi'ite?)

The mother gets frantic as the reality of the situation dawns upon her. Four masked gunmen drove into the marketplace and after a wild rampage took to captives. One of them was her husband. She begins yelling in disbelief. Her children huddle at her feet.

The gunman moves away from the bloodied face of the husband and father. He points the rifle to his forehead.

"Enta Sunni walla' Shi'ie. SUNNI WALLA SHI'E!??!?!"

Through bloody eyes, the husband looks at the gunman.

"Iraqi," comes the response.


Fade away.


*Bang*



The message appears. It was simple and concise. No explanations were necessary.


Al IrHab. La Deena Laha.

Terrorism. It has no religion.


xx

M

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

She calls it quits. (I'm not sure, is that right?)

Once again, I find my news on the Yahoo! homepage. Laziness consumes us all. Who needs a newspaper anymore. I mean, you need TWO hands to use it. The mouse only needs two fingers.

Either way coming to the point of this here post. Cindy Sheehan has called it in and she is quitting doing what she did best (i.e. pissing off both Democrats & Republicans. Oh, and standing against the war) and is going back to her family in California. For those of you who don't really know who Cindy Sheehan is go here (A little Wiki-knowledge should help).

The brave story of a war-mom has come to an end amid allegations of her being an attention whore, a sadist, a demoralizer, and someone went as far as to call her a traitor. How original. To be completely fair she had her share of both support and criticism. I'd like to think that the, "Bring the troops home!" campaign was benefitted tremendously by Mrs. Sheehan.

I've two points to make for this post. Number one: Conformism. Once again, someone who tried not to go with the tide has been beached like a sperm whale. Everyone said let's bomb them some more, she said let's bring them all home before more people die. But now due to the lack of care for something out of the ordinary, Cindy Sheehan stopped her protest. Her words, "Good-bye America ... you are not the country that I love and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can't make you be that country unless you want it." Sad innit. A country that conformed to what a few wanted. Now they look down upon even their own. Here is something Mrs. Sheehan said about her struggle and how helpless she felt. These words drive my point home.

"Casey (Cindy Sheehan's son) did indeed die for nothing ... killed by his own country which is beholden to and run by a war machine that even controls what we think."


Another great example of Conformity. I wish she retired earlier, I'd have mentioned her in my older post.

My second point: How stupid is the average American anyway? Well obviously, my words seem very harsh, and I'm pretty sure very offensive. But hey, don't tell me it never occurred to you before. I mean for a country that has seen numerous amounts of people who have gone great lengths for such minor details, THIS protest drew crowds yes, but resulted in absolutely effing nothing.

In the USA, we've seen people hold protests for homeless animals, sick children, a bear stuck in a condo (Yes I saw it on TV) and many other comparatively small things. Not that I'm saying that it's wrong but where are the Vietnam-esque protests against the mass genocide that is Iraq and Afghanistan? If they care about the Vietnamese so much, why are Arabs and Middle Easterners so different.

Really, has the average American ideal changed so much since the late 60s that now a war that's going terribly wrong is not even cared about, and even less, objected or protested by it's people. The very people who are the family of the troops that fight this savage and absolutely pointless war.

xx

M

Monday, May 28, 2007

Conformism

Conformism is a funny concept. In some ways it can even contradict itself.

As I sit here thinking about what to write about this topic I see myself running out of many ideas. What I've realised is that Conformism is not really something that you can label someone with. You can't always call someone a conformist. Although in many situations it is possible to label someone like that, but in my opinion it can be easily mislabeled.

An example as simple as in iPod. I know many people who've bought the iPod because, "they needed an mp3 / movie player and the iPod is the best." Now someone who probably hasn't much technical knowledge and decided to buy the iPod, because either everyone he knows has one or has praised it as the most awesome thing that's ever happened to them, CAN be labeled as a conformist. But somebody else, a tech-savvy fellow, can NOT be labeled one, due to his superior knowledge and whatnot.

Conformity is defined by sociologists as behavior that matches group or peer expectations. But conformity can not be limited to social and private lives. A more drastic example of conformity can be seen in politics. In general, political conformity is encouraged by jailing opposition leaders and silencing or getting rid of nonconformist ideas. In fact, the most extreme example of conformity can be seen in Germany during WWII. The citizens of Nazi Germany were like droids that conformed to their Fuhrer.

Conformity comes in many different shapes and sizes too. Like a group leader faced with a choice, A or B. Both seem fair but some prefer B over A. However the group leader chose A. So even though many people prefer B they won't speak out and they'll conform over what the group leader has decided. Take Iraq for example. America invaded Iraq. Many Americans died, and even more Iraqis were slaughtered. The war was a disaster. And I'm sure that many of Bush's close advisers had warned him against it. Yet, they chose to keep quiet and accept Bush's decision without arguing their stand. That is conformity as well. Although to a much larger and different scale when compared to what we see everyday.

And about what we see everyday. Of course people are going to conform. Has anyone wondered why the, weirdos, geeks, goths, punks, agnostics, etc etc are all looked at distinctively in a crowd. Simply because they don't conform. Anyone who is different from what is the norm is looked upon in puzzlement if not disgust. So why shouldn't people conform? If not for the sake of want, they do it for the sake of not being looked down upon.

Conformity for many is a shelter from the unknown and from the harsh looks and words. From those who don't seek it, it is what makes them different from all the others. They don't conform. They don't need to. Rather they don't want to. I'm not surprised people conform. And I don't think anyone should be. As for the people who don't conform, they oughta be looked at in awe rather than in puzzlement.

Simply put: It takes more balls to be different from all the rest that it does to be the same. So stop mocking and start appreciating.

xx

M

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Axis of Evil : Maz Jobrani


Came across Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-American Comic on Youtube. A friend of mine suggested it.

Hilarious! Another step towards breaking stereotypes.

xx

M

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Another war story...

You know what I noticed during my latest excursion to Magrudy's the other day? I noticed that if you walk into the fiction section of any bookstore (not just Magrudy's) most of the books are war based. To play Devil's Advocate, a lot of those are my favys. Robert Ludlum's especially. Unfortunately there were aisles of books about covert warfare, espionage, terrorism, lunatics hell bent on blowing up the world etc etc. But very few on peace.

It's kind of saddening isn't it. I mean can you imagine that a decent majority of reader's of fiction novels read about some terrorist or organisation planning to take over the world, or, steal an old Russian Nuclear warhead, or, sink thousands of shipping vessels to destroy the economy world over etc etc etc.

Why don't people write about a lawyer-turned-politician who pens down one of the world's most influential peace treaties. Or, a humanitarian worker in Africa that's able to bring peace to some warring factions. Or, a religious leader in Philippine who's able to get the rebels and the government to come to a ceasefire, standstill and eventually a final and resting peace. Or even a local police officer in some county in California who's able to stop two neighbors, a Republican and a pious Muslim, to stop arguing and get along. Simple stuff even.

I've never seen books like those. Which could totally be my fault entirely and it could be that such books exist but I've never seen them. And I'd like to think that I'm a voracious reader. Either way, it'd be nice to see a book that focused on an individual or party that was a forerunner in world peace and/or did something to make the world a more peaceful place.

To be fair to the war books, the bad guys weren't ALWAYS Arabs or Muslims. Many a times they were Europeans or Far Eastern or Russian/Eastern European. But there was ONE thing that ALL the books had in common. At least one, if not the only, good guy of the book was from....... (no prize for guessing the right answer) the USA. Very Gung-ho very Americanised very Hollywoodised.* coughtypicalcough*

War is easy. Anyone can do it. It's the peace thing that's hard to do. Try writing books about a peace treaty that worked out. Oh, and it has to be a fiction novel. Hope I'm not asking too much.

xx

M

Monday, May 21, 2007

One down. 7 to go. Waiting.

One paper down. English Paper 3, Media, is all and over. No more talking about advertisements or magazines or anything. And tomorrow once I'm done with Desk Study, won't be doing anything like this again. Hopefully forever too.

Last two days have been terribly weird. Cant seem to get my mind into my books. Something or the other keeps cropping up and I keep faltering from what I started to do. I have a few guests staying at my place and they're probably what distracts me sometimes. Although other things always have the tendency to hit you when you least expect it, and when they do it seems to slow everything down.

Yearrgh. I feel helpless at times. For many different things, for different reasons. Like, for example, my Scholarship. I submitted my completed application a week ago and I was informed that if I do get the scholarship, or am even considered for it I wont be informed until mid-August. It's mid-May now and that's a good three months away. If I DO find out earlier it only means that I've been rejected and that they're giving me Financial Aid instead. Financial Aid isn't bad, its a good 50% off the tuition fee, but it feels like charity. Not only is the Scholarship 75 - 100% off the tuition fee, but it also feels earned rather than given. Now that my application's in, there's nothing that I can do but wait and hope they don't contact me until August. And during those three months I'm gonna kill myself thinking about the progress.

I guess a person feels most helpless when he's done everything he possibly could and now all he can do is pray, hope and wait. That's how it is I guess. Most people don't prepare to have to wait for the result. Everyone wants it NOW! I've done my bit, so what do I get? Unfortunately that's what you're left with and if you don't have faith and patience you're in for a hard time. Probably the worst thing about patience is that if you've done everything you can, and all you have to do is wait, you won't know anything about the issue anymore, until they give you the final result.

It's like someone showing you all three parts of the Matrix and telling you that you're gonna have to sit and look at all 3 DVD covers for the collective runtime of the movie. You can't actually WATCH the movie. When that's done, we'll just tell you that Neo dies in the end along with Trinity and peace is restored. You're not privy to know how it happens or what happens. Just that it happened.

Got Patience?


xx

M

Monday, May 14, 2007

Blues...

It has been a ridiculously long time since I updated my blog and to be honest I'm quite ashamed of that. My alibis are exam blues, university blues and scholarship blues.. and reds and greens..

Since my last update, I've FINALLY applied for the Chancellor's Scholarship submitting all my completed forms and recommendation letters and certificates and whatnot. I was informed that they now want my final A Level grades as well before they finally tell me whether or not I scored that Scholarship. Added pressure. I had resigned to the fact that I've already been accepted to University and that I can apply for the Scholarship without my A Level grades. 'Tis sadly not so. They want my final grades before they give me a final thumbs up. Or a thumbs. Those of you who have brownie points with Allah, please pray for the former. If I score it, you all get a free lunch from me. :P

Since my last update, I've finally started to get somewhat serious with my studies, albeit I had ignored it earlier and even mentioned before that I had stopped bothering about my grades. I started cracking Unit 6 in Core Mathematics 4 section by section. I've finished the entire 6A unit. Today I plan to finish 6B and also go through the important points that I need to keep in mind for English Paper 3 that's on this coming Thursday. Maybe I can score those grades. Then maybe I can grab that Scholarship. *turning on the confidence*

Since my last update, a lot changed in the personal world of yours truly. Some stuff that was earlier in doubt has now been, unfortunately, confirmed. So big loss, but I guess that goes for both sides. I've also realized that all good things DO arrive eventually. Ya just have to wait for them, patiently. Patiently; that's the key word. Be confident there too. Good things happen to good people. You'll get what's coming.

Anyway, I know this isn't enough to make up for all the lost days that I left this world uncared for, but something IS, in fact, better than nothing, and a slow start is better than none at all.

Sometimes I'm too philosophical for my own good. Maybe I oughta meet a professional

xx

M

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Introducing, "The Dubai Funnies."

I was on MSN with a friend of mine just a few moments ago, and she suggested another blog to me. Upon her recommendation I visited it and laughed out loud at what I read almost immediately. So, to share the funnies, I'd like you all to visit,

The Dubai Funnies


The author who calls himself, The Plastic Poet, has quite a sense of humor.

Happy reading!

xx

M

When stuff begins to weigh down...

Everyone one goes through patches in their lives. Some good, clean fun and some others aren't all that great. The latter are the kind that many of us like to try and forget after a while just so that we don't have to re-live through the emotions that we felt back then. It happens to everyone. No one's exempt from it. If you're not going through it now, you're probably done with it already and had it earlier on in your life. So don't kid yourself.

A while ago I think I went through that kind of phase just for a few hours. But I blog about it because even though it was probably for just a few hours, I actually FELT it more this time than others. The same stuff comes back but this time it hit the bottom of my stomach and made me throw up today's lunch. Sorta like giving mouth-to-mouth to a dead hamster. Either way.. moving on.. I've wondered why some people, your's truly included, find it hard to get over some facts of life, even though some fitting replacements (to a certain extent) are available. Or even if they're not available you've made adjustments.

This post is more or less a ramble, with no point in particular. I just thought of something and decided to blog about it. I guess it's something that everyone feels, but not everyone wants to accept.

Outta here..


xx


M

Friday, April 20, 2007

Virginia Tech Massacre Part 1. The Event

Normally if I had to read the news I just jump to some online editions of popular broadcasts like BBC, Al-Jazeera, Gulf News or 7Days. This time however when I opened up Firefox, Yahoo's frontpage said all that I needed to hear. "Massacre at VT"

VT? Virginia Tech? Really? WTF?! AMMAR & SEAN STUDY THERE! Quick as a flash I opened up multiple tabs and started browsing for any news that I could find on the event. BBC, CNN, Google News, Yahoo News and any any any any website that had anything on it. Needed to know if these guys were ok. Within a few minutes I had some details. There were TWO shootings, a couple of hours apart. Somewhere around 30 people killed, later this was confirmed at 33 including the shooter himself. More sketchy details here and there, but within a few hours I managed to get most of the details. Eventually I managed to contact Ammar on Messenger and he was fine, and so was Sean. I was relieved. Then I continued on some research on the incident.

Cho Seung-Hui was a 23-year old South Korean at VT. Read more about him here. That day he took out 32 students and then shot and killed himself, with a Glock that he was able to purchase because he was a legal resident of the United States of America. The irony for this; the KKK actually promote more students to own handguns, 'so that they could defend themselves.' Read more on that here and here. That is pretty sick. A post on Gun Laws in the USA soon.

Jamal Albarghouti, a grad student at VT, was on his way to meet an adviser, just before the second shooting. He hadn't heard about the first one yet. On his way there he heard what he thought were gunshots. He didn't panic due to the recent bomb scares at VT, and kept on his way. Later when he saw the police draw their weapons as well, he knew that this was going to be serious and began taking a video. See the video and his interview here.

More on the VT Killings and discussion later. Just the facts for now.

May God bless the dead, and keep safe the living. Inshallah.

xx

M

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Gut Punch...

Has anyone ever been gut punched? Or sucker punched (as some people like to call it)? Like a quick, sharp, strong punch to the gut. One that you never expected and when it was coming you thought it was a joke and wasn't actually gonna land, but it did... Yeah those hurt a lot... Cuz you don't really expect them, but mainly cuz they come from someone who you knew... That's why you weren't cautious in the first place. Think about it. When you're with people you don't know you stand alert, and a bit away, or not too close to them. But when you're with people you DO know then, obviously, you're disarmed and closer to them because you don't expect to be sucker punched.

Long story short: Gut Punches hurt. Don't Gut Punch someone unless you really hate him/her.

xx

M

Friday, March 30, 2007

One Year...

You know, a lot can happen in one year. I can pull out so many memories that happened within the past year and then when you sit back and actually think about those you go, 'Wow, that's really a lot for one year.' But I guess that's what time is. Time is the stuff that you notice only when you're not doing anything. Otherwise time doesn't really exist. It really is a paradox to me. Have you noticed how sometimes you recall an incident that could have happened years ago but are able to recall every detail. Yet sometimes when asked about some stuff that happened maybe even a few moments ago, your mind goes blank.

One year is a lot of time. But at the same time it's really less too. I remember 1998 as recent. But, think about it now, and it's almost a decade ago. A decade. That' ten years. But you already knew that. In one year it's possible for a human to experience all that he wants to, and those that he didn't want to. But at the end of that one year do you live to regret it or not? I'd say not. But that's just a personal opinion and I don't expect everyone to think the same way as I do.

One year ago I had freshly acquired my driver's license, was a noob scuba diver, was barely working at MAWF, living in the living room of my house and had barely any facial hair. A year since then, I've had about 3 road accidents, have done 6 more dives, did some of my most fulfilling work at MAWF ever, have my own bedroom with an in-suite bathroom and, unfortunately, still barely have any facial hair besides maybe a moustache and a little muzzle on my chin.

One year ago, I was beginning to gather all my relevant and neccesary details and letters so that I could apply to Universities in the USA, Canada and Australia. Recommendation letters, certificates, past grades, predicted grades, affadavits, bank account statements, essays, etc etc. One year since then I know that due to my father retiring from the business soon enough, I won't be able to leave the country and have to start filling his shoes. I also now know that for University, I'll be going all the way to the neighbouring city and back.

One year since I began another venture in my so far eventful journey through life, I look back at all the events since and wonder how it would have been different had I done things differently. That's the beauty of hindsight I guess. It's never wrong. Then again, different may not neccessarily mean bad. Bad is not different either. Different is just....well....different. It doesn't have to be bad. But maybe I'd rather have not done it differently at all. Maybe I'm at peace with the way things are now, and am enjoying myself.

One year ago, my definition of the words, 'best friend,' would vary from what it does now. I now realize that it takes a lot more. You have to give more. A Lot more. A Whole Lot more. Expect a lot less. Because maybe when you expect less and then, you get some, you think you've gotten more and so actually end up happy with what you have.

One year ago I would never have started a blog on the internet to utter these ramblings.

But I guess a lot can happen in one year.

xx

M

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Bob Woolmer, Born 1948. Murdered 2007. A repost

Just a few minutes ago, I called up on of my Pakistani friends to discuss a possible recreational plan. However I was almost immediately exposed to a tirade of, "I have some serious criticism about your blog, I'm gonna swear ," etc etc etc. I asked what the problem was almost knowing what it would be. Turned out to be just that.

The gist:

Zuberi said...

died for the passions of another country?

did i just miss the news? no where does is state that it was a Pakistani fan or Pakistani suspect that was responsible or claimed to be responsible for bob's death.
Please don't state something that you aren't sure about and have in fact no proof to justify it..

good day!

Saturday, March 24, 2007 1:55:00 PM

My response:

If you misinterpret not my fault. I will change the post so as to not "offend" your patriotic feelings.

Now, logic. Check to see WHEN the post was written. Wednesday, March 21, 2007. One day BEFORE it was confirmed that he was murdered. Till I wrote this post, it was still speculated and to a larger part believed that he was killed due to, and I quote, a, "stress-induced" heart attack. (And I'm quoting you and Ahad btw).

So yes, when I wrote that post, I DID believe that it was the passion of Pakistani people and all that was riding on Woolmer's shoulders that caused him stress, and hence killed him. Cause and Effect. Read the post again with this in mind and it makes perfect sense. And till then you could not have called me a blaspheme by posting your comment because what I said made perfect sense. However TODAY, on the 24th of March, when it was confirmed that he was in fact murdered, my comments seem derogatory to the country. For that I apologise. If I seemed to blame a Pakistani for it then I'm sorry too. However, were you even the little bit logical you would see when I wrote that post and understand that in those circumstances, my comments were infallible.

Coming to the second issue. Convenient that you comment on this only after it was confirmed that he was murdered and not until it was thought that it was either a suicide or natural death. In the light of murder my post suddenly seems to be pointing a finger at Pakistanis. I mean, if you DID comment earlier you would just seem stupid. Oh well.

However now that we know he was in fact MURDERED I believe my comments are obsolete. For the mistiming, I'm sorry. As to your comment: Balls to that.

Good Day!

xx

M

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Bleagh... Life just caught up with me...

Ever since just before my post on the American dialect, I seemed to have enough time for a lot of things, if not everything. You know, those moments when you seem to have life under control and you know exactly what's gonna happen tomorrow and the day after and the day after that even. Well, all of that ended for me around that long ago.

A good friend of mine asked me something the other day. He asked, "Mali man, why haven't you posted anything on your blog? I'm WAITING to comment!"

What struck me then was that I was doing the exact same thing that I had done to all my other blogs / diaries / personal memory things. I was beginning to *God Forbid!* lose interest. And I thought to myself that I couldn't afford to lose interest in this for two reasons.

1) I had put a lot of work into this and I don't want to see it go to waste.
2) I made that little promise in my very first post that I would not let this site fade.

Eniwhoo I plan to make up for the lack of posts by explaining exactly what's been going on ever since to possibly try and justify the lack of activity on this blog. For those of you who noticed, the QOTD was not changed for a few days at a time for some time. But now however I have resumed actively updating it and I will do my best to keep it going.

Lately I've felt that there's never enough time to do all the things you need and want. You either do those that you need to be done. Or you do those that you want to be done. And normally the things that you need to be done are the important life-depending ones. The things that you want to be done are the fun ones. So, as you can tell, it's a tough call to make. Obviously I chose the things I want to be done. Now I'm paying the price.

Math is going way, way, way, way, waaaaaaaaaay over my head. Integrals and forces and coefficients and bits and yeeeeaarrrggghh. That's one of the things that I needed done and I didn't do. So now I'm cracking up the books at home, burning that midnight oil. Another thing that fell upon my head allofasudden was my English Coursework. A week ago I knew almost nothing about what I was doing, and as of 5 minutes ago, I've got down around 1,500 words already and have another 1,000 or so words to go. Odds are I'm gonna overshoot the limit and gonna have to cut down once I'm done. The scary bit is that at times I actually enjoy doing Math and English. C4 & M1 get more and more challenging and as you finish a problem correctly it's the most ultimate boost to your ego. Analysing Francis Bacon's Essay on Love seemed to be inane and mundane at first but is actually interesting and appealing now.

Life works in strange ways. Ways that I'm guessing were never meant for those who live it to fathom. And I think it's best that we leave trying to figure out how life works, and get on with living life. I guess the moment that I actually sat down to seriously start doing the things that need to be done, everything seemed to fall into place. Maybe that's the way that life works. Or maybe I'm just being over-optimistic and something bad is gonna happen tomorrow.

Meh, we'll find out I guess...

xx

M


Bob Woolmer, 1948 - 2007

The ICC Cricket World Cup went under way a while ago, but unfortunately was terribly tarnished by the unfortunate death of the Pakistani Coach, Bob Woolmer, after they were eliminated by Ireland. He was found lying in a pool of vomit after a suspected stress-induced heart attack. Speculation is wild though, that Bob Woolmer was, in fact, murdered.

In that regard, let us all keep a minute of silence for a man who died. [EDIT] text removed [EDIT]

RIP Bob Woolmer, 1948 - 2007.

xx

M

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Eye Ran

You know what I've always wondered? Why westerners pronounce Iraq & Iran as "Eye-Rak" and "Eye-Ran" respectively. Or why they call it, "Aye-Rab" instead of Arab.

I guess, I can understand how they manage to change their pronunciations of the, 'a' sound, but never the, 'i' sound. I mean, hasn't anyone else thought about this as well? How can it not come off as strange to the rest of the world? I've met all kinds of Europeans, Canadians, Brits, and even Australians who can pronounce it just fine. Then you walk up to an American and they go, "Eye - Rak is a victory for democracy!"

Lookit, they can say, 'idiot, 'imagine', 'intense', 'initiate', 'invent' just right. But ask them to say the names of these countries and all of [edit] a [edit] (Thanks Farhan!) sudden they develop a drawl. Of course, I'm not stereotyping here, and I've met many Americans that DO pronounce it the way it should be but this is something that pops up in your mind...

Oh, and for all those of you who would say, "it's a proper noun, it can be pronounced any way we want it to," here's a newsflash. Iran and Iraq are NOT ENGLISH WORDS! They can only be pronounced in one way. Learn.

Eye'm outta here...

xx

M

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Russell Peters In Dubai...



Weeell, look who's coming to town. Russell Peters himself. The Canadian/Indian stand up is set to tickle Dubai's comedy fans, including yours truly, on the 11th and 12th of March.

Originally his show was schedules to be only on the 11th of March, but ALL his tickets were sold out by 11:45am that same day. Yours truly purchased his, and 4 other, tickets at 12:06am. Hence, that oughta tell you something about the demand for this show.

Because it was a sell out, they decided to have a second show on the following day. Tickets for that show go on sale tonight at 12:00am. I was pondering the thought of buying up some more tickets. What for? SELL THEM!!! Ever since I bought 5 tickets for me and another 4 guys, people have been begging me to sell them the tickets. Rumors about lines at Virgin reaching till the parking lot of Mall of the Emirates have been floating and if rumors are true then this might be a good time to rake in some moolah.

Although to be completely honest, if someone offered me a good amount for my OWN ticket, lets say going AED 500+ I'd sell it right then. I mean what the hell. In RP's words, I'm a, 'filthy downloader.' Let him have the ticket. Let me have the cash. Only we BOTH watch it. Albeit I get to watch it a month or so later but what the hell eh?

xx

M

Friday, February 23, 2007

KRISPY KREME IN DUBAI!!!!!


Today I was at City Center with a few friends when I walked past this gift from the heavens above and the God above that.

Krispy Kreme is coming to Dubai and more than a year and a half of prayers have finally paid off
. I ate KK first, in Washington DC in July of 2005. Have been an avid fan ever since and have eaten them ever since, at every opportunity possible.

There really is somebody up there. And he likes Glazed doughnuts.

xx

M

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Road tripping...

We were cussed out by locals.

We were pelted stones at by an Arab woman thinking we were taking her child.

We chased little goats across a field.

We were scared shitless by the sights of snakes and 2 inch beetles.

We were almost hit by crazy women speeders.

We ate lunch at the most random place EVER.

I saw a drunk white guy telling me about how he is gonna go pee in the ocean.

Yeah... Road trips are fun...

xx

M