Arif & Ali's Blog » General

Don’t Watch your Step for too Long.

arif — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:07:14 +0000

Step Up, Instead.

Will Miss you Steve.

arif — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:41:59 +0000

I still remember my awe at my first ipod. It changed my life. I was never one for much music. However, the number of lectures, podcasts, speeches I began to listen to thanks to the ipod, multiplied several times over. I was benefitting so much from it, that eventually each and everyone of my family members (my brother, my mom, dad, wife) began to own one (sometimes two or more). That has been the story with each and every Apple product that I have owned. After I got my Macbook, I began blogging, podcasting more than before. With the ipad I have been reading more than before.They have helped me become more me. The “i” before each Apple product is not misplaced. It does indeed help each reach into or express one’s truly self.

What a briliant individual to design tools that work seemlessly well across ages, generations and cultures. Wait a go Steve. Will miss you dearly.

I have been watching Steve Jobs videos over the past two days. Here are a few of my favourite short ones:

Focussing is about saying NO.
Brilliant Video. Just 3 mins long

If you enjoyed that there’s another 5 minute bit from the same gathering that’s worth watching here.

Steve Jobs Tells us a Secret
That was interesting, never knew that’s the way it happened.

Death is life’s best invention
A one minute excerpt of his famous Stanford Speech

If you have not heard his Speech, drop everything and do it now from here.

Blogging Live from Freedom Park, Bangalore – Day 3

arif — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 01:34:32 +0000

9 April 2011, 11:50 AM

OMG! What Euphoria. People were in tears. I was in tears. Was busy helping out so couldn’t manage to take many pics of the celebrations. Thanks to Girish, for coming in the nick of time and helping out with these pics. With this parting shots I am signing out. This is Arif Vakil, having opened my fast, reporting live from Freedom Park, Bangalore India.

Mein Lal is liye pehna hon, kyon kay meri Shaadi hai.

Mein nay Desh say Shaadi ki hai

Hum Honge Kamyaaab…

Well said Girls. Couldn’t have put it better myself.

Balle…Balle..Jai HO!

Bharat Mata ki….

Jai!

That’s me after almost 48 hours of fasting. I have never felt more energised!

9 April 2011, 6:44 AM

Wow! What a marathon. We did it. Late last night, we heard the news that all demands have been accepted and that Annaji shall break his fast next morning. As of now, we’ve all woken up groggy with a hangover from last night’s late-discussion and celebration. Some pics from last night and today morning.

*Yawn* Do I have to get up.

Ashutosh, Indra and Sumit, three who have entered their Fifth Day of Fasting.

“We’re going to open our fast only after Anna Hazare Does.”

News X gets an early interivew, before the official announcement.

Smashing Headlines.

And again and again and again…

Blogging Live from Freedom Park, Bangalore-Day 2

arif — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 05:12:27 +0000

8 April 2011, 8:12 PM

We just had the most amazing Candle light Vigil. Never have so many diverse people been taken to the streets in Bangalore for a common cause. If you ask me, I think we’ve got 5,000 people. The energy, the spirit, it’s…it’s… I don’t know I’m speechless.

A Protestor displaying his placard

Overwhelming crowd! The little lights you see till the end are
candle lights. Yes they do continue all the way to horizon.

India Against Corruptions, youngest supporter

Close up!

Gali Gali mein Shor Hai. Mera Neta Chor Hai!

Yes, But Unity will Kill Corruption!

8 April 2011, 3:18 PM

The crowd has marginally thinned, but the spirit is just as strong. Here are pics of the last few hours

Here are pics of volunteers who are making the show go on 24/7.

We were just loudly and actively joined by the bar association

8 April 2011, 12:24 PM

The very politicians that we are standing up against, have come with their entourage, banners and musclemen. We couldn’t stop them and so they’re having their time in the limelight.

8 April 2011, 11:39 AM

The Crowd has just exploded here. Sitting on the stage, it seems the crowd reaches horizon. Kanada Superstar Upendra just came here.

8 April 2011, 10:14 AM

As of now there are porbably 200 people here now. The car parking lot has been cleared as we expect a large number today. We are sure to touch 10,000 today, it may even reach 50,000. TV reporters have started coming and are now a common sight here at Freedom Park. Some pictures from now

Several have joined the Hunger-strike

A movement supported by all ages and all classes

——————————————————————————————

8 April 2011, 12:05 AM

Yesterday the crowds starting leaving 10 Pm. However volunteers stayed well till 2 AM planning and strategising activities and events for the next day. Today our target is to have 10,000 individuals gathered at Freedom Park. Here are some pics from behind the scenes, after the crowds left.

Volunteers working overtime to design Badges for Supporters to wear

Those on Hunger Strike calling it a night.

Blogging Live from Freedom Park, Bangalore-Day 1

arif — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:53:53 +0000

Starting today I have joined the hunger-fast at Freedom Park, Bangalore. I’m doing all that I can to stop corruption in my country. Please join the movement. It’s our movement. Those who’ll benefit will be us and our children. If we don’t, then we have no right to complain. One has to pay a bribe here to get one’s birth certificate, property registered, even to file an FIR with the Police Station. Here’s your chance to do something about it. If you are in Bangalore, just come to Freedom Park today to show your support. If you are in any other city in India, join the support movement there. Jai Hind.

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

“Inqilaab Zindabad!”

“Pass karo, pass karo, Bill Humara Pass Karo”

“Down Down Corruption!”

‘Bharat Mata ki … Jai”

“Vande Mataram”

The atmosphere is just electric. Slogans of “Inqilaab Zindabaad!”, “Down, Down, Corruption” and my favourite, “Pass, Karo. Pass Karo. Bill Humara, Pass Karo” is echoing through Freedom Park. The movement that Anna Hazare has certainly started crossed it’s tipping point. There is no turning back. The bill will certainly be passed now.

Here is a glimpse of Freedom Park today:

How to be Somebody.

arif — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:55:27 +0000

“I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific.”

-Lily Tomlin

The Funniest Report on what’s happening in the Middle East

arif — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:51:17 +0000

ha ha ha ha…this guy so cracks me up!

Dance Of Dictators

Here we go again, another squirming dictator with dire cramps and julaabs, in Libya this time. If it were not for the bloodshed there, his rantings on TV this morning in a womanly voice would have been comical. You know, I had not heard Ghaddafy speak before and with the press terming him a �strongman� I assumed he would have a deeper, manly tenor. Not so, he sounded almost feminine. Ah, well, perhaps he was just nervous with all the fatakras of gunfire going on around Libya. Nightmares, perhaps, dreaming of life in Saudi Arabia with Ali Zain el Abedeen (maybe Mubaarak and others as well?) as neighbors did not agree with his voice box. Perhaps.

What I do not understand is the US and Europeans posturing on these very interesting and exciting, I must confess, developments in the Maghreb and Middle East in general. BBC and CNN have not a clue, as usual, bringing in dubious �experts� speaking awful English to explain why Ghaddafy would open fire on his own people. Duh! For corrupted power! For exactly the same reason blood was shed in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and numerous countries where dictators felt cramps of julaabs from a populace fed up with tyranny and injustice. There, I am no expert, but have simply explained why Ghaddafy did what he did. In simple, plain, snotty Queen�s English; put me on the tube!

Corrupted power supported and fed by the same governments that now go �Oh, what happened? How terrible! No bloodshed! Democracy must rule (except in Gaza and Iran where people are stupid and elect wrong people as leaders)!� The US and UK supported Mubaarak for decades while he prostituted himself in selling out the Palestinian cause and amassed a disgusting personal fortune of about 70 billion US$ � read carefully now, that is a B for billion. They welcomed him at number 10 and White House with honor, dignity, patted his fat arse with an attaboy and made him even fatter with fine food and wine. In Egypt meanwhile, where I used to frequently travel on business, poverty and crime improved every time I returned. Arbitrary arrests, confinements, torture and murders by Mubaarak�s thugs were overlooked in the name of regional stability suitable for western �democracy�.

In Libya, where a brilliant lunatic has been able to cunningly outfox both internal and external foes, was able to lure the EU for lucrative oil / gas deals. For money; easily forgotten were the killing of a lady cop outside the Libyan embassy in London and the downing of Pan Am 103. The very powers that were loathing of the dictator welcomed him to Italy and France; Tony Blair, tongue hanging, with that sinister, peculiar sneer on his face, landed dancing in Tripoli, praising, hugging, kissing Ghaddafy, all bhai � bhai. Why, Silvio Berlusconi even allowed Ghaddafy to set up tent right in the middle of Rome with a harem of females, a passion very much close to Berlusconi�s heart; they have met each other 13 times in 3 years, so much their love and devotion to each other.

Now, as I see Ghaddafy fortunes crumble around him, making him squirm and as the noose tightens around his crown jewels, I can only pray and hope Libya will be saved the inevitable bloodletting that seems imminent. The saturation of Muslims in Europe that Sarkozy, Berlusconi and company most feared looks like an ever increasing possibility. Not through violent jihadist or mayhem, but exactly as Ghaddafy jokingly predicted to Berlusconi in Rome; by the influx of Maghreb Muslims. Little did Ghaddafy realize it will be his persecution, his suppression and his outstanding cruelty that will prove this prophecy true.

POSTED BY ALIYUSUFALI AT 1:20 AM

A Doctor’s Prayer

arif — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 06:14:52 +0000

I clicked this at Dr. Pooya’s Clinic in Bangalore.

Because every child deserves to go back to School.

arif — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 04:46:14 +0000

Dear Friends,

This is an appeal for funds. I keep my appeals on my blog to a minimum. It’s only when I’ve exhausted other resources that I spread my arms here.

I am a part of a group that actively supports a slum in Bangalore. Our core activity is running an interest-free Micro Finance service, to encourage women entrepreneurs to set up small business/trades of their own. Over the years we’ve undertaken many projects to improve the struggling lives of the slum dwellers. Our other initiatives have been:

- We’ve started a clinic at Rajendranagar Slum that consults ailing patients for a minimum fee of Rs. 10/.

- We regularly conduct tailoring classes for girls/women so that they are either self-employed or get employed at the local garment factories. Till date we have trained 60 women.

- We have hired and have on our payroll English Teachers to help the local Govt. School children of the Slum to learn English so that the transition from an Urudu/Kannada Medium school is easier.

One can see a lot of the work that we’ve done at our Foundation’s website by clicking here.

Rs. 5,000/- that’s all it takes.
Another of our intiatives have been to ensure that maximum children at Rajendranagar Slum have a full year education. We have been distributing scholarships over the last three years. This year our requirement has been about Rs. 8,00,000/- to sponsor 170 children. We have raised Rs. 6,00,000 and are Rs. 2,00,000 short. We have gone the extra mile and put these kids in school, promising the school that we will somehow arrange the funds and pay them their fees. Now since the fees are still overdue, the school is stopping these children first from sitting for test or exams and now some kids are forced to sit in the playground all day and not attend classes.

I implore you please contribute generously. I have personally met these children. They are bright and one can see that they have potential for greatness. If only someone would help them. If only we’d help them. Why should they live in tin sheds while our children live in high-rise apartments. Why should we have good clean toilets, were as they have to expose themselves in public to relieve themselves. Giving them a basic education is the first step to ensure that they and their families lead better lives. If 40 of us contribute just Rs. 5,000 each, these kids can step inside the school and attend classes again. Rs. 5,000 is just Dh 500 or just $100/-

You can contribute here:
You may write the cheque favouring Swabhimaan and please send the cheque to:
Swabhimaan
B 405 Raheja Residency, 3rd Block
Koramangala, Bangalore
India
Mob: +91 9945436757 (Contact: Venkat)

Please do let me know or Venkat (+91 9945436757) know once you’ve sent the payment so that Venkat can look out for the same.

Thank you so much guys!

By the way the above picture is not some stock image. It’s a picture that I clicked at Rajendranagar Slum of kids waiting outside an Aanganwadi (a Government Play Home) waiting for it to open.

Here’s a small presentation that you can click through to learn more about Rajendranagar, our activities and Scholorship appeal.

About rajendranagar and appeal for scholorship

View more presentations from Arif V Vakil.

What Should Calvin Do?

arif — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:57:11 +0000

Gandhigiri Says:
Give Moe the rest of the toys with a smile in an attempt to send him on a Guilt Trip

Osama Says:
Bomb that Sucker

Bush:
Have endless, meaningless, pointless, Peace Talks between Moe and Calvin till they both graduate and leave school.

MR. T:
Eat Protein and Pump Iron. (Thanks Riaz bhai for this one :-)

Other Creative Suggestions:
Complain to the Teacher. But what if the Teacher doesn’t care?
Rally other Students to standup to Moe
Start Bawling loudly to create a scene to Shame Moe to giving back the Truck.

What I think:
Tell Moe the bully that he is and take the punch for it.

What’s your suggestion? What Should Calvin Do?