must-have tools to organize your research (for grad students)
Look at the desk of any research student and then take a peek at his desktop (something like this) and then do the same for couple other researchers. Very soon a pattern emerges. The pattern is chaotic. There will almost always be a folder named Unsorted filled with research papers which were supposed to be be nicely organised according to subject in different folders. And those folders are also there, only with one or two documents. You can’t blame the student for that (oh, you can!) because once you start searching for research papers,...
read morePakistan’s World Cup XI: Selection Dilemma?
The World Cup is finally here and believe it or not, Pakistan is looking in a pretty good shape to reach the semis, at least. Surely, we can go on to win it too (yes, we can!) but even if we don’t chances of getting trashed in the first round are minimal thanks to the wonderful format of the tournament. Top 8 teams are likely to reach the QF stage and from there on we need to win three games, only. From the recent performances in New Zealand it may look like there will not be any selection surprises in terms of the eleven who take the...
read moreI Quit
After fiddling with the mouse for good twenty minutes, moving the composed e-mail away from my sight a few times, I finally mustered the courage to hit the Send button. And walked away to catch some fresh air. It felt like a huge load was suddenly off my head. Coming back to my desk, I got the acknowledgement e-mail confirming the receipt of my notice of resignation. It’s over. I’ve resigned. Although I will still be working at Imagination Technologies for the next two months (i.e. during the notice period), but mentally, I guess...
read moreLoving the Divine
The first condition of loving the Divine is to turn away from worldly concerns, but man is so chained and attached to earthly things that unless he received a telling blow to the heart he cannot break this link. When a bee alights on honey, it will only depart if it is shooed away. The human heart does not turn away from the pleasures of the world unless it is hurt. Only Love can deliver this incisive blow. Those who have not experienced the peace-destroying blow of earthly love are the most unfortunate, since their hearts remain numb and...
read morejust like the school days
Time changes, but we don’t. Not me, at least. I wasn’t able to concentrate much at work on Friday and therefore failed to meet a self-imposed deadline, something that I use religiously to push myself to work. I decided to make up for it by doing the remaining bits at home during the weekend and it sounded like a good idea. Working for a couple of hours near sehri time, and the job would be done. Of course this wasn’t on Friday’s agenda because there were two days off ahead to wrap this up. On Saturday, I slept the whole...
read moreRamadan…so far
While Ramadan this year promises to be an entirely unique experience, it hasn’t been an easy sailing so far. And its just the 4th day! Why unique? Because this is my first Ramadan away from all sorts of home. Last year was with relatives so that’s like home away from home. This is also my first Ramadan working full-time, that too without the luxury of trimmed down office hours that you get back home. The first day went very nicely. Apart from the urge to eat during the lunch time and the caffeine cravings, everything was smooth....
read moreMoon Sighting Conflicts (UK)
Coming from Pakistan, moon sighting conflicts for the start of Ramadan is something I am very familiar with. However, the conflict there occurs invariably when a certain part of KP province (formerly NWFP) sights the moon and announce the start of Ramadan while the majority of the country awaits for government announcement. In any case, there is no dispute officially and especially no dispute at all within my home city for that matter. Therefore, having two mosques within a 3 mile radius of each other and announcing different start dates of...
read moreFajr Timing Confusion in West
Last year during my first Ramadan in UK, I did not find it surprising at all that there was a dispute over the sighting of moon. That seems to happen just everywhere. What was surprising though was the vast differences in the ending time of Suhoor/Sehri and the Fajr prayer timing. I did not notice this before Ramadan, because there is no strict cutoff under normal circumstances. The differences I’m talking about is not small minutes, but it turns out to be between 50-60 minutes! I didn’t really bother last year and just went with...
read moreConfusion. Problem.
Sometimes when things seem to be right yet a feeling of confusion and restlessness continues to linger over. More often than not, there exists a problem. Usually a simple problem, which is not perceivable. But there is a problem. You just cannot pinpoint it, despite it staring right in to your eyes. When you sleep, you dream of it but when you wake up, you cannot remember it. Still, it’s there, rooted deep inside you. Maybe its just you.
read morea landmark day
After having “clean (and vacuum) the apartment” for well over a month on my todo list, I am proudly striking it out today. Running perilously short on food supplies for 10 days…I finally stocked up for atleast a month today. My refrigerator was empty except for a bottle of milk (and two eggs, which will possibly remain there for another month or two) My bath’s shower head was broken 3 weeks ago. I unscrewed it, kept it aside and was using the water directly from the pipe without shower head for bath. Not fun, I know....
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