SIMPLICITY

I remember men who knew a hundred sorrows,
and the gratitude they felt for gifts.

Joy and sorrow pass, each by each,
failure at one moment, happy success the next.

But not for me. I have chosen freedom
from the world's cares. I chose simplicity.

- Hsieh Ling-yun

Read More

Two Countries

Skin remembers how long the years grow
Skin had hope, that's what skin does.
Heals over the scarred place, makes a road.
it remembers being alone and thanks something larger
that there are travelers, that people go places
larger than themselves.
Love means you breathe in two countries.

- Naomi Shihab Nye

Read More

PLATONIC LOVE

I didn't know I loved the earth
can someone who hasn't worked the earth love it
I've never worked the earth
it must be my only Platonic love

- Nazim Hikmet

Read More

"EARTH FROM THE AIR" PHOTO EXHIBITION- BLINDS ARE WELCOME

The exhibition has taken 10 years of research and fieldwork to produce, in which time Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the acclaimed aerial photographer has taken over 100,000 shots and clocked up more than 3,000 flying hours, travelling across 100 countries. The images, all aerial photographs, capture the characteristics and patterns of the natural world which can only be seen from a bird's-eye view. The exhibition is on display at London's Natural History Museum since November 2002 but recently Bertrand has added 30 tactile images in the exhibition.

"Over 40 million people have seen this exhibition so far worldwide, and now this new technique opens up not only the photographs but also the message they bring to a whole new audience(i.e. the blinds)," Bertrand says.

Read more here.

Read More

INFLUENCE OF IRAN IN BENGAL

Hooman has recently posted about the history of Iran. He was wondering whether others are interested in that topic. In fact his post inspired me to discover the influence of Iran in our culture. Hope this can add some value to those who want to spend some time reading this topic.

The Turks established Muslim rule in Hindu Bengal. Though Iran is neither contiguous to Bengal, nor did Iranians get a chance to establish their rule in this country, yet Iranian influence was consistently dominant in Bengal throughout the Muslim rule; First the Turks, then the Afghans & Mughals. Bengal is a large part of the former undivided India now divided into Bangladesh (former East Bengal) and the province of West Bengal in India. 'Bangla' is the main language of both the parts. The culture & heritage are common but Bengal was divided in 1947 by a farcical partition on the basis of religion. Muslims were compelled to choose East Bengal under Pakistan rule (now Bangladesh) and the Hindus were compelled to choose West Bengal under Indian rule. Millions of people migrated and lost their lives or valued possessions in the process. Some of them refused to migrate and were subject to racial discrimination. I will write about this event in another post.

It may be noted that even Arab culture came under the influence of Persia after its conquest by them. Persian language and culture was so rich and attractive that even the Turks and Afghans adopted Persian as the official language in Indian subcontinent under Muslim rule. The Iranian language, i.e. Persian, was the official language of Bengal throughout the Muslim Period and Persian literature enormously influenced Bangla literature. A great many Persian words entered Bangla language and literature, into official documents and the idiom of court circles. This was possible due to the immigration of many Iranians to Bengal in the train of Muslim conquest and in the service of the rulers. The Iranians came and engaged themselves either in peaceful pursuits or joined the army or the administration. Those of the first category included the Ulama, teachers, poets and those of the second category were the subahdars, nazims, and diwans. The famous Iranians who visited Bengal during Afghan & Mughal rules include Bakhtitar Khalji, Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi & Qazi Minhaz-i-Siraj. In the 18th century many Shia Muslims from Iran came and settled in the cities of Bengal: Murshidabad, Dhaka, Hugli etc. Whenever any Iranian officer came to Bengal he was accompanied by a number of his adherents and supporters. In this way people of Iranian origin increased, some made this country their home and settled and died here, while others left for their homes or for northern India.

Read More

Bangladesh vs. Australia - 2nd Test

Bangladesh build respectable total at Cairns after surviving two potentially debilitating collapses.

At close of first day's play:
Bangladesh 289 for 8 (Sarkar 76, Bashar 46, Hossain 46; MacGill 5-77).

Australia takes on charge and cruises on nicely in the second day.

At close of second day's play:
Bangladesh 295, Australia 351/3 (Lehmann 156*, Waugh 74*, 85 overs).

Australia went on to put a mammoth total with 3 centuries and declared at 556/4 after Tea on the third day. To save the day Bangladesh needed to stay for 35 overs. Hannan Sarker & Habibul Bashar did well upto 29th over and Bangladesh was 87/1 at that point. Then a collapse put Bangladesh's score to 90/4; 3 wickets were down within 7 balls. The day ended with Bangladesh's 106/4 on the board.

At close of third day's play:
Australia 556/4 decl. (Lehmann 177, Waugh 156*, Love 100*, 139.2 overs)
Bangladesh 106/4 (Sarker 55, Bashar 25, 35 overs).

Read More

Monsoon

It is the wind system that dominates the climate of South Asia and the area around the Indian Ocean. The word �monsoon� is derived from the Arabic word �mawsim� which means �seasons�. The monsoon cycle is believed to have started about 12 million years ago with the uplift of the Himalayas.

During the summer season, a center of low pressure develops over the western part of India because of the intense heating of the landmass, while high pressure develops over the relatively cool Indian Ocean. This pressure difference causes the wind to flow from the high pressure area to low pressure area, which is from ocean to land in this case. As a result, the summer monsoon winds brings enormous amount of moisture, causing heavy rainfall in the subcontinent, especially in Bangladesh and neighboring states of India.

Now, it is the monsoon season in Bangladesh. Barsha (monsoon) is the most dominating season in Bangla literature, particularly in poetry. Today it rained almost all day although a bit infrequently. And when it rains in Dhaka, it pours. Sometimes it continues for a couple of days. Not a brisk drizzle like what you get in England. Streets in city side low areas soon got inundated with water above the toe because of the clogged drains. I was going to a city side region but could not go after a point where the water level was already up to the exhaust pipe of my car. I stopped by a house in that region hoping that the rain will stops and the water level will decrease. But it kept on pouring. The scene of the rain was quite wonderful looking from the verandah. But I had to get back and was deprived of that natural beauty.

As I am posting this I am contemplating on the otherside of the beauty of rain. The deep shadow of the rainy july is the flood that beckons. Excess of everything is always bad. Excessive rain is threatening Bangladesh again generating a massive flood. Many rivers are flowing above the danger mark. Here is a poem telling about the strains of a soul using monsoon rain as metaphor.

"Tears pour upon my battered soul
Rain, washing life's blood
Heaping rain
Upon my brow
Stained with misery and pain
Humanity crying out
Save me from this wrenched stance
Of water everywhere
Society torn asunder from thy throes
How much can humanity bear
Nature out of control
Placing despair and cold
Life's warmth dripping from my soul. "

� Maria Reed-Shore

Read More

Are blogs written only for fame?

Recently I found Darren's site through Laura.

He is promoting the "underblogs", those who lacks exposer. I think almost everybody felt like this at the beginning 'I am sick of looking at my statistics counter and realising that I am almost the only person that reads what I write.' But there is always somebody like Darren who extends their helping hand. I think for me it was Dave who wrote me the first email and linked me to others. I hope I can carry over this generosity to someone else who needs it.

Now here comes the question in the title. Is lust for fame is one of the reasons for bloggers blooming everywhere?

Andy Warhol once said everyone is famous for 15 minutes, but in the case of a blog sometimes that 15-minute is too long. A blog's fame via a link can transform to infamy to others readers almost within a page view. Jeff Jarvis has aptly quoted 'Blogs, blogs everywhere, but not a good one to read'. Many blogs often get a wider audience than what they should frankly deserve.

So what does it take to make your blog make others interested? I think quality of content rather than quantity and quest for fame. Just like another media you ought to earn others' trust. People should understand that you are authentic and writing for a purpose. And whether the blog really represents yourself. You can be anonymous or with identity but it should reflect your personality.

I think I have already got my 15 minutes of fame. That shouldn't bug me. I should be blogging at my will as before. Even if infrequently, only for myself or to share with others when & what I feel like. That should be the spirit.

Update: Hooman has a great post called "Blogs' boom or bust".

Read More

All the World's a Stage

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts.

- William Shakespeare

Update: The mystery of Dr David Kelly's death deepened, with the revelation that he sent friends emails hours before his death, talking of being haunted by "many dark actors playing games". Quotes The Daily Telegraph. How ironic.

Read More

THOUGH FOR THE DAY

"Erst wenn der letzte Baum gerodet, der letzte Fluss vergiftet, der letzte Fisch gefangen ist, werdet ihr feststellen, dass man Geld nicht essen kann!"

-Only when the last tree is uprooted, the last river is poisoned, the last fish is caught , you will realize that one cannot eat money!

Read More

CRICKET AND BANGLADESH

For those of you who are trying to figure out what cricket is, it is a sport like baseball with bats, balls & players but the rules and ways are somewhat different.

Cricket has been played as a recognized sport since the early 18th century. The first recorded match was played in Sussex, England in 1697. Cricket is popular among the commonwealth countries where the British Empire ruled.

Cricket has been played in Bangladesh for nearly 200 years, having been introduced by the British rulers. Following the bloody freedom struggle, which ended in Bangladesh gaining independence in 1971, cricket has continued to grow.

In 1997, Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy in Malaysia, qualifying for its first ever world cup appearance. Soon after, Bangladesh, along with Kenya was granted full One Day International (ODI) status by the ICC. Bangladesh posted its first ODI win against Kenya in India in 1998.

In June 2000 Bangladesh earned the test status not for their playing standard but for the potential. Those who are wondering what the test status is, it is an elite class of ten members among the cricket playing nations who can play the official Five-Day Test Matches.

Bangladesh's passion for football is notable. But passion for cricket is spreading rapidly because of its success. If you go to rural areas you will find street kids playing in unprepared fields with makeshift bats. Its not that they want to excel in play and are trying to make some money by becoming professional players, but they simply love the game.

It is unlikely that a nation of almost 14 million people will not be able to produce 11 world-class players to make a real competition among test playing nations. But after getting the Test status, Bangladesh's form and Performance are declining. This is a blow to the cricket lovers and their inclusion among test nation is being harshly criticized.

I just want to say to the people who criticizes Bangladesh's bad performance questioning the eligibility of their test status: 'If you criticize a baby every time it falls it will never try to walk again and rather be cripple for the rest of the life.'

So I hope established cricket playing nations would provide Bangladesh with their help, guidance and support so that it can walk easily someday.

Bangladesh is currently on a Tour to Australia playing a Test match against the hosts in Darwin. The first day was bad for Bangladesh. With the efforts of Bangladesh's new Australian coach Dave Whatmore, they showed some resilience in the 2nd day against the mighty Australians (Currently ranked as No. 1 in the world and the current world champs). Current Score after 2nd days play: Bangladesh 97 all out (1st Innings) & 70/1 (2nd Innings), Australia 407/7 declared (Steve Waugh 100, D. Lehmann 110). However the play is likely to last only 3 days with Bangladesh's succumbing to defeat to Australians.

Tim Blair has precisely described the event: 'For Bangladesh, this is like Australia taking on Italy in soccer.'

Update: Michael Jennings' thoughts on day two of the Bangladesh v Australia test are here.

Read More

TURNINGTABLES - THE DIARY OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER IN IRAQ

I have heard of US soldiers blogging from warfield. But have never read one. I have found the anonymous ranting of a GI deployed in Iraq in the blog turningtables and I was deeply moved by his writing. Go read the whole site if you have'nt yet. A must read. Here are some excerpts.

i want to discuss...and learn...and hear...there are other opinions in this world besides mine...besides ours...i want to understand...why we feel these things...where is it all coming from...where will it all go...

they blame me personally for the deaths of countless children...they accuse me and each american for the horrendous atrocities inflicted upon their people...they hate us and wish us harm...i don't know about you...but i have never killed a baby or destroyed a home...but does that make me innocent...

do horrible things happen under our watch...do we turn a blind eye to death...because it is not down the block...it's off in some country that most americans probably can't even find on a map...out of sight...out of time...

i tell those who hate me that the feeling is not mutual...that i understand where they are coming from...i can see why they feel the way they do...i don't agree with these things either....because why??? i read a book...i looked at a few websites...is that really enough...what will it take to end this hate...someone please tell me...i'm running out of ideas...

i sit here all night trying to change the world from my lap top...and it's beginning to weigh on me...there is a story here that deserves to be told...there are other sides to this multi faceted goliath...

i forgot to tell you what i feel...i feel like atlas...with the weight of the world as my burden...simply because i have waken up to it...

please...

someone else wake up and help me...

Read More

BLOGS SHALL SET YOU FREE

Pedram of Eyeiranian has wrote an article explaining why you need your own blog. Go check it out here. I bet you would be interested to start your own if you do not have one.

Thanks Jeff for the link.

Read More

NATURAL CALAMITY

Bangladesh is known to many as a land cursed with natural calamities. Being a Ganges delta in the bay of Bengal, with a close to sea level height and numerous riverines it is prone to flood & cylone. The people are used to deal with these threats. Many lives are wasted every year on the onslaught of these calamities.

This year Bangladesh is on the verge of another worse flood. Continuous rise of Ganges at all its points is threatening many riversides and millions are marooned already(reports The Daily Independent). A few days ago a marine transport vessel capsized due to strong current and swirls with its almost 1000 passengers in Meghna river near Chandpur. Only 120 bodies were recovered and the double-decker launch is still missing. Strong currents are preventing rescue workers from continuing the search. Let us pray for the deaprted souls and lets hope that the affected people have the courage to overcome this.

I have found some interesting lines in the googlism.
-natural calamity is always a tragedy
-natural calamity is the law of nature
-natural calamity is a central idiom of the media
-natural calamity is one that causes widespread loss of crops, people, shelters, infrastructures
-natural calamity is so serious that the state government does not have adequate funds to deal with it

No wonder why Bangaldesh is still called a poor country instead of all its potentiality to rise above.

Read More

REVIEW

God, again and again
through the ages
you have sent messengers
to this pitiless world:
They have said, 'Forgive everyone',
they have said,' Love one another-
Rid your hearts of evil.' ....
....My voice is choked to-day;

I have no music in my flute:
Black moonless night
has imprisoned my world,
plunged it into nightmare.
And this is why,
with tears in my eyes, I ask:
Those who have poisoned your air,
those who have extinguished your light,
can it be that your have forgiven them?
Can it be that you love them?

-Rabindranath Tagore
(Translated by William Radice)

Read More

Blogspot & persianblog blocked in Iran

Hoder reported on 10th of July, 2003
"Hamshahri, a very well-known newspaper, has reported that all Blogspot and Persianblog subdomains plus my own Persian and English weblogs (Editor:Myself) are blocked by the government. It might be something temporary in order to control the information from outside in the days of July 9th anniversarry. But anyways, they have done it now I guess it desreves attention."

Read More

Bookends Theme
- P. Simon, 1968

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you

Click here to listen to Simon & Garfunkel MIDIS.

Read More

LESSONS FOR A WANNABE JOURNALIST

Take the virtual lesson tour. If you have the patience & courage to complete the tour you've done it! Keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks Rohini for the link.

Read More

THE RATING OF THIS BLOG IS


What rating is your blog?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to Shanti for the link.

Read More

WHY WORRY?

Why worry, there should be laughter after the pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now

- Dire Straits

Read More

RSS & XML

Inspired by Sassan's list of RSS links I browsed a few sites to know about RSS and its uses. Oh boy I was totally lost. The best find was this article which sums up "RSS is a method of distributing links to content in your web site that you'd like others to use."

There are many articles & sites about how to do it. But things went over my head - way to much information was available. Can anybody just let me know the followings:
*Who uses RSS & how it can be used?
*How RSS is created & which one is the simplest?
*Is it really worth putting RSS on my site (do I need it)?

Read More

Euro English

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English
will be the official language of the European Union rather than German
which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, Her
Majesty's Government conceded that English spelling had some room for
improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become
known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will
make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in
favour of the "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan
have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the
sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with the "f".
This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter. In the 3rd year, publik
akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where
more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the
removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate
speling. Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in
the
languag is disgrasful and it should go away. By the 4th yer peopl wil
be
reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords containing
"ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu
understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Read More

THE HOOMAN-MICHAEL LEDEEN DEBATE

Jeff Jarvis appreciates this.

It's extraordinary that Iranian civilians are getting the world's ear via weblogs. And it's extraordinary that a columnist/policymaker of Ledeen's stature is engaging both Iranians and webloggers. There's more history and subtlety here than I fully understand, so I'm sitting back and watching -- and loving -- this show. This, my friends, is the power of this new medium.

Read More

WHATS HOT IN BLOGOSPHERE

There are two good posts put up recently. One in Pedram Moallemian's "The Eyeiranian" about the treatment of the first generation immigrants in US. The post is titled "First nation".

The other is in Hooman's blog about Michael Ledeen. He was national security adviser to the US president during 1982-1986, under secretary of political affairs at the U.S. State Department during 1982-1986, consultant at the Office of the Secretary of Defense during 1982-1986, and special adviser to the Secretary of State during 1981-1982. He is now a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and an adviser to the Pentagon. He was widely criticised for his comments on Iran's democracy and the role of US. Specially for his address in the policy forum titled "Time to Focus on Iran - The Mother of Modern Terrorism". The post originated from Mr. Ledeen's comment in the eyeiranian site.

If internet & blogging weren't there do you believe comments like these would be posted? e.g. Hooman said:
We live in an extraordinary age when a prominent person like you and an ordinary guy like me can exchange ideas in the cyber space.
There is actually an interesting discussion with Michael Ledeen himself & Hooman. Go check it out.

Read More

ANOTHER BUSY DAY

I hate busy days. I am not getting time to post anything or browse other sites. Iman has put up an interesting post on cultural background & life . I wanted to post a thought but couldn't make it. Perhaps later I will. Bye for now.

Read More