Sunday, January 29, 2006
Action Hero
1.00 am - Unable to sleep partly because of some studying and also because Pakistan is getting thrashed in the series decider against India. I ask you, which team loses THREE wickets in the first over and has the scoreline 0/3?!?!
1.25 am - Well, so much for studying as I start browsing through blog rolls for interesting articles and just my luck! I've found one that seems to be written by an above average chimp (also known as extreme right wing conservatives).
The title reminds me of an action movie like the times you're sitting through the previews and one of them depicts Arnold Schwarznegger runnining around expolding random things with a loud voice that proclaims in the end:
Well, as much as we hate to admit it, we're a society of slogans. CNN's catchy headline of "War on Terror" after the invasion of Afghanistan was so well liked that it's commonly used by the media around the world. Let's not forget the grand-daddy of all slogans -- Just Do It. What the heck does it even mean and how exactly does it convince people to buy shoes?
But hey, everyone remembers it right? And I'm no psychologist but a safe bet would be that such gimmicks do pay off in the long run otherwise billion dollar companies such as NIKE wouldn't bother with it.
Back to the story. For those too lazy to click on the link and read the article, this is the title:
1.25 am - Well, so much for studying as I start browsing through blog rolls for interesting articles and just my luck! I've found one that seems to be written by an above average chimp (also known as extreme right wing conservatives).
The title reminds me of an action movie like the times you're sitting through the previews and one of them depicts Arnold Schwarznegger runnining around expolding random things with a loud voice that proclaims in the end:
Arnold the Avenger
Watch him as he kills a commie for his mommie!
Watch him as he kills a commie for his mommie!
Well, as much as we hate to admit it, we're a society of slogans. CNN's catchy headline of "War on Terror" after the invasion of Afghanistan was so well liked that it's commonly used by the media around the world. Let's not forget the grand-daddy of all slogans -- Just Do It. What the heck does it even mean and how exactly does it convince people to buy shoes?
But hey, everyone remembers it right? And I'm no psychologist but a safe bet would be that such gimmicks do pay off in the long run otherwise billion dollar companies such as NIKE wouldn't bother with it.
Back to the story. For those too lazy to click on the link and read the article, this is the title:
Reign of the Radicals
One man fights to take back his mosque from Islamists.
One man fights to take back his mosque from Islamists.
Sounds exciting eh?
Forget what's in the rest of the article, the title itself is worth publishing. But on a second thought, let's see what this flick is all about. Selective reading and all, it sounds like a flop but there are some interesting moments.
Some more selective reading leads to another interesting line.
Well, it's nice to have a definition for moderate muslims after all -- clean shaven you say? So, in other words, I'm a 'moderate' on mondayz but the time friday rolls around, my 'fundamentalist' side has overtaken me; kind of like the wolfman except that he got facial hair every full moon.
OK, lets see what else is there. Something about funnelling money, I see the words Palestine and Hamas, somehow Wahabbism and Taliban have been mentioned in the same sentence......aha, there we go:
By God, I suggest that our hero stands at the front door with a razor and shaving cream in his hand to cut all those 'fundamentalists' down to size. Perhaps also hand out a $25 voucher of Paris Hilton's latest clothing line to the women entering the mosque.
Seems like there will a sequel to this as the problem has still not been solved. But wait, the ending credits say:
2.00 am - Hmm, lets see what else is on. Hey, Pakistan is fighting back of sorts. From 0/3 to 200/7. It could be worse.
Forget what's in the rest of the article, the title itself is worth publishing. But on a second thought, let's see what this flick is all about. Selective reading and all, it sounds like a flop but there are some interesting moments.
Mr. Najib is not the only moderate Muslim fighting Islamic fundamentalists, but the ones he is up against at his suburban Chicago mosque are considered to be among the most radical in the nation.From the opening lines, we can safely establish that 'Mr. Najib' is the action hero of this blockbuster and he's not just up against your garden variety bad guys; oh no, he's going to be fighting the best of the worst!
Some more selective reading leads to another interesting line.
The older, more moderate Muslims--whose men were clean-shaven and whose women wore short sleeves and no hijabs--handed over control of the mosque to the principal fund raisers.
OK, lets see what else is there. Something about funnelling money, I see the words Palestine and Hamas, somehow Wahabbism and Taliban have been mentioned in the same sentence......aha, there we go:
An estimated 2,000 people attend Friday prayers, a 20-fold increase from 1983.An increase of 20-fold! Perhaps those Christian preachers can take a tip or two to attract more parishioners.
The ever-expanding contingent of mosque-goers appears to consist largely of fundamentalists in sync with the leadership's worldview, which seeks a return to "pure Islam" and preaches withdrawal from secular society. By Mr. Najib's count, the overwhelming majority of men at the mosque have religious beards and almost every woman is covered from head-to-toe.Ooh, this development doesn't bode too well for our action hero. He seems to be losing the battle and very spectacularly too, if I dare say so; very un-Arnold like. Men with beards and women covered modestly and that too in a mosque!
By God, I suggest that our hero stands at the front door with a razor and shaving cream in his hand to cut all those 'fundamentalists' down to size. Perhaps also hand out a $25 voucher of Paris Hilton's latest clothing line to the women entering the mosque.
Seems like there will a sequel to this as the problem has still not been solved. But wait, the ending credits say:
(About the director) Mr. Mowbray is working on a book about the struggle for the heart of Islam in America.Forget part 2, this looks like an ongoing series kind of like James Bond or Batman. In that case, stay tuned!
2.00 am - Hmm, lets see what else is on. Hey, Pakistan is fighting back of sorts. From 0/3 to 200/7. It could be worse.
Faraz Ahmed 2:05 a.m.
2 Comments:
Hey,
With score at 74/4 and all the top order back in the dressing room and still trailing behind by 171 and having noone else to count on, we are doing worse. Atleast you guys have reliable batsmen like Akmal and Razzaq towards the end to count on. Anywaz, I hope that atleast this match doesnt end up in a draw. That would be frustrating.
With score at 74/4 and all the top order back in the dressing room and still trailing behind by 171 and having noone else to count on, we are doing worse. Atleast you guys have reliable batsmen like Akmal and Razzaq towards the end to count on. Anywaz, I hope that atleast this match doesnt end up in a draw. That would be frustrating.
What about Ganguly? What's he in the team for?
Yeah, lets hope there is a result unlike the first two matches.
Yeah, lets hope there is a result unlike the first two matches.
