tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56483102011-04-21T12:28:51.665-07:00House NegroHe did not even know that the new life would not be his for nothing, that it must be dearly bought, and paid for with great and heroic struggles yet to come...
Not to mention the mortgage.syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comBlogger621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1116380583344774552005-05-18T11:36:00.000-07:002005-05-17T18:43:03.350-07:00George Galloway speaks to the US Senate(Today I've been a little lazy and decided to simply post verbatim an excellent speech given by British MP George Galloway to the US Senate committee investing the UN Oil-for-Food Program. Enjoy!)Now, senator, I gave my heart and soul to oppose the policy that you promoted. I gave my political life's blood to try to stop the mass killing of Iraqis by the syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1115017045051955712005-05-02T16:56:00.000-07:002005-05-02T20:59:59.730-07:00Ode to the death of romanceStill no wordsFrom there afarAcross the roadAnd past my carA national libraryA triumvirate of obstaclesSeems all so blindEven in my spectaclesBut really what's withThe lack of sightThe communicationIs all too slightWhy or whycan't the girl just speakJust give me some signalEven if it's quit?!?syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1114645060875347202005-04-28T09:36:00.000-07:002005-04-27T16:37:40.876-07:00The Passing.Keeping astrideThe winter is callingWalking with prideSo many have fallenThe tide is lowThe tide is highSo little we showWhen time to dieBut memories and truthsMerged all into oneLike images of youthAnd, fleetingly, loveBe not sadFor moments once hadNow lost, like love,Still remain forever.syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1114075357539137852005-04-22T00:52:00.000-07:002005-04-21T05:44:24.876-07:00Music, the mirror into your soul? The music you listen to at any given period in your life tells a great deal about your emotional dispossession. For most of 2003, when I was lulled into a false sense of unrequited love, my theme song was 'The Scientist' by Coldplay. Just the other night I was at a restaurant that was playing 'The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival' and I was instantly syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1114062033270144472005-04-21T15:27:00.000-07:002005-04-20T22:40:33.273-07:00Job DescriptionTitleSenior Bureaucratic OfficerClassificationExecutive Level 1Branch/DivisionVarious Branches,Legal Trivia and Banana DivisionSecurity Clearance RequiredProtractedSalary$68,502 - $83,350 per annumReference1234/FRWSelection CriteriaGENERIC SELECTION CRITERIA - all essentialAbility to think several different unrelated things at oneAbility to achieve limited results over a long time syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1113806367782582122005-04-18T16:35:00.000-07:002005-04-17T23:39:27.783-07:00A potted history of indigenous social justice from Mabo to the present...White Fella (WF): Oh black man, it so pains us to discover that, all those years ago, you were indeed dispossessed of your land. (Muttered aside) Although I hear stories of aboriginal kids being removed from their parents have largely been fabricated.Black Fella (BF): Ah, jeez, thanks Mr WF. I'm really pleased to hear that. syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1113540798904232522005-04-15T14:52:00.000-07:002005-04-14T21:53:18.906-07:00The death of romanceHey Rita,thanks for having dinner with me yesterday, it was a blast! I was so glad both your flatmates were also able to join us. Thanks for suggesting that. It really helped make the whole thing that much more intimate. Not to mention making it even easier to get to know you better. I think the highlight of the evening was the fact that, despite dinner being your idea, I syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1113365297121063372005-04-13T13:58:00.000-07:002005-04-12T21:20:39.433-07:00Interpreting media reports on the US-Israel relationshipToday I've decided to prepare some cheat notes on a report in today's Sydney Morning Herald on talks between President Bush and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon...Bush talks tough with Sharon over settlements President George Bush has warned the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, that the US opposes any expansion of West Bank settlements. It syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1113280030264145632005-04-12T14:23:00.000-07:002005-04-11T21:27:50.426-07:00Being egalitarian means removing your shoesA significant diplomatic row has erupted between Papua New Guinea and Australia after PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare was asked to remove his shoes by security at Brisbane Airport. Australia has refused Papuan demands for an apology. Here's our foreign minister's explanation for Australia's refusal...One of the characteristics of Australian culture is syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1110271819499831042005-03-08T07:40:00.000-08:002005-03-08T00:55:47.183-08:00The real value of human life A major news item in today's press has been the sentence meted out to Jamiya Islamia 'spiritual leader' Abu Bakar Bashir. Alexander Downer said Australia was disappointed with the length of the sentence and would press Indonesia for a longer jail term. Let's ignore for the moment the fact that Australia is quite unashamedly meddling in the judicial process of syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1109835974354069192005-03-03T18:43:00.000-08:002005-03-02T23:46:14.360-08:00Puppy LoveThe newspaper recently reported the following... Two small boys and two girls were married off to puppies by tribal villagers in the small northern Indian state of Jharkhand to ward off evil, a report said. Local officials in Kuluptang village in Jharkhand said the "kukur vibaha" or dogs' marriages, were organised on the last day of a local tribal festival, the Press Trust of syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1109656678852985702005-03-01T16:57:00.000-08:002005-02-28T21:57:58.856-08:00Taming of the shrewThe last time I had my hair cut Sir Robert Menzies was debating in parliament the efficacy of having communists outlawed. My grandfather was in his mid-twenties. Dwight D Eisenhower was sending American troops to the Korean Peninsula. Such is the bewildering array of curly hairs on my head, that it takes a team of five civil engineers several moments, each morning, to tame my syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1109332375558702272005-02-25T10:44:00.000-08:002005-02-26T00:07:18.286-08:00Comparing SyriaCompare the analysis of Syria's 'pledge' to remove troops from Lebanon, with the way Israel's 'pledge' to remove troops from occupied Palestine is reported. Interesting. I might add, I think the report on Syria is reasonably accurate. Why not have the same scepticism towards pronouncements from Israel? A sad irony is that Syria's State media (propaganda) probably made the most syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1108983548061094952005-02-21T21:56:00.000-08:002005-02-21T02:59:08.066-08:00Long discussion on the market(Below is an exchange between me and a friend. My comments are in capitals)I think when you talk of not having rich-poor gap that you envision a post-market society. I don't necessarily disagree with the idea. We tried it previously with communism, but it failed dreadfully due to human corruption etc. At this stage I just don't see an alternative to the market when itsyed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1107573803565514042005-02-06T21:30:00.000-08:002005-02-06T02:31:22.180-08:00Iraq Elections
United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting. According to reports from Saigon, 83 percent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the Vietcong. A successful election has syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1107398310201096792005-02-03T13:36:00.000-08:002005-02-02T18:40:40.483-08:00US an obsbstacle to political solution in Iraq
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/US-an-obstacle-to-political-solution-in-Iraq-Beazley/2005/02/02/1107228770090.html
This is a surprisingly robust position for Beazley to take, and an eminently sensible one (although he does step short of saying the US has committed war crimes in Iraq, opting instead for the lighter 'fog of war'/mistake/syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1107345597018944732005-02-02T22:55:00.000-08:002005-02-02T03:59:57.016-08:00Plastic bullets?
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/01/iraq.hostage/index.html
syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1106874877085913742005-01-28T23:51:00.000-08:002005-01-27T19:12:09.613-08:00Seymour Hersh on the Iraq invasion
http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=7054§ionID=67
There's probably one important angle missing from this otherwise very good report. Another advantage for the Bush admin in invading Iran is this. Iran is likely secretly sending militias and arms to Iraq's resistance movement(s) in their war against the US and pro-US Iraqi forces. Knocking syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1106178211729793012005-01-20T22:41:00.000-08:002005-01-19T15:43:31.730-08:00Condoleezza Rice's new axis outposts of tyranny
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Global-Terrorism/Rices-new-axis-outposts-of-tyranny/2005/01/19/1106074807939.html
There's an interesting list of countries mentioned here, being Belarus, Zimbabwe, Cuba and Burma. The following might help give some perspective...
Morocco: is a kingdom (a real old style kingdom, read 'tyranny') and a key US ally. It has syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1106014568915096982005-01-18T13:15:00.000-08:002005-01-17T18:16:08.916-08:00Re: Closure, now billions for the rebirth
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/For-Yudhoyono-opportunity-knocks-amid-the-ruins/2005/01/17/1105810846459.html
Sorry to labour this point, but the plot indeed appears to be thickening. I quite like the opening line of this report:
"Indonesia and the US, thrown together because of the Boxing Day tsunami, want to revive their military links and syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1105940195770770722005-01-16T21:34:00.000-08:002005-01-16T21:36:35.770-08:00Closure, now billions for the rebirth
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Closure-now-billions-for-the-rebirth/2005/01/16/1105810778521.html
The plot thickens re the international aid pledged for the reconstruction of Aceh. The indigenous population has been seeking independence for over two decades. A key factor in Indonesia not surrendering to this demand is the fact that Aceh sits on and syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1105759043543177552005-01-15T19:16:00.000-08:002005-01-14T19:24:33.260-08:00Record number in jail, Carr boasts
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Record-number-in-jail-Carr-boasts/2005/01/13/1105582657317.html
This article reminds me of one reason why the Labor party is potentially more dangerous than the Liberal-National Coalition. The only 'viable' Labor governments are right of centre. Yet Labor has a strong support base amongst centrists who are vaguely syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1105664355785390172005-01-14T11:50:00.000-08:002005-01-13T19:40:09.590-08:00The tsunami fetish
The global public response to the tsunami is quite incredible. I just received an e-mail about a local pub that's decided to donate all revenues raised this weekend 'to the tsunami appeal' (or, 'the cause formerly known as the starving children of Africa'). It's hard to precisely work out where all this energy is heading towards.
To be honest I have a little theory as to why syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1105234250066947042005-01-08T17:28:00.000-08:002005-01-08T17:30:50.066-08:00Joining the broadband bandwagon
Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to announce the following. I will have broadband internet within the next few weeks. This means I will (finally) be able to set up my own dedicated website. I hope to place musings, pictures, etc on it. How very exciting!
Stay tuned for more info.
syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1103763517517287862004-12-23T08:57:00.000-08:002004-12-22T17:01:34.933-08:00Selected quotes
"We are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield." – syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1103630033527226232004-12-22T08:45:00.000-08:002004-12-21T04:10:53.066-08:00Why do we do what we do?
(an excerpt from Mustafa Goldstein's secret guide to the public service)
I've become convinced that quite apart from urgent or immediate tasks, which are only a portion of our tasks, the remainder of our activities have no real intrinsic importance, either to the government we serve, or other parts of the community. No, their real purpose is to give people a 'ladder of syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1103628814474847062004-12-21T03:23:00.000-08:002004-12-21T04:05:19.926-08:00Current Top Ten Favourite Tracks
(ranked in descending order)
1. When the funk hits the fan (Plump DJs)
2. The scientist (Coldplay)
3. 7 Cities [Armin van Burren vocal mix] (Solar Stone)
4. As the rush comes [Armin van Buuren remix] (Motorcycle)
5. Flashdance [radio edit] (Deep Dish)
6. Call on me [radio edit] (Eric Prydz)
7. I am tha 1 (MrTimothy featuring Inaya Day)
8. Born too slow (The syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1103535169058409282004-12-20T20:30:00.000-08:002004-12-20T01:32:49.056-08:00I'm back!
Hello everybody. Yes it's me again. I'm back after a very long hiatus. Part of the reason for my long absence has been the fact that I haven't had a computer since November. Another reason is that wonderful mixture of work commitments and general laziness. Be that as it may, it's good to be back.
No doubt there is good reason to update you on what's been happening since my last syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1086423053748549302004-06-05T01:00:00.000-07:002004-06-05T01:10:53.746-07:00Moral Pygmies
I scope the landscape,
The view is clear.
For near my eyesight,
Nothing is near.
Their heads bump this way.
Their mouths are closed.
As some would say,
They are brown-nosed.
Nobody can see those,
Pygmies down there,
Whose moral outrage
Is seen nowhere.
But now I know,
What should be clear.
I cannot see them.
They cannot be seen.
Their heads all reach,
But below my knees.
The syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1084195677820787482004-05-10T06:27:00.000-07:002004-05-10T06:27:57.820-07:00Prisoners in the Pentagon.
All this shock and horror at the ghastly war crimes committed against Iraq prisoners (until yesterday the media described them as 'alleged crimes'. I don't even think the notorious Lebanese Muslim gang rapists of south-west Sydney were called 'alleged rapists' before they were convicted.). I heard a woman on 'Australia Talks Back' (funnily enough, a talk back radio syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1084011795889527812004-05-08T03:23:00.000-07:002004-05-08T03:26:30.686-07:00Grass is always brown in Canberra.
So I was offered this new job, in one of the international areas of work, so I told them I'd think about it over the weekend. I'm a bit shitty though, because it won't amount to any pay increase what so ever. The person whose job I am going to do earnt 3 times as much as I, so it's not like they don't have the funds. No. It's just your typical, garden-variety syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1083839978310351802004-05-06T03:39:00.000-07:002004-05-06T04:01:08.403-07:00As if there was no dusk
All grapes do wither,
Or so I hear.
No chance to speak,
Or so I fear.
But when we meet,
The memories drain.
Of thoughts and moments
Long since curbed.
Too much to bear.
Too little too late.
syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-108366220836109292004-05-04T02:16:00.000-07:002004-05-04T02:19:34.763-07:00DANCE PARTEE 29 MAY AT MY PLACE
For details, give me an e-mail at syed-m@excite.com
Several blogging personalities are expected to attend!syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1083661946862805492004-04-30T18:11:00.000-07:002004-05-04T02:15:13.326-07:00The weekend has landed
Before you know it the week is over.
Before i know it the week begins.
Saturday oh saturday,
The dance floor beckons.
Full of lights, sounds, actions.
So sad, it passes all too quick.
There simply is no time to think.
At least for me no monday meeting.
As they say, all glory's fleeting!
PS: my ass ain't at work on mondaysyed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1082857529389393212004-04-24T18:45:00.000-07:002004-04-24T18:48:30.716-07:00Anzac Day
Yesterday the Channel Ten anchorman reported from Gallipoli in Turkey, the scene of one of Australia's most tragic military campaigns. "This here is sacred Australian soil" he reported. I wondered whether the Japanese considerd Darwin sacred soil. What about Warsaw to the Germans? Would there be an outcry if the Japanese had a memorial service for their brave pilots who fought and diedsyed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1082544903426428012004-04-21T03:55:00.000-07:002004-04-21T03:59:23.436-07:00Sometimes you're humbled by insecurities, genius or even lust. Today it's because someone's being released whom I could never emmulate. Not because of his brilliance or anything like that, but because of his simple courage. I'm talking about Mordecai Vanunu, a rather brave dude who blew the whistle on Israel's nuclear arsenal. He's been languishing in prison for 18 years. 12 of those were in syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1082456299900186802004-04-20T03:18:00.000-07:002004-04-24T02:54:52.216-07:00Day 8 - 9/1/04
Interview with International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) legal officer Daoud Malik, ISLAMABAD.
ICRC began it's international humanitarian law 'sensitisation' process in 1999. It began by teaching courses in universities and other tertiary institutions. Since then it has been expanded to the armed forces (the current education officer is a former Australian Defence Force officersyed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1082286040381695182004-04-18T04:00:00.000-07:002004-04-18T04:15:17.140-07:00Last night I went to Canberra's sole gay club. It was packed, hot and pumping out the awesome tracks. Although I had the unsavory experience of being manhandled in the pelvis region on around 6 occasions, it was great to hang out with one of my oldest friends whom I haven't seen for an eternity. She's going down to Melbourne for the foreseeable future. Good luck sista!
Whilst bopping on the syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1081570107669459362004-04-10T20:56:00.000-07:002004-04-18T04:24:16.090-07:00You, me, us.
Read the newspaper headlines and it's instantly clear why there are problems in Iraq. Any coverage of a violent, military invasion that focuses on the dilemmas the invader is facing is bound to lead to difficulty in understanding why the situation in the occupied land is so bad. The coverage is replete with questions that, in any objective sense, would be considered beyond naive. syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1081565683080818962004-04-09T19:54:00.000-07:002004-04-09T20:54:29.936-07:00Wow how time flies. Already we're in the second week of April and I'm only now adjusting to life in 2004. Work has been a tad draining. Even though I haven't been round-the-clock busy, it's been exhausting. Otherwise I've been preparing myself for other pastures in the hope that they are greener (at least in patches). Ever more I am realising how difficult it is to pidgeon-hole myself. Sometimes syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1079607360522851962004-03-18T02:56:00.000-08:002004-03-18T03:10:28.623-08:00Freestyle poetry - 4 couplets in one minute...
Scrolling across the page
the windows and cabins
open and shut
like little pennies
freaking out
without a sound
making me tremble
but only for a moment.syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1079520878605071432004-03-17T02:54:00.000-08:002004-03-17T03:12:40.826-08:00A break from the past to update you on the present
Apologies for not having written for some time. I've been totally shagged out at work. And I've replaced my weekend rest with all-night clubbing excursions that have exhausted me even more. Emotionally, things aren't much better - I'm starting to get those old feelings again... yep, you guessed it, for Plan A (major groan). My resolve - to not syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1077617088792544002004-02-24T02:04:00.000-08:002004-02-24T02:06:49.763-08:00Day Six - 7/1/04
12:30pm
We've finally hit the road. Leaving the apartment took ages. I painfully started to remember how annoying family (ie: Faisa) could be. Sometimes (most of the time) she's like an annoying fly that tempts you to swat it - off the fifth storey balcony. Not as many beggars on the road as back in 1996 (just a couple of hijras [editor's note: hijras are eunuchs who dress in syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1077446415375327982004-02-22T02:40:00.000-08:002004-02-22T02:42:13.903-08:00Day Five - 6/1/04
Last night I finally reached Pakistan, and you could tell from the moment the plane touched down. In the airport there was a plethora of ubiquitous mustachioed gentlemen in military garb standing idly by every doorway. The immigration line was short but painstakingly slow. By the time it was my turn to be processed (and a digital photo of my face was to be taken by cameras syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1077104863210629012004-02-18T03:47:00.000-08:002004-02-21T17:30:10.513-08:00[Editor's note, below is a further excerpt from my trip to Pakistan in January this year.]
Day Four - 5/1/04
I'm currently sitting in CX701 in Bangkok Airport waiting for the plane to begin its journey to Karachi. The stop over in Hong Kong passed in a blur. For most of the time in Hong Kong I was tired and drunk-like, my feet were swollen from all the walking, and my wallet was that much syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1076411951914304502004-02-10T03:19:00.000-08:002004-02-10T03:23:30.560-08:00[Editor's note - here begin excerpts from the log I kept during my travels in East and South Asia]
Day One - 2/1/04
I've been on this plane for about 2 hours now, though it doesn't feel that long at all. Before I know it I'll be in Hong Kong, hanging out with Urban Nomad. New Year's went by with a blink of an eye and i guess so too will this trip. I'm hoping that it turns out to be something syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1075736272448957542004-02-02T07:37:00.000-08:002004-02-02T07:39:31.093-08:00Fighting the back-to-work blues
It appears thus far that my rather long break from work has not dulled my instinct to gorge my brain on anything but work. To be more specific, I have yet again begun pondering a career change, this time into something which I have greater inclinations towards. Today my closest work colleague (with whom I routinely discuss topics, like Israel/Palestine, that we syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1075561043719778002004-01-31T06:57:00.000-08:002004-02-02T07:29:49.263-08:00Home at last
Greetings readers. Yesterday afternoon I finally touched down back in Australia after 5 weeks and 4 days on the road (although 3 of those days included Sydney, I was a visitor on that occasion). I had been variously vomitting and exploding from the other end continuously for the past 10 days. But, almost magically, as soon as I touched down at Sydney Airport my ailments appear to syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1070064579666438062003-11-28T16:09:00.000-08:002003-11-28T16:10:13.763-08:00Current Top 10
This is my current posse of songs - wherever I am, and generally whatever mood I'm in, they tend to be hanging around in the background. Enjoy.
1. The Scientist COLDPLAY
2. Where is the love? BLACK EYED PEAS
3. I like love SOLITAIRE
4. We want your soul ADAM FREELAND
5. Move your feet JUNIOR SENIOR
6. Lucky Star BASEMENT JAXX
7. Sexual Healing MARVIN GAYE
8. Ode to my family THEsyed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1069062465761359582003-11-17T01:47:00.000-08:002003-11-17T01:48:07.796-08:00Dating sucks
I'm beginning to loathe the girl that I've liked for most of this year. And whilst my rational mind knows that this recent spate of anger is fueled by the frustration of constantly having to see someone, something, that is so close to me yet so remote, I cannot but feel, even rationally, that I have been wronged. Just to remind new and old readers alike, the girl that I've liked syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1067945209640243642003-11-11T03:16:00.000-08:002003-11-11T03:25:52.216-08:00The first one to settle down
Two Saturdays ago my brother took the first in a long progression of steps towards becoming a married man. While the closest western term to describe the celebration is probably 'engagement', the term doesn't quite do justice to the South Asian Muslim wedding tradition - after all, there are around 4-6 ceremonies to go through (and that's after our two families, the syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1066899584025750882003-10-23T01:59:00.000-07:002003-10-24T21:32:23.086-07:00A freedom of sorts
There are shades of democracy in countries like Australia, but there is something lacking. Today the leader of the free world (I'm sure Stalin was often described as the leader of the global people's revolution) got on top of our giant soap box to show he cared. There was no way a short speech could ever be particularly enlightening, no matter who was speaking, but the whole syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1066558996896728322003-10-19T03:23:00.000-07:002003-10-24T19:05:36.980-07:00The year is passing as I bide my time
Sometimes you knowing something without ever consciously acknowledging its existence. This morning, I finally realised that I have been guilty of biding my time. I've been biding my time hoping for some mythical, mystical carthasis to land on my head like a seagull poo, and it's time I realised the utter fantasy of such expectations.
Since January, I've syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1065174564626858842003-10-03T02:49:00.000-07:002003-10-03T03:05:16.936-07:00Mortal, oh so mortal
Forgive me father for I have sinned - I have not blogged in an eternity, and not for want of activity in my personal life. A great deal has happened since my last entry, and I am currently in two minds as to the appropriate manner in which to convey the story(ies). I suppose the easiest method is to simply roll with it, close my eyes (and yes type at the same time...) and syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1063107151364981922003-09-09T04:32:00.000-07:002003-09-09T05:30:32.926-07:00Mini skirts and international criminal law
The esteemed Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, ratified by Australia at the last minute last year, includes the following provision (perhaps one of the most oft breached provisions of international law, yes, even more than international copyright laws) at Article 7:
Crimes against humanity
1. For the purpose of this Statute, "syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1062762935613419092003-09-05T04:55:00.000-07:002003-09-09T05:41:30.996-07:00Taxi cab confessions
A couple of weeks ago, I had a whistle stop tour of Sydney. During that abridged visit, I was fortunate enough to run into three very interesting men, all taxi drivers. I began discussing the meaning of life with one of them for such a long time that I almost missed my flight back to Canberra. We sat at the departure stop-off parking lane for about 5 minutes (an obscenely syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1062500531506208552003-09-02T04:02:00.000-07:002003-09-09T05:35:14.703-07:00Finding the time
Ladeis and gentlemen (nb: deliberate misspelling), I have excellent news to report. On the 27 September, I shall finally be having a houseparty, only 3.5 months after moving into my new place.
I plan to get totally wasted, so your company at this joyous event would be greatly appreciated. For details, do not hesitate to contact my secretary on syed-m@excite.com or other syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1061631627197419042003-08-23T02:40:00.000-07:002003-08-27T04:42:13.200-07:00A kick in the bum...finally
Last Monday I got put into line by an office heavy, the second in charge in fact, for writing a substandard, and late, brief to be put before my boss. It was a reality check that, for a few hours on that day, made me wonder whether I still had a job. But beyond the momentary panic, it actually helped me realise, like many a battling rugby player, that I needed to liftsyed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1060937443293661102003-08-15T01:50:00.000-07:002003-08-15T01:55:07.440-07:00Gay disco top ten
Ever since I've been watching Queers as Folk, and had access to mp3 music, a little corner of my mind has been obsessed with gay disco. It's just so catchy and camp, it's fabulous!
Here's my top ten (in order):
1. Absolutely Not (Deborah Cox)
2. Young Hearts Run Free (Kym Mazelle)
3. Sexy Boy (Gay Disco mix) (The Kinky Boz)
4. Superstar (The Ones)
5. Wish I Didn't Miss You (syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1060867891029116532003-08-14T06:31:00.000-07:002003-08-27T04:34:32.003-07:00Tonight I spoke to two good old friends who I haven't heard from in some time. During one of the conversations, it occurred to me how sad it is that though I eagerly await, and thoroughly enjoy, conversations with good friends, the type of friend who requires no introductory lesson on my peculiar histrionics to be able to relax enough to have a genuine conversation with me, I rarely enjoy syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1060169073223298462003-08-06T04:24:00.000-07:002003-08-06T04:24:33.203-07:00Hello folks, hope the world is treating you kindly.
It has come to my attention that there was no comment box available on this blog. Fingers crossed there should be something available now, so get those fingers out of their gloves and get typing!syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648310.post-1060085410655421972003-08-05T05:10:00.000-07:002003-08-05T05:20:15.386-07:00In the 1930s, Langston Hughes wrote a poem; "Lenox Avenue Mural":
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Sadly, or thankfully, depending upon your standpoint, things syed-mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04288672570509487800noreply@blogger.com