As far as I could remember, I have always heard warnings about a tropical cyclone - However just at the right moment, (be it for one reason or another), my city of Karachi somehow always escaped. The closest we ever came to it was in 1993 I think - However this may change now, as cyclone Nilofar is about to hit my area! http://aviationweather.gov/data/obs/sat ... ICAO-E.jpg Am I worried? No, not at all. In fact, I am seeing it as kind of like a training exercise of a sort. To see if I indeed had made all the right choices when it comes to being a doomsday prepper! So yes, I am ready for it (in every way imaginable)! Therefore the real experiment now (for me) would be to secretly observe and accurately document the condition of others who did not prepare for any natural disaster. Specially those who mocked me, and thought of me as paranoid/crazy for being a prepper! So now when the cyclone hits - We'll see who'll be the last man standing!!! Now to many I may seem a bit emotionally detached, but that is just not true - As I now really do feel extremely sorry for all the girls who are named Nilofar. Because they have already become the butt of all jokes! But seriously, I personally see no reason to pointlessly fear any natural phenomenon. As whatever is in everybody's fate, will indeed occur, (whether we like it or not). So best that we prepare for it, and not be frightened. As now we (or at least I) have the been given the opportunity to proudly apply/display whatever I have learned!!! And all those who didn't listen to be, (and some who mocked me) - To them I now mockingly say: Your fate is your own! :smt033
While I can't say I agree with observing rather than helping others during a natural disaster S-H I do hope you stay safe!
S-H, do you teach anybody else how to survive in case of an event... spread the knowledge... everyone has different talents and it takes them all to make it bearable at times. stay safe and help those who need it if you can.
I hope once again the cyclone veers away or doesn't do too much damage, but I am glad that you are prepared.
Cyclone Nilofar has become less strong, and still out at sea. Should have made land by yesterday night, but for some reason it's still out there. Since it's named is a feminine one, I assume that it must have taken up a few female navigational traits too - Like stopping every 100 yards and asking for directions... Well, it's kind of like an experiment for me now. So if I am to make accurate observations (which I will document for future predictions) - Means that I now cannot interfere into the experiment by myself, or the results will get tainted... However, if there is a serious danger to someone's life. Then I guess I will start to make exceptions (at the cost of ruining my observational data). But this isn't my first choice, as I see the gathering of data to be more important. AS it will (someday) serve the greater good. The need of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwBO39CuicM Sorry I couldn't help posting this video link, as I grew up in the 80s! 8) I tried, God knows I did - But the majority simply didn't listen to what I was trying to teach. A few however did, and so they can be considered as my unofficial team... While the rest either ignored, or simply mocked us for urging to be ready for anything - Which is why at a time like this I take special pride in say to them: Your fate is your own! I think I have now finally understood how Prophet Noah too must have felt then he tried to save everyone - Yet the majority only ridiculed him and his efforts... So throughout history I guess it's more or less the same story with every other guy who tried to do something good for his or her own community. Only difference with me is that I have an extreme case of Misanthropy also (which is a general hatred of humanity). So this is why I may come across as emotionally detached, bordering on being a *sociopath* - That anyway is what I have been accused of by many in the past. But I like to imagine that I am being ultra logical...
Glad you are as prepared as you can be. Be bigger than those guys that did you wrong with mocking. Don't put them down. Just let them live.....giving then help may, help change their mind. Hope all is well with you during this test of nature. I will be watching the weather until we hear from you on the other side.
S-H I love the way you write your articles. Serious, with a good shot of humor. Have you ever thought of writing professionally? Besides that, I also hope you stay safe and sound.
Writing professionally? I don't know... My sister is a writer as well as an established journalist - Our paternal grandfather too wrote a lot (as a hobby), and established many government departments, the task of which was to secure our national heritage and literature. Like the Department of Archaeology and Museums, the Anjuman-i Taraqqi-i Urdu (organization working for the promotion of Urdu language, literature and culture), Iqbal Academy of Pakistan - However he was best known for nation building, as he also established the National Bank of Pakistan, and for a time was also the governor of the Federal State Bank. Aside from heading the planning commission, and becoming the secretary of finance too (plus being instrumental in the creation of Pakistan itself, in 1947)... So compared to him, I'm just a joker! Seriously, I'm a technical person by nature, so high end science and engineering is what captures my attention. However, you're not the first person who has suggested this to me - But seriously, I rather be a joker! Besides, who has the free time to write??? So I rather do my 3D fun stuff with AutoCAD (as well as indulging in horticulture)! Now as for cyclone Nilofar, well, it seems that she is now heading straight for India's Gujarat coast. So not our problem anymore... Had it come my way, then this would have been the first time in history any cyclone would have hit a major city, one of the top 10 largest cities in the world actually. So the observational data I'd have gathered would really have been something - But I guess it was not meant to be... We actually didn't even get a drop of rain. The sky was however totally overcast yesterday. And for some unknown reason the smell of dead fish was in the air in most coastal areas of Karachi city, (which actually never happened before). But this was about all that we got, we didn't even see any signs of any extra ordinary high tides due to storm surge... My father once told me something, that when you are fully prepared, nothing bad will happen to you - But go out without an umbrella when the sky is overcast (thinking that it won't rain), is when you'll get drenched for sure. That anyway is what my father learned from the English, when he was studying in UK to become an engineer (in the 60s). So I (as well as a few others) were really ready for this. Our military too (as always) was fully prepared. So perhaps that is what left a bad taste in the cyclone's mouth, which made it turn away, (philosophically speaking of course)... Well, if I have a lifeboat which can accommodate 20 people, while the city's population is over 20 million! Then what possible impact will I or my efforts have? More likely, I think I myself will also drown if everybody got into my lifeboat... So I think that if I started helping everybody now, then it will be the equivalent of a drop of water compared to the volume of water in the ocean! So best that I now pick and chose very carefully, secretly - And so the first in line I'd have saved would have been the ones who listened to me, and took up my advise seriously (as well as applied it in their lives). However the rest I will also not forget, for I will make posts about them all, so that their names will forever be remembered - At the Darwin Awards website! See this: http://www.darwinawards.com/ Seriously though, I take absolutely no payment for teaching survival. As I very strongly believe that it is everyone's fundamental right know these things (from as early an age as possible) - As well as respecting nature and the environment... But those who still don't listen, I honestly couldn't care less about anymore. As now they'll have a place in another category of my observational data. Because the way I see things is that - People are mortal, exactly like annual plants. More of them will come next season, but these ones will be gone when it's their time. However, the data a grower gathers by observing, will be useful for all time to come (provided that it is well documented). Hence serving the greater good! Which is why I rather invest my time and energy in gathering data. As it will (in the future) enable a lot many more to survive later. So all those who didn't listen, now also have a place in the data I'd have gathered (had the storm hit my area). Somewhat cold and emotionally detached of me I know. But I think I'm being a realist here... For I tried to teach everyone who came into contact with me (and that too totally free of cost). Now if they ignored (or those who went a step further and mocked me) end up drowning - Then how it is my fault??? I honestly don't have the resources to save everyone. So the best that I can do is teach how to survive, and in so doing I have also (believe it or not) learned a lot from other people too (like minded people that is). But those who ignored it all, by their own free will - Are the ones I am just not responsible for... As they all chose their own way, so now their fate is their own! I seriously am not a do-gooder angel (nor did I ever claim to be in the past). Neither am I a prophet from God, with a clearly written directive to save/protect every single soul. Nor do I suffer from a massive hero complex (that many politicians do). Which I why I do not feel compelled to do anything for anyone else at this time. I've already got a lot on my plate! And I will also (with a lot of firepower) defend all that I have build so far, should anyone try to intrude at this critical stage... However, now that the cyclone has passed - There is no need for any of this. So back to being a joker again!
