Walk Down Memory Lane

2007-02-10T15:35:00.000+05:00

NEW HOME

Sorry everybody for the long hiatus. Exams which seemed to go on forever ended day before yesterday. They went horrible, especially the ENT clinicals, where I actually examined the right ear of the patient instead of the left, and took me ages to focus the light. I guess, now I'm hoping for a miracle, though it might be hoping against hope.

This is the last post I'm making on this blogger page. From today I'm moving to http://pakonlineworld.bravejournal.com . Kindly everybody change your bookmarks.

2007-01-13T17:09:00.000+05:00

DOTS

Love dots....if it were upto me..I'd use these little beauties everywhere......!!!!!!

2007-01-07T00:49:00.000+05:00

THE ONE ORDINARY.......

Sometimes when I look back on my life, I'm suprised at where I am. I realize that despite being unbelieveably ordinary in everything I can think of I've been blessed by Allah in living an extraordinary life......and I guess that is what makes me special.....the ONE ORDINARY in the GALAXY of STARS....the one who claps happily at the success of the gladiators..the warriors....the heavy-weights.....the one who thinks life will be worthwhile if he can just motivate a few people to realize their true potential.

2007-01-04T23:52:00.000+05:00

" BACHPAN "

Mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi jo bhi Ammi kahti thi

Jab mere bachpan k din thay chaand mein pariyaan rahti thi

Ek yeh din jab apnoon ne bhi humse naatha thod liya

Ek wo din jab ped ki shaakhein bhoj humara sahti thi

Ek yeh din jab sari sadkein sooni sooni lagti hain

Ek wo din jab aao khelein saari galiyaan kahti thi

Ek yeh din jab jaagi raatein deewaaroon ko thakti hain

Ek wo din jab shaamoon ki bhi palkein bojhal rahti thi

Ek yeh din jab laakhoon gham aur khaal para hai aansuu ka

Ek wo din jab ek zara si baat pe nadiyaan bahti thi

(Source:-Unkown)

2006-12-31T13:02:00.000+05:00

EID MUBARAK

Eid Mubarak and Happy New Year to everybody :) Hope next year brings us joy and pleasant suprises, InshaAllah. And I pray that there is peace in the world. No more killings, bombings, wars and hangings. Let us live and die as good Muslims and human beings. Ameen.

2006-12-25T01:23:00.000+05:00

~Heisenberg's principle of Uncertainty~

Today I got an SMS around 3 pm regarding the most bizarre demise of our Forensic Medicine Teacher. He taught us last year when we were third year medical students. Perhaps the death wasn't as bizarre as the fact that he committed suicide. Maybe even that wasn't as bizarre as the fact that he was Dr.Tariq ,one of the most loveable teachers you could get to know. I thought of it as some utterly insane rumour, until I got it confirmed from a few other sources, and the final nail in the coffin was when I read the news on the front-page of local newspapers.

How could someone so benign commit suicide? Apparently, he had some dispute with the property dealer of his area over some land. He went into the property dealer's office and waited over two hours to meet the man in private. He then walked in, and killed the property dealer and shot another guy sitting there, before using the gun on himself.

The newspaper stated that Dr.Tariq was severely depressed and was also undergoing treatment at the local Psychiatric Department.

It is utterly sad to see someone who was so vocal about the inadequacy of the autopsy methods in Pakistan, being subjected to the same protocol in DHQ. I am still in shock over the incident. I pray that Allah forgives him and gives him place in Heaven. Though, suicide in Islam is perhaps one of the worst and most punishable offense. And I remember him in class telling us how low suicide was. How could someone change from such a gentle human being to a murderer? Perhaps, this is one of the few uncertainties of life. I pray that we all live and die as good Muslims. I hope we don't ever have to go through the agony of suicide.

As for Dr.Tariq, I pray for your soul to rest in peace. You were one of the few inspirations in my life as a medical student. I just wish that things would have happened differently. May Allah Bless You and forgive your shortcomings.Ameen. We still love you.

2006-12-18T00:53:00.000+05:00

~DeJaVu~

Like every year, it has come again, ready to torment us. The 4th year Proffessional Exam starts in a little over 24 hours. Need loads of prayers!!! As they say in med school, expect the unexpected. Let's see what shit UHS has in store for us!!!!! The fight begins....hoping I don't get knocked out.

2006-12-13T03:16:00.000+05:00

~Old Days~

I miss blogging like I did a while ago, when I could actually access my dashboard and get comments that is :( . Ever since I converted to the beta blogger, I can't get comments from people in Pakistan and can't access the dashboard even through a proxybuster. So, I would strongly discourage people in Pakistan to switch to beta-blogger.

2006-12-10T01:07:00.000+05:00

Ramblings

So bored.....nothing to do....noone online......the same freaking problem..whenever I feel like talking, noones there...and whenever I'm ultra-preoccupied, there are a zillion people online.

Sorry, I can't access my blog through blogger beta, apparently because of the blanket ban on it by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. So I'm blogging indirectly through Google Spreadsheet. That is why I can't put a title to my posts. Therefore apologies in advance.

2006-12-09T03:47:00.000+05:00

*tagged by rooj!

i am thinking about:

how cold my feet are!!!

i said:

what does it matter?

i want to:

feel eternal peace.

i wish:

i could the courage and wisdom to inspire

i miss:

The Nile......Egypt.

i hear:

constant voices in my head.

i wonder:

how insignificant and helpless we human beings are.....

i regret:

not being able to tell everyone that means the world to me, how much I appreciate their presence

i am:

in search of character

i dance:

never

i sing:

prefer listening :)

i cry:

in my heart all the time

i am not always:

online :P

i write:

to get across my ideas.....have always been bad at talking

i confuse:

enemies for friends

i need:

to turn on the damn heater before I freeze to death.

i should try:

to think less

i finish:

things that I develop passions for

I tag people who're still visiting this blog :)

2006-12-09T02:55:00.000+05:00

As the exams get closer, life gets more monotonous. There is nothing to do besides study, sleep, eat and get these stupid tension pangs, when you feel you don't know anything. And the things that you studied just don't seem to stick into that STUPID brainy box.

But I sometimes enjoy this monotonous lifestyle, especially the fact that I don't have to goto college. For now I am so sick of med school that I can barely drag myself there. Not meaning to sound disgraceful and all, but I can't help it. I need a break from seeing the same faces over and over everyday, making small talk, and seeing those hollow expressions in their eyes. Funny how we've sat together for the last four years, yet developed very little friendships. So these exam breaks are a welcome respite from the facade of med school.

2006-12-06T22:55:00.000+05:00

Here is something Yasir my friend posted on orkut.......

*********************************

Here’s to the Crazy ones.

The Misfits.

The Rebels.

The Troublemakers.

The Round pegs in the Square holes.

The ones who see things Differently.
They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,
disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They Invent.
They Imagine.
They Heal.
They Explore.
They Create.
They Inspire.
They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be Crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

While some see them as the crazy ones,we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world, are the ones who do.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
[an excerpt from an astrophysics book i read a while ago; may be it was one of Carl Sagan's works or somethin but im not sure]

2006-12-04T21:34:00.000+05:00

http://positivepause.com/

see it...itz nice

I'll be back!!!

2006-12-02T23:56:00.000+05:00

Keep visiting for the return of Aftab recollecting his Walk Down Memory Lane!

Burnt out........

2006-10-01T00:12:00.000+05:00

I feel tired, exhausted and burnt out. Nothing worse than crashing out in a practice lap, before the real race. Need loads of prayers.

Ramadan Mubarak

2006-09-26T02:22:00.000+05:00

Ramadan Mubarak to everybody. May we understand the essence of our existence. May we live and die as Muslims. May we achieve success both in this world and in the Hereafter. May we learn to not make the same mistakes and sins we made previously. May we learn to be good human beings and excellent Muslims. May we live to see Peace. Ameen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heard Jody Williams(1997 Peace Prize Nobel Laureate) on "World Debate-BBC". Liked what she said.

" Peace is not the ABSENCE of armed conflict, but is the PRESENCE of social and economic justice."

What If?

2006-09-21T20:12:00.000+05:00

Sometimes you want to say alot, but can't say anything. Words die out. Silence prevails. The moment passes and with it the one chance you had in life . And all that you are left with is "What If"........

RMC LECTURE MOMENTS!!!

2006-09-13T23:56:00.000+05:00

PHYSIOLOGY: -

Dr.Abdul Majeed, former Head of Department Physiology, came storming into the lecture hall on hearing chaos. He started asking questions in a fury and pointed out a girl, but she ignored him. On this Dr.Abdul Majid said

“ By keeping your head down and pretending you didn’t hear, Doomsday won’t go away. Stand up!!!!”

Dr.Abdul Majeed on the functions of cytotoxic T cells.

“ They make pores in the cell membranes of the enemy” “Like this, like this”

(While boxing wildly in the air)

On Haustrations

“You see these are haustrations, like this and like this, these are haustrations”

(While moving one hand after the other; up and down fist closed.)

Dr.Muarraf of Physiology Department after finishing posture regulation

“Go home, get hold of a cat and throw it from the roof and observe the postural changes.”

And

“I know you have beautiful teeth but this is not the time to laugh, show them to me during the vivas.”

Yet another classic (note the INGS)

“Now you people are laughING, but at viva time you will not be laughING. You will be rushING in the corridors. At that time you will not be smilING or makING faces or playING with your mobiles, you will be worryING and askING us and we will not be tellING!!!!!!!

Anatomy: -

Dr.Tehzeeb of the Anatomy Department was taking our Histology lecture. A student came in late and tripped over the microphone. Dr. Tehzeeb looked on helplessly as the microphone came apart into two pieces. He turned to the attendant and while pointing towards the student said

“ I swear I didn’t do anything. It was this kid.”

Dr.Aamir, taking his lecture in his usual way.

“ Last row, third man from the left stand up!!”

As soon as the person stands up

“Sit down”

Forensic Medicine: -

Dr. Mateen commenting on universal antidote

“They ask this a lot in the VIVA VOCE. You have to tell the examiner there isn’t a universal antidote, but there is a universal antidote. It’s a very deep thing you see.”

Dr. Rizwana Qayyum, Head of Department Forensic Medicine once said

“The only way you’re going to pass Forensic is if you study or if your father is the President of Pakistan”

Pharmacology: -

Dr.Shahnaz Aftab, Professor& Head of Department of Pharmacology, on girls.

“ Look at the girls of today; pale, anemic, thin, marasmic. “

On what boys like to do.

“Occulothermia”

Gynecology: -

Dr. Asma Tanvir Usmani, Head of Department Gynecology Department, on pregnancy

“ Repeat after me. Pregnancy is not a disease. Pregnant women are not patients”

Surgery: -

Dr.Azam Yousaf, Professor Of Surgery, on coming late

“ Let me tell you people a story. I had a House Officer who was in the habit of coming late. Every time he had an excuse to cover up for his tardiness. One day he said he had ulcers. I had enough of his excuses, so I gathered the whole surgery department and took him for an endoscopy. His endoscopy came out clear and I said that now you all know what I will do when one of you says that I have diarrhea.”

Medicine :-

Dr. Irum Shakir on difference between men treating women in Pakistan and the Middle East.

“ In Pakistan, if you go outside, men pass cheap comments and what not. In Kuwait, they are a bit more civilized. If they find a woman attractive, they go upto the woman and say “ SUBHAANALLAH” and go their way.”

( A few adaptations from Rawalian 30 Orkut community)

Crazy Labels!!!!!!!

2006-08-31T01:23:00.000+05:00

A cool email a friend sent me.............................

In case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity,here are some actual label instructionson consumer goods.

1-On a Sears hairdryer: *Do not use while sleeping.* ( and that's the onlytimeI have to work on my hair).

2-On a bag of Fritos: ..*You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details**inside.* (the shoplifter special)?

3-On a bar of Dial soap: *"Directions: Use like regular soap." *(and thatwouldbe how???....)

4-On some Swanson frozen dinners:*"Serving suggestion: Defrost." *(but, it's "just" a suggestion).

5-On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom): *"Do not turn upside down." *(well...duh, a bit late, huh)!

6-On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding*:"Product will be hot after heating."*(...and you thought????...)

7-On packaging for a Rowenta iron: *"Do not iron clothes on body." *(but wouldn't this save me more time)?

8-On Nytol Sleep Aid: *"Warning: May cause drowsiness." *(and...I'm taking this because???....)

9-On most brands of Christmas lights: *"For indoor or outdoor use only." *(as opposed to...what)?

10-On a Japanese food processor: *"Not to be used for the other use." *(now,somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

11-On Sunsbury's peanuts: *"Warning: contains nuts."*(talk about a news flash)

12-On an American Airlines packet of nuts: *"Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts." *(Step 3: maybe, uh...fly Delta?)

13-On a child's superman costume: *"Wearing of this garment does not enable you**to fly." *(I don't blame the company. I blame the parents for this one.)

And you tell me itz cuz of a cricket ball??

2006-08-25T22:18:00.000+05:00

I think without any evidence,the change of ball on subjective grounds instead of objective,was uncalled for and certainly unfair. And why Inzimam didn't walk out immediately doesn't bother me at all. I think at lunch they must have had a discussion and also learnt that the umpire had no evidence whatsoever against them. It is weird that when the England bowlers were reverse swinging the ball during the Ashes, there was no alarm raised. There can be no two ways about it. Either it is fair, or it is not. There should not be any in between decisions. And I personally think reverse swing and bouncers should be allowed without any hitch. The batsman are getting too many concessions these days. No wonder we got to see 400 plus runs chased down in one ODI. Rules should not be followed so rigidly as if they are some religious doctrine. They are mere guidelines. And the enforcers have to facilitate the game and learn to make decisions from case to case. I'm referring to the removal of bails signalling the end of the Test Match, which by the rulebook technically was correct but was in sharp conflict with the interest of the sport. Just like most captains don't appeal for OUT when a batsman handles the ball to throw it back to the bowler, though by the rulebook that's out obstructing the field.

Update:-

Umpire Darriel Hair in an email to his superior offered to resign in exchange for $500,000. ICC spearhead Malcolm Speed disclosed this information in a press conference earlier this evevning, and thus adding further twists to this bizzare string of events. What now??

Fear

2006-08-16T14:27:00.000+05:00

Sometimes I fear all I'll ever be is successfully unsuccessful........................

Who am I?

2006-08-11T01:12:00.000+05:00

Sometimes I wonder what our identity is? We are a confused nation. Our national language is Urdu, but our official language is English. Our deen is Islam, but our laws are British. Then all the confusion of the two poles; one of religion, the other of the world. And to add more confusion, we have traditions and customs that don't fit into either category. We also have Pervaiz Musharraf's " enlightened modernism', whatever the heck that is. I'd like to quote one Arab leader talking to the BBC. On question of that country still being ruled by a monarchy he replied " We believe in MODERNIZATION but not WESTERNIZATION" . Pretty deep if you think about it. Anyways, I know I'm jumping from thought to thought making absolutely no sense---but then how can I?? Do I know who I am??

Walking in the Rain

2006-07-30T15:05:00.000+05:00

Happened just by coincidence. I was coming back from Quaid-E-Azam University after meeting a friend; who it turns out just won the Presidential Gold Medal in recognition of his scouting , when it started raining. Actually raining is an understatement. It was like very heavy downpour. Felt like stone, to be precise. I was still quite far from my house, in the middle of nowhere, and as I got out to hail a taxi, I realized I hadn't walked in the rain for a long time. So I just started walking, while the whole world was running tying to find shelter :) And it was so fun. Never felt so calm since a long time.

After some time, I decided that I better get going, so I got into a cab. And the roads were flooding with water. And the next thing I know, we're stuck on Pir Widhai Road because there is just too much water. The water was coming in from the doors. It was crazy out there. Luckily, the taxi driver was a real cool guy, and we both thought why not have fun instead of complaining. So we drove through the flooded roads cracking jokes. A few places, I really thought we'd get stuck either in the middle of the water or in the mud. An hour later, I made it back home. I thanked the driver, and he said, " Yeah dude...won't ever forget the experience for the rest of our lives, right"? And I just nodded, thinking, sometimes when we choose to have fun, we can get it from the tiniest of experiences. :)

~The Class~

2006-07-26T08:38:00.000+05:00

Just finished reading "The Class" by Erich Segal. Here are some of my favourite parts.

1-" And I've come to what I think is a profound conclusion. The Class is really not a class. I mean we are not a brotherhood-or anything at all cohesive for that matter.
In fact, the time we spent here was a kind of truce. A cease-fire in the war for fame and power. And in two more days the guns come out again."

2- " Later in the afternoon, the seperation was complete. They now divided into a thousand atoms, going off at various speeds in different directions.
Would they ever come together as a unity again?
Had they ever been one? "

3- " I had always looked at him as the exception to the rule. But now I realize that everybody pays a price for his success."

4- " For, though he had not known it-and perhaps still did not understand-he was, in human terms, the best man in The Class. "

5- " He emphasized that fear of death is universal. But what lies beneath that fear is the terror of insignificance. Of not being remembered, not counting."

6- " Quiet heroism or youthful idealism, or both? What do we know? That life without heroism and idealism is not worth living--or that either can be fatal? We are here to remember our classmates. They are not nameless. They are known. They were ours, and shall ever be."

7- " This was the beginning of the end. They had met once more and just had time enough to learn that they liked one another.
And to say goodbye."

Appeal

2006-07-22T07:48:00.000+05:00

A college fellow has been kidnapped by some people who're demanding ransom. Please pray for his safe return. I'll fill in the details once I get the real story. Been over a week now. Was in the newspapers too yesterday. I told you the world has gone insane. Any last light I thought I saw in the world is gone now. People just don't have emotions anymore. Kills me, honest.