Articale Village

Most Americans see Pakistan as enemy

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:13:00 +0000

WASHINGTON: A majority of Americans do not see Pakistan as a friend to the United States, says an opinion survey released on Monday.

The survey, conducted on Nov 27, a day after a Nato air strike killed 25 Pakistani soldiers, asked US citizens: Do you consider Pakistan to be a friend or enemy of the United States?

An enemy to the US was the choice of 55 per cent respondents. Only seven pc said they considered Pakistan a friend, 26 pc did not consider Pakistan a friend or enemy and 12 pc did not have an opinion.

The surveyors, a US polling agency called Poll Positions, noted that the relationship between the United States and Pakistan had been up and down over the past years.

The US considers Pakistan a strong ally on the war on terror. However, America politicians expressed some dismay when Osama bin Laden was found living in a house near a Pakistani military intelligence facility. He had reportedly been living there for several years. Pakistan said it did not know Bin Laden was there.

The surveyors pointed out that Pakistan also had expressed anger towards the US over predator drone missile strikes that have killed civilians and members of the Pakistani military. The US says predator drone strikes are an effective tool in targeting terrorists.

Last month, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Pakistan as part of a concerted effort to improve relations but the relationship nose-dived when US-led Nato forces blew up two Pakistani military posts near the Afghan border on Saturday, stirring countrywide protests.

The survey also shows another change in US attitudes towards Pakistan. Until recently, Pakistan was more popular among the conservative-minded Republicans apparently because of close ties between the two militaries while Democrats had strong reservations against the country.

But Sunday`s survey shows that now more Republicans see Pakistan as an enemy than Democrats or independents. Among Republicans, 70 pc consider Pakistan an enemy, 6 pc said Pakistan is a friend, 12 pc chose neither, and 12 pc had no opinion.

Democrats countered with 47 pc considering Pakistan an enemy, 11 pc said Pakistan is a friend, 30 pc said neither, and 12 pc offered no opinion. Among Independents, 45 pc looked at Pakistan as an enemy, 4 pc a friend, 37 pc said neither friend nor enemy, and 14 pc did not offer an opinion.

Poll Position`s scientific telephone survey of 1,176 registered voters nationwide was conducted on Nov 27 and has a margin of error of plus, minus three pc.

Poll results are weighted to be a representative sampling of all American adults.

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Learn from Shakespeare, study tells doctors

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:08:00 +0000

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Kenneth Heaton, a doctor at the University of Bristol in western England, trawled through all 42 of Shakespeare's major works and 46 genre-matched works by contemporaries. He found Shakespeare stood out for his ability to link physical symptoms and mental distress. —AFP Photo

Doctors should read up on Shakespeare, according to an unusual medical study that says the Bard was exceptionally skilled at spotting psychosomatic symptoms.

Kenneth Heaton, a doctor at the University of Bristol in western England, trawled through all 42 of Shakespeare’s major works and 46 genre-matched works by contemporaries.

He found Shakespeare stood out for his ability to link physical symptoms and mental distress.

Vertigo, giddiness or dizziness is expressed by five male characters in the throes of emotional disturbance, in “The Taming of the Shrew”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Henry VI Part 1″, “Cymbeline”, and “Troilus and Cressida”.

Eleven instances of breathlessness linked to extreme emotions are found in “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, “The Rape of Lucrece”, “Venus and Adonis” and “Troilus and Cressida”.

Grief or distress is conveyed through symptoms of fatigue in “Hamlet”, “The Merchant of Venice”, “As You Like It”, “Richard II” and “Henry IV Part 2″.

Disturbed hearing at a time of mental crisis crops up in “King Lear”, “Richard II” and “King John”.

Meanwhile, coldness and faintness, emblematic of deep shock, occur in “Romeo and Juliet”, “Julius Caesar”, “Richard III” and elsewhere.

“Shakespeare’s perception that numbness and enhanced sensation can have a psychological origin seems not to have been shared by his contemporaries, none of whom included such phenomena in the works examined,” Heaton observes.

Shakespeare can help doctors today who face patients whose physical state masks underlying emotional problems, he suggests.

“Many doctors are reluctant to attribute physical symptoms to emotional disturbance, and this results in delayed diagnosis, over investigation, and inappropriate treatment,” Heaton points out.

“They could learn to be better doctors by studying Shakespeare. This is important because the so-called functional symptoms are the leading cause of general practitioner visits and of referrals to specialists.”

The study appears on Wednesday in a British publication, the Journal of Medical Humanities.

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Larger bench to hear ZAB case on Dec 12

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:01:00 +0000

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ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday decided to take up the reference filed by the federation under Article 186 of the Constitution for revisiting Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto case on December 12.
President Asif Ali Zardari two days ago had written a letter to the Chief Justice, requesting him for early hearing of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference, which is pending in the apex court since June last.
The federal government, in April this year, had filed the reference to reopen case of former prime minister and founder of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was hanged on April 4, 1979, in Rawalpindi. The Pakistan People Party has always termed the hanging of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as judicial murder.
The government had filed the reference, reported as PLD 1979 SC pages 38-53, through Federal Law Secretary Masood Chishti. President Asif Ali Zardari had forwarded the reference to the SC under clause 1 and 2 of Article 186 of the Constitution for revisiting the case of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Clause 1 of the Article 186 states: “If, at any time, the President considers that it is desirable to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court on any question of law which he considers of public importance, he may refer the question to the Supreme Court for consideration,” while clause 2 says; “The Supreme Court shall consider a question so referred and report its opinion on the question to the President”. Like the review petition on NRO, Babar Awan, who has represented the federation, failed to satisfy the court on the question of law in reference. The court has so far inquired from Babar Awan whether all the questions mentioned in the reference were the questions of law? Whether the bias and violation of fundamental rights were the questions of law? The court has noted that conclusion drawn from the facts is not the questions of law.
On June 29, 2011, the hearing was adjourned till July, after the retirement of Justice Javed Iqbal on 1st August, Justice MA Shahid Siddique on 13th October, and adhoc judge Ghulam Rabbani on 20th October the reference could not be taken up. But after the appointment of four judges, 17-member bench has been completed.
This case was earlier fixed before the Court on various dates during April to June 2011. On April 21, the learned bench of three judges presided over by the Chief Justice directed to constitute a larger bench and accordingly a larger bench was constituted.
In view of the importance of the presidential reference, senior advocates/jurists, M/s Ali Ahmed Kurd, Tariq Mehmood, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Khalid Anwar, Makhdoom Ali Khan, SM Zafar, Aitzaz Ahsan, Zahoorul Haq, Qazi Muhammad Ashraf, and Abdul Latif Afridi were appointed as amicus curiae.”
The 17-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, now comprise Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Amir Hani Muslim.
Learned counsel for the parties as well as learned amicus curiae have been requested to ensure their presence for the case as it is likely to proceed on day-to-day basis from December 12-16, 2011 as the court will take a break for winter vacations from December 19-31. Notices to all concerned, including incumbent President Supreme Court Bar Association, have been issued.
Advocate General Punjab, Khawaja Haris informed the court that private complaints of Ahmed Raza Kasuri could not be traced, but the efforts were underway to find them.

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Big change, small screen

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:54:00 +0000

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THE TV screen is rapidly politicising the public. The 24/7 news channels show the actual faces of politicians, judges, criminals as well as men in uniform, including police and Rangers, on the screen.

This makes people feel the presence of remote figures in their backyard. A big change is afoot on the small screen that promises to reshape our lives.

The electronic media has influenced the national discourse. Mostly, it focuses on current issues — of a political, sectarian or an economic nature — but not on policies that carry a potential for change in the short or long term. The message is usually negative not positive, critical not promising, exclusive not inclusive, underscored by an exercise in scoring points rather than clearing the mist.

The non-policy orientation of the electronic media is combined with a pervasive leadership orientation. The PPP, PML-N, MQM, ANP, JUI and many other parties are not ‘message’ parties but ‘leader’ parties. They are known by their leaders — Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Altaf Hussain, Asfandyar Wali Khan and Fazlur Rehman. This is most typical of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf. It has a leader with a party, not a party with a leader.

TV talk shows are amazingly popular, especially as they compete with plays at prime time. The confrontationist posturing of the holders of opposite views belonging to different persuasions adds a lot of spice to these shows. Controversy and confusion, sometimes deliberately conjured up by TV anchors, lead to a cyclical logic. Indeed, confrontation is understood as entertainment.

The issues under discussion take a heavy toll on the mental health of the larger public. There are suicide attacks on Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s mausoleum in Karachi, on a police check post or a military installation. There is diplomatic tension with Afghanistan, Iran and most recently with the US after the Nato attack on a border check post. There are grisly scenes of the dead and wounded persons such as those after the Karachi killings on the first of Muharram.

Imran Khan’s threat of a tsunami is not the only reason for the prevalent confusion. There is a tsunami of depression that is engulfing the nation too. Private news channels are under the pressure of competition. They handle news and views not merely as a camera by reporting the reality on the ground but as a projector by amplifying the objects of coverage, including bloodshed.

Unwittingly, the TV screen produces a siege mentality. There is conspiracy on air. There is a latent anti-Indianism that peaked after the 2008 Mumbai attacks and a strident anti-Americanism that reached high tide after the Abbottabad operation and again after the Nato attack last week. President Karzai’s hostile posturing about Pakistan covered by the small screen has a big effect on diplomacy.

Live coverage of the recent rallies in Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Karachi led by the old and new leaders of big and small parties has indeed electrified the public imagination by making these events look larger than life. People watch haplessly as commentators make wild speculations about the prospects of rival contenders of power in the next parliamentary elections.

But the link between rallies and votes is still missing.

The TV screen has uncovered such crimes as the killing of a citizen at point blank range by a Ranger in Karachi and the shooting of a half a dozen Central Asians by the law-enforcement agencies in Balochistan. The media managed to put the latter cases at the doorstep of the courts.

While the lone English-language TV channel covers foreign news to some extent, the Urdu channels are introverted in style and substance. The TV channels operating in regional languages lack a competitive spirit. Their professional capability, public appeal and financial health remain far from satisfactory. One can speculate that the full potential of the mass media is far from being fully realised.

The international hook-up of TV channels is unsatisfactory. While they are technologically rich, their intellectual resource base should be expanded. Bollywood continues to be a major source of entertainment news. The domestic scene in arts, literature, music and drama is covered less. The sparkling debate about party politics is not cushioned by analyses of major currents of opinion.

The computer screen has joined the TV screen in bringing people into the network society. Twitter, Facebook and blogs on the Internet have led to a revolution in connectivity. The recent memogate scandal represents the way the social media picks up news and comments from the horse’s mouth. WikiLeaks have splashed up complications in the relations among top political actors.

The anchorperson is a new addition in the political lexicon of the informed public. A majority of anchorpersons provide a ‘rightist’ perspective on things. Some whip up xenophobic feelings and conspiracy theories. As initiators of discussion and regulators of screen time, they tend to shape the dialogue along a chartered path. The ‘progressive’ minority is individually strong but collectively weak.

While the media has moved forward, political parties are stuck in outmoded ways of communicating with the public. Instead of fielding brisk, articulate and communicative persons in charge of their respective media cells, the two parties in government in Islamabad and Lahore have recently brought in relatively incoherent, unimpressive and non-communicative persons. The media has long outgrown such lame ducks.

In order to deal with the massively competitive and resourceful electronic media, ruling set-ups at all levels require a strategy to benefit from its investigative potential and immense outreach. Those who control the TV screen from behind the scenes are obliged to help their viewers break out of their insular imaginary world and move into the wider regional and global frameworks of thought and practice.

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Nato attack a tragedy Obama

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:48:00 +0000

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama sees the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a Nato raid as a tragedy, the White House said Monday, but argued that crisis-wracked US-Pakistani ties were vital to both sides.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama believed Saturday’s attack which threw US-Pakistani ties into turmoil was “a tragedy,” adding that “we mourn those brave Pakistani service members that lost their lives.”
“We take this matter very seriously,” said Carney, adding that two inquiries by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and US Central Command would examine what took place. “As for our relationship with Pakistan, it continues to be an important cooperative relationship that is also very complicated,” Carney said.
“It is very much in America’s national security interest to maintain a cooperative relationship with Pakistan because we have shared interests in the fight against terrorism,” Carney said.
Meanwhile, the US military officials are awaiting answers from two military probes into a cross-border attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers over the weekend and deeply inflamed US-Pakistan ties, a US official said on Monday.
A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that officials conducting an initial Nato investigation into Saturday’s incident had returned to Kabul and were putting their findings together. It is unclear when the findings will be presented. In part because the facts of the incident remain murky even several days later, US Central Command will dispatch a team to conduct its own investigation, the official said. “It’s a significant event; we want to get to the bottom of what happened,” he said.
Senior US officials say that while they had been hoping that direct communication between Pakistani and Afghan military officials along the border would take root, it has not been happening. Such communication remains facilitated by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

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Preventing Back Pain at Work

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:36:00 +0000

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By Lyndon Miles

Every year millions of working days are lost due to work related back pain, often caused by bad posture, strain and stress. So what can be done to avoid these factors that lead to damaging back pain at the workplace? It is crucial to know, that when bad pain occurs it is important to stay active! You need your back muscles to stay strong, and lying in bed and becoming immobile will weaken the muscles which will prolong healing.

The next stage is posture at work. The human body can only work actively in a certain position for a set amount of time before it begins to become uncomfortable. Here are some tips to make sure you are sitting correctly whilst at your work desk:

Support Your Back with Ergonomic Equipment: A lot of back pain can derive from slouching at your work desk and remaining in the same position for numerous hours. It is worth looking into getting an ergonomic chair which will support your lower back and reduce strain. These chairs are designed to be easily adjustable for different heights and weights and relieve pressure on areas that regular chairs don't. It is also worth looking into an ergonomic footrest or table. The footrest ensures your knees are level with your hips, whilst the table allows your worktop to be at the desired level, both contributing to being at the optimum position for reducing strains and pressures on the lower back.

Rest your Feet: If you don't have a footstool it is best to keep flat to the floor. Sitting cross legged will encourage slouching and is also bad for circulation.

Make Objects Easily Reachable: Make everyday objects, such as your phone and pens within easy reach. Sounds simple, but the constant reaching and twisting for objects is adding to the pressure on your back.

Keep your screen at eye level: Another important point is to keep your screen arms length away but make sure you're at eye level. Any slight crouching or straining due to the screen being too high or too low with add pressure onto your neck.

Adjusting your Chair: By law the standard office chair must be stable and adjustable. It is always best to try and remember to sit up straight and take regular intervals; this should also help improve concentration. Frequent breaks are better for back strain then a long one, as it gives your muscles a chance to relax and can avoid stiffness and tense muscles.

Exercise Regularly! Outside off work it is important to remember the benefits of exercise. They keep tense muscles moving and reduce stiffness!

Lyndon Miles authors on many subjects as well as this one. This particular article is one of a series highlighting the effects of back pain within the workplace and ways in which it can be avoided.

Easy Guide to Choose the Right Back Support for Chairs

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:33:00 +0000

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By Shelly Cox

My job involves sitting for long hours and working at the computer. Studies suggest that sitting for long hours exerts 150% more pressure on the supporting muscles and the spine, than what is exerted when standing or lying down. The excess pressure the muscle fatigue quicker and causes back pain. As the pain increases, muscles tend to get weaker and the weight of the body is shifted the spine causing chronic back pain and also bad posture.

Whether suffering from chronic pain or general discomfort, back support for chairs is the answer to all the back problems caused because sitting.They tend to provide the necessary support required for the spine when sitting. It ensures that all the 3 curves are maintained when seated and ensures that the pressure of the body is exerted on the right muscles and not the spine. This makes sitting for long hours comfortable.

Though the basic structure of every human back is the same, there are few minute differences in the structure that would make a huge difference to the comfort. Thus, it is important to choose the right support for chairs, the pain relief is more dependent of the person's structure.

Choosing the right support for chairs can solve the problems that arise due to sitting for long hours. Some of the features that are in general necessary in all good support are -

Maintains all three curves when sitting
Sturdy
Flexible
Easy usability
Small and portable
Features that have to be matched to individual body structures would be -

Curve on the support should fit the lumbar curve of the back comfortably and cosily. A snugly fit of the curve would be a great option.

Back support for chairs that you choose can either be soft conforming (eg: Back support cushions) or Firm and springy (eg: Mesh Back support), depending of your comfort.

Firmness of the cushion is an important feature to look out for, as the alignment of the cushion to the back is dependant of the support's response to the pressure exerted by the body

The use of the support on chairs should not create more than 2-3 finger gap between your knee and the end of the seat.
If the right back support for chairs is chosen, regular use should eventually reduce the discomfort and ease the pain. Use of the wrong support for chairs can aggravate discomfort and cause more physical strain to the muscles.

Back Pain and Mattress Shopping

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:29:00 +0000

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By James Brinkerhoff

Let's all get together on something. Shopping for a mattress is an arduous process. No one likes to lay on a mattress in front of some drooling sales person and try and be comfortable. It's always fun for me to listen to the guy say something to the effect of..."Ok...so you just want to relax and get in a position that you would sleep in". HA! Like THAT is going to happen while YOU'RE looking at me! Then there's the question of what kind of bed am I looking for? Hard, soft, squishy, memory foam, latex and on and on. I've read a million and one articles on mattress comfort and what a person should look for in a mattress and bottom line....they were all funded by people like Serta, Sealy, Spring Air, Sterns and Foster etc. So, what is one left to do?

The answer is actually less complicated than you'd think. Mattress shopping is actually less about what you know and more about what you feel. If hard as a rock/might as well be cobalt steel is comfortable to you than all the fancy studies and wording is NEVER going to change what your body thinks is comfortable. When looking for a mattress first impressions are pretty much EVERYTHING! If it's comfortable to you right then it's going to be in the future and so forth. If one mattress feels better than another then you should ALWAYS go with that idea. Don't talk yourself out of it just because the sales person uses fancy terms like, pocketed coils or latex foam or positively charged ionic fields (for real...this happened to me).

If you're shopping for a mattress due to back pain then you're in luck indeed! We've seen 80% of back pain sufferers get a better nights sleep by just following this quick list of suggestions.

1. Hard isn't necessarily better!

That's right...if a hard mattress doesn't feel comfortable to you than guess what? It's NEVER going to feel comfortable to you.

2. There's no substitute for Stretching

Lets all face it. We could all use a little more exercise. Always try and stretch out a little bit before bed. Weather that's in bed or on the floor...a little stretch goes a long ways.

3. Pillow fight!

Some times it's not your bed...some times your pillow is as old as you are and it's time for a new one.
Just do your best to relax...even if your being stared at....try a lot of beds....and go with what your body tells you feels good..

Smokers’ Corner: Positive creep

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:27:00 +0000

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What happens to a generation of educated young people who are brought up on fantastic tales of swords and sorcery (in the name of ‘Pakistan Studies’) and at the same time on those so-called ‘building self-esteem’/self-improvement corporate seminars and books that are basically the yuppie absorption of the late 1970s/’80s ‘New Age’ nonsense about personal aura, positive vibes, et al?

Well, this way you get blobs of walking talking contradictions. What’s even worse, many of these blobs have absolutely no clue that they are a negation of what they preach. And yes, we have in our midst what is perhaps the most preachy generation ever.

They will preach ‘positive thinking’ to the cynics, calmly ignoring the fact that a cynic may just be a sceptic (like all rational, unexcitable human beings). Ah, but that would be repressing one’s emotions? A very unhealthy thing to do. It can make a person, not only a cynic, but, horror of horrors, a non-patriot, which, in Pakistan’s case, can then lead him to becoming an agnostic, or, God forbid, an atheist. In which case positive thinking must dictate affirmative action: Kill the bugger!

Of course, you must understand that this logic is usually and entirely based on assumptions. Positive thinking demands it.
Otherwise finding and investigating the facts behind assumptions can be a time-wasting exercise that makes Jack or Junaid or whoever a very dull, introverted boy on his way to becoming a cynic and thus a positive case for elimination.

Nevertheless, the swords and sorcery-meets-lets-be positive generation will shower you with great admiration if you unthinkingly and animatedly nod to whatever positivism that is trending on Twitter, facebook or YouTube. No, you’re not a sheep but … okay, you are a sheep but … like, so what?

They will shower you with love if you agree with their positivism. Especially if the positivism is about being positive in ones condemnation of what is not positive. Such as an oh-so-arrogant display of individualism.

Don’t you hate such displays? Always trying to look and sound different. Always trying to tell us that suicide bombers kill more people in Pakistan than drone attacks. And that accountability against corrupt people should not only include politicians, but military men and the judiciary too. And that Imran Khan is naive.

You are ‘paid’ (by a ‘foreign hand’) if you disagree with the positivists and patriotic if you agree. But, really, this swords and-sorcery-meets-let’s-be positive generation that leapfrog’s from Muhammad Bin Qasim to Imran Khan the ‘be positive’ corporate guru of the month in matter of a single, unrepressed sentence, can be quite a riot, really – in an entertaining sort of a way.

Take for instance how many of them responded to the UK court’s verdict on the three Pakistani spot-fixing cricketers. Last year when the spot-fixing scandal broke, positive thinking dictated that the cricketers must be supported because both international and local negative forces that are always relentlessly conspiring to blacken the country’s name were most probably behind this event as well. And thanks to many of our positive media personnel it seemed that for a while, Salman Butt, Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif, were about to become the male equivalents of Aafia Siddiqui (remember her of the ‘I shot the sheriff’ fame?).

But, alas, a little more than a year later when the three were proven guilty in court and sent to prison, all hell broke lose. No, there were no rallies against the ruling or condemnation of the verdict like Ms Aafia’s (another convicted felon in the US).
Instead, people began burning the three stupid cricketers’ effigies, cursing them for blackening the country’s name.

So the negative old me decided to tweet a question: How come there are stones and curses for a spot-fixer but rallies and rose petals for a killer? By killer I meant you know who.

As the positives came rushing in (on Twitter) to condemn my negative question, I kept on wondering. Wondering how come so many Pakistanis and the media are ready to pour out and passionately demand that certain corrupt cricketers or politicians be lynched, but then the same people shower praises on self-appointed defenders of the faith who commit murder, or look the other way when some other self-appointees in this respect go about their business of blowing up mosques, shrines, schools and markets?

But, then, I understand. Why disturb one’s healthy positive aura and vibe with awkward questions. Why complicate things. I mean, all this might lead to negative thinking thus cynicism, unpatriotic thoughts and perhaps even atheism, no?

One should be positive. Especially about his country, the military, our nuclear arsenal and especially the fact that we are ready to eat grass for our precious big bomb. Or rather, the poor are ready to eat grass for it.

So it is our duty to sympathise with the poor grass eaters and hang a few politicians, eliminate a few cricketers, censor a few journalists and make peace with extremists so as to at least keep the price of grass affordable for the masses who, inshallah, will vote in hoards for Mr Positive par excellence Imran Khan in the next elections, even though positive thinking dictates democracy is a sham and only a modern-day caliphate is the answer to all our problems.

That felt good. Yea, man, check out my positive vibes. Like, groovy, in a Muhammad bin Qasim kind of a way.

Side Effects Of Abortion

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:25:00 +0000

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The side effects of abortion are serious and most commonly long lasting. Though the subject is controversial concerning when the pregnancy includes an actual life, the termination of the possible life remains. Careful consideration for religious, social, and medical concerns may lead a woman toward a more educated decision than the simple fact of not wanting responsibility of a new life. Adoption is a growing alternative to pregnancy termination. Speaking with certified professionals of religion as well as the medical community additionally aid in making the right decision for the individual situation.

The decision to approve of the actual surgical procedure should be based on the responsibility laid on the woman for terminating life as well as the physical effects of abortion as the bodys response to this action. In addition to the physical complications, a woman puts herself in danger of mental distress due to the severity of her decision. In addition to depression, a woman may experience chemical reactions due to the way in which the procedure was performed as well as the bodys unique reaction, which may be due to other medical problems that are known or unknown. The side effects of abortion may be life threatening including cancer, heart disease, and death during surgery. Putting ones body at these risks instead of giving the baby up for adoption is more often the more debilitating choice. And the mother of the child said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. (2 Kings 4:30)

Determining the health of the woman and how far along in pregnancy she is will additionally aid in making an accurate decision. Though laws differ from state to state and country to country, understanding the actual biology of human development while in the uterus aids in making a personal decision concerning when life starts. Though any Christian would state that life begins at conception, scientists and other medical professionals argue over this topic. Physical effects of abortion may even affect the social life of a woman who succeeds in this procedure. Friends and family may disapprove of this action or guilt may overcome the woman causing withdrawal from social activities. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety. (Job 11:18)

Complications include uterine hemorrhage, uterine perforation, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, coexistent ectopic pregnancy, asherman syndrome, and delayed sequelae. In addition, many women face mental challenges of depression and regret. Though the statistics are low of women who experience these complications, they can be deadly without any notice. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can [not] celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. (Isaiah 38:18) Infections that may occur are very unlikely and commonly are due to previous health problems. The physical effects of abortion may simply be exaggerated symptoms of these problems, however any surgery would decrease the functionality of the immune system therefore putting the body in a vulnerable position in respect to bacteria and viral infection.

In some cases the health of the mother is at risk in a pregnancy and a team of medical professionals must discuss survival of either her or her baby. A second opinion is always recommended even when the first answer is the desired answer. Additionally speaking with religious authority such as a pastor or religious counselor may help to make tough decisions if the mothers life is in danger. Finding support through local and national organizations in addition to friends, church family, and biological family may create the required support for mental and physical wellness during this difficult time. No matter what the circumstance, doing right in Gods eyes is the most important. Carrying a baby for nine months is a sacrifice a woman goes through in order to give that child life. This is a short period of time when considering that on average a human lives for 75 years.

If a woman has already had an abortion, qualified medical professionals need to be consulted to ensure long-term health. Age and previous health history define the general risk of physical effects of abortion a woman has during and after the procedure. These side effects of abortion may not be evident until later in life when disease takes over the body and it is revealed that an error was made by the surgeon damaging surrounding organs. Likewise, a woman may develop irritating symptoms that go untreated such as loss of appetite and fatigue which really are key in diagnosing insulin problems and general immunity dysfunction. As with any type of surgery, a woman carries risk of the surgeon or her own body not responding appropriately to foreign chemicals and procedures. In addition, pregnancy may offer healing methods through the exchange of chemicals produced by increased estrogen lessening the instance of some diseases. Educating oneself about personal health issues as well as statistics about the side effects of abortion is crucial in order for a woman to make the best personal decision. If a woman has a family history of breast cancer, she increases her risk of developing this disease by going through with an abortion. Additionally a hysterectomy may be necessary following or during the procedure even in the most healthy women. In the end, in most cases, the risks outweigh the responsibility of following through with a pregnancy.

Pain and gain in a ‘European Winter’

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:22:00 +0000

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AS the Arab Spring continues to destabilise governments and topple dictators, its counterpart is gathering strength in the West in the form of a `European Winter`. It has already claimed the scalps of leaders in Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Italy.

The revolt in Europe is not against dictators, but politicians trying to impose tough austerity measures to placate market forces that have driven the cost of borrowing to unsustainable highs. Their large budgetary deficits had made them the subjects of withering European Union strictures and harsh conditions for financial support.

While these political changes are the result of a democratic process, the fact is that market forces and EU officials are not elected. Yet such is their power that hapless leaders like George Papandreou of Greece and Silvio Berlusconi have been spat out like a couple of bitter seeds.

To his credit, Papandreou tried to refer the continuing austerity measures dictated by the EU to the electorate in a referendum. After all, he reasoned, since the vast majority of the Greek people would be feeling the pain, it was only right to elicit their views.

But this move infuriated the EU and roiled the markets with the result that the Greek PM not only had to cancel the referendum, but also step down. So much for democracy in the country where it was born.

These changes have a more populist counterpart in the Occupy movement now sweeping much of the capitalist world. While the protesters in Wall Street in New York and St Paul`s Cathedral in London have different agendas, they are expressing a rising rage against a status quo seen as being stacked against the vast majority of workers and middle-class professionals. Above all, young people feel increasingly marginalised.

At the heart of this anger is the perception that a tiny minority is grabbing a disproportionate share of the economic cake. Recently, for example, a study revealed that in the UK, directors and chief executives had, on average, given themselves an increase of nearly 50 per cent in emoluments over the previous year. Ordinary workers, on the other hand, saw their packages go up by an average of just 2.5 per cent at a time inflation was hitting five per cent.

All this needs to be seen against a backdrop of recession and unemployment. Millions have lost their jobs and their homes. For them, the sight of corporate fat cats feeding well at the trough is infuriating. And politicians, while imposing job cuts and harsh austerity measures, continue to defend the right of the rich to get richer even when all economic indicators are pointing at worse to come.

In an article in the Guardian on Nov 8, George Monbiot gives some startling figures to illustrate how the rich get richer while the poor get poorer:

“Between 1947 and 1979, productivity in the US rose by 119 per cent, while the income of the bottom fifth of the population rose by 122 per cent. But from 1979 to 2009, productivity rose by 80 per cent, while the income of the bottom fifth fell by four per cent. In roughly the same period, the income of the top one per cent rose by 270 per cent.

“In the UK, the money earned by the poorest tenth fell by 12 per cent between 1999 and 2009, while the money made the richest tenth rose by 37 per cent….”

We have always lived with income inequality, but its extent has seldom been as marked as now. In developed economies, a small group of predatory corporate types have seized the commanding heights of the capitalist system, and used their control to enrich themselves. Politicians, dazzled by this wealth and often dependent on contributions from this class to fund increasingly expensive election campaigns, have been bribed and bullied into dismantling regulations that once kept capitalists in check. Here is Monbiot again:

“Many of those who are rich today got there because they were able to capture certain jobs. This capture owes less to talent and intelligence than to a combination of the ruthless exploitation of others and accidents of birth, as such jobs are taken disproportionately by people born in certain places and into certain classes.”

Over the years, I have known many rich people in Pakistan, and almost always left a meeting with one of them wondering how on earth they had made so much money. The truth is that our seths have either inherited wealth, or have used their contacts to get ahead. In a corrupt system, it is the crooks who thrive.

One reason Pakistani businessmen have been unable to expand and go global is their inability to delegate authority to professionals. Trusting only members of their immediate families, they have employed incompetent sons and nephews to fill senior positions. These young scions of the rich, secure in the knowledge that they won`t be fired, have been mostly incapable of justifying the faith their fathers and uncles placed in them.

Our seths have also used Pakistan`s high tariff barriers to prosper. One reason many of them are unhappy about the proposal to grant India MFN status is that they are afraid of the competition from across the border. Fattened on subsidies, cheap raw materials and protection from imports, they have fleeced the Pakistani consumer mercilessly. All this while, they have evaded taxes whenever they could.

Ultimately, what is driving the anti-capitalism protests is the sheer injustice of an exploitative system that offers so little to ordinary people while showering obscene rewards on a tiny minority. Economic theory assures us that some of this wealth would trickle down, but as the above figures show, this is not true. The rich guard their wealth zealously.

Despite the approaching meltdown of the system in the wake of the eurozone crisis, socialism is still too discredited to present a serious challenge. The inefficiency of state capitalism and nationalised industries is before us, so these can hardly be seriously considered as an alternative.

However, better regulated financial institutions would insulate the system from the worst excesses of runaway capitalism fuelled by pure greed. For instance, Canada, Australia, China and India weathered the recent crisis largely because their banks were not exposed to the kind of toxic assets their counterparts in the US, the UK, France, Switzerland and Germany were.

Despite the well-funded lobbying efforts by western banks to avoid tougher regulations, perhaps our salvation lies in making executives more accountable. And to defuse the anger on the streets, governments should impose limits on salaries and bonuses.
The writer is the author of Fatal Faultlines: Pakistan, Islam and the West .

Health and Lifestyle

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:12:00 +0000

Pain and gain in a ‘European Winter’
AS the Arab Spring continues to destabilise governments and topple dictators, its counterpart is gathering strength in the West in the form of a `European Winter`. It has already claimed the scalps of leaders in Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Italy.   (Read More)

Side Effects Of Abortion
The side effects of abortion are serious and most commonly long lasting. Though the subject is controversial concerning when the pregnancy includes an actual life, the termination . (Read More)

Smokers’ Corner: Positive creep
What happens to a generation of educated young people who are brought up on fantastic tales of swords and sorcery (in the name of ‘Pakistan Studies’) and at the same time on those so-called    (Read More)

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Let's all get together on something. Shopping for a mattress is an arduous process. No one likes to lay on a mattress in front of some drooling sales person and try and be comfortable. It's always fun for me to listen to the guy (Read More)

Easy Guide to Choose the Right Back Support for Chairs
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Every year millions of working days are lost due to work related back pain, often caused by bad posture, strain and stress. So what can be done to avoid these factors that lead to damaging back pain   (Read More)

Life better since Taliban driven from Kabul, says Nato

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:03:00 +0000

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By Orla Guerin

Ten years since the Taliban were driven from the Afghan capital, Kabul, Nato's ambassador to Afghanistan, Simon Gass, says there have been big improvements.
On 13 November 2001 that the western-backed Northern Alliance swept into the Afghan capital virtually unopposed.
But, Mr Goss says, plenty of things have not been done.
Critics stress the Taliban can still bring death into the capital. Many are anxious about the coming withdrawal of foreign combat forces.
A decade after the liberation of Kabul by the Northern Alliance, the city is growing fast, but it still has the architecture of war - checkpoints, blast walls and heavily fortified buildings.
A city of bicycles has become a city of jeeps and traffic jams, a monument to commerce and to corruption.
The poverty remains, but there is progress - like electricity around the clock in most neighbourhoods.
Nato's ambassador to Afghanistan, Simon Gass, says the city has changed beyond recognition.
"When you walk around in Kabul, this is now a bustling lively city with women on the streets, people able to go to hospitals, schools open where girls can go to as well as boys and it feels very very different to how it did 10 years ago."
But the ambassador admits that many things have not been done.
Some - troubled by the ghosts of the past - worry about a return to all-out civil war.
Ten years on, Kabul is still waiting for peace.
According to one veteran analyst here, people assumed and hoped things would be a lot better by now.

Why Audio Quality Is Important in Gaming Headphones

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:14:00 +0000

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By Yasir Ikram

A headphone consists of two devices one is speaker which delivers sound from computer to your headset and the other one is the microphone which takes the audio from the headset to the computer. So this small head-gear is responsible for audio communication for the computer game to the player. Sound of your game is responsible to provide the environment that make you feel to be part of the game. You can understand the importance when you try to play the computer game with sounds off, which will result in losing interest in the game. When we talk about gaming grade headphones, then the audio quality needs to be much better than ordinary headset that are used for everyday computing.

Reliable Communication in Multiplayer Gaming

In a multi-player environment, speedy and timely communication between the members of the team is very important. There are several obstacles in the communication that includes slow communication, noise in background and bad quality of the audio, such problems in the communication will result in poor performance in your game. A gaming level microphone will ensure your voice is transmitted from your headphone the game in fast paced environment.

Close to Real-World Environment

With the superior sound technology such as Dolby digital and surround sound, you will receive the sound as coming from around you from different corners sides to give you a real world audio environment. With the advancement of technology, gaming audio is getting more realistic and require a high quality output audio device to provide a clear sound to the player, so when you buy a headset for your computer game, make sure the audio quality is clear and supports the surround sound and 3D sound effects.

Noise Cancelling Feature With Acoustic Speakers

This is probably one of the most popular features of the gaming headset, but this is optional as it does not come as part of all headphones for gaming. Acoustic speakers are extremely comfortable and makes your listening experience better. Nose cancelling means the design of your headset will ensure that no outside noise will enter your ears. One of the benefit of using headset with acoustic speakers is that you will feel that world is come alive around you and what you hear will just like real world sound.

Gaming headphones are available Personal computers as well as consoles such as Microsoft Xbox360, Sony PlayStation (PS3) and Sony Wii platforms.

The Game Design and Concept Behind Different Brain Games

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:11:00 +0000

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By Gregor Plath

Riddles, crosswords, math games, quizzes, memory or other visual games - knowledge games or more often known as brain games enjoy popularity among various players around the world on all kinds of platforms. From Brain Age on Nintendo DS, Brain Challenge for iPhone, Lumosity.com with its online platform or online games like Brain Buddies on Facebook - all these games train you brain abilities in a fun and engaging way.

The games present a kind of exercise for the brain, to stay fit and exercise your brain with mental training in various small games. It is commonly known that the human brain needs mental stimulation to stay fit and healthy. Research has proven that reading out loud or performing simple math calculations are an efficient way to extend your mental capabilities. The human brain needs constant training. But many people do not find the time or are not willing to "go back to school" and perform simple calculations again. Brain games can present a valuable and fun alternative to going back to school.

But to be honest this mental training aspect is only secondary when playing a great brain game. They are actually FUN and most of the time pretty addictive. And the best thing about these games definitely is they are ideal to challenge your friends and show them how smart you really are. What proves your knowledge better than a high score in your favorite game?

Most games let you chose categories in which you can compete in different mini games. Categories might be visual, memorize, math calculations or logical games. In visual games you have to order or choose the right patterns according to the shape, color or size of objects. Memory games work on the same mechanics as the classic game you'll likely have played as a kid - remember where objects are hidden or sometimes remember a certain sequence of objects. Calculation games are often disguised with amazing game design or a goal the player can easier relate to - for example balancing a scale. Logical games revolve around completing the right pattern, selecting the match-able items or solving other small riddles. Many games also offer word related games, like a crossword puzzle or scrabble like games.

A little less serious compared to the ones in other networks, but still similar effective mental training are social brain games on Facebook like the before mentioned. Games on social networks such as Facebook can utilize this platform in a perfect way, because compared to console or iPhone games they generally feature a challenge with your friends additionally to the comparison of your "brain size".

The competition with your friends or sometimes even in a tournament with other unknown players is the ideal way to connect the game and its players in order to build retention. A survey among online gamers has shown that the challenge with your friends is the highest incentive to drive players back into the games. Popular examples on Facebook show that certain mind games managed to have a highly engaged group of people over the period of several years. Fans of the game work out new strategies together to improve their scores and build communities with own tournaments and world ranking.

But the downside of social brain games is that their retention rate of players is low, which means many new subscribers leave after a short period. While you have the above mentioned brain game fans that will play the game for a long time and still enjoy it, you can easily witness on statistics websites like Appdata.com that most users will leave the social games in a short period of time.

There can be two different reasons identified: the first one is that a percentage of users get scared away in the beginning by the game design of brain games. For most people this kind of game mechanics is not appealing or they are not willing to dive deeper into the gameplay and learn the fun part about it.

The second reason is that they usually consist of different mini games. The majority that enjoys playing these mini games but they may get bored after a while. Other social games offer either an endless extendable gameplay (FarmVille) or the ability for players to improve their skills in one type of game mechanics (Bejeweled). For brain games the player needs to master different kinds of mini games, so they can't focus on one game mechanic.

To fight against the drop in users there are few actions which can be taken. Famous games like Tetris Battle or Zuma Blitz have shown that the model of a weekly challenge is an effective way to get loyal players. By resetting the scores once a week, players get a new incentive to re-play the same game again and again to rank first among their friends. Brain games could also use these methods on Facebook. Furthermore many social games now feature a worldwide ranking or ranking by countries. If this mechanic is implemented in the right way (anti-cheat protection) challenges can be organized easily and this will help the game to keep its players for longer time.

Preview of the Indie Minecraft Style "Forging Life

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:09:00 +0000

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By Soren Christensen

For several years their has been a tendency towards making games more accessible and easier for players to get into.

More focus has been put into ensuring that games never frustrate a player and that they always feel like the center of attention in the game world.

However, even a lover of casual games can find himself wanting more of a challenge.

Sometimes you *want* a game that tests the limits of your skills and is not afraid to punch you in the face if you mess up.

The success of Demon's Souls is a testament to the fact that there is a demand for a game like this.

And Minecraft showed us that players are also perfectly happy with running around in a large world, where it is left to the player to make their gameplay.

The indie game "Forging Life", developed by a couple of Danish guys embraces some of these elements that you'll find in Demon's Souls and Minecraft, throws in a pinch of Ultima Online's sense of being just an insignificant cog in the machine and mixes it all together with some elements of their own to make a tasty stew of survival goodness.

Seeing the basic first person graphics of Forging Life you can be forgiven for immediately thinking "Minecraft", but the developers are keen to emphasize that this is quite different from the Swedish block based build-em up.

At its core Forging Life is a game about surviving in a fully functioning (and dangerous) world.

Surviving in this world is going to take effort. You'll need shelter and you'll have to worry about food and water.

Through crafting you are able to make yourself some basic weapons, which you can use to go hunting with.

Of course, not all animals will take kindly to being hunted, and you have to be careful of getting mauled by prey that does not care at all for being poked with a small pointy stick.

Of course, finding prey is dependent on an ecosystem that supports whatever animal you're hunting.

Another big part of Forging Life is the dynamic ecosystem that features growing plants, mutations from one generation to the next in the wildlife and disease.

All animals will need food to survive, so if you clean out all the edible plants in the area you're gonna leave the local herbivores starving and dying.

Or maybe those plants just disappeared by themselves because it didn't rain for a month, or the temperature suddenly plummeted. These factors will impact the vegetation of Forging Life.

Once you're nice and cozy in your camp the fun doesn't end there.

Forging Life is going to feature NPC's. Some may be unfriendly bandits, but others could be travelers looking for a place to spend the night in the wilderness, or merchants looking to trade.
This offers meaningful incentive to keep improving your settlement and explore the world, even after you've set yourself up for basic survival.

Whether you're chopping down trees, making torches or chugging spears at bears, Forging Life features a skill system that works much in the same manner that we've seen in Ultima Online or the Elder Scrolls games.
That means that you gain skill points in the relevant skill by actually using it. Chop down trees and your wood chopping skill will go up, as well as related attributes like strength.
If you stop using these skills for a long time, you'll find yourself getting rusty and your skills will slowly start to deteriorate again, so use it or lose it, mister!

Online MOBA Games for Free

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:06:00 +0000

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By J Sutherland

Are you looking for awesome online MOBA games for free? Have you heard of League of Legends? League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game where players get to choose a champion and play together on teams of 3-5 players. The objective changes based on what game mode your playing but the general basis of the game is trying to kill the opposing champions in order to push towards their base and eventually wipe out their command building (Nexus). The best part about this game? Well apart from being ridiculously fun it is also 100% free!

I have played a ton of video games and I have to say that League of Legends is by far the best online MOBA game for free that you can find right now. It's user friendly interface and simple easy controls make it perfect for the beginner but it has enough depth to keep you from ever getting bored on your path to greatness. It also manages to combine the strategy element of real time strategy games with the fast, team based environment of first person shooters making it perfect for anyone who likes games from either genre!

How are the graphics you may ask? In my opinion the graphics are excellent. They can be turned either way up or way down allowing users with almost any kind of computer (except you dinosaurs that are still playing Red Alert 2 =P) to run it. They are also colorful and exciting, kind of like a much better version of Warcraft 2 for all you old timers. One things for certain. With the 80+ champions and the 3+ skins per champion it is going to be a long time before you even start to think of getting bored with the graphics.

Still don't have you convinced? Well first let me assure you that out of all the online MOBA games for free this is definitely the best one you will find. The game play is awesome, the graphics are great, and the developers are constantly creating new content for the game! For example, this Halloween, Riot released 4 limited edition skins and changed the maps so there were pumpkins and ghosts all over them! Plus it is completely, 100% free. It is also not like other free games where paying subscribers gain in game advantages. There is no way to gain an in-game advantage in LoL from paying money. Everyone is on an equal footing.

How to Choose Your Best Gaming Mouse: 5 Secret Tips That Help

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:03:00 +0000

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By Duy Nguyen Khanh

Fact is, there are many good gaming mice out there. You can throw away your money and get back a fancy mouse. But whether it satisfies your needs or not is debatable.

If you follow these guidelines, you will make the best decision possible. So, let's move on. The following 5 tips are from my own experience, as I'm a gamer as well.

Tip #1: Be clear with your favorite game genre

As you know, we have many types of games, from real-time strategy games, first person shooting, online games to action RPG and more. Whenever you want to buy a new gaming mouse, keep inside your mind your favorite gaming genre.

Because mice are made differently for different games.

If you love FPS games, you might want a mouse with higher resolution (more than 2000dpi), whereas an RTS gamer might not need that.

Tip #2: How much do you have?

Budget is a real problem, especially for gamers who have to spend their own money. I know this because I'm in this exact situation as well.

Prices of gaming mice range hugely, from as little as $20 to hundreds of dollars. Therefore, it depends on your budget that you will have a good mouse or not.

It's almost 100% accurate that the higher the price tag, the better the mouse. If you can afford it, you will have a better investment.

Tip #3: Watch out for your gripping style

Gamers have many different gripping styles. That's why they will feel more comfortable with a particular mouse than others.

Fact it, many gamers make the same mistake that they only pay attention to the price. What they forget to check how that mouse will fit their hands.

If you pay a hundred dollars to get a nice looking mouse but it doesn't fit your hand, then it's a waste.

Tip #4: Does the mouse offer bonuses?

Or it just has basic functions?

I believe that gaming mice nowadays offer many valuable functions and bonuses for gamers. Things like on-the-fly style changes, predefined buttons, good design and more.

So, if you can spend the same amount of money in return of more benefits, why not? Read the product descriptions and you will know.

Tip #5: Wired or wireless?

If you're like other typical gamers, your desk might be a mess full of wires and gears. Many times, it will annoy you more than help you. That's why we have wireless gears.

But do they offer the same quality of accuracy and feedback like wired ones? This is a debatable question. In my experience, they can. But it depends on you, the decision maker.

If you like a clean desktop, choose wireless ones. If you believe that wired gears offer better quality and don't mind doing some house keeping, go with them. It's your choice.

The above 5 tips are great, but there is MORE!

Games to Improve Your Memory

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:59:00 +0000

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By Alden White

Having a bad memory is a very embarrassing and often upsetting affliction to have. People think that you are rude or lazy but in actual fact you simply cannot remember the discussion you have had with them or the topic you talked about. Forgetting someone's birthday or to pick up a gift is bad enough on one occasion, but it can be depression if you're the person that does it every year. If you have a terrible memory then you don't need to fret because here are some great memory games that will help you to improve your memory and get more out of life.

- Change it up
The human memory is an amazing thing. We now know that memories are not stored in just one part of the brain, but all over including the parts that retain and categorise sights, smells, and sounds. Use this to your advantage to change the way you try to remember something. If you have to remember to pick up a birthday gift for your mother on the way home from work start humming the tune to "happy birthday to you" while writing down a note. Place the note somewhere that you will see it (like at your desk at work) but every time you see it hum the tune. By combining the tune and the note you will remember more easily what you have to do.

- Names
Meeting someone new can be scary for people with bad memory. The best way to help you to remember the name is to pay close attention when you meet them. Try to eliminate distractions and even ask the person doing the introductions to make them more slowly so you have time to remember everyone's name. Repeating it back to them will also help you because you are physically saying it out loud. It might be awkward at first to respond every time with "nice to meet you..." but when you remember their name the next time you see them you won't be disappointed.

- Grouping
Grouping things together makes it a lot easier for the brain to sort things out. Like it was mentioned earlier, the brain stores memories in many different parts of the brain so the more you sort things the easier it will be. Group simple tasks together so they become a pair; for example leaving the office and going to the dry cleaners. Even when you don't have to pick anything up or drop anything off drive past it to get the association burned into your brain. Then when you have to go there you won't forget.

Features of Good Free Games Websites

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:57:00 +0000

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By Igor Vivebeater

There are hundreds of free games download websites on the internet; some that are easy to use while others are a bit hard for any computer layman. To download games that suit your individual needs requires that you consider some features that are unique to your situation; however there are some general features that must be looked for. The first feature of the PC games is the ease to download them. In some cases this is made harder by the need to download other software to enable the installation and efficient playing of the free PC games. The download games opted for should play or be compatible to the common operating systems platforms and their modules without the need to download and install others such as the PC games players.

The PC games should also not be bulky in storage; the memory needed to install them on your computer should be minimal. Free games that have large memory requirements might prove to be expensive for more memory has to be acquired. These download games also affect the operation of the PC by either slowing it or taking longer for the PC game to respond. In free games downloads there are two versions; one that can be downloaded to your computer and that can be played online. The latter is the best for you play the free games from the provider's servers thus not memory is taken in your CPU. The advantage with the download games that are installed on your computer is that they can be played anywhere without the need to have an internet connection; they save of the cost of internet.

Another crucial feature in the free games is the availability of the tutorials or training manuals. The PC games should come with a well developed help menu where the players are instructed on the rules and the keyword use when playing the PC games. Most download games will come in different stages or modules starting with beginners up to the advanced level. So as the player attains more experience the more he advances in stages. The free games should also have the ability to cater for different numbers of players; mostly one to two players at a time. Sometimes the download games or the PC games may include the ability to make the players interact and play with other remote players once connected to the internet.

The other vital feature of the download games is the customer support that is provided. The free games creators should be able to assist the players on free games downloads, the installation and maintenance. The PC games should be supported by free upgrades that are can be accessed online. The upgrades developed as the game is continuously reviewed should be easy to install and integrate with the existing full version PC games. In the upgrading the free games providers should ensure that the upgrades are secure from being hacked and infected with dangerous programs such as viruses, spyware and many others.

Diablo 3 Active Vs Passive Skills

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:54:00 +0000

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By Mike N C

In Diablo 3 you will have the option of choosing between a variety of Active Skills and a variety of Passive Skills that you will be able to mix and match. By the time your character reaches level 30 you will be able to select the maximum amount of total skills for your character. In total you will be able to select 6 Active Skills and 3 Passive Skills at any one time.

You will be able to switch out different skills wherever you find a Nephalem Altar. Nephalem Altars will be found scattered throughout the world of Diablo 3 as well as in friendly towns. Anyway you may be asking what the differences are between Active and Passive Skills in Diablo 3. Here is the breakdown of each type of Skill:

Active Skills: Active Skills are the first type of Skills you will be able to use when you start playing Diablo 3, regardless of the class you choose to be. For example, if you start off with the Barbarian the first skill you will be able to use is Bash. Once you reach level 2, you will unlock Hammer of the Ancients and Threatening Shout.

However, even if you have 3 Active Skills unlocked you will not be able to use all three at once until you reach level 6. In Diablo 3 as you level up you will be able to have more skills available to use without having to swap them out. You will have 2 Active Skill slots when you first start the game. Reaching Level 6 will unlock the third slot, Level 12 will unlock the fourth slot, Level 18 will unlock the fifth slot and Level 26 will unlock the sixth and final Active Skill Slot. By the time you reach level 30 all of your character's skills will be available for you to use, although you can only have 6 Selected at any one time.

Active Skills are different from Passive Skills in that you must choose when you want to use an Active Skill in Combat (Usually by right clicking or by the using the appropriate Hot Key). Passive Skills do not have to be "clicked on" to be used, they are essentially "Passive", meaning you don't have to do anything for them to have an effect on your character.

Passive Skills: Passive Skills will not be available to you until you reach Level 10. Once you reach Level 10 you will be able to select 1 Passive Skill for your character. Using the Barbarian as an example again, you will have to choose between Pound of Flesh and Ruthless. Pound of Flesh Increases the chance of finding a health globe by 25% and you gain 100% additional health from health globe while Ruthless increase your critical hit chance by 5% and critical hit damage will increase by 50%. So essentially you would be forced to make the decision whether you want greater health regeneration by health globes or increased critical hit chance and damage.

Your Passive Skill slots will unlock at Levels 10, 20 and 30. By the time you reach Level 30 you will have 10+ Passive Skills, but you will only be able to use 3 at any given time. This will really force you to make difficult decisions as to which Skills are the best fit for the type of character you decided to make. You will be able to improve upon your weaknesses with better equipment, or by socketing powerful Runestones into your Active Skills.

Once you reach Level 30, the game will have really just begun. You will have unlocked every skill, but now you will be on a quest to find and trade for rare Runestones to socket into your Active Skills. Each Active Skill can be socketed with any of the five Runestones. Each Runestone will change your Skills in entirely different ways. For Example, the Witch Doctor starts off with the Skill Summon Zombie Dogs which summons 3 Zombie Dogs to fight by the Witch Doctor's side. When Socketing this Skill with a Runestone, here are the possible effects:

Alabaster Runestone: Your zombie dogs gain X% of damage dealt as Life, half of which heals you.

Crimson Runestone: Light your dogs on fire allowing them to burn nearby enemies for X Fire damage per second.

Golden Runestone: Upon death, your zombie dogs have a X% chance of leaving behind a health globe.

Indigo Runestone: X% of damage taken is absorbed by your zombie dogs.

Obsidian Runestone: Your summoned zombie dogs gain an infectious bite that deals X Poison damage over X seconds.

Are Computer Games Bad for Children

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:52:00 +0000

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By John Dixon

When I was a boy, which I have to admit was a long time ago, we used to play outside - in the street, at the park, in the woods, and so on. There were no computer games then - well, there weren't really any computers - so we didn't have the digital distractions that today's kids have. Nowadays, children are introduced to electronic games from a very early age, and by the age of seven can be pretty good with a computer or games console.

Although we all get frustrated with our children from time to time because we can't get them to go outside and play, I guess we would have been exactly the same if we had been given the playtime choices that today's children have. Would you rather go outside in the rain and the cold, or stay indoors and play on a games console? I know what I would rather do!

But are video games bad for children? A report from the European parliament concluded that they are not, and that the games are in fact good for children because the games teach children skills that are essential in life. I know from listening to my own children that many of the games they play are probably helping them to develop strategic thinking and creativity, as well as other important life skills.

Of course, many of the games tend to be of a violent nature, where the aim is to destroy an enemy of some sort or another. This is nothing new though - if you think back to the earliest video games way back in the seventies such as Space Invaders, the intention then was to destroy an invading enemy. The European report also stated that there is no firm proof that playing such games has a negative impact on behavior.

A study carried out by CBS Evening News on 1,102 teenagers shows that 97 percent of them play video games and that 65 percent of them play online with someone else, and that the most popular games are racing, puzzle and sports games.

Toine Manders, the Dutch liberal MEP who drafted the report, had this to say: "Video games are in most cases not dangerous. We heard evidence from experts on computer games and psychologists from France, the US, Germany and the Netherlands and they told us that video games have a positive contribution to make to the education of minors."

So, perhaps it's not all bad news and we shouldn't worry too much about how much time our kids are spending playing electronic games because they are gaining some benefit from the activity.

5 Reasons Why Cooking Games Are Still Popular

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:50:00 +0000

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By Krishna Rae Agapito

Have you ever wondered why despite advancement of gaming gadgets, simple flash-based arcade cooking games remain a favorite of many youngsters? Have you ever wondered why such uncomplicated past times can still rival many new computer games with awesome graphics and relatively more engaging user-interface?

The answer to these questions may be very cliché but arguably many would agree that sometimes, being simple means more. So, here are a few reasons why cooking games for girls are still rocking the gaming world.

1. They Feature Food So They Are Irresistible

People love to eat, and people love to play games featuring food. Think of Diner Dash, Café World and other games that feature cooking, baking and food preparation. These games are as timeless as the very idea that we go hungry tirelessly. There's a little psychology to this actually. Remember the old days when you were still a toddler and you always, unfailingly want to play with your food? This explains that fascination.

2. They Are Not Resource Hog

This entry is for the technical individuals. Because many cooking games are either simple java applications or flash in nature, they are lightweight and don't require high-end computer specifications. That's far different from high graphic cards and processor requirement of many modern games.

3. Girls Love Games That Are Easy To Play

Who said that all games need to be super challenging? Some people play games not to get headache so to speak. Some people play games not get themselves into mind-boggling puzzles. In fact, many play games just to kill time, relax and chill out. And these are just some of the many characteristics of cooking games; they allow you to unwind effortlessly. They are dead simply playing them relaxes you.

4. Games That Involve Cooking Are Actually Training Grounds

Not to overrate the niche of the game but play cooking games actually has a few benefits, among them is to train the player on a few basic skills like color coordination, sense of timing, hand and mental coordination and many others. Yes, arcade food and recipe games often require only the use of mouse, it is an easy endeavor but it doesn't mean that one can actually play and finish it without thinking. These games in fact pose quite a challenge for boys and girls at 5 to 10 years of age, the very age bracket that these programs are created for.

5. These Food Games are Child and Kid Friendly

For parents who are concerned about the things that their children see and play online, cooking games are perfect. Baking cakes, preparing burgers, cooking pastas and others are just few of the motifs found here, and needless to say they are simply very kid friendly. There is absolutely no violence, no hint of mature content and visualization, and no foul language in cooking games.

Computer Games

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:29:00 +0000

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Why Network Marketing: A Life Perspective

happyboys000@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:25:00 +0000

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By Benedict Khoo

Network Marketing is a business method for people who are finding ways to take control of their finances and even their lives. There are many, many reasons that people around the world do this today. Here are my 5 main reasons to doing this business.

1. You learn about Relationships
A lot of people misunderstand the concept of Network Marketing, MLM, or Direct Sales. Whatever you want to call it, it all essentially comes down to ONE thing, building relationships FIRST and only talking about your business later. It means to learn about people, be interested in them, give all you can to help them and not ever think about closing them as a sale until you find out he or she is interested in doing Business with you or being your customer. Even when that person ends up not taking up the sale, you MUST NOT be emotionally attached to it as there is always someone else out there who will. The value you give is IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP. You are running a business! It means building relationships and negotiating deals! You're not there to treat the person like a Money Tree.

2. You Meet Successful People
Along the way in your journey to success, you will definitely meet successful people and these are the people whom you'd want to remember for life and if possible, work with them. The more you find, the better, as you attract success in your social environment. My advice is find a few and constantly keep in contact with them. These are usually the people already successful with your company or successful with a dream that you might have. Keep both. You will mainly learn what they do in their lives to be where there are today. There will come one day where you will naturally attract others as you exude success and mean it.

3. It Prepares You for Bigger Things in Life
Many people do this not just to achieve money although its important. It is probably for a bigger cause that they believe in. What do you believe in? Most people around the world have dreams of achieving them but end up leaving them to fear because of the many pressures of society today. The one thing that people want most is to be Happy. It can also mean always being there for your loved ones, having more time, having more freedom or even CHANGING THE WORLD. To achieve that, it means taking a series of small steps to get that feeling. It can be first getting a job, learning about the business in the side-lines and managing your time effectively. It will not be easy. Many things are simple, but doing it is not easy.

4. Achieve Financial Freedom
In the material sense, achieving financial freedom, a.k.a. money, is a consequence, not your goals. If it is your goals, make it a secondary goal and take it as a consequence (or a bonus). So that your success means you will get money as a secondary thing. Take for example, in Network Marketing, since it's about relationships, make your goal like 'I want people to think differently in this world'. As such, you create emotional value to yourself and to others so that you don't get too attached to money. And from there, once you learn about your relationship with money, it will just keep coming in and one fine day, you realize your residual income is more than your expenses!

5. You Learn about Changing People's Lives
Changing People's Lives is one thing that a lot people want to do but are afraid about how massive it sounds. It means giving a lot of time and commitment to a lot of people. But, if you break it down to simplicity, changing people's lives is about helping them in the smallest of ways with the biggest of heart for many times instead of one big way, a bigger heart and for just one time. It is a life-time commitment. Even if it's just for one person. One day, it will eventually amount to the world if you CONSTANTLY do it right and become the BIGGER THING IN LIFE that you might want to achieve.