I Ask the Impossible
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Love me when all desire is gone.
Love me with the single-mindedness of a monk.
When the world in its entirety,
and all that you hold sacred, advise you
against it: love me still more.
When rage fills you and has no name: love me.
When each step from your door to your job tires you—
love me; and from job to home again.
Love me when you’re bored—
when every woman you see is more beautiful than the last,
or more pathetic, love me as you always have:
not as admirer or judge, but with
the compassion you save for yourself
in your solitude.
Love me as you relish your loneliness,
the anticipation of your death,
mysteries of the flesh, as it tears and mends.
Love me as your most treasured childhood memory—
and if there is none to recall—
imagine one, place me there with you.
Love me withered as you loved me new.
Love me as if I were forever—
and I will make the impossible
a simple act,
by loving you, loving you as I do.
This beautiful poem by Ana Castillo was added by Irving in comment section of the post title Love, Truth, Malice
Labels: Ana Castillo, Literature, Poetry
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/30/2011 11:40:00 AM,
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Cleaning products webshop for professionals
Janito - janitorial and cleaning products webshop for professionals - already brings a very distinct image of the brand and anything else that is associated with professional cleaning. Janito, in addition to a offering cleaning products, is an initiative to draw attention of janitorial and cleaning professionals to get their feed back and what ever is on their minds about our products they use. Here at our webshop, we showcase honesty, sincerity and expertise of Janito cleaning products and customers service.
Webshop is a two way communication channel to work with our clients – the end users - who can point out flaws and drawbacks that can be rectified to improve the image of the products attached we offer. We hope that personal interaction will help to develop a personal rapport. Besides opening a communication channel between Janito and its users, we intend to create a network involving people connected to users.
Contact us here and let us combine our helpful advice with your experience of using our cleaning products.
Labels: Cleaning Products, Janito, Web Shop
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/30/2011 09:42:00 AM,
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Karachi Chapter get together
Karachi Chapter 55 PMA Long Course get together DA Golf Club! Here are some of the images by Zafar Iqbal Durrani
Read more »
Labels: 55 PMA, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/30/2011 09:07:00 AM,
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Link Love
Social media for business at Logic is Variable
Bridges at Doodh Patti
Pottry at Dolls Village
Artisans at Thatta Kedona
Housing at SPARC
You are Invited at Fine art of Blogging
Socities at Lahore School
Rugby at World Cup Log
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/30/2011 08:52:00 AM,
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Last day to vote for LSE blog
Monday, 28 November 2011
Set aside the usual blogosphere buzz, rabid trolls, rants and ramblings and you will notice that the Pakistan blogosphere has matured into a wider and more dynamic community. Associated with blogging since it started in Pakistan, I have gladly followed the rise. Given my personal love for those who have been doing a good job blogging different subject and addicting the local context and content online, I have been pointing out top Pakistan blogs, bloggers and the post every year at this blog. It is such a difficult task to sift through the burgeoning Pakistani blogsphere and pick out the best. Thanks to CIO Pakistan, IDG got together with Google Pakistan that they launched the Annual Pakistan Blog Awards in 2010. The award has become an annual feature and all Pakistani bloggers and readers to look forward to. This year, blogs related to Pakistan either through the topic, language or audience can context in Pakistan Blog Award 2011. The theme for 2011 is “Colors of Pakistan: Celebrating the New Media Spaces” and it aptly shows on the blog award site. Nomination will close by Monday morning (November 21, 2011). Voting will continue through November 25, 2011 (extended till November 28, 2011).
Lahore School Blog has been nominated here. Show your support for the blog by voting, rating and or leaving comments. Look for golden little star and click on the last one. Your vote is done. Check the image below for more help. Also leave your comments at the bottom of the page. Your comment and feedback matters a great deal.
Click here to vote
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/28/2011 09:24:00 AM,
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The Memo of Treachery
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Nadir Mir
The ‘Memo of Treachery’ has been considerably unveiled. Actually it is no great mystery. This is in fact the corruption, transfer wealth abroad – get foreign support – stay in power or acquire more power – money complex in action. Pakistani liberals (puppets) living abroad, posing as the ‘face of Pakistan’ the linchpin for this Faustian bargain. (Between Pakistani traitors and alien supporters).
It is certainly not about civilian control over the military establishment (which is a good thing). It is about corrupt, self serving elite, who seek foreign support to keep robbing the people of Pakistan. (Betraying Pakistanis is not an issue, but part of the agenda).
Without confusing the issue, the ‘Memo’ sent by some Pakistanis (with bank accounts, assets and residence abroad) sought foreign (Uncle Sam’s) support which by simple connotation meant:
Read more »Labels: Geopolitics
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/26/2011 02:30:00 PM,
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My Black Berry Pin
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Not so long ago, when Obama won the US elections and ‘brought a change’ there, Black Berry owners couldn’t get enough of his love of Black Berry. The users sobered up as soon as the hype for the 'change' died down quickly. But still, here in Pakistan Black Berry has become very famous for another reason. In a slow tech Pakistan landscape that is crowded with new smartphones, the BlackBerry emails, messages and calls between Ejaz Mansoor and Hussain Haqqani are being discussed by everyone; in print and electronic media as well in social spaces.
It is a sheer coincidence that only a few days before the memogate scandal started unfolding, my son (thanks to you beta) got me a spanking new Black Berry. I am still getting used to it and trying to explore its features but I quickly found out a very uncool fact that Black Berry data can be altered and manipulated though the process is difficult. Excuse me, I heard an expert analyst saying this in Capital Talk ay at GEO TV.
I did not mind reports about the phone that built its reputation on security and reliability that it was struck by a three-day service outage that affected users on five continents. But I am worried about the fact that its data can be altered. I must be careful with whom I share my Black berry Pin and who all are in my contact list.
If you still need my PIN, please ask.
Labels: Apolitical, Black Berry, Satire
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/23/2011 03:31:00 PM,
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Second Annual Pakistan Blog Award 2011
Monday, 21 November 2011
Set aside the usual blogosphere buzz, rabid trolls, rants and ramblings and you will notice that the Pakistan blogosphere has matured into a wider and more dynamic community. Associated with blogging since it started in Pakistan, I have gladly followed the rise. Given my personal love for those who have been doing a good job blogging different subject and addicting the local context and content online, I have been pointing out top Pakistan blogs, bloggers and the post every year at this blog. It is such a difficult task to sift through the burgeoning Pakistani blogsphere and pick out the best. Thanks to CIO Pakistan, IDG got together with Google Pakistan that they launched the Annual Pakistan Blog Awards in 2010. The award has become an annual feature and all Pakistani bloggers and readers to look forward to. This year, blogs related to Pakistan either through the topic, language or audience can context in Pakistan Blog Award 2011. The theme for 2011 is “Colors of Pakistan: Celebrating the New Media Spaces” and it aptly shows on the blog award site. Nomination will close by Monday morning (November 21, 2011). Voting will continue through November 25, 2011.
Lahore School Blog has been nominated here. Show your support for the blog by voting, rating and or leaving comments. Look for golden little star and click on the last one. Your vote is done. Check the image below for more help. Also leave your comments at the bottom of the page. Your comment and feedback matters a great deal.
Click here to vote
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging, Pakistan Blogsophere, Top Bloggers, Top Blogs
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/21/2011 08:57:00 AM,
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Secret memo at the center of the controversy
Friday, 18 November 2011
Here is the document at the center of the "memo-gate" controversy, sent allegedly from the highest echelons of Pakistani's civilian leadership to Admiral Michael Mullen after the killing of Osama bin Laden and every one seems to be talking about. It has some serious conotation but the main question is who has written the memo: Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani, Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz and on whos behalf?
Read more »
Labels: Apolitical
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/18/2011 11:59:00 AM,
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Sitting by computer and waiting
Related: Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other and IM with U
Labels: Sweet Tweets
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/18/2011 09:29:00 AM,
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Celebrating Sindhi Culture - Ajrak and Topi
Thursday, 17 November 2011
The Sindh Cultural Day is being celebrated Novermber 19, 2011 with passion and zest across the province. The people in Sindh will wear traditional Sindhi clothes, caps and Ajraks while the female will be in ‘Susee’, garment and hand made Gajj. The day will be marked with various activities such as rallies, corner meetings, Mach Kachaharees (folk gatherings) and Sufi music nights.
Labels: Ajrak, Culture, Sindh, Topi
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/17/2011 04:33:00 PM,
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Defence Day in Canada
Saturday, 12 November 2011
The Defence Day was celebrated by 55th Long Course Canadian Chapter in Toronto, Canada on 6 September 2011
Labels: 55 PMA, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/12/2011 11:34:00 AM,
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Google+ for Business in Pakistan
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
As expected, today (November 8, 2011) Google introduced Google+ for Business - a collection of tools and products that help you grow your audience and create any sites identity on Google+. It is available in Pakistan and anyone can create a Google+ page, engage in conversations with visitors, direct readers back to your site for the latest updates, send tailored messages to specific groups of people, and see how many +1’s you have across the web. Google+ Pages will help you build relationships with your users, encouraging them to spend more time engaging with your content.
Yes, I have created Google Plus Page for my business site here. Go visit and see how you too can get started. Better still, create a page for your site and or blog and have a feeler.
Related: Google+ Pages: connect with all the things you care about
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/08/2011 07:01:00 PM,
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Natural weight loss
Given my own interest, I have always followed what best is available in the weight loss product market and how those products work. No I am not over weight yet, but I know I tend to be overweight. And interesting thing on that is, my mom keep saying this, “you are too thin, you don’t eat anything. Eat this.” And not only that, the problem comes when she ensures that I eat big.
She does not know, may be, but the fact is the being overweight is one of the biggest problems people are suffering from. It causes physical as well as clinical and social problems. The best is to watch out from the start and do not allow those extra layers to pile up. But they still do.
That is where natural diet pills - all-natural weight loss pills and dietary supplement, aimed at helping you lose weight, boost metabolism and boost energy - come in. Slim9 enhance dieting experience by providing with the best weight loss information, tools, and advice. Using Slim9 can help you to feel more energetic, and improve your stamina while exercising. Why don’t you check them out? And also have a look at their testimonials. It is wiser to listen to other users who are experts than experimenting on self. No?
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/08/2011 11:59:00 AM,
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Bakra in line
Friday, 4 November 2011
Related: Bakra Online, Haj and Eid Greeting to All [Time]
Labels: Eid ul Azha
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/04/2011 10:16:00 PM,
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Calling corporate Pakistan
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Those 200-250 words bloggers write on their blogs to promote products, services and or an ideas are getting more important every day. In addition to optimizing search engine rankings of the sites under discussion, they influence the consumers in a big way. A consumer survey (carried out online in USA) says, “83% of consumers say that product reviews influence their online purchasing decisions, 70% of online shoppers actively seek out product reviews before they buy, more than half of US online shoppers surveyed, read user reviews as part of their product research and nearly 9 of 10 US online buyers read reviews at least “some of the time” before making a purchase.
This is not about how to write reviews, add visuals, write product descriptions, give proofs and urge readers to make buying decision. This is about the fact that local market is yet not online as it is the case in more connected countries. Therefore local bloggers and markets mostly turn towards foreign markets and write about them. Some of the bloggers are doing a good job despite all handicaps. Similarly some of the marketers are also taking advantages.
It is in this milieu that this is a call to local marketers and sellers to see the advantages and take benefit of any review stream can offer to them. Exceptions are already there, I personally know (and write for) a local concern that sells products online and how their blog advertising investment is providing them huge returns. I suggest you buy a review or a link and experience what it does to your business.
Labels: Making Money Online
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/03/2011 11:43:00 AM,
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Confusion or containment for Pakistan
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Nadir Mir
Mr. Bruce Riedel’s (ex CIA, advisor to US President) recent article was titled ‘Containment of Pakistan’. It would be more appropriate to title it as ‘Confusion or Containment for Pakistan’.
Mr. Riedel had accused Pakistani Generals of Neo blasphemy – ‘not believing in an American victory in Afghanistan!’ The fact is that the majority of people in Afghanistan itself and neighbouring Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian states, China, Russia, besides the cultured people in Europe and rest of the world do not believe in an American victory. Smart Americans mercifully now in majority realize the Afghan War is lost. Thinkers and writers like Eric Margolis, Michael Scheuer and others have been saying it for years. Ironically the definition of US victory in Kabul keeps changing.
The aim and end of war (primary principal of war) itself seems to be more slippery than an eel. So to use American parlance – ‘Mission Creep’. Since the war in Afghanistan is not won (nor can be won) blame the Haqqanis, Taliban, Pakistan and anybody else in the neighbourhood. Gore Vidal, a great American writer had aptly titled his book ‘Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace’.
For ten years Pakistan was a non NATO Ally (rather not wanted Ally). Then it was graded as FreEnemy (friend – enemy) and now Mr. Bruce Riedel suggests containment of Pakistan (which is a policy option of dealing with enemies). To put the record straight, out of the trillion dollars war effort Pakistan received under $20 billion, while suffering $70 billion losses. Of course the pain, anguish, bereavement of nearly 40,000 casualties suffered by Pakistan cannot be measured in tangible term. Certainly they don’t matter to war mongers and their ilk. (Mouth pieces of the military – industrial – financial complex).
Patriotic and smart Americans would not worry about ‘Waziristan’ but about ‘Wall Street, considering the economic malaise at home. Conversely, the globalists want a new war with Pakistan and Iran (may be with Turkey, Saudi Arabia) followed by China and Russia. A strategy of deflection, to divert attention from problems at home. The capitalist cabal system is under attack! So when are these low paid, deprived, lower middle class, but good Americans going to be termed as anarchists, miscreants and terrorists? (May be inspired by OBL from his watery grave – if the American account was true!)
Washington can try ‘Containment of Pakistan’ (with all the consequences) but containment of its military is simply absurd. The Pakistan military is a part of the nation like US military is a part of America. Obviously Washington – Delhi propaganda tries to drive a wedge between the Pakistani people and their soldiers. Civilian supremacy remains a supreme concept. The problem is that the corrupt elite in Pakistan which the Americans and the Indians want to pamper, don’t represent the nation. They are perceived as puppets. The American quest for a pliant Pakistan subservient to India (turning hostile to China) is rejected by the same civilians and common Pakistanis Mr. Riedel claims to be supporting.
Furthermore, the notion that Pakistan Army is ambitious in terms of Afghanistan is preposterous! America led NATO has waged a decade long horrific war. Before US exit, hostile Indians want to entrench themselves in Kabul. (Even as a number of Indian Strike Corps mass on Pakistan’s borders under the garb of Winter Exercise 2011). Millions of Afghan refugees are sheltering in Pakistan. Kabul refuses to rectify the Durand Line agreement (not even fence it for security reasons). US / NATO troops concentrate on Waziristan borders, escalating drone strikes, threatening special operations, massing hardware for a mini ‘Shock and Awe’, posturing for an air campaign and the works! What is the Pakistan Army expected to do? It can’t be ‘contained and cooperative’ at the same time!
Finally Mr. Riedel’s obsession with Pakistani nukes (or is he voicing some sinister agenda). Even if Mr. Riedel’s view of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal becoming 4th or 5th largest in the world is true, so what is the problem? The Pakistani population by some estimates may be also 4th – 5th largest in the world. What’s wrong with the 4th – 5th largest country having that big a nuclear arsenal?
Containment of Pakistan may retard Pakistan but also forsake the geopolitics of peace. A cornered, bullied and threatened Pakistan will turn more nationalistic or militant. It will not become the dove which some misguided Americans funded by neo rich Indians desire. A geopolitical realignment may follow. Squeezed by Americans and Indians on two fronts, Pakistan will seek new allies – China, Iran, Saudi Arabia even Russia, while fraternizing with Turkey.
A contained Pakistan on two fronts will lead to conflict. The Afghan War may extend to Pakistan, Iran and India. A vast war region, with peace prospects diminishing by the day. An all out war can spiral out of control, go nuclear, destroying the region and affecting the globe. In case of a limited conflict, even if the Pakistan Military is bruised, beaten or humiliated in battle with American – Indian forces, (unlikely in a short span) the change in Pakistan will not be what Mr. Riedel had hoped for. In an emotionally charged, nationally hysterical public mood, pliant – puppets will not come to power. Radical minded revanchists could usurp power.
Another possibility is a revolution sweeping Pakistan. If the Arab brothers can have a spring, good people of USA can ‘Occupy Wall Street’ and Ayatollahs in neighbouring Iran bring a revolution (1979), why not Pakistan? A revolution would be the best thing for Pakistan. But the revolutionaries don’t take diktat from foreign powers – the historical legacy so far.
The cause of peace can be best served, not by ‘Pakistan’s containment’ but by US Exit from Afghanistan through a ‘Negotiated, Peace Yielding Settlement’. This is the advice expected from sages, and geopoliticians who seek a peaceful and prosperous world for tomorrow.
Labels: Geopolitics
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11/01/2011 11:14:00 AM,
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