55 PMA Lahore Chapter
Friday, 30 July 2010
It is middle of the summer and Brig (Retd) Zahir Khan (who has joined a new assignment in Karachi) was in town and this gave a chance to 55 PMA officers to get together once again. Col Athar had arranged a sumptuous tea (bib big samose and one bite pastries) in his own office where Khokhar, Atteque, Khalid Javed, Tariq, Tariq Fazal, Sikandar Muneem and your truly joined in.
Earlier this week Brig (Retd) Jalal Hameed Bhatti (JalalHB) was also in town from Rawalpindi. He was to attend a marriage functions so could find only a little time to spare but he did and we met at home. Meeting old comrades is like reliving old memories, more so when most of us have hung our helmets.
Related: All About 55 PMA Long Course
Related: All About 55 PMA Long Course
Labels: 55 PMA, Lahore, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, July 30, 2010,
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Which thieves should be allowed to steal again?
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Long time ago, I had been reading all John Grisham titles but am no more a big fan of his thrillers. He writes good but my own priorities have changed. Last night I picked up The Broker just to scan through hurriedly. The second para in the opening chapter held my attention. It reads, “They were about pardons – desperate pleas from thieves and embezzlers and liars, some still in jail, and some who’d never served but who nonetheless wanted their good names cleared and their beloved right restored.” On the last day in office, the president of a country is faced with question. Which thieves should be allowed to steal again? And I started imagining different options the president had while I related them to situations in our own country. That forced me to read the book. It proved to be a page tuner and I could put it down after I had finished the thriller. It was 03.20 AM.
At a few instances, I could felt Italian language lessons a little too much but the mention of three Pakistani students who were computer genius and had written software that could put the most sophisticated set of satellites unserviceable. This software comes in the market for sale and everyone wants to buy. That is where the Broker comes in and handles the deal. The story is about what happens to the software and more interestingly what happens to the Broker.
Labels: Books, John Grisham
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, July 29, 2010,
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The Republic by Plato
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
The Republic in which Plato presented concept of the state starts with a query. “What is justice,” sitting in his academy Plato asks students who were all experts in their own respective fields.
As per Plato every thing in the world should be given its appropriate place. Biologically human body can be divided in three distinct and incompatible parts. Wisdom comes from head; stomach is responsible for distribution of calories to the whole body through intakes; hands and feet work for the body and act as guards. Humans die when this appropriation is disturbed. Head cannot act in the place of stomach or hand and vice versa.
Like human body he classifies the state population. The philosophers work as head, businessmen, presents and technicians work as stomach and soldiers and administrators work as arms and legs. If one of them takes the place of another, it will be a gross imbalance. With that the state shall fall sick and ultimately die. If each is at its own place, the state will become ideal.
As per Plato every thing in the world should be given its appropriate place. Biologically human body can be divided in three distinct and incompatible parts. Wisdom comes from head; stomach is responsible for distribution of calories to the whole body through intakes; hands and feet work for the body and act as guards. Humans die when this appropriation is disturbed. Head cannot act in the place of stomach or hand and vice versa.
Like human body he classifies the state population. The philosophers work as head, businessmen, presents and technicians work as stomach and soldiers and administrators work as arms and legs. If one of them takes the place of another, it will be a gross imbalance. With that the state shall fall sick and ultimately die. If each is at its own place, the state will become ideal.
Labels: Books, Plato, the Republic
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, July 21, 2010,
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Business Productivity Online Suite
Advent of computers and related web technologies has changed the way we work and do business. A lot has been improved making lives easier. You can do much more with computers now. One of the best solutions for business is BPOS - Microsoft Online’s Business Productivity Online Suite. The Suite is a collection of four products - Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Communications Online and Office Live Meeting – all focused on providing productivity and collaboration solutions for businesses.
Explore the neatly laid out page to learn more about the Microsoft BPOS and what it can do for you. Setting up is easy. BPOS Commander helps you set up step by step and also allows you to migrate data. Getting Started on BPOS Wizard takes you through the process of getting your BPOS environment running easily. With the set-up wizard from BPOS Commander, facilitated set-up simplifies the process and allows you to be sure you complete set-up successfully. In addition, BPOS Commander provides you with tools to estimate your total time to migration. This allows you to more accurately plan for your migration, and avoid any surprises. Given the efficiency and flexibility, the cost is very much affordable.
Best thing is the liberty and flexibility that this Suit offers. Because all of the included services are hosted and stored online by Microsoft, therefore, you can use these services from the comfort of your office as well as via the web from anywhere else. BPOS keeps you connected no matter where you are working from.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, July 21, 2010,
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How to Pray for Parents - Sura Bani Israel Ayat 23-24
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Translation Sura Bani Israel Ayat 23-24: And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little. #
Labels: Personal
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, July 20, 2010,
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French Philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau
Jean Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher. His father married Rousseau’s mother only to desert her after his birth. From here started his sufferings.
He was considered a dangerous character. It is why he was hunted out form one city to another. He died un wept un mourned and unsung.
Contemporaries criticized his book The Contract Social when it was published. To them he retorted by saying that he could see the time when his book would be bounded by the skins of their coming generations.
There have been two seismic revolutions in the world: French and Russian revolutions. French revolutionaries during their struggle wrote three words on their flag – equality, liberty, love — taken form The Contract Social.
Lot many people including French King Louis IV and the Queen were guillotined during the Revolution. Their skins could have been used for binding Rousseau’s book if it were the custom.
All researchers agree that his was the mind behind the French revolution.
Labels: Books, The Contract Social
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, July 20, 2010,
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Pakistan House, Potsdam
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Since its establishment, the Pakistan House has been preparing honorary workers and volunteers for deployment in the project including Thatta Kedona. The House also became center for discussions and information about improvement in the work for the interested public. Lectures by guest speakers were delivered there. In cooperation with the Pakistan Embassy, a large number of Pakistani visitors (including member of government, ambassadors, and officials of various organizations, members of the military academy, journalists, and students) to Potsdam found their way to the House.
Pakistan days were celebrated there with cultural fanfare. German institution like House of Cultures of the World, Import-Shop, Q-Damm Mile, and Festival of Nations also were partners in activities at the House. Here are some of the images of those who have been involved in activities at Pakistan House Postdan, Germany.
Related: Thatta Kedona FAQs
Pakistan days were celebrated there with cultural fanfare. German institution like House of Cultures of the World, Import-Shop, Q-Damm Mile, and Festival of Nations also were partners in activities at the House. Here are some of the images of those who have been involved in activities at Pakistan House Postdan, Germany.
Related: Thatta Kedona FAQs
Labels: Dolls Village, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, July 17, 2010,
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Bypass Lahore
Friday, 16 July 2010
G T Road has a history. Once upon a time, travelling on G T Road (Jarneli Sarak) used to be reliving the past and a colorful cultural experience. No more. Travelling on G T Road has become an ordeal; there is a lot of traffic. Much more than the road can take.
Labels: Lahore
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, July 16, 2010,
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Farewell to My Mother
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Mothers are never good or bad – all mothers are good mothers no matter what. They are always there to receive you with their warm open arms and great hearts. She would forget her emptiness for the fill of her off springs. As Tenneva Jordan said, “A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” A mother is born with the child birth of her offspring and for the rest of her life; she has an enormous responsibility to shape the character and person of her child at the cost of her so many wishes and aspirations.
But children don’t seem to care much for the sentiments of their mothers as they see a life for themselves away from their mothers. And move away to distant places, keeping their mothers longing for their company or even a phone call. But in some cases, children don’t seem to really care about a woman in waiting.
But most children do remember her no matter where they are. And one of them has been my friend SAJS. He has been looking after his mother from the very depth of his heart. Whenever his mother called, he rushed to his village and attended her best he could. She was a typical loyal mother to her soil, and despite the fact that she was sick, she would not leave her ancestral house in the village for better treatment in cities like Lahore. A couple of days ago Shirazi again got a call and he rushed to his village. I rang him up as usual, as I did everyday to discuss our blog related issues, and was told that he was on his way to village to see his mother. I wished him a safe journey and prayed for the health of his mother. And then it was last night, when I got a call from a weary Shirazi, he sounded sad and hollow. And then he broke the news of his mother’s final departure to her heavenly abode (on Friday, July 9, 2010 at 14:45). This was really shocking and sad. Having lost my parents awhile ago, I could feel his pain, sadness and void within on this great loss.
It is true that everyone has to catch this last bus sooner or later, but no one really seems to be ready for this last journey. And one specially wishes his parents and very close relatives to be always near him, never wanting them to catch this last bus forever. But this wish is never to be fulfilled as that is how the Nature works. So while we share the sadness and grief of dear friend Shirazi, we bid farewell to yet another good mother and pray the departed soul to be blessed and may her soul rest in peace forever. Ameen.
PS: Thanks Jalal HB for the support when I needed the most. I could not have written about my mother. She was so big for me that I can't write about here - Shirazi.
Labels: Personal
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, July 13, 2010,
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Corporate Bloggers
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Who should blog for the businesses? This question has been coming for some time now. In my opinion, front line people who know the business in and out should blog about it. Marketing professionals can also use this powerful tool. Organization can hire professional writers to blog for them under company’s name or blog under their own. Depending upon the feedback and information provided by audience, an inside blogger can develop the ability to write in his or her own voice and create content for business blog. Outsider bloggers can view business with an objective eye and offer fresh marketing ideas and strategies.
Outsider blogger can study company’s marketing materials, reports, other collateral information, and meet key people in organization to learn about what organization does and how best to market the product through blogging.
In more connected world, blogging is being taught in most business school as a part of business studies and or part of mass communication courses. That is preparing an army of bloggers. No?
Outsider blogger can study company’s marketing materials, reports, other collateral information, and meet key people in organization to learn about what organization does and how best to market the product through blogging.
In more connected world, blogging is being taught in most business school as a part of business studies and or part of mass communication courses. That is preparing an army of bloggers. No?
Labels: Blogging, Corporate Blogging, Corporate Sector
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, July 07, 2010,
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