First Half of 2009

A number of items that I should record - outside of what I now communicate via other channels such as Facebook.  The first half of 2009 has been really eventful:

1. Feb: Travelled with Mikaeel to Dubai, Islamabad and Lahore in February.
2. March: Mikaeel got his Brown belt in Karate.
3. May: Had to rush to Islamabad to be with Dad after his procedure.
4. May: Had a wonderful time with Emaan in Orlando.  Discovery Cove Rocks.
5. June: Heading to Las Vegas for HP's Technology Forum.

Business has been good, even with a slow economy.  Am back to reading more of Richard Dawkins.  

Paris Trip and looking back at 2008

Had a wonderful trip to Paris.  Visited my cousins, the Reille Family.  It was fun doing the tourist thing, going to the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Seine River, Versailles and then cool restaurants and clubs in the evening.

This year has been interesting - seems like every year time shrinks and things move faster.  My travel schedule was great with trips to Zurich, Prague, London, Paris, Oslo, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.

I had a great time with the family at Cape Cod - Jet Skiing on choppy water is challenging but loads of fun, especially when you have a 9-year old hanging onto you.

2009 is going to be equally fun with trips to London, Islo (not Oslo), Orlando and Los Angles already inked.  There's surely going to be a trip or two to Europe in the first half of the year.  The Monaco Grand Prix and a week in the South of France is also in the cards, hopefully.

Professionally, things are working out really well.  Both companies are doing well and the business models finally make sense.  Lately, I have been reading up on the health care industry and hope to get more involved in policy and technology related the health care.

Visiting Las Vegas

Had a good time in Las Vegas while exhibiting at the Gartner Conference for Crosscheck Networks.  

- Shopped at Burberry and the Ferrari store, Wynn Hotel

- Ate at Nero's and Sushi Roku.

Flying back to Boston tonight on a Red-eye and will head to Paris tomorrow evening.  It should be interesting doing 2 red-eyes within 24 hours.

Official letter asking for special consideration

This is an good template for Government Officials to ask others for special consideration, Nepotism, or just plain Sifarish - Paki Style

Debbie Does Dallas - Gilani Does Washington

I don't know whether to laugh or cry - I guess with a population of 160M folks, this is the best Pakistan can do:

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C08%5C03%5Cstory_3-8-2008_pg3_3

Recent Activities

Just received a signed copy of John McCain's book "Faith of my Fathers." It's a great read and I recommend that every American, independent, republican, and democrat should read it much like every American should read Barack's book "The Audacity of Hope" that I very much enjoyed. Casting a vote is a civic responsibility of every American and learning about a Presidential Candidate is essential before casting a vote.

Over the course of the primary season, I have come to despise the divisiveness, sensationalism, and utter disregard for the consequences of the fast and loose statements by the "talking heads" on channels like Fox News, CNN, ABC and MSNBC. Thanks to the internet, Americans have now become more independent minded and not as subjected to the hypnotic effects of the mainstream media. Eventually, the media moguls will lack any significant power over moving the masses by spinning and slanting the news to meet their own agendas.

Next week, I am off to London with Mikaeel. This will be my first trip with him without the whole kid and kaboodle. It is a sign that Zehra has faith in my abilities to independently manage Mikaeel or in Mikaeel's ability to independently manage himself. Regardless, it should be fun. On the Agenda:

1) London Eye
2) Madame Tussaudes
3) London Dungeon
4) Hamley's and Harrods
5) Westminister Abbey
6) Buckingham Palace
7) Tower of London

Not sure how we're going to squeeze all this in 4 days - but we'll try. The Museums will have to wait.

Mikaeel's January 2008 Piano Recital

Here's Mikaeel's January 2008 Piano Recital held at Steinway & Sons, Boston, Massachusetts. Mikaeel played the following 3 pieces:

1) A Short Story, H. Lichner
2) Minuet K.2, W.A. Mozart
3) Harmony Angelic, F. Burgmuller

Lilly Salina Yunus - 2 months old

Lilly Salina Yunus knows how to please a crowd:

Mikaeel first lesson in Political Science: Get Inspired.

On Jan 9, 2008, I took Mikaeel, 9, on his first lesson in Civics - listen to Barack Obama and Patrick Deval speak. Mika took the day off from school, the only time that I would ever permit him to do so.

The speech by Obama was exquisite - he feels right for our times. It is Obama's inspiration that I want Mikaeel to feel and carry with him. Hopefully, Mikaeel will serve his country - The United States of America - well and will become a strong ambassador of the greatness that the people of this country embody.

Deval Patrick was gracious and humorous in talking to Mikaeel. He gave Mika a one-in-a-lifetime, get out of school pass given the historical nature of this election. Obama was gracious enough to autograph his book: The Audacity of Hope.

Barack Obama - Our best hope for getting back on track

This evening, Barack visited Boston and I got a chance to listen to him up close. The man is genuine, pleasant, stately, smart and driven by a strong sense of purpose to change the way things are in America and bring it back to its respected and revered status in the world. I wish him the best of luck in the primaries.



The event for Barack was organized at Fenway park. Here's a picture of the Red Sox world cup winning trophy