My High School!

Holy crap! It's a birds eye view of my highschool. I got this picture from a friend on facebook. I didn't recognize it at first but some prominent features stuck out. And then I was like holy crap it's my highschool! I never realized how big it was! This picture is from the 80's I went during the 90's. Lot's of good friends and memories were made here. I mostly hung out with the geeks in the library. Plus I first caught the programming bug when I took my first comp sci courses.

Didn't like gym too much got excused during ramadan "You wouldn't want me fainting now do you". Plus got my self excused from swimming classes "Can't wear shorts!" oh what else we started a Muslim Student Association and skipped out on the prom. All in all we created our own high school experience. If the price we paid was being outcasts so be it.

Picture day!

Here are some pictures that my big sis sent me, from Houston. It's my nephew striking a pose for picture day. He goes to a private school and is already learning about ancient Egypt while only in Pre-school. They're also learning about their shapes in Arabic. Whatever happened to cookies and milk and nap time? Well best of luck little man, when are you going to college?

new links

Check out the side bar for some new links. Under the tech biz we have IGDA. A forum for game developers (yes I am getting serious about my game, its based on the universe I created in my fiction...shhh)

And under political activism we have Sufi News. Which share current events in the world of the sufis. Also if you are following the Afia trials (which is the equivalant of the OJ trial for the Pakistani community) you'll know they have reached a verdict. Many have cried foul, on the most part I agree with the outcry but don't have a strong conviction in the matter and can be swayed either way. Although I do think the government is trying to cover up attempted rape with a bucket load of crap.

Drink this read that

One of the few exports from Karachi that I am proud of, Pakola Ice Cream Soda has been around for along time. I am glad to see the green colored fizzy drink has followed me all the way to New York. I walked into Patel brothers while meeting with my lawyer in Jackson Heights, when I came across this beauty. Amid the din of bollywood songs playing in the background, I knew had to have one.

And while am at it I recommend this book:

I heard about while watching Geo TV. A very popular cable news channel from the motherland. I don't get it at my apartment but I was over at my uncle's house and happened to catch the segment where the author Salman Ahmad (founder of the rock band Junoon) was plugging his new book. The message, bringing the US closer to the Muslim world (which is what I try to do here), appealed to me. I got my copy off of Amazon dot com and I must say I love it. Just the first chapter alone was enough to blow me away. And I can really relate with Salman. He too has been ping-ponging back forth between NY and Pakistan. Trying to fit into American life while conveying his new found Western ideals to his brethren.

Fear mongers will have you believe the current crisis is clash of civilizations, Salman will tell you its only a clash of cultures which can be transcended with an electric riff. Amen brother.

Life as it happens

I am a huge late night fan. And try to catch letterman, leno, conan whenever I can. Naturally I've been following the whole late night fiasco over at NBC. My verdict is that Leno is acting selfish and should have bowed at. This way he could have salvaged his reputation and been the bigger man. Now he just seems like a jerk, I won't be watching his show when he returns to his old time slot. Go team coco!

One good thing that came out of this is an important life lesson. I think we can all learn from Conan.

touching good bye

I also felt emotional as he said his good bye. A lot has happened in my life and its easy for me to be cynical. But as conando has said you never get what you want out of life but if your kind and not cynical amazing things will happen. Well those are words to live by.

UPDATE:
After being fired for the first time from a job. (just six months in btw) I can really relate with Conan and what he had to go through. His mention of a toxic environment that made it uncomfortable to perform in rings true with me. The last few days leading up to my forced resignation were terrible. But again I wish my former co-workers well. Besides when one door closes another opens. This is true in my situation as I got a better paying job which allows me to support myself and my widowed mother. But please let conan tell you what he thinks.


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Woah!

I was on the subway the other day. Trying to get home. When an odd smell happened to waft past me. At first I thought it must be something on the floors or on the seat. I looked around trying to identify what it could be. Seeing nothing I looked around and saw a hobo off in the corner of the car. Now my first thought was that no one could smell that bad. But other passengers were also looking his way and giving him peculiar looks.

Now this poor soul was oblivious to his state of affairs (mental problems, drunk or a combination of the two). And was happily undressing himself at this point I had to look away. I was revolted and retched a couple of times. I couldn't get off the train fast enough. The whole incident bothered me and I can't stop thinking about the hobo. I hope he gets the help he needs.

UPDATE: Apparently I am not the only one who had a run in with the potent kind