Rock Art And The Dam

This is second in line of series that I have started on my blog as an initiative to create awareness regarding issues that require our attention. First one I wrote was about tigers in 'Save Our Tigers'.

Courtesy Wikipedia

A very informative article appeared in the The News on Saturday which talked about the Rock Art in Chilas in Northern Pakistan. It talks about various petroglyph and rock arts numbering more than 20,000 scattered in northern areas all along the Karakoram Highway - one of the ancient silk routes. These rock engravings were made by traders, invaders, pilgrims and locals. According to estimates they date back to 5000 BC.

Now here is whats going to happen. The Government of Pakistan has initiated a project to build a dam called Diamir-Bhasha. Also, the Karakoram Highway is being expanded and re-routed due to building of this dam. What this will result in is the fact that Pakistan will lose this cherished heritage will be inundated and lost forever. It even sounds strange writing 'cherished heritage' because the general sentiment is of ignorance and neglect. I am not even touching the subject of 'infidel works' which we Pakistanis some how are afflicted with it seems which renders us blind and oblivious to our thousands of years of heritage in form of Buddha statues, Moenjodaro and even Kalash. We do not own it as our own.

Anyways, I should not be bad-mouthing others when even I have not done anything to contribute in the preservation and management of our heritage. I have visited Chilas I guess 4-5 times and NEVER visited the petroglyphs. Can you imagine? and quite frankly I do not see myself any chance of visiting there any soon :| Talk about apathy.

I may not be against building dams but I am definitely against building Diamir-Bhasha. Huge reservoir dams are unnecessary I think and the purpose can be achieved by building smaller dams. The issue of energy in Pakistan is purely mismanagement. The bureaucracy is inefficient and corrupt. The current government is hell bent on going for Rental Power Projects (RPPs) than working for streamlining the affairs of energy management in the country. RPPs are grossly expensive and not developmental in nature. Government has not done anything to stop electricity pilferage and theft in the state run electricity companies.

According to researcher Prof (Dr) Harald Hauptmann, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesRon Canter who has been working in this area, "The reservoir would not only inundate 32 villages located between Basha and Raikot Bridge and force resettlement of more than 30,000 people, but also endanger the precious regions archaeological remains some 50,000 rock carvings and 5,000 inscriptions."

Environmentalist Ron Canter states "Bhasha dam will destroy one of the world's largest collections of rock art, carved on boulders along the upper Indus and ranging in age from Neolithic to 16th century. Approximately 50,000 carvings and 5,000 inscriptions are being documented by a German team, but the boulders are too big to be moved. They will either be inundated by Bhasha Lake or destroyed in reconstruction of 100-km of the Karakoram Highway."

Why do we have to take this route when we can manage the deficiency in energy requirement by other means? why do we have to destroy our heritage?

Do we care? I do not think so. Good night and good luck.

- Art on the Rocks

- Project may wreck rock art and Silk Route remains

- World help sought for preservation of ‘Talking Rocks’

A Question

Is there any such thing as 'polite' in public washroom etiquettes?

NRO - Kicks Ass Reply

It (govt) has also defended the promulgation of the NRO on the grounds that the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) first step in Madina was that of reconciliation vide Misaq-e-Madina. “No bigger or greater precedent can be presented in the court of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The judgment under review failed to take note of it,” the review petition said.

Link

Someone please kick govt's ass.

Dad-0 Daughter-1 - Part 2

I had a surgery to remove a cyst.
My 2 1/2 year old Daughter: 'Baba! daddi hay!' (Does it pain?)
I: Yes it does but if you kiss me then I will be ok.
*she kisses me*
My Daughter: 'chalo ab bat-ball khailo' (OK now play bat-ball with me)
And I did.

PostMan's Reminder for Good Drivers

Always remember your accidents

PostMan's Phone Mute Law

Someones mobile phone will not be on silent when its needed the most.

Save Our Tigers

Siberian Tiger - courtesy wikipedia

hell we have to! this is the most gorgeous of cats in the cat family! yes i am biased that I was born in the year of the tiger but who cares! I find tiger to be the most majestic of cat family so when I saw an ad saying India is left with only 1411 tigers and that China has only 50 white tigers left.. I was filled with horror. Well.. not horror but lets say worried. So now my blog is turning towards something that might prove 'useful' apart from the nonsense that I keep uttering.

White Tiger - courtesy wikipedia

There are lots of species of tigers - Siberian tiger, Bengal tiger, IndoChinese tiger, Malayan tiger, Sumatran tiger and South China tiger. Mind you, the Bengal tiger is now extinct in Pakistan!

Bengal tigers - courtesy wikipedia

There are very few tigers left in Pakistan. And honestly, I feel so sorry that I have no info available on them. I just came across this picture on flickr of a white tiger of Pakistan. So I need to know what are the stats on tigers in Pakistan. They are endangered specie in Pakistan as well. Any help?

Tigers are killed for variety of reasons. To Quote

Tigers are killed for their skins and rugs and many tigers are being killed for their body parts, which are used in superstitious rituals or for Oriental medicine. Many body parts are considered to have aphrodisiac properties. Superstition has surrounded tigers for centuries. Necklaces of claws are thought to protect a child from "the evil eye". Whiskers have been considered to be a dreadful poison, which can kill an enemy, when ground up in the animal's flesh (Malaysia), a powerful aphrodisiac (Indonesia), or an aid to childbirth (India and Pakistan). The fat is used as a tonic for rheumatism. If people eat the flesh, it is said that they gain courage and strength. Tiger bones are said to calm fright and cure dysentery, ulcers, rat bite sores and prolapse of the anus. One tiger skeleton may be worth 10 years salary, so people are more likely to become poachers in order to provide money and food for their families.
Link

I hope efforts are made to save this beautiful animal. I just wrote words that I know do not matter much but perhaps they might. I am giving the links under.

Indian Tigers - http://www.saveourtigers.com/
Chinese Tigers - http://english.savechinastigers.org/
Siberian Tigers - I do not have the link! Damn!

PostMan's Your Baby's Meal Law

The probability that the morsel of food, or whatever is left of it, in your child's mouth will end up in your mouth, through your child, is quite high.


PostMan's Fact on Meal Law

You will eat that.

Afridi Idiom

It takes balls to be a man.
It takes a ball to be Afridi.

News Link.

PostMan's Law of Ringtones

There will always be someone with a hideous ringtone set on cellphone

72 Virgins - II

A discussion that veered off the topic and ended up on '72 Virgins'. There is this general notion regarding Islam, in muslims and non-muslims alike, that one gets 72 virgins in heaven. This is especially referred when suicide bombers and 'reward' for them in religion of Islam is discussed. I'll post a small section of this dialogue to show what is the 'general' attitude and then will state my opinion on it.
--------------
He: Why don't you choose heaven? there must be 70 virgins waiting for you in heaven who look better then Vidya Balan.Its a strange choice.

I: 70?! I thought types like you got 72?!

He: 72 extra virgin sir why would i get extra two?

I: because you deserve them? :)

He: Thank s Postman. wow my 72 virgins in heaven. You deserve more then 72 u deserve a hundred virgins in heaven.

I: Na I think I'll pass :p
I don't have that strength to 'deal' with so many :p

He: OO come on postman when will enter heaven u will eat fresh food of heaven and breath in fresh air of heaven and then u will get strenght to deal with more then 100.

I: really?! damn :p
------------
Quran never says 'females', 'hoors as in females', 'virgins' in Quran. It only says 'pure companions' Azwajjum mutaharat. e.g.

2:25 - But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before," for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (for ever).

Pure companions for Males and Females - both. So I do not think you should look purely from 'sex' point of view. For example.

37:45 - A bowl shall be made to go round them from water running out of springs,
37:46 - White, delicious to those who drink.
37:47 - There shall be no trouble in it, nor shall they be exhausted therewith.
37:48 - And with them shall be those (companions) who restrain the eyes, having beautiful eyes

and there is no mention of 70 or 72 virgins in Quran. If its males that will 'enjoy' virgins then the same will be applied to females :p

The Quran talks in terms of bounties and gifts - pure in nature. Nothing vile, evil or ill associated with them.

47:15 - A parable of the garden which those guarding (against evil) are promised: Therein are rivers of water that does not alter, and rivers of milk the taste whereof does not change, and rivers of drink delicious to those who drink, and rivers of honey clarified and for them therein are all fruits and protection from their Lord.

52:23 - They shall pass therein from one to another a cup (of drink) wherein there shall be nothing vain nor any sin.

So 'companions' are a pure gift - nothing like virgin sexual slaves in heaven for the 'righteous'. And the words that Quran uses are parables e.g. Verse 37:48 uses the terms 'qasirat tut-tarfe aye-nun' which literally means 'those who restrain the eyes, having beautiful eyes;' - nothing specific to females. Yes I know translators usually translate it in respect of females but this is not so. Sura Rehman uses the same wording 'qasirat tut-tarfe':

55:56 - In them shall be those who restrained their eyes; before them neither human nor jinni shall have touched them.


Must Read : Wikipedia on Etymology of Huur and Wikipedia on references in Quran

Peace

Related Posts
- 72 Virgins

The New Environmentalist

DUBAI: Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden blamed industrial nations for global warming, and urged a boycott of the US dollar to end "slavery," in an audiotape aired by an Arabic television on Friday. News

He said this after his buns were toasted while sunbathing at mountains of Tora Bora as he celebrated the monthly outing out of his cave. When reporter asked him how were his buns now, he replied "Allah ho Akbar". He told the reporter to 'behave' when the reporter glanced at his bikini.

Humanitarian Bomb

Do not be misled by the title. Just read.

The CBU-105, however frightening, may actually point the way toward less violent warfare. Cluster munitions—which release bomblets to cover a wide area—are banned or tightly restricted by an international convention. But the CBU-105 and its cousins, known as sensor-fused weapons, are considered legal because very few discs remain unexploded on the battlefield. Those that fail to detect a target are supposed to self-destruct in the air. The trigger batteries of those that do not will quickly die, so duds are unlikely to kill civilians later.

Crucially, the manufacturer of the CBU-105, Textron Defense Systems, of Wilmington, Massachusetts, is improving sensors to allow the weapon to distinguish the heat signatures of cars, buses and homes from those of military hardware. If there is such a thing as a humanitarian bomb, this might be it. (Link)

Mankind does not have a parallel when in comes to ingenuity in killing others - and themselves in the end. This specie will fall victim to one of its own devices. Rest assured.

PostMan's First Law of Pakistani Cricket Motion

In absence of a (divine) force, Pakistani cricket will keep moving in a straight line of loss with constant speed.


Related Post

- PostMan's Law of Pakistani Cricket Team

Productive Profiling?

He: I think they (Americans) should profile; it is Muslims blowing up planes and building and not old white ladies. Whenever I fly; I feel much more comfortable if I see the staff profiling and checking Muslim men more closely. I for one am not offended in the least

I: I don't think profiling works in this case (security at airports). Its just more nuisance for passengers and escalated security costs. They 'should' have caught that idiot nigerian with good-for-nothing in his pants.

He: How can you say that profiling does not work? 9 out of 10 times, such attacks are comitted by non-caucasian, male adults who are primarily (with a few exceptions) Muslims. Airport security must identify men who fit into this category and give them a very thorogh once over; maybe even a strip search. I fall into this category and would not mind any security precaution which makes my flight safer.

I: how many cases have you heard that worked when profiling was being done? That nigerian still went through. I still maintain that in this particular case, muslim profiling is not productive. They should focus more on how the nigerian got through. It appears that these body scanners have got to be 'sold'. Strip search, and these scanners, are the worst thing to happen to 'you' but you are still unaware I guess. Your civil liberties are going to dust - as if you had them after 911. And a pakistani is telling this to an american.. how amazing.

PostMan's Tongue Twister

On average, tongue proves more productive for holder than brain.

Question for a Mullah

'What is Virgin Oil'?

Dear Karachi

I hope this letter finds you in best of health and spirits. Yes I know some parts of you are still burning after that harrowing of episodes of suicide bombing and arsonists setting places on fire. This is to give you company and to keep spirits high that you have to go on! trust me, I am from Peshawar and my city has seen umpteen numbers of suicide bombings but every time Peshawarites pick themselves up and go on with their lives.

You have been my host for the past 6 years. On my arrival I was greeted with Tasman Spirit lying on her side spilling hundreds of tonnes of crude oil on your shores but your citizens did well to clean you up - congrats to them. I have had my share of other 'interesting times' with you. Like I was stuck for 4 hours on a single spot on Shahra e Faisal on one hell-rainy afternoon couple of years back. I endeared the 2 day blackout with you when power lines tripped rendering major part of you without electricity. I have been without water for quite a number of times in Defence area when the water tanker for one reason or the other did not arrive on time and I had to buy water to bathe.

Cities around the world face security situations, lots of incidents of law and order occur but its peculiar to Karachi only that the 'incident' does not matter that much, what is more important is what happens afterwards! Take example of my city Peshawar. Whenever a suicide bombing takes place, the usual activities take place - law enforcement agencies, medics, hospitals, common people - all doing their effort to help normalize the situation. In Karachi, whenever something gos wrong, arsonists take to street! When Ashoora procession was struck by suicide bomber, simultaneously, arsonists had broken the locks of shops, poured chemical in them and set them on fire! The historical M. A. Jinnah road with all the majestic buildings bore the brunt and that core business hub of Boulton Market was reduced to ashes with losses running into estimated billions.

This did not happen for the first time. May 12th incident or the 27th December 2007 incident when BB died - cars, shops, banks, malls - no one is safe. Everything is burnt! Really but what the hell! though I hate it but I have to agree with the term used for ashoora suicide bombing - 'distraction' they said and it is totally correct! The incident proved to be a distraction when compared to what happened afterwards. When I set out for office around noon there was no public transport and I was constantly clocking over 100 kph on Shahra e Faisal and there was this nagging fear in my head that something might happen. It is a very bad feeling trust me my dear Karachi.

Karachi, I feel that your rulers, leaders and administrators do not take care of you. I mean no one does anyway in Pakistan but in your case, they seem to become party to the crime. I do not understand but why were the arsonists not stopped? After the suicide bombing the Law enforcement agencies are everywhere! The Rangers, the police - no one did anything to stop it. Frankly, I find Rangers to be extremely inept. When 12th May 2007 incident occurred, people were killed right in front of their Head Quarters near Malir Halt! They are only good at flaunting! (with due respects to the jawan of Rangers who lost his life stopping the suicide bomber) If you have been a commuter of Shahra e Faisal in morning rush hours, there is/was a commandant of Rangers who came to Rangers head Quarters at Jinnah Courts building. The protocol and escort were totally abusive towards other motorist literally shoving them off the road. You felt like hiring a suicide bomber! Morons!

Anyways, this is to tell you that I am totally with you regarding getting on with life and picking up strength when it matters the most. You are a very colourful city. I drove all the way from Peshawar in my car to you as a destination, I hope my future generations will adopt the same route and they enjoy same as their forefather did. Be there. You are important to us.

May God keep you coloured (not blood red) and bright (not lighted). Take care.

Yours truly.
-PostMan-

Belated Merry Christmas! Or Is It?!

First. Have a taste of this.

"if you are a muslim then you should not say merry christmas because by doing so you are saying that jesus was a son of god and he was crucified on cross for the sins of humanity which we muslims do not believe.

SO MUSLIMS PLEASE STOP WISHING MERRY CHRISTMAS TO CHRISTAN FRIENDS OR ANY ONE IN IGNORANCE."

The SMS I received even referenced it to Dr. Zakir Naik. If he really has said that.. then please take a certificate from me for him of being a moron par excellence.

(with due apologies to Zakir Naik) Now listen to me dear muslim brothers and sisters. It is mentioned in the glorious Quran, Chapter 49 Verse number 6

49:06 - O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done.

So first thing first. What does 'Merry Christmas' mean? It is "Happy Christ's Mass" and the term is used to celebrate Jesus's birthday. It does not in any way mean that 'Jesus is the son of God'. So my muslim brothers and sisters, two wrong acts were committed. First, you did not ascertain what the statement meant and believed in it at once. Secondly, you just insulted Christians! Give me a break!

As muslims we believe that Jesus was one of the great messengers of God. To quote Quran.

Quran 3:45 - Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah;

So why as a muslim would you not celebrate the birth of Jesus? If not celebrate, at least wish Christians well on this day? After all we do celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad do not we? 12th rabi-ul-awwal?

Now say alongside me ok? Merry Christmas!!

:)

41:34 - Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!

Islam? Peace?

Islam, the word, means 'submission' and 'peace'. How ironic that efforts are 'made' to have peace for this religion in its holy days.

News : 9 Ulema’s entry banned in Pindi

Ulema and zakireen are usually banned because they might fan hatred and will be responsible for creating law and order situation.

Space Tidbit

"The exact temperature of the thermosphere can vary substantially, but the average temperature above 180 miles (300 km) is about 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427 degrees Celsius) at solar minimum and 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (927 degrees Celsius) at solar maximum. (Though these temperatures sound hot, you would not actually feel warm in the thermosphere, because the molecules in that layer are too far apart.)"

Link

Zardari & NRO

After the Supreme Court verdict in stating that National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is unconstitutional, I am only interested in knowing when is President Zardari set to receive all those ailments that he was afflicted with when he was incarcerated in prison - including 'mental ailments'?


Related Posts
- New Dictionary Word - Zardari

Marvellous Achievment

The car registration number series of Karachi, which started from AAA-001 has reached ASS. I'll get a sample for you guys as soon as I lay my hands on one.

Secular Taliban

No I aint wrong. This is exactly the term I want to use.

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine on a certain issue. The person claims himself to be an a-theist and presents himself as a very logical and sensible person when trying to discuss things. Usually he is :p

He and I always have opposite opinions and we always end up fighting. But this is our relationship and we both have no problems with that. In fact the camaraderie is more in fact due to this. Before this cyber-warfare between us... it had always been verbal. We both shouted at each other in the heat of the moment and then went ok.

Now. He has deleted my comment. On his website were we were having a discussion. He did that once before and I had asked him to which he feigned ignorance. This time there is a message saying my message has been deleted. Say! something is different in cyberspace eh? Earlier, at least, the air surrounding us absorbed our opinions and did not delete them.

But it does not matter. Opposing view points are really hard to swallow - for taliban or for secular souls.

*phew*!

State of Affairs

Another suicide bombing today has taken 17 lives in Peshawar. I called my brother and asked everyone was ok, as is the ritual now. He replied in affirmative. I thank God that everyone 'near' to me is OK. How cruel can one be thinking of only his/ her owns and not thinking about the others who died... but I guess this is the state of affairs.

O Peshawar!

My city is being put to smithereens. 6 suicide attacks in 5 days not to mention countless that peshawarities have to endure for quite sometime now. If there is any city in Pakistan that has sacrificed in huge terms.. its Peshawar. It hosted majority of the afghan refugees numbering around 3 million in early 80s. It had to face countless bombings when Afghan war as its peak. I still remember them because I used to go to school in bus and parents kept worried. Today the situation is the same... a bit different in the sense that schools now do not open at all due to suicide bombing fears.

For the peace of Peshawar

I dare not ask a kiss,
I dare not beg a smile;
Lest having that, or this,
I might grow proud the while.

No, no, the utmost share
Of my desire shall be,
Only to kiss that air
That lately kissed thee,
(Robert Herrick)

This is for people of Peshawar and the city. I salute you. The sacrifices are enormous. People have lost their near and dear ones in senseless bombings. Terrorism has to be eradicated. Your blood will not be forgotten! I hope so.

Rahimullah Yousafzai has written a beautiful article here.

Mini 'Skirt' Islam

"ROME (Reuters) – Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, in Rome for a U.N. food summit, spent several hours in the company of 200 Italian women recruited by an agency and tried to convert them to Islam, Italian media reported on Monday.

"Seeking 500 attractive girls between 18 and 35 years old, at least 1.70 meters (5 foot, 7 inches) tall, well-dressed but not in mini-skirts or low cut dresses," read the ad by the Hostessweb agency and quoted in Italy's Corriere dell Sera newspaper in its story.

Some 200 women showed up at a Rome villa, having been told they would receive 60 euros ($90) and "some Libyan gifts. ... After around two hours the lesson, including questions and answers through an interpreter, concluded with an exhortation by Gaddafi to "convert to Islam" and with each woman given a copy of the Koran and a book of sayings by Gaddafi. "

(Link)


No wonder Islam is the most ridiculed of religion in world.

I say Gaddafi missed it.. he should not have put the restriction of "well-dressed but not in mini-skirts or low cut dresses", I mean, he could have had a 'heart-to-heart' with them... no restrictions.

And whats the title of book of Gaddafi's sayings? 'Perv 101'.

Keep skirting around Islam and you'll strike right at their heart. asshole.

'any morons?! raise your hand!'
'c'est moi!'

Earth!

Click to enlarge. Courtesy Space.com

This is the latest photograph obtained from European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft.

Be in Awe!

Dad-0, Daughter-1

*scene: My daughter getting rides at the swings. There is another child sitting right next to her on another swing 'awaiting' the coin to be inserted in the machine*

My daughter: 'baba' *pointing towards him* 'bhai jhoolu' (brother wants a ride)
I: (in my heart) So what .. children keep sitting here, their parents roaming around not caring about their children. I am not responsible for him!
My Daughter: 'baba! bhai jhoolu!'

*she points to towards my hand in which I am holding coins, takes the coin from me and tries to put the coin in other machines slot*

I: (asking her) put the coin in the machine?
*She nods her head as affirmative*

As the ride gets operative she is all smiles and points towards the child and says to me 'baba bhai jhoolu!'

Gals & Blogging

Ok this is weird now. I thought it was a mere coincidence but it has happened yet again. Another female blogger has deleted her blog! I know 4 of them who have.. not many in numbers, yes I know but its very weird.

Why on earth, you ladies, do that?! Whats the big urge to delete everything you have ever written?!

PostMans Law of Ambulances

you can't catch an ambulance while driving.

Pakistan - 101

Caption: No, a meal is not being prepared rather the WAPDA guys are repairing a transformer. They are removing the moisture from oil in transformer through evaporation.


Credit: to the photographer who took the pic and the one who sent me in forwarding.

A Case of Religion Promoting Hatred?

*a discussion on culture, role of religion in morphing the culture, how western societies are 'missing' the positive factor of religion - it took an interesting turn*

He: When you separate religion from your life – you are deprived of many humanly attributes which God has bestowed and which one could realize only after losing them – Ultra social and moral less set ups have got nothing for ailing humanity in the longer run however they can further aggravate their plight.

look deep into the western society, they have abandoned their family values for the sake of MY Life and My World, Yes – apparently this has given them some edge over others but despite their much development and progress now they feel that they had made a real bad bargain and now desperately they are trying to turn the wheel in counter direction. So serious is their problem that when it comes to the presidential elections of USA – then candidate’s family setup and family values are also rated as of great importance. The candidate is supposed to project and talk about high family values.

I : Religion is one of the input of social norms - not the only one. What you state suggests that Americans are relinquishing their secular credentials.. which of course is not the case. Laws, regulations, environment, social framework for example - all of these contribute, alongside religion of course, to mould the norms of society. Let me give you an example. In Afghanistan and North Western Pakistan, burqa is very common - not becasue of religion but due to custom. Had it been religion then every muslim women on earth would have worn burqa.

As a law, you can not spit chewing gum in Singapore - this has resulted in Singapore being the cleanest of territories. We, the Islamic nation, are more akin to a toilet as compared to Singapore.

He : Postman- laws, regulations, social frameworks etc etc. these are not constants rather variables and being inferior in their ‘spirit’ and structure they require constant revamping for their validity and acceptability though for a short period. Where as religion – Islam - is an absolute constant in letter and spirit because of its divine nature and perfection. (since God himself has endorsed its perfection). Now the real problem is that humans have made religion as supplement, because by and large it does not entertain their ID.

Yes ‘burqa’ is a religious phenomenon but then why does not rest of the muslim world observe it? This has some thing to do with, how much one believes in his religion. Is he a muslim because accidentally he was born in a muslim family? Or he believes that bearing a muslim name and practicing few commandments of his choice are enough to entitle him for paradise.

I : It is an absolute constant, in letter and spirit due to its divine nature and perfection, only for you and me. Not for anyone else. What we tend to forget is that we are not MUSLIM only nation, they are other religions involved. For us its only Islam and god-damn the rest. And us muslims are further bifurcated in sunnis,shias, hanfi, deobandi, ahmadi etc etc. Islam is NOT an absolute constant if looked fom this perspective. Its a fine thought but reality bites.

He : I believe that ‘originally’ none of the early religions preached anything against the divine law, where as it were followers who try to deviate from divine law under one pretext or the other, they label such deviations as tradition/ custom etc.. an easy scapegoat. Later over the ages when this cunning art got perfected and was acknowledged globally as axiom it was then that people tried to differentiate between customs and religion

At present we are witnessing the worst phase where in, by and large, religion is fast losing its divine spirit and role. Contrary to that traditions and customs are being widely accepted because of globalization, embracing and practicing them do not require any rationale neither passport nor any one needs to change his clothes.

I: Why is it that you would readily accept the culture of using mobile phones but would shy away from basant? Why is Basant 'hindu' and mobile phone 'secular'?

He : Cell phone is a technology nothing to do with religion.Flying kites is Okay for me, love flying them - but since basant has got strings tied to religious sentiments relating to a specific event therefore flying kites during specific days realting to incident is ignorance and lack of knowledge of religious history of our region.

I: why do you have to attach religion with flying kites? Just as there is no link of mobile phones with religion.

He : i told you that i like flying kites rather love flying kites but if flying kites (in specific style and conditions) is associated with religious sentiments of non muslims then i will not fly kite with specific style and period. I will simply avoid that time duration and later enjoy my hobby - simple as that.

I : Why should you be even concerned with what religious association kite flying holds?

He : Kite flying and yellow color celebrations are linked with blasphemy. I being a poor believer still can not tolerate this.

I : Well then I find putting in religion as a blasphemy... had it not been due to religion, you would not have found any problem with it. certainly would not have found it blasphemous. A classic example of religion promoting hatred, I hasten to add.

Our Amazing Neighbourhood

Is it not beautiful? :) This is what you will see on the sky if you lie down on the lawn of your home on a dark silent night, on grass, with sweet earthly scent around, slight dew and once in a while gentle breeze.

Full Resolution Image here

Article on Space.com
A new panoramic image of the full night sky — with the Milky Way as its centerpiece — has been made by piecing together 3,000 individual photographs. The panorama's creator, Axel Mellinger of Central Michigan University, spent 22 months and traveled over 26,000 miles to take digital photographs at dark sky locations in South Africa, Texas and Michigan. "This panorama image shows stars 1,000 times fainter than the human eye can see, as well as hundreds of galaxies, star clusters and nebulae," Mellinger said. To combine these images, a simple cutting and pasting job would not suffice. Each photograph is a two-dimensional projection of the celestial sphere. As such, each one contains distortions, in much the same way that flat maps of the round Earth are distorted. In order for the images to fit together seamlessly, those distortions had to be accounted for. To do that, Mellinger used a mathematical model — and hundreds of hours in front of a computer.


If this is not enough to amaze you, then check this out.

Mega-star explosion most distant object ever seen

This is the most distant star-burst captured. and it is 13.1 billion light years far. You cant even imagine how far that is.

(AFP/HO/A.J.Levan & N.R.Tanvir)

GRB 090423 is the small, very red source in the centre of this image. The red colour is indicative of its great distance - about 13.1 billion light years - since all the optical light has been absorbed by intergalactic hydrogen gas, leaving only infrared light. All the other galaxies and stars in the image are much closer to us and just happen lie in the same part of the sky.

Astronomy humbles you.

Moonshine - Revisited

I may be a bit late on moon sighting controversy on Eid.. but then I have to 'deliver my sermon' because I am from Peshawar, work in Karachi and I have to spend the fasting month in Karachi and celebrate Eid in Peshawar. That is a really tricky business. Soon there will be Eid ul Azha and we will 'keep the flame burning' of making mockery of ourselves.

There were three esteemed personalities who made assess out of themselves on this august occasion of Eid ul Fitr. First was Mr. Muneeb ur Rehman, Chairman Rut e Hilal Committee. Second is Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, MNA Awami National Party (ANP) and Mr. Popalzai, imam of (in)famous Masjid Qasim Ali Khan of Qissa Khwani Bazar Peshawar.

I don't know but from my childhood I have seen 3 Eids celebrated in Peshawar. First ones to offer Eid prayers were/are the Afghans who in colossal numbers had found refuge in Pakistan, especially Peshawar during the Afghan war of 80s. They celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia. Then there is the local Peshawari population that follows the edicts of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan - they celebrate on second day and then there is the third category who celebrate Eid with Government's Moon Sighting Committee, the third day. This time was no different but the 'very vigilant' media of ours ensured that brouhaha was broadcasted 24x7.

First thing first... what is the regulation according to Quran on moon-sighting? All along in the Quran we get the information that new moon is the source for knowing timings for offering rituals.

2:189 - They ask thee, of new moons, say: They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage. ...

6:96 - He hath appointed the night for stillness, and the sun and the moon for reckoning.

No where in Quran you will find that you have to 'sight' the Moon to know about the advent of new month. Trust me on this one, ancient people were much more advanced than an ordinary mortal of today regarding the movements of stars, moon and sun. Today's ordinary Abdul Qudoos ('ordinary Joe' for the rest) does not even look at the sky. The Arabs of that time were traders and knew the sky well. Even before them, the ancient civilizations of Maya and Aztecs had complex calendars pointing to exact setting and rise of moon and sun. So Prophet Mohammad would not have held a session on 29th of every lunar month to sight the new moon. Want to bet? This renders the moon-sighting committee of Pakistan as just a media stunt.

Coming to the 3 revered personalities, first I shall be talking about Mr. Muneeb ur Rehman, the chairman of Ruet e Hilal Committee. The guy has an issue with the 'witnesses of moon-sighting' from NWFP. Normally the committee, in order to follow the laid down procedures of sighting the new moon, examines witnesses who claim to witness the sighting as regards to their authenticity. Mr. Muneeb says that he does not accept the residents of NWFP as witness as they are liars! He says the Meteorological Institute of Pakistan says that there was no moon in that region so how on earth can they sight it? Hence liars. He will accept the testimony of anyone, even the remotest location of Pakistan but will simply not accept the testimony of people of Frontier. He also says that how can you sit for moon-sighting on 28th of Ramazan when one sits on 29th for that purpose. Idiot does not know that Frontier fasts one day 'before' the rest of the country so its their 29th Fast - not 28th as his is.

Mind you, the Meteorological Institute of Pakistan does not say that there was no moon, it says that 'chances of sighting the moon are less because the records with us indicate that you require 31 hours of moon-life to sight it'. The Institute has this record of various observatories around Pakistan. So the moon-sighting records of the Institute is of 31 hours.. not of the rest. You do not have an idea how religiously (literally too) the people of NWFP (not all areas) are in to this thing of moon-sighting.

When we were celebrating Eid in Peshawar, the Ruet guys were sitting in Lahore to witness the moon-sighting, I heard myself the reporter of a news channel saying that 'its been 42 hours since the birth of moon...' Pray tell me, how on earth can a moon whose life is already of 42 hours, require a 'sighting certificate' for it to be officially born? A new moon born is a new moon born for the whole god-damn world. But nay.. we have to prove that a muslim who can follow science is like a unicorn sighted.

Then we have Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, MNA of ANP. The guy had the gall to call the rest of Pakistanis who do not celebrate Eid on the day as Peshawarities do.. as Ahmadis/ Qadiyanis! Really dumb-ass. If there is anyone we hate the most, its the Ahmadis/ Qadiyanis - even more than the Jews. We hate them so much that we have written that in our Constitution, just because they don't have the same opinions as the rest of muslims have. How lovely. (Read my Post: 'I Hate You') So 'Haji' Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, and through his endeavors ANP, has lost it big time. Morons unlimited.

The third personality is Mr. Popalzai, imam of Qasim Ali Khan Mosque. There is a of of history associated with this mosque which is placed in the heart of Peshawar City. For hundreds of years people have been coming from far flung areas of NWFP, claiming to be witness to moon-sighting, in whatever mode of transportation they can find. They are Not Liars! as Mr. Muneeb portrays them. They are examined with the same procedure as Mr. Muneeb applies to witnesses as regards to the authenticity. Hundreds of people come to Peshawar and this mosque for this purpose only. Mr. Popalzai, as always, should have been doing what he does normally that is take testimonies of witnesses and declare them as either valid or invalid. Not go on national TV and try to become a star.

*sigh*

I am very tired I swear.

Either follow the procedure of Ruet and accept the testimonies of people of NWFP, or celebrate Eid in unison with Saudi Arabia or use common sense and get the time of birth of new moon from any website and declare Eid. Stop this mess because I have to buy tickets for home :|

What a moonshine.

Kiss? Mum's The Word - Part 2

Seems like the Waziristan Operation, 'Rah e Nijat' (Path to Liberation) and the LUMS ruckus, 'Sirat e Mustaqeem' (The Straight Path) are the only two important things happening in Pakistan. So I'll be focussing on the latter as news from the war zone in Waziristan is bleak.

The News editorial of October 19th, 'Morality Brigade' also talks about it but in a very different tone. If you read the article (please do, its just 2 paragraphs trust me) paints a very antagonized view of our society in which it seems that the primary reason for the low GDP of Pakistan is the conservative lot.

To quote.

"Why should there be so much interest in the behaviour of two individuals which affects no one else? We don’t need more vigilantes in society, who feel it their right to appropriate to themselves the guardianship of society’s morals and behaviour."

True. We don't need vigilantes in our society for the guardianship of society's morals and behaviours. What what exactly did the lady, who initially sent the email in LUMS, do? She expressed her opinion in an email using the public broadcast medium of the university addressing her concerns about an issue. What did the Editor of The News did? He expressed his opinion on an issue which he thinks requires addressing using a public broadcast media. What is the difference between them? Why the lady is a 'schmuck' (as the Editor would have liked to call her) and not he himself?

Look. She did not harass or kill anyone. She just expressed her opinions as she is totally entitled to. Most of us pakistanis may or may not agree with her opinions but she has this right! Just as the editor has to say whatever is on his mind in his newspaper. Being liberal does not mean holding a negative view of the other camp. In the end, its just two parties having a different opinion.

kapeesh?


Related Post

- Kiss? Mum's The Word

Kiss? Mum's The Word

People are going berserk in LUMS, especially the students over a debate whether kissing is allowed in an educational campus or not.

The Christian Science article has the details. "Top Pakistan university to ban kissing"

To a reader of an 'open' society, this might sound ridiculous but to us conservative lot on the world map.. it does matter.

Pakistani society is conservative. Conservative does not mean that 'nothing happens here'. God damn it.. everything happens here from prostitution (worst case child prostitution), pedophilia, drugs, alcohol, dancing girls, homosexuality, rape and murder.. you name it and we have it. Nowadays we offer products that are considered niche in other societies like terrorism and religious extremism. So please do not think that we are cave dwellers. Far from it.

Majority of the Pakistanis are really simple people. Case in point my uncle, when my father told him that 'someone' does alcohol and thats the reason for 'something' that happened to him, he was surprised and asked 'Can we get liquor in Pakistan?!' OK may be my uncle is a bit far too much simple but this is a fact that ordinary Pakistanis frown upon societal deviations - no date, no alcohol, no drugs, no prostitution. The guy who who offers prayers regularly, does charity and is sincere to his family is a role model. Frankly, the guy may be a monster inside but what he portrays is important in our society.

This brings us to an important aspect - your portrayal. Looks matter. A girl in pardah (veil) is a 'nice girl', a girl who might be wearing jeans is considered 'deviant'. Similarly, a guy who has beard and says his prayers is a 'nice' guy. On a side note, a famous and notorious cinema in Peshawar which ran porn movies, had an audience that mostly consisted of bearded fellows that had prayer caps on their heads. I am not 'insulting' people with religious attire or hinting that they are perverts.. just that it does happen. Perhaps everyone is a pervert is his/ her own manner including myself.

Getting back to the topic, should an educational institute have laws and regulations regarding Public Display of Affection (PDAs) as the LUMS case or should it be 'free for all'? In my opinion, an educational institute is an 'educational institute'. You are there to learn. Ok some might say that 'kissing is learning' but I am talking about studies and curricula, the only tongue movement I am talking about might be speaking of a language. Note that I am totally against Laws and Regulations to this effect because I find them too restrictive and abusive. LUMS would be totally going the wrong direction if they 'regulated' this area. Instead, they should try to make it a 'norm' that PDAs are restricted in LUMS. They are free to do anything as long as they are not on campus.

When you do something by force or make regulations for them, it becomes counter productive. The blue shuttle burqa is a cultural item of Afghanistan but when the Taliban forced women to wear it, it became the symbol of oppression. Women in Afghanistan still wear that burqa because that is part of their culture! The dark era of pakistani society was the military dictatorship of Gen. Ziaul Haq in 1980s. He prolonged his rule by using Islam. His version of Islam was very restrictive in which there were punishments for everything; from adultery, alcohol consumption to 'not respecting the holy month of ramadan by not fasting'. Committees were to be formed that were supposed to promote congregational prayers. Of course all this regulation meant that ordinary people were exploited by those who were at the helm of affairs. A couple walking together could be questioned by Police as to their credentials. They had to show that they were married (to be walking together) and for that people kept their registered marriage deeds (nikah nama) with them!

But even if you state PDA disapproval in form of norms, the boundaries will always be tested. Does holding hands count as a disapproval? Would the lady who initially sent the 'protest email' in campus mail show her displeasure at that too? It would be better if LUMS or any academic institute would 'establish' an environment where more focus is on studies and opinion freedom rather than PDAs.

The secular conservative mind crap will keep on continuing. What matters is that they don't come to blows - thats where the it really gets messy. Remember Lal Mosque? when Gen. Musharraf's rule saw a term 'Enlightened Moderation', to some it was a separate lane from religious extremism in which others opinion was not accepted but the term is used in different sense in general public. A beauty parlour which secretly runs as brothel (they do really), it would be said that the parlour was following the path of enlightened moderation. But the thing is that one should not go crazy like a religious fanatic and start to attack people and similarly one should not be insensitive to the feeling of others when he/ she considers himself/ herself a person not bound by traditions and social codes. Preserve the beautiful traditions we have, innovate and advance in opinions and respect the opinions of others. If you can that is.

To quote the article

""I think [the debate over the kiss] signifies a conflict between different cultural identities and shows there is something unresolved there," he says."

Trust me. It will always be unresolved and it'll keep figuring up in discussions in one form or the other. If its not kissing, it will be something else. Societies grow like this. Its a natural evolutionary process. It is just that you will be on either side of the divide.

Thank God for...

A scene. 4 visitors in an organization. One is a bit disabled in the sense that he cannot move quickly with the rest three due to the deformity in his legs. He is trying, perhaps (my understanding), to catch up with them and they are moving ahead almost as if a separate set.

What idiots! And thank God for the revulsion in my heart for them!

Instincts

As soon as you read this line, you will blink your eyes.




* this is totally crap post, it has nothing to do with collection of data, I am not conducting any research work. It just came in my mind and I posted it. If you blinked.. good :p

Peace - Different Perspective

Q. What was the situation like in Peshawar?
A. Oh much better! just 1 suicide bombing.

Google Ad

"Find Single Muslim Men", a Google Ad on my screen.

Knowing that Google places Advertisements on content basis, does Google know what I do not know about myself?

Shit.

*bowing to* Jennifer Aniston

"I made my allowance as a kid cleaning toilets - I'm actually pretty good at it," said the actress." (link)

Something that no Pakistani will ever imagine of doing. Even if one has done it, he wont tell because its considered shameful. And here is this Hollywood star, who earns millions of dollars performing in movies and getting commercial endorsements, feeling no shame in sharing what she did for living and still says feels proud of it. And amazingly no one in her country would feel bad about it. Thats greatness. Something we, even I, cant imagine doing.

*bowing gain*

Racism 101

For me, a Pakistani commenting on the English language skills of another Pakistani is downright racist.


(Had to re-post this August 2008 post of mine today. Actress Meera is again being criticized for her English language skills. She may be a disaster but no one has a right to criticize her English. Ours is a racist society)

'that' feeling

I : How does it feel when your blog does not get that much traffic?
Me: I once saw a guy sitting at the back of a commuter van. In front of him , couple of seats ahead, was an other guy who was chatting with the only girl in van. Although the guy kept watching outside the window as if he did not care but he did take a glance at them. 'why not me?' he must have thought. 'That' feeling.

Gilgit-Baltistan

If you ever thought why only four provinces are represented on 14th August, why the customs and traditions of Northern areas are absent in any cultural representation of areas of Pakistan... then know this. They can not get Provincial status, representation in Parliament of Pakistan and constitutional rights bestowed upon the citizens of Pakistan because they are in a disputed territory. The Government of Pakistan is under obligation of UN resolutions on Kashmir which state that Pakistan can only have administrative rights over these areas and can not change their status (like naming it as a 5th province of Pakistan).

The recent Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance) Order 2009 is an attempt by the Pakistani Government to give more legislative powers to the locals. There will be a Governor, a Chief Minister and a legislative council. This will be more on pattern of Azad Kashmir Government. The idea is to give more autonomy and legislative powers to the inhabitants of these areas. But the problem of giving full constitutional cover to Gilgit-Baltistan still remains as after passage of 62 years. So how about solving this issue? I found this idea very neat and effective.

"This can be done by giving Gilgit-Baltistan provincial status on a purely provisional basis, pending the implementation of UN resolutions. If Pakistan does so now, after sixty years first of stalling and then of refusal by India to allow a plebiscite, there will be no breach of our international commitments, nor will such a step affect the sanctity of those resolutions, or absolve India of its obligation under international law to cooperate in their implementation. However, to preclude any misgivings, Pakistan will have to coordinate this step with the people and government of Azad Kashmir and with the APHC as the representative body of Kashmiris on the other side of the Line of Control. ..."

"... This should be followed by an amendment to the Pakistani Constitution, declaring that: (a) the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be decided through a plebiscite in accordance with UN resolutions; (b) until the final status of the state has been so determined, Pakistan admits it to the Federation on a provisional basis in accordance with the wish expressed by the elected representatives of the liberated territory; and (c) Pakistan remains committed to the implementation of the UN resolutions." - Asif Ezdi

read about it more here.

Signs That You Are a Blogger

- You think about issues around you in terms of blog posts.
- You have to share what you experienced lately.
- You keep a track on comments section on your site.
- You keep a track of visitors to your site.
- You visit popularity rating websites to know the ranking of your site.
- You have thought about Questions and your supposed Answers if you get interviewed as an author on any website.
- You 'think' that you write just for personal reasons.
- You come across weird search related visitors on your site.
- You keep complaining that you have suffered writing choke - still you write about it.
- There is at least one post in your 'draft' section.
- You expect admiration from other other blog writers for what you wrote.

Dutch Girl Going Solo

A 13 year old Dutch girl wants to sail around the world! Excellent! just the fact that she wants to do it alone! Damn!

"A 13-year-old Dutch girl's plans to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world were temporarily blocked on Friday when a court placed her under state supervision for two months." Link

Good job court! My vote is for you!

When this issue was raised couple of days ago, it was reported that the parents of the girl supported her and thought it was a great idea. The concerned authorities feared that it was not a good idea letting a child sail solo as it was too dangerous. The matter went to court and the court decided to place her under supervision for two months under a psychologist and child protection agencies to evaluate how she will cope with this adventure. She was supposed to become the 'youngest solo sailor around the world'. The trip would take her 2 years.

I really do not think so. Its a totally bad idea. And here is why.

First. They are attempting to set a world record. 'Child protection' no where figures in this scenario, its all about setting a world record, of amending the Guinness Book of World Records. And that is the whole problem. Yes they will say she is properly trained, yes she says she is all set to go, yes they have provided everything that a sailor might possibly need... but she is a kid and you are her parents! God damn it!

Secondly. She is going solo. No one will be able to help her. She is not physically an adult so the physical strength required for such undertaking is not with her. Even Lance Armstrong needed support staff when he won the Tour de France. And that was on terra ferma! Then she is only 13 years old. You need to be absolutely 100% sure and mentally focussed to achieve such gigantic task. Its not that she'll sail for 24 hours and then come back. Its whole 2 years. I am a mature adult but cant stay away from my family!

She should not be allowed to leave solo. It is not about gender discrimination nor it is about parents inhibiting the 'creativity' factor of their children. Its purely about child protection. So court.. please don't let her leave!

Jinnah and Jaswant - Subsequent Issues

Jaswant Singh, I assume, had the idea that there will be backlash. He was thrown out of BJP, that he may not have seen coming but extreme opposition to him must have been crystal clear to him. After all, he had L K Advani's case before him who was ostracized for praising Jinnah. Mind you, pakistanis are going berserk that he praised Jinnah. Jaswant holds Jinnah 'responsible' for partition but spreads the blame on Nehru and Patel as well. (Read this article of Aaker Patel)

Amongst the unleashed discussions, is the one favourite with pakistanis - whether Jinnah wanted an Islamic state or a secular one. The liberals quote his speech to the First Constituent Assembly on 11th August 1947 wherein he said

"You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State…."

The conservatives on the other hand say he wanted an Islamic state. For instance this quote of Jinnah made in Sibbi Darbar in 1948

"Let us lay the foundations of our democracy on the basis of truly Islamic ideals and principles. Our Almighty has taught us that our decisions in the affairs of the state shall be guided by discussion and consultations."

So what did he want? (Read this article by Pervez Hoodbhoy)

As for me.. frankly, I don't get it whats the fuss all about. Jinnah might or might not have campaigned for a homeland separate for muslims. What he definitely said 'afterwards' was that state will have no business with the religion of a person. Or you think its the otherway round?

Whats the big deal?

I was born after formation of Bangladesh. I did not even see united Pakistan. The answers of whether Jinnah wanted a pure Islamic state or a secular state make no difference whatsoever on my being a pakistani. I am a pakistani irrespective of whatever opinion you hold. Even after it being split in to two.

Talking of relations of state with minorities, 'persecution' of a minority by a state on any basis especially on basis of religion is abhorrent. This holds true if the state is secular or it is theocratic.So we should be ashamed of Gojra incident where christians were killed irrespective of what opinion you hold about Jinnah's ideals. This should not happen!

There are issues that have to be dealt with in earnest. On international scale - terrorism and our relationship with our neighbors. Whether Pakistan is Islamic or secular will have no bearings whatsoever on international relations which have to be maintained as 'GOOD'. India cannot destroy us nor we can bleed India to death - we have to live together if this mass of earth is to be improved than the rest.

Locally, we have much broader range of issues to deal with. Democracy, human rights, minority abuse, corruption, ineffective government, terrorism, religious extremism, constantly spiraling downward social indicators. Poverty is killing Pakistanis. Wake up brothers and sisters! Believe in whatever you think regarding what Jinnah thought.. just don't get bogged down in it. It serves no purpose whatsoever.

My Other Post

- Prophet Muhammad vs Ghazil Ilam Din

PostMan's Law of Blogging Choke

You will face a situation where is no item to write about and you'll complain about it in the next post.

Move Over 'Dark energry', 'Big Wave' is here!

Interesting times :) Scientists have proposed a 'new' theory to explain the expansion of universe. Its called 'Big Wave'.

Time for a bit of story telling. When some 15 billion years ago as the Big Bang occurred, the universe as we see came in to existence. All these stars and galaxies were formed. Our own solar system came in to existence some 5 billion years ago. When Newton discovered gravity, this had an ominous sign for our universe - it would ultimately collapse on itself due to gravity. To erase our fears of this inevitable crunch came Albert Einstein who proposed that Universe was 'expanding' rather than contracting. He arrived at this conclusion mathematically wherein to balance the force of gravity he introduced the 'cosmological constant' as the fudge factor. He himself admitted that it was the 'Biggest Blunder' he committed because it just did not make sense. This cosmological constant worked against the pull of gravity and thus enabled the universe to expand.

Turns out, the universe IS expanding as it was confirmed by Edwin Hubble in 1929 when he stumbled upon the red shift pattern of galaxies. As a light emitting body moves away from you, the strength of light decreases resulting in shifting towards the red end of the spectrum. But this was truly unsettling. What was causing the universe to expand? and why should it be expanding when it should be contracting instead? And what if it did not contract and kept on expanding? Will it result in the Big Rip in which everything will be torn apart?

But it was a general belief that ultimately the gravity will take over this cosmological constant so universe will become stationary if not start to contract. Fast forward to mid 1990s and scientists are boggled by the recent discovery that universe is not just expanding - its expanding very fast and its speed is rising!

The observations stated that the universe we see around us, had the visible matter of only 4%! Where the hell was the rest of 96% of our universes mass?! The Biggest Blunder of Cosmological Constant not only looked neat now but it had to be made to wear new clothes. In came the concepts of Dark Energy and Dark Matter. Dark Energy constituted 74% of the matter and Dark Matter 22%. Dark Matter has been confirmed for its presence as it has affected objects near it but it can not be detected because the light does not interfere with it.

Dark Energy which constituted 74% of our universe's mass was still elusive. In fact it too is a fudge factor introduced to balance the mathematical equations. Now scientists have come up with a new explanation for the expansion of this universe. Call it a new opinion and its called 'Big Wave'. According to it the universe is not expanding rather a wave in space-time is making it 'appear' as if its expanding very fast. This Big wave was created by the Big Bang. Blake Temple of the University of California states it in the following manner.

Temple compared the wave to what happens when you throw a rock into a pond. In this case, the rock would be the Big Bang, and the concentric ripples that result are like a series of waves throughout the universe. Later on, when the first galaxies start to form, they are forming inside space-time that has already been displaced from where it would have been without the wave. So when we observe these galaxies with telescopes, they don't appear to be where we would expect if there had never been a big wave.

uh huh :)

Man is still searching for the 'truth'. Happy hunting.
And yeah you can read that again from the top :)

The Most Dumb Chain Mail

Call me whatever but this is the most dumb email chain I have ever read. Perhaps its my bias that is rating this email as numero uno dumb but I think it is. It has to be. We muslims are really in dumps and have no solution to our problems. Our responses to events show that only God can save us, only if HE ever wished to. Muslim society as a whole, in any country, is at an intellectual abyss. We totally lack the knowledge to understand and comprehend whats at stake and how to go about solving it. Not that muslims lack at scientific knowledge, we are '0' in religious knowledge too - not of any o9ther religion but ours! Islam!

Read the mail text.


______________________________________________________
The Power of Allah

Why a nun can be covered from head to toe and she's respected for devoting herself to God, but then a Muslimah does that, she's considered "oppressed"?

Why a Jew can grow a beard and he's just practicing his faith, and when a Muslim does that, he's an extremist?

a western woman stays at home to look after the house & kids she's sacrificing herself & doing good for the household, but when a Muslim woman does so, she "needs to be liberated"

Why is it that when a child dedicates himself to a subject, he has potential, and when a child dedicates himself to Islam, he is hopeless?

When a Christian kills someone, religion is not mentioned, (i. e. Irelandand the IRA) but when a Muslim is charged with a crime, it's Islam that goes to trial?

But then again, why is it after all that, Islam is still the fastest growing religion in the world?

Take 60 seconds and give this a shot!

Let's just see if Satan stops this one. All you do is:

1... Say:

a- Subhaan-Allah (God is Exalted)

b- Alhamdu-Lillah (All praise is for God)

c- Allaahu-Akbar (God is great)

d- Laa Ilaaha Illa-Allaahu - Muhammad-ur- Rasoolullah (there is no god but God. Prophet Muhammad is the messenger)

e- Allaahumma Salli Alaa Sayyidina Muhammad wa Alaa Aalihi wa Sahabihi Wasallim

2. Then: Send it on to five other people or more. Within hours, five people have prayed and you caused a multitude of people to pray to Allah, and

3. Then: Sit back and watch the power of Allah work in your life for doing the thing that you know HE loves
______________________________________________________________



See the procedure to deal with the questions? just praise God and everything will be OK. Amazing is it not?

We have to ameliorate ourselves. We have to get out of this closed mentality of ours. No one is conspiring against Islam - not jews, not USA, not hindus but us! We are our own worst enemy.

Education is the key for unlocking the doors to the Problem Redress Section. 'Infidel' knowledge of science can help muslim countries unlock the raw potential they have and start utilizing it for themselves. No muslim country can match the GDP of any other 'infidel' country. They cant match even when all of them combine!

Muslim societies have to open up - to more opinion, ideas, discussion regarding social issues and Islam. Discussion about Islam is like going in a dark tunnel, no one dares to go there. We HAVE to go there. We have to face issues that confront us regarding our religion - issues of democracy and Islam, of women rights, of relationship with minorities, of laws implemented as sharia or in the name of sharia. No more 'Islam is peacful and the best religion'. Deal with the issues to show that its best. Do something!

But wait.. I think I know the solution..
*repeating steps 1-3 in mail*

Prophet Muhammad vs Ghazi Ilam Din

Who do you like the most? Prophet Muhammad or Ghazi Ilam din shaheed? (Ghazi was the person who killed the publisher of the book considered blasphemous by muslims in 1929). If your answer is Prophet Muhammad... think again.

Ok. Tell me. is Islam peaceful? If the treatment to non-muslims in Pakistan is to be believed.. then Hell No!

But first, I want to congratulate my muslim brethren on murdering the 7 infidel christians in Gojra in the past couple of days. I also felicitate them on killing 2 more yesterday in Muridke on charges of blasphemy. Excellent work indeed.

Now coming back to the my initial question. presenting my first case.

As a student, we used to study and hear this story about Prophet Muhammad. At the start of his preaching of Islam in Mecca, he went to an area called Ta'aif. We are told that he was cursed and thrown stones at. So much he had to endure that his slippers were soaked in his blood. Still he did not say a word to them and actually prayed for their blessing.

Compare this to my second case. Ghazi Ilam Din was a very ordinary muslim. In 1929, he heard a religious scholar talking about a person who had written a book against Prophet Muhammad. This enraged the young man and upon inquiries it was revealed that the publisher was based in Lahore. Ghazi killed the publisher of this book and for which he was hanged.

If you think that you would adopt the way of the Prophet then you are obviously wrong. You wont. You will go the path of Ghazi Ilam Din and beat the crap out of everyone. Just as we did in case of those infamous cartoons that were published in Denmark.

7:199 - Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant.

Well No Sir! Who cares what Quran says! We know the best way to deal with those scum bags! Frankly, Quran talks trash when it says..

16:125 - Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.

See. God does not understand what He is talking about. We muslims know way better how to defend Islam! We even have a specific blasphemy law in Pakistan. Under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code anyone can be sentenced to death of found guilty of it. Psst. we rather prefer burning and killing religious minorities in Pakistan on this one without court proceedings cuz hey.. we also have to do other work too! Who can take time out for judicial course to take its time?

Trust me.. Not even God can stop this madness that we Pakistanis are afflicted with. We are more on path of Ghazi Ilam Din than Prophet Muhammad.

Pakistani Civility

A pedestrian on footpath was told by the motorcyclist coming behind him as to why he was not getting aside even as the motorcyclist was honking the horns?

Dumbass pedestrian.

Prostitution

"Mom leaves two kids alone while she works at strip club"
(Orlando Sentinel)

Ok what is the first thought that came into your mind? 'Horrible' I would assume? You can be forgiven for that really.

"A 26-year-old mother of two is accused of leaving her young daughters home alone while she worked at a Brevard County strip club. Fiordaliza Collado-Ramirez of Palm Bay is facing charges of child neglect, according to police. Police went to an apartment in the 300 block of Mercury Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday after a neighbor called and said one child -- a 5-year-old girl -- was on a balcony. The other child, a 4-year-old girl, was ill and lying on a couch, police said. "

I do not know what the laws are for child neglect in US. I even do not know what were the intentions of that woman but I am dead sure majority of people wold have called her a whore. I am not an angel as well. Instead, I was thinking of something else. What if she 'had' to go to strip club so that she could earn for her children? Had she not, she would have lost perhaps even this opportunity to earn for her children?

I can relate this story to another form of employment as well, its called Prostitution. Everybody it seems hates the word and the profession - still its a thriving business. Prostitution in Pakistan is a taboo word. You can 'avail' the services but make sure yo do not talk about it because its the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Sssh. Things like this do not happen here.

Prostitution is the most abusive form of employment - especially in Pakistan. Poverty really is a curse. Most of the women that end up in this hole are from impoverished environments. Poor girls are told there is work opportunity is big cities so they can support their families. Others have children to feed and no source of income. Usually their husbands are abusive or drug addicts. Majority of them are themselves drug addicts and thus end up being abused. Their 'benefactors' take all the benefits and leave them to do the labour.

Then there is a group who 'analyzes' the prostitutes and prostitution business - like what I am doing right now. We are the true definition of vultures. At one side of the divide, there is the conservative camp who in totality want this practice to be abolished in Pakistan and not a word to be uttered. On the other hand we have the liberal who say that since prostitution can not ever be eradicated therefore it should be legalized so that 'worker abuse' is minimized and better health care provisions be administered.

My issue with the Right camp is that 'total abolition' of it is almost impossible as 'demand' side is the thing that will never cease. I also have issues with liberals who basically want institutionalization of an exploitation. Yes I agree that regulations are required in this area because employer abuse with regards to employee is rampant and a huge area of health hazards is totally unheeded.

What is missing is the 'alternatives' for women in this profession. No one discusses options to 'lure' them somehow from it, perhaps vocational training, social loans so that they can start some business, state or NGO protection where they can lead some normal life at least. Yes I know Prostitution can never be eliminated, there are people in it who earn a hell load of money and it IS lucrative business and that men will never run out of sex appetite. But at least one should do something for the 'majority' of women who do not want to be part of it and want a normal decent life.

Kudos to them. Or is it Adios from our side?

PostMans Law of Pakistani Drivers

If there is a hole, there is a way

PostMan's Law of Relationship Essentials

In a relationship, omissions carry more weight than commissions.

Menstruation and Religious Duties

:)


Funny topic eh? Appears so... but it is not.


Ask any muslim woman whether she performs religious duty (say prayers) while she is menstruating and she will reply 'No'. The common knowledge is that the state of menstruation is 'unclean' so one has to stay away from religious duties. To approach them one requires 'cleanliness and purity' so when she is menstruating, its good-bye prayers, fasting, pilgrimage etc. This prevents women from performing their religious duties even if they want to. How is it possible that you and God are incommunicado for 5-6 days? If HE is the creator, HE should have seen this coming!


The only trouble for me is.. that it is no where mentioned in the Quran that a woman is not allowed to say her prayers when she is menstruating. Yes menstruation is mentioned in Quran but its only in the context of sexual intercourse and that it should not be done.


2:222 - they ask thee concerning women's courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves, ye may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah.

Now one would assume that since menstruation is 'unclean' so naturally prayers are out of question. Interestingly, the verse that mentions the preparatory phase of prayers also includes the 'state' wherein a prayer is not allowed - and that does not mention menstruation.


05:06 - O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete his favour to you, that ye may be grateful.


Checked the highlighted words? It means that if anyone, regardless of gender, has had sexual intercourse then he/she requires bathing. That is the only condition. It no where mentions menstruation.


Check another verse.


4:43 - O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,- nor in a state of ceremonial impurity (Except when travelling on the road), until after washing your whole body. If ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. For Allah doth blot out sins and forgive again and again.


Still no indication that God has disallowed women not to perform religious duties while menstruating.


Mind you, I am not talking about whether women should pray while in that situation. Not everyone of them can because its too hard for them to do anything but those women who want to perform their religious duties, there should be no 'religious injunction' prohibiting them to do so.


Related Posts


- Can You Touch The Quran When Unclean?
- A Woman's Witness Value Worth half of Men?
- Can A Woman Be An Imam?

Why Pants Are Not Shariah Compliant

Pants are not shariah compliant because they do not hold the same amount of air that a shalwar* would hold when your blow air into it to remain afloat in turbulent waters**.

That is the only reason I can come up with.



*shalwar - baggy pants that Pakistani men usually wear.
** If you fill shalwar with air and then immerse in water, you remain afloat. Common technique used by amateur Pakistani swimmers when swimming in ponds or river. See Pic No. 20. P.S: Awesome pictures by Boston Globe. A Must See.

Pakistani Cricket and Erectile Dysfunction

Pakistani cricket team is afflicted with Erectile Dysfunction syndrome. They cant make a stand when its needed.

Exam Phobia

I was/am not a good student. I was not that type that prepared notes, listened actively to what the teacher was saying, 'competed' with the top notch students.. never did any of that thing. The maximum position I got was 6th I guess in my class and that was not even the Final exams. The worst if I can remember was 16th position. So I was one of those that teachers do not remember. They only remember the good and the bad. Thank God my mama does not consider me 'ugly' and I'll take that as a popular opinion too.

The way i fared in exams was due a lot to way my father approached it:p He never ever asked me to 'do excellently' in exams. He had only one question to ask 'Did you clear?' and my answer was always 'yes'. Thats it. I do not know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing for me because it definitely had one impact one me - I got no exam pressure. The bad thing, 'perhaps', is that I never got serious for exams. You know, good students get opportunities kinda stuff?

Talking of exam pressure, different people get different treatment 'from' exams. Some get tense, some people cant sleep, some people have upset stomach.. mine was pecuilar. I got abundant supply of sleep! If i sleep around 12 at midnight, in exam days I would be asleep at around 10! I have absolutely no idea why! Perhaps it was my escapism but whatever the case, most of the times I would want to sleep. In the most important exam of a pakistani student, the 10th grade Final exam (board exam) is considered to be the first major battle. I remember, in preparation for this exam, I had a small diary with me alongside a transistor! yup you read that right, a god damn radio! I had noted all the frequencies of various radio channels. Apparently, i was not just content with that because I had also 'drawn' the frequencies with needle position alongside the noting!

The country's elitist exam, perhaps, the Civil Superior Services - I gave that too. People spend almost a year preparing for it. How did I prepare for it? A month before when the datesheet for exams came. Thats the reason I could not make it to top 100. Thats the reason I am writing this blog post :p

The approach to exams did change I must admit. Since my arrival in professional world and in this day and age of competition, one is forced to take professional certification exams. And they cost like hell! I have undertaken more than a couple of them and man they require more than a weeks preparation! Money is after all thicker than everything! I was not afraid of the exam but the thought of losing such humongous amount of money made me quiver! One is tempted to ask "why the hell did I do so?".

I believe our older generations were much better than ours. Seriously. They finished school, college and university. Thats it. No more studies. To hell with exams and everything. We, on the other hand, keep singing this song.. 'imtihan hay, tera imtihan hay'.

Sigh.

Me, Myself, Appraisal & Boss

(with due respects to Rafi and Aasha Bhosle)

Boss: kya daikhtay ho...
Me: soorat tumhari..
Boss: kya chahtay ho...
Me: chahat tumhari... (good rating)
Boss: 'na' hum jo keh dain..
Me: keh na sako gi.. (dumbass. You have already said No)
Boss: lagti nahi theek niyyat tumhari (Me: of course! I want to skin you alive!)

My Performance Appraisal

Management is a form of art. Some people just do not know how to Act.