Montreal's melting pot

This weekend, I was waiting at the "express" checkout line at the local Metro grocery store for 20 minutes. I peered aimlessly here and there until my gaze fell upon a piece of paper taped to side of the cashier's computer monitor. It was a certificate from the Office de la Langue Français, which certified that Metro satisfied all the requirements set forth by the OLF. The store was thus labelled as an "authenticated" french establishment.

I stared at the seal of approval and wondered what a kind of a weird society we live in. My thoughts raced to passages in Orwell's 1984, and things became dark and gloomy for a few moments. Where are we headed, I wondered. Why must we be assimilated? Montreal is supposed to be a mosaic, not a melting pot.

My thought bubble popped with a beeping sound as the cashier passed my croissants through the price scanner, and greeted me with bonjour.

Google JavaScript Error

Now here's something you don't see every day. I went to Google today and was rudely greeting JavaScript popup error:



I reckon error might be caused by the Alexa toolbar. A peer who has the toolbar also got an error, whereas two others who don't were error free.

Conclusion: uninstall Alexa toolbar.

Habs vs. Canes, Game 3

There were some french guys heckling Koivu close by me in game 3, they were booing him when he got a penalty and were shouting things like "what kind of a captain are you!". They were cheering Ribeiro, though. "let's go, ribby!!"

They threw their beer at end of the game, sparking anger and disgust in many innocent spectators several rows down.

Idiots.

The Canadiens ended up losing 2-1 in overtime.

MS shows losing attitude through IE

Microsoft recently lost a legal battle with a patent holder about the way Internet Explorer displays OBJECTs and EMBEDs in webpages. Microsoft then decided to update its Internet Explorer browser with changes requiring user input to display and activate ActiveX based media. (link)

The software giant's latest IE update requires you to first click on objects like flash animations and embedded quicktime videos in order to "activate" them. If you are experienceing this problem, here is a fix:

http://capitalhead.com/articles/click-to-activate-and-use-this-control---kb912812.aspx

Alternatively, you can use the Mozilla Firefox browser, which is looking more and more like the browser of choice for many people. This latest spiteful move by Microsoft won't win them any fans.

Reflections on Cisum

A friend of mine recently compiled a list entitled "The Best Songs in the World, Ever". Intrigued, I went over the list online, and found that it contained songs by the bands Alexisonfire, Minus the Bear, Foo Fighters, and Incubus. Needless to say, the list was a big disappointment.

The only songs which are worthy of being on a such a list are ones which withstand the test of time. Songs from decades ago which people are still talking about, drawing comparisons from, and which set the standard of their respective genres. Shine on you Crazy Diamond, Stairway to Heaven and Smells Like Teen Spirit come to mind.

I tried compiling a list myself, but I don't know enough songs to be a worthy judge.

Adults fighting over cartoons

Yes, the cartoons were stupid and insulting. But the reaction to them is even worse. The whole situation is a disgusting display of barbarianism from both sides of the fence. You have ignorant Europeans drawing and printing the cartoons, then the perverted west who are gratified by the disturbing images and the chaos they are creating. Then you have the Muslims, who instead of defending the dignity and upholding the legacy of the holy Prophet (sal allahu alaihi wassalam), are reinforcing what the cartoons are mocking with their ugly behaviour.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the Quran, the book of Islam, the book for the guidance of all good-willed human beings:

So forgive, (O Muhammad), with a gracious forgiveness. (Hijr, 15:85)

Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and have disputations with them in the best manner; surely your Lord best knows those who go astray from His path, and He knows best those who follow the right way. (Nahl, 16:125)

Repel evil by what is best; We know best what they describe. (Muminoon, 23:96)

The way (to blame) is only against those who oppress men and revolt in the earth unjustly; these shall have a painful punishment. And whoever is patient and forgiving, these most surely are actions due to courage. (ash-Shura, 42:41-43)

And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best, when lo! he between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend. (Fussilat, 41: 34)

Lo! they plot a plot (against thee, O Muhammad). And I plot a plot (against them). So give a respite to the disbelievers. Deal thou gently with them for a while. (at-Tariq, 86:15-17)

May Allah give us the ability to follow His religion as shown to us by Prophet Muhammad (sal allahu alaihi wassalam). Aameen!

Reflections on India

As I was sitting in a taxi on the way to the airport in Delhi, the truck ahead of us had a dust-covered slogan painted on its rear bumper in big red letters. I read it and laughed, shaking my head.

"The Taste of Qualily!".

For me, the whole essence of India was captured in the one phrase. It was filthy, haughty, silly, and pitiful.

Iraq with an N

Remember in late 2002 when the American administration was frantically accusing Iraq of having weapons of mass destruction? For months, all we read in the papers was the potential danger looming in Iraq. All we heard on the afternoon talkshows was about Saddam's sour history. All we saw on the night news were images of Saddam's ugly face and dozens of Iraqis screaming into the camera like kamikazes, wide-eyes and arms waving, protesting at who-knows-what.

It doesn't matter that UN weapons inspectors could not find any weapons of mass destruction, the damage had already been done. Americans were frightened. Iraq appeared to be an ugly, vicious monster living right next door. Iraq must be stopped. Iraq must be conquered. Iraq must be destroyed.

Now the American administration is pointing at Iran, accusing them of developing nuclear weapons. I guess you can't blame Bush for sticking to a formula that works. But when will common people wake up and smell the dead bodies?