Lost 3

Hey friends,

I just finished watching the finale episode of Lost 3, and I cannot tell you how overwhelmed I am with the entire season. While Season 3 started off slow, it progressed to captivate and enthrall me. I was spell-bound and taken into the mysteries of the island on which the Lost-ies were stranded. Back story was revealed as to how the Others came to this island.

As some of the previous questions were answered, they only brought in newer questions: who is Jacob? What is that black smoke? Are they really dead or alive? What is the Magic Box? I have countless other questions in my mind, but then that's the best part about Lost: it's interactive. No other tv show is like Lost, which has mysteries, romance, action, humor, drama and what not!

I wish I could divulge the entire season 3 here on the blog, but then that would do injustice to those who have not seen the show.

One of my favorite scene was between Jack and Kate, when he finally says to her what we all have been waiting for him to say all through season 1 and 2, but alas, it's too late! Also, I will say that the final episode of Season 3 is probably one of the best tv episode I have seen of any show. I literally had goosebumps as one of the main characters dies on screen. I was overjoyed towards the end for other reasons. I was mad at the Others, yet was still sympathising with them. And THAT ending between Jack and Kate...just bowled me over and literally made me scream out in frustration/ anger/ joy/ excitement as season 3 finished on such a mad, wicked, intelligent, couldn't-see-it-coming TWIST!!!

Bring on Season 4!!!! :-) I swear, I need to buy the box sets for all seasons and have it in my DVD library!

Mansur

The Kite Runner Movie....

Hello friends,

Khalid Hosseini's The Kite Runner is one of my favorite novels, and I am still waiting to read Hosseini's follow up novel as soon as I get done with all my other pending novels. I am super duper excited about the movie release for The Kite Runner. Viewers in the States are lucky enough to grab a screening of this movie. I am anxious to see it too, but this is one of those situation where I wonder whether the movie will live up to the expectations of the book, or will it ruin the picture I have built up in my mind? I am not even sure whether I should be watching the movie. Like The Lord of the Rings did justice to the novels, but Harry Potter didn't do justice as certain elements from the book were left out. I wonder how faithful the book to screen translation for The Kite Runner will be. It's good to know the author of the book also wrote the screenplay so hopefully it will be a faithful transformation of the book to the celluloid screen.

I wonder how many people have seen it, and what they thought about it?

Mansur

Bowling in Lahore!

Hello,

So I went bowling with my friend/buddy/pal/friend-in-need/support Maria and my two cousins, Shey and Momina. Now, I am so used to bowling in Saudi and Dubai, that bowling in Lahore was a completely different ball game for me. No doubt, the alleys are very professional and the balls and pins are solid. The set up was exactly like it is in Dubai and Saudi. However, the experience of playing the game is radically different!

For one, there were not enough shoes to cater for everyone playing. They didn't even have my size 11 shoes! The management didn't really enforce any rules that all bowlers have to wear shoes, so I was gasping in shock to see men, women and children playing in their regular shoes, barefoot, in socks and slippers. I mean, come on, how much more unprofessional can one get?

Secondly, there were not enough balls to go around. So people were literally swiping my ball and running off with them. Several times I managed to stop people slyly sneaking off with my ball, but then after a while I gave up. Everyone's balls were everyone else's balls!

Thirdly, some people just don't know how to play! They would literally throw the ball, and when they do that, the whole room would shudder with a loud BANG and we all felt the KABOOM noise made when the ball hits the alley! Other people go way beyond the foul line. Many people would slip and fall. Little children would walk onto the alley, up to about half way and then throw the ball. Others would throw the ball even before the machine finished setting up the pins.

Despite all this, I had a blast bowling! :-) The company was great. We laughed endlessly. And my two small cousins were serious competition for me (they played a lot of bowling in Canada you see!)

Mansur

Lahore is better then Karachi! Bus!

Hello people,

One of the classic battle in Pakistan is whether Lahore or Karachi is better? Lahore is the cultural capital of Pakistan and Karachi is the industrial capital of Pakistan. A recent survey showed Lahore is ranked higher than Karachi. Yes! As a Lahori, I am so happy! :-) Lahore, despite all it's faults, is so the best!



Mansur
PS Of course I am biased in my view, but it's great to see an official survey being done to support my love for Lahore!

Apple!

Hello friends,

Ever since I was introduced to Apple Powerbooks back in 2000, I have been an ardent follower of all things MAC. No one would appreciate Apple when I ranted and raved about how cool it is. People only started noticing Mac when the iPods came out. Now people are again talking about Apple with the newly launched iPhone. Early reviews are not that positive but I am sure Apple will improve it's line of products.

What I am most interested is in the iPod touch and the MacBook Pro. I hope Dubai gets the iPod touch soon in November when I am there. So for now, you can check out the awesome Apple, and stare at these two wonderful gadgets of which I want to get asap!

(iPod touch!)

(MacBook Pro!)

Have a good one!

Mansur

Happy Ramadan!

Hello people,

Happy Ramadan to you! Ramadan Kareem! Ramadan Mabrook! Ramadan _______ (insert whatever greeting is said in your country- lol!)

So another month of Ramadan has descended upon us. Here is a list of classic moments in month of Ramadan!

1. Excessive eating at Suhoor (the meal before start of fast) to last me the entire day. (Attending suhoor parties too!)
2. Laziness at work among employees.
3. Less productivity at work.
4. Moaning and groaning of how difficult day is when fasting.
5. Tempers flaring everywhere as people become more agitated and irritated not having their daily cup of tea!
6. Risking your life in the traffic jam just before Iftar (breaking of fast!) and being exposed to the worst of human behaviour as road rage and cursing and swearing over takes the virtue of patience and decency!
7. Excessive eating at iftaar. (Attending elaborate iftar parties too!)
8. Excessive eating at dinner (different from iftar!) and attending fancy dinner parties too.
9. Standing for hours for the evening prayers (good sometimes because it helps me clear my thoughts and think about life and make plans!)
10. Collecting money from elders for fasting diligently.
11. People making promises to be more pious when Ramadan ends, only for them to return to their old ways within mere days!
12. Finally, the classic: At the end of the month of fasting, people scratch their heads and wonder how they gained so much weight when they had been fasting the entire month! lol!

Mansur

Peeru's Cafe: Jazz night!

Hello people,

About two weeks ago I organized a dinner at Peeru's Cafe, which is situated about an hour outside of my hometown Lahore. Peeru's Cafe is owned by the Peer family, who pioneered the puppetry festival in Pakistan and even contructed the first Puppet Museum in Lahore. They also organize festivals in Lahore, which included Turkish and European performers (I missed the whirling dervishes last year!). It is in the same rein in which Peeru's Cafe was created: a cafe with an artistic flair. Saturday night is always Jazz Night, and jazz music isn't very popular on the cultural scene here, and so Peeru's cafe is really the only place which has live jazz music.

Driving for an hour in two cars, all of us were quite excited, for no one has heard of jazz music in Lahore, so it was a first for all. Situated in an housing estate, the jazz music could be heard from as far as the parking lot. Ah! I can make out the saxophone and the drums. Walking into the complex, we passed by the musicians who were playing in the open air auditorium. Because the weather was hot, we opted to sit inside.

The cafe is planned out on three split levels, and we were on the middle level. The walls were adorned with puppet masks, and lots of paintings covered the rest of the area. With dim lighting, and candles lighting up our tables, and the jazz music coming from outside, the atmosphere was definitely cozy and home-ly. For a while I didn't even feel like I was in Lahore, but in some cafe in Venice.

I ordered the Arabic mezze- again something new for Lahore- which ended up being totally awesome (although not as good as the authentic thing in Saudi!). Some ordered steaks, other ordered chicken. I ordered Turkish kebabs with cheese bread. So totally awesome. More than the food it was the conversation around the table that made it a fun and exciting time for all of us. We sat for almost 2 extra hours after we had finished our meals.

I would highly recommend going to this cafe. Saturday night is Jazz night, and Tuesday night is Sufi night, which I plan on attending soon.

Mansur

Scam Email!

Hello friends,

I received this really weird email in my inbox. I wasn't reading it initially but the subject header grabbed my attention. I am surprised by the audacity of this gentleman to use Islam for his own perverted ideas. Check out the so many spelling and grammatical errors. A warning to others who may receive this scam email. I deleted his email! How much more desperate can you get!?

Mansur
--------------------------------------------------------------------

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL

Brother Mansour,

All Praise is due to Almighty Allah, the Lord of incomparable Majesty, I bear witness that is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad [SAW], is His Servant and Messenger. I bear witness that my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, my dying belong to Almighty Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

ASALAM ALAYKUM WARAMOTULLAH WABARAKATU.

May Almighty Allah, accept all our good deeds. With Tears, Deep Sorrowful Heart and severe frustrations but with all Hope I am sending this mail to you but I am extremely confused and perplexed. It is true you do not know me I have sent this mail with the Spirit of Islam, I believed as Muslim you will be able to help me that is why I have contacted you, the situation has gotten to Nadir.

My name is Qaasm, I am a Nigerian, I was born a Muslim but has been living an Evil and Sins life, I am a notorious Sinner. I want to repent to Almighty Allah and start anew life but I am having some obstacles which is hindering me that is why I have called for your EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

This life is full misery and there is no way we can live there without God, so we must ask for forgiveness. Every seocnd counts, we are getting nearer to the Grave, how do we meet our lord with Sins. That is why we must live and die as a Muslim.If not Suicide is a grevious sin, I would rather die than to be living in Sins.

If you would love to win a Soul for Almighty Allah, I really need a new life as new Muslim that is why I have called for your EXTREMELY EMERGENCY CALL, TO SAVE A SOUL.
dashed with Clean heart and good works, I am tired of sins, life, I need your emergency rescue, PLEASE, SAVE MY SOUL!

We are in the month of Shaaban, i want to meet Ramadan with Clean heart and good works, I am tired of sins, life, I need your emergency rescue, PLEASE, SAVE MY SOUL!

I want to turn to Almighty Allah, something is really hindering me, PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! SAVE MY SOUL FROM HELL, I NEED YOUR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

I am tired of this life of Sins, i need a new life as Muslim, I NEED YOUR EMERGENCY RECSUE, SAVE MY SOUL, FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH.

IF you really wish to save me from this life of Sins, reply me on this Email address:

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! FOR THE SAKE OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH, SAVE MY SOUL!

I want to repent to Allah, SAVE MY SOUL! BUT

Yours in Islam,
Muhammad Qaasm Olaide