The year 2010 – the year of?

2010 was as they say the most difficult of all years for Pakistan since 1995. Flood, civil unrest,too many holidays, no satisfaction with government, recession and way too much chaos. 2010 was indeed hard on for all the Pakistanis. I was just picking out on few trends and news that were special or prevalent in the year 2010 on international front(No not Obama's Health Bill). Here is a list of those:

• The year of trashy dance track and squeaky singers!

Beyond its 315 million (yes, million) views on YouTube and worldwide multi-platinum status, 'Bad Romance' instantly became a hit. Rihanna’s Rude Boy wasn’t far off and interestingly so were the Munnni and Sheila with both trying to steal each other’s thunder. To top this all off with the squeaky notes of Justin Beiber (who I hate with all my being) the music of 2010 varied from trashy to major trashy to unbearable.

• Year of scandalous cricket
Cricket was definitely not far behind with spot fixing allegations destroying whatever grace was left of Pakistani cricket. Do we stand a chance for 2011 worldcup when we can’t even announce a squad. With pacers missing, the batting order a mess, wicket keepers running literally to other countries for refuge, no definite opening pair – Pakistan’s cricket was and still is all in shambles. On the international front ‘from ashes to ashes and dust to dust’ has taken a whole new meaning.

• The year of Red Lipstick Trend
Red is the color of power. The 82nd academy award paved the way for the red lip color trend. Styling it out in their hot diva looks most of the artists are showing it off. Too bad not too many people can pull this look off. Number 1 red shade goes to M.A.C Ruby Woo.

• The year of Spanish football!
Spain came back with a big WOW to conquer the FIFA worldcup 2010, after stamping their names all over the Euro Cup trophy two years prior. The men in red with their much laid back style of passing, chipping and scoring hardly a goal in every match cruised their way to victory. Although with star like little Messi argentina was people favorite, although it failed to deliver. German with amazing duo of Klose and the new star Mueller were second favorites. With Neitherland’s game was top class. Still cheers to the Spanish Men, you can’t deny Xavi, Torres, Innesita’s presence. Waka Waka was on everybody's subconscious although I am pretty nobody got a word of it.

• The year of Animation!
This year there was big line of 3D movie and animations with Avatar being the highest grossing movie ever. The line of 3D continued down with Shrek4, Step Up 3, ToyStory 3 and Alice and the Wonderland.

• The year of Apple
On 7th Jan 2010 apple introduced IPAD which instantly took the book reader’s interest by snap. On 7th Jun 2010 right after exact five month they brought out the iphone4 which is safe as to say took the world by snap.

• The year of Vampires!
yes exactly those blood sucking creatures! Although the popularity of vampires is picking up since 2007 with Stephanie Myer’s Twilight series and fan following on the un-achievable ‘Edward’, it was rounded up with the Vampire Diaries – a CW Television show. Though the show started in 2009 its second season sky-rocketed the viewership – can’t blame the ladies if you have Ian – smokin’-Sommerholder aka ‘Damon Salvatore’ on the show.

A lot of other stuff did happen in 2010. Lets see what 2011 brings...

Mood-Zapper-Playlist

Just the songs I am usually listening these days.





Music Playlist at MixPod.com

The Rebuttal

Recently I came across a vehement-nearly-accusatory blog of ‘Things I wish girls knew’. It went on to list down author’s point of view of the opposite sex’s ‘usual’ habits or so. Anyway I just want to go and state it on the record that this blog is not an attack to the male population (most of my very good friends come from this category – so I don’t want to step on any toes/ the best part I aint answerable to any men – yet =p so I can safely blog this) plus the whole battle of sexes is exhaustively overdone – since men will side with men and women with women so the whole point is moot but I had promised the author a rebuttal so here it is.

· You do know she can speak right?

I don’t get why most of the men are challenged by a woman who speaks her mind. Some feel threatened as if their masculinity is being questioned. What they don’t understand is that there is nothing interesting about a girl who puts up a face while you puff up as a rooster infront of your friends and have an ego ride. I am trying to have a decent conversation with your friends – I am NOT making fun of you.

· So I smiled at your nonsense – Get a hint dude stop embarrassing yourself.

Smiling doesn’t mean ‘bandi path gayi’ its actually means ‘really?’, ‘Would u shutup!’ or in my case ‘Somebody should put this guy out of his misery!!!’. Mostly women smile when they aren’t really interested in whatever you are saying - It’s called being polite.

· I didn’t spend buck loads of money on cosmetics for you dude! I did it because I like it.

I recently wrote a blog “Battle of Real Beauty vs Makeup” so I cover this point more in detail there but summarizing it – the blush, the hair, the look is there because I like to do it. For many women saving money for cosmetics is a priority because it’s fun. Cause believe me if I don’t want to play dress up nobody can make me. So the ‘canvas’ and DaVinci can be given a rest cause It’s my face and I can do perfectly whatever I want to do with it – go natural or paint my face blue . It’s my call. It kind a equivalent to the massive loads of hair gel and low riding jeans in guys.

· Acting ‘possessive’ is like a red signal

most women like the whole ‘man in power’ dynamics. Well obviously who would want to end up being with sissy guy but there is a guy being possessive and then there is a guy ‘exerting’ his possessiveness – totally different. I am not a chattel honey. I am with you doesn’t mean you own me.

· ‘I don’t want you to do the dishes, I want you to WANT to do the dishes’

this is a dialogue from the movie ‘The Breakup’. The instant I had heard this it got stuck in my mind. It explains a lot of what guys should know. No bandi wants you to do the dishes, mop the floor or do the ‘household’ work but it would hurt to show some appreciation, would it?

· Just because I am girl ‘making tea’ isn’t my middle name

there is nothing wrong with fending for yourself. Yes in the culture we live culinary skills are suppose to be the girl’s department but its highly irritating to solidify the notion ‘just because shes a girl she would know how to cook’.

· Can commit - say no!/ All out!

I have always said this to all my guy friends – don’t lead her on when you don’t want to pop the big question to her. Believe it or not, even with the advance culture and stuff girls don’t do casual – it’s just the way it is. Women don’t like doing things half-way. If has to be crazy – it has to be craziest, pretty – the prettiest. Half-bake goods don’t do well with them. So if she is going all out, she isn’t crazy – she is somewhat a perfectionist.

Khair this was what I had to say in the defense. Other than that if men and women were the same it wouldn’t make for this interesting world now, would it? I am positing this song here because its lyrics sums it up =D Salute to Katy Perry for that!

I emailed you a marriage proposal!

Technology has led to some weird things for sure, the 'stalking' on social network sites, 'friendship me' texts and even 'getting to know you' messenger talks, spam advertisement offering you a trip around the world in one dollar but the weirdest of all -*drum rolls please* - emailing a marriage proposal!

And guess what today was just my 'lucky' day. I got one.

I am not kidding this was no spam or joke. This was actually very planned out and 'thought through' process. The email opened up with interesting salutations and a nice respectful introduction was laid out. Turns out this guy was trying to find a bandi who fits his bill for the 'intellectual' kind. Score one for the decent guy.

The email was quickly personalized by 'how i know you' paragraph where he said my web presence(since I blog on Express tribune, 8fourteen and etc) proved me 'intellectual' enough. It went on to list down how 'accomplish' this dude was. How 'educated' and even how 'polished' since he traveled the effin world so it turns out. Score five for the decent guy.

This is where it gets actually interesting, he even attached a 'resume' of his. Yeah and actual resume! I was quick to be lured into promises of abroad education, decent wealth and travel around the globe - Nice try dude! But that is where you started derailing from the track.

Best of all, later however I found out he emailed the very same thing to two three more girls. The same email with different 'how I know you' paragraph. Score zero for the weird guy!

Don't you know buddy, this is the new world! if you are depending on the 'technology' for searching your intellectual wife - let me tell you

1. Now they do have social network site - news travels faster the fire. So better think before you hit the 'send' button.

2. No way in hell is it 'intellectual' to email two, three girls the same thing. - its a major turn off.

Other then that -best of luck with your charade.

Here and Forever.

Its never enough to pretend you might be here
In the spirit, in the dream or just in the wind
In the pure essence of joy I feel you , whispering through me, in me
Spending my days to reach to you, maybe you hear a word, maybe you answer back
The tangible feeling is like a comfort in misery, You arent here but you still are
It doesnt matter that you are gone, that He took you away
I close my eyes and see you standing here next to me, smiling at me.
If you ever heard a word I say or many thousand that I dont
You would know there doesn't goes a day when I don't call out for you
A figment of my subconscious worries that I might lose you forever
Then I close my eyes and there you are, smiling at me
Every long lost dream I had or I have points me to you
But then it could only be a dream, but I hope God bless the road I took To get to you,

maybe I'd get lost or maybe I won't, maybe I will meet many others along the way
But one day I'd meet you and then it will be like coming home again.

Though you are gone mama, for me you'd always be here,
Here and forever.

The Fall

Welcome back to solid ground, it’s not a descent - It’s a fall,
Force at work pulls me down; I feel the wind hit my face with fearless gall
Or is that water? maybe that is rain. So the clouds are here to bid goodbye too?
The sun has hid, the darkness shades; The nature is blurring in view
Eyes shut close, all out of breath – the madness succeeded to lure me out
Maybe your bones will crash, Maybe you will make it in piece
Would somebody cry? Would somebody weep? -
Loneliness pushed me down; a void space pulled my surround
Yes its happening, you are falling. Or are you trying to breakthrough?
Suspended in air for fraction of second, the ground is getting nearer to your feet
Colors vivid, Thoughts clear; maybe its my head which will hit the concrete
Is it late? Or have the clocks stopped ticking?
The blood has numbed in my veins, I don’t feel the flow; Maybe it’s the death march happening
Yes and no, I can’t keep on running. So I decided to answer the great call
I wanted to beat gravity while assuming; I can breakthrough, It won’t be a neck-break fall
The great escape failed, the binding was stronger then you believed
Once you jumped there was no going back; Is that fear or are you relieved?
You couldn’t hammer at the chains of force, Now its anchoring you down
No I won’t pretend, I don’t want to start over; The rush of fall was all I needed to make crisis drown
Maybe its easier to burn then to built, Yes its easier to hurt then to get killed
This wasn’t the way it should end, it’s only the way it should begin
Only I need to breakthrough this force now, but I jumped – what a foolish sin!
I open my eyes and suddenly it looks so beautiful, so breathtaking – Never felt so free
Stunning is the nature even though it’s a haze of messy color scheme
Am I free falling or is that wind rustling on my wings?
I spread my arms, embrace the vastness it craves; The air feels light, its almost whispers at my ears
On the top of world, did I cheat my fate? I smile at the serenity that nature translates
I did it, I left the chains of the gravity way down, the bind is gone, and the force has left
So now I fly, maybe I can soar high; These wings will take me places, mountains and cliffs

Slam I hit the ground, I broke through but it was too late..

Spine-less.

All my life I hated pretenders, wannabees, easily influenced and the 'thanday-joke' plus 'sukhay bahram' party. Little did I know how much I'd hate people without a spine - figuratively. Saying something and doing something well that should be outlawed! - completely. Giving people false hopes that they start expecting from you should definitely be illegal. Yeah don't worry just cause you smiled I didnt think sky will fall down on me - I am talking more in the sense of how things work in corporate world, in social circles and even at home.

Corporate world, one world for you 'PR'. You are nearly nothing if you don't have the big names to back you up.

University Life, the slick game of 'manipulation'. Manipulating others by 'pretending' to protect your ideas. Like honey as if I was dying to be with you in the FYP group.

Social Circle - GOSSIP! Gossip is like a honey to these bees. They come on with full force.

Home - sibling rivalry or mostly two khalas trying to 'snatch' the poor bhai's son for their daughter's hand!

Well the 'spine-less' characters manifest in the most ugly ways.

Today I saw one.

Battle of Natural Beauty versus Make up!

Since I watched the Dove 'real beauty' campaign ad a long time ago I wanted to 'pen-vent'. So this is what I am going to do. Natural Beauty/Real Beauty/'Original Beauty' are for long been few phrases which have been assassinated, reborn, murdered and ruthlessly dragged around the mud figuratively in English language.

What is real beauty? Its a term usually just limited to description of woman. Cause I am pretty sure no guy would want to come in the same sentence as that which carries the word 'beauty' in it.

Men usually or mostly claim they 'like' natural beauty. I would really ask them they like the natural beauty in their perspective or they think the 'clear bright' face they see depicts natural beauty? Most of my guy friends fall for a girl with lush hair, clear skin or even just somebody with a nice warm smile. Hardly that they know that lush hair is due to expensive hair treatments, exorbitant amount of branded hair products and long appointments of hair therapy which again costs a lot of bucks or in desi sense 'full on tail ki champi". The skin is due to lot of treatments again at the local salon and the line of cosmetics at the dressing table. Needless to say the 'twinkle' you saw in her eyes you thought was because of the smile is probably the new eyeliner she bought or kohl and the heavy coats of mascara she is wearing.

Mostly people confuse the absence of 'dark shades of eyeshadow, nail enamel, blush, lip color' (key makeup which stands out) as natural beauty. Believe me she is still wearing a lot of makeup you categorize as 'natural beauty'.

History for long has favored people with symmetrical faces and still does. Symmetry resembles 'order' and 'discipline'. Therefore symmetrical faces are the ones which 'naturally' look good. I guess everybody here knows the concept of golden ratio thanks to Dan Brown. Natural Beauty is what I believe lies in the eyes. If your smile comes from a warm heart it would stand out as a 'graceful' beauty even though you are wearing a blue eyemakeup. Its the heart that decides what beauty you are to be.

What I don't get is what is the whole fuss of 'she dresses up like a doll', 'she wears so much paint' or 'OMG - look at her so much makeup!'. Usually these statements are quickly paired up with "I like girls without makeup', 'I prefer natural beauty' or even 'She looks older'. Did you for a second stop to consider honey, maybe she is NOT doing it for you! =D Why bother flattering yourself then?

If this is how it goes then maybe I am the child of the wildside. I don't wear crazy amount of makeup but I am sucker for crazy nail colors. The crazier the better. When I put them on I don't think if 'its okay to do it'... I do it because I like it.

So natural beauty or not, If she does makeup - Its none of your damn business.

Flood, Politics and Chaos – Where are we Headed?

The July 2010 monsoon left Pakistan with a great impact, making thousands its target and rendering millions homeless. According to the United Nations, the 2010 flood in Pakistan was more catastrophic than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined. The country was thrown into a sudden urgency. People started setting up aid camps, donation started pouring in banks from all over the world, and celebrities, to show good will, visited affected areas. Some even stepped up to raise donations in the form of charity concerts. There were some international celebrities and media outlets involved too. Meanwhile, the student force of Pakistan raised its own money for the victims in their respective universities, schools, or even by standing by the road and helping box all the contributed goods.

Everyone was doing something, but not everybody trusted the government. Mostly people preferred the private sectors or going giving donations with their own hands. The trust issues had their roots in media news, which showed the Prime Minister ‘showing off’ his contributions to the flood victims but then packing it up when the news was aired, the NYSE fiasco in which Pakistan’s government wasted crucial air time for appealing, empty promises by politicians for hefty checks which never arrived – plainly showing that the government didn’t take effective measures to lessen the damage. The nation decided to help their brothers on their own instead of giving whatever they could and finding it in someone’s bank account.

The seed of distrust was sown a while back when Pakistan’s economy was spiraling down in an endless abyss and civil disobedience became a norm. Everyone’s ‘political analysis’ and ‘Future-of-Pakistan’ coffee table talks were sprinkled with colorful vocabulary with the blame game shifting from government officials, politicians, assembly body, judiciary and elected parties. The gossip criticism and complaints only passed along in hushed whispers. After the flood hit Pakistan, people vocally and publicly started questioning the government by setting up private channels for collecting contribution stands. However, with the tragic death of the Mughees and Munib in Sialkot, something snapped in every Pakistani. Every Pakistani died a little that day. The angst came out with a full blow – we want a change and we want it now.

Sixty-two years of building the dream has left most Pakistanis questioning the idea of a true leadership. Nobody could fill Jinnah’s steps effectively and like an orphan child being passed from one relative to another, Pakistan’s office of leadership has been and still is being tossed around in the hands of few families. A few even pray for a military coup to take place, claiming that martial law is far better than this administered democracy. The whole nation is questioning Pakistan’s future: Will corruption ever end? When will judiciary stand without influence? When will civil disobedience, riots, chaos, bombing and target-killing end? Would anybody take notice of what we are leaving for our generations to come? Would anybody stand up and lead this country out of pandemonium? And if so, who?

In a nutshell, Pakistan needs a true leader. This could be done two ways. One way is if a strong party with dedicated principle contest the 2013 elections; a second is we have the chapter in history titled ‘Nawaz-Musharraf’ repeated with a military coup taking place and throwing over the current government. Since nobody wants anything to do with the current government, people are venturing out to support other parties. Pervez Musharraf’s return to politics without a uniform has taken in many countrymen with surprise. Most of his supporters comprise of elite funding class and the middle urban educated class. By doing simple mathematics one can say the country indeed ‘prospered’ in Musharraf’s time. The economy was afloat, and corruption was minimized. The press enjoyed powers of freedom they had never been allowed before. Mega projects had started, and the IT industry valued $2 billion and the telecommunication sector lured $10 million investments. The Karachi Stock Exchanged reached 15000 points. Literacy and education plans improved. Universities and industrial parks were laid out. A lot other unaccountable deeds are in Musharraf’s list; now with an interesting ‘awamidictorial’ style of campaigning for elections, he is becoming one of the favorites. Still, some think he is throwing tantrums by calling A.Q. Khan ‘characterless’ and Nawaz Shareef ‘brainless’ as well as not projecting the manifesto for his political party.

Another strong contender is Imran Khan. With his legacy of 1992 World Cup he already is a hero to the nation. He contributed enormously in the time of flood, and his educational projects and charity work are praiseworthy; surely his foundation was laid with the ShaukatKhanum Cancer Hospital. His party Tahreek-e-Insaf motto is ‘bringing justice.’ Imran Khan wants the judiciary to be free. His cohort comprises of a major chunk of youth, either because he is comparatively young, urbane and has a legendry charisma when it comes to being a country’s hero, or he is a commendable candidate – one doesn’t seem to know. However, the older men of nation think he is too rich to know our ways and too sophisticated to lead a country out of doom’s brink.

Both of these candidates are educated men – and the country has had its enough shares of fools. Now things need to change for the good. Pakistan needs a leader with a sense of honor and pride – a man from among us. A man who is dedicated to the country and its people. No matter one what says two things are crystal clear: nobody trusts the present government and indeed Pakistan is on the verge of a revolution.

Writing a blog on your boss's demand

Yeah. If you are surprised by this title well then I am not kidding. My Boss did indeed ask me to blog on how my internship is going at NCR Corp(He had no task to give me and his idea of 'chilling' is blogging). Its just been a week in running of internship. If you don't know what NCR is please Wiki it and kindly increase your general knowledge =D. Anyway so 'internship' the big word in every university going human's life. Where to intern? How to market yourself? Is your CV bomb enough? Did you make an impression? A never ending line of questions. Lesson learned: Internships are overly exaggerated(I am not kidding).

At my university you get ample opportunities to apply for internship( I am talking in reference with the holiday break time). After applying to many organisation not related to my discipline(its a complete different story that I shall cover in a separate blog) I finally relented to applying one related to my field. I was called for interview completely convinced I won't make it. The whole 'I-aint-a-Coder' slogan literally yells out aloud when you are a system engineering applying to such a firm. Well I got in. Lesson learned: Don't underestimate yourself.

My first few days started with me banging my head (figuratively) on the PHP language. Tutorial searches I am pretty sure I am an expert at that by now. Anyway I did learn some basics. For a person who is revolted by just the sight of the Turbo C programming book its a great feat believe me. Lesson learned: PHP isnt that difficult.

Later I did step on some toes when I announced that this is something I can do at home too. I was after a lot of discussion in fancy conference room was give in options in what to do.I opted Technical Documentations(trusting my writer's instinct and betting on it)Lesson learned: Don't suggest-it bites back.

I found I do enjoy Technical Documentation. I find it fun. Overall I am enjoying my time here although I would appreciate other interns's company. I am the only intern at NCR. The people are friendly and easy to talk to. My cubicle is I guess the most clean one - cause Duh I don't do much work. Lesson Learned: You might enjoy something you thought not.

Sometimes there is lot of yawning and I am tempted to fall flat asleep on my face but then there is always lots of tea consumption. Lesson Learned: Now I know what Dad meant by heavy tea consumption.

Overall I like my time here... lets see how the rest of the time goes.

The little league of Catch-22s

Today I started my internship. Although I was excited on the fact that I finally landed an internship in a prestigious corporation (not naming it for ethical reasons) that nag at the back of my mind kept popping up. 'Anam are you doing the right thing?' .. 'Is it meant for you?' ..'Do you really want it?'. As I kept on answering the 'nagger' in my mind I realize what a mess of choices we all make daily... well not mess but then we hope our gamble pays off in the end.

A choice comes with strange faces. Sometimes there is a choice between two things and sometimes many. All these choices hang in the balance of priority, benefit and satisfaction. Which task holds more weightage, from what do I get the most? and the most important - is it right?

There is a phrase called 'Catch-22' originated from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller, a military novel. Catch-22 means coming full circle without any choice, lose-lose situation or simple no choice situation. The novel depicts in a dark satirical humor how soldiers to quit force would want to pretend insane but being sane they would have to stay in the force. A crazy won't claim to be insane, whereas the sane one wouldn't want to be known as crazy.The peace for a soldier is that in the battle he fights hence technically having no choice.

At times I feel my life is a classic example of Catch-22, wanting to be a decent writer and studying to be a system engineer is a wonder enough. I am pretty sure there are many out there like me who studied something else wanting to be someone else at the same time. May it be because of folk pressure, no judgement and no career choice at that time. But in some absurd sense we are a classic example of Catch-22.

So to the league of Catch-22. I hope you do get what you set out to achieve even though you started off on the wrong foot. So what!? Life is full of crossroads and choices. Pay up on the risk and gamble off your opportunities. Prove that you arent in the league of Catch-22. Cause they say 'Playing it safe doesn't stop bad things from happening, so you might as well go for it'.

Go for it!