I went to the library yesterday with my friend. The only library i'd spent a significant amount of time in was either the library at BDC, which is a long time ago frankly, or the library at FAST. Btw, the library I visited yesterday was the Library at LUMS. Comparing the libraries of my university and my current workplace makes me feel horrible, but I'll do it anyway for the greater good. If the LUMS library was a person, the eye-gunk it would have after a long blissfull sleep would be the FAST library.
The incessant need to ridicule the place I've spent five good years of my life is uncanny. Unfortunately, it has got nothing to do with all that happened between that library trip and now. Being there, and seeing all those books, neatly categorised and just ready for the eager dawdlers perusal, was fascinating. I daydreamed about reading all the books in the World War II section; from the five-volume accounts of Churchill to the books by authors unknown to me on the deceptions by both sides in the war. I imagined writing a paper and getting critical acclaim. I came back soon enough, saw the section on philosophy. I even chose my space in the sitting area this time, wondering what people might make of me sitting hours at end rooted on the same spot taking notes from dozens of books and publications.
It made me think about wether i really want to do that research, or is it just an involuntary, constant and pathetic bid for attention and praise? I use the word 'wether' a lot when i write, its strange how I never recall reading it elsewhere. Anyway, ofcourse having written a paper on something never earlier discussed, or even just being that much more informed about something is an achievement in itself. But I don't think i just want the satisfaction of just knowing all that i (would) know; I'd want to be lauded for it all, and that doesn't happen that easily. Is wanting that too needy, or too normal? Surely people don't write books and publications just to impart knowledge, they do want to be known for their work.
I still got myself a book about Stauffenberg; the guy in the Valkyrie movie. I suppose i can try starting off with something I already know and then move on to things slightly more complicated.
I went to the library to browse through the Physics section today. I was always self-assured about the relationship between physics and myself. I planned on buying a journal and get started on learning it all from the start, making notes, revising all the physics i went through in university and maybe a bit more, give my GRE and get an immaculate score, get a scholarship at Oxford, and teach at USC. The whole idea is plausible, and is directly proportional to the amount of confidence one would have in themselves. I'd wanted to end this on a bombshell, but I got nothing.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
"they want you to watch porn you sillys!!"- Tariq Qureshi
Just last night, i was discussing the situation in Pakistan with my rebel mamoo from Purdue, i told him (he's well informed, so he already knew but still he entertained my grievance) how facebook was blocked since yesterday morning, and that youtube and wikipedia were blocked as well. I was all whiny about how there isn't anything left to do on the internet anymore, and after the most briefest yet thoughtful of pauses he goes like "They want you to watch porn, silly!". I laughed so hard I thought I'd probably break something, and it was mostly because it just made so much sense!
it took most of us quite some time to switch our internet browsing preferences from desibaba to sites that construed a much positive influence on our lives like youtube, wiki, and such. And yet more time to stop searching for boobies on youtube and start following people like Norman Finkelstein, Imran Khan and Carl Sagan (and RWJ =3). Just when things got better these ignorant bitches in the Pakistan High Court went on and blocked Facebook and these other sites.
Lets discuss the motive; I got an sms yesterday, the gist of which was that by banning facebook in Pakistan, Facebook just lost 2 Billion Euro, yea you heard me, 2 Billion Euro, and if we keep up this stupidity for the next 7 days, Facebook's losses will reach around 40 Billion Euro. If even for a moment, we consider the aforementioned claims as true, it would be a testament to all those loafers in Pakistan who make a couple of dozen facebook accounts on facebook and send fraaandship requests to women all day, and play a lot of farmville in their spare time (and needless to say add their other accounts as neighbors). Its quite pathetic to suggest facebook would actually be losing money right now, and to talk about this further is like insulting my own intelligence. Haven't they heard of the thing about that the harder you squeeze, the more that will slip through your fingers?
The decision to block out Facebook doesn't make much sense to me, and most such decisions don't, which led me to my Nonsense-lativity Theory: "Blocking Facebook doesn't make sense anyway, and now once that its blocked, unblocking it eventualy would make no sense at all, so if we are to assume that nothing the Pakistani government will do in the future will make sense, then Facebook should be back on in a couple of days." I know! seems simple enough dunnit?!
Commenting on the original "Draw Muhammad Day" issue; the message the muslim populus should have been getting accross should have been that no matter what anyone writes, or draws about the Prophet (pbuh), it will never influence what we think of Him (pbuh) or the regard we have for Him (pbuh) in our hearts. Seems simple enough, doesn't it? (sigh)
it took most of us quite some time to switch our internet browsing preferences from desibaba to sites that construed a much positive influence on our lives like youtube, wiki, and such. And yet more time to stop searching for boobies on youtube and start following people like Norman Finkelstein, Imran Khan and Carl Sagan (and RWJ =3). Just when things got better these ignorant bitches in the Pakistan High Court went on and blocked Facebook and these other sites.
Lets discuss the motive; I got an sms yesterday, the gist of which was that by banning facebook in Pakistan, Facebook just lost 2 Billion Euro, yea you heard me, 2 Billion Euro, and if we keep up this stupidity for the next 7 days, Facebook's losses will reach around 40 Billion Euro. If even for a moment, we consider the aforementioned claims as true, it would be a testament to all those loafers in Pakistan who make a couple of dozen facebook accounts on facebook and send fraaandship requests to women all day, and play a lot of farmville in their spare time (and needless to say add their other accounts as neighbors). Its quite pathetic to suggest facebook would actually be losing money right now, and to talk about this further is like insulting my own intelligence. Haven't they heard of the thing about that the harder you squeeze, the more that will slip through your fingers?
The decision to block out Facebook doesn't make much sense to me, and most such decisions don't, which led me to my Nonsense-lativity Theory: "Blocking Facebook doesn't make sense anyway, and now once that its blocked, unblocking it eventualy would make no sense at all, so if we are to assume that nothing the Pakistani government will do in the future will make sense, then Facebook should be back on in a couple of days." I know! seems simple enough dunnit?!
Commenting on the original "Draw Muhammad Day" issue; the message the muslim populus should have been getting accross should have been that no matter what anyone writes, or draws about the Prophet (pbuh), it will never influence what we think of Him (pbuh) or the regard we have for Him (pbuh) in our hearts. Seems simple enough, doesn't it? (sigh)
me, the bad guy?
http://falseperceptions.blogspot.com/2007/10/bad-guy.html
I just read this post by a friend, and its got me thinking (even amidst the facebook fiasco in the country) about what guy i am. the bad guy, or the bad guy with the dirty little secret...? If we were to assume that one had to be one or the other, i'd probably be the bad guy.
Not because the bad guy is the good guy in this scenario, but because i've found myself in the the shoes of the "bad guy" just one too many times. If only everyone would've read that post i just read.
I just read this post by a friend, and its got me thinking (even amidst the facebook fiasco in the country) about what guy i am. the bad guy, or the bad guy with the dirty little secret...? If we were to assume that one had to be one or the other, i'd probably be the bad guy.
Not because the bad guy is the good guy in this scenario, but because i've found myself in the the shoes of the "bad guy" just one too many times. If only everyone would've read that post i just read.
What to do after Facebook...
No no, put down the blade you were going to cut your wrists with, and get off the roof if you were gonna throw yourself over. This is definitely not the way to cope with the absence of facebook in your life.
You should start off with counting what you REALLY did on fb all day, think about it... think really hard. If any of the things you did involved farmville you should go kill yourself now! drown yourself, its more painful that way. But think about it, you never really did anything constructive on fb anyway. Now you probably think i'm going to try and convince you that its all for the best.
But its not, everyone has the right to waste a bit of time on facebook, (even you losers who play farmville and any other zynga game other than mafia wars) and I hate the PTA for taking that away from us. They should probably be sued or something, but i don't think we can do that in pakistan.
Does the fb block really achieve anything? i don't think so, but we have short memories, and we'll probably switch to something else (you should remember how we discarded Orkut like it was just a piece of meat).
You should start off with counting what you REALLY did on fb all day, think about it... think really hard. If any of the things you did involved farmville you should go kill yourself now! drown yourself, its more painful that way. But think about it, you never really did anything constructive on fb anyway. Now you probably think i'm going to try and convince you that its all for the best.
But its not, everyone has the right to waste a bit of time on facebook, (even you losers who play farmville and any other zynga game other than mafia wars) and I hate the PTA for taking that away from us. They should probably be sued or something, but i don't think we can do that in pakistan.
Does the fb block really achieve anything? i don't think so, but we have short memories, and we'll probably switch to something else (you should remember how we discarded Orkut like it was just a piece of meat).
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Why I will not boycott Facebook on the 20th
My name is Adnan Ali and this is why I will not sign off or boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010.
As you know someone has created a page on Facebook to collaborate the “Draw Muhammad Day”, NauzibAllah , Astaghfar, shame on the antagonist and participants.
Muslims on Facebook are outraged by this act of blasphemy and due to our immense respect and love for our Prophet Muhammad PBUH, have been reporting the page in the Racist / Hate Speech category. I have done so myself. Apparently Facebook has not acted upon what we Muslims think are its own rules and policies about user generated content on Facebook.
Since then, there has been a growing demand by the Muslims on Facebook to boycott the platform and it has been rumored that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has been asked by the Pakistan government to block Facebook or the disputed Page’s URL. [Update: ProPakistani.pk is reporting that PTA has indeed blocked the Page URL.]
I will not be supporting any such boycott by Muslim users of Facebook, nor shall I support any block or ban by the PTA. Here is why:
1. Boycotts are the easy way out. Boycotts achieve little and they are just a self satisfaction tool.
2. If the 2,359,620 Pakistanis choose to delete their accounts on Facebook, it is going to make no economic or social difference on Facebook.
3. This is a media war. Muslims have always been prone to emotional discourse which provides immense pleasure to our enemies. Moreover, boycotts are going to leave the social media space open for those who hold wrong beliefs about our Prophet PBUH.
4. Why should PTA ban this page in Pakistan? It does not have jurisdiction over other countries. So, PTA is stopping Muslims in Pakistan from accessing this page? How does that make sense? Why are Muslims in Pakistanis visiting this page in the first place? I think that no Muslim worth his salt would visit such pages and therefore PTA can stay away from banning the internet.
5. Allowing government interruption and censure on the internet will lead to precedence. Which sites will be next? Local sites where the government is criticized for politics and policy? This is a wrong and dangerous step and we should not in any case accept government censure of the internet in Pakistan.
6. Boycotting something like this will only give it more life. Imagine all the status messages that have the link of the page. We are actually spreading this virus rather than burying it. Add to this, other pages and groups created by Muslims which highlight the content of the blasphemous page. This is ridiculous behavior.
7. Our emotional outbursts are only going to be picked up by mainstream media and then everyone can join and laugh at our activities.
8. For most of us so called aggrieved people, we disrespect, ridicule and deny the teachings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH when we do not offer prayers, do not fast, lie, steal, bribe or accept bribes, engage in immoral activities etc. So I do not consider that being a Muslim gives us any moral high ground in this situation. As Muslim youth, we are the least educated in Islam. A majority has not opened the Quran or read a Tafseer in ages. A little introspection never hurts.
Here is what I would do if I was so inclined to do so:
1. Instead of promoting the blasphemous content by adding the link to my status message and creating groups and pages that showcase this content, I would sit and contemplate why this is happening.
2. Have no confusion; this is another organized attack just like the original cartoons. They know how we will react to such outrageous behavior. They know that we will boil our blood in emotional outrage and then destroy our own properties, kill our own citizens and provide another body blow to our weak economy.
3. As a reply, I would create a Facebook Group or Page to praise the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, highlight his teachings, his achievements, and his famous sayings, how he taught us to treat the poor and the children and the women. How the Prophet Muhammad PBUH urged caution and care and taught rules even for war.
4. I would ask people to record 1 minute videos about why they love Prophet Muhammad PBUH and recite their favorite Hadeeth.
5. I would narrate how Islam teaches respect for all Prophets of Allah and our faith is incomplete without believing in the Prophets of Allah.
6. I would encourage western and non-muslim scholars to visit the page and add their comments about this issue.
7. I would hope and encourage all Muslims to join this page rather than having small silos of their own. In fact, unity is the only solution here.
I am confident that my solution is better than emotional outbursts and impotent activities like boycotts and governments bans of websites.
As you know someone has created a page on Facebook to collaborate the “Draw Muhammad Day”, NauzibAllah , Astaghfar, shame on the antagonist and participants.
Muslims on Facebook are outraged by this act of blasphemy and due to our immense respect and love for our Prophet Muhammad PBUH, have been reporting the page in the Racist / Hate Speech category. I have done so myself. Apparently Facebook has not acted upon what we Muslims think are its own rules and policies about user generated content on Facebook.
Since then, there has been a growing demand by the Muslims on Facebook to boycott the platform and it has been rumored that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has been asked by the Pakistan government to block Facebook or the disputed Page’s URL. [Update: ProPakistani.pk is reporting that PTA has indeed blocked the Page URL.]
I will not be supporting any such boycott by Muslim users of Facebook, nor shall I support any block or ban by the PTA. Here is why:
1. Boycotts are the easy way out. Boycotts achieve little and they are just a self satisfaction tool.
2. If the 2,359,620 Pakistanis choose to delete their accounts on Facebook, it is going to make no economic or social difference on Facebook.
3. This is a media war. Muslims have always been prone to emotional discourse which provides immense pleasure to our enemies. Moreover, boycotts are going to leave the social media space open for those who hold wrong beliefs about our Prophet PBUH.
4. Why should PTA ban this page in Pakistan? It does not have jurisdiction over other countries. So, PTA is stopping Muslims in Pakistan from accessing this page? How does that make sense? Why are Muslims in Pakistanis visiting this page in the first place? I think that no Muslim worth his salt would visit such pages and therefore PTA can stay away from banning the internet.
5. Allowing government interruption and censure on the internet will lead to precedence. Which sites will be next? Local sites where the government is criticized for politics and policy? This is a wrong and dangerous step and we should not in any case accept government censure of the internet in Pakistan.
6. Boycotting something like this will only give it more life. Imagine all the status messages that have the link of the page. We are actually spreading this virus rather than burying it. Add to this, other pages and groups created by Muslims which highlight the content of the blasphemous page. This is ridiculous behavior.
7. Our emotional outbursts are only going to be picked up by mainstream media and then everyone can join and laugh at our activities.
8. For most of us so called aggrieved people, we disrespect, ridicule and deny the teachings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH when we do not offer prayers, do not fast, lie, steal, bribe or accept bribes, engage in immoral activities etc. So I do not consider that being a Muslim gives us any moral high ground in this situation. As Muslim youth, we are the least educated in Islam. A majority has not opened the Quran or read a Tafseer in ages. A little introspection never hurts.
Here is what I would do if I was so inclined to do so:
1. Instead of promoting the blasphemous content by adding the link to my status message and creating groups and pages that showcase this content, I would sit and contemplate why this is happening.
2. Have no confusion; this is another organized attack just like the original cartoons. They know how we will react to such outrageous behavior. They know that we will boil our blood in emotional outrage and then destroy our own properties, kill our own citizens and provide another body blow to our weak economy.
3. As a reply, I would create a Facebook Group or Page to praise the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, highlight his teachings, his achievements, and his famous sayings, how he taught us to treat the poor and the children and the women. How the Prophet Muhammad PBUH urged caution and care and taught rules even for war.
4. I would ask people to record 1 minute videos about why they love Prophet Muhammad PBUH and recite their favorite Hadeeth.
5. I would narrate how Islam teaches respect for all Prophets of Allah and our faith is incomplete without believing in the Prophets of Allah.
6. I would encourage western and non-muslim scholars to visit the page and add their comments about this issue.
7. I would hope and encourage all Muslims to join this page rather than having small silos of their own. In fact, unity is the only solution here.
I am confident that my solution is better than emotional outbursts and impotent activities like boycotts and governments bans of websites.
Friday, May 14, 2010
some of the awesomest dialogues of ALL TIME!!
Ryu: Get the hell out of my way!
Bison : So, aren't you the big he-man? now is the opportunity to see how good your legendary fighting skills really are!
Ryu: Aah! move or I'll go through ya!
Bison: All this talk and no action, you're probably not too concerned about your friend, he's probably dead by now...
Ryu: I'll show you action!!!
Bison: you worthless maggot! No one has ever toppled me before! (I clearly underestimated this man...)
Bison : So, aren't you the big he-man? now is the opportunity to see how good your legendary fighting skills really are!
Ryu: Aah! move or I'll go through ya!
Bison: All this talk and no action, you're probably not too concerned about your friend, he's probably dead by now...
Ryu: I'll show you action!!!
Bison: you worthless maggot! No one has ever toppled me before! (I clearly underestimated this man...)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The name game
I heard the expression 'the name game' used for the first time during the England world-cup selections for the 2002 World Cup. I consider myself something of a tactician, true, that most of my tactics haven't worked out, but still I'm better than most others because I've tried a lot of times. Selecting a workable team for the World Cup seems like an easy enough process doesn't it? But seeing how so many England managers have got it wrong, there really must be some catch to it! Apart from all the bureucratic FA bull, an England manager still has a lot of power and authority, but the system isn't working.
The time has come now for an armchair manager to step up and take the reins! (namely myself). So lets name a properly subjective and biased 30-man England side for once;
Goal Guardians (yes, i coined this just now): David James, Joe Hart, Paul Robinson
Defenders: J. Terry, L. King, G. Johnson, A. Cole, R. Ferdinand, L. Baines, R. Shawcross, P. Jagielka, M. Dawson, Johnson (Birmingham), M. Upson.
Midfielders: F. Lampard, S. Gerrard, J. Cole, S. Parker, A. Johnson, A. Lennon, J. Milner, D. Bentley, G. Barry, P. Scholes, T. Walcott.
Forwards: W. Rooney, P. Crouch, J. Defoe, G. Agbonlahor, B. Zamora. D. Bent.
These are all in order of preference, so, for the 23-man squad, we keep the three keepers, lose the last two defenders, lose the last two midfielders, lose the last two forwards and we still have one extra man. The only area to trim in lose one of the four right midfielders, or accept that Scholes wont be joining us. Even if Scholes doesn't join us, we should take another striker with us. Walcott can be deployed as one, but its really difficult to comprehend what Walcott is about, he was found wanting in the last world cup, and he has been found wanting on most occasions during Arsenal's mediocre season (enough of the team average-age, and long-term plan nonsense, burn Arsenal, BURN!). Milner works his socks off and runs about the field like a headless chicken, but to excellent effect i must say! Aaron Lennon is the best impact winger we could have, and Bentley throws in the most lovely crosses in from the right.
But the real problem with the last paragraph is that I don't see any of our fine right midfielders making their way into even a five-midfield starting outfit. With the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Parker, A. Johnson and J. Cole, you can't see any of the above mentioned RM's breaking through. The only chance any of them have is if A. Johnson plays like Saeed Ajmal would in Englands friendlies, or if J. Cole asks out Terrys ex.
Another question is wether or not to deploy Rooney as a lone striker. Does Rooney really need someone holding up the ball for him after his spectacular season for United? Its a question I can't answer. The only reason why the Heskey-Rooney love affair works is that only Heskey, of all the potential hold-up strikers, is ready not to be the target man. And its natural, why would Zamora, who's having a fantastic season for Fulham, hold up the ball for Rooney? Crouch could do the job well if he was ever given a starting position, because contrary to popular belief, Crouch really isn't as good with his head as he is with his feet.
This article is giving me a headache! you go Capello!
The time has come now for an armchair manager to step up and take the reins! (namely myself). So lets name a properly subjective and biased 30-man England side for once;
Goal Guardians (yes, i coined this just now): David James, Joe Hart, Paul Robinson
Defenders: J. Terry, L. King, G. Johnson, A. Cole, R. Ferdinand, L. Baines, R. Shawcross, P. Jagielka, M. Dawson, Johnson (Birmingham), M. Upson.
Midfielders: F. Lampard, S. Gerrard, J. Cole, S. Parker, A. Johnson, A. Lennon, J. Milner, D. Bentley, G. Barry, P. Scholes, T. Walcott.
Forwards: W. Rooney, P. Crouch, J. Defoe, G. Agbonlahor, B. Zamora. D. Bent.
These are all in order of preference, so, for the 23-man squad, we keep the three keepers, lose the last two defenders, lose the last two midfielders, lose the last two forwards and we still have one extra man. The only area to trim in lose one of the four right midfielders, or accept that Scholes wont be joining us. Even if Scholes doesn't join us, we should take another striker with us. Walcott can be deployed as one, but its really difficult to comprehend what Walcott is about, he was found wanting in the last world cup, and he has been found wanting on most occasions during Arsenal's mediocre season (enough of the team average-age, and long-term plan nonsense, burn Arsenal, BURN!). Milner works his socks off and runs about the field like a headless chicken, but to excellent effect i must say! Aaron Lennon is the best impact winger we could have, and Bentley throws in the most lovely crosses in from the right.
But the real problem with the last paragraph is that I don't see any of our fine right midfielders making their way into even a five-midfield starting outfit. With the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Parker, A. Johnson and J. Cole, you can't see any of the above mentioned RM's breaking through. The only chance any of them have is if A. Johnson plays like Saeed Ajmal would in Englands friendlies, or if J. Cole asks out Terrys ex.
Another question is wether or not to deploy Rooney as a lone striker. Does Rooney really need someone holding up the ball for him after his spectacular season for United? Its a question I can't answer. The only reason why the Heskey-Rooney love affair works is that only Heskey, of all the potential hold-up strikers, is ready not to be the target man. And its natural, why would Zamora, who's having a fantastic season for Fulham, hold up the ball for Rooney? Crouch could do the job well if he was ever given a starting position, because contrary to popular belief, Crouch really isn't as good with his head as he is with his feet.
This article is giving me a headache! you go Capello!
The 30- man Three-Lions squad is here!
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6147280,00.html
shock exclusions of Jagielka and Gabby Agbonlahor. Ridiculous inclusions of Jamie Carra, SWP, and Warnock!
shock exclusions of Jagielka and Gabby Agbonlahor. Ridiculous inclusions of Jamie Carra, SWP, and Warnock!
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