Scarborough Bluffs

I was working in Scarborough near the lakeshore today and was "exposed" to the Scarborugh Bluffs for the first time ( some of you who live in the the area might already know about it). I found it fascianting ( specially since I deal with soil sampling/identification a lot). I came hope and did some minor reseach. Here are some pics and text.

The layers of sand and clay exposed in these cliffs display a remarkable geological record of the last stages of the Great Ice Age. Unique in North America, they have attracted worldwide scientific interest. The first 46 metres (150 feet) of sediments contain fossil plants and animals that were deposited in a large river delta during the first advance of the Wisconsinan glacier some 70,000 years ago. They are covered by 61 metres (200 feet) of boulder clay and sand in alternating layers left by four subsequent advances and retreats of ice. The final withdrawal of the glacier occurred some 12,000 years ago.

Did you know that Scarborough was named after the bluffs:

The Scarborough Bluffs are an escarpment in Scarborough, Ontario along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. They run from the foot of Victoria Park Avenue in the West to the mouth of Highland Creek in the east. However, the escarpment continues westward inland, running between Kingston Road and Queen Street East, pausing over the Don Valley, and continuing on the north side of Davenport Avenue. The escarpment forms the old shoreline of Lake Iroquois, formed after the last ice age.

It was named after Scarborough, England by Elizabeth Simcoe, the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada. The bluffs along Scarborough's Lake Ontario shores reminded her of the limestone cliffs in Scarborough, England. In her diary, she wrote, "The [eastern] shore is extremely bold, and has the appearance of chalk cliffs, but I believe they are only white sand. They appeared so well that we talked of building a summer residence there and calling it Scarborough."[1]

A park created from fill has been built in the lake off the cliffside; named Bluffers Park, it is accessible from the foot of Brimley Road.

A stylized version of The Bluffs appeared prominently on the old flag of the City of Scarborough.

Imran Khan: We need a political solution

Imran Khan, one of the few Pakistani politicians who makes any sense speaks out on the "War on Terrorism":

According to a recent poll, four-fifths of Britons think the "war on terror" is being lost. That is not least because the battle for the hearts and minds of people in the Muslim world is being lost.

The fundamental mistake made after 9/11 was that any stirrings of a debate addressing the root causes of the terror were ruthlessly suppressed. (To explain and understand the cause is not to justify the consequence.) Rather than addressing the known political causes, the terrorist attacks were portrayed as a religious struggle: radical Islam v the west.

This was an anomaly. How could Islam, a religion as peaceful as any other, be pitted against the west? Millions of innocent people were killed in the last century, from Nagasaki to Hiroshima, from Vietnam to Iraq, by acts of governments that were secular by law yet publicly upheld Christian values. Yet Christianity was never put under focus or stress. READ ON

Junaid: New Album!

Junaid Jamshed's new ablum is here. YOu can buy it off here. It sounds like it is going to be as good as the first one inshah allah. Here are some names of the songs and some sound clips:

1. Mehboob-e-Yazdaan (01:56)
2. Meray Muhammad (P.B.U.H) ka Naam (07:37)
3. Aei Rasool -e- Amin (04:36)
4. Mujhe Zindagi mein Yaarab (04:42)
5. Aei Allah (05:05)
6. Qasida Burda - Arabic (06:38)
7. Ayat of Riba - Surah Al Baraqah 278-279 (02:26)
8. Words of Advice - Saeed Anwar (07:15)
9. Meray Allah - Punjabi (08:18)
10. Aei Taiba (05:04)
11. Mohabbat Kiya Hai (06:29)
12. Badee - uz - Zaman - Arabic (04:40)

Marriage: The middle way!

Some of friends are getting married left right and centre. While I am tempted to follow suit quickly, sometimes I sit back and relax and contemplate about marriage.

That is when I freak out!!!!!


It was about 2 weeks ago that me and my friends ended up on Gerard Street at Chandanee Chowk restaurant ( yeah I know very funny name for a restaurant). The place was full of families and we were the only single people in the place. Not only were we the only single
people in the place we were also the only ones smiling!!! Really it was very depressing to see the families around us who were mostly frowning and not talking to each other. Needless to say the families were all South Asian. That's when my friend made the following point( ( BTW he is getting married in December!!!) :

He said that since a lot of the people we were looking at were married in our "Root or home countries"it is not outrageous to assume that these were arranged marriages. Arranged marriage lots of times back home means that you know almost nothing about the person you are getting married to till the wedding day. Of course by then it is too late to call it off . While a lot of these weddings work out okay in the end or appear to do so anyways, it is not always because the husband and wife fall in love with each other after some time together. Sometimes it is the common interest of raising kids which keeps the marriage together ( hence the big pressure from extended family to have kids right away). So outside of the kids, there isn't much that brings the couple together and that can lead to a stressful marriage or a marriage which is only there for the sake of marriage.

And I kind of agree with my friend. A lot of marriages back home stay together because of the pressure of the extended family and the common interest of raising the kids. A low divorce rate does not mean that marriages always work out better. In fact in a lot of cases the societies back home do not give the individuals involved the option of Divorce.

And yet there is the other extreme where the couples know each other so well or think they know each other so well that they think nothing can go wrong after they get married. However they find out soon after marriage that what they were looking at before marriage was merely one side of the person in question. SO in the end it could almost be as bad as the arranged marriage described in the previous paragraphs.

I don't think it is feasible to go totally arranged and expect and hope things to work out in a few years. Neither is it realistic to think you can know everything about your spouse before marriage. So what do you do then?


I think the solution is the middle way. SO where you take the good out of the arranged marriage system and combine it with a relevant halal way getting to know the othe rperson.

I know that parents put in a lot of good research that goes into finding the right girl for their kids back home and sometimes here. Talking to a colleague of mine ( who had a love marriage and got divorced), I know that family background, set up, etc all do have an impact on how compatible the marriage is. Its not just the individuals. Yet arranged marriages the South Asian style do tend to overlook the individuals. That's where there should be the get to know each other aspect with the most halal of means should step in. It does not have to be an extended list of questions or an an extended period of time together.

I have some friends in the process of marriage and my advice to them was/is that its not only what your potential spouse gives as an answer to your questions, its also how they say what they say. As in their general approach.

Moreover, you have to have "deen" or relgiousity as the top criteria. As Ustadha Umm Salah rightly points out in her answer on Sunnipath:

"The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, gave us certain criteria to use when selecting a spouse. The first and foremost is religion. In a rigorously authenticated hadith, the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, "A woman is married for her wealth, her reputation, her beauty or her religion. Choose the religious one or you may be ruined." Scholars explain that this hadith also applies equally to choosing a husband.

Our first choice may be to go with our feelings. However, it is important to note that the fires of passion can be quickly extinguished, particularly when the novelty of the spouse wears off and the realities of married life set in.

After making istikhara, it is important to have some serious conversations with this brother. Obviously, the conversations must be chaperoned, so why not choose someone with experience in marriage counseling? Allah willing, this person can help you identify areas of potential conflict and suggest useful strategies for dealing with these issues.

Make no mistake. Every marriage has some degree of conflict, even when the spouses appear to be completely compatible. What's important is how the spouses react to each other during the conflict.

Are these issues so fundamental in nature that they could drive you apart? That is something you and the brother will have to determine. It is difficult, if not impossible, to find someone who has completely matching views. On the other hand, such differences, if strong enough, can be a source of constant bickering."

Once you think the above factors in addition to approach are compatible and you have some common things amongst yourself, you are good to go!!! Renew your intentions, make istikahara and say Bismillah!!

----Totally random but I love it how Apache Indian puts his desired spouse in words:

Me wan gal fe me don rani
Me wan gal dress up in a sari
Me wan gal say soorni logthi
Me wan gal sweet like jelebee
Me wan gal from jullunder city
Me wan gal say a soorni curi
Me wan gal mon to look after me
Me wan gal to mek me roti

Last and "most", Shaykh Faraz rightly points out in this article that we need to be prepared for marriage. Not just knowing the fiqh is enough, there are also other psycological aspects that might arise and you may be faced with that you should be ready for:

"People have to be made aware of the (often many) resources available in the wider society on marriage. Often, Muslims are wary of going outside the community for counseling (and yet fail to find capable counseling within the community). We need develop lists of reliable counseling services—services that uphold the core marital values Muslims hold dear (and which they fear for when seeking outside counseling). Likewise, there is a lot of good literature on marriage that those marrying and married should seriously consider reading.

As Dr. Ibrahim Kreps and other leading Muslim counselors concur, one of the very best books on marriage is John Gottman’s The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. This or similar books give practical guidance on improving marriage relationships in our times.

With this, as Muslims we have to look at the radiant example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself. He reminded us that, “The best of you are those best to their spouses, and I am the best of you to their spouse” (Tirmidhi, on the authority of ‘A’isha, God be pleased with her)). We should look regularly and with reflection at the life and example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as these give us beautiful examples and clear principles on how to have a successful marriage built on the Qur’anic paradigm of love and mercy, and of striving to live together with a mutual commitment to excellence in dealings."

Make dua for yourself and myself !!!!

Shiekh Abdullah bin Bayah: Muslims living in Non Muslim lands

A very relevant talk by the shaykh given a few years ago:

[Bismillah irahman iraheem. The shaykh began his talk by praising Allah subhaana wa ta'aala and sending prayers on the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.] I wanted to speak tonight about your conditions, your circumstances here. You are a group that is small in number and yet strong in faith, a group that has diverse ideas and understandings and whose individuals come from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, a group that is few amongst a dominant group that is many. The dominant group is strong in many areas; in fact, they are controlling many areas of the world. I would like to speak tonight about what the priorities of such a group would be: What are the obligations of such a group? What are the responsibilities of such a group? I would like to present some ideas to you, and I hopes that Allah subhaana wa ta'aala helps me to present some ideas that relate to a methodology, to approaches, and to things that will be beneficial to this group if they implement them.
[Read on]

Christian Science Monitor: "Overexposure: When media coverage blocks out the sun"

A relevant article on the state of the media ( the mainsream North American media to be exact) and how they cover things today. A lot of issues that we worry about are the issues in the media. When the issues arent there then we arent worried. ( We being the muslim community and/or the general community). An example was the cartoon issue which came and went at the will of the media. It was an issue before the media made it an issue and then it died down while it is still an issue right now! ( as in things really did not change when the issue died down) Moreover if we divide each issue into subsets, the media really wants focus on one subset. In other words they define the frame with which each issue is looked at. Do you remember Hurricane Katrina? I thought and think the ammount of coverage the event initially received and the coverage it receives one year after the event is immensely dispropotional. Dont we want to know what happened to the thousands of people who got displaced? Same can be said about other disasters. Anyways please do read this article:

"It is an enormously complicated world, and every day, all over, things happen that matter. It may sometimes seem that stories come from nowhere, like the terrorist attacks on 9/11. But it's often the case that these events are surprises only because we weren't paying attention, and we probably weren't paying attention because the media weren't paying attention.

There are reasons people buy books or pay to see movies. Plots are nice. Stories move from A to B to C and at the end,generally, everything is tied together nicely. But the news isn't amovie or a book. Stories rise and fall and rise again, and they usuallydon't do it in a linear, neat way." Click here to read more

Pinglish?

So what is that uncle trying to say? He says something in english and it goes over your head. Maybe it was not english. Maybe it was pinglish!

Def. Pin-glish. For our purpose we will define Pinglish as a particualr variety of 'Pakistani English' which emerges when (a) English words are mixed with words of a Pakistani language (usually, but not solely, Urdu); or (b) an English sentence is constructed through the direct and exact translation of a thought in a Pakistani language and in the syntax of the latter, or vice versa; or (c) formal English is made even more uncomfortably formal by merging with the formality of Urdu idiom; or (d) Words in English and any Pakistani language are purposely and purposefully amalgamated for effect; or (e) any other way in which English is 'Pakistanized'.

Examples of pinglish:

A friend sent these to me as examples of Pinglish. Supposedly, they are examples of actual language used in letters and applications of various types. Even if they are not real, they are funny.

A candidate's application:
"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a 'typist and an accountant–Male or Female'… As I am both for the past several years and I can handle both, I am applying for the post."

An employee applied for leave as follows:
"Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave."

Student writing to headmaster:
"As I am studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today."

Student writing to teacher:
"I am suffering from fever, please declare holiday to the school."

Letter to boss, requesting leave:
"As my Mother-in-law has expired and I am responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave."

Opening line in a letter to a friend:
"I am well here and hope you are also in the same well."

2 very interesting pieces on the evolvement of english in Pakistan.

This article examines some words and the change of their effective meanings in Pakistan

"Vocabulary

* Affectee: in desi English this means 'someone affected', but it is not to be found in the dictionary (English dictionary, that is).

* Flying coach: local coinage meaning 'very fast coach'.

* Hotel: it refers to an eatery as well as to any place meant for boarding and lodging.

* Broad-minded: in standard English, it refers to behaviour regarding sex, but in 'Pinglish' it means 'somebody who is willing to accept different norms and is adaptable'.

* Cheater: used in colloquial Urdu (and local 'English', too) instead of 'cheat'.

* Driver: the use of 'driver' instead of chauffeur is fairly common.

* Bearer: a waiter.

* Boot: a shoe.

* Cent percent: used instead of 'a hundred per cent' ('per' and 'cent' are put together).

* Conveyance: transportation

* Moot: used by some local newspapers instead of 'meeting'.

* Nook and corner: instead of 'nook and cranny'.

* Opticals: used in place of 'eye glasses'.

* Tubelight: fluorescent tube.

* Thrice: not considered obsolete and is still used to say 'three times'.

* Nullah: ravine; usually buses fall into 'nullahs' and 'khuds'.

* Urad: lentil.

* Moong: ditto; read market intelligence published in local English newspaper to find (more) such words.

* Dacoit: a robber, perhaps from Urdu dakait.

* Cutpiece: a small, leftover piece of cloth; a local coinage.

* Jack: influence.* Source: ditto.

* Eveninger: an evening newspaper.

* On seat: instead of 'in seat', implying 'not in the office', perhaps a literal translation of Urdu's seat pur nahin hay.

* Diggy: the trunk of a car.

* Mudguard: the fender of a car or motorbike.

* Gherao: In 'Engdu', it means 'a sort of demonstration where protesters surround some person or building. Some newspapers use its 'past tense' even, that is, interestingly, 'gheraoed'.

* Black money: refers to money amassed through unfair means; another local usage, perhaps a literal translation of kala dhan.

* Colony: forget colonialism and imperialism; in 'Pinglish' this refers to a large area comprising of residential blocks, for instance: Jinnah Colony, People's Colony, Shah Faisal Colony, etc.

* Goonda: hooligan.

* Airdash: officials never travel by air nor do they rush to a place, they always 'airdash'; and they don't care if this word exists in the English dictionary or not.

* Ticket: also used to say 'stamp'.

* Healthy: means 'fat' (not a healthy idea, of course).

* Toast: a slice of bread whether toasted or not.

* Lathi-charge: in 'Urdish', this refers to the use of batons by police, usually to disperse a disorderly crowd. Lathi is, of course, a desi word meaning 'a heavy stick' and the 'charge' is English. The past tense is 'lathi-charged'.

* Kutcha: made of mud or clay, for example, a kutcha road, a kutcha house. Antonym is pucca.

* Demise: death; (not considered formal or pompous).

* Felicitate: to congratulate; (ditto).

* Peon: the dictionary says peon means a day-labourer; in India it meant a foot-soldier. But now, in Pakistan and India, it means 'a messenger or office boy'.

* Allottee: a person allotted something, specially property.

* Lakh/lac: a hundred thousand. in tanzania peti lol

* Crore: a hundred lakh; ten million.

* Godown: a warehouse.

* Eve-teasing: sexual harassment.

* Double-roti: bun or bread; and don't mind if it is 'single'.

* Miscreant: in 'Pinglish', not considered dated.

* Challan: ticket for a traffic offence.

Idioms

* Keep fast: instead of 'fast'; literal translation from Urdu.

* Give exam: instead of 'take exam'; ditto.

* Ten, ten times: literal translation of dus dus baar.

* New, new things: literal translation from Urdu involving repetition of adjectives, such as 'big, big cars'.

Grammar

* There is a general tendency towards using the Present Progressive instead of the Present Simple: 'I am not knowing' instead of 'I don't know'; 'I am thinking' instead of 'I think' and 'We should not be doing this' instead of 'we should not do this'.

* Another trend or deviation is to use the Present Progressive instead of the Present Perfect Progressive: 'I am waiting since morning', instead of 'I have been...'

Other deviations:

* 'I think so that...' instead of 'I think...'.

* 'What is your good name'? this may sound strange to the native ears since this is literal translation of Ism-i-sharif in Urdu.

* Similarly 'How is your good self?' has a ring of Urdu. Perhaps mizaj sharif translated."

These articles and pics furthur looks into the Pinglish dilema.

There are people...

(I wrote this in high school -6 years ago)

There are people who pretend to be what they are not. They mould themselves to what the society thinks of being right or wrong. These people sacrifice principles if they have any; to society's opinion of them. They fail to realise that the majority can be of the wrong views. Basing their lives on what other people think of them leads them to a life they don't want to live. They do things which they would not do otherwise, The paradox is that even if they get society's approval they feel empty.

There are people who fail to stand up for what they believe in. They fear disagreement /disapproval if the other person does not agree fearing that they might be proven wrong.

There are people who reach intellectual levels which are higher than those of many. They criticise people who are not like them or whom they preceive lower then them. Unfortunately the irony is that this criticism makes such people reach the same level as others or even lower levels.

There are people who fail just because they think they will. They do not try due to the fear of failure. They let their point of views become reality. They are limited by their own ambition and thus fail to fulfill their potential. They draw their own boundaries and never want to reach the other side.

There are people who do things which are important momentarily and ignore things which may be beneficial in the long term .

There are people who think they are perfect .Their imperfection is the "vision" of their own perfection. Unconsciously permanent faults creep in and their failure to practice self criticism is their downfall.

There are people...........................

template ,links & sidebar update

I have a new template/theme for my blog....

Also , in case you didn't notice, I have updated the links on my sidebar and added some new catagories as well.

Check them out!

Red Sulphur: Intentions of Marriage

Are you getting married soon? Dont know what your intention should be? Well here is some timely advice for you taken from Red Sulphur:

The Intentions of Marriage

The following are intentions one should have when entering into marriage. The intentions were composed by the great Shaykh, the ‘Arif of Allah, ‘Ali bin Abi-Bakr as-Sakran, may Allah shower them both with mercy.

I intend to enter into this marriage and take this wife (or husband) for the love of Allah ‘Azza-wa-Jall and to have children so that the human race shall continue. I also intend [to enter this marriage] for the love of the Prophet, s.a.w. so that he may take pride in it, as he said: “Marry and increase in numbers, as I will take pride in you before other nations on the Day of Judgment.”

I have intended in this marriage—and all the actions and words that come from it—to be blessed by the prayer of a pious child; or for his intercession if he dies young before me. I have intended by this marriage to protect myself from Satan, by breaking the desire, [and thus] breaking the temptations of Satan, to lower the gaze, and reduce the Wiswas (withdrawing whisperer). I have also intended to protect my private parts from lewdness (illegal intercourse).

I have intended in this marriage the amusement of the self and to bring joy to it through by companionship (with my spouse); looking, and playing freely and to bring comfort to the heart and strengthening it for worship.

I have intended in this marriage the relief of the nafs and cherish it through companionship, the pleasure that comes through gazing at one’s spouse, mutual foreplay, the repose that floods the heart and strengthening it for worshiping.

I have intended by it, the relieving of the heart from the worries of housekeeping, cooking, sweeping, making the bed, cleaning the dishes and taking care of lively duties.

I have intended by this marriage, to struggle with the nafs and to train it ‘through care and guardianship’, to fulfill the rights of the family and to be patient with their characters, to endure the harm that comes from them, to work towards making them good, to guide them to the religious path, to struggle to seek lawful earnings for them, to command them to discipline the children by also asking from Allah for it and success for his sake and to drop between his hands and to show the excessive need towards Him in gaining it. I have intended all the previous for Allah Almighty.

I have intended all the previous and more from whatever I control, say and do in this marriage for Allah Almighty.

I have intended in this marriage whatever Your righteous servants and Your acting scholars have intended.

Allahumma, give us success as you have given them, help us as you have helped them. Overlook our shortcomings, accept [this] from us and do not entrust us to ourselves, even for the blink of an eye. Make good for us, all of the previous, by Your Grace and Generosity in good and in good health.

Allahumma, forgive us and have mercy upon us, be content with us and accept from us. Enter us into paradise and save us from the hellfire and make good all of our affairs.

Allahumma, grant me in everything—in this marriage and all of my affairs—Your Help, Blessing and Peace. Protect me from preoccupying myself with other than You and do not put obstacles between me and Your obedience and make this marriage sufficient and virtuous for me.

Allahumma, I—my moments of movement and stillness—am entrusted to You, so protect me; wherever I happen to be, take my affairs as You have taken the affairs of Your pious servants.

Allahumma, help us, together with our parents, children, spouses, our Shuyukh, our brothers, all our relatives, all those who come from the same womb as us, all those who have rights over us, and those who have the minimum of rights over us.

Allahumma, assist me in remembrance of You, gratitude towards You and excellence in You worship, O Lord of the Worlds.

Allahumma, guide us and grant us success, O Lord of the Worlds.

Allahumma, make us live this life by Your Book and the Sunnah, O the One who is Majestic and Noble.

Allahumma, we ask you by that which is accepted from us and by whatever brought us closer to You; amen. And send blessings and salutations, by Your Majesty, to the most noble of all envoys, Muhammad the seal of all prophets, his family and companions. And all praise is to Allah Lord of the Worlds.

-Book of Intentions by al-Habib Muhammad (Sa'ad) bin 'Alawi al-'Aidrus

Toronto Star: A surfeit of martyrs

A very interesting article by Martin Reg Cohn for the Toronto Star who documents his travels accross different parts of the world-with a special focus on Muslim countries. While there is a slight bias in his article I still recommend it. Moreover I tend to agree with this following paragraph ( based on my experiences on my trips to Pakistan in the last few years):

"............In my travels across Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, I had always assumed that the fanatics were on the fringes. In fact, it was not only the foot soldiers of fundamentalism who had been peddling poisonous ignorance, but many of the best minds, as well — either for what they said or left unsaid. Most condemned the violence, but I found a surprising number who condoned it, excused it, or lapsed into denial. On assignment, I came across prominent, educated Muslims in every walk of life — scholars, doctors, politicians, generals who blamed 9/11 and other attacks on Israel's Mossad secret service while exonerating Al Qaeda. Quite apart from their readiness to vilify Jews,marveledled at the willingness of so many in the Islamic world to besmirch one another as apostles, infidels, or inferior Muslims. Equally, ultra-orthodox Jews excelled at self-hatred when vilifying their fellow Jews; Hindus excoriated their brethren of lesser castes or questionable orthodoxy; and Buddhists spouted insults at believers from rivsects.Fundamentalismism, like revolution, eats its own children........ Read more"

Through a window

We all have had differences of opinion with people. We might be looking at the same issues but we end up having variable perspectives.

That perhaps is a blessing from Allah since it helps us expand our horizons or at least gives us a chance to do that. Many a times we are looking at the same issue and the same facts ( or what we perceive to be the same facts), yet our views are totally different.

Its like looking at/through the same window thinking that the other person sees what we see or that we can see everything around the person on the other side of the window and that we fully understand what they think or where they come from on a particular issue. Below are different scenarios of looking "through the window" which could make it difficult for us to understand each other:



1) Different view

We are looking though the same window but the views we have might be different. One person is looking North though the window and the other looking south. Most of the time the views will be different.

2) Dark inside/light outside

One side might be darker than the other side which has lights, making it easier for one person to see " though the window" than the other.


3) Different levels

The Level of the window might be on the 3rd floor of an apartment building hence making it harder for the two people to see what the other person is seeing. The person on the road looking at the window on the upper level sees something totally different then what the person looking through his apartment window sees. Perhaps the nafs of the person at the upper level is affected as well.



4) Threat at one end

We don't know what the person on the other side of the window is going through. Who knows that beyond what we can see, the person may be threatened by someone with who has a weapon hence making it harder for him/her to think clearly or objectively.


5) Window is one sided

Some criminal soap operas have these windows which are one sided and only one person can see through while the view of the other person is impaired. In fact the person with the impaired view might not even know he is being watched


6) The window is a mirror

If you replace the window on the mirror for either one person or both people all they can see is themselves and what surrounds them.


7) Talking about different window


Two people might think that they are looking at the same window but they might be looking at a different window and hence they might just be missing the issue altogether.

8) One person is blind or is impaired

One person might be blind and the other might not know it, thinking or assuming that the other person sees though the window ( where as he is blind).


9) Tinted window

The window might be tinted making it harder for one person to see the other. One might see everything however the other may be lucky to see an outline of what is on the other side.

10) Window or TV?

The window you are looking at might be a flat panel TV and the other person just sees the back of the TV where as you see something which is potentially far from reality.

Why I like Jon Stewart?

Some clips of Jon Stewart that I really liked. ( some are links and some are in embedded players).


JOn Stewart on British Arrests

JOn Stewart on Rumsfeld's contradictions


Jon Stewart on Attorney's General's slow response to US Senate's question on torture( CLick Here)

Jon Stewart on America's pains at the pump because of the Middle East crisis:



Jon Stewart on Bush's Midle East position:



Jon Stewart on Israels's response:





Jon Stewart's Middle East Solution:





Jon Stewart on critisizing "CNN's crossfire" and their " left vs. right/ black or white" phenomana on CNN's crosfire:

George Galloway on Lebanon

This George Galloway interview is a classic. I have already received links to this interview from several people.

I love how Galloway doesnt let the interviewer define the frame of the discussion. Hence in the process he avoided being put on the defensive during the interview and was able to communicate his points.

Innovation and creativity in Islam

Dr. Umer Farooq's latest paper. (Very thought provoking):

"Without enlightened educational institutions that attract talented students and in the absence of curricula that impart a mature understanding of modern thought and realities, it is unlikely that a sophisticated understanding of the Islamic religious tradition can never be fostered. Without careful examination of their original historical context, the thousands upon thousands of dusty manuscripts and old books preserved in Islamic libraries will remain little more than interesting fossils of history. Until classical Islamic learning is made meaningful to contemporary Muslims, it is difficult to fault those who question its relevance." Click here to read on

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf on Lebanon

Catching Big fish

My first fishing trip to Lake Ontario and my first fish ( 10 pound trout):

Star Trek Quote

From the episode " The drumhead" this conversation reminds me of many real world-conflict situations:

Jean-Luc Picard: We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, is all ancient history. Then, before you can blink an eye, suddenly, it threatens to start all over again.

Worf: I believed her. I... I helped her. I did not see what she was.

Jean-Luc Picard: Mr. Worf, villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged.

Worf: I think... after yesterday people will not be so ready to trust her.

Jean-Luc Picard: Maybe. But she, or someone like her, will always be with us. Waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness. […] Vigilance, Mr. Worf. That is the price we have to continually pay.