And this is where I will be living!

Thanks Nida from LAHORE for pointing the MC house in KARACHI (haha)

So this is where I will live for a year. Look its right beside Funland, and look there's even a JabeesFunland for you J!

Beach is like 5min away, mall is just as close.

I can tell this is going to be awesome!

This is where I will be working

Im not sure which building it is, but ill find that out ;)
Looks nice huh? a beautiful park in the neighbourhood...
47 days!!

Where am I going in 55 days?

2005 report on the status of children

Someting every man woman and child needs to read: The 2005 report on the status of children.

WARNING: may cause slight bouts of deliberated depression and loss of self worth. Recommended treatment: prepare with a full glass of hope and a biscuit of determination.

http://www.ungei.org/resources/files/sowc06_fullreport.pdf



Knowledge is Power

Quotes from V

"Artists use lies to expose the truth. Governments use lies to hide the truth."

"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain,
for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-a-vis an introduction,
and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."

"People should not fear their Government, Governments should fear their People"

V for Vendetta

I was going to write my own review for this movie, but came across this and wanted to share it instead.

---

Pop media is an excellent way to deliver abstract but extremely passionate messages out towards the masses. Myself, just like a lot of my friends have changed their lives(re: not have their lives changed) as a result of a song, or after having watched a movie. Yet significant change can only come with effort, and in this vein V for Vendetta is a brilliant example.

Many of you, I am sure have walked away from a cinema/concert/book to have your head buzzing with ideas, your blood rushing and you being so sure of the new direction that you would take your life towards - only to find out months later that the buzz wore off long ago, and that things had never changed, and the next easiest thing is to just turn on the TV.

But what you felt then is as true as it will get. And between any brilliant idea and you, there exists a choice, and any revolution starts first with you.

Doubtless a film about the revolution is amazing and will leave a lasting impression, but be aware:

"The most pernicious image of all is the anarchist-hero figure. A creation of commodity culture he allows us to buy into an inauthentic simulation of revolutionary praxis. The hero encourages passive spectating and revolt becomes another product to be consumed."
-Grant Morrison, the Invisibles

There is a limit to how much we can watch.

savas wrote on 19. Mar 2006

What Ive learnt from AIESEC Carleton

Here is my top 10! I could make a top 100 list with enough time and Ginseng tea ;) 10 isnt enought to capture everything I've learnt from AIESEC Carleton!

Regardless, here they are!

10. Don't let SNs passout on your bed at Crazy AIESEC Carleton Parties. They'll still be too drunk in the morning to clean up!

9. SHIT DOES happen. And NO you cannot deal with it over MSN or email. It needs to be talked out and clear expectations set, always!

8. As time consuming as weekly outtings are, it leads to increased motivation and productivity in the end :) Yay for Wings :)

7. There are no dificulties in Life, only challenges. As dificult as it is to admit them, most challenges are our own egos.

6. Various departments on campus are very generous to students who ask nicely :) Same with Profs!

5. 'Policies' are a waste of time and resources unless agreed upon/created by all parties. :)

4. Looking at a Map to Florida, wont get you to Florida - Prof. Kirby

3. Focusing on one area of development is not conducive to results. All areas must be a focus to achieve great, long lasting results.

2. Sometimes thinking about things can be discouraging, just do it anyway, and pray no one notices later on ("Where'd that couch come from anyway?" - Donna) haha


and the #1 key learning at AIESEC Carleton is...


1. That team mates are for fulfilling visions, friendships are for fulfilling life!
Thanks Duncan, Anne, Steph and Juanita!

Cheers to the greatest team to have rocked Carleton!

Amidst the consumer-driven culture

Here I sit amidst the consumer culture; Starbucks.
Im not sure what possessed me to go here, its been over a year since ive set foot in one.

I purchase a venti - iced passion tea, shaken. Its repeated a haute-voix, and then I charge $2.65 to my Debit.

I've been here a thousand times before it seems, then I stoped. I stoped when I stopped supporting a consumption driven culture. Now I sit here, and watch, sip on a venti-iced passion tea, shaken, and observe all that surrounds me.

Two older spanish ladies have a conversation about the reinvention of life, and love.

Two older french couple sipping moccha lattes, talking english to their grandson who wants a gym membership for his birthday, his grandfather tries explaining that they bought an extra big present for him for chirstmas, so as to not get him anything for his Bday. The boy wants half a membership anyway...

An elderly chinese lady enters covered from head to toe in white animal fur. And teen style platform highheel shoes.

Barbie and Ken enter, well, i dont know their real names, but I can bet it was a big name brand company that dressed them this morning. I hope they're are getting paid for being so fashion coordinated together.

Roxy, roxy, quicksilver, roxy... maybe I am out of fade but it seems like this is the only brand worn by our generation these days!

It is a giddy environment, everyone touting their new books they just purchased. Re-uniting with families for a quick grande machiato mocha latte...

Shouts of 'ole' randomly coming from the bar.


This is the part of the blog when I go off about 3rd world poverty and injustice.
But I wont, instead I will just appretiate the jungle I find myself in.

Starbucks is a place of re-kindling spirits, in an environment that make people feel good about themselves. For friends and family to catch up, girlfriends to gossip about their weeks, grandparents and grandchildren to reunite in converging worlds; and for a reflective student of the world to regain root in a land he now feels more than ever removed from.

Do it anyway

Thank you Saira for this inspiring poem. It captures what many of us struggle to define in life when we ask the questions like, is it worth it? why is there no appretiation for the good deeds, and why lead a life of virtue, when you be guaranteed success by stepping on the feet others.

Life is not a struggle to the top, it is a struggle to become that which we believe is true and good;
And many will make this struggle very difficult;
Struggle anyway.

---

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
People may accuse you
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
You will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
Someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
People will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
is between you and your conscience;
It was never between you and them anyway.

the rumour is true

Hello all,

I would like to confirm the rumour is true.

I spoke to AHmed on the phone recently, and he is still recovering, but is doing much better
I am sure he would appretiate your emails to him, he has been through a lot.


ahmedarshi.nomadlife.org