My darling, the light of my eyes…
Posted by Aamir on Oct 11 2008 at 10:13 pm | 5 Comments »
Ths week I was down with the flu which cost me three days of work. I suspect that I caught the bug from my seven year old daughter, Noor, who had been sick last week. In the process of taking care of her last 
week and being home the better part of this week, I got to spend a lot of quality sick time with my Noor-ul-Ein (Arabic translation: the light of my eyes).
Between occasional bouts of drowsy naps we played a serious game of Monopoly, which stretched over two days; we fought over TV rights, one hour each, twice a day; we quizzed each other on general knowledge using the white board in her room; we caught up with each other’s likes, dislikes, favorites, friends, her school, my work, and life in general.
Then, today, as I felt good enough to get out of the house for the first time in three days, we headed for the Von Thun’s Farm in Monmouth Junction to hand pick apples and pumpkins. The annual Fall Harvest Festival was going on, and
we enjoyed the festivities and activities including hay rides, pony rides, pedal course, and face painting. Even the country music live band “Nashville Attitude” dedicated a song to her once I tipped them on the fact that Noor was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
The time spent together this week has been absolutely priceless, and we have some sizable pumpkins to show for it. I am making a promise to myself to plan for dedicated quality time with my 
daughter every week.
Amr Diab, a famous Egyptian musician and vocalist, also has a child named Noor. How interesting -another father-child team half way across the globe with the same first names. Please click the link below to play his song “Habibi ya Noor-ul-Ein” (My Darling, the light of my eyes) :
Speed dating 101
Posted by Aamir on Sep 27 2008 at 10:31 pm | 1 Comment »
It wa certainly a loose-cannon encounter at the U.N. this week between Pakistani President Asif Zardari and our VP candidate Sarah Palin. The rookie President, in the international limelight for the very first time, didn’t 
waste any time scoring points with the lady who may soon become the most powerful woman in the world. “You are even more gorgeous in life than on TV,” he said, “Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you.” How presidential is that? There was no restraining the widower whose wife had just been murdered nine months earlier. When an aid suggested that they shake hands, he said “If he’s insisting, I might hug.” Never mind that he represents a deeply conservative Muslim country where earlier that same day Pakistani and U.S. troops had exchanged fire at each other.
Come to think of it, President Zardari tried to make the most favorable impression he could in this short first meeting. After all, Mr. Pakistan and Miss USA have been in bed since the 1950s. He enjoys being the fourth largest recipient of U.S. aid (after Israel, Egypt, and Turkey) and she is able to fulfill her geo-strategic gratifications (Our spy planes that snoop on the region, Russia, and China operate out of bases in Pakistan).
But no one expects Sarah Palin to know all this yet. She might take President Zardari for an Italian.
Please click on the video below to view:
The Economy and Me - a historical perspective
Posted by Aamir on Sep 21 2008 at 6:17 am | 4 Comments »
Economic woes continue to hit us all at a very personal level. With the gas prices
hitting the roof, bank foreclosures popping up around us, already high taxes about to get higher, more and more people losing their jobs, and the value of our dollars falling, it is sometimes hard to stay optimistic. Indeed these are very challenging times for us.
I woke this morning thinking about these chain of events and making personal parallels.
July 17, 2006: I was promoted to a director level position with Gannett, Inc., America’s largest newspaper group. My salary got a boost, plus annual bonus, company stock and access to company car. We were thrilled and we added a third car to the family collection.
July 17, 2007: Bear Stearns hedge fund investing in sub prime investments collapsed. The price of gasoline started to go up. My wife continued to struggle through the surgery and very draining treatment for cancer
August 17: The Fed cut the discount rate by 50 basis points. Our son started college
September 18: Fed cut Fed funds rate by another 50 basis points. My employer, Gannett, 
consolidated its newspapers in Central Jersey in a cost cutting move. The price of gas jumped and I became annoyingly aware that we were burning a dollar every six miles
December 11: Fed cut discount rate by another 25 basis points. I inherited additional responsibilities at work, for which I had to come in on the week-ends. Still, I struggled with our medical and education bills
January 22, 2008: Fed made emergency cut of 75 basis points. My boss announced that drastic 
measures needed to be taken to reduce expenses and increase revenue
January 31: Fed delivered a further 50 basis point cut, marking the most abrupt easing since the 1980s. The company replaced my boss and the new boss pledged to do his best to turn the ship around
March 7: $200 billion dollar cash loan Fed intervention to banks and bond market dealers. No such intervention at work - company stock nose dived
March 10: $236 billion boost from Treasury security loans and cash loans to banks in Europe. I took a hardship withdrawal from my 401(k)
March 14: Fed announced emergency lending facility for Bear Stearns through JP Morgan. I filed our taxes and I found that we owe Uncle Sam a couple of thousand dollars
March 17: Bear Stearns collapsed - sold to JP Morgan for $2.00 per share. My boss notified me that 
he had changed my contract and I will no longer be entitled to my monthly commissions on revenues and will have to make do with salary only - an $18,000 hit on my personal income
May 28: Gannett eliminated some of its departments and cut 55 positions in Central Jersey. I came home with the pink slip, cut all the household expenses I could and sold my Infinity Q45
July 22: God intervened, and I secured my current position at the Princeton Packet
September 7: US government bailed out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage financiers, agreeing to inject up to $100 billion dollars per company. I remembered the times my mother had bailed me out financially
September 14: Lehman, the 158 year-old investment bank filed for bankruptcy after failing to 
attract Fed help, or a buyer. It is beneath my dignity to entertain the thought of personal bankruptcy and I made intention to struggle tooth and nail to survive, pay off our debts and thrive
September 15: Bank of America bought Merrill Lynch in $50 billion dollar emergency acquisition. I chose not to send in my clothes to the cleaners anymore deciding to wash and iron them myself
September 17: Treasury backed $85 billion dollar deal to fund AIG in order to stave off collapse of the giant insurer that plays a crucial part in the global financial system. I applied for financial aid at my daughter’s private school
September 18: Money market funds rush to reassure investors after the Reserve Primary Fund’s net 
asset value slipped below $1 a share for the first time in 14 years. Morgan Stanley’s capital position fell and shares tumble more than 33%. I spent the night worrying about my personal financial situation
September 21: President Bush has asked for $700 billion dollar bailout money. I have filled out an 
application for a non-revolving personal debt consolidation loan
As uncertain and arduous our immediate challenges are, I remain optimistic that in the long run the economy will bounce back and the days of prosperity will return again. I am optimistic that I will be able to provide well for my family again, and that the present struggle will make us more resilient and strengthen us for the better.
Time to Read
Posted by Aamir on Sep 14 2008 at 7:00 am | 3 Comments »
My interest in reading peaked many years ago when I worked for Time Warner. As the coordinator for the
Memphis division’s “Time to Read” literacy program in cooperation with the city police department, I organized weekly reading sessions with hundreds of inner city kids. To encourage the kids, we would use the latest edition of Time Magazine, People Magazine, and Sports Illustrated every week. We would break up in small groups and first we would scan the contents page — the headlines and bylines. Then each kid would pick one story of interest to read fully, and tell the 
group about it at the end. This lead to all kinds of wonderful discussions. The kids would make connections between various stories and events and their personal lives. We all had a great time, and yes, we all got hooked on reading.
Now, I look forward to reading my newspaper and magazines on my commute to work. I get USA Today, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, and of course, Time. But there is something missing. I do not find anyone with whom to share and discuss the week’s stories. Reading is just not much of a priority for folks anymore. Television has conditioned our passive left brain indifference to the events that unfold around us. We are neither interested in current affairs, nor engaged in conversation that requires right brain analysis. We don’t talk about issues beyond the basic — food, health, entertainment, work, family life etc. I think its a shame, because life is so much more interesting and there is so much more to talk about.
New World Disorder?
Posted by Aamir on Sep 12 2008 at 7:00 am | 4 Comments »
As the Palin/Obama personality nexus and the beginning of football season jostle for their share of our attention spans, trouble is brewing everywhere.
Venezuela and Bolivia kicked out our ambassadors from their countries this week. Iraq wants our troops out of their country. Pakistan does not want our troop crossing over from Afghanistan to their country, even if 
they are being shot at. Russia is flexing its muscles and has warned us of grave consequences if we interfere. Iran continues it nuclear ambitions. China showed off its might through organizing the best Olympic Games in history, during which it arrested some of our citizens who were protesting, jailed them, and expelled them later. And what do we have to show other than our $500 billion deficit? How well we handled the latest hurricane in Louisiana?
We still haven’t even caught the terrorists who bombed us on September 11th, 2001. Well today is September 12th, and this fact alone makes me very upset.
Come on America. We have been the hope of the world for more than a hundred years. We have been the leaders in business innovation, media, computers and the information age. Military diplomacy alone is not going to cut it. Let’s get our groove back. Let’s invest in strengthening our core - our industries and our education system — and win back our leadership position in the world. Let’s save the spirit of America.
How to Ace the SAT
Posted by Aamir on Sep 06 2008 at 6:06 am | 3 Comments »
Attention Parents and Students:
I attended a Princeton Chamber of Commerce meeting this week where the keynote speaker was Mr. Kurt Landgraf, the CEO of Educational Testing Service (ETS). He disclosed the following secrets to success in the test his company administers to millions around the globe:
1. When attempting a certain question or problem during the test, if you can narrow the possible answer down to two of the multiple choices, then take a guess. Studies show that such calculated guessing improves scores compared to skipping the question.
2. When working on a section of the exam start working on the questions in the end of the section and work your way towards the front. The questions in the back are worth more points.
3. Plan to take the SAT multiple times because studies show that the score increases each time one takes it. (”At $41 and change,” he added)
Helicopter parenting
Posted by Aamir on Sep 03 2008 at 8:52 am | 1 Comment »
On the way in to work this morning there was an unusual amount of traffic. Of course, today is the first day back to school and we were stuck behind a school bus. It was interesting to see all these 
kids about to embark on a new school year. A full range of emotions could be observed. Some of the kids looked happy to be reunited with friends, others excited about their new class or school, some sleepy, and some sad because the bus represented the end of their summer vacation.
But the most miserable looking kids were those who had their parents out to see them off. In some instances, entire families had come out, with cameras and all. One mother engaged the driver in an extended conversation; oblivious to the traffic she was holding up. And what could she be saying? “Oh, take care of my 
baby… make sure my child sits in the front row,” etc. etc. It was quite a spectacle watching these particular kids get on the bus with their heads hanging in dismay.
Note to helicopter parents: Our kids desperately seek to be independent. It’s enough that we deny them that at home. Let’s not make them look bad in front of their peers. And please, try not to “hover” too much. See video below:
Resetting my life’s alarm
Posted by Aamir on Sep 01 2008 at 5:22 am | 4 Comments »
Last night I reset my alarm to 4:30 AM. This is the only time of year when I eagerly look forward to getting up at this time. Today is the first day of Ramadan — a special month of devotion, prayer, fasting and charity. It’s also a month of partying… as area Muslim families get together every evening at sunset to 
break their fasts and have a good time.
This morning I drank up two large glasses of water and ate the leftovers of yesterday’s dinner — rice, lentils and ground beef. The next time I’ll get to eat or drink anything will be tonight at around 7:30 PM. Extreme schedule? Sure, but I like to think of it as extreme detoxification — and an opportunity to lose a few extra pounds. But, unfortunately, because of the extreme partying and binge eating after sunset, some people actually gain weight during Ramadan. I am promising myself to learn my lessons from the past and eat moderately during the next thirty days. Moderation… that’s what our Imam keeps stressing during the Friday sermons?
Most importantly, this month I will try to refocus my relationship with God, our Creator — the universal God. I pray for peace, happiness and success for myself, my family, my friends, people at work, and everyone in America and beyond. Amen.
As a percentage to population, New Jersey has the second largest Muslim community in America, after Michigan. Unfortunately, the work of criminals that struck our city down in 2001 has focused much negative media attention on American Muslims. In fact, my entire beautiful religion was held hostage by the work of the terrorists. Since then, Central Jersey’s Muslim residents have tried to reach out to their friends and neighbors. There are many mosques in Central Jersey and you may recall passing one on Route 1 and Prominade in Monmouth Junction. Maybe its time you dropped by and said hi.
Hint: Come arount 7:30 PM and join the party!
Following women in New Jersey
Posted by Aamir on Aug 29 2008 at 7:54 am | 2 Comments »
On a recent trip upstairs to the editorial department at our offices in Princeton I discovered a book shelf in a little walkway full of interesting books. I picked up 
“Past and Promise, Lives of New Jersey Women,” and brought it home with me. It’s a unique volume which explores the lives and work of three centuries of New Jersey women.
The state of New Jersey gave women the right to vote in 1776 but later reconsidered and took that right away. Finally in 1920, our federal government adopted the constitutional amendment that granted that fundamental right to all “qualified” women in the United States. After the Civil War, the federal Constitution was amended to provide that no person could be denied the right to vote on the basis of race, but individual states put all kinds of roadblocks to deny African-Americans this right for another 100 years. It finally took the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s to enforce that amendment.
Today we have leaders like Condi Rice as our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton who won a record 23 contests in the race for Democratic Presidential nomination, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin who, as of today, was chosen by John McCain to be his vice-presidential candidate on the Republican ticket. Indeed, the 21st Century has finally arrived!
Once again, I discovered an eye opening book by accident. Now I have found another reason to go upstairs.
Why is Obama so skinny?
Posted by Aamir on Aug 28 2008 at 6:56 am | 2 Comments »
History was made last night. Finally a darker skinned individual won a major party nomination for the highest office in America. Much hype has been generated and the nation holds its breath in awe of a man who is 
just one step away from being the Numero Uno in our land despite his pigmentation problem. Never mind that this Harvard graduated Senator matches Bill Clinton in charisma, JFK in his ability to communicate, and had the guts to oppose our invasion of Iraq when everyone else was just going with the flow.
However, this is politics and the naysayers, conspiracy theorists, and mud slingers amongst us are busy concocting new issues to make this man look bad. So I thought I might as well join in. My issue is this. Why is Obama so skinny? For a man who has been eating out every day for the past, God knows how many months, on the campaign trail… how is he able to not gain weight? Here are my theories:
1. Plays basketball six hours a day to burn the fat
2. Chain smoking three packs a day keeps his weight down
3. Is trying his best to look like Mahatma Gandhi
4. Has tape worm problems (He should consult a good Indian doctor in Jersey)
5. His wife Michelle has him on a diet. He gets to redeem points after hours if he is able to keep his body mass index below a super model’s threshold
May be you guys have a better theory. Please let me know by clicking on “Comment Now.”
Super Confidence Jacket
Posted by Aamir on Aug 27 2008 at 6:43 am | Comment now »
I remember a boyhood lecture my uncle Parvez once gave me and my cousin Bilal on the importance of being competent and confident. “There are four kinds of people,” he said.
1. “Those who know, and they know that they know — follow them.
2. Those who know, but don’t know that they know — these are the competent, but under-confident and powerless, keep them as friends and seek their advice.
3. Those who don’t know, and they know that they don’t know — these are willing to learn and grow, lead them and coach them.
4. And finally, those who don’t know, but think that they know — shun them.”
It’s funny how our brains make connections, because I thought of my uncle’s words when I came across this photo of Adnan Sami, one of Pakistan’s premiere musicians. He is wearing this shining leather jacket which reminded me of the leather jackets my uncle had sent me and Bilal when we were college students in Illinois. He had called them the “super confidence jackets,” reminding us of the importance of believing in ourselves. Certainly, this was one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned.
Click below to see Adnan Sami’s “super confident” music video starring Indian actress Diya Mirza:
The drum beat of memories…
Posted by Aamir on Aug 26 2008 at 7:06 am | 2 Comments »
I remember the stories of India that my grandfather used to tell me. How he came from a village called 
Kotana in Meerat District, Uttar Pardesh. He would tell me about the time when India was under British rule, and when it got its independance; and the turbulent times when the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. I lived with my grandparents from when I was ten to thirteen years old, and I remember those days very clearly.
My grandparents were very active and social. I remember New Year’s music parties at our house where my 
grandfather would play the tabla and my grandmother would be accompany him with the harmonium. I woke up this morning thinking of him. Recently I had come across the photograph of a little boy playing the tabla, and it made me freeze. I cannot get that image out of my mind since it reminds me of my grandfather. This little boy from Central Jersey – his posture, his gestures, demeanor, and the passion he displayed — reminded me of all the goodness, the constant encouragement, and the success that my Abba drove me to achieve.
My grandparents last visited me in the States exactly ten years ago, and since then my grandfather has passed away — but he lives in my memories and I think of him almost everyday.
The tabla is an incredible South Asian musical instrument. For me, it is the drum beat of my memories. Please click below to view a demonstration at an NBA game:
The grass is greener on Route 27
Posted by Aamir on Aug 25 2008 at 6:51 am | Comment now »
The charming Nassau Street, where famous figures from George Washington to Einstein walked back and 
forth for coffee, is bustling with anticipation as it gets ready to welcome back its vacationing Princeton residents and Princeton University students. Aside from its who’s who list of pedestrians, Nassau Street is also a part of historic Rte. 27, an old Native American trail which runs from Princeton all the way to Newark.
As one drives up from Princeton and especially when one passes through towns like South Brunswick, Franklin Park, North Brunswick and Edison, one notices the abundant presence of South Asian businesses on Rte. 27. It is an “Indian trail” after all.
Don’t manage time, manage energy
Posted by Aamir on Aug 24 2008 at 7:09 am | Comment now »
On the train ride to NYC, I came across a very interesting article in Fortune magazine on life coach Jim Loehr, 
and his philosophy on energy management. “It doesn’t matter how well you manage your time, if you don’t have enough energy to become fully engaged in what you’re doing. The energy comes from doing everything we know we should do but don’t: get enough sleep, exercise, eat right, take breaks, and keep a healthy balance between work and family.”
We cannot give 100% at the things that are important to us — family, profession, religion, charity work, etc. — if we do not manage our energy. Loehr coaches that we should plan our days within the paradigm of energy management in order to achieve “full engagement”. One needs seven to eight hours of sleep to make the next day productive — so plan for it as well as short breaks every two hours. One needs basic strength and endurance – so plan to for exercise. One needs to be energized — so plan for good nutrition. One needs to cultivate key relationships, 
with our loved ones as well as the people we work with — so plan for quality one on one time. One needs spirituality and peace of mind — so plan for meditation and prayer.
We need to create a daily routine to manage our energy and be fully engaged at home and at work. Today, on my train ride back to Central Jersey, I will reflect on my priorities and determine which are most important to me and put a daily energy management routine on paper to help me give 100% towards achieving them.
Have you called your cousins lately?
Posted by Aamir on Aug 23 2008 at 8:40 am | 1 Comment »
My mother was with me over the past two weeks. She has visited me here in America every single summer 
since the 1990s. She brings with her news and photographs of the extended family in Pakistan and of course, the gossip. Who got married, who was successful, who lost his job… who fought with whom? She also encourages me to keep in touch with my cousins, my aunts and uncles, and my grandmother.
So, with Ammi’s phone book as my resource, I called up everybody. I 
even called the woman who used to be my babysitter when I was three years old. I called my family members in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Abu Dhabi, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. I apologized for not having been in touch for some time, and we filled each other with the details of what is going on in our lives. Old memories were refreshed, loving relationships rekindled, and much good will exchanged. Sometimes the best things in life are just a phone call away.
Discovering New Brunswick
Posted by Aamir on Aug 22 2008 at 6:52 am | Comment now »
Last week I took my mother on walking tour of the historical downtown area of New Brunswick. Merely a one-stop hop by train from Princeton Junction, we explored the 325 year history of this bustling hub city. 
We walked down Livingston Avenue through the historic theatre district, passing by the New Jersey State Theatre, Crossroads theatre, and George Street Playhouse, and walked up George Street to the Zimmerli Art Museum.
New Brunswick, home to Johnson & Johnson and Rutgers University is a historically diverse and charming city where the old meets the new. We passed by the Heldrich, New Brunswick’s newest hotel, and ate at the Sahara Restaurant on Easton Avenue. We also passed by two big hospitals — Robert Wood Johnson and St. Peters.
What’s more, my mother was delighted to find that shoppers can stretch their dollars in New Brunswick’s Urban Enterprise Zone. One saves big in New Brunswick’s UEZ with only 3% sales tax. That’s half of what we pay elsewhere. Click on www.nbuez.com for details.
We concluded our tour by walking up College Avenue through the Rutgers University campus and strolling through the walking trails in Buccleuch park.
Fighting an addiction
Posted by Aamir on Aug 21 2008 at 6:25 am | Comment now »
When we got a color television in 1978, I became a TV addict. The list of my favorite shows over the years is long and diverse — Sesame Street, Little House on the Prairie, Wonder Woman, Six Million Dollar Man, Bionic Woman, Flipper, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Knight Rider (and later, Baywatch), The Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, Frasier, Home 
Improvement, The Simpsons, Late Night with David Letterman… the list goes on.
As I started the third decade of my life, my craving for entertainment content was replaced by my compulsion for breaking news content. CNN became my farourite channel, supplemented by BBC and ABC News. New technologies fanned my addiction as I began browsing news websites throughout the day on the computer and mobile phone.
Then, as the years passed by and I settled into a hectic rhythm of life, I slowly weaned away from television and got more into reading news publications. My daily commute companions became the local newspaper and the magazine of the day (I rotate between Time, Newsweek, U.S. News, and Business Week). The tube, which had once consumed my attention, was reduced to a ceremonial role in the living room.
That changed this month. Thanks to NBC’s Olympic coverage, I am back to my old ways… Just when I thought that I finally overcame my addiction to television, it sucked me back in!
Princeton High School soars in academic ranking
Posted by Aamir on Aug 20 2008 at 6:29 am | 1 Comment »
When you have a child in a particular school, you are always on the lookout for good news regarding the 
school. So I was delighted to read New Jersey Monthly magazine’s latest ranking of our State’s best public schools. Princeton High School was ranked #1 in Mercer County and #6 statewide. That’s a notch up from its 13th place showing in the same ranking last year. I have also seen other nationwide rankings — U.S. News, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal etc. where Princeton High made it in the top 100 schools in the country. So congratulations to the faculty and staff at Princeton High. Keep up the great work.
According to NJ Monthly, at Princeton High the average SAT score is 1,824 and 91% of the students score 3 or higher on advanced placement tests. The average class size and student/faculty ratio is only 11.9 and there are 300 students in the graduating class.
Very impressive. Go Tigers!
Inspiration on a Jersey Diner Placemat
Posted by Aamir on Aug 19 2008 at 5:25 am | 1 Comment »
Diners have been a staple of New Jersey since the 1950s, a legacy of our State’s Greek immigrants’ 
contributions. Yes, our state leads the nation in the number of 24/7 eateries. I’ve enjoyed the excellent food and service (and big portions) at the Princetonian Diner, the Omega Diner, the Colonial Diner, the Seville Diner, The Somerset Diner, the Skylark Diner, the Menlo Park Diner, the Reo Diner, the J&S Diner, the Fountainbleu Diner and others right here in Central Jersey. Statistically, I belong among 29 percent of state residents who eat at a Jersey diner at least once a week, according to a Monmouth University poll.
Each diner has its unique charm and personality. On a recent visit to the Edison Diner I came across their unique paper placemats featuring the following poem instead of the regular advertisements.
“Take time to THINK, it is the source of power. Take time to WORK, it is the price of success. Take time to PLAY, it is the secret of perpetual youth. Take time to READ, it 
is the foundation of wisdom. Take time to WORSHIP, it is the highway to reverence. Take time to be FRIENDLY, it is the road to happiness. Take time to LAUGH, it is the music of the soul. Take time to DREAM, it is hitching your wagon to a star.”
I spoke to the owner, Evan Kalambakas, who put this collection of verses together, and thanked him for the great food and the inspiration.
I believe in the American Dream
Posted by Aamir on Aug 18 2008 at 6:35 am | 1 Comment »
I feel that settling in America is the best decision I made in my life. To be sure, my American experience has not been a walk in the park. It is laced with uplifting moments as well as disappointments, amazing 
successes as well as bitter failures. I have lived in basements as well as luxury homes. I have tried my luck at selling everything from sandwiches to insurance and real estate, cell phones to cable, and yellow page advertising to newspaper subscriptions. I have enjoyed the rewards of rapid professional growth, as well as endured periods of unemployment. I have befriended people from all walks of life– celebrated their successes and shared their sorrows. I have raised a family and endured the pain of losing loved ones.
Thirteen years have passed, yet they seem to have been but a few moments. These years have undoubtedly been the most wonderful years of my life. I believe in the American dream. Please click on the video link below.
Central Obesity in Central Jersey
Posted by Aamir on Aug 17 2008 at 12:07 am | Comment now »
When I was growing up I was always inclined towards sports and it was my great fortune that my parents encouraged me to try out different things as we lived in many 
different countries. I remember playing cricket in the city streets of Islamabad, Pakistan; swimming lessons in Canberra, Australia, ping-pong sessions in Beijing, China; high school wrestling in Rome, Italy, and cross-country and road races here in the States.
But in the past ten years or so when I started a family, I let myself get away from regular exercise. Year after year, I would fail to keep my New Year resolutions and not utilize the gym memberships I would sign up for. A decade’s inactivity took its toll. On my last physical exam, my doctor pointed out my central obesity problem, and gave me an ultimatum — either to change my diet and exercize regularly, or go on cholesterol medication for the rest of my life. It was a wake-up call for me, for somehow I never considered myself an unhealthy person.
A friend of mine recommended a funky sounding sport called “MuayThai kick-boxing.” Almost two months ago, we both signed up with Advanced Martial Arts in North Brunswick, NJ. My family went with me to the 
first few sessions to show their support as I struggled with the push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, and hundreds of kicks and punches. A couple of times I got so exhausted that I was not able to finish the hour-long workouts. Slowly, but surely I began to improve. This week I amazed myself with my ability to handle the three Muay Thai workouts a week with relative ease, and on top of that I ran an hour continuously (about 6-7 miles) on the week-end.
I am beginning to feel good and energized, and it has only been seven odd weeks of training so far. I tell you, all those commercials we see on the benefits of exercise are not hype. Anyone can do it.
August belongs to a Roman Emperor
Posted by Aamir on Aug 16 2008 at 7:31 am | Comment now »
Did you ever wonder where the names of the months came from? Julius Caesar, in 46 B.C., issued an imperial 
decree establishing the solar calendar beginning with January. Henceforth, the names of months of the Julian Calendar have stuck in our lexicon until today.
January is named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of oors and gates. Hence this month sympolizes teh passing through the gates of time into a new year. February comes from Februella, a period when sacrifices were made to atone for sins. March is derived from Mars, the god of war. April begins a new season derived from Aperire, Latin verb for open (buds, symbolizing coming of spring). May is named for Maia, the goddess of growth and plants. June referrs to the goddess Juno. July is named after Julius Caesar himself, August after he protege and successor, Augustus Caesar. The months that follow are basically 
named after Latin numbers. September from Septem, Latin for seven; October from Octo, Latin for eight; November from Novem, Latin for nine; and December from Decem, Latin for ten.
I say we redo these names. “Bushember” or “Clintember” sound more contemporary. Or we should dedicate some to New Jersey. “Springsteember” or “BonJovember,” or possibly “McGreevember”?
A poem, a life, a memory…
Posted by Aamir on Aug 15 2008 at 6:29 am | Comment now »
This following poem was recited to me by a colleague as we passed a cemetery where her parents are buried. Her Dad used to recite this poem to her after her mother passed, and she cherishes it as the strongest memory of her father.
“Did you ever think as a hearse passed by
That someday both you and I
Would take a ride in a big plume hack
And never remember coming back
The world is big, shaped like a ball
And death is something that conquers us all
If life were something that money could buy
Then the rich would live and the poor would die
But God is just and won’t have it so
The rich, the poor, we all must go
You’ll never see an armored car chasing a hearse”
Reflecting on the words of this little poem about the inevitability of death makes me wonder about my own time here on earth. It gives urgency to living life to the fullest and to go after my dreams. It makes me think of Professor Randy Pausch’s “last lecture.” For those who have not seen it, I urge you to. You will come away inspired.
Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008), as he battled terminal cancer, gave his last lecture at the university on Sept. 18, 2007. In his moving presentation, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. Please click to view:
Way to go, Raj!
Posted by Aamir on Aug 14 2008 at 6:51 am | 1 Comment »
In the past, I was never much of a fan of men’s gymnasitics. Maybe this is due to the jealousy I 
harbor because I do not possess the strength, flexibility, or resilience to perform a single one of those moves. In fact, it pains me to even imagine attempting the pummel horse, the parallel bars, or the rings. I guess I can execute a somersault on the floor. Give me a second… Yes, I can still do a cartwheel as well. But that’s the limit.
This year, thanks to U.S. Olympian Raj Bhavsar, I find myself following the men’s gymnastics competition with keen interest. His is a powerful story of success and failures, and guts and determination. Check out the video below.
The power of goals
Posted by Aamir on Aug 13 2008 at 6:35 am | Comment now »
Success, according to one definition, lies in the pursuit and attainment of one’s goals. As I watch the 
Olympians compete at the highest level of human competition in Beijing, I find myself paying attention to the poise, grace and emotions of not only the winners, but also those who do not win. Losses are hard to swallow, but a true winner learns from failure and it only motivates him or her to struggle more. There is a certain satisfaction that comes from having planned, trained for, and delivered one’s best effort. Certainly, there is a huge distinction between those who set goals and go for them versus the masses who don’t even try.
Perhaps Theodore Roosevelt said it best almost a hundred years ago: “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” (Speech given in Paris, 1910)
Tale of a City
Posted by Aamir on Aug 12 2008 at 6:47 am | Comment now »
My earliest childhood memories are of growing up in Peshawar, a vibrant, deeply conservative Pakistani 
frontier town near the Khyber Pass on the border with Afghanistan. I had been six years old and my sister, Amber, was four.
I remember playing hide and seek with Amber in our house on a beautiful street called Race Course Garden. Every evening my neighborhood friends would come over for a game of soccer, “guli danda,” (version of baseball), and “kabaddi” (version of wrestling). I remember accompanying my mother on her weekly shopping sprees in the Old City Center where I impatiently tolerated her endless haggling with the merchants. I remember the delicious aromas of the 
food in “Namak Mandi,” where she would treat me to my favorite “tikkas” and “chapli kababs.”
Peshawar is a historic city. Alexander the Great had visited in 360 B.C. The city was a major hub on the old silk route that connected the East and the West — the same route that Marco Polo took to China. I remember visiting the Mahabat 
Khan Mosque, which was built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, in 1630 A.D.
It saddens me when I hear the news of how that area has now become a hotbed for extremism and where the Pakistani army is engaged in a confrontation with the Taliban. My heart goes out to the people of Peshawar who are the real victims caught in the midst of the cross-fire. I pray for peace, and that Peshawar will once again return to its original charm — the warm, colorful, bustling city of my memories.
Ouch!
Posted by Aamir on Aug 11 2008 at 6:24 am | 2 Comments »
I woke up this morning with a very stiff neck.
I suspect it’s from the hours and hours I have spent watching the Olympics this week-end. Come to think of it, my eyes are sore too. Of course, all this is my own fault. Its not that I place myself in a straight, ergonomically correct posture in front of the TV — I’m basically half-sitting, half-laying down on the sofa, eating with my right hand, and answering emails on my blackberry with my left… the self-proclaimed king of multi-tasking, while my back cries foul!
OK, so here’s my plan of action: Tylenol
Love & the City
Posted by Aamir on Aug 10 2008 at 6:19 am | Comment now »
The sunrise over the Manhattan skyline is absolutely breathtaking! I love sunrises, and I love New York City, but I associate both with the love of my family.
This morning I am savoring the view from my aunt’s place on Roosevelt Island. To get here I had taken the “North East Corridor” train from Princeton to Penn Station, a subway to 59th Street and the overhead trolley across the river to the Island.
My aunt, Asma, is an artist. She specializes in oil on canvas, silk paintings, etching, and calligraphy. Her paintings line up the 13th floor of her building (Here are three of them). Despite all her accomplishments, she continues to seek out and learn new aspects of art. Taking on the views from an artist’s studios — to me epitomizes New York City.
This week-end is extra special because I got to spend time with another aunt, who is visiting from Los Angeles. My aunt, Farida, has 
doted on me since I was a child. She spends her days knitting sweaters, gloves and hats to donate to children with cancer. A hospital in Los Angeles recently honored her for her years of service. She says that I am always in her prayers. She is my angel in Los Angeles.
Back during my college years in Illinois, my aunt Linda had insisted that I spend all my Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with her in Chicago. I had been her favorite nephew and she had been my friend and confidant. This month it is three years since I delivered the eulogy at her funeral in front of her long-time friends, co-workers at Cook County Hospital, and the members of her Catholic Church congregation. I miss her tremendously. Chicago is not the same without her.
Sleepless in Central Jersey
Posted by Aamir on Aug 09 2008 at 1:32 am | 1 Comment »
It’s way past midnight. I think I’d better log in this blog entry now because waking up before you guys tomorrow morning might be a challenge.
I’ve been up watching TV. At first it was the absolutely mesmerizing opening ceremonies of the Beijing 
Olympics… then it was CNN’s breaking news story about the National Enquirer uncovering Senator John Edwards extra-marital affair… and finally, it was the Donald having a bad hair day on the Letterman Show. I felt basically stapled to the sofa.
At this time of the night all kinds of insecurities start to creep into my head. Am I becoming a couch potato? I’ve got to look myself straight in the mirror. Yep, there is no mistaking the onset of male pattern baldness, and ugh, those not at all lovable “love handles.” I was once a star athlete on my high school track and cross-country teams. What has happened to me? I need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Maybe I should sign up for the Jenny Craig diet like some of my friends. Or maybe I should eat only salad and fruits for the rest of the summer to detoxify my body. This is turning into a living nightmare. I’d better get some sleep. OK, I’m logging out…