"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual
interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy"
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
The New York Faithful
After witnessing a craptastic loss to the lowly t-wolves, i've come to a few conclusions:
1. 7th Ave should immediately be renamed "King James' Way"
2. If D.Lee and Nate Robinson were put on the presidential ballots, NYstate would most definitely go orange n blue
3. Coach 'Antoni' doesn't deserve a "D" in his name
4. Step aside Spike...Turtle (yes, from Entourage) is the ultimate Knicks fan
5. "hey, where you going? there's still twelve minutes left!!" is no longer a valid question/statement while attending knicks games
6. Knicks City Dancers :-)
7. I'm Oh for Six!!!
1. 7th Ave should immediately be renamed "King James' Way"
2. If D.Lee and Nate Robinson were put on the presidential ballots, NYstate would most definitely go orange n blue
3. Coach 'Antoni' doesn't deserve a "D" in his name
4. Step aside Spike...Turtle (yes, from Entourage) is the ultimate Knicks fan
5. "hey, where you going? there's still twelve minutes left!!" is no longer a valid question/statement while attending knicks games
6. Knicks City Dancers :-)
7. I'm Oh for Six!!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Top of the Moooorning to ya, laddy!
...yes, i know that's not what British people say - but their reactions to my ignorance were priceless. i dunno what it is, but mocking the whole english culture and way of life was too easy, and very entertaining. i think it was the fact that they played along with our jokes almost every time that really made it easy and fun. almost every conversation between us and a local started off with a fake/really bad attempt at a british accent and ended in one of three ways:
1. blatantly ignoring us
2. "oi, piss off!"
3. a big smile, some laughter and questions about where the hell we were really from
we even tried to hustle unsuspecting pedestrians an umbrella for one pound...we almost got em, until they realized that the umbrellas were being given out for free. not to mention, we also out-hustled a hustler himself...and then he realized we were smarter than his tricks, so he laughed nervously and commended us on our skills...he ran away
speaking of pedestrians, those tiny london streets cannot handle the crazyyy amounts of people. every direction you walk, turn, or cross the street, you're bumping into someone - i earned the name "baby hitter" because i accidentally ran into a stroller...luckily the mom was cool about it and apologized before i could realize i almost knocked over her child. at that point, i figured it would be reallllly entertaining to see a pedestrian round-about! since the country already doesn't make any sense, why not have pedestrians use round-abouts as well? i'm sure it would help control the massive crowds - i think i'll bring that to their parliament's attention one day
after 3 days of wedding stuff (btw, congrats to iqbal n sabira), and a day of shopping in london, i find myself in Amsterdam....normally, that would be a fun time, but i'm stuck at the airport for a good 12 hours. it wouldnt be so bad, but europe is so FRICKIN expensive! i went to the currency exchange, handed the lady a $20bill...after exchange rates and "processing fees", i was handed 10euros and 87cents. That bought me a mcdonalds meal, candy from some store and some coins to take home as a souvenior. 20 damn dollars, GONE! not to mention, i had to cough up 16euros ($23) to get internet access for the night. they're a buncha scammers!
as a way to channel my frustration, i learned how to curse in arabic...it worked for a while, until a buncha somali's understood what we said and lashed back - yea, we ran!
all in all, a good trip...it was nice to experience something different
england - fun place to visit...to live, not so much my kinda style
1. blatantly ignoring us
2. "oi, piss off!"
3. a big smile, some laughter and questions about where the hell we were really from
we even tried to hustle unsuspecting pedestrians an umbrella for one pound...we almost got em, until they realized that the umbrellas were being given out for free. not to mention, we also out-hustled a hustler himself...and then he realized we were smarter than his tricks, so he laughed nervously and commended us on our skills...he ran away
speaking of pedestrians, those tiny london streets cannot handle the crazyyy amounts of people. every direction you walk, turn, or cross the street, you're bumping into someone - i earned the name "baby hitter" because i accidentally ran into a stroller...luckily the mom was cool about it and apologized before i could realize i almost knocked over her child. at that point, i figured it would be reallllly entertaining to see a pedestrian round-about! since the country already doesn't make any sense, why not have pedestrians use round-abouts as well? i'm sure it would help control the massive crowds - i think i'll bring that to their parliament's attention one day
after 3 days of wedding stuff (btw, congrats to iqbal n sabira), and a day of shopping in london, i find myself in Amsterdam....normally, that would be a fun time, but i'm stuck at the airport for a good 12 hours. it wouldnt be so bad, but europe is so FRICKIN expensive! i went to the currency exchange, handed the lady a $20bill...after exchange rates and "processing fees", i was handed 10euros and 87cents. That bought me a mcdonalds meal, candy from some store and some coins to take home as a souvenior. 20 damn dollars, GONE! not to mention, i had to cough up 16euros ($23) to get internet access for the night. they're a buncha scammers!
as a way to channel my frustration, i learned how to curse in arabic...it worked for a while, until a buncha somali's understood what we said and lashed back - yea, we ran!
all in all, a good trip...it was nice to experience something different
england - fun place to visit...to live, not so much my kinda style
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Laying the Foundation
"You never get a 2nd chance to make a first impression"
...if I could define this past semester in one phrase, it'd most certainly be that quote. If anything, it will probably be my motivation through out the rest of my career and life goals. Who knew, all it took was missing one particular class during the first week of school, way back in August to set the tone for the coming months.
I was constantly barraged with that saying every wednesday by a man who I thought was just trying to make an example out of me and embarrass me in front of my peers. Not only did I hear this from him, but from everyone else in that class as well. It really sucked being the "bad" example for everyone. Every time he deliberately looked at me while saying that damn quote, he was basically saying "hey everyone, make sure you don't do what Reza did."
Long story short, I basically stuck it to the man, kicked ass on the most difficult presentation in my college career, and made him say "i was very impressed"
...but that's not where I'm trying to go with this
Back to making a solid first impression...I realized that all this tormenting from that class really lead me on to something greater. How could I really make a kick ass impression among my school's administration, professors, peers, family, and friends...not to mention every single grad school I apply to as well as corporate america as a whole?
Sounds like a tall task...but I think 3 little letters will accomplish that
C-E-O...yea, big things happening
keep on the lookout
...if I could define this past semester in one phrase, it'd most certainly be that quote. If anything, it will probably be my motivation through out the rest of my career and life goals. Who knew, all it took was missing one particular class during the first week of school, way back in August to set the tone for the coming months.
I was constantly barraged with that saying every wednesday by a man who I thought was just trying to make an example out of me and embarrass me in front of my peers. Not only did I hear this from him, but from everyone else in that class as well. It really sucked being the "bad" example for everyone. Every time he deliberately looked at me while saying that damn quote, he was basically saying "hey everyone, make sure you don't do what Reza did."
Long story short, I basically stuck it to the man, kicked ass on the most difficult presentation in my college career, and made him say "i was very impressed"
...but that's not where I'm trying to go with this
Back to making a solid first impression...I realized that all this tormenting from that class really lead me on to something greater. How could I really make a kick ass impression among my school's administration, professors, peers, family, and friends...not to mention every single grad school I apply to as well as corporate america as a whole?
Sounds like a tall task...but I think 3 little letters will accomplish that
C-E-O...yea, big things happening
keep on the lookout
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
"I can ride a bike with no handle bars, no handle bars..."
...sick song.
Anyways, I probably should not be taking this study break, due to the copious (yes, i know semi-big words) amounts of reading up that I need to do...
I spent my last two weeks analyzing why people buy the things they buy, understanding Native American Folklore, asking myself why anyone would want to become an accountant, learning everything about purple pills (no, not like the D-12 song) to sell it legally to an imaginary doctor, and flooding my brain with the Dose-Response Curve so I know the exacttt point where I can stop taking DayQuil before I Oh-Dee
Speaking of DayQuil...this is the first time I've taken it in a longggg time. Which only means that it cannot be a good thing. Being sick while having to take 4 exams is no fun at all.
I think I have spent more time at the library each day, than I do in my own bed...mmm, sleep...
Gotta stop thinking about sleeping! Get Focused! Okay, time to get back to work...
Anyways, I probably should not be taking this study break, due to the copious (yes, i know semi-big words) amounts of reading up that I need to do...
I spent my last two weeks analyzing why people buy the things they buy, understanding Native American Folklore, asking myself why anyone would want to become an accountant, learning everything about purple pills (no, not like the D-12 song) to sell it legally to an imaginary doctor, and flooding my brain with the Dose-Response Curve so I know the exacttt point where I can stop taking DayQuil before I Oh-Dee
Speaking of DayQuil...this is the first time I've taken it in a longggg time. Which only means that it cannot be a good thing. Being sick while having to take 4 exams is no fun at all.
I think I have spent more time at the library each day, than I do in my own bed...mmm, sleep...
Gotta stop thinking about sleeping! Get Focused! Okay, time to get back to work...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
On a Mission
After an early morning of classes, an afternoon of meetings, and a 3-11pm work shift, I walk out of the ARC, down the long concrete steps and make my way across the parking lot and suddenly stop...I'm in awe, of everything thats in front of me...
There she was...Pearl White dress, elegant Black shoes, Gorgeous Angelic Blue Eyes and the right amount of shiny jewelry. Every man longed for a beauty like this, but could only get so close. She's the type that would invoke love at first sight, yet break your heart the very next moment.
She can be right in front of you, and before you know it, you're chasing her, trying to keep up but you're just not fast enough. And just like that, gone! All your dreams shattered in a blink of an eye. But there always hope. Hope that you two will one day cross paths again, and this time, win her over.
414 of the finest-tuned German-Engineered Horses were staring right back at me. Taunting me. Telling me that I wasn't good enough.
Yea, she's way out of my league. But one day, I will make sure she comes back and never leaves my side.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
"The Car Committed Suicide"
Yes, I know, my jetta is not a bmw...
too bad I had to find out the hard way. i mean, its not like i didn't know my v-dub isn't even close to being what a beemer is, but i liked being naive about it. i liked thinking that i was behind the wheel of a beautifully engineered german machine that people revered as well as envied (i think those two words mean sorta the same thing, but oh well, im stickin to it). being in my own world was a good feeling.
what's even worse is that it was being driven by a person who has a 3-Series! it was like, "hey, look what i can do!" and then realizing "oh wait, this isn't like my car"
next thing you know, we're pulled over on the grass, poppin the hood, standing outside on the hottest day of the year, and just blankly staring at the guts of my imaginary beast. clearly, the car isnt a beast...more like an over-pampered pitbull. kinda disappointing, i know.
just when i thought my problems couldn't get any worse, i look down I-287 and see a big green roadsign looking right back at me..."fuck, its parsippany!" Damn, i'm oh for two in this place! Reason number 4925786 why i hate New Jersey.
i find a Shell Gas Station and this Malu dude named Thomas...
Me: "can you fix her"
Thomas: "yes"
Me: "Price range?"
Thomas: "Daddy's credit card will do"
8 Hours later...car is towed to VW. you'd think the professionals would be, well, more professional. So i decided to let them handle it, thinking that they'd cut me a break...
VW Asshole: "looked it over"
Me: "how much we lookin at?"
VW: "i own your soul"
...douchebags
Thomas: "ah, you're back"
So yea, i got eff'd...badly. Total damage, including 2 tow charges, diagnostic fees by the nazis, and the vet bills to perform surgery on the pitbull...$1,100
Parsippany, New Jersey...the place where fun goes to die!
too bad I had to find out the hard way. i mean, its not like i didn't know my v-dub isn't even close to being what a beemer is, but i liked being naive about it. i liked thinking that i was behind the wheel of a beautifully engineered german machine that people revered as well as envied (i think those two words mean sorta the same thing, but oh well, im stickin to it). being in my own world was a good feeling.
what's even worse is that it was being driven by a person who has a 3-Series! it was like, "hey, look what i can do!" and then realizing "oh wait, this isn't like my car"
next thing you know, we're pulled over on the grass, poppin the hood, standing outside on the hottest day of the year, and just blankly staring at the guts of my imaginary beast. clearly, the car isnt a beast...more like an over-pampered pitbull. kinda disappointing, i know.
just when i thought my problems couldn't get any worse, i look down I-287 and see a big green roadsign looking right back at me..."fuck, its parsippany!" Damn, i'm oh for two in this place! Reason number 4925786 why i hate New Jersey.
i find a Shell Gas Station and this Malu dude named Thomas...
Me: "can you fix her"
Thomas: "yes"
Me: "Price range?"
Thomas: "Daddy's credit card will do"
8 Hours later...car is towed to VW. you'd think the professionals would be, well, more professional. So i decided to let them handle it, thinking that they'd cut me a break...
VW Asshole: "looked it over"
Me: "how much we lookin at?"
VW: "i own your soul"
...douchebags
Thomas: "ah, you're back"
So yea, i got eff'd...badly. Total damage, including 2 tow charges, diagnostic fees by the nazis, and the vet bills to perform surgery on the pitbull...$1,100
Parsippany, New Jersey...the place where fun goes to die!
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