An experiment in proactive entertainment

Swiss professional pilot Yves Rossy, the world’s first man to fly with fitted jet fuel powered wings strapped to his back, flies during his first official demonstration above the Swiss town of Bex on May 14, 2008. Awesome! What a great invention, amazing! Please buy me one of these for my birthday

Rossy a.k.a. RocketMan or FusionMan, always dreamt of flying freely, but it took him four years of hard work on his jet design for the dream to become reality.

To achieve his bird-like status, the 48-year-old was taken up in a light aircraft, just like a normal skydiver.

After steeping out of the plane he appeared to plummet towards earth, before his fall turned to a glide and he ignited the four small jet engines attached to the carbon wing.

Once under power and using a lever to control the fuel, he had the freedom to soar where he chose.

Enjoying the demonstration, at speeds of up to 186mph, Rossy tipped his wings, flipped onto his back then levelled out again, performing a 360-degree roll.

The man then landed safely using a parachute.

He said: “This flight was excellent. It’s like a second skin. If I turn to the left, I fly left. If I nudge to the right, I go right.”

Now Rossy is planning an even greater challenge to fly across the Channel. Hmmm now what would that be, i wonder.

With only a handful of days left to Mother’s day, celebrated globally each year on May 11th (sunday) , a day when children express their great gratitude and appreciation for everything done by their mothers. Have you made some plans for it?

If you want to buy her something, it doesn’t have to be fancy and expensive. It can be a hand-made special gift or a card, wonderful bouquet of flowers, just a little something to entertain her, to express your love and affection towards your mother. Or maybe you can throw a surprise dinner party for your mom(as i plan to, Insha Allah! )

First make a list of all the family members or friends you plan to invite and send invitations. Then finalize dinner/lunch/brunch menu, don’t forget to include her all time favorite dishes.

Later set a clean lovely table, place attractive fresh flowers, arrange food in a special festive way and enjoy a lovely meal. A great gift for mom, isn’t it?

Can’t decide on anything yet, here’s a cool fun site to fuel your creative side.

1>>> Family Fun -Mother’s day.
2>>> Cards and gifts, ideas for Mother’s day.
In the end i just want to say, for all the work Mom does throughout the year she deserves to be pampered particularly on Mother’s Day!
Show her you Care!

M.M.Alam Road, the commercial hub of Lahore a.k.a. the road of restaurants where both national and international fast food restaurants, shops and beauty parlors are located will be closed to improve the sewerage system and for renovation from May 7th, 2008. All kinds of traffic will be suspended on M.M.Alam road, Gulberg, and a diversion plan has been chalked out in this regard. No less than 56 traffic wardens will perform duty in two shifts during the traffic suspension on the road.

Thank God! The long-neglected bumpy road is finally getting the attention it may have always deserved. But not visiting M.M.Alam road for a week or so won’t be easy but hey if it’s for a smoother road, then it’s worth the wait. Worth the wait!

Happy reconstructing!

Yes. I’m talking about the Olympics flame which witnessed its tenth stop relay in Sports Complex of Islamabad on Wednesday (today).The Olympic flame, carried in a specially-designed lantern, was flied to Islamabad on a chartered plane from Muscat, the capital and largest city of Oman. From Islamabad the Beijing 2008 Olympics Torch Relay is ‘peacefully’ set to go to New Delhi of India.

The Logo of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay represents peace, tranquility and nobility.

In Islamabad, Pakisatan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani attended the opening and celebration ceremonies. Pervez Musharraf welcomed the Olympics Torch in a speech at the opening ceremony.

“I welcome the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay on its ‘Journey of Harmony’. Let me convey my strong sentiments to Beijing and wish them the best of luck at the Beijing Olympic Games.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani said, “The journey of the Olympic torch carrying the message of harmony symbolizes the Olympic ideals of peace, friendship and international understanding. Here today we the people of Pakistan confirm our commitment to lighting the passion and sharing the dream of global harmony.”

The flame delegation was headed by Jiang Xiaoyu, vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), who carried the flame lantern. Upon arrival, the Olympic flame and the whole delegation were welcomed by a cheering crowd, among whom are President of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Arif Hassan, Pakistan’s Sports Minister Muhammad Asif and Chairman of Capital Development Authority Kamran Lashari as well as the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui.

The first torchbearer was Samiullah Khan, a former field hockey player from Pakistan, who was nicknamed “The Flying Horse” because of his great speed. And the last torchbearer was Jahanger Khan, the first male squash torchbearer to carry the Olympic torch and former world No. 1 professional squash player, who is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the game.

The Pakistani Government changed its torch relay route from its originallydesigned one due to security concerns. Thousands of soldiers, paramilitary force and police were deployed to the sports complex, which is also a project constructed in mid-1980s with Chinese assistance.

Thank God everything went well and now the Torch has ’safely’ flown out of Pakistan and is on its way to India.

Watch ceremony pictures at >>>>>

A lot of us have seen the video on GEO TV, Express News etc of the ex-Chief Minister of Sindh Arbab Rahim getting treated in an insulting manner. From getting pushed around to being called names, to actually getting a shoe hit on his head, Arbab Rahim seems to be facing considerable humiliation at the hands of ‘normal’ people.

Almost every commentator on TV has condemned such acts of uncivilized behavior from the people toward Arbab Rahim. And I agree.

But where was the media and the commentators when Arbab Rahim, in his capacity as CM, was slapping around ‘normal’ people? This is what is called tit-for-tat.

The day started out cloudy in Lahore today, (an unusual day indeed! especially because it’s relatively Hot in April in Lahore) with pleasant wind blowing the whole day followed by lightning flashes across the sky in the evening and then, it poured at night. Aaah! the beautiful rain. Oh it’s good to have rain.

And now it’s chilly and drizzling oustide, A treat for Lahories indeed!
Hope you enjoyed it too.

As I write I am watching political events unfolding in Zimbabwe and this is truly historic. It will go down in history for Zimbabwe and Africa, as historic.

The fact that the ruling Zanu-PF have lost the majority in Parliament after having been in power since independence suggests that the winds of change are beginning to take root in Southern Africa.

Just a few months ago, and with the country reeling with 140 000% inflation and 80% unemployment, one could not even imagine that a scenario such as that currently being played out could ever be a reality.

The delays in the announcements of the various results have suggested massive rigging or a getting together to negotiate a peaceful transition of power. I tend to think that this is a negotiation for a graceful exit. 

I concern myself more about the Mugabe hoodlums that have assisted him in sucking the economy. Mugabe may arrange a safe removal from power, but what about his ‘entourage’ of apologists?

Zimbabweans are, by nature, a peace loving and non-violent people. I see a post Mugabe era in which Mugabe would be allowed to live in relative comfort and respect as was allowed Mr Ian Smith(Prime Minister of Rhodesia prior to independence).

The road to recovery will be a long and winding journey and my own opinion is that, Zimbabwe will never be the same again. The ability and the work ethic of the white man cannot be overemphasised. They have proved it in many aspects of daily life in Zimbabwe that it needs that type of commitment to get things done.Sadly, the blacks do not have that type of selfless commitment. Nevertheless, it is great news that we are now seeing history being made in Zimbabwe and I hope that we will have a better future. 

As I sit 10 000km away from the land of my birth and of which I am very proud, I cannot over emphasise the feeling of “pre-emptive ecstacy” in a possible major upset in the recently concluded elections in Zimbabwe.

I amke the assumption that the peoples voice will be allowed to stand and that Robert Mugabe will relinquish power after 28 years, most of which has been satisfactory but which has brought mass trauma for the population of Zimbabwe, both within and outside. Just the thought that this may well be a probability within the next 24 to 48 hours fills my eyes with tears of joy. Even if it does not happen. Its just the joy of the ’hope’ that that feeling brings me.

This is a population that has been collectively raped for 8 years and who are now in real terms so poor, that it will take a great deal of hard work to get back to some form of respecatbility. I am also proud to say that Zimbabweans are hard working and are able to handle the challenges that lay ahead.

The international community, of which Pakistan has been a part, has chosen to overlook the desperation of that once prosperous nation, by not supporting sport boycotts against the regime. We are disappointed at the lack of compassion that has ben shown around the world and yet the super powers felt it necessary to spend US$1 million a second on the war on terror and yet not concern themselves about the freedom and “democracy” they keep wanting to export around the world in a country that would have required almost negligible international fund support to be allowed to carry on in peace. 

Zimbabwe had the best education record in Africa, including South Africa, of 96% of the population. It was considered the bread basket of Southern Africa and was the second largest producer of Burley tobacco and coffee in the world behind Brazil. We had a commercial farming community that was able to stand amongst the community of nations with their heads held high in the knowledge that they were productive and efficient. We had a road and communications network was second in Africa only to South Africa. We had a country of which we were extremely proud and it has ben rubbed into the dirt.

But we will rise again! With or without the support of the Western/International community, we are able to pick ourselves up and get back to our rightful position. I salute my countrymen for having to endure such pain for so long. The light at the end of the tunnel shines bright. Pamberi ne Zimbabwe! Makorokoto! Amhlope!

We have come this far.

Impressed? You should be.

In the name of Islam, millions gathered around the likes of Jinnah, spurred on by the likes of Iqbal.

I request you to please re-read the above sentence.

Those are big names. And not just big names but these names got to play the biggest roles.

On the one hand, you have the emotional attachment of millions to a religion like you have never seen and will never see anywhere else; that’s the source. Then you have someone who was, is and will be known perhaps not for his background - illustrious as it may be - but for his persistence. In Urdu, you would simply call him ‘dheet’. Jinnah was dheet all right, and given that perseverance commands success, it would have taken only someone as focused and determined as Jinnah to toe the line so magnificently till success gave up and succumbed. Then there is the line that is being toed. The line was not Islam per se, but if you think about it, it was the emotional attachment to Islam that was toed. Who interpreted Islam in the language and with the method that stringed together millions and then left a little of that string to be held on by Jinnah to toe? (I know, I am perhaps pushing the analogy of ‘toeing the line’ a bit too far, but I think it is making sense, no?). Do you really think that Ghalib - very much a master at his craft - would have had the foresight to write what Iqbal actually did. I say foresight because both Ghalib and Iqbal were gifted when it came to poetry; both had something that was not of their own doing, but what Iqbal chose to do with his gift is remarkable that he gave it a purpose (which he himself called ‘higher poetry’) that remains for the most part, in the realm of the metaphysical.

Now that all the right things happened for the millions of Muslim in the sub continent to get them the biggest prize for any nation; a few lines on the map but the most significant piece of land. Our very own country which is to be modeled on the principles of Islam. These principles being that of justice, fair-play and complete impartiality! There are people here today who actually think that our Quaid, Mr. Jinnah, wanted Pakistan to be a completely secular state, separated from Islam. They suffer from a case of ’selective memory’, and I am putting it mildly here.

The much quoted 11th August speech by Mr. Jinnah is said to have set the ground for a secular state. If secular state means, and only means, giving full rights to all the citizen regardless of their faith, color, creed etc, then most definitely, a secular state it is. The problem, and it is a big one I think, lies when one brings in the concept of ‘popular soverignity’ in the very definition of being ’secular’. Soverieginity, in all intents and purporses should belong to God, inferred through His Book, the glorious Quran. Period. The constitution is to be goverened first by the Book, and then by popular will of the population. Popular will can and should never take precedence over Quranic injunctions. This is a very simple point and many agree to this when asked flat out, but the problem lies in using words that have different meaning for different people. The very word ’secular’ is quite often understood differently by different people. (The problems of contextual words is also discussed here)

To the best of my current research on Jinnah’s speeches, the following provides a sufficent clue to the definition of secular with respect to Islam as agreed upon by the Quaid.

On 25th January, 1948 Jinnah’s address to the Karachi Bar association on the occasion of Eid Milad un Nabi (excerpt):

I would like to tell those who are misled by propaganda that not only the Muslims but Non Muslims have nothing to fear. Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. Islam has taught Equality, Justice and fairplay to everybody. What reason is there for anyone to fear. Democracy, equality, freedom on the highest sense of integrity and on the basis of fairplay and justice for everyone. Let us make the constitution of Pakistan. We will make it and we will show it to the world.

via Pakistaniat

Although the 11th August speech is quoted in favor of having a secular state (the kind that separates religion from state by giving all law-making rights to Popular Will, the very kind that I do not approve of at practically any level), other speeches of Jinnah are ignored altogether, where he has quite explicitly and repeatedly referred to Islam as being the only guiding light for the then-newly created Pakistan.

On February 21, 1948, in an address to the officers and men of the 5th Heavy Ack Ack and 6th Light Ack Ack Regiments in Malir, Karachi, he said:

You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and the equality of manhood in your own native soil. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.

And a good article can be found here , where the author says,

The factual position is that the Quaid on many occasions had clearly and unambiguously stated that Pakistan would be an Islamic democratic State and Islam would be the ideology of Pakistan. He meant what he said and he said what he meant and was never equivocal. First of all we all know that he never said that he was secular. Islam was in his blood like it is in the blood of all Pakistanis. Yet he was conscious and aware of true spirit of Islam. It was on the appeal and persuation of Allama Mohammad Iqbal that he forfeited his career as a highly successful lawyer of England and came back to lead Muslims and Muslim League.

And that brings us to the third, and the most significant piece of this puzzle; Allama Iqbal.

In my opinion, Iqbal had a much more important role, not only spiritually, but politically, of recognizing the leader that Jinnah could become and then wholeheartedly supporting him:

“There is only one way out. Muslims should strengthen Jinnah’s hands. They should join the Muslim League. Indian question, as is now being solved, can be countered by our united front against both the Hindus and the English. Without it, our demands are not going to be accepted. People say our demands smack of communalism. This is sheer propaganda. These demands relate to the defence of our national existence…. The united front can be formed under the leadership of the Muslim League. And the Muslim League can succeed only on account of Jinnah. Now none but Jinnah is capable of leading the Muslims.”

Hadn’t it been for Google’s ‘did you mean…’ hint after searching for a wrongly spelt word, I would have been ranting about Fuedalism instead of Feudalism. Irrelevant, I know.

First, let’s get the definitions out of the way. In context, Feudalism in Pakistan can  be defined as:

The feudal prototype in Pakistan consists of landlords with large joint families possessing hundreds or even thousands of acres of land. They seldom make any direct contribution to agricultural production. Instead, all work is done by peasants or tenants who live at subsistence level.

The landlord, by virtue of his ownership and control of such vast amounts of land and human resources, is powerful enough to influence the distribution of water, fertilizers, tractor permits and agricultural credit and, consequently exercises considerable influence over the revenue, police and judicial administration of the area. The landlord is, thus, lord and master. Such absolute power can easily corrupt, and it is no wonder that the feudal system there is humanly degrading.

I am personally involved in the business of agriculture. I lease out land from landowners and grow stuff on it! From your average urban Rasheed on the urban streets, I can safely say that I know a tad more when it comes to witnessing the power these feudals exercise. Feudals come is all shapes and sizes. Some use power the way it should be, and some use it the way it could be.

You are lead to believe that Feudalism is bad. That it has done much harm to Pakistan, and the array of people who oppose feudalism is remarkable; from the much feared MQM’s leader Altaf Hussein to the much respected Dr. Israr, all have the same view on Feudalism, that it is the curse of all curses, the root of all evil in our society (given that about 80 percent of 16 million people are involved in agriculture).

You are lead to believe that most land lord are tyrants, learning the ‘art of subjugation’ by pretending to do good for the their minions by providing them land to live, whereas the work these minions do for their land lord and under such pathetic conditions is considered ‘part of the job’. You are lead to believe that most land lord’s only interest is either the large, copious amounts of money he gets after selling the crops, or getting his minions - in thousands - to vote for him or his elect in any and all elections.

You, my friends, are lead to believe the right things.