Ramsay the Pharaoh?

Not an avid follower of Hell's Kitchen, but shouldn't something be done about Gordon Ramsay? I don't know how much he contributes to the demise of the chefs who've committed suicide after appearing on his show, but seems like he really knows how to drive in the last nail.

Rachel Brown shot herself last year and now Joseph Cerniglia jumped off a bridge.

Not quite sure what's cooking inside that kitchen....but Ramsay is doing one hell of a job pushing people to the edge.

If you spent this Ramadan in its true spirit by fasting and more importantly immersing yourself in intensified prayer and personal reflection----you will have most probably felt by the end of the month refreshed and over-hauled, and if you were extremely fortunate then you would have also felt stripped clean of all the muck that had heaped up inside.

In case you had 30 minutes to spare perhaps on one of these days, then may be you were able to watch a girl called Mariam on Dawn TV getting blasted for not wearing a dupatta on her head during a show which was a question and answer session dealing with the topic of Islam.

She got hit from left, right, and center. They came at her from all sides! How on earth could she sit there day after day without a dupatta! "Get her to realize what Islam is, and then preach to the rest of us!!!" said one furious caller. The fury and comments just swelled with each passing day. But Mariam didn't cover her head. She remained staunch in her stance, and the callers unwavered in their views.

Should Mariam have followed the usual decorum such programs demand? Perhaps. Then why didn't she? May be because she felt that if she had to cover her head then it should be based on a decision of inherently wanting to do it for Allah and not for a bunch of people who were telling her to do it. The problem with this justification is that it only works for Mariam, and not for the rest of the people who felt she was committing a huge blunder. But then again, Mariam wasn't really interested in pleasing people and pacifying them---she was sticking to her guns. Her unwillingness to budge and acquiesce was not her problem----it was ours. But why?

Why were so many of the callers and others watching the show perturbed by her not covering her head? What difference would it make to them if she did or didn't?

It seemed people's agitation emerged from the idea that since she is a Muslim to begin with then why couldn't she adhere to Islamic values? The answer is how many of us are adhering to Islamic values? So Mariam wasn't covering her head.....if you look around most of us don't wear hijabs. Most of us can't even claim to be good practicing Muslims. So then how are we able to point fingers at her?

This isn't to defend Mariam. But rather we need to start realizing what the status quo is. Over the last several years we have evolved into a society that has gradually become far removed from Islamic values. May be that's why we're so obsessed about religion these days----because we've lost religion. So when a girl shows up on a TV channel co-hosting a show about Islam and isn't wearing hijab, that should come as no surprise because we essentially have reached a point where such issues have lost significance. We have forgotten what is right and wrong.....we no longer know what is in-line and out of line. We have back-pedalled to the point where we need to once again re-learn what Islam is and what it teaches us. And, so as a result of our own faults, short-comings, and carelessness we stand confused, lost, and incapable of adhering to "Islamic values". Rather than point fingers and brand each other with pejorative statements, we must endure this "re-learning" with civility and tolerance. And there is no harm in doing this. One only hopes that this repeat expedition will this time around bring us to the right destination. Until then, Mariam and others like her are trying to learn-----so let them.

Pakistan's embassy in the U.K. tried to downplay the expense of the trip, saying in a press release that the president was cutting costs by staying "in the cheapest five-star hotel in central London," and downgrading from a "royal suite" to "a relatively cheaper suite."

(http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/anger-swells-in-flood-hit-pakistan-over-presidents-foreign-trip/19580814)

How considerate of you Mr. President!

 

Lahoo mai doob rahi hai fiza-e-arz-e watan......

Mai kis zuban se kahu 'JASHAN-E-AZADI MUBARAK'

Does The Goalie Know What He's Doing??

7-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone bother telling Korea's goalie how the game is played? I mean, don't get me wrong, I loved how Portugal exploited Korea's weakness......but the last 3 goals were a little too much! The Portugese were running around with dopey smiles, barely believing how lucky they were getting....and for the most part I'm sure all of us watching couldn't believe it either!

It's a shame that Korea totally gave up in the last few minutes and didn't feel it was worth putting up a fight till the end. The goalie is beyond my comprehension. Why the hell did he leave the goal post every time he saw the Portugese charging in? Who does that?! And this is the team that gave Brazil such a hard time. Where was Korea's defense? Why did it collapse? I'm sure Korea's coach and analysts are wondering the same. Perhaps this was a case of feeling invincible and over-confident.

Well, all that can be said is that Portugal thoroughly enjoyed their rampage in the second half and battered the Koreans to kingdom come!

LIFE IS GOOD! :-D

It sure is! We've got the World Cup going. And it has shown to be a must-see this time around with lesser known teams beating the hell out of the powerhouses! It's really allowed the bar to be raised and the competition is just starting! LOVE IT!!!

And then on the other hand Wimbledon is gonna start as of tomorrow. And for that, I have just one thing to say, "Roger, sweetheart, please win. Thank you".

By the way, any predictions for the Cup this year? Italy got slammed nicely by the Kiwis. I'm amazed at how up for grabs the Cup has become this time. This is what the game should have been about years ago!!!

What to write?

Haven't written in a while. For the most part was busy with work and the rest of the time just wasn't up to it. With everything going on around us, there has been barely enough time to comprehend it.....let alone analyze and then write about it.


The streak of mass suicides that have been occurring lately in the city have left all of us shell-shocked. The mind is numb and not a single word forms. Perhaps Mehr Bukhari said it best, "Are these suicides or in fact homicides??" Whatever the answer may be, is chilling nevertheless.


The last several days have also been spent analyzing adversity. I've been thinking about hardships. We all face it. Some more than others. And our hardships have their own different characteristics and features. At times when there seems to be no end to it, you're left wondering why it had to happen? Why this difficulty now? Why me? When will it end? How much longer?


But, when you begin to look around, you realize that everyone is going through some kind of adversity and tough time. So, this is what they call life. No doubt, it's a dog's world out there. No mercy, no sympathy, no empathy, no respite. Everyone out for themselves. But, the thing that is happening to all of us at the same time is, some kind of hardship.


Eventually it turns into a feat of keeping your head above the water. Either you let the adversity ride you or you ride out the adversity. It's a tough thing to tackle. So far, I've figured out that you just have to make it. Somehow....in some way or form.....you can't let it get the best of you. And undoubtedly, there are so many times when you want to scream...and you do! When you cry, yell, get frustrated, irritated, angry, pessimistic, depressed. Times when you begin to feel you're a failure. All this comes crashing down on you. But, in the end, no matter what you feel.....in the end the adversity remains there staring back at you.


After wondering about my own adversity that I'm faced it, I'm beginning to realize that perhaps it shouldn't be considered as something that is happening to you or against you, but rather it's happening for a reason and you must overcome it at all costs. The key is to survive. And when survival is the issue, then you must ensure that you survive in the end!


I'm not sure how well I'm tackling the challenges I'm faced with. I can say definitively that there have been plenty of times when I broke down and gave up. But, then you wake up in the morning and think that if I'm getting another day, then I better give it my best shot and see if I can make it this time. And day by day you keep trying and keep giving it your best shot. You face it no matter what. Adversity can be ugly and ruthless....it spits on you and hits you hard. But with each blow, you have to remain standing and fight back. I don't know if I'll make it. Some days I feel I have overcome some parts of my challenges, but then there are days when I feel I'm back at square one. But, one thing is for sure, every day I try to give it my best, because no matter what, I have to make it! Eventually the clouds will part.

Lahoris Get A Grip!

Our fascination with India seems to have no end. Now it appears to border on obsessive compulsiveness. Attention to all psych. wards: Keep your doors open.

The endless lines at Lahore Airport dying to catch a glimpse of Sania and Shoaib clearly indicate that our awaam is deluded. Especially the guy who spent Rs. 6000 on a rental van and drove all the way to the airport only to discover after waiting for 5 hours that the couple left the airport from the back exit. Get a grip guys! By the way, ask this same guy to buy some medicines that could be life-saving in an emergency situation, and he'll probably pick up a brick and throw it at the doctor and round up his buddies, who will spend the next 3 hours breaking down every door, window, and facility of the hospital with the justification that no one bothers to help the poor in need and that doctors are careless, ruthless, and murderers.

Then there's the 5'4'' guy (and so many others like him) who was practically whining and about to cry as he told the media cameramen that life is only about 2 days of happiness (2 pal ki khushi)----and for them, the key to their utopia belonged in Sania's hands---had she consented to exit the airport with Shoaib from the main door of the airport in front of all the Lahoris to see (read: gawk), it would have appeased them and carried them through the gates of nirvana!

Their ecstasy would have been further heightened had she posed with every maja, gamma on the plane for a Kodak moment, and let every person in the PC lobby approach her and touch her. But, unfortunately, Sania robbed every Lahoris' God given birth-right to stare, ogle, and rip a person limb from limb with their eyes......she snatched the very thing that would have satisfied their hunger and lust for all things Indian....in short, she trampled on their euphoria and stabbed their happiness to death.

The point is: ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR ******* MINDS!!!! Do any one of these idiots realize that their collective effort invested in hounding Sania and Shoaib, if put to good use would have reaped astounding benefits that could very possibly change the track this country is on. Why not stand for hours in front of the sugar mills owned by the dracula politicians and demand the cost of sugar be reduced to an affordable price. How about driving to the airport and asking Zardari why he constantly spends so much time abroad when he should be working day and night to provide the awaam with roti, kapra, makaan. How about staging a sit-in protest in front of WAPDA and demand that every corrupt employee, top to bottom, should be ousted with immediate effect and the energy crisis be solved promptly. How about getting together to do something beneficial for your country instead of wasting precious time on some Indian chick who could care less whether the people of Pakistan were hospitable or not. Rest assured, she sure as hell doesn't think we're hospitable----more like crazy and total crack-pots.

And one more thing......Shoaib, we understand your dough might be running low by now, considering your hanky panky with it during the cricket tours has finally caught up with you (by the way, we also know the shopping spree you took Sania on and the millions you continue to spend isn't really helping your monetary situation either)....plus your career isn't flying high like it used to (although some say it never really took off)---so as a last ditch effort to catch the fading rays of the lime-light and maintain some semblance of celebrity-hood, you're partaking in the idiocy known as media hype, sensationalism, and cheap popularity.....dude, I just have one thing to say to you: Get over yourself!

Impossible Is Nothing

"Your daughter is an impossible case!" muttered the 80 year old match-maker to my mom.


My "impossibility" was that I had a list of things I was looking for in the guy I wanted to marry. Apparently being well-educated, financially secure, well-mannered, sincere, honest, genuine, able to handle marriage and its responsibilities, and having integrity was asking too much of a guy--and inadvertently cast me as the "impossible" 30 year old. Looking for someone belonging to a decent family background with good Islamic and moral values was too high of an expectation. Wanting someone who is not a hypocrite and a liar, and hasn't been previously married merited as ''extremely high standards''.


Now, there is a serious flaw in all this: #1. I'm not impossible and #2. Never take advice from an 80 year old. Especially that 80 year old who has nothing better to do in life except bestow upon himself the notion that the rest of his living days should be spent in the confines of his house taking calls from random no-bodys and then proceeding to convince others that the proposal being suggested is absolutely perfect for their son or daughter. Apart from this, the only other activity left is to dunk his dentures in a glass of water.

My list, I was told, was nothing but a fantasy, and I'm destined for spinsterhood. It's impossible to find a guy these days with even ONE of the things in the list, said the geezer.


Well, let's take a look at what the guys want: beautiful, loving, caring, confident, good sense of humor, keen interest in family, understanding, compromising, be there through the highs and lows, traditional but knows how to have fun (what in the world does that mean by the way?!!), accepting of his imperfections, adapt to his family, loyal, compassionate, intelligent, religious, share his interests and passions, pretty eyes, pretty smile, honest, reliable, educated, and trustworthy. And these are just some of the items from their list.....so now who is asking for too much?


Truth is there are no impossibilities in this world. Anything is possible. What is needed, actually, is a firm belief in self and in God. A conviction that despite the odds, despite the turn-downs, despite the wretched bitterness that people love to shove in your face, despite the defeatist attitude of our society, despite the put-offs, despite the disappointments, despite the tough luck, despite the bad luck, despite the feeling of hopelessness at times, despite the feeling that life isn't giving you a break, despite the feeling that God isn't listening, despite the feeling that nothing is working in your favor, despite ALL THIS----things will look up and the day will shine brighter. The moment will come when everything you've been hoping for will suddenly wrap you up in its grip and remind you that you really do deserve all this and much more.....it was just a matter of time. 

Boys And Their Girls

Shoaib Malik's nikah to Sania Mirza is nothing but a publicity stunt. The kid craves attention and can't get enough of it! I strongly believe he enjoyed every moment he duked out with Aisha---anything for those infamous 15 minutes! He thoroughly loved how the media kept track of his every move---from the shopping spree he took Sania on to the rebuttal demanded of him when Aisha said she aborted his baby to the confiscation of his passport---he lapped it up every bit! Whatever could drag him into the spotlight was fair game for him----the phone chat on Sania's terrace (he could've talked on his cell in any part of the house!...but he chose the terrace) knowing full well the paparazzi was filming every second of it. Days later, he comes out and demands privacy----c'mon Shabby....you know you're loving it!!

And then there's Adnan Sami Khan's wedding with Roya---not a publicity stunt, but a booty call. Of course, it won't last only the weekend as most booty calls do....this one will go the ride. In the mean time we all know Adnan's rejuvenated body, after losing a 150kg from his original weight of 240kg, has brought not only a spring in his step, but re-charged the batteries in places that have been waiting impatiently for some serious action!

On A Lighter Note

So now that my friends think I'm getting too serious with my writing--I've decided to ''lay low'' and chill out for a while.

But, if anyone knows me, they'll tell you that "laying low" isn't that easy for me. Anyways, this time I think I'll have to chill out because some things are on my mind---and I'm really not in the mood to reflect on society and its ills---but want to reflect on what's going on with my life.

Don't worry, I'm not going through a mid-life crisis. And even if I were, I wouldn't be sitting here typing--I'd be some place having a shit fit.

So lately, the scene swirling around in my life is my shaadi. Word has it that I'm getting old (didn't know it was that bad....I thought 30 was ok) and soon to join the ranks of expired canned food---well at least that's how it's being described to me if I don't get married soon. Supposedly, you hit a certain age, like an expiry date, and BAAM!!! you're automatically taken off the shelf. Wasn't aware I was a product.

Truth is, I never paid much attention to my age and the stories that accompany it. It has and always will be just a number to me. I don't feel it and never have. I have a bunch of friends who are flipping out over the big 30......still don't get what they're exactly whining about.

So I'll cut to the chase. After meeting all kinds of guys---the guy who walked in with his mud drenched Nikes and ruined our carpet; the 5'5'' guy who came with his mom and proceeded to gossip and back-bite about some people I work with, and also later informed me that he hasn't figured out why people in America say "Yup"; then there was the guy who was polite and good looking but totally under his mom's control (he later told the auntie who introduced them to us that he wished his mom would have said yes); to the guy who put everything on his plate and nibbled some of it and ended up wasting all the food and later on interviewed me as if I was applying for my post-graduate residency; to finally the guy who sent me his picture via email and wrote that he was "balled" and not "bald"-------after meeting them and so many more, I've reached my grand conclusion: Because they haven't figured themselves out yet, therefore they don't have a clue about what they want. As a result, they go around looking for girls from one house to the next---aimlessly wandering and all the while asserting that they just can't seem to find "the one". They'll never find "the one" because they don't know what it means and what it takes to find "the one"!!!

I was beginning to think the problem was with me---but now I've realized that I could do a million things to fulfill their criteria and still not make the cut, because these boys and their moms will never be satisfied. Finding a rishta in our society has become nothing more than a cup of afternoon tea. I could be 24 right now, and they'd still find something wrong with me. And if they are looking for the epitome of beauty to be reflected in my face, then here's the deal you retards: Are you the hunk I dream about? Are you Tom Cruise, Daniel Craig, James Martin, Roger Federer, Fawad Khan, Humayun Saeed, Wajahat Khan, Leonardo Di Caprio, George Clooney, or Colin Farrell??....I didn't think so!