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Will be applying for 3 days leaves for the next week so that I can stay in Karachi till 10th *prayers needed. Thanks :D.

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I hate dish washing, I hate dish washing, I hate dish washing and I repeat I hate dish washing!!!!!! it pains my arms and breaks my back :S and the thought of doing it again after sehri is driving me nuts. Seriously Salute to all Females.

Creative

Well this got him job at microsoft :P.

First Shot at Cooking and Vertigo Tour

Oh well tried my luck first time at actual cooking and guess what it turned out pretty well :D, ok ok credit must go to dad he was always there giving out tips and checking out water level :D. but am sure I will catch on it, taste turned out pretty well. It was some chicken salan recipe which my sister emailed couple of days back very simple and very basic stuff. Will definitely move on to more complex ones :P.

For U2 fans out there , here are the two reviews of two back to back Vertigo Tour Concerts attended by my cuzin few days back. Errrrrrr lucky guy, here we wish to attend one just once and he attended two woh bhee back to back :(. Have fun reading :),

19th October Vertigo Tour

and

20th October Vertigo Tour

Final Updates

Ok final updates I am back :), got here around 7:30 in the morning. Alhumdulillah he is here, looks in good shape mashAllah say now lets c how his trip goes.

Updates

ok updates are his flight is delayed by 3 hours :(, so as a consequence the driver I had arranged has backed off since he starts his work at 7 in morning. So now I am on my own and the plan is to goto Dubai by bus, reach airport and wait for him. Meanwhile will try to arrange something for the return journey , do have couple of ideas will see which are suitable. Ok guys me off , wish me luck adious.

Visit

Ok as I mentioned in one of my previous posts abbu is planning to visit me on his way back to Pak and I am trying to get him a visa. Finally yesterday I was able to get it, got it scanned and sent it to him. And today around midnight he will be landing at Dubai airport inshAllah. I already have arranged a car/driver and will goto pick him up, hopefully if everything goes according to schedule we should be back just before sehri time. He will be staying here till 30th so I guess I should be able to take him around couple of places. There are lots of touring spots in Al-Ain, which even I haven’t bothered to visit yet. Oh yea one more thing he is a far better in cooking than me so am hoping to get more tips ;).

Talking about food so here is one recipe from one of my posts in April , am sure most of you have read it before but I am just pasting it for one good reason :D. Enjoy!!

Easy TOBLERONE Chocolate Mousse
(I shall call it jugaroo :P recipe)

Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 11 min
Makes: 2 servings

8 triangles (about 2-1/2 oz.) TOBLERONE Swiss Milk Chocolate with Honey and Almond Nougat
1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

MICROWAVE chocolate in medium microwavable bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until melted. Cool 1 minute.

ADD whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended.

REFRIGERATE at least 5 minutes.

PS: This following quote was on this blog a while back, I think it is for me :D.

"It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do, that makes life blessed. "-- Goethe

Wicked

World's smallest car.

Success Finally :D

OK based on feedbacks I had from previous posts specially Tanzilla and Sam and the recipe below, decided to give a second try. Beginning with pre-heating oil I had no idea for how long I should heat it before putting fries in. I could see small bubbles coming up but waited, bubbles getting intensified but still waited. After I guess heating for more than 5 minutes (lol) decided to put fries in and woah woof in a minute all turned into charcoal hahaha. Figured the situation out, let the temperature of oil drop and went about heating it again. As soon as again bubbles started again, put the fries in and yaaaay finally they come out well :D. I guess I can get the hang of it now, thanks to everyone who helped and came up with your suggestions. Next stop Samosas.

Hira came up with one long comment explaining complete oil chemistry :D, thank you mam, it is one useful tip for future adventures too ;) and be ready more calls for help shall come. One question when I know oil is at proper temperature how can I maintain that temperature (A)? thanks.

PS: read an email about a persons journey to affected areas(it is on circulation am sure you guys will get it soon), that email has made me really confused. Not sure who to trust who to not.

Some Tips

Ok found this on net and along with comments in previous post I think I can get there.

1) Heat oil to 325*F (160*C) in deep fryer.

2)Dip frying basket in oil (this prevents the potatoes from sticking to it), then add a handful of potatoes into basket. Lower into oil and par-fry for 3 minutes or until potatoes are tender, but not browned. Lift basket and allow potatoes to drain. Turn out onto a brown paper bag lined with paper towels. Repeat procedure with remaining potatoes.

3)Increase the temperature of the heated oil to 375*F (190*C).

4) Return the par-fried potatoes to the oil in batches and cook a second time for 4 minutes until golden and crispy. Drain on a fresh brown paper bag lined with paper towels. Salt to taste and serve hot.

but still no mention of oil quantity , I think I made the mistake of not pre-heating oil will correct that next time. But how in the world I would know oil temperature has now reached upto160C , thermometer maybe hehe. its all about intuition I tell you, all intuition.

Kapoot

try eating your own fried oil drenched fries, I tell you what it aint easy :P. I have realized I have no sense of oil to wok size ratio and oil to quantity of stuff to be fried ratio, am I making sense? :S

Not Good

This is not a good report at all. May Allah have mercy.

Choppers resum Aid

So after two days of break and with one chopper down, relief flights to the zone have resumed. This is indeed a great news and one must give credit to the army for carrying out a hell of a job. We all know how severe the situation is and how large its magnitude is. Task is no easy and we all need to stay firm.

There is no end to stories either, heard last night of 4 brothers and sisters been rescued. Then later at night heard of this security guard at carrfour Al-Ain losing his brother, father, mother and newly wed wife. He was sent immediately for atleast 6 months break. God only knows how will he restart this life and I have no idea how many more similar stories exist but am sure there is no shortage of them. May Allah help them all and help us too.

I have been trying to discover some alternate means to communicate from the areas which have been cut off and where only satellite phones would work. Came across another concept and have exchanged email correspondence with the people running that system. They have been amazingly helpful and have provided me most of the guidelines to setup this system. The system is basically based on amateur radio network and uses radio waves to send out text messages and it can be used in snowy conditions. They have been using it for emergency relief efforts too. Although initial cost is bit high but there is hardly any running cost involved. So if you guys know of any agency who is looking for setting up communication between its rescue teams and base camps, do let me know I shall forward to them all the material and email addresses.

On the domestic front , started a bit late(infact too late) but now trying to get a seat for a short Eid visit back home lets hope I get it. Plus Abbu(after 22 years serving) has finally decided to move back to Pakistan and on his way back he plans to visit me so I am trying to get visa for him, hoping that I get it on time. And yea one more thing got all the required home appliances infact got them last week just when the tragedy hit. Oven will be here today so that will wrap up the settling phase and now its time to cook.

PS: Wolrd XI have been thrashed once again by Australia in the one of test in just 4 days and ICC decides not to try this experiment for next four years (Thank God). On Soccer side World cup Qualifiers are almost over with few notable teams from Africa missing out and few good teams for Europe will have to play playoffs and yea the best news Greece couldnot make it. And also Alonso helps Renault win the constructors championship by winning the Shanghai GrandPrix.

Relief Work and Fund raising in Al-Ain

Seems like aid is coming in from everywhere and in a great quantity, the response of the people from all over the world has been just amazing. Even here the Arab professors in UAE University have been contributing funds a local Faculty staff told me that when I showed her the pamphlet which I wanted to stick on notice boards across the Uni. This Indian peon who works in my faculty took all the pamphlets from me and went on to stick them in every building of the University campus.I am thinking of distributing these pamphlets to the cab drivers who happen to be all Pathans and would ask them to distribute them among their clients. Although they have been very active on their own, thanks to the TV Khyber, in visting banks and depositing sums. These cab drivers dont make much of the money but it is a great gesture from their side.

Atleast one end of the pipeline is working fine that is the input end, but now the major problem which is coming up is actually in getting the goods distributed to the effected areas. So far it seems its quite chaotic as some areas end up getting more aid and some aren’t getting any, this also might be the result of road damage and weather. Also there are news of looting from the people whose areas haven’t even been effected(now how barbaric is that). Plus once the trucks and vans get there eventually it seems quite chaotic when they start distributing among people, again a very natural scenario would you expect from people starving and without shelter since days to actually stand in queue like pure gentlemen? hell we don’t do that even in our normal daily lives. But all of this is not making the relief effort any effective. I read on Karachi Metblog that a joint action committee has been setup within different NGOs, which I think is a great idea. I believe those who haven’t joined yet, should also join this alliance. Plus I would seriously advice to people who are planning to go to those areas for volunteer work is to get registered with some NGO, because unless there is someone to guide you out there it will be very difficult for you to be of any help and you might just end up becoming a burden. I have heard Doctors are needed so you guys better go.

As far as Security is concerned I believe rangers and army should send out more personals, there is so much need of scouts right now(School authorities, pay attention just creating hard working and high grade achievers doesn’t always help). For distribution and traffic management I would suggest setting up base camps in Islamabad and Abottabad and secondary camps in other affected areas. Routing the traffic from base camps would might just be effective. Plus traffic jams are creating issues from ambulances to carry out wounded ones from out of the cities, this should be sorted out on urgent basis too I believe choppers should be employed for transporting wounded ones.

Finally check out this link, I guess we better prepare for the future.

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So much of devastation, so many stories. The pain seems like never ending. I have been glued to TV, switching channels trying to look for live pictures and latest updates. Don’t feel like going anywhere or do anything. So much wish to be in Pakistan right now and help my fellow countrymen. There is a huge relief campaign going on Karachi , they talk about worth 40 C-130 of load being collected and that is some quantity. I would have loved to be part of it.

Pakistani school in Al-Ain is also collecting supplies, it is located in Manaseer on schools street near Pakistani social center. Its number is 971-03-7677878. They are open till midnight, will be visiting that school too. Talked to ARY and hopefully they would have run the address too and I guess they will collect the items too.

There have been some good news of children been rescued, I wonder if more would have been saved if effort had started earlier, but this is no time to criticize or for ifs and buts it is to time to work for a single cause. Goodluck to you all.

PS do keep checking Karachi Metblog for updates, they are doing one hell of a job in keeping us updated regarding relief work. God bless them.

it is getting worst

Ok things are getting worst now hour by hour , as reports of heavy causalities from Kashmir and northern areas are pouring in and death toll is rising quite rapidly. Keep praying and please Do pray for maghfira of those who have lost their lives. Also do pray for the recovery of those who are injured. And also do pray for safety of those who are still trapped and do pray for those who lost loved ones and their valuable assets.

If you guys can donate please do so, there are many fund raising camps already operational. Goodluck

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Hundreds killed in Kashmir quake . Its a pretty bad scene out there, specially those northern areas have been hit pretty bad where they have very limited infrastructure. Casualties will easily cross thousands, because of aid not reaching there on time. No one knows how many villages have been wiped out and how many wounded are there. May Allah save those who are trapped and injured and safe us all from such disasters Ameen.

Furniture Allowance, Career Blues and Super Series

Ok I guess I will make this short and quick, because I missed my sehri today and I have a sever headache. First of all Ramzan Mubarak to everyone , may this month bring happiness and success to our lives and strengthen our faith. One good news, I have finally do have my relocation bonus that means now I can get all those home appliances which I needed so badly, yaaaaay :D. list goes like TV, DVD player, Microwave, Fridge, Stove, vacuum cleaner and a mixer(so that I can start with my shakes too) and yea not to forget iron bed and one iron, inshAllah. Phew! Surely a long list but am sure Carrefour will be able to fulfill my needs with grace, dignity and honor :D.

Ramzan hasn’t started yet in Pakistan, which is kinda weird since we have already started two days back. Normally there is a difference of one day but two :O, now if I go to Pakistan on Eid I will be most probably heading back on day 2, errrr this is no good :(. I am missing home iftari :(, it was first yesterday and I am already missing it. Plus having minor attacks of homesickness, probably because not of ramzan but maybe because I am feeling kind of insecure about my professional career. Normally when I feel insecure I miss home and its no different now. And the reason being I still cannot formulate a professional path from myself, maybe because so far I am not able to do the kind of work I always wanted too and I am just flirting around here and there. The major reason I joined this place was, here I will have enough time to do something about my career, make a plan and work on it. So far I haven’t started thinking on that much but soon I will have too. GRE is one thing which I really I want to take, I want to give myself an option(I know quite a few will not agree with my idea) but I always felt that after doing MS I might have a chance to get into the kind of work I always wanted, missed that after my Bachelors or should I say never could take those opportunities which were presented, MS might give me another chance. Second idea is to add to my skills set by hobby work, but that will take a lot of determination and motivation and at times I lack that will power to end. I think I will go for both and will balance between them. Most probably will take GRE in early Jan that gives me more than enough time to practice but I will miss most of the deadlines to apply for admissions. Anyways time will tell how much determined I was, fate is my hand it is I who need to make it happen. Today the Weekend starts so I will see you guys on Saturday inshAllah.

PS: There is this Super Series going on between Australia and World Best XI(ofcourse cricker) and Damn I will miss all of those matches :(. Today is the first match and World XI are getting their asses kicked big time by the Aussies but am sure they will bounce back in next matches.

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Two Posts in an hour is not a good sign at all!!! Oh well just wanted to keep this post seperate from the previous one, thats all. I had the pdf version of this book since years but could never got myself reading it and last month bought this paperback edition and since then whenever I get a "free time" that means away from work and my PC(yes PC has ruined my reading habits), I have been reading this and finally after 15 days was able to finish it yaaaaaaaaaaaay for me :D. One hell of a book especially for those who live science fiction, a very complete book. Was a lot of fun to read , at times it wont make any sense but that was also very perfectly balanced. Now I shall move to The Da vinci Code and hopefully will end it soon too, though it doesnt seem likely with ramzan almost here.

Gitex , Shoper and Rest.

ok so on Wednesyday I went for the much-hyped Gitex show. And it was one hell of an issue getting to the halls first through crazy traffic and then get a parking , we managed to get one right at the end after looking for one for like 10 minutes. Anyhow got there, registered and entered. That place was like filled with humans as if everyone who knows I and T of IT in literal way was there. I headed straight into software hall and next of my four hours were spent in there, looking around talking to different exhibitors, trying to act as if I am a potential buyer :P(they must have caught me am sure). Trying to understand what kind of software tools are used in this part of the earth. Few Pakistani companies had their stalls but it seemed the major players kept themselves away, except for Kalsoft which was there as microsoft gold partner. There was no shortage of booth babes(no pictures taken, for the disappointment of male visitors) one Gadget magazine had 4-5 labenese girls dressed in weird outfits and occasinally dancing with music. Microsoft wasnt short of any, either, though they had very useful seminars going too. anyhow after wandering for couple of hours I developed a sever headache and had to take on a tablet, reason must be just going around in circles and trying to discover what is my purpose coming here and how should I achieve it(I think I was thinking too much). oh well contacts-network building is not something I am good at so I guess mission failed.

From Gitex we moved to Shoper where all the electronics stuff(read laptops) were on sale on reasonable good price. Again no short of female sales force I guess thats how the sales work. Rehan my friend had to buy a laptop so he got busy looking for a suitable model and I was just checking out prices. But the most disappointing fact was non of the useful gadgets were there plus the biggest for me was PSP games were even more costlier :'(, this is so bad I cant think of buying any new titles for time being. errr so so mad I am. Found a nice desktop PC for 2000 dhs but my friends talked me out of it, their point was when I do have a laptop at my disposal why go for another PC. point good but but first of all this notebook has very less space left in it, its CD-Rom isnt working properly and the best part of having a desktop is you can customize it as anyway you like(anyone agrees?). I think for gamers a desktop PC is must so I guess I will go for it later. Got home at 10 that night and slept.

Next day was thursday and I had to attend this welcome party arranged by the Pakistani community in the university. It was good to meet quite a few people but almost of them were in mid 40s or late 40s. Discovered that a professor of mine who left GIK while teaching us the course has joined this month too. Yup Ather its Amir Asif , Logic Design teacher. Introduced myself to him but he seemed a bit reluctant and ofcourse there was no way he could have recognized me. and even later on he kept a distance :P. After Dinner I had plans to goto Dubai to meet my ex-colleague Irfan(Omair aka OM knows all about him). But then decided to go there Friday morning and instead went to watch a movie and that was the biggest mistake I made. I wasted 30 dhs on the most stupid movie one could ever see, it has left Indian movies far behind in its action thrills, errrrrrrrrrrrrrr. and there is no mention of it in Yahoo movies aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I showed have checked that out first. Oh well on friday morning then left to meet iffi , came back at night and from today resumed office again. sheeesh I have a headache again I dont think I am quite adjusted to this LCD display yet.

PS: I havenot checked any errors for spelling. not in mood.