Shabbir's Diary

Echinacea is crap

By Shabbir | July 30, 2005

For years people have been telling me to take echinacea when I felt a cold coming on. Reluctantly I would do it. One particular unreliable acquaintance in New York used to distill her own echinacea. So pathological was she, that I imagined her in Central Park just grabbing a handful of weeds, boiling them down and selling them with the malicious thought, "they’ll never know the difference".

Support Nathaniel Ethan Kiehl

By Shabbir | July 29, 2005

I came across this tribute to a Texas soldier killed in Iraq and reading it when I came across the photo of the slain soldier’s infant son on this page. I have to say, I’ve seen my son wrapped up just like this, with almost the exact same expression on his face.

The latest adhocracy: Iraqi insurgency

By Shabbir | July 28, 2005

From Wikipedia: "Adhocracy is the absence of hierarchy and is therefore the opposite of bureaucracy."

Adhocracy is a concept that existed before the Internet and will exist long after the Net is gone. It’s currently at work today in Iraq, and it would behoove you to read conservative journalist Michael Yon’s essay today on why so many people have so much to gain from the continuing chaos in Iraq. (Read "Empty Jars", by Michael Yon)

North Carolina Poker Laws Challenged

By Shabbir | July 27, 2005

The Attorney General of NC claims that poker is illegal in the state, but it’s unclear enough that enforcement is spotty. A company that organizes poker tourneys for businesses has pre-emptively sued to cause a judge to rule in the matter. Link: North Carolina Poker Laws Challenged.

Buying properties on the cheap at the DC Tax Auction

By Shabbir | July 27, 2005

I was listening to the radio the other day when they were interviewing the District official in charge of the auctions of property with delinquent taxes. It seems like a smart enough financial strategy.

Raked home game in Augusta, GA raided

By Shabbir | July 26, 2005

Police draw pair of arrests in gambling raid, July 1, 2005 Quote: Mr. Singletary was leasing the residence and had set up a large poker table in the living room, authorities said. He and Mr. Stewart face a felony charge each because police said they took a cut of each game’s money. A "concerned citizen"…

Six Flags Mystery Man

By Shabbir | July 26, 2005

Link: Answer Man: Six Flags, One Mystery You didn’t know I was obsessed by that freaky old guy on the Six Flags commercials, did you? Well, I am. And now I know a bit more about him.

Why are we in Iraq?

By Shabbir | July 25, 2005

Joe Grossberg, my coworker whose blog you should be reading, pointed out an interesting take on the war in Iraq that’s worth a read. My favorite excerpt: "What Iraq has that Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia do not is not oil, but fresh water. In fact, Iraq has almost all of the fresh water in…

She’s married to Harpo

By Shabbir | July 21, 2005

Apparently I haven’t been resting enough. On Saturday morning I completely crashed out on the couch and Sarah and her mom took care of me. I basically didn’t move from that spot for 48 hours, and then came down with laryngitis, losing my voice.

First day back at work

By Shabbir | July 21, 2005 |

So it was my first day back in the office after being out for a month and a day. I was only there for five hours, but I caught myself twice reaching reflexively my shoulder where my son would be. For a month now, he’s only been four steps away from me. Not having him for five hours was weird. I’ll obviously get over it, but it was weird.