The Horror

In an attempt to suck up to the top tier Law schools my university decided to schedule every single law paper in a row with the result that we all lived through a week of absolute agony, cheap energy drinks and endless case-files. At one point all the caffeine and nicotene mixed together made me feel so twisted that I was twitching all over the place as if insects were crawling up and down me. Somehow or another we all survived and all of us deserve a huge *hulk smash* pat on the back for coming out alive. Lord in heaven, without someone watching over me I would have caved in under the pressure, in fact 2 hrs before each paper some random girl who nobody had ever EVER seen before would post her notes on the LLB forum, I subsequently accused her of being some kind of godsend and there are still many unanswered questions about this mysterious figure. 

For 5 days I was pushed to my limits I'd memorise one pile of case-law forget all about it and revise the next bunch in less than 24 hrs, rinse, repeat. Now that I have nothing to do (well I have a French exam on the 22nd but that's so easy in comparison it doesn't count and after consecutive papers the 22nd is light years away) I feel listless and bothered. 

I see myself sitting here, accomplishing absolutely nothing asking metaphysical questions about the nature of existence. After the celebratory dinner at Wagamama's I went and saw the Avengers which was pretty good considering it was just a load of action sequences strung together with a flimsy plot. Full marks for everything else 0 marks for depth (which is why batman will always be the best superhero flick). 

I did the laundry today, cleaned up a bit, cashed in on some book vouchers, returned all my library books, still part of me actually misses the intensity of the week that just went by. Depending on the status of my internships I'll be going back to Peshawar soon, my father is flying over for a conference next week so at least I'll get to meet him, even if I end up going back later or not at all (again contingent on whatever the firms decide my fate will be).

Life's definitely moving too fast for me, people I went to school with are getting married. I'm already a year away from graduating. I wouldn't mind getting married if it was to Scarlett Johannson's behind, what a lovely thought to end with, the shapely Jewish posterior of perfection that is SJ's rear end. 

Imbeciles with Ray Guns

                                    The Space Fortress "Barge" - (Note the Giant Beam Cannon)

So the US Defence Department has unveiled its newest secret weapon, one that it has very graciously, already tested on the Afghan populous before the wider world ever knew of its existence, the invisible beam that is fired from what appears to be a radar emitter of some sort penetrates the skin about 1/2 a millimeter and is said to be painful but harmless, a Godsend for riot control! No more rubber bullets. 


General McChrystal seems to have sent the weapon back citing that the Taliban might use the idea of  innocent civilians being microwaved to their advantage. I suppose what they gathered from this trial run on the civilians of a third world country is that the weapon needs some sort of publicity boost in order to sell.


In comes the press, go Google it you can see a bunch of giddy reporters standing on little Xs being zapped one by one, laughing slightly and then running away, I must say it is quite surreal. There is no way to tell whether they're faking it or whether the weapon itself is some sort of scare tactic. Conspiracy theories aside I'm really not sure what they hope to accomplish. 120 million dollars down the drain so far (even with all the press attention there are no buyers) This shouldn't be a problem because several puppet governments being given aid can perhaps one day be forced to purchase the device, maybe we'll see the Israelis using it in Gaza I really don't know. There just seems to be an air of a belated April Fools joke about it. 


"Hey world, we've spent lots of money on a ray gun isn't it awesome? Watch me fry these reporters! I bet y'all want one now dont'ya!?" 


Maybe one day it will be miniaturized into the sort of thing new generations will use as a substitute water pistol, I bet the Chinese are already working on the copy. In the words of Borat "Great Success" we're one step closer to the post apocalyptic world every science fiction buff secretly wants to live in.


Wait It's all become clear to me now! Back in 2010, the reason General McChrystal was relieved of his duty is because he didn't like Obama's new Ray gun.


Obama: "If you won't use my pimp gun, I'll make Patraeus do it". 

Undermining Insanity: The Breivik Ordeal

                                           Raiden:  I am Lightning, The Rain Transformed 

                                    

The use of the term insanity has always been politically charged, and the same remains true today. The Psychiatric profession's claims to a firm scientific base are laughable at best, from the electro convulsive therapy of the  past to the ever growing list of conditions that "require" medication both psychologists and psychiatrists have continually proven that the only possible explanation for their behaviour is that they are political professions.

It takes coherent thought to be able to write something, the fact that I am writing this post today proves that I am aware of my actions (to some degree at least) and that I have a thought process that I wish to convey to the wider world, this in my opinion is where the line between sanity and insanity should end (Of course in my opinion the line should be stamped out altogether but if one must legally prescribe some sort of objective test then the simple ability to reason is enough). It is of course difficult to reconcile legal definitions with practical ones - even though the common law reasonable man test is supposed to reflect the perception of lay people. The inadequacy of this test to reflect the opinions of a significant part of society can be seen in the many allegations of compensation culture aimed at the legal system/profession (a body of suited ambulance chasers). 

The surrealist movement of the 20th century highlighted the self righteous nature of the politically sane. The founder Andre Breton frequently called himself "insane" as if to mock the sentiment of his era. A decent example of this is the observation that his iconic heroine Nadja loses her appeal once it is revealed that she belongs to a sanatorium and that her flashes of what may appear to some as deep philosophical reflection about distant stars are just manifestations of her status as a woman who is clinically insane. 

Breivik is to the far right what Osama bin Laden is to the Muslim world, he is a callous individual with a twisted sense of morality and a warped ideology that relies on misinformation and hateful Nazi propaganda. His actions and the actions of the IRA or militant Christians in Lebanon have (thankfully) not resulted in the demonstration of the Christian faith but they have cast new light on the double standards of enlightened European society when it comes to Islam which is supposedly a religion of terror.  

I spent a great deal of time today reading through Breivik's manifesto (I don't advise anybody else to do so, it is long and very disturbing) but the fact that Breivik was able to construct an explosive device and meticulously plan his terror attack over 8 years while writing this giant tome of propaganda shows that he was more than capable of coherent thought. 

His lack of empathy has been cited as a reason for his insanity by some of the individuals who evaluated him, (I would question their own lack of empathy) but is empathy really a decisive factor when it comes to sanity? Was Hitler insane? Was Mao Insane? Was Tony Blair Insane? Was Osama Bin Laden insane? The list could go on, but the fact remains that humans are very capable of dissociating themselves from notions of empathy should they so desire, looking at history the rape of Nanking serves as a striking example of this. Was every single soldier in the Japanese military insane? The answer to this question is a resounding NO - these people were very conscious of their actions their lack of remorse only proves that their morality appears skewed when analysed from our perspective. 

It is the responsibility of human beings to ensure that these psychiatrists do not undermine our morality by comparing it to clinical notions of sanity and insanity. While it was once true that political dissidence in the USSR and pre-marital sex in Victorian England were grounds for insanity, our understanding of the ambiguities of politically charged labels has evolved, it is no longer in a primitive state of blind acceptance. 

When crimes become too heinous for us to understand, their motives too obscure to interpret their criminal nature must not be denied. Mr Breivik is a criminal who deserves to be killed or at least locked up for the remainder of his existence, the smile on his face in court today was an affront to families of his victims and to society at large. 

Procrastination

So I've been having a bit of a hard time recently, my exams are close, I have 3 essays to write in 10 days, procrastination is a funny thing (something I happen to be an expert at) one thinks of all sorts of rubbish while trying to run away from legal theory. My latest brainstorming session has resulted in an amazing epiphany, one that I should have come up with earlier, seeing as I'm so frustrated and how my hate for the world at large shines with such virulent grandeur there is only really one thing to do! I'm going to bash a few heads in, I'm going to imagine that my opponent is the embodiment of all that's wrong with the world and I'm going to inflict a couple of brain injuries, Boxing society here I come! 0_0! 

I know this sounds naive, it's not like I have no experience whatsoever, I did 2 years of Kyokushin Karate when I was a teen, full contact gloves off Kyokushin in Peshawar city, it was extremely brutal our sensei used to hit us sadistically to increase our tolerance for pain, we would break lots of shit, I still fondly remember the day that I graduated from hitting a cement filled punching bag to just hitting a tree, he used to run over us on his motorbike too (we would all lie down in a line with rock hard stomachs) when I think back to the form I was in back then I can hardly believe where I am now. My poor 6 pack has since drowned if it had a voice it would be singing that godawful Rahim Shah song ze pakey dubegama! mala lambo na razi!

I started smoking, got lazy, got speedy internet, had to study more, it's not like I lost interest I just got out of form and couldn't push myself to that level anymore so I quit. That was 5 odd years ago, I'm still a heavy smoker and I'm lazy as hell, I figure I could try giving up smoking again, this time I'll have a good reason to do so. I'm not making any promises though. I do love my nicotene, she's always been there for me when I needed her.  I'll see where this goes, maybe this is just one of these stupid inklings that will disappear after I get back to my senses. 

A Bit of Cynicism followed by Photos - that will make you forget all about it.

An old friend of mine seems to have randomly turned into an expert photographer, I saw this picture the other day and my jaw dropped, reminds me of the time I went on an IDP safari (I'm aware that I may have coined this term) with my cousin who was so obsessed with taking winning shots that he would rejoice when a particular shot was noticeably inspiring of sympathy he went as far as to twist the life stories of the children that were interviewed to be sadder than they really were, "Oh so three of your brothers were killed? Let's make it 5 shall we" it was quite distasteful but I was indebted to him for helping with my own photos a few days earlier (Don't judge me, I already live with the guilt). Sensational journalism is an evil thing. 

On the other hand the reason I think the photos I'm about to post are so good is that they reflect the real fortitude of people living in poverty, the ability to smile more sincerely than any of us, to live in the moment, and to make the most of being alive. (Pashtun spirit in a nutshell).

Of course maybe I'm overstepping my boundaries, that's the thing about speaking from behind a lens, it sounds so anthropological. Like most useless fields of study the analysis one makes is often a better reflection of the observer than the observed, the observer projects their own insecurities onto their subject. Part of me feels guilty for feeling the way I do about photos like these. What right does somebody like me have to share in the happiness of these people? I may as well be from another dimension. To the camera they'll always be subjects and nothing more. This is the part where you're supposed to ignore my stupid rambling and look at the pictures (click to enlarge). 

                  Hats off to Hoor! And to the smiles she's captured. 

Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

Machiavelli how I wish that that those were empty words! Recently, I did the unthinkable, something no self respecting man should ever indulge in, something that I now regret profusely. That's right I launched a campaign to be elected president of our debating society, in doing so I entered the world of politics, and left shortly afterwards, with more than just a slap on the face. If I were to describe my face right now I'd say it's dripping with the sort of venomous acidic saliva that can only be produced by the female gender. (Forgive the sexism but...hell hath no fury).


So I began telling everybody I knew to vote online, I made it quite clear in my manifesto that I would be appealing to a wider audience, those who were not seasoned debaters like me, but the sort of people who are on the fringes of our society, those who haven't yet had a taste of the limelight. My opponent who was already on the committee (in a lower position) saw this and 5 minutes before the polls were scheduled to open, there was reportedly a malfunction with the online poll (which meant it never opened) and it was replaced with her conveniently prepared paper ballot, towards which she marched with an army of friends.


Hell, I'm used to dirty politics back home, even though my supporters told me to protest, I decided I was ready to accept  that I had been outsmarted by a snake. Yep that's right I kept quiet.


The following day, the new committee were looking for volunteers for an uncontested position, NOTE - NOBODY ELSE WANTED THIS POSITION. I went in as the only volunteer, I was asked to explain why I would be a good candidate (besides the point that almost made president -_-), I left the room and came back after 10 minutes. "We have decided that you are incapable of handling the position in question, in light of this decision you are free to leave the room" *Door Slams*.


Excuse me? I've spent 2 years debating for this university, I've devoted my life to this society for 2 years and you're going to sit there with a godawful smirk on your face and tell me I'm incapable of managing a low level position because I ran against you for president? I hope you die a painful death, I hope you writhe in pain till your insides explode you awful little wench.


So nobody is going to get this position now because - there are I quote "no suitable candidates". Suitable my hairy ass the same ass that has spoken at events all over the country.


Honestly, I didn't think people could sink this low. Oh surprisingly all of her other committee members are girls too (with the exception of 1 guy) and they're all her little stinking cronies. Positive discrimination any-FUCK-ing body.

On This Grey Wednesday

So I'm pulling another all-nighter, after handing in the worst tort assignment in the history of the obsessive blame game we call negligence I'm expected to be able to prepare for a business French test?  Vous avez tort! Ce n'est pas digne d'un être humain.


I'm not actually sure if it is indeed Grey outside either, it could turn out to be the sunniest Wednesday on the planet. Since I've been up all night I will likely sleep through any sunshine that manages to seep through the netting of the Burqa clad sky. (Poetic I know), I suppose it all depends on whether you're an optimist or a defeatist cynic like me.


I always treat myself to scrambled eggs on campus every Wednesday, probably the only day of the week that I actually eat anything for breakfast. Every morning I climb mount Olympus to get to campus, I kid you not the gradient is insane, the other day a girl was run over by a car while climbing the same mountain, with the result that I pass by her funeral bouquets twice every day, may she rest in peace whoever she was, I've always thought about stopping to pray for her but it is difficult to do something so conspicuous when submerged in a sea of judgmental students, not to mention how pissed off people would be if I stopped in the middle of the footpath, that's right my not stopping has nothing to do with the stares I imagine I would attract.


Notably her death became the subject of a class on negligent driving, her memory... forever embedded in our lecture recordings. I wonder if her estate will ever be able to claim anything from the motor insurance bureau.


I should mention that I don't know who Joseph Kony is! (Don't bother telling me I'm just one of those people  destined never to know) I think it's wonderful when people rally together for a cause they believe in, only causes that have to be explained by a 5 year old pointing to the picture of a "Baddie" make me want to ignore them completely. Joseph Kony ... Nope doesn't ring any bells.


The world after I graduate is just a big blur at the moment, applying to firms is a harrowing process, I barely have the time to organise my own thoughts nowadays let alone read anything that isn't a case-file. I hate this feeling of uncertainty, I hate the people around me, I hate the world at large and I hate having to come up with inventive bullshit for every vacation scheme application. I hate the way you get rejection letters written by HR wankers wishing you the best in your career. Thank you for wasting a day of your life filling in a never-ending application form now please proceed to fuck off.


Screw it I say, I just want to give this test and get back to FF6. Oh sweet Terra, sweet escapism!


A Cheesy cover of Mawaru Penguindrum's third ED. Indulge yourselves.