Pakistan Times

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2012-02-15T00:00:00-08:00

Online Project Management | Smartsheet

Children of Taliban or Generation of Taliban

2012-02-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Dan Edge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy investigates how the war on terror is creating a generation of child terrorists in her homeland – children prepared to kill both inside and outside Pakistan.

With the recent attack in Lahore on the Sri Lankan cricket team, last year’s massive suicide bombing in Islamabad and assault on Mumbai, Pakistan’s radical Islamists are bringing violence to the major cities of Pakistan and beyond.

Sharmeen travels across Pakistan to investigate how the far the Taliban has infiltrated her country. In the north she finds the Pakistan army, backed by the Americans, locked in the deadliest conflict, killing thousands of Pakistani troops and civilians and displacing hundreds of thousands.

At a nearby refugee camp, Sharmeen interviews two teenage boys who are best friends. Their local madrassa was hit by bombardments from the Pakistani army and American hellfire missiles – whilst children were studying inside. One boy describes burying his cousin’s legs – the only body parts they could recover. One of the boys Sharmeen meets was in that crowd – he now wants to join the Taliban. But his best friend blames al-Qaeda for the attacks – he wants to join the army. Driven into enemy camps, both boys pledge to kill the other if they face each other on the battlefield...
And Sharmeen meets a 14 year-old boy already recruited by the Taliban who describes life in one of its extremist madrassas that provide religious justification for terrorist attacks. Hazrat describes how he graduated from training in small arms to rocket launchers and how to execute a suicide attack in a car.

She visits a valley in the north west of Pakistan called Swat which was, until 18 months ago, a peaceful tourist attraction. She goes to one of 200 schools that have been destroyed by the Taliban. Amongst the ruins, she meets two former pupils, young girls who are angry that they are now forbidden to have an education and resentful that they will soon have to wear burqas. One tells Sharmeen: “Education is a ray of light and I want that light.” As they’re filming, a Taliban mortar lands in the neighbourhood and they have to flee to the relative safety of one of girls’ home.
In Peshawar, the main city in the north of two million people, Sharmeen meets some of the child victims of the violence at a specialist paraplegic hospital.
When US will leave the Afghanistan and Peace come there?

Al-Shifa trying to expand eye camp network

2012-02-13T18:31:00.001-08:00

Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has decided to expand the network of free eye camps at union council level in far-flung areas of the country to minimise the challenge of blindness under its outreach eye care programme. The announcement was made at a conference held to mark the first death anniversary of great humanitarian icon and founding president of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals, Lt Gen (r) Jahan Dad Khan, on Monday. Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital President Lt Gen (r) Hamid Javed said that though Jahan Dad Khan left a year ago, his selfless work for the people will keep him alive for his service of the humanity. He said Al-Shifa, based on the vision of Gen Jahan Dad Khan, had decided to expand the network of free eye camps at union council level under the community outreach programme. He said the trust had treated millions since its establishment at its four state-of-the-art hospitals located in Sukkur, Kohat, Muzaffarabad and Rawalpindi. He said that besides this, more than 150,000 patients at 500 free eye camps were treated every year, which makes it one of the largest outreach eye care programmes in the country. He said that blindness had become a major challenge in the country, especially in under-privileged areas where non-availability of proper treatment had left many blind. He said that the trust would double the number of free eye camps to cope with the challenge and provide treatment to the people at their threshold. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, speaking on the occasion, said Gen Jahan Dad Khan was such a glory that he picked off fallen eyes of the blind and roamed the world to rescue these with light. He went from door to door to collect the means of providing hope to the blind. Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Vice President Saeed Ahmad Qureshi, renowned columnist Baig Raj and Dr Hasan also paid tributes to Gen Jahan Dad Khan for his service to humanity. Pakistan Times report

US can strengthen ties through cultural exchange

2012-02-13T18:30:00.000-08:00

Talking about various US-Pak initiatives, US Consul General in Lahore Nina Maria Fite said that the consulate had introduced special programmes for promotion of cultural activities as well as preservation of historic sites in Lahore as well as Punjab under the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

She also expressed the wish of fostering relations between the two strategic partners through close people-to-people contacts.

Talking to APP on Sunday, she said, “With the melting of snow on the advent of spring season in Pakistan, the frost in Pak-US relations will also thaw.”

The US diplomat said the US was waiting for the strategic paper from Pakistan on Pak-US relations after duly approved by its parliament. The US is committed to stronger relations with Pakistan since both the countries had various common causes that needed cooperation, she added.

She expressed the US government’s resolve to provide maximum support to Pakistan in the fields of economics, education and culture. The US is happy to be here in close partnership with the people of Pakistan, she added.

Nina took pride in the fact that she watched very closely the making of Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement during her posting as deputy economic counselor in Kabul, Afghanistan, stressing that greater trade ties with neighbouring countries in the region would ensure economic boom.

She said she was enchanted by the charm, beauty, timelessness and rich cultural heritage of Lahore.

Replying to a query, she said being a graduate in architecture, she admired fascinating and wonderful architecture of the Mughal period reflected in Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque as well as the contemporary architecture of Al-Hamra.

Nina further said she was awed by the magnificence and grace of the Shalamar Gardens, adding that she had been to the chrysanthemum exhibition at Jilani Park and looked forward to the rose exhibition to be held in April.

“I am touched by the hospitality of Lahorites. The people are large-hearted and have made me feel great wherever I went in Pakistan, especially Punjab,” she said while eulogising the hospitality of the people of Punjab.

The US diplomat said the recent events had not affected the Pak-US educational and cultural ties at all, stressing that besides other educational and economic programmes, Pakistan was the largest shareholder in the US Fulbright scholarships offered to students every year.

Nina also expressed the hope that her sojourn in the metropolis will usher in an era of closer Pak-US relations, bringing out humane aspect of the ties. app

Demystifying the village-naming hierarchy 2012

2012-02-13T18:28:00.001-08:00

Aizaz Cheema, one of the recent fast bowlers to represent Pakistan, hails from a village called “75-B.” Curious name? Dawn.com decided to dig out the history and tradition behind naming villages in Punjab.

Historically, there are several reasons behind naming a place in Punjab, but penning history or tracing out its anthropological roots in culture is a subject less entertained in this part of the world.

While tracking down roots or reasons behind a village name, two major classifications can be drawn: “before” and “after,” i.e. before or after the arrival of the British.

In the pre-colonial era, there were different traditions behind giving a name to any village or settlement. These traditions, sometimes, became myths but parts of oral history provide viable justification behind naming a village.

In some cases, names were assigned to villages on the basis of a historical incident; the social, religious or spiritual influence of a personality upon local populace; heritage; clan; biradri or ethnic group.

In remembrance
Located on the Depalpur–Basirpur Road in the Depalpur district, the village Bhuman Shah comprises 1,500 households. According to Professor Aurangzeb – from the department of Political Science at the Government Degree College, Sahiwal– Bhuman Shah was a Hindu saint, who spent his whole life in the area and thus the village was named after him.

Saint Bhuman was also, notably, the founder of Udaseyain sect in Hinduism, which was founded approximately 250 years ago.

The Hujra Shah Muqeem town was named after Pir Shah Muqeem, who stayed in hujra (a temporary residence).

Chak Bedi was named after Bedi clan among Sikhs, one of whose renowned members was Urdu short story writer Rajinder Singh Bedi. This village is still located near Head Sulimanki.

The town of Haveli Lakha was named after a person named Lakha Watoo – meaning Lakha Watto found a haveli (permanent residence) in the area.

In same manner, Dera Ghazi Khan, Darya Khan (a small town in southern Punjab) and Dera Ismail Khan (in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) were named after three brothers’ residences (translating to dera in Punjabi language).

The forest resort of Changa Manga in Kasur district is named after two brothers (Changa and Manga), who, during the British rule, were famous dacoits and had used the jungle as their secret hideout.

Mahar Nazir Ahmed, 57, informs Dawn.com that Moza Murad Kay Kathiya was named after Murad Ka Kathiya, who along with Mokha Waniwal, killed a British Assistant Collector and army Captain Lord Berkeley near Koray Shah at eastern bank of River Ravi, during 1857 War of Independence. Murad Kay Kathiya was sentenced for life and eventually died in Sahiwal’s central jail.

The city of Mian Chanu was named after two saint brothers, Mian Manu and Mian Chanu. A shrine that still stands in the city centre marks the grave of one of the brothers.

A drowning tale
Satgara, another historical village in Okara district, tells an interesting tale. According to Nusrat Iqbal, a local Punjabi poet, the village has a history of being drowned in Ravi River seven times. The number seven translates to “sat” in Pubjabi, hence the name Satgara. Another tale, according to Sir Denzil Ibbetson in the “Tribes and Castes” narrates there were seven houses at that locality at the time of naming, leading to the name Satgara. Despite the two theories, there is no difference of opinion on seven (sat). Interestingly, Satgara is a place where Mir Chakar Khan Rind was killed while fighting against armies of Mughal Emporer Aurangzeb and his shrine can be found in Satgara.

Irrigation and the British
Under the second classification, villages were named on the bases of the Canal Irrigation System (CIS) laid down by British on the five rivers after annexation of Punjab on April 2, 1849. The British divided all land into two main categories: Proprietary land – owned by the King or army generals and panchayat (tribal council), and Crown’s Wasteland, according to Irfan Habib, a local.

In fact, human settlement can be directly associated to availability of water and its scarcity. Punjab was the land of rivers, which compelled the British (for their own political reasons) to dig canals, in case water needed to be transferred to far off places for irrigation. Thus, the Northern India Canal Drainage Act of 1873 was brought in place to define application of water for public purposes, construction and maintenance of head-works, and supply of water for irrigation.

The main objective of canal system was to develop, plan, utilise and manage human settlement for irrigation in a judicious, equitable, sustainable and sound economic manner. Interestingly, emperors of Tughlaq and Khilji dynasty dug four canals but it couldn’t match with the irrigation system introduced by the British. The imperial rulers developed head works, barrages, dams or weirs on rivers to develop main water channels for smooth flow of water.

Rana Masood, a senior employee of the local irrigation department, says these main water channels or canals, run through ‘Crown’s Waste Land’ across India in a manner similar to the human veins, which run through the body and supply blood to each part.

The logical sequence followed for the distribution of water for irrigation purposes can be explained in the following manner:

From the rivers emerged dams, barrages and head-works, which gave way to canals and in turn, the canals led to distributaries (DISTY), leading to minors (MIN) and finally, minors gave way to sub-minors (S-MIN). For instance, Lower Bari Doab Canal emerged from Head Balloki and Pakpattan Canal from Head Sulaimanki. Before digging out the canals, the British made two important calculations: the Gross Area to be covered by the canal and the proportion of Cultural-able Commanded Area (CCA) for that particular gross area. Both calculations fall under the category of “Crown’s Waste Land”.

The canal system is used for irrigation in all provinces of the country.

“The names of chaks (villages) emerged during calculation of CCAs and digging of a canal, DISTY, minor or sub-minor in different regions,” Masood adds.

For instance, the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC), which was dug during the period of 1911 to 1913, receives water from Head Baluki at 6,750 cusecs. The British designed canals in such a way that they have the potential to increase the capacity and LBDC’s capacity was subsequently increased to 9,841 cusecs in 1988.

Naming villages on the basis of canals

The British divided CCA in two part of LBDC, “Left side of LBCD” and “Right side of LBCD.” If a DISTY (another water channel) were developed from the left side, it would be named 1-L, the second 2-L and so on. If a DISTY was dug from the right side, it would be named 1-R, second 2-R and so on.

The Cultural-able Commanded Area is equally divided on both sides of a canal, with chak numbers, which means the CCA area allocated to each chak on both sides of LBDC.

For instance, in the case of 4-R DISY one minor was provided at the right side and from that one right side minor four sub-minors were dug both on left and right sides of water channels. The name of village would then be 1R/4-R, 1R/1R/4-R and 2R/1R/4-R and 1L/1R/4-R and 2L/1R/4R and so on. Let us say chak number 78/4-R which means 78 chak number on right side of fourth DIST at LBCD. Chak number 3R/14-L means chak number 3 on left side of 14 DISTY at LBCD. (14 DIST is located on left side of LBCD).

The Pakpattan Canal finds its source at Head Sulimanki and has divisions named EB & WB. (Sulimanki Division, Eastern Bar Division & Western Bar Division). Chak number 70/EB in tehsil Arifwala, district Pakpattan means Chak number 70 on Eastern Bar Division side of Pakpattan Canal. Chak number 2L/11-L means Chack Number 2 on left Minor on 11 left side DISTY upon LBDC. Now Chak number 1L/9-L means first minor on left side of ninth DISTY on left side of LBCD. Chak number 1R/1L/9-L means 1st Sub Minor on right side of 1st left side Minor at 9th left DISTY of LBCD. This is how Chaks emerged with reference to irrigation water availability according to CCA for total 58 main canals across Pakistan. All chaks names given with reference to water channels’ sides.

Abdul Sattar, a senior clerk at LBDC Circle office Sahiwal informs us that all chak names were given with reference to canal and distributries laid down for irrigation purpose. Interestingly, one finds a number of villages, still intact with both references. Like their name reference with any tradition or figure and with irrigation system reference. Like Village 4 GD first called Gulam Rasool Wala in Gogera area before British arrival.

Later, after canal laying its name was put village 4GD Rasool Wala. (4th DISTY In Gogera Drain Canal). Falik Sher lives in village 68/4-R (Rath Sayal). He said Rath Sayal was a Rajput caste. The people of Rajput tribe started living in village. Later British named it Chak Number 68.

“This village is dominated by Siyal Rajput, hense its’ both name runs common. Chak 68/4-R, Rath Siyalain Wala.”

Mahar Basher Ahmed is ex-councillor from village 98/9-L (Lakain Wala). He revealed that his great great grandfather Mahar Guhaan Khan Luck migrated from Sargodha and settled here before the LBDC system was laid down. The chak was named 98/9-L as it falls on 9th left side DISTY of LBDC. But as majority of Luck Biradri still lives here it is named after 98/9-L (Lakanwala).

Actually, a discipline named cultural anthropology deals with such sense of historiography but unfortunately such disciplines could not flourish among our educational institutions because of our “ideological compulsion”. It is time to revisit our local history with peoples’ perspective.

Multan cricket run by petrol pump owner

2012-02-13T18:27:00.001-08:00

Multan: From fighting for titles to fighting of survival, Multan’s cricket is experiencing an unprecedented slump and, with an interim committee headed by a bus-terminal owner, faces a tough ask on and off the field.

In the 2006-07 season, Multan won the Silver League title — and a promotion to the top tier of first-class cricket, the grade-II under-23 crown and the U15 event. Now, they have lost eight of their nine matches to sit bottom of Division-II. In the domestic Twenty20 event, Multan were eliminated after finishing third in their four-team group. The slump, regarded by many, is due to the ad-hocism implemented by former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt who replaced long-serving president Mian Munir Ahmed with Inamul Haq.

Now, Sahiwal’s Sohail Shafqat, a bus terminal owner, has been handed over the responsibilities by Zaka Ashraf, a bold move especially since Shafqat admits he is a novice in cricketing matters.

“My passion to work with cricket brings me here,” Shafqat told The Express Tribune. “I’ve formed a five-member committee comprising former first-class cricketers to give me suggestions. I have my own bus terminals as well as petrol and CNG stations so I’m not here to make money but only to ensure deserving individuals get a chance.

“Things were not good prior to my appointment I have come up with a plan to put them back on track.”

Shafqat also confirmed that he had invited Munir to work with him for the improvement of the region’s cricket. The former president Munir, blaming Butt for destroying the structure, also revealed that he had sought a meeting with Zaka Ashraf but to no avail.

“I’ve sought time from the new chairman for a meeting, but haven’t heard anything yet. I won’t lose my respect by running after him.”

LHC seeks reply from Punjab govt. on medicine purchase policy

2012-02-13T18:26:00.001-08:00

Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court (LHC), while hearing petitions against deaths from spurious drugs provided by the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on Monday, directed the provincial government to inform until February 22 about the steps it was taking to change its policy concerning purchase of medicines.
Condemning the deaths from fake drugs, the judge observed, “The court being the guardian of basic human rights would not let anyone play with the lives of the masses.”
He also ordered the investigation team probing into the PIC issue to submit a report until the next hearing, informing the court about those responsible for sale of substandard drugs.
Meanwhile, the Punjab health secretary submitted a detailed report regarding
current statistics of patients suffering from medicines’ reaction, admitted to different hospitals across the city.
According to the report, a total of 929 patients were admitted to different hospitals of the province from December 23, 2011 to February 11. Out of these, 707 patients were discharged after recovery, while 103 patients were still under treatment, the report said.
Replying to a query about payment of Rs 500,000 to each victim’s family, the additional advocate general assured that the Punjab government would provide compensation to the bereaved families before the next hearing.
Earlier, Additional Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed informed the court about some irregularities on part of the PIC, unearthed during investigation. “The hospital’s priority is not to buy quality medicines but to purchase those that are the cheapest,” he said, adding that a tablet available in market for Rs 20 had been purchased by the PIC at Rs 0.75.
A petition in this regard had been filed by Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) Chairman Muhammad Azhar Siddique. staff report

Indian exporters hopeful to end indirect trade

2012-02-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

India and Pakistan, which are moving forward to enhance trade ties through the present move started by two countries, are required to at least end the indirect trade to reduce the high freight cost.
Since both countries are importing goods via a third station, the freight cost could have been reduced drastically if the same were allowed to be traded directly, thereby, reducing the price of imported goods. This was expressed by leading Indian exporters here at Lahore Expo Centre on Monday. The representatives of at least 100 companies were attending the three day, The Indian Show 2012, being organised by Federation Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Indian exporters who are hopeful to get maximum share in the Pakistani market after the expected development regarding grant of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India said, despite the past unfriendly environment for trade between the two South Asian neighbours, many goods produced/manufactured at both sides have been traded indirectly.
Talking to Profit, Assistant Director Spices Board Ministry of Commerce and Industry India, Sopal Ram, said various kinds of spices were being imported in Pakistan from India which is the largest producer/exporter of these items, but in an indirect way. The country has at least 2,000 registered exporters who were allowed to trade after meeting the approved standards of the government. The quality of Indian spices could only be questioned when the value addition was made in the product by the country that is importing it.
He claimed the spices had a huge demand in Pakistan and the products could be cheaper if these were allowed for imports/exports directly. “The visiting people at expo centre have shown great interest in the highly qualitative products,” he said, adding that his country could make the entire demand of spices in Pakistan.
Tom Jose, Manager Marketing and Business Development of The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India said, Pakistan could export the raw material/unfinished gems and jewellery to India, which has recorded exports worth $43.14 billion during financial year 2010-2011. He said that India has comparatively better technology for finishing and value addition of products.
A Surender. Sr Regional Manager, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, said India is exporting various fuel furnace oil, lubricants, diesel, etc, with competitive prices and freight costs to meet the energy crisis of Pakistan. The corporation was a fortune of global 500 company engaged in the business of refining and marketing of petroleum products in India with a turnover of $23,390 million and market sale of 27 MMT.
A representative of tea development board of India informed that a successful negotiation was going on at government and concerned associations level to start direct tea export to Pakistan. Islamabad, which is importing a large quantity of tea from the African region especially Kenya, could obtain the same products at competitive prices and freight costs, if the import was formally allowed in Pakistan.
“India can meet the tea demand of Pakistan, as the former is already exporting to various European, Asian and African countries,” he said, adding that despite a Preferential Trade Agreement with Kenya, Pakistan was not benefiting from the reduced tariff of tea due to the high freight cost. Both exporters in India and Importers from Pakistan were negotiating the issue, while the matter was also under discussion at the government level. The first ever exhibition organised by India was attended by thousands of visitors from all walks of life.

Fata Cultural Festival in Pakistan February

2012-02-09T01:36:00.000-08:00

Fata Cultural Festival in Pakistan February

Ijaz fails to appear before Pakistan commission on memo

2012-02-09T01:29:00.000-08:00

From Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Feb 9 (PTI) American businessman Mansoor Ijaz today failed to avail a final opportunity to depose before a Pakistani judicial commission investigating the memo scandal, with his lawyer saying that he was prepared to record his statement at the Pakistani mission in London. The Supreme Court-appointed commission observed that Ijaz had made a U-turn on the issue of coming to Pakistan to depose despite all sorts of assurances given by the government about his security. During a hearing last month, the commission had given Ijaz a final opportunity to depose before it today about the mysterious memo that had sought US help to stave off a feared military coup in Pakistan after the killing of Osama bin Laden in May last year.
The three-judge commission issued the direction after Ijaz failed to appear before the panel on two occasions. In messages sent through this lawyer Akram Sheikh, Ijaz had cited security concerns as his reason for not coming to Pakistan. During today's hearing, Sheikh told the panel that Ijaz does not want to come to Pakistan but is ready to provide evidence about the memo and record his statement outside the country. After consulting Ijaz during a recess in the hearing, Sheikh informed the commission that Ijaz was prepared to record his statement at the Pakistan High Commission in London. Sheikh further contended that the commission does not have the right to summon Ijaz, who is a US national and had voluntarily offered to appear before the panel.

Gas from Iran in Pakistan

2012-02-09T01:24:00.000-08:00

Iran has not just built its own portion of the gas pipeline from the gas fields to the Pakistani border, but it has also offered to build the Pakistani portion, from the Pakistani border, to the main distribution point, from where it can be piped across the country. This offer was made by visiting Iranian Vice-President on international affairs Ali Saeedlou in his meetings with the President and PM’s Finance Adviser Hafeez Sheikh, and should be accepted by Pakistan immediately. The US has persuaded India to withdraw from the project, but currently there are no sanctions on Iran for exporting gas. As such, Pakistan is free to make a decision on its own. Pakistan, although it has a government sensitive to US interests, also is in great need of Iranian gas to help overcome its energy shortages, and has resisted all pressure so far, and has assured Iran that it will continue with its plans to make the pipeline operational. In this context, the latest American statement has come directly from the State Department, evidence of US diplomatic interest in Pakistan's final decision. With this in the background, President Zardari’s announcing of increased visa facilities for Iranian businessmen shows that Pakistan is serious about the goal of increasing Pak-Iranian trade to $5 billion, from the current $1.5 billion. Therefore, the relationship is not just about gas, but also about greater trade between the two neighbouring, friendly countries, adding economic ties to the already existing cultural, religious and fraternal ones. This may disturb the US, but Pakistan is looking to its wider national interests as a matter of survival.This becomes particularly important at this point, when there is to be a setting of rules of engagement with the USA. Pakistan must make it a condition that its dealings with Iran, as well as with China, should not be made a source of friction by the US. As with the gasline project with Iran, there are several projects with China, both civilian and military. While Iran is an irritant to the US and China is similarly a concern, the US itself is the best example, given the giant trade volume is has with China.

Bloodletting underway in Syria, as rebels falter

2012-02-09T01:21:00.000-08:00

It's a bloodletting in Syria. Civilians are facing tanks. There's every indication the dictatorship is moving to crush, once and for all, the eleven-month-old rebellion against the 40-year dictatorship of the Assad family.

Homs, a city of 1.7 million people, which is a little bit more than Philadelphia, is under siege by tanks and artillery for the fifth day in a row. Scenes like this are playing out in several Syrian cities and towns tonight.

Syria matters because of its neighborhood. It borders both Israel and Iraq. While the government there has banned independent reporting, CBS News correspondent Clarissa Ward got to the battle lines with the rebels. Ward found a battle being fought by farmers and workers, very close to home.

Just outside of the city, the rebels moved in on a checkpoint set up by the Syrian army to choke off rebel traffic. The men crept through an olive grove. Then the attack began. As they opened fire, the enemy remained hidden from view.

"You are surrounded," the rebel leader called out to the Syrian soldiers. "Defect and join us."

But there was no surrender, and the battle raged on

For rebel-held Syrian towns, constant funerals
U.S. mulls humanitarian aid, not arms, for Syrian rebels
Syria's rebels: Ordinary men fight and die
U.S. closes Syria Embassy, pulls all staff

Many of the fighters were young and inexperienced, like Fouad Khashan, a 23-year-old mechanic. Hey was among the group that was yelling "charge!" as they lobbed grenades at the enemy. But the bullets kept on coming.

Moments later Fouad was hit. Under fire, the commander struggled to lift his limp body. Other men joined in to help.

They tried to reclaim this checkpoint. They haven't been able to do it yet and now there is a casualty. Someone has been hurt very badly. They try to take him to a hospital. At the hospital, body after body was hurried up the stairs. The men weeping for their fallen brothers.

"The honor of the Arabs is dead," said one man, who then cursed President Assad.

Later, with guns blazing and crowds chanting, the dead were carried home. Where the women waited, their wailing piercing the night air.

"Bashar al Assad is a dog," one woman cried.

At least four people were killed in the fighting Wednesday.

The rebel fighters are simply no match for the army regulars. They have no military training. They're not physically fit. They're up against an army with artillery, tanks. Soon the Syrian army will begin to use air power as well.
Pakistan Times
Many rebels say at this point there's no turning back. Too much damage has been done. Too much blood has been shed. They've been living under repression 40 years. They want to speak their minds with freedom, choose their own government. And they're willing to die to get there.

California school embroiled in child abuse scandal to reopen with new staff

2012-02-09T01:16:00.000-08:00

A Los Angeles-area school at the center of a shocking child abuse scandal reopens Thursday with an entirely new staff, including the principal, teachers, administrators and janitors.

The Los Angeles Unified School District replaced the Miramonte Elementary staff to avoid "surprises," educators said.

About 70 new teachers will welcome the 1,400 students who attend Miramonte when they resume classes.

"The teachers are concerned on how the children are going to feel," said Contisia Davis, a special education assistant and 16-year teaching veteran.

Davis, 36, said she and the new faculty are trained to include social skills in their lesson plans so kids can adjust to the sudden change of having all new teachers. Helping school sex abuse victims
Two L.A. teachers charged with lewd acts
Parent reacts to school abuse scandal
Parent: Throw 'lewd' teachers in jail

Classes resume as attorneys representing eight alleged victims say they'll announce the first lawsuits of the sexual misconduct scandal. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles will also join the news conference Thursday.

Los Angeles County investigators have found 200 more photos allegedly taken by Mark Berndt, 61, a former public elementary school teacher facing 23 felony counts of lewd acts with pupils, a sheriff's spokesman said Wednesday.

Authorities identified pupils in 175 of the 200 photographs and are trying to identify those in the remaining 25, said Sgt. Dan Scott of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities declined to provide further details.

Berndt, who allegedly took a total 600 photographs, was arrested last week and accused of taking bondage photos of more than two dozen students in his classroom, including some with suspected semen-filled spoons at their mouths.

The school board fired Berndt a year ago, but he appealed, then dropped the appeal and resigned last spring, school spokesman Tom Waldman said. He is being held in lieu of $23 million bail, authorities said.

The scandal has prompted difficult conversations in the Mexican immigrant enclave where the school is located, south of downtown Los Angeles.

L.A. school scandal forces parents to have difficult talks with kids

"A parent isn't prepared to have such a conversation -- just trying to figure out what kind of words to use," said Sergio Blanco,42, a painter whose two sons attend Miramonte.

"I told them they could tell me anything," he said. "Don't be afraid. You can confide in me."

In their expanding investigation into the sexual misconduct scandal, authorities also charged a second teacher, Martin Bernard Springer, 49, of Alhambra, California, whom the school board fired Tuesday.

Springer was arrested and pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three felony charges of lewd acts with a girl under age 14.

"At this time, we have only enough evidence to charge him with one victim," spokeswoman Jane Robison of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Wednesday.

Springer's attorney, Daniel Kolodziej, said Wednesday that it is "premature" to release a statement or comment on allegations against his client.

Authorities probe 911 response to Josh Powell's home

2012-02-09T01:14:00.000-08:00

Authorities have launched an investigation into how dispatchers handled 911 calls from those seeking help before Josh Powell killed his sons and himself in his Washington home.

Critics have said it took too long for dispatchers to grasp the danger of the situation and alert police.

"We will investigate all aspects of this incident, and if there is a need to refine our processes, (as we do continually) we will do so," said Tom Orr, director of the Law Enforcement Support Agency, which operates the 911 call center. " If there is a need to investigate from a disciplinary perspective and assign individual responsibility, we will do that as well."

Orr's comments come as the community come to grips with Sunday's murder-suicide at Powell's Graham, Washington home. Powell is accused of snatching his young sons from a social worker who was delivering them for a supervised visit, locking the door, hacking the kids with a hatchet and starting an explosive fire in the home.

Tapes of 911 conversations, released this week, detail the frantic social worker trying to get help.

But even after she told a dispatcher that she smells gasoline and Powell will not let her in the home, a dispatcher continued to ask questions about her job and says "life-threatening situations come first." "This could be life-threatening," the social worker pleads. "He was in court on Wednesday and he didn`t get his kids back and this is really ... I`m afraid for their lives."

The social worker's husband said she was badly shaken up.

"She`s very upset and traumatized. She has said that she thinks this is something that is going to be a life-changing event," the husband told CNN affiliate KCPQ.

Call center records show that it took eight minutes for the dispatcher to send a police car and it took an additional 13 minutes for a police car to get to Powell's home, the affiliate reported.

"We try to get it right every single time. With humans here sometimes, there are mistakes made. I can`t tell you whether that was the case here until the investigation is complete," Orr told the affiliate.

Services for Charlie, 7, and Braden Powell, 5, will be held Saturday. Family members said they were having a hard time dealing with their grief.

"How could you do that to your children?" their grandfather, Chuck Cox, told HLN's Nancy Grace on Wednesday night.

Cox said the social worker should not have been taking the boys to Powell's residence alone.

"I'm glad she is safe," he said. "She could very well have been in that house. He could have closed the door behind her."

Powell was embroiled in an ugly custody dispute with the Cox family that stems back to the 2009 disappearance of his wife, Susan Cox-Powell.

According to investigators, Powell had said the last time he saw his wife was the night he and his sons -- then ages 2 and 4 -- left to go camping after midnight in freezing weather.

Police have said they will continue to investigate her disappearance despite the deaths.

Chuck Cox said he tried to prevent the visitation.

"We had warned the police ... everybody, that he (Josh Powell) was capable of hurting those children and we were very concerned," he said. But, apparently, the law allowed for it, according to Cox.

"I don't think we could have done anything more," he said.

The grandfather restated his belief that his son-in-law, whom he described as very controlling and unlikeable, is responsible for Susan's disappearance.

According to Chuck Cox, Josh Powell bristled when he heard or saw evidence that the boys were close to their grandparents.

The Coxes said the boys at first would not talk about their missing mother, but then opened up a little bit.

One said he last saw her on a camping trip, Chuck Cox told HLN. But then they would forget details or not want to talk about her.

"They went back to a trained and coached response," the grandfather said. "Josh didn't want them saying anything about it."

Police raid in the day Show

2012-02-09T01:04:00.000-08:00

It is a reality, crime show that exposes dens of underground criminal activity.Watch RAID, only on Pakistan Times

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2012-02-01T00:00:00-08:00

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2012-01-30T00:00:00-08:00

Zero-Knowledge data backup, sync, access, storage and share from any device | SpiderOak.com
One of the best plans for supporting any source (including NAS) and any number of computers.

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2012-01-28T00:00:00-08:00

Joyent. Cloud Software for Service Providers.

First Pakistani Acheive Oscar Award

2012-01-25T05:34:00.000-08:00

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy became the first Pakistani filmmaker to earn an Oscar nomination with her film ìSaving Faceî, nominated in the “Documentary, Short Film” category as the Oscar nominations were released on Tuesday.

Obaid, who has directed several documentary films, won an Emmy award in 2010 for her documentary ìPakistan: Children of the Talibanî. ìSaving faceî, which the Karachi-based filmmaker has co-directed with Daniel Junge, depicts the life of a British Pakistani plastic surgeon who donates his time to heal acid victims in Pakistan. The film is set to be released in March this year, while the Oscars will be held on February 26. Journalist and filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy today became the first Pakistani to earn an Oscar nomination with her documentary 'Saving Face', which focuses on a plastic surgeon who helps women attacked with acid.

The film co-directed by Chinoy and Daniel Junge was nominated in the 'documentary, short film' category of the Oscar awards.

Chinoy has directed several documentary films and won an Emmy award in 2010 for her documentary 'Pakistan: Children of the Taliban'.

In a message posted on Twitter, Chinoy said, “It hasn't sunk in yet but I'm going 2 the Oscars with Saving Face 4 best doc short - proud moment 4 me & my team & I hope 4 Pakistan.”

In another message, she recalled her father had died the day she received an Emmy award.

'Saving Face' chronicles the life of a British-Pakistani plastic surgeon who donates time to heal acid victims in Pakistan. It also documents the journey of these women as they come to terms with the violence in their lives and how they fight against all odds to learn to live again, said a statement on Chinoy's website.

The film highlights the story of two women from southern Punjab who are victims of acid attacks. “It's a positive story about Pakistan on two accounts: firstly, it portrays how a Pakistani-British doctor comes to treat them and it also discusses, in great depth, the parliament's decision to pass a bill on acid violence”, Chinoy had said when the film was shortlisted for the Oscar nominations in October last year.

Pakistan Police suspects militants behind foreigners' kidnap 2012

2012-01-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

Police on Tuesday accused religious militants over the kidnapping of a German aid worker and his Italian colleague, snatched at gunpoint five days ago.

The two aid workers were dragged from the home they rented in Multan late on Thursday, bringing to six the number of Westerners kidnapped in Pakistan since July.

“The kidnappers have made no contact so far,” Azhar Akram, the head of the police investigation team told AFP from Multan.

Masked gunmen snatched the two aid workers, but left behind a guard and a Western woman also staying at the house.

“It could be a simple case of kidnapping for ransom, an extremist group may be involved or may be linked to some personal issue,” he added.

The German and Italian had been working for a year to help rehabilitate villagers affected by devastating floods in 2010.

Another member of the police team confirmed that suspicion was falling on religious extremists.

“The gunmen are believed to have taken them to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province or some tribal town in the lawless region on Afghan border,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

On Sunday, a Kenyan aid worker also went missing with his Pakistani driver.

Police fear the pair have also been kidnapped.

Earlier this month, gunmen kidnapped a British man working for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Pakistan’s insurgency-hit southwestern province of Balochistan.

Last August, an American development director, Warren Weinstein, 70, was snatched from his home in Lahore and in July a Swiss couple was kidnapped while driving through Balochistan.

The Taliban claim to have the Swiss, while al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri claims to be holding Weinstein, but the terror group has released no proof.

Oscar reaction after nominations 2012

2012-01-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

The nominations for the 84th annual Academy Awards were announced this morning with "Hugo" and "The Artist" leading the nominations. Now, the nominees have had a chance to let the news of their nominations settle in and react to the announcement.

Click through to see what actress Octavia Spencer, the cast of "The Artist," actors Brad Pitt and Gary Oldman have to say of their nominations.

Award list

Best Picture:
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Moneyball"
"The Tree of Life"
"War Horse"

Best Actor:
Demian Bichir, "A Better Life"
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Jean Dujarin, "The Artist"
Gary Oldman, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Best Actress:
Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams, "My Week with Marilyn"

Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh, "My Week with Marilyn"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte, "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Max von Sydow, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Best Supporting Actress:
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"

Best Directing:
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"

Best Foreign Language Film:
"Bullhead" (Belgium)
"Footnote" (Israel)
"In Darkness" (Poland)
"Monsieur Lazhar" (Canada)
"A Separation" (Iran)

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, "The Descendants"
John Logan, "Hugo"
George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, "The Ides of March"
Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, "Moneyball"
Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"

Best Original Screenplay:
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
J.C. Chandor, "Margin Call"
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Asghar Farhadi, "A Separation"

Best Animated Feature Film
"A Cat in Paris"
"Chico & Rita"
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
"Puss in Boots"
"Rango"

Best Art Direction:
"The Artist"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"War Horse"

Best Cinematography:
"The Artist"
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"The Tree of Life"
"War Horse"

Best Sound Mixing:
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Moneyball"
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
"War Horse"

Best Sound Editing:
"Drive"
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
"War Horse"

Best Original Score:
"The Adventures of Tintin," John Williams
"The Artist," Ludovic Bource
"Hugo," Howard Shore
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," Alberto Iglesias
"War Horse," John Williams

Best Original Song:
"Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets," Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" from "Rio," Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown and Siedah Garrett.

Best Costume:
"Anonymous"
"The Artist"
"Hugo"
"Jane Eyre"
"W.E"

Best Documentary Feature:
"Hell and Back Again"
"If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front"
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory"
"Pina"
"Undefeated"

Best Documentary (short subject):
"The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement"
"God is the Bigger Elvis"
"Incident in New Baghdad"
"Saving Face"
"The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom"

Best Film Editing:
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Moneyball"

Best Makeup:
"Albert Nobbs"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"The Iron Lady"

Best Animated Short Film:
"Dimanche/Sunday"
"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore"
"La Luna"
"A Morning Stroll"
"Wild Life"

Best Live Action Short Film:
"Pentecost"
"Raju"
"The Shore"
"Time Freak"
"Tuba Atlantic"

Best Visual Effects
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"Real Steel"
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

The Academy Awards ceremony will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Billy Crystal.

Arfa Karim name always remain in minds

2012-01-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

Arfa was born in a family that hailed from the village of Chak No. 4JB Ram Dewali in Faisalabad, Punjab. After returning to Pakistan from a visit to Microsoft headquarters, Arfa had numerous interviews with television and newspapers. S. Somasegar, the vice president of the Software Development Division, wrote about her in his blog. On 2 August 2005, Arfa Karim was presented the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz on the occasion of 113th birth anniversary of Fatima Jinnah. She also received the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award again in August 2005 by the President of Pakistan. Arfa Karim is also the recipient of the President's Award for Pride of Performance, a civil award granted to people who have shown excellence in their respective fields over a long period of time. She is the youngest recipient of this award. In recognition of her achievement Arfa was made brand ambassador for Pakistan Telecommunication Company's 3G Wireless Broadband service named EVO in January 2010.

The funeral prayers of the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Arfa Karim Randhawa, were offered at Al Khalid Mosque in Cavalry Ground here on Sunday. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Lahore Corps Commander Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood attended the funeral prayers along with a large number of military officers and civilians’. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also announced that Lahore Information Technology Tower (IT Tower) would be named after Arfa Karim. Talking to Arfa’s father, the chief minister said that his daughter won laurels for the nation, which the Pakistani people would never forget. He said that Arfa Karim also impressed those older than her and was a precious asset for the whole country. He said that her death at such a young age was a tragedy. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he was thankful to Bill Gates for taking interest in the treatment of Arfa Karim Randhawa. He said that now it is duty of every Pakistani youth to excel in the Information Technology sector. The chief minister also announced that the parents of Arfa Karim Randhawa would be chief guests in the function of distribution of free laptops among students by the Punjab government. Arfa’s body was sent to her native village of Ram Divali in Faisalabad for burial after funeral prayers. Her parents, relatives and many others accompanied the body to attend the burial ritual. Arfa suffered an epileptic attack 26 days ago and was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Lahore. She was 16 years old and died on Saturday night.

She became the youngest MCP in the world when she was just nine years, nine months and 11 days old in 2004. She was then invited by Bill Gates to visit the Microsoft headquarters in the United States. Pakistani genius Arfa Karim was also the youngest-ever recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance. She also received the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology, which was presented to her by the prime minister in August 2005. President Pervez Musharraf also presented her with the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award in August 2005. Arfa represented Pakistan on various international forums, and was also invited by the IT professionals of Dubai for a two-week stay. Arfa was presented with various medals and awards during that trip. Later, she also flew a plane in a flying club in Dubai at the age of 10, and received her first flight certificate. In November 2006, Arfa was invited by Microsoft to attend part of a keynote session in the Tech-Ed Developers Conference held in Barcelona. She was the only Pakistani among over 5,000 developers participating in the conference. On 9 January 2012, Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft, made contact with Arfa's parents, and directed his doctors to adopt "every kind of measure" for her treatment. Gates set up a special panel of international doctors who remained in contact with her local doctors through teleconference.

The panel received details about her illness and provided assistance in diagnosis and treatment. Local doctors dismissed the option of Arfa being moved to another hospital due to her being on a ventilator and in critical condition.Relatives and family members of Arfa have lauded Bill Gates for offering to bear her treatment expenses. On 15 January 2012, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that the name of Lahore Technology Park would be changed to Arfa Karim Technology Park

Links for 2012-01-11 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-12T00:00:00-08:00

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2012-01-10T00:00:00-08:00

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Utility that allows installing multiple versions of Firefox on a single machine.
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Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals Playoffs

2012-01-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

We have waited for a decade for this game to come. At 3:30 today, the moment will be here for the first Houston Texans playoff game. The Houston Texans turned to their kids, then to their stars to win the first playoff appearance in franchise history, a 31-10 rout of the bungling Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie J.J. Watt's leaping interception return for a touchdown late in the first half propelled the Texans in Saturday's AFC wild-card game. Third-string quarterback T.J. Yates, another rookie pressed into action, then threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson in the third quarter and Arian Foster followed with his second touchdown of the game, a 42-yard run in the fourth quarter, to finish off the Bengals.The Bengals lit up the scoreboard first as Benson scored from a yard out, a drive set up by a 52-yard pass interference call on Houston's Glover Quin.

Foster evened the score on the ensuing Texans' drive, scoring from eight yards out. The teams' exchanged field goals, knotting the game at 10, before Watt, a former Wisconsin Badger came up with a pick with 1:48 remaining in the half.

NOTES: Texans DE J.J. Watt became the third defensive end in NFL playoffs history to return an INT for a TD and the sixth defensive lineman (not including the Super Bowl). ... During their regular season matchup, Texans QB T.J Yates led Houston on a late game-winning drive against the Bengals, which clinched the AFC South title for the first time in team history. Houston lost three straight games after that victory. ... A record 71,725 fans turned out to Reliant Stadium for the Texans first postseason game. With Connor Barwin picking up the slack for Williams, with 11.5 sacks, and rookies J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed playing significant roles on defense, the Texans finished fourth in the NFL in rush defense, third in pass defense and fourth in scoring defense (17.4 points allowed per game).

Many of the Ravens, who were anxious to learn who their opponent would be in the Divisional Round, said they would be watching Saturday's game. And those who turned in saw Foster run all over the Bengals, Watt return an interception for a touchdown and Yates throw a 40-yard touchdown strike to Johnson. The Texans sacked Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton four times and forced three turnovers.

Now that the Ravens know that it is the Texans who will be coming to M&T Bank Stadium next weekend, they will begin preparing for them Sunday morning — if they haven't started already.

"Once we do see who we're playing, that's when you really start to kick it up," Joe Flacco said.

Shake it up Wizards of Waverly Place

2012-01-07T01:44:00.000-08:00

We went into the Wizards of Waverly Place finale with trepidation. It felt like an end of an era — Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and now, Selena Gomez — they were now officially done with their Disney days. That said, if Wizards had to end, I was thoroughly content with this ending. The last-ever episode of Wizards of Waverly Place airs tonight, and I can safely say that I’m more emotional about it than most adult males.

I never had the Disney Channel growing up. It was a premium channel until the late ’90s, so the only glimpses I would ever get of it would be during those free preview weekends that used to happen. As a kid with plenty of entertainment options, it didn’t really seem worth it to me, even if my parents had been up for paying for it (which they weren’t).

Going into the third level of the wizard competition, I was conflicted about who would be named family wizard — Alex (Selena) or Justin (David Henrie) — but it quickly worked itself out. Justin ran through the tunnel first, thus winning the wizard title. Fortunately, he admitted Alex was actually the rightful winner, as she helped him break free from tree roots. Thus, she was crowned the family wizard. Only one Russo will get to keep their magical powers. Will it be Alex (played by Selena Gomez), Justin (David Henrie), or Max (Jake T. Austin)? Ultimately, no matter how much

I might want to justify my fondness for Wizards of Waverly Place as my ability to recognize quality entertainment no matter the perception, what I think it really stemmed from was a desire to earnestly embrace something that was decidedly uncynical, at an age where life becomes increasingly complicated. For at least a half hour at a time, I was able to revert my brain and enjoy something for kids in much the same way a kid would — and if that happens one last time tonight, for me or anyone else, that’s a pretty good trick.

Over all, I was content with the Wizards ending. Sure, it wasn’t super complicated — but it fit the show perfectly. After four memorable years, it was time to say goodbye.

Links for 2012-01-03 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-04T00:00:00-08:00

Online Data Backup & Storage – CrashPlan – Backup Software, Disaster Recovery

Pakistan, Afghanistan and India Economic Treaty Organization

2011-12-30T18:59:00.000-08:00

Sir Winston Churchill once said “Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all other possibilities”. Judging by recent developments in Afghanistan, that quote is likely still true. The American are likely to stumble to the right thing to do, which, is this case would be to create and fund an Economic Treaty Organization between Afghanistan, Pakistan and India that will create all the elements of mutual blackmail by tying together long term economic interests of all the parties involved, thus in time elevating it to the higher level of friendship.

After a long and expensive war with many options being tried out along the way, three choices that were reportedly offered to Gen Kayani by the White House were A) kill the Haqqani leadership, or B) help us kill them, or C) persuade them to join a peaceful, democratic Afghan government.

On initial glance, it does seem more flexible than the stark “Either you are with us or against us” non-choice choice offered to Gen Musharraf by President Bush, but it is not most assuredly. Considering that A and B are really the same, no matter who does the killing, the choice is really between being destroyed or playing ball, i.e. “Either you are dead, or you participate in the process”, and implicit in both choices is the message to give up on terrorism as a policy from the US point of view.

After making the US realize that that Pakistan was not likely carry out any military operation against the Haqqani group nor could U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan succeed without the Haqqani group being neutralized, much to its credit, Pakistan was successful in bringing the Haqqanis to the negotiating table, with Sirajuddin Haqqani acknowledging the US offer to participate in the Afghan government, perhaps even with his father Jalaludin Haqqani as the prime minister. The problems with this setup can be gauged from the words attributed to the senior Haqqani: “After so much killing of Afghans through Daisy Cutter bombs and like, shall I sit in the government under U.S. command?”, given that he is a patriarchal figure in an staunchly tribal society where the concept of reconciliation is as alien as the concept of revenge across generations is ancient.

These recent developments represent an important success for Pakistani policy to date. However, it is a limited success only in that it has the potential of creating an acceptable way forward for all parties, and is most definitely not a victory in the traditional sense of the word. It also represents a new round in a geopolitical process where the risks for Pakistan are increasing as well, and thus future Pakistani actions need, now more than ever, to be cognizant of ground realities and the longer term picture.

The reality is that Al-Qaida has been effectively demolished by the US attacks, and that was the prime goal that has been achieved. US policy will be now geared towards ensuring that it is denied the opportunity to regrow by preventing the return of the previous chaos of Taliban rule. This runs counter to the Pakistani hopes to retain their strategic depth concept by ensuring a pro-Pakistan Afghan setup post US departure, i.e. having the “good” Taliban back in power, and is further complicated by the fact that India clearly realizes this as a golden opportunity to create the foundations of pinching Pakistan from two sides should the opportunity to do so present itself, or indeed is created.

So what to do next? Much has already been said about the Indo-Pak rivalry and history, and how it affects the present conflict as well, but it is high time for a bold idea that takes it into account, and lays the basis for achieving US goals as well, based on the idea that “friendship is merely mutual blackmail elevated to a higher level”. The US should create and fund an Economic Treaty Organization between Afghanistan, Pakistan and India that will create all the elements of mutual blackmail by tying together long term economic interests of all the parties involved, thus in time elevating it to the higher level of friendship, as already stated above. The return on investment of such a plan is going to be far higher than cleaning up the mess afterwards, and anything less would fail to the detriment of all. After having exhausted all other possibilities, it is high time the Americans did the right thing. Countless millions are counting on it.

Talented and educated youth will bring about a glorious future for Pakistan

2011-12-30T18:46:00.000-08:00

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the educated youths will bring about a glorious future for Pakistan. He said that we along with the talented students participating in “today’s youths—tomorrow’s leaders conference” will make Pakistan as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal and bring a new system by changing the obsolete system and if we make firm determination, we will definitely achieve our destination.

He was addressing the concluding session of a conference held on the topic of “today’s youths—tomorrow’s leaders” at Government House Murree, today. Member National Assembly Ahsan Iqbal, female student of King Edward Medical College Sundas Rafique, a student of Government College University Lahore Muzammil Khalid and a tiny student of Daanish School Chishtian Inamullah also addressed the conference.

Addressing the conference, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that the purpose of holding this conference in Government House Murree was to gather talented male and female students in that place where British Queen, viceroy and after creation of Pakistan, Presidents, Prime Ministers, international leaders and senior government officials stayed. He said that some of the political personalities and guests deserved to stay in this building of Government House Murree but some of those were dishonest and corrupt who looted the resources of the country ruthlessly. The Chief Minister opined that today’s talented and educated youths rightly deserve for staying there who are rich in the wealth of knowledge and no dishonest and corrupt can loot the wealth of knowledge. Shahbaz Sharif said that he is deeply impressed with the speech of tiny student Inamullah of Daanish School Chishtian who narrated the history of our country and no one from Peshawar to Karachi could not help move by his speech. He said that we achieved this country by rendering thousands of sacrifices and if we glanced over the past 64 years history, we found that billions of trillions rupees of the country were looted. He also expressed his gratitude to the teachers of Daanish Schools who are polishing such hundreds talented students as Inamullah in these schools. He said that Punjab government has given top priority to education sector and is taking all possible steps for promotion of quality education.

Provincial Minister for Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Senators, educationists, position holders and a large number of male and female students were present on the occasion.

Youngest Microsoft Certified suffering cardiac arrest

2011-12-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

Sixteen-year-old Arfa Karim Randhawa, the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in the world, is fighting for her life at Combined Miltary Hospital (CMH), Lahore, after suffering cardiac arrest. According to sources, Arfa is in critical condition because she is suffering from a serious medical condition after suffering a heart attack on Wednesday. She has lost control of her senses and her condition is deteriorating further. Arfa Karim completed her MCP in 2004 when she was just nine years old and became the youngest professional in the world. Upon completing her course, Microsoft owner Bill Gates invited her to visit the company’s headquarters in the United States, Software Development Division Vice President Somasegar also aknowledged her achievement in his blog. Arfa was curently studying at Lahore Grammar School Paragon Campus for her A Levels. She also received numerous awards and gold medals in Pakistan from private and government institutions for her achievement. She received the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology in 2005, and the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award. She has also received President’s Award for Pride of Performance. She was invited to Microsoft Headquarters again in November 2006 as a part of the keynote session in the Tech-Ed Developers conference held in Barcelona.

Textile industry becoming paralysed by gas Loadshedding

2011-12-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

Extensive gas and power load-shedding has horribly influenced the Stansted of Pakistan (Faisalabad) where around three lakh individuals have missing their work due to closing of the businesses.

MNA Fazal Kareem, discussing on a factor of obtain in the Nationwide Set up said his town was a enterprise hub after Karachi and enjoying a key part in financial progression of the nation but lengthy load-shedding and scarcity of gas had influenced enterprise actions.

He urged that government should review their polices on urgent basis to resolve these problems, adding that 12 to 15 hours of electricity load-shedding in Faisalabad and no proper supply of gas to the industrial sector has worsened the situation.

Abid Sher Ali said that government should register case in National Accountability Bureau against those who are involved in the NICL scandle and recovered Rs. 300 billion from them.

Abdul Malik Wazir said that government should establish Utility Stores in FATA and provide relief to the common people of this backward area.

Bushra Gohar said that fresh survey of Benazir Income Support Programme is not fair and transparent in district Swabi. She called for a fresh survey to include deserving people in it.

Syed Asim Hussain urged that government should open discussion in the National Assembly on formation of new provinces in the country.

Yousaf Talpur informed the house that around 10 million people were affected in the recent flood in Sindh but still they are living without shelter.

He said that National Disaster Management Authority should provide blankets to the victim families on emergency basis in this winter season.

North Korea Restores Order to Kim Funeral With Photoshop

2011-12-30T06:57:00.000-08:00

In a sea of indistinguishable viewers clothed in black with their supports transformed to the digicam, one man separated itself at Kim Jong Il's memorial.

The Associated Media published images of the procession in Southern Southern region korea, and a hawk-eyed Stumbleupon factor was quick to point out an abnormality in the otherwise consistent group of the bereaved. In the image above, one man seems to be nearly twice as high as the males on his eventually left and right.

Who is this giant? Could it be Ri "Michael" Myung Hun -- Southern Korea's nationwide golf ball celebrity -- as some commenters have suggested? Thanks to Southern Korea's stringently handled and photoshop-happy click, speculation are certain to are readily available, and we may never know for sure.

Likely due to a lower lifestyle and lack of nutrition in the Southern, some research a growing disproportion between the normal size of Southern and Southern Koreans since the peninsula was divided in two. With Southern Koreans clocking in at about 2 in. reduced on regular, the large mourner is different even more next to his Southern Western compatriots.

On Thursday, Kim Jong Il's newest son -- the new "supreme leader" of Southern Southern region korea, Kim Jong Un -- led an complex memorial, and Southern Western people across the country bowed their minds for 3 minutes of quiet to pay honor to the decreased master.

While the secret man may have been banished to the back row, possibilities are he still got a great view of the departed Special Leader's memorial procession.
The memorial procession for Kim Jong-Il was done with army perfection and when a few dawdlers horrible those disciplined lines, they were eliminated. From the image, that is.

A image published by the Southern Korea's state information organization and given by the Germany-based Western Pressphoto Agency is a little bit different from images taken at nearly the similar moment and published by Western organization Kyodo News.

The Western photo caught a half-dozen men near a digicam on a tripod constant behind the line of the bereaved on the eventually left side of the blvd as the motorcade handed down by.

In the image by the Southern Western Middle News Agency, those men, their digicam and their foot prints have been electronically eliminated, reestablishing utter order to the group filling the blvd as the cortege handed down by.

The adjustments were found by the New You are able to Times with the help of electronic 'forensics' professional Hany Farid of Dartmouth College.

The Western Pressphoto Agency, which allocated the doctored Southern Southern region korea image, released a "mandatory kill" for its customers, significance they were not to use the photo.

The organization given different to this rule to News "for the single objective of being able to demonstrate and describe what had been changed before the photo was offered to worldwide information organizations by KCNA [North Western Middle News Agency]. We consider this as part of a translucent and accountable caution process."

A Western Pressphoto Agency speaker told News, "Any kind of electronic treatment breaks EPA's value of values."