Junaid Noor

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

2012-01-03T22:12:00.009+11:00

Selected passages from Stephen R. Covey's famous best seller; The 7 Habits of highly effective people.

• As my study took me back through 200 years of writing about success, I noticed a startling pattern emerging in the content of the literature. Because of our own pain, and because of similar pain I had seen in the lives and relationships of many people I had worked with through the years, I began to feel more and more that much of the success literature of the past 50 years was superficial. It was filled with social image consciousness, techniques and quick fixes -- with social band-aids and aspirin that addressed acute problems and sometimes even appeared to solve them temporarily -- but left the underlying chronic problems untouched to fester and resurface time and again.

Page 8.

• In stark contrast, almost all the literature in the first 150 years or so focused on what could be called the character ethic as the foundation of success -- things like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule. Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is representative of that literature. It is, basically, the story of one man's effort to integrate certain principles and habits deep within his nature. The character ethic taught that there are basic principles of effective living, and that people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles into their basic character.

Page 8

• But shortly after World War I the basic view of success shifted from the character ethic to what we might call the personality ethic. Success became more a function of personality, of public image, of attitudes and behaviors, skills and techniques that lubricate the processes of human interaction. This personality ethic essentially took two paths: one was human and public relations techniques, and the other was positive mental attitude (PMA). Some of this philosophy was expressed in inspiring and sometimes-valid maxims such as "Your attitude determines your altitude," "Smiling wins more friends than frowning," and "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve. Other parts of the personality approach were clearly manipulative, even deceptive, encouraging people to use techniques to get other people to like them, or to fake interest in the hobbies of others to get out of them what they wanted, or to use the "power look," or to intimidate their way through life. Some of this literature acknowledged character as an ingredient of success, but tended to compartmentalize it rather than recognize it as foundational and catalytic. Reference to the character ethic became mostly lip service; the basic thrust was quick-fix influence techniques, power strategies, communication skills, and positive attitudes.

Page 8

If I try to use human influence strategies and tactics of how to get other people to do what I want, to work better, to be more motivated, to like me and each other -- while my character is fundamentally flawed, marked by duplicity and insincerity -- then, in the long run, I cannot be successful. My duplicity will breed distrust, and everything I do -- even using so-called good human relations techniques -- will be perceived as manipulative. It simply makes no difference how good the rhetoric is or even how good the intentions are; if there is little or no trust, there is no foundation for permanent success. Only basic goodness gives life to technique.

Page 9

The glitter of the personality ethic, the massive appeal, is that there is some quick and easy way to achieve quality of life -- personal effectiveness and rich, deep relationships with other people – without going through the natural process of work and growth that makes it possible It's symbol without substance. It's the "get rich quick" scheme promising "wealth without work."

And it might even appear to succeed -- but the schemer remains.

The personality ethic is illusory and deceptive. And trying to get high-quality results with its techniques and quick fixes is just about as effective as trying to get to some place in Chicago using a map of Detroit.

Page 12

I have seen the consequences of attempting to shortcut this natural process of growth often in the business world, where executives attempt to "buy" a new culture of improved productivity, quality, morale, and customer service with the strong speeches, smile training, and external interventions, or through mergers, acquisitions, and friendly or unfriendly takeovers. But they ignore the low-trust climate produced by such manipulations. When these methods don't work, they look for other personality ethic techniques that will -- all the time ignoring and violating the natural principles and processes on which high-trust culture is based.

Page 18

Living with Less by Leo Babauta

2012-01-03T11:22:00.007+11:00

Selected passages from "Living with Less" by Leo Babauta.

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" -

Albert Einstein.

The problems of our economy stem from unchecked consumerism - people buying houses too expensive for their incomes, getting into too much debt by spending too much, living a lifestyle of more and more with the idea that things will only continue to get better.

Page 4.

There is no crime greater than having too many desires;
There is no disaster greater than not being content;
There is no misfortune greater than being covetous.
Hence in being content, one will always have enough.

Lao Zi. Chinese philosopher

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."

Mahatma Gandhi

Its consumerism, and it's the official religion of the industrialized world.

Page 10

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit."

Aristotle

The Social Workplace

2011-10-10T01:36:00.001+11:00

Lately, I have been thinking of an idea where Facebook style social networking technology can be used to reshape the workplace.

Technically, the idea is to put a working copy of Facebook ( or a similar copycat) on a server and put the Facebook server inside the corporate LANs of big multinational companies. By big, I mean MNCs which have employees in thousands. For example, IBM has around 300,000 full time permanent employees working around the world.

Now, how does a MNC which is spread around the globe benefit from such social networking and that too in the workplace? Well, imagine this; how many Googlers have instant access to what their CEO is thinking? How many IBMers can "Like", "Agree", "Disagree", "Share" or "Comment" on what IBM CEO Sam Palmisano thinks or says. It seems that company's like Google and Facebook are already harnessing the power of social network to re-shape the corporate workplace into a social workplace. E.g. Google employees and the general public can read what Larry Page is thinking, reading or sharing at his workplace by simply visiting the the URL below

https://plus.google.com/106189723444098348646/posts/4wkYwTCCgAc

Sergey Brin from Google also has his social networking presence which can be visited by visiting the URL below

https://plus.google.com/109813896768294978296/posts/dwmWyNSoXTh

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg can be followed on the following URL

https://www.facebook.com/zuck

What if the IBM's CEO can instantaneously share his thoughts with the IBMers across the globe with a "status" update. A status, shared with "friends", "followers" or "subscribers" would spread an idea or an opinion much faster than a corporate email which by the way comes from an anonymous email address with the boring caution "Do not reply to this message as the mailbox is not monitored" at the end of it.

What if IBMers can comment, share and like the status update of their CEO. News would spread much faster with a status update than it would with a corporate email. Senior management would be able to gauge the response to a particular proposal by counting the number of "Likes".

What if professional networking is replaced by socio-professional networking. The work place would be a lot more fun to work if I can know who I am working with and how many people share the same interests and hobbies with me.

Social networking has already revolutionarised our social lives. It can be used to add the human and social touch to our workplace as well.

Main baaghi hoon, written by Dr. Khalid Javed Jan during Zia ul Haq’s tenure

2011-06-11T23:49:00.003+10:00

A famous literary master piece written by Dr. Khalid Javed.

is daur k rasm riwaajon se,
in takhton se inn tajoon se,
jo zulm ki kokh se jante hain,
insani khoon se palte hain,
jo nafrat ki bunyadain hain
aur khooni khet ki khadein hain,
main baghi hoon main baghi hoon
jo chahe mujh pe zulm karo

I am a rebel,
From the norms and traditions of the time,
From the thrones and the crowns,
Which are born from the womb of cruelty,
Which feed of the human blood,
Which are the foundations of hate,
And are the fertilisers of the killing fields,
I am a rebel, I am a rebel
Do what ever you may unto me.

wo jin k hont ki jambish se,
wo jin ki aankh ki larzish se,
qanoon badalte rehte hain,
aur mujhrim palte rehte hain,
in choroon k sardaron se
insaaf k pahre daron se
main baghi hoon main baghi hoon
jo chahe mujh pe zulm karo

mazhab k jo byopari hain,
wo sab se bari bemari hain,
wo jin k siwa sab kafir hain,
jo deen ka harf-e-akhir hain,
in jhute aur makkaron se
mazhab k thekedaron se
main baghi hoon main baghi hoon
jo chahe mujh pe zulm karo

mere hath main haq ka jhanda hai,
mere sir pe zulm ka phanda hai,
main marne se kab darti hoon,
main moat ki khatir zinda hoon,
mere khoon ka suraj chamke ga
to bacha bacha bole ga
main baghi hoon, main baghi hoon
jo chahe mujh pe zulm karo

A tale of traitors of faith

2011-06-06T14:49:00.012+10:00

A critique on trash Pakistani literature is littered with conspiracy theories.

Recently I was forwarded a link to a book named "Dastaan Imaan Farooshoun Ki" in an email. The title of the book, translated into English, means " A tale of traitors of faith". Some other subtitles were

Main Title: A tale of traitors of faith
Sub title: Real stories from the times of Sultan Ayyubi. ( No references given for any real stories.

Sub title: Womanhood and the skirmishes of faith ( The chauvinistic title says it all. Blame the boobs for the erections)

The question is whether all the seven stories are real historical facts or just the creation of the writer's sex obsessed imagination? Personally, I find the whole book to be nothing but Muslim soft porn, juxtaposed on top of historical events, twisted and mixed with spicy, juicy conspiracy theories of beautiful, blond, blue eyed, big boobed, hour glass shaped, European white women with plunging necklines, out on a mission to steal the nookolar and testical weapons of pious Muslim Mujahids who are fighting for the glory of Islam.

The writer puts the word "HAQEEQI" in the title of the book but fails to provide a single reference for his scholastic work of research which is littered with fantasizing accounts of white women using their weapons of mass seduction to weaken the strong faith of glorious Muslim warriors and steal the nookolar secrets of the nookolar weapons of the nookolar Muslim army. Perhaps he is suffering from a unique set of circumstances where the balls climb up to the brains and the brains climb down to the balls. In such a scenario, the skull is full of sperms floating around and all the mind can think of is sexual fantasies. Cough cough wink wink.

The novel along with other literary junk that mushroomed during the Afghan Jihad and post Zia era is nothing but a Islamist propaganda furthering the notion that Islam has been under attack since the times of dinosaurs and that Muslims should be on the watch for beautiful women and evil infidels. Movies like International Gorrillay and propaganda novels like those of Naseem Hijazi were specially patronized by the state machinery to promote a particular strand of ideology during the 1980s and 1990s.

"Dastaan Imaan Farooshoun ki " is a glaring example of a misogynist and chauvinistic Muslim male psyche which considers woman as meat, specially if the meat is white. Very much like a low budget soft porn movie, the main title of the book and the 7 chapter titles give away the plot. Beautiful, blue eyed, big boobed, big assed, hour glass shaped Amanda Seyfried out on a mission to steal nookolar secrets and hide the recipe for nookolar weapons in her bra and be airlifted from OBL's vacation house in Abbotabad right next to PMA. Watch out! Seyfried can stir fry your organs.

Here is a translation of the titles.

Main Title: A tale of merchants of faith
Sub title: Real stories from the times of Sultan Ayyubi. ( No references given for any real stories. The only real thing I can imagine is the tits and ass)
Sub title: Womanhood and the skirmishes of faith ( The chauvinistic title says it all. Blame the boobs for our erections)

Modern day titles can be

Main title: A tale of Pakistani nookolar weapons and their secret hijacking by Madonna
Sub title: Real stories from the times of Afghan Jihad by Hameed Lull.
Sub title: Sex education and teenage pregnancy: A possible connection.

By Zion Hamid and Hameed Lull

The titles of the rest of the chapters are as enticing and scintillating as the ones on the front page.

Chapter 1: When Zakoi entered the dwelling of Sultan Ayyubi. ( What happened after that has been censored but ninth months later Zakoi was found screaming in a maternity ward).

Modern Day title: When Zeenat Aman entered the bedroom of Gen Ayub Khan and flashed her tities.

Chapter 2: The seventh girl. ( The first six lost their virginity's during a safe sex demonstration. Jeez it was supposed to be safe but then, shit happens).
Modern day title: The seventy third virgin: A possibility.

Chapter 3: When the seventh girl came to murder Sultan Ayyubi. ( Yes the same seventh girl. Heck why only the seventh. I thought it was supposed to be 7 + 2. 72. ).
Modern day title: When Gen Zia was served mangoes by an air hostess with big melons in his C-130: just before the juicy melons blew up the plane.

Chapter 4: The second wife. ( I thought Islam allowed four wives. Why only the second. There is still room for two).
Modern day title: The seventh personal secretary of Gen Pasha with size 36-22-36.

Chapter 5: The kidnapping of Umm-e-Arara ( Must be a good looking damsel. The Christian crusaders along with their Jewish conspirators only go for the good looking babes. Ugly ones are selectively left alone).
Modern day title: My days with Taliban: A memoir. by Yvonne Ridley. A recent convert to Islam.

Chapter 6: The girl who came from Palestine. ( And ended up in the Sultan's personal brothel)
Modern day title: UN and the proliferation of family planning and the declining Pakistani population.

Chapter 7: When the poison was poisoned with poison. ( The title is suggesting that Sultan Ayyubi finally decided to end the machinations of the Yahood-o-Nasaara and sent in his own version of Monica Belluci to settle the score. You only need a single Belluci to crush the entire Muslim army with her balloons.
Modern day title: When Hafiz Saeed was poisoned with Vodka

Chapter 8: When Ayuna impersonated Ayesha! ( Only to face the hungry and horny Muslim warriors)
Modern day title: When Phulan Devi grew jealous of Meera's busts.

Eight out of eight stories are filled with Muslim mentality soft porn. The whole plot revolves around hungry and horny Muslim warriors falling prey to the weapons of mass seduction of white women. Probably if they had not been so sexually repressed at home, they would not have fallen so cheaply while abroad. Just like Pak army went on an orgy of rape in Bangladesh, 1971. ( Yes this is a HAQEEQI fact with plenty of references available). Just reminds me of Khushwant Singh's famous saying that other people's mothers and sisters are always more fuckable!

I just don't understand why is it always Muslims in general and Pakistanis in specific who fall victim to conspiracies? Why can't Muslims also hatch some conspiracies to do the same? Despite the fact that we spend 80% on defense and security, we still cannot defend ourselves from our enemies because our enemies use beautiful women as weapons. Heck, we should also start using beautiful women as weapons. Why spend all that money on F-16s and Orions while the best weapons just needs 5 minutes plus 9 months to produce?

Such useless literary trash is quite dangerous because it doesn't take much effort to replace the beautiful , wicked white woman with the black eyed, Katrina Kaif or big assed Hema Malini and spin all sorts of ridiculous conspiracy theories of how the Hindu is sending in Bollywood babes to steal nuclear weapons. ( To all Katrina Kaif and Hema Malini fans, please accept my apologies.)

Just imagine the uncircumcised Hindus sending Katrina Kaif to steal the nookolar weapons of Pakistan ,the Play station of Islam and trying to seduce General Kiyani to give up the locations of Pakistan's nookolar assets. General Kiyani falls victim to Katrina's big bulgy assets and and and .... ejaculates. Just my imagination. Hope General Sahab does not take an offense to such satanic thought crime. In case he does, I apologize from the depth of my heart.

The over all affect of such rubbish garbage is that

1. The sexually starved and frustrated Pakistani teenagers with very few outlets for expressing their pent up desires, read such trash with great zeal and zest. The novels puts a wrapper of Islamic piety around spicy , juicy stories of medieval espionage involving white beauties. Hence providing a soft pillow of a clear conscience that since the story is about the great Sultan, its ok to read and explore the possibilities a little bit.

2. Since the villain in all the eight stories is the evil white woman, available in large supplies, some times entering the bedroom of the great general and sometimes impersonating a Muslim woman, most Pakistanis have this view that all white women are loose and easy to get. The majority of porn stars being blonde and white only re-enforces such thinking. Which explains the behavior of Muslims teenagers in the wild wild decadent west which they so much hate.

3. There is nothing wrong with writing such garbage as long as the writer clearly explains that the novel is only a work of fiction and all the white women he so much desires are fictitious characters of his sick mentality. On the contrary, the writer has placed a misleading statement in the title claiming that the stories are HAQEEQI as much as the MQM-HAQEEQI.

4. As per freedom of speech, everyone should be allowed to write and say what ever one wants to , however, in return, one should be ready to stomach the criticism as well. It really does not suit our country to promote and patronize such literature while murder journalists who even express their desire to tell the truth.

5. Last of all believing in such conspiracy theories and blaming all that is wrong on the geography of a woman only points towards a defeated mentality and a beaten resolve. Such thinking is the result of a frustrated mentality which tries to find a scape goat and pins all the blame on every thing except one's own inabilities and weaknesses.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © Junaid Noor 2011. No part of this article may be reproduced without prior permission of the author.

Priest wanted for BBB

2011-03-03T14:19:00.010+11:00

A satire mocking the state of affairs in Pakistan and lack of security for minorities.

The government of Pakistan is desperately looking for a Christian priest to perform the funeral rites of the slain minorities minister, the late Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti.

The government has requested several bishops, cardinals, fathers and even the pope, however, all the Christian clergy believes that Shahbaz Bhatti was a blasphemer, hence, he does not deserve a Nimaaz-e-Jinaaza, correction, funeral. The last such blasphemer was the Satanic Salman who was killed by Muhammad Bin Qasim when he invaded India. To send a warning signal to everyone, the armies of Mehmood Ghaznavi and Muhammad Ghauri have sent warnings to everyone not to lead the funeral prayers of any blasphemer or .....

Most of the Christian priests are such good Muslims that they want to condemn the blasphemer PPP minister to eternal hell by not offering his Namaaz-e-Jinnaza, I mean funeral. The last Christian priest was the cricketer Yousuf Youhana who converted to Islam and became Maulvi Youhana. Rumors are going on that the government has asked Pundit Danish Kaneria to offer the Nammaz-e-Jinaaza before he too is converted to Islam by mufti Inna-Zam-Zam Haq. But pundit Kaneria is busy practicing spin bowling and has rejected to offer any prayers for blasphemer Bhatti. Ever since the Satanic Salman was delivered to hell by Munna Qadri, no one wants to pray for a blasphemer. Although lots of good looking girls sent Valentine cards to Munna Qadri much to the anguish of Munna Qadri's wife.

The other Christian Bishop, George Fulton, of George Ka Pakistan fame, has already made plans to leave the country.

Mr. Zion Hamid, of the blame-it-on-Yahood-Hunood-fame, has already declared that Shahbaz Bhatti was actually a secret Muslim planning to openly declare his conversion but the Hindu-Zionists Mossad and RAW decided to kill a new wanna-be convert before he could benefit from all the perks and privileges of being a Muslim. According to Zion Hamid, one's intentions to convert are enough to go to heaven.

However, according to Mr. Amir Zamanat, of the fake-degrees fame, one has to publicly declare his conversion and also undergo the surgical procedure of circumcision to be fully converted and get a visa from the divine embassy to the heavens. Aamir Zamanat did not specify whether the surgical procedure also has to be done publicly and whether the proof of circumcision has to be publicly announced through audio-visual means.

Another scion of the media Mr. Hamara Peer, of the secret tapes fame, has a totally different opinion. According to Mr. Peer, Mr. Bhatti was a minister of the Islamic republic and hence his funeral should not be offered. He is only eligible for a Nimaaz-e-Janaaza. According to Mr. Peer, offering a Christian funeral for a murdered, although blasphemer, Christian minister for minorities is against the territorial and ideological integrity of Pakistan. Hence, Bhatti saheb should be entitled to a Nimaaz-e-Janaaza.

Another famous news anchor of Pakistan, Ms. Talkh Mazzari has suggested that Mr. Bhatti's murder was a conspiracy by Raymond Davis to divert the media attention from his murder case. According to Ms. Mazaaari, Raymond Davis used his remote control to send Jewish made drones and attack Mr. Bhatti in I-9. As per Ms. Bhatti, Raymond Davis is a real life Rambo who can control airplanes and drones using his brain waves. Ms. Mazari has suggested that by now the Bad blasphemer Bhatti must be having a good time with the satanic Salman in hell since both of them were blasphemers and convicted by Federal Shar Pasand Court headed by Chief Justice Maulana Rockety.

Meanwhile the debate on who is going to lead the funeral/Nimaz-e-Janaaza for Mr. Bhatti, rages, the Prime Minister has invited the everyone to apply for the position by sending resumes to an unknown email address. Any one who is interested in leading the funeral prayers for Mr. BBB is encouraged to apply for the position.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © Junaid Noor 2011. No part of this article may be reproduced without prior permission of the author.

God instructed me to Kill

2011-01-11T15:57:00.015+11:00

The following is a satirical imaginary situation where the Chief Justice of Pakistan tries to conduct a trial of the murderer of the slain ex-gov of Punjab, Salman Taseer.

The chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chowdry, has taken suo motu notice against the murder of governor Punjab, the late Salman Taseer. The suo motu notice has been taken because the police does not want to take any action since everyone in the police and army is scared of

Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat
Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Zia-Ul-Haq
Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-PML(N)
Tehreek-e-Namoos-e- Muhammad Bin Qasim
Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Asif/Amir/Salman Butt

That is pretty much the whole of Pakistan. Yes, that's true. That list is pretty much 99% of Pakistan. Being less in numbers, the Pakistan police force has every right to be scared. The police is small in numbers as compared to the army and the army is busy liberating Kashmir from India, digging strategic depth in Afghanistan and researching various real-estate investments in Pakistan.

Mumtaz Qadri is standing in front of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and is asked to present his defense. Nearly 500 lawyers have volunteered to defend Mumtaz Qadri but Mumtaz Qadri does not have enough money to pay for his defense. Most lawyers have assured Qadri that he can later on pay their legal fees once he has received his 2 crore Rupees reward for the murder of the blasphemous Salman Taseer from Maulana Krash Prash, Imam of the Jamia-Masjid, Hakuna Matata, district Billi-Tang. But Qadri is suspicious that the Imam will play foul and will not pay the reward any more. Hence Qadri has decided to do his defense on his own.

Chief Justice = CJ
Mumtaz Qadri = MQ
Salman Taseer = ST

CJ: " Muhammad Bin Qasim, what justification you have for murdering governor ST?"

MQ: "My name is Mumtaz Qadri, but thanks for calling me Mohammad Bin Qasim. I have read a lot about Bin Qasim in the Pakistan studies books. He is my favorite hero after Imran Khan since childhood. I have heard, he was so handsome that all the daughters of Raja Dahir married him. I never understood how could he marry two sisters at the same time since Islam does not allow marrying of two sisters at the same time."

CJ: "Order order order. Do not try to insult my intelligence. I know your name is not Bin Qasim. I mistakenly called you Bin Qasim because in my sub-conscience, you are as great as Bin Qasim.

The crowd of lawyers, media whores, religious fanatics and common people shout Allah-O-Akbar so loudly that the window panes of the supreme court which were previously broken by PML(N) thugs not so long ago, when they were trying to conquer the supreme court, inspired by Pak Army which conquers Pakistan every now and then, break down into pieces.

People continue shouting slogans of

Pakistan Zindabad
Mumtaz Qadri zindabad
Dr Aamir Liquat Zindabad
General Hamid Gul Zindabad
Dr Shahid Masood Zindabad
Maulana Diesel Zindabad
Dr Qadeer Khan Zindabad
Pakistan cricket team zindabad
Pakistan nuclear weapons zindabad

Hindustan Murdabad
Israel Murdabad
Yahood-o-Hunood Murdabad
CIA/Mossad/Raw/MI5/KGB Murdabad
Veena Malik Murdabad

The CJ climbs his desk and uses a loud speaker to announce "Order Order Order"

The CJ threatens

"If order is not maintained in the court room, I will have to call General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani to order a ceasefire in Kashmir so that an infantry brigade can be re-called from the border and deputed to the court room for restoring order. Don't you guys want to liberate Kashmir from the clutches of chalak Hindu banya?"

The crowd suddenly accepts the emotional blackmail and falls silent.

The proceedings continue

CJ: "Mumtaz Qadri, how would you like to justify your on duty murder which you committed by pumping two magazines into the body of that blasphemer , I mean the late Governor ST?"

MQ: "I was following orders."

CJ: "Whose orders were you following?"

MQ: "I was following God's orders"

There is a slight murmur in the court room and the proceedings continue

CJ: "What proof do you have that you committed the murder on God's orders?"

MQ: "
What proof did Muhammad Bin Qasim have when he invaded Hindustan on orders of God?
What proof did Zaheer-ud-din Babar have when he invaded Hindustan on orders of God?
What proof did Aurangzeb alamgir have when he imprisoned his father on orders of God?
CJ: "Who told you that they were ordered by God?"

MQ: "Text Book for Pakistan studies. Chatper I,II,III, pg, 34, 56, 77 respectively"

CJ: "I never studied such a text book when I was a kid."

MQ: "That is because you never benefited from the educational revolution brought about by the great Mujahid, the liberator of Afghanistan. Had you read the text books of Hazrat General Zia-Ul-Haq you would have agreed with what I am saying. Hazrat Maulana General Zia-Ul-Haq, Mard-e-Momin-Mard-e-Haq set up a team of great scholars who authored the real history of Pakistan and you can read that history by reading any Pakistan studies book of 198os or the text books of the time of ex-Ameer-ul-momineen, Hazrat Ganj Nawaz Shareef who has just returned from exile after living in London for 5 years.

CJ: "That is utter nonsense. Put forward some credible evidence which can be accepted in a court of law."

MQ: " God instructed me to kill and hence I killed. Which part of my sentence you don't understand?"

A lawyer from the crowd, jumps to MQ's rescue and helps MQ by using his legal expertise and argues.

Lawyer: "The constitution of Pakistan says that Sovereignty belongs to Allah alone but He has delegated it to the State of Pakistan through its people for being exercised within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust.

This proves that God exists and if He exists then he can also ask MQ to do a small task as well. If you do not accept MQ's claim that God instructed him to go for the kill then you are rejecting the constitution which has empowered you as the judge of the supreme court of the Islamic Caliphate, I mean the Islamic republic of Pakistan in the first place. And you are also becoming an apostate at the same time since you are rejecting God"

The crowd breaks into a thundering applause. Slogans are chanted again and order has to be restored yet again.

CJ: "Your arguments cannot be accepted as you are not the legal representative of Qadri. Go back to your place and do not interrupt again. Or I will ask the 110 Brigade from Rawalpindi to stage a coup and come and arrest you."

CJ: "MQ, I am giving you a last chance to defend yourself and save yourself from the gallows."

MQ: "
Just like Hazrat Maulana General Zia-Ul-Haq was instructed by God to overthrow the elected gov of Bhutto.
Just like Mard-e-Momin Mard-e-Haq Zia-Ul-Haq was instructed by God to side with the Bible believing Christian Americans and to fight against the infidel, atheist Communists.
Just like God instructed Hazrat General Hameed Gul to topple the un-Islamic gov of a woman.
Just like God instructed Ganj Nawaz Shareef to declare himself Ameer-ul-momineen
Similarly, God instructed me to kill the satanic Salman".

The whole court room falls into a deafening silence. Everyone is spell bound by the arguments of a poor lower middle class police guard.

After a long pause, the CJ gathers some strength and is about to announce the verdict when all of a sudden Tariq Aziz (the former host of Neelam-Ghar and who had previously attacked the supreme court under the instructions of PML(N)) re-appears again at the gates of the supreme court, after almost 15 years, with an army of balaclava clad, angry, rampaging hooligans who ransack every thing that comes their way.

The thugs enter the main court room where the hearing is being conducted and start pushing, shoving and beating up every one. Tariq Aziz goes for the kill and jumps straight towards the podium where the CJ is sitting. The CJ is so frightened that he runs away. Tariq Aziz stands on the podium and declares that the trial is un-Islamic and illegal since the murderer of a blasphemer can only be tried in an Islamic court of an Islamic country.

Complete chaos follows, MQ silently sneaks out never to be seen again. The CJ later on re-surfaces in another court and takes another suo motu notice against the guards of the supreme court for not being able to defend the supreme court against PML(N).

The lawyers distribute sweets, the mullahs march victoriously around the streets of Pakistan and Asia Bibi is hanged to death.

New Year Eve 2009. Sydney

2009-01-01T22:54:00.006+11:00

New yr eve 2009 at Sydney as viewed from North Bondi.

From New Yr Eve 2009

New Yr eve 2009 sunset video.

New Yr eve 2009 fireworks video

Future of India and Pakistan

2008-12-31T01:03:00.003+11:00

Pakistanis must apologise

2008-12-28T23:03:00.007+11:00

Every Pakistani whether living abroad or in Pakistan was deeply touched by the tragedy of Mumbai attacks. Attacks like the one in Mumbai occur on a routine basis ever since Pakistan joined the Global War on Terror, however, the attacks in Mumbai were of greater concern to Pakistanis then the attacks of Marriot, carnage at PPP election rallies, the attacks of US drones in FATA and the attacks by suicide bombers on regular intervals in different cities . Reason being that the last time when the such an attack of such proportions was carried out in India, back in 2002, India threatened Pakistan with a full scale military invasion and amassed its troops along the Pakistani border. As of current standing, Pakistan and Pakistanis really cannot afford to have another war right in the middle of an ongoing war of which there seems to be no end.

Just like most Pakistanis, I was very much concerned by what was going to happen next. I was very much aware that India had enough of it and if this was really the handiwork of a Pakistan based group, India would certainly like to do some thing about it. I was also worried that may be its another ISI sponsored fiasco to settle the score for whats going on in FATA and Balochistan (whether thats true of wrong is certainly questionable) . And of course their were conspiracy theories as well (Mossad, Col Purhoit et al blah blah.)

Soon after the blasts, Indian gov and all the Indian media outlets declared that India had enough evidence to prove that the attackers came from Pakistan. The statements from the Indian side, both gov and media, did not clarify what they meant by "Pakistan". Did the evidence indicate that the attacks were sanctioned by the government of Pakistan, the attackers trained by Pakistani army OR did the Indian gov and media meant that the attackers, though, were not sent by the gov of Pakistan, but were Pakistani citizens, trained and equipped by rogue Jihadi groups in Pakistan?

From the history of Indo-Pak relations, I and every Pakistani know that there is quite a good chance that the attackers are Pakistanis. Even if they are Indian Muslims, upset with the treatment meted out to them at the hands of the Indian gov, there must be some sort of Pakistani involvement in arming and training them. By Pakistani I do not necessarily mean Pakistani gov but Pakistan based jihadi outfits.

Now as usual, the Indian gov and the Indian media started pointing fingers towards Pakistan. What was meant by Pakistan was left undefined. Many Pakistanis took it as an accusation towards the state of Pakistan and each and every Pakistani. Both sides quickly descended into a war of words. The war of words was fought both on the gov level, in cyber space and as well as in a personal capacity. I too quickly got involved in fiery debates with some of my Indian friends and got carried away with my nationalistic sentiments.

With the war cry becoming louder from both sides, I started posting stories of how the Indian gov has still not provided any evidence even though one month has passed since the attacks took place. Whipping up the dead horse of Kashmir, right when the relations between India and Pakistan are at their lowest, also became part of the justification. Slowly after one month, the issue was no longer the attacks in Mumbai but how Pakistan had been supporting insurgency in Indian Kashmir and how India had been stubbornly sitting on top of the Kashmir issue.

Finally, one day I realized that keeping in mind the historical data, I should simply say a sorry to my Indian friends and apologize rather then trying to split hairs by bringing up discrepancies found in the various accounts of the Mumbai attacks as narrated by various media outlets. This is exactly what both the governments of Pakistan and India are right now involved in. The Indian gov, trying to do some face saving in front of a nation angry and humiliated at the hands of 20 or few gunmen while the Pakistani gov trying to put up a brave face in front of accusations and threats being hurled from the Indian side. No wonder, time and again, both India and Pakistan, gov and people, end up, back at square one as they were in 1947.

It is very much the responsibility of the Indian gov to provide the evidence it has claimed to have from day one, but mean while the Indian gov prepares the evidence, Pakistani gov should not sit idle and make its own efforts to investigate the attacks. Pakistani gov can rid itself of the stain and stigma of sponsoring terrorists only by making serious and honest efforts to investigate. Though the Pakistani gov is justified in asking for evidence, still it will be better if it doesn't wait for evidence. It should treat this matter with the same urgency as it would have treated a similar incident of terrorism in the UK or the US.

What about the people? Pakistanis and Indians? Well to all Pakistanis, I would say that keeping in mind our history, there is a good enough chance of this being the handiwork of our country men. Whether gov sponsored or independent non state actors. So there is no harm in apologising. If it turns out , much as I would wish, that the perparators were not Pakistanis, we would have lost nothing. However, if it turns out that the terrorists were indeed Pakistanis, we would have lost a lot by then.

To all my Indian friends, I apologize twice.

Once for what ever happened and hope it is not repeated ever again.

Secondly, I also apologize for taking this long to apologize. This apology should have come on the very first day.

The story of two beggars

2008-12-28T22:58:00.001+11:00

Tahir and Habib are London beggars. They beg in different areas of the West End. Habib begs just as long as Tahir but only collects £10-15 every day.

Tahir brings home a suitcase FULL of £10 notes every day, drives a Mercedes, lives in a mortgage-free house and has a lot of money to spend.

Habib says to Tahir 'I work just as long and hard as you do but how do you bring home a suitcase full of £10 notes every day?'

Tahir says, .... 'Look at your sign, what does it say'?

Habib's sign reads 'I have no work, a wife and 6 kids to support'.'

Tahir says ' No wonder you make no more than £15 a day

Habib says... 'So what does your sign say'?

Tahir shows Habib his sign......It reads,,,,

'I only need another £10 to move back to Pakistan'.

Appeal for Donations to wikipedia

2008-12-26T08:51:00.001+11:00

An appeal from Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales

Dear Reader,

Today I am going to ask you to support Wikipedia with a donation. This might sound unusual: Why does one of the world's five most popular web properties ask for financial support from its users?

Wikipedia is built differently from almost every other top 50 website. We have a small number of paid staff, just twenty-three. Wikipedia content is free to use by anyone for any purpose. Our annual expenses are less than six million dollars. Wikipedia is run by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, which I founded in 2003.

At its core, Wikipedia is driven by a global community of more than 150,000 volunteers - all dedicated to sharing knowledge freely. Over almost eight years, these volunteers have contributed more than 11 million articles in 265 languages. More than 275 million people come to our website every month to access information, free of charge and free of advertising.

But Wikipedia is more than a website. We share a common cause: Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's our commitment.

Your donation helps us in several ways. Most importantly, you will help us cover the increasing cost of managing global traffic to one of the most popular websites on the Internet. Funds also help us improve the software that runs Wikipedia -- making it easier to search, easier to read, and easier to write for. We are committed to growing the free knowledge movement world-wide, by recruiting new volunteers, and building strategic partnerships with institutions of culture and learning.

Wikipedia is different. It's the largest encyclopedia in history, written by volunteers. Like a national park or a school, we don't believe advertising should have a place in Wikipedia. We want to keep it free and strong, but we need the support of thousands of people like you.

I invite you to join us: Your donation will help keep Wikipedia free for the whole world.

Thank you,

Jimmy Wales

Sculptures by the sea

2008-12-03T14:32:00.001+11:00

One of the most unique and amazing exhibition of scultptural art.

Kempsie

2008-12-03T14:30:00.000+11:00

The lonely beach littered with tree trunks.

The TableLands

2008-12-03T14:28:00.001+11:00

Away from the coastal paradise, inside the Australian mainland lies the lush green fields of Tamworth, Lismore and Taree.

Urunga Lagoon

2008-12-03T14:25:00.000+11:00

An oasis of serenity in the midst of turbulence and chaos

Gold Coast

2008-12-02T22:22:00.001+11:00

Gold Coast is an urban paradise.

Byron Bay

2008-12-02T22:17:00.003+11:00

Byron Bay is one of the most beautiful and scenic places of Australia.

Have a look at some of the pics.

Spit to Manly

2008-09-07T21:02:00.005+10:00

Sydney has been blessed with some of the world's most exotic landscape. Oceanic views, forest bush land and a diverse flora and fauna are all part of the beautiful Sydney.

Around Sydney, one can embark on a number of scenic oceanic walks. The Bondi to Cogee walk takes you from the famous Bondi beach to the Cogee beach via Tamaramma, Bronte, Clovelly and Gordon's Bay.

A complete list of parks, walks and camping places can be found by visiting the following URL

Department of environment: Gov of NSW

Another famous walk starts from the Spit Bridge and end at the Manly beach. The walk is 10 KMs long and goes through a variety of landscapes which include, rain forest, mountains, cliffs and harbour side residential areas.

Last weekend, I along with my friend went on an expeditionary trip to explore the trek and take some pics of the beautiful sights one can come across.

I have placed a slide show below.

Enjoy

Sydney in Winters

2008-07-26T23:15:00.007+10:00

Last weekend I went out with one of my friend, Waqas, on a shooting spree. Yes a picture shooting spree of the most beautiful spots of Sydney.

Unlike other parts of the world, Sydney still retains it spring-time like beauty through out the year and even in winter.

Here are some glimpses of Sydney's winter beauty.

Son of Lion: Benjamin Gilmour

2008-07-13T19:10:00.003+10:00

Son of a Lion; Warrior Poets. A Pashtun lad challenges his father's authority by refusing the future mapped out for him in an area of the Hindu Kush mountains where weapons are manufactured.

It just happened to be a co-incidence that I met Benjamin Gilmour, a Sydney paramedic by profession and a movie maker by passion.

A friend of mine sent me an email telling me of some one who had visited Pakistan and fell in love with the culture and people of the North West Frontier Province, N.W.F.P. Such was the intensity of his love for Pathans that he decided to make a movie which brushes aside all stereotypes of Pathans and narrates the story of an ordinary village boy who is born into a family of gun manufacturers but wants to give up working as a gun manufacturer and pursue his formal education.

The name of the movie which Mr. Gilmour directed is "Son of a Lion" starring local characters and local actors. The story revolves around a young boy from the town of Darra Adam Khel, whose father is a gun manufacturer by profession. The father of the boy wants his son to follow in the foot steps of his father and also become a gun manufacturer, however, the boy is interested in getting a decent education.

The movie has been shot in Darra Adam Khel during 2005-2006. The Australian Film Council funded the venture and Gilmour, who had never directed a movie, shot all the scenes and authored the script of the movie.

The movie has been featured in many film festivals around the world and a google search reveals more then 25, 300, 000 results. The movie has already won numerous awards in the Australian film festival.

Mr. Gilmour from the obscurity of a Sydney parademic has become an authority on the geo-political affairs of the area and is often invited in numerous radio and TV talk shows to present his views on the on-going conflict in the region.

Benjamin Gilmour: At his Sydney residency

Gilmour is deciding to make more documentaries on Pathans and the contribution of Pathans in the economic development of early 19th and 20th century Australia. Gilmour is interested in making more documentaries which show case the contribution of Pathans in economic success of Australia in the form of Ghan railway line which runs through the rugged, treacherous and dangerous terrain of the Australian outback.

Pak Army is incapable of running civilian educational institutes

2008-06-16T19:57:00.010+10:00

Notice from the administration of EME college warning students not to meet the opposite gender unless in a group of three or more.

Earlier this week I received a forwarded email where an Indian was criticising a regulation change order promulgated by the administration of one of Pakistan’s prestigious university, NUST.

The web link for the article written by the Indian blogger can be visited at the following URL.

http://now.mythings.in/post/37707882/on-2nd-june-2008-one-of-the-premium-engineering

The link does not work any more.

I have also graduated from one of the campuses of the same university the Indian blogger is criticising and it is not a surprise that such an incident has happened because it happened in my times as well.

For those who don’t know what NUST is? Read on.

NUST, stands for National University of Sciences and Technology. The university was basically a re-grouping of Pakistan Army’s vast educational resources spread throughout the country. The entity which was formed after the re-grouping was named NUST. The university is different from other Pakistani universities in the following ways:

The head of the university is a retired army officer belonging to the educational corps of Pakistan army. The university was formed to allow civilian students to benefit by enrolling in the various educational programs offered by the university and study along Cadets of Pak Army.

The university also has certain civilian only campuses where only civilian students study.

Coming back to the topic, the administration of the university in all campuses, civilian and army ones, is mostly ridden with serving or ex-army officials who have little or no teaching experience in civilian institutes. The fact that such officials have no experience working in civilian institutes, makes them treat civilian educational institutes as their platoons and enforce rules and regulations which have no co-relation with the progress and performance of the institute. Rather then concentrating on improving quality of education, the army-ridden administrations tries to police, control and modify the behaviour of the students. May be because they want to experiment with the tricks and tips they have learnt during their service in the military.

One such example of such mind control and behaviour modification can be found in the letter printed on the notice board of EME College Rawalpindi. The notice has been signed by the adjutant of the academy, Captain Syed Asad Hussain Shah. The notice warns all students that two students of opposite genders can only meet each other in groups of three or more. A male student cannot meet, talk, chat, study, discuss and hang around with a female student unless in a group of three or more.

As usual, and true to their nature, Pakistan army is less interested in the actual job they have been assigned in that particular college and more interested in “preserving the moral fabric” of the society by imposing draconian, derogatory, insulting and gender discriminatory rules and regulations on the students of the college.

By issuing such notices, the administration of the college is basically subliminally declaring the following

1. The students of the college, who are all grown ups, mostly in their early twenties, have no manners and etiquettes as to how to behave in the presence of the opposite gender.

2. The students of the college have not received a good upbringing from their parents.

3. The administration needs to monitor who is having an affair with whom or else the college will become a centre of scandals, affairs and dates.

Such sick and regressive mentality prevails every where Pakistan army tries to interfere in civilian institutes.

A similar incident happened when I was studying in university. It started off with a boy-girl thing and ended up as harsh, rude and collective punishment for all.

What I don’t understand is why a young boy having an affair with a young girl such a big issue for the military nut jobs. No amount of military, social, economic or any other form of repression is going to stop girls and guys developing mutual attraction for each other. Developing mutual attraction for the opposite gender is part of the evolutionary human psyche. The effort should be to direct the attraction in a proper way and guide youngsters on how to deal with issues of adolescence and teenage. How many Pakistani universities have ever held an information session for youngster’s educated them about gender relations and how to express mutual attraction in a proper way in line with Islamic principles?

Secondly, even if a boy and girl have crossed the limits, as per Pak Army code of morality and ethics, why collectively punish every one else. Why not just call the parents of the persons involved to the university and advise them to control the raging hormones of their kids?

Lastly, such incidents will keep on happening till boys have testosterone in their bodies and girls have estrogens in their bodies. So all those hell bent on conquering our hormones need to learn that one should try to adapt with nature rather then try to suppress it. Pak army might be able to contain and restrain the militants in the restive Waziristan agency, but it will never be able to control the hormonal forces of nature.

It is high time that Pakistan Army retreats from all the spheres of the Pakistani society and get back to their original job, defending the geographical borders of the country and let parents take care of their sons and daughters.

My Story

2008-06-10T01:55:00.001+10:00

Achieving the Permanent residency status is the number one agenda of every international student or prospective migrants wanting to come to Australia.

I was one such international student who arrived in Australia on the 2nd of Feb, 2005 and became a permanent resident on the 28th of May 2008. I had to go through a painful, stressful and outrageously expensive process , though, I think there was also a less expensive way to do so.

Any how, what is done is done. Let me narrate my story in pictures and words. Hope the readers are able to make a much better decision and learn from my experiences.

Offer of admission from UTS

I was offered a letter of offer from UTS some where in Nov 2004. I quickly started the procedure for the final grant of a student visa to Australia. Paying the tuition fees, performing medical check ups, blah blah.

Grant of visa

Finally after filling out all the forms, submitting all the documents requested, I was finally granted the visa.

Letter of grant of visa from the Australian High Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan

Unlike previous times, I was not interviewed for the visa. The visa was sent stamped on my passport and sent to the offices of my educational consultant.

Original Student visa as stamped on my passport. The label has been stamped inoperable on expiry.

Studying at UTS

Studying while searching for work and getting blue collar jobs such as filling shelves in super markets, washing cars and delivering pizzas was some thing I had never done before.

After a lot of struggle, hard work, patience and determination, I was finally able to finish my studies from UTS

Page one of my UTS transcript

Degree awarded during graduation ceremony

Permanent Residency

I applied for Permanent residency on the 27th of Sept, 2007. After appearing in the IELTS exam for three times, I was able to achieve a score of

Listening 8.5
Reading 9.0
Writing 8.0
Speaking 9.0

in the exam because of which I was able to claim the extra bonus points.

Copy of my IELTS report.

Finally on the 28th of May, after waiting for almost eight months , I was awarded the permanent residency.

Stamp of permanent residency on my passport.

End of story!

Pakistan's national anthem

2008-04-26T02:04:00.002+10:00

New National Anthem

Zardari sir zameen Shaad baad.
Kishwar-e-Hassen Sharifa baad

Tu Nishaanay Corruption Aalishan
Arz-e-Zardaristan

Shaad baad Opposition Saari Barbaad

Zardari Sarr zameen Ka Nizaam
Aattay,Gas, Bijli Ka Bohran,

Qum Mulk Saltanat

Choudhry Paindabad
Shaad Baad zardari har case say farar

All credits go to the original anonymous genius.

Cars

2008-03-04T13:37:00.003+11:00

The first ever car I bought was a Honda Prelude. It was a 19 years old car but still had an excellent drive and looked like a new car.

The second car I bought was a Suzuki Swift 2006. The car has been an international success and has become very popular in Australia.

Copyright © 2008 Junaid N Sahibzada

Graduation Ceremony

2008-03-04T13:35:00.001+11:00

Me

2008-03-04T13:33:00.001+11:00

Apartment

2008-03-04T13:30:00.000+11:00

Gordon's Bay

2008-03-04T13:25:00.002+11:00

On the eastern coastline of Sydney, between the lovely eastern beaches of Sydney is a place called Gordon's Bay. Next to Gordon's Bay is a snorkelling paradise called Clovelly.

Some excellent pics from Gordon's Bay and Clovelly.

Copyright © 2008 Junaid N Sahibzada

Sydney Beaches

2008-03-04T13:18:00.001+11:00

One of the reason Sydney is so famous is because of the lovely beaches it has.

White crystal sand with crystal clear blue waters. A perfect paradise for the holiday escapists.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Sydney beaches.

Copyright © 2008 Junaid N Sahibzada

Crystal St Waterloo

2008-03-04T13:15:00.003+11:00

I landed in Sydney on the 2nd of Feb, 2005. My friend brought me to his Unit at 9 Crystal, Waterloo.

I loved the place so much that even today I am still at the same place.

Enjoy some scenic pictures of 9 Crystal St, Waterloo

Copyright © 2008 Junaid N Sahibzada

Centennial Park

2008-03-04T13:08:00.003+11:00

Australian Motor show

2008-03-04T13:03:00.003+11:00

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

2008-03-03T06:36:00.004+11:00

One of the reason Sydney popped up on the world map for tourists was because of the architectural marvel called Sydney Opera House.

Enjoy the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Copyright © 2008 Junaid Sahibzada

Botanical Gardens

2008-03-03T06:12:00.003+11:00

Art Galley of NSW

2008-03-03T06:05:00.004+11:00

Queen Victoria visits Sydney

2008-03-03T05:57:00.003+11:00

Hyde Park Sydney

2008-03-03T05:26:00.009+11:00

Sydney is a city full of life and colors. Hyde Park is one of the main attractions of Sydney. The album below has pictures of Hyde Park. All pictures were on 24th of Feburary, 2008.

Copyright © 2008 Junaid N Sahibzada

Why Benazir is not Aung San Suu Kyi

2007-12-31T11:07:00.000+11:00

''She is part Radcliffe and Oxford, with an extremely well-stocked mind, full of feminist literature, peace marches, the Oxford Union, and with a very liberated social life. She is also part feudal Sindh, a haughty aristocrat, the daughter and granddaughter of immensely wealthy landlords, whose inheritance gave her the right to rule. . . .

She is an Eastern fatalist by birth, a Western liberal by conviction, and a people-power revolutionary—who has carefully modelled herself on Evita Perón and Corazon Aquino—through sheer necessity. She is an expensively educated product of the West who has ruled a male-dominated Islamic society of the East. She is a democrat who appeals to feudal loyalties.''

Mary Anne Weaver: Profile for New Yorker

In another democratic move, the daughter and darling of the west, in her will, decided to chose her 19 year old son as the legitimate heir of the feudal dynasty.

Her will clearly shows that even from her grave, she wants to make sure that feudalism thrives in the country and democracy is trampled and crushed under the heels of nepotism and corruption.

She could have asked the party to elect another leader in a democratic way, but instead she ensured that the party remains firmly in the control of her family and leaders like Aitizaz Ihsan are sidelined.

She has shown her true colors and rewarded the workers of PPP by appointing her son as the heir of her corrupt empire.

What ever happened to the ideals of democracy. This episode resembles the appointment of teenage medieval monarchs, who used to find themselves at the helm of the affairs when one of their parents used to pass away.

Like her mother, Bilawal has lived most of his life overseas, cannot speak any local language properly, has never worked in public service of Pakistan or the social sector of Pakistan and like her mother will finally return back to become the Prime minister. Such a pity. No wonder Pakistanis cannot make progress.

Lets stop making an Aung San Suu Kyi out of her because Aung San has been virtually under house arrest by the Burmese military for the past 15 years. Ms Aung was given the option to leave the country to meet her family in Britian with the condition that if she leaves, she would never be allowed to return back. Ms Aung chose to stay back with her people, not meet her family members and sacrifice her family life for the sake of her country. Her husband died of prostate cancer and she was never able to meet him.

I hope I would be spared the burden of enlightening my fellow countrymen on the comparison of Ms Aung, a true leader and revolutionary, and Ms Bhutto , a corrupt, feudal , opportunist, riding
on the wave of fame and popularity of her father.

So before my sentimental and emotional country men go about decorating Ms Bhutto with titles she never deserved, please look around for suitable examples of true leaders like Ms Aung and Nelson Mandela. True leaders do not live in Dubai and London or the palaces of Saudi Kings and return when they see an opportunity to seize power or when they are assured of support by Uncle Sam.

Now I am really happy that we finally got rid of her.

I hope we can get rid of the rest of the lot too!

Further Readings

Aunt Benazir's false promises: Fatima Bhutto takes on her aunt

Daughter of the West: Tariq Ali,an ex-classmate of BB from Oxford

Pakistan's culture of violence

Pakistan's flawed feudal Princess

It can happen to you too!

2007-12-26T22:58:00.000+11:00

By now, I have been using the Internet for almost 8 years and considered myself pretty smart from a security point of view. Because I never clicked on links I received in emails, I considered myself safe from password thefts, until a few weeks ago.

I started receiving emails from a domain named GoDaddy.com

At first I thought it was some kind of a porn website, as the name implied, and ignored the emails by deleting them.One day while I was having a look at my online credit card statement, I noticed a transaction of 20 USD which had been debited from my credit card by a certain company named GoDaddy.com

That set the alarm bells ringing in my head. I quickly opened my browser and visited GoDaddy.com. GoDaddy happens to be one of the biggest domain name providers of US. I had never even heard of GoDaddy.com let alone doing a 20 USD transaction. Now I knew why I was receiving those unexpected emails from GoDaddy.com. I noticed from my credit card statement that the transaction had been done through PayPal. PayPal is a leading web based, online payment solution company which allows you to make payments to any one in the world using your email account.

The credit card which had been used was listed as the primary source of funds in my PayPal account. So I concluded that it was my PayPal account's password that was stolen. I logged into my PayPal account and as expected I found the 20 USD transaction listed in the transaction history.

The next question which came to my mind was how did some one know what my password was?

Any way, I changed my PayPal password and considered myself safe once again. I called GoDaddy and asked them to cancel the transaction. The amount was refunded and the case closed. Well enough.

A few days later I opened my gmail account and wanted to create a filter in my gmail account. I noticed that there was a filter which was directing all email from the domain GoDaddy.com to an email address on the domain aol.com

This was another shocker for me. Who created this filter? Finally the reality dawned on me.

The person who stole my PayPal password, noticed that my email address was sjunaidn@gmail.com

He tried his luck and used my PayPal password with my gmail account. As expected, my gmail password was the same as my PayPal password. So he had no trouble logging into my gmail account and directing all emails from GoDaddy.com to his own email address.
That way I would never see any email from GoDaddy.com and would never know about any transactions funded by my credit card.

Luckily the guy who created the filter was not IT savy and created the filter inaccurately, much to my relief. As a result I did receive emails from GoDaddy.com but as mentioned in the beginning, I just ignored them. The bottom line was that because all my password of major email accounts and my financial accounts were the same, by just stealing one of them, the thief had access to all my private information and most important of all my financial information.

Once again I changed my Gmail account's password. But I was always worried that it can happen once again. I still have not discovered as to how did the thief steal my password. I have never clicked on any links I have received in emails. I never wrote down my password any where on paper or on a file. Who ever did it was nice enough to only whisk away 20 USD. He could have done a lot more damage if he had wanted, without even me knowing about, it until it would have been too late.

Lesson:

In today's world, we have multiple password to manage at different places. What is the way out? Keep all eggs in the same basked only to loose all of them at once?

Finally I decided to use a password manager. A password manager is a software which remembers your password and keeps them safe from theft by encrypting them. So you no longer need to have one password for all your accounts. You can have multiple auto-generated password which can be 32 characters long for each of your account. The password manager can remind you to change the password every n weeks, months or days. It can also generate strong 32 bit passwords, saving you the trouble of coming up with a password every time you want to change one. I found a very good one by just doing a google search. The entry in the top of the search result was what I decided to use.

The name of the software is Kee Pass. It is freely available and can be downloaded from its website.

http://keepass.info/

You can also put instruct the software to visit the login page and then press the auto-fill button to automatically type in the password for you. It virtually saves you from the hassle of remembering multiple passwords and entering them at different places.

Another good important piece of software I found was FireGPG. FireGPG allows you to encrypt even your web based emails and send it across. Once the recipient receives the email, he decrypts the email using FireGPG. So even if some one does open up your email account by stealing your password, all your emails will be encrypted and would make no sense to the thief.

FireGPG , as evident from its name, is only available for FireFox.

Hope I my experience would be of use.

Kind Regards

Life Cycle of a Desi migrant. Australian Born Confused Desi

2007-08-19T02:33:00.001+10:00

WARNING! Any reference to any being might be thoroughly and absolutely intentional.

Recently, I heard that a person (whom i had never met) told one of my friends that he would not go back to Pakistan because he is scared that he might get diseases, mosquito bites etc., I said, excuse me! That guy came to the Australia just 7 yrs ago and he has already become super sensitive to diseases and mosquito. What crap is that ? This is insulting himself!!

From my understanding, a desi wants to settle abroad for ONE reason. LAZINESS. Most of the people get used to the laid back way of life :) weekends, long weekends and sabbatical. :)) Almost 90% of desi developers would agree that the job they do can be done by anyone who has completed decent education levels (say +2). You don't need BE/MCA/MS to build the crappy software.

Interestingly I could see 3 phases in any desi's life (whether they live in US/UK/Europe/Australia) For convenience and clarity I m using Australia.

Phase - I - Symptoms

Landing in Australia.,

Becomes very homesick, calls home twice a day (Consistent source of income for telecommunication companies).
Run around for desi food.
Thinks all the females are chicks as shown in english movies.. gets the first hand experience of macho people.
Asks for bus routes.
Can be located in malls with popped up eyes.
Looks for 'S' sized T shirt in the boy's section.
Looks at all the cool cars as if he could swallow with eyes.
Converts every spending dollar into rupees.
Roams every bit of Safeway/albertson/longs.
Tries to cook at home.

Phase - II - Symptoms

Settles in a bit.

Has multiple calling cards and knows which one to use, factoring time and day :) By this time calling home frequency dries down, may be weekly once/twice.
Have a real white nike/adidas hike shoes.
Discusses with friends about the car to buy. (Everybody in the office will know that our man is trying to buy a car).
Settle for a Civic / corolla, since they are best desi cars.
Buys a costlier card.
Starts to compare Pakistan-Aus for every petty thing
Crib about the cashiers in stores, compare them with Pakistani petty store owners.. how quick they were in counting chillers.
Every month, checks the balance and equate it to what it can buy in Pakistan.
Look for exotic locations with in city/ (you know wot i mean rite?).
Starts asking for 'Bud'.
Starts searching for a bride from Pakistan and gets married.
Scans every weekly supplement sale and garage sales in and out.

Phase - III - Symptoms

Real confusion begins here..

Drops all the calling cards, stick to a phone line. Says line has better clarity.
Thinks about getting a bigger/powerful car
Starts spending weekends mostly at home and Frequently visits jacuzzi
Pastes the country's flag on car
Wonders whether he should apply for a permanent residency.?
Asks the guys whether he would get a job if he goes to Pakistan ;) (Welcome to reality dude)
Tries to affiliate himself to the local groups (Non desi groups, to be specific)
Watching Indian movies/wearing Pakistani dress becomes a fashion statement
Suddenly, opportunity becomes oppor-tune-ity! Pakistan becomes Pachistan!! often becomes of-ten !!!
Tries to talk in mother tongue with kids.. gets shocked when they refuse!
Thinks about going back to Pakistan.. always., in fact it becomes a thread in the mind that runs in the background!!

Do you have your own desi observations ;) ??

PS: I received the above article in an email and after certain modifications, I have posted it on my blog. I absolutely give all credits to the original author of the humorous and hilarious article. Please let me know, if you know who authored the article.

Finally I am a Master!

2007-07-23T13:42:00.000+10:00

The result was announced on the 18th of July 2007 for the Autumn semester. Much to my relief, I had cleared all subjects and finally I am a Master of science in Inter-networking from the University of Technology Sydney.

The Inter-networking degree is a one and a half years long course which can be upgraded to an extended degree by studying additional four subjects. I chose the extended option and studied four additional subjects.

The M.Sc Inter-networking program is a specialist course which emphasizes on setting up Wide Area Networks(WANS) and Local Area Networks (LANS). The lab equipment is provided by Cisco Systems Inc. Most of the degree is hands on practical work using Cisco Routers and Switches. Some subjects have no lectures at all and are purely based on lab work which is why the exams are also mostly lab based practical exams. Though, some subjects do have written components as a part of the over all assessment.

The cost per subject as of today is $2700 AUD, which is slowly increasing every semester. Taking sixteen subjects would result in a bill of $43,200 AUD. This is a huge amount but worth it. Plus you need to add the cost of living which can be roughly $1000 AUD per month.

My stay at UTS has been a very positive experience and has given me skills which will help me a lot in the booming job market of Australia.

My first ever Blog

2005-09-11T01:02:00.000+10:00

As this is my first ever blog, i ll try to introduce myself briefly. I am Junaid 26 yrs old. I was born on the 25th of March, 1981, in Pakistan.

I am ethnically a Pushtoon. Check wikipedia for more information on who Pushtoons are. As english is not my mother language you should expect to find many mistakes in my blog. My interests vary from horse riding to reading books on history, politics and religion.

You can find my photos at this place

Right now I am in Australia. Student of MSc internetworking at University of Technology Sydney. If you want to contact me use this email address

sjunaidn@gmail.com

I guess this is enough for an intro.

Regards

Junaid