nrelate

nRelate is better than Linkwithin

There are certain useful features which make nRelate a better chioce.

Check out the review followed by a surprising conversation between two debaters in the comments section :D

Interesting
My Music

My Music!

My guitar allows me to hear my inner voice. Among other specific activities, this too serves as a bridge between me and my inner world

Starting with the National Anthem and Mystery Scale, i'll be adding some more music to this section

Have a look
SurKalyan

Chapter 1 - Sur Kalyan - Peace

Introduction 6-I'll Meet My Master!!! 10-Call to Gallows
1-Universe in Pairs 7-Secret of Love's 11-Find Your Way
2-The True Guide Sorrow to Tavern
3-The Glorious News 8-Drink to the Bitter 12-The Genuine
4-Oneness ness of Fatal Cup 13-The Lovers
5-Echo and Call 9-There's no bitter! Business

Read More
The Red Ice-cube

My Photography!

Yup! I like to take some shots in my leisure time. I am specially in love with Macroshots as they are more... ummm... "detailed" ( hanjee! I like to observe things in great detail :D )

The one on the left is just one example, hit "Have a look" to see some more.

Have a look
K Jo Tum Main Ye Dum, Wo Kisi Main Nahin!!

K Jo Tum Main Ye Dum, Wo Kisi Main Nahin!!

The lyrics are not limited to cricket only (no chakkaas or chokaas or ghumma k phaink or any other cricket term). It's for everyone! Observe, enjoy and eat the food! :)

Read More
We all love change right?

We all love change right?

Yup! As we progress in our lives, we try to make things better and better for people around us. Changing anything does not mean that you completely change everything but keeping previous good elements and eliminating or improving on flawed ones.
So here comes my newly "dressed up" blog. :D

Read More
Shah Jo Risalo - Intro

Shah Jo Risalo - Intro

I've decided to narrate the series of poems of Shah jo Risalo written by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (SALB). The book consists of 29 poems in total. Every poem has been given a title of "Sur" meaning "a musical note". Every sur or note is then divided into different stories (daastaan), like first poem is divided into 3 stories. Some stories have concluding...

Read More
Imagination versus speed of light!

Imagination versus speed of light!

The only problem in conversion of matter into energy is the speed of light. According to Einstien:

"We can convert any object into energy, if we throw it or move it with the square of speed of light."

Read More

My Semi-Acoustic Guitar - Macro Mode Photography

I dive deep within me with the help of you,
And bring back some substance to this world.
I read myself with the help of you,
The one that bridges my two worlds.
It's you.

The bridge (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Macroshots.
  • File Name:            the_bridge.jpg
  • Date snapped:     19 May 2011 4:05 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:              Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/60 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-100

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Shah Jo Risalo - Path to Peace - Sur Yaman Kalyan - Introduction


Yes!! The beginning of the new chapter "Path To Peace" (Sur Yaman Kalyan in Sindhi)

This chapter is divided into five sub-chapters and talks mostly about the pain of being separated with the Beloved and cure to this pain.

To get an idea what kind of words this chapter mostly consists of, you can analyze the above image. The size of each word is directly proportional to the frequency of word being used in the complete chapter.

Instead of posting single stanzas, I'll be posting the "group" of stanzas from now onwards depending on the sense those will make.

Like the introductory sub-chapter of this Sur (Chapter) consists of 4 stanzas out which 3 stanzas are beginning with the line "Thou art the friend; the healer thou"

I'll be posting this introductory chapter in my next post titled "Thou art the friend; the healer thou (Path to Peace - Chap1 - Stanzas 1-4)"

(Read Full Chapter)

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Remembering Waheed Murad - The Painted Gate to a different World

When anyone talks about the history Pakistani cinema, his discussion won't be considered as "complete" until and unless he talks about Waheed Murad (October 2, 1938 – November 23, 1983), The Legend of Pakistani cinema, also known as "Chocolate Hero" and "Lady Killer"

He was a writer, producer, director and an actor who created such an impact on Pakistani cinema industry that the age got a label of "Rising Sun" He even won awards like "Sitara-i-Imtiaz" and "Nigar Awards" for his amazing and astounding works.

Talking about myself, Waheed Murad just changed my mindset regarding Pakistani cinema. Like many others, unfortunately, I also thought of classic Pakistani movies as obsolete and of no use, having no meaning and purpose, until I came to know about this specific song, "Aakhri baar mil rahey hain hum" (Meeting for the last time):

Song: Aakhri baar mil rahe hain hum
Singer: Mehdi Hassan
Film: Ishara (Urdu - 1969)
Music: Sohail Ra'na
Lyrics: Masroor Anwar
Director & Producer: Waheed Murad
Actors: Waheed Murad, Deeba & Co.
Permalink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNxI9syVYl4

It's from the film "Ishara", the only movie directed by Waheed Murad himself. He also wrote the script of this movie as well. In the beginning of the song, Amir (Waheed Murad) is thinking about his love  Aliya (Deeba) as they both are going to depart soon. Now as you can see, Amir (who's a painter by profession) is staring at his own creation, painting of a gate, and "uses" this gate to enter a different World altogether.

As I mentioned that it's his own creation, WM is hinting that he's gone not into a strange World, it's "his own" inner World, where he expresses his grief by singing "Aakhri baar mil rahey hain hum, ao phr kyun na muskura k milen...." (We are meeting for the last time, so why not meet with smiles on our faces)

If we observe, the stage, dresses of dancers, colors of their dresses, the whole setup is arranged to go with the projection of his "self". At the end of the song, the same gate has been shown with "position" of Amir being the only difference. He gets locked inside this World.... and returns with a different experience (movie goes to color from black and white) :o

This is a (little) observation of just one song of this movie. God knows how many messages and philosophies are hidden in his other films.

Although, November 23, 1983 marks his death anniversary, but he can be seen alive in his works, his films, his philospohies, his messages, his love towards the people of Pakistan, his devotion to make films for "Every single person" living in Pakistan.

People have started getting your "hidden" messages Mr. Chocolate Hero. :D

Really...

Some of the fellow bloggers talking about WM:



A Cloudy Pattern - Auto Mode Photography

Similar to objects, the scene said "Photograph me"

And i clicked....


The beautiful sunset! (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Auto-mode Shots.
  • File Name:            cloudy_pattern.jpg
  • Date snapped:     10 April 2011 6:35 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Sky
  • Resolution:          2272x1704 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/200 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-80
  • Focal length:       6 mm



The Lover's Business (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 13)

Image edited by me. Original can be found here

"To guard and to preserve the head,
the lover's business is not this---
One of beloved's glance is worth
so many hundreds head of his---
Flesh, skin and bone, and all there is ,
the 'least ' of loved-one , equals not."




The last stanza of first chapter "Sur Kalyan (Peace)" is a true representation of intensity of Love.

To make it a bit easy for my fellow readers, it says:

"Lover's task is not to preserve and protect his head but to have that "glance" of his beloved. The worth of that glance is incomparable. It has more attraction and peace than guarding your head; heads which are so common in this world. What do you have?! Flesh? Skin? Bones? These are not comparable to what your beloved has"

The intriguing point is that Bhitai has compared a tiny particle with the huge desert and the difference in these two variables is in terms of Power and Love. How?

It is not flesh, skin and bone of yours, these are "nothing" for your beloved! [read: Power]
The glance.... it is incomparable... it attracts... it calls... [read: Love]

One more thing I heard while reading this is that a Genuine Lover is similar, yet different from others...

It's really nice to see this chapter coming to the end. If you want to read the full chapter, go to
Home > Shah Jo Risalo > Chapter 1 - Peace or click "Read full chapter" at the bottom.

What are your opinions about this chapter? Why it is named as "Peace"? Comments are welcomed here as well as the Chapter's comment section



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Related post widgets - nRelate is better than Linkwithin

Yup! I recently came to know about this useful and better (than Linkwithin) widget.

What is "Related posts" widget?
Related posts widget allows your blog readers to "randomly browse" related content posted on your blog. As the name suggests, the widget picks up some random related posts and shows them in a very nice way.

Why should I use this "Related post" widget?
Simple answer. To increase the time a visitor spends on your blog. It allows a blogger to "showcase" what kind of similar content he/she has posted till now.
Technical answer: To decrease the bounce rate of your blog.

Any other alternatives?
One can find many related post widgets on the internet. Title of the post (plain text) version, thumbnail plus text version, horizontal, vertical, under the post, sidebar versions etc. Some are simple and easy to use and some are complex and difficult to implement on the blogs. Two of them i've used are Linkwithin(Lw) and nRelate(nR) and found better than the available widgets.

As some of you might have seen, I was using the Linkwithin widget previously on this blog as it was the best and easy-to-use related post widgets available at that time, but due to more controls and options nRelate offers, I immediately switched to nRelate widget.


Benefits of using nR?
- Allows maximum number of posts that can be used: 10 [better than Lw]
- Has sleek and attractive design. [better than Lw]
- Has horizontal arrangement of posts
- Is very easy to use and install.
- Has more controls than other related blog widgets. [better than Lw]
- Uses thumbnails of your posts (to attract visitors)
- Gives information on visitors using the widget. [better than Lw]
- Uses direct URL of your posts in the widget, rather than routing the visitor to its own website first and then forwarding to your posts (which LW does) [better than Lw]

Sign-up is free and takes under a minute or so and you can see your widget under your blog posts. You can install the widget without signing-up but your widget will be limited to 3 posts only.

:O
Seems like i'm marketing nRelate :D

Well that's the power of blogging. I share what i like. On a side-note, word-o-mouth spreads like a wildfire and it is not bia.... lets save this topic for some other day...

Full-stop



A beautiful orange bug - Macro Mode Photography

It contains orange... red (is it maroon, dark orange or red? upper portion of its legs)... mmm... grey.... and black..

And white too!

This bug has got some great, rich colors... God knows how to fill such indulging colors....

I feel really sad that i missed the super fine shot... yeah, it's a blurred image. But at least i got its colors registered :D

An orange bug (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Macroshots.
  • File Name:            orange_bug.jpg
  • Date snapped:     18 November 2010 6:10 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Dreamworld Resort, Karachi
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/50 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-200
  • Focal length:       6 mm



For you, my friend... Happy Birthday Sameer!

Image taken from here
I learned one of the most important lessons of my life today... A habit which is not easy to acquire...

The class got over at 9:30 pm tonight. As usual, we friends left the university around 10 pm and came outside the campus. One of my friends had to wait for some time so we people decided to wait for him to leave first and then depart.

During our conversation, which mostly comprises of little talks, jokes and huge laughs, a point came when i shared my thoughts about treating people who do not care for you, who are not honest and sincere with you, who hurt you.

See, if one does the thing like he (some other guy) did and being a "friend", he leaves you in such a miserable situation that you couldn't even think of, what can you expect from him!? Such people will try their best to hurt you even more in your life! You, my friend, are different, i know. You will still help such people but it's not the case with me. I don't like such people who intentionally hurt you without even thinking the outcomes of their deeds

But later on, after some minutes, i heard a voice inside me

"Sameer is right"

From that moment till i reached home (11 pm), i kept talking to myself.

"But they'll hurt you even more!"

"But you still do good to them..."

 "It's impossible!"

"Nothing is impossible. This is the right way rizwan. You know many examples set by our Holy Prophet S.A.W. and His companions. You know that this is the true way"

...

...

Yes Sameer, you are right my friend... i'll try my best to do it your way. Loving and helping those who hate and hurt you is not easy my brother, but if you can do it...

I CAN TOO....


Happy Birthday Sameer :)


The Genuine Lover (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 12)

(Editted, Original image taken from here)

"The genuine lover, for his head
care and concern has none;
He cuts it off---joins it with breath
as gift then hands it on ;
Carves down to shoulders, from loved-one
then begs for love's return."



First, putting this stanza in simple words:
"The genuine lover does not have any concern or care for his head, he cuts it off, combines it with his breath, carves (Engrave or cut by chipping away at a surface) himself down to his shoulders and offers his head to his Love to have something in return."

According to me, the most powerful line is: Carves down to shoulders, from loved-one :o

The head was mentioned in the previous stanza as well, where it represented "Pride and Ego"

Of course it is implied that above lines are not to be taken in the literal sense, but i am quite surprised at his imagination, and i would like to know the result and outcome of putting up such imagination into words.

Perhaps this is linked with the Iqbal's stray reflection regarding "Miracles"; to go out-of-the-canvas...

What do you think?




Two Hundred Pakistani Paisas - Macro Mode Photography

Here it is! The smallest unit of Pakistani currency as of right now...But still it's 200 Paisas!! So yeah, it's not that less...

It depends how you see things, for some it's 2, for me it's 200

200 Paisas (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Macroshots.
  • File Name:            200_paisas_photographed.jpg
  • Date snapped:     9 April 2011 1:28 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/80 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-200
  • Focal length:       6 mm



New and improved "Disqus Comment System"



Yup! It's neat and have certain better features over Google Blogger's traditional commenting system.

I've imported all of the previous comments into it as i didn't want to lose those precious comments.

It's all the same. You'll just have to write a comment, click "post as" and select "google" from the list of many online accounts and viola! You are done!



If you want it for your own blogs too, click Disqus


Find Your Way to Tavern (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 11)


"If you a draught desire
to tavern find your way;
Thy head do sever, and that head
beside the barrel lay;
Only when you this price do pay
then few cups you may quaff."



I observed that last four stanzas of this chapter have a similar theme. i.e. paying a cost to prove yourself a true lover.

These lines are very powerful :/

"OK so what's the importance of head among other parts of human body?", i asked myself

The reply: "Waqar (honor), mind, brain... yup that's it"

So "Honor" fits here the best according to me.

Does Bhitai want to say that "forget your pride and devote yourself to your Love?"





11th ITCN Asia Exhibition at Expo Centre, Karachi, Pakistan


Now that's a news :D

ITCN Asia is holding an event with the name of "11th ITCN Asia" at Expo Centre, Karachi from 20th-22th September (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

About ITCN:

ITCN Asia leads the way in delivering the best interactive opportunities to participants and an ideal environment to the audiences.

Ten years down the road, ITCN Asia 2011 shall witness a paradigm shift by delivering a powerful B2B event with more focus on relevant Technology in different Sectors and Sub-Sectors. The Event shall provide the right balance between IT, Telecom & Electronic industry players, senior decision makers and practitioners.

I am really looking forward to this event as it'll provide people of Pakistan opportunities to interact with different international technological brands and organizations and share information.

While Microsoft on top with "Open Door 2011 invitation", there are other brands like Huawei, Intel, Dell, Tenda and Pak Datacom sponsoring the event.


There are workshops and conferences on different themes and topics but my favorites are:

1-Digital Marketing Forum
2-Microsoft Open Door 2011
3-Bloggers' Meetup
4-E-banking
5-Gamers Convention

Here is the full list (click image to get more info)


AND I was successful in getting the schedule as well! :D (Actually to see my uni class timings are clashing with it or not)


So yup! Will meet you bloggers there!

See ya!


This moon motivates me to move ahead - Auto Mode Photography

Moonlight is magical... It motivates me by telling that there is always some "light" among the dark, even it's less in area/perimeter but in magnitude, it easily beats the unilluminated... When sun is not around, the moon takes this responsibility of guiding people. The partnership! :)

My moon...

Motivates me to move ahead! (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Auto-mode Shots.
  • File Name:            cjdtg.jpg
  • Date snapped:     22 November 2010 3:59 AM (PST)
  • Location:              Universe
  • Resolution:          1008x756 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/8 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-250
  • Focal length:       6 mm



Call to Gallows (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 10)



"There is a call to gallows, friends,
will any of you go!
Those who do talk of love may Know
to gallows they must speed."




The stanza says that a lover will speed up towards gallows when he is called up as this will prove him a "true lover"

Gallows is an instrument of execution consisting of a wooden frame from which a condemned person is executed by hanging.

So is he saying that death will prove you a true lover?

OR

Death will quench your thirst?




Happy Eid Mubarak to all of You :)



Wishing all of my blog readers a very

Happy Eid Mubarak!!!


I am Pakistan - Happy Independence Day

Today is 14th August 2011. It's been so much time since my birth. It's been a long journey but I still feel that it's just the beginning. I have to travel more. I have to see, grow, learn and teach much much more!

In the journey till today, I've seen many ups and downs. I've met sooo many people. Some hated me, back-stabbed me, cursed me, used me for their own benefits, cheated me and humiliated me in-front of others. But instead of so many difficulties, issues and problems, I am still alive and breathing! Why? Because I've met those people too who loved me, cared for me, remembered me in their decisions and prayers, helped me in showing my potential to others. Such people made me realize that I am living for them and in future, I HAVE to live for them, for my people!

Gone are the days when haters cursed me. I'll shine within few years! I'll change the world! I'll lead and others will follow me inshaAllah! God is with me and so are my people, my friends.

I am Pakistan!

And YOU are Pakistan too!

A small birthday gift for Pakistan



Happy Independence Day :)

(Some photographs taken during the project :D )

Image1
Sketching
Image2
Cutting

Image3
Busy busy busy
Image3
Hehe... I cleared it all afterwards :p


The Internet of Things - Info graphic by Cisco


Wow! I'm writing something after sssooooo many days!!! :O (33 days to be exact)

Well I was out of my city for some time, and then my pc got ill. Yup its power supply gifted me some white smoke (KESC anyone?), then I was busy in planning about my next academic milestone (Yup I'm done with BBA in Marketing :D) And now I've decided to go for MBA in the same discipline.

OK I am back now! And I've got this amazing piece of information to share with you. An info-graphic by Cisco on the "Expansion" of internet in the future.

I just love info-graphics! It's usually a tall image containing useful information shown with the help of symbols. So basically you get an idea about the information (mostly facts) with the help of a quick glance.

While browsing "brandflakesforbreakfast", I saw this amazing info graphic made by "Cisco Systems", an American-based multinational corporation that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services.

Have a look:

Perma

Pretty awesome right! :D ipv6 surely is a necessity of future. I hope PTCL has upgraded (or will may be) from ipv4 to ipv6.


Mystery Scale - My Music

Yeah that's right! I really don't know the name of this scale (pattern/sequence of notes) It sounded good so I named it as a "Mystery Scale" :D

Here it is, sorry for the noise...


Errr... It's not perfect but I'll definitely make it, inshAllah


Oneness (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 4)

Image taken from here

"From One, many to being came;
'many' but Oneness is;
Don't get confounded, Reality
is 'One' , this truth don't miss
Commotions vast display - all this
I vow, of Loved-one is."



"Reality is One! Although we seem to be 'many' but in reality we are 'one'"

Bhitai knew that his readers will stumble upon confusions in understanding the concept of 'Oneness' so he has already mentioned this in the line "Don't get confounded..."

He is promising that everything we see (including ourselves) belongs to Loved-one.

I believe this thought is going parallel with Iqbal's concept of 'Organic Unity', which, Khurram Ali Shafique has mentioned on his blog:

1- Unity of Life
2- Unity of Humankind
3- Unity of Nation




To Kia Hua (with lyrics) by Bilal Khan at Coke Studio Season 4 episode 1

Loved this song... It's Amazinggg! :D

Will play it on my guitar someday...

Enjoyy..


Lyrics:

Shaam wahi!
Par tu nahiiiiiin...
Ab yeh safffar!
Bas aiseee heeeee..
Karna hoga!
Chalna hogaaaaa..
Toh kya hua!
Jo tu gayiiiii..

Duuuuuur..
Mujhse
Duuuuuur..
Dil tod kay!
Duuuuuur..
Mujhsee
Duuuuuur..
Dil tod kay!

tu kisi aur!
Kiiii huiiiii..
Khush tu rahey!
Dua meeerii..
Tere liye!
Acha huaaaa..
Toh kya hua!
Jo tu gayiiiii..

Duuuuuur..
Mujhse
Duuuuuur..
Dil tod kay!
Duuuuuur..
Mujhsee
Duuuuuur..
Dil todddd kayyyyyyy...

Haara nahin hoon meeeein
Haara nahin hoon meeeeeein

Haara nahin hoon mein
Haara nahin hoon mein

Haara nahin hoon mein
Haara

Kyuuuun
Mujh se
Kyuuuuuun
Dil todddddddddd....

Shaam wahi!
Par tu nahiiiiiin...
Ab yeh safffar!
Bas aiseee heeeee..
Karna hoga!
Chalna hogaaaaa..
Toh kya hua!
Jo tu gayiiiii..

Duuuuuur..
Mujhse
Duuuuuur..
Dil tod kay!
Duuuuuur..
Mujhsee
Duuuuuur..
Dil tod kay!

Toh kya hua
Toh kya huaaaaa

Toh kya hua
jo tu gayi
gayi
gayi
gayiiiii

Toh kya hua
Toh kya huaaaaa

Toh kya hua
jo tu gayi
gayi
gayi
gayiiiii


Song composed and written by : Bilal Khan
Singer : Bilal Khan - Official Website
Download mp3: To Kia Hua by Bilal Khan
YouTube channel : bilalsmusic


Cute Young Plant - Macro Mode Photography

It'll grow and grow and grow!(Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Macroshots.
  • File Name:            my_plant_1.jpg
  • Date snapped:     9 March 2011 3:29 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/80 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-80
  • Focal length:       6 mm



Honeybees in my home - Macro Mode Photography

Lol! I still remember that day when these bees started to make their "new home" on one of the windows of my home :D and i was really really surprised to see that. I thought they only made hives on some sac or tree or on anything "hanging".

hehe! then i along with my little army (siblings :p) were successful in "shooing" them out. :D

Amazing insect it is! (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Macroshots.
  • File Name:            bees_in_my_home.jpg
  • Date snapped:     9 December 2010 3:00 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/125 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-180
  • Focal length:       6 mm



Drink to the Bitterness of Fatal Cup (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 8)

Image taken from here

"The poison-drinking lovers, lured
by poison sweet, drink more and more;
To bitterness of fatal cup,
the poison-drinkers are inured,
Though wounds are festering, and uncured,
no whispers to the vulgar goes."



Poison... it takes your death.. and if seen from a different angle, it helps you to enter in a new world.

Notice that Bhitai is referring to those people who are "attracted" to the sweet poison and are in love with it as this poison gives them strength. It makes them tougher.

One more thing is interesting here. "The poison drinkers are inured" says that this poison makes them "stronger" and on the other side, it also makes their wounds "fester". So physically (festering wounds can be seen by everyone), it is working as the normal poison works, but spiritually (may be), it has a positive impact.

If we read the next stanza "There's no bitter", we can get an idea about the source of this poison, i.e all from Beloved's side is sweet.

Sadly, i couldn't understand the last line. :( "no whispers to the vulgar goes".

Anyone?





Asset to a Student - Macro Mode Photography

Every student spends most of his lifetime with these precious gems. Ink is to pen what blood is to heart!    (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:       Macroshots.
  • File Name:            Asset_of_a_student.jpg
  • Date snapped:     13 March 2011 1:35 AM (PST)
  • Location:              Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/6 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-200
  • Focal length:       6 mm



The Glowing Plant - Macro Mode Photography

Garden of my university. Had camera with me at that moment. So BANG!! Got this plant! :D (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:      Macroshots.
  • File Name:           the_glowing_plant.jpg
  • Date snapped:     09 November 2010 5:18 PM (PST)
  • Location:              SZABIST, Karachi
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:              Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/60 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-160
  • Focal length:       6 mm



The Glorious News (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 3)

Image taken from here

"He is without a partner” , when
this glorious news you break
With love & knowledge, Mohammad
accept ..as cause him take
Why would you then obeisance make
to others after that?"



It's a bit confusing. :s because of the word "You".

As i got it, in first three lines, "You" is referring to Muhammad PBUH and it is referring to us (the reader) in last three lines.

So to rephrase it:
"When You(Mohammad PBUH) are giving us this glorious news by saying that God is without any partner, then why would you(reader) show obedience to anyone else after that? Accept this news without any ambiguities!"

Am i right?

Secondly, according to Bhitai, the reason Muhammad PBUH knows this news is because of two things:
1- Love
2- Knowledge




Foosball Field - Macro Mode Photography

Players are covered in the mud! They are very hardworking! :D (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:      Macroshots.
  • File Name:           foosball_ground_view.jpg
  • Date snapped:     10 April 2011 8:19 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Dreamworld Resort, Karachi
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:               Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/3 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-200
  • Focal length:       6 mm



The Red Ice-cube - Macro Mode Photography

My first shot! This picture encouraged me to start photography and take more photos in digital macro mode. (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:      Macroshots
  • File Name:           the_red_icecube.jpg
  • Date snapped:     26 September 2010 4:00 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:              Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/400 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-80
  • Focal length:       6 mm



Everyone is a Winner!!!

Yeah! That's right! Players of every game are equally responsible for making the game proceed further. Participating, competing and learning from mistakes/ faults should be the ultimate aim of every participant of the game!

Let's analyze the question, "what is winning?"

Winning can be anything and it's definition varies with each player/participant, like winning can be:

1-Reaching to the top of the ladder.
2-Making other players feel that they've lost the game. (Negativity)
3-Participating, without thinking about final result.
4-Testing his strategy, potential, limits and ability to perform in tough, tougher and the toughest situations.
5-Learning from the faults and loopholes in the strategy.
6-Going ahead in life.

If we observe all of these points, these all can be achieved "even" after helping other player to win (there's no word like losing, because one cannot win alone)

So everyone is a winner! :)


Our Beautiful Flag - Macro Mode Photography


Jeevay...! Jeevay...! Jeevay Pakistannnn... Pakistan...Pakistan...Jeevay Pakistan (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:      Macroshots
  • File Name:           Our_flag.jpg
  • Date snapped:     11 November 2010 03:43 PM (PST)
  • Location:              Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:              Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/60 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-80
  • Focal length:       6 mm



Secret of Love's sorrow (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 7)

Image taken from here

"If you have learnt to long, by pain
be not distressed-
Secret of love's sorrow must be
never confessed-
Suffering is by the heart caressed,
and there it is preserved."



OK! I got this:

If you are suffering and you have got no one with whom you can share the suffering (or cause of the sorrow), don't worry! You don't need to confess it. Keep it in your heart as there is no place and friend better than your own heart!

Now the part i didn't get is why is he saying that secret of love's sorrow must not be shared with anyone but your heart?

To me, one should share everything with people around you. It helps others and you yourself as well to get better understanding of certain things and experiences.

Sooo... To understand his concept:

1-Your heart here may mean everyone
2-This sorrow may be of different type, may be it is "flipped"... err... opposite i mean. By sharing sorrow, you feel good, but in this case, you may feel better by "not sharing" it.
3-Protect this suffering. It may be an asset!

These are still "may-s".

Are these true? What do you people think?


Pair of Dices - Macro Mode Photography

"Heyyyy!! I love to photograph objects in close-up mode man!" It was the first expression after i accidentally took a photo of "Red ice-cube" (posted here) and saw the amazing result! :D From that day onwards, my camera takes pictures here and there, mostly of in-close objects. I thought i should share them here as well. :)
So here it goes:

I needed an object to photograph! So grabbed these dices and captured them! (Click to enlarge)

  • Album Name:      Macroshots
  • File Name:           the_dice.jpg
  • Date snapped:     06 November 2010 11:11 PM (PST)
  • Location:             Home
  • Resolution:          1600x1200 pixels
  • Camera:              Canon DIGITAL IXUS 85 IS
  • Exposure Time:   1/200 sec.
  • ISO speed:           ISO-80
  • Focal length:       6 mm



Urdu lovers, great news for you!


Yup! Google Blogger recently announced the urdu transliteration feature. With the help of this tool, you won't need to use urdu keyboard. It'll convert any word written in "Roman English" to "Urdu" automatically. (if u'll write the word "justujoo" as it is, it'll be replaced by جستجو automatically)

This will only be available on the new post editor, so you'll have to upgrade to this new editor. To enable this feature, follow these steps:



1- Go to the Settings

2- Then go to Basics tab

3- Scroll down to Global Settings, select "updated editor" in Post editor option 

4- Now select "Enable" for the option Enable transliteration? and select "urdu" from the drop down menu.





For more help, check this link out: Google Blogger transliteration article.

I guess i found a way to post my Urdu poetry now! :D


There is no bitter! (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 9)

Image taken from here


"All from Beloved's side is sweet
whatever He gives to you.
There is no bitter, if you knew
the secret how to taste."




I think this stanza is in parallel continuation with "Echo and Call" (secret of taste) and "I'll meet my master" (everything from Beloved's side is sweet).

As i read this stanza, i am thinking that man has been made as a neutral thinker. Like he has been given choice to go either towards negative(which he thinks is positive) or positive. We have been given a tool to taste and feel "bitterness" but at the same time we can sense "sweet" too.

Challenge is that you taste bitter (consider it as a tool to study sweetness) and convert that bitterness to sweetness... in your perception... and may be in reality :s

In any case, you have to observe dark to understand bright...


K Jo Tum Main Ye Dum, Wo Kisi Main Nahin!!


The lyrics are not limited to cricket only (no chakkaas or chokaas or ghumma k phaink or any other cricket term). It's for everyone! Observe, enjoy and eat the food! :)

Lyrics:
Hay josh e junoon, hai yea apna yaqeen, keh jo tum may hai  dum, woh kisee may nahi
chalo agay chalo, kahay Pak zameen, k jo tum may hai dum, woh kisee may nahi
chalo agay chalo, kahay Pak zameen,
hay josh e junoon, hai yea apna yaqeen, keh jo tum may hai  dum, woh kisee may nahi

Joshe junoooooooooon, khud pe yaqeeeeeen, jo tum main hai duuuuum, kisi main nahiiiiiiin!!

Muqadar iss tarah jagay, qadam her dumm, barhain aagay
tumharay hoslon seh ho, watan ki aik naaee pehchaaan
chalo agay chalo, kahay Pak zameen,
hay josh e junoon, hai yea apna yaqeen, keh jo tum may hai  dum, woh kisee may nahi
chalo agay chalo, kahay Pak zameen, k jo tum may hai dum, woh kisee may nahi

Abhi hai justuju baqi, abhi hai aarzoo baqi
k tum aisay khilaari ho jo maaray gir k bhi baazi!
chalo agay chalo, kahay Pak zameen,
hay josh e junoon, hai yea apna yaqeen, k jo tum may hai  dum, woh kisee may nahi
chalo agay chalo, kahay Pak zameen, k jo tum may hai dum, woh kisee may nahi

Joshe junoooooooooon, khud pe yaqeeeeeen, jo tum main hai duuuuum, kisi main nahiiiiiiin!!


Song composed and arranged by : Shuja haider and Naqash Haider
Lyrics : Sabir Zafar
Singer : Ali Azmat - Official Website
Mix and Mastered : Mcanzee tim (UK) and Naqash
Studio: Speedofsound
Client: LU – Bakeri
Agency: Spectrum YandR
Download mp3: Josh-e-Junoon by Ali Azmat



We all love change right?


Yup! As we progress in our lives, we try to make things better and better for people around us. Changing anything does not mean that you completely change everything but keeping previous good elements and eliminating or improving on flawed ones.

So here comes my newly "dressed up" blog. :D

Make sure you check navigation bar frequently as i'll post some interesting stuff in different categories in coming days, which is one of the reasons i changed the look of this blog.

There are still some problems in the template but will be adjusted soon.

Your feedback regarding the reading experience will be appreciated :)

Keep reading...


I'll meet my master!!! (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 6)

Original version can be found here
6

"A thousand doors and windows too,
the palace has ..but see,
Wherever I might go or be
master confronts me there"

He just sees master, everywhere! every time!

hmmmm.... Bhitai has used words "doors" and "windows", so function of doors and windows? They lead to certain paths/exits. To understand this stanza, i imagined:

"i am in a room of a building. It's a huge empty room! Vast like a sea. There are loads of exits in this room, can't decide which door leads to which path. There are many windows too, which can show me some glimpse of different paths. I am confused!....... hmm... Ok then, i'll select this door. i know, wherever i'll go, i'll meet my master!"


Echo & Call (Peace - Chap1 - Stanza 5)

Original version can be found here
5

             The Echo and the call are same,
             if you sound's secret knew
             They both were one, but two became
             only when 'hearing' came.

We'll go word by word:

  1. Call: I think this word has been used for the "messenger/teacher" here. Like the one who tells or delivers you certain message/thought. I think we can take it as "source of the message" as well
  2. Echo: Scientifically, it is the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves. In this context, "message taker/interpreter" is being represented by this word.
  3. Sound: The medium through which the message/thought is coming.
  4. Sound's secret: The secret way to use this medium. It is a secret as we don't know it yet, but he knows it.(Bhitai has used the word "you" instead of "we" in the second line. So i am asuming that he knew this secret)
  5. Hearing: Scientifically, it is one of the Human's senses to understand any message. Here this word can be taken as the "resistance" to understand the message/thought.

As far as I've undersood, Bhitai is saying that whoever is giving a message to you, in any form, in any reflection, every echo is equal to the call. So when we look at world in this manner, everywhere is source and every thing is covered in light.

But due to our desire to be "different" from others, and to walk with our heads up, we start to see impurities in this World, in every scene, in every thought, in every color...

So we'll have to hear the message as Bhitai has heard. But we can only "repair" or "improve" our hearing after we know the sound's secret.