9/11 - who did it?
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Over 2000+ military, intelligence, industry professionals do not believe the official account of 9/11. Read their points of views here.
"All the proffered evidence that America was attacked by Muslims on 9/11, when subjected to critical scrutiny, appears to have been fabricated." -- David Ray Griffin, Professor Emeritus, author of 11 books on 9/11 - including the just published "9/11 Ten Years Later: When State Crimes Against Democracy Succeed."
What you think, who was reponsible for 9/11?
Labels: 9/11
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, October 26, 2011,
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How to upload the pdf file to blogs
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Readers here know that I am on eBooks as well. Today I have had the pleasure of sharing two eBooks with readers online. In the process I learned how to share pdf files using blogger blog upload the pdf file to blogspot. BTW, I use blogspot and I wish blogspot have the upload file function. That is a must now. Curiosity lead me and I could find a solution for my friends. There are two easy ways: 1) Use Google Group or 2) Upload to Ziddu.com.
Best is that you create a “Google Group” account – http://groups.google.com and find it is easy. Today I have uploaded two books here and here. Go explore them.
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, October 25, 2011,
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Green architecture
FPAC, in cooperation with Lions Club Germany, organized an exhibition for the students of BNU Architectural Department and other interested in green architecture on Monday, October 25, 2011. Practical demonstration of construction with different material was hallmark of the event that was attended by a large number of students and senior faculty in addition to the members of FPAC.
Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch - the moving spirit behind the project – explained the need for the use of conventional construction materials in the face of energy crises and environmental degradation. He also answered the questions by the audience.
Labels: FPAC, Green Arcitecture
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, October 25, 2011,
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Type 2 diabetes is reversible
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes, can be reversed, according to a Newcastle-University study. The study is recent, so its long-term results have yet to be examined, but of the 11 subjects whom researchers followed, seven were free of diabetes three months after the study's conclusion. The study restricted patients to extremely low-calorie diets (600 calories) of nonstarchy vegetables, eliminating fat in the pancreas and restoring ordinary insulin secretion.
Labels: Diabetes
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, October 23, 2011,
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Twitter tweet button
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Labels: Social Media, Sweet Tweets, Twitter
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, October 22, 2011,
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The power of Android
Friday, 21 October 2011
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Have it all with Straight Talk by LittleBard95
Phones have seamlessly combined some major human activities like communication, sharing, social networking (and even ecommerce). A large population is using smart phones Phones have seamlessly combined some major human activities like communication, sharing, social networking (and even ecommerce). A large population is using smart phones with smart plans in life as well as work. In addition, The power of Android is playing important role in facilitating the usage and at the same time saving money. Explore the idea of Feel Richer with Android and you will know what I mean.
Have it all with Straight Talk by LittleBard95
Savvy users (and heavy phone users) always look for the best plan. I loved the idea of The power of Android because with this I cut my cell phone bill in half. What is more, there is no contract, no surprise bills and no credit checks. In just $45 a month you get nationwide coverage and excellent reception and connectivity. What is more Straight Talk that offers the idea of feel richer with android uses trusted and renowned phone manufacturers that are fully loaded with apps and games and whatever you may be looking for in any phone.
Given my nature of work, I liked Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables any users to make international calls from home, cell or office phone at low rates. Try them and Feel Richer with Android.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, October 21, 2011,
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College Cricket: Adamjee vs Dyaram Jethmal- 1989
Owais Mughal
Rivalry between Karachis two prominent science colleges; Adamjee and Dyaram Jethmal (DJ) goes back many decades. DJ college was founded in 1887, mainly by the efforts of a Sindhi philanthropist Mr. Diwan Dyaram Jethmal. Adamjee College was founded in 1955 by Pakistan Memon Educational and Welfare Society. Both colleges compete each other not only in academics but also in sports.
Photo of DJ colleges front facade is given to the top right.
While both colleges boast of great talent in academics and sports, DJ college gets the best of two in cricket. However, for at-least one year in 1989, Adamjee College was able to beat DJ College comprehensively. This writer had the honors of playing for Adamjee College that year.
According to 1989s Inter-Collegiate draws, Adamjee versus DJ match was scheduled at Bakhtiari Youth Center (BYC)s B Ground. Youth Center is the same ground to which Imran Khan had once called the Graveyard of Fast Bowlers. Look at the photo below. It shows both A and B grounds of BYC. From the desert like conditions of both grounds you can tell they are indeed a graveyard for fast bowlers.
Rivalry between Karachis two prominent science colleges; Adamjee and Dyaram Jethmal (DJ) goes back many decades. DJ college was founded in 1887, mainly by the efforts of a Sindhi philanthropist Mr. Diwan Dyaram Jethmal. Adamjee College was founded in 1955 by Pakistan Memon Educational and Welfare Society. Both colleges compete each other not only in academics but also in sports.Photo of DJ colleges front facade is given to the top right.
While both colleges boast of great talent in academics and sports, DJ college gets the best of two in cricket. However, for at-least one year in 1989, Adamjee College was able to beat DJ College comprehensively. This writer had the honors of playing for Adamjee College that year.
According to 1989s Inter-Collegiate draws, Adamjee versus DJ match was scheduled at Bakhtiari Youth Center (BYC)s B Ground. Youth Center is the same ground to which Imran Khan had once called the Graveyard of Fast Bowlers. Look at the photo below. It shows both A and B grounds of BYC. From the desert like conditions of both grounds you can tell they are indeed a graveyard for fast bowlers.
On a chilly January morning, Adamjee captain Junaid Shamim won the toss and we elected to bat. Our opening pair was Naved and Anwar. Both were deeply influenced by the opening batsmen philosophy of Pakistan at that time. If one copied Mudassar Nazar to the end, then other considered Shoaib Mohammad as his ideal. Both of them were in competition to see who plays the most number of maiden overs. Our good luck prevailed and both of them got out around fifth over. Qamar-ud-doja and Junaid Shamim then took DJ s bowling to the task and Adamjee run rate finally crossed 3 per over. Junaid was especially in good form that day and pulled at-least 2 sixes to the top of the roof of main enclosure of Youth Center. Again refer to the photo above. It shows the location of main enclosure between A ground and B ground. After Qamar and Junaid got out, Adamjee had a couple more aggressive batsmen in their bag. These hard-hitting gentlemen used to play cricket like baseball and tried to hit every ball as if pelting cotton in a quilt (dhunaai). Our innings continued with ups and down. The score reached 150 in 39th over and we lost our 7th wicket. That is when I came in to bat at number 9. Some very complicated bowler was bowling the 40th over. He used to run 16 steps and but then bowl a mixture of slow and medium speed ball. I was stuck at the non-striker ’s end till the last two balls of the 40th over. The fifth bowl of the over came, I heard a doppler effect shoooooN sound, the ball spun almost a foot and went to the keeper.
Everyone in the pavilion started shouting and telling me how to plaw the next ball. Since the ball was spinning by feet, I made up my mind to hit next one on the up before it could spin. The last bowl came. It was pitched off-side the off stump. I got my timing right and on front-foot smashed a cover drive to boundary. 17 years have passed since then, but to date I feel the enjoyment of hitting that cover drive to the boundary. That also brought Admajee ’s innings to end. We had scored 164 for 7 off 40 overs. I was not out at 5. My batting average also increased by a fraction as I remained not out in this innings.
Lunch was then taken (not served). As we go for the lunch, I want to take a quick detour from the match and show the location of Adamjee College. In the image below, the blue rectangle shows the location of Guru Mandir which is a well known Karachi landmark. From there one has to follow the Business Recorder Road to reach the red rectangle which shows Adamjee College.
Now back to the match summary. For lunch during Youth Center matches, we used to walk to one of the infinite branches of Café De Khan (Cafe of the Khan) located across the road in Block-A of North Nazimabad. nihari, qorma, tandoori roti, and cups of hot tea used to be our lunch menu. After that nobody wanted to field for 40 overs. But that day our moral was so high that we just ate daal (lentils) and roti (bread) so that we can have a go at DJ batsmen in the afternoon with full energy.
When we reached the ground, sea breeze picked up its gust. Karachis sea breeze is always very strong in the afternoon and brings with it humidity, which makes cricket ball swing naturally. It is always an advantage to field in the afternoon in Karachi weather. I started first over with the breeze (KDA ground end) and Junaid Shamim started bowling into breeze from the S-Block end. He was right arm and I am left arm. We swung the new ball so much that DJ batsmen were literally dancing in their crease and were still unable to touch the ball. Junaid got first batsman out plumped in front of the wicket and I got another one caught behind. We bowled 10 overs unchanged and let DJ score only 20 for the loss of 2 wickets.
From 11th over our spinners took over. I do not remember much detail after, because I was fielding at the square leg boundary waiting for me next spell. DJ batsmen however, kept losing regular wickets. Around 30th over or so, a DJ batsman tried to pull one of our spinners. The ball got top edge of the bat and went so high up in the sky, that in cricket terminology we call it ball taara hogayee (ball became a star). I was fielding at deep square leg. I do remember some people shouting my name and calling for catch pakRo (catch it), shabash (bravo), dauRna (run) , pakaRna (grab it) etc. My eyes were trans-fixed on the ball, which had gone miles high up in the sky. As it came down, I somehow got my hand and eye coordination righr and caught it inches inside the boundary line. That catch was another memorable event for me from that match.
After 35th over, I came back to bowl again. By then, DJs tail-enders were playing. Junaid and I quickly wrapped up their batting and DJ got all out for 110 or so runs. I finished with 3 wickets for 18 or 20 runs.
Following is the photo of victorious cricket team of Adamjee from 1989 season.
That victory earned us a spot in quarter-finals, which we played against Government Commerce College and lost. But that story some other time.
Labels: Owais Mughal
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, October 21, 2011,
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Fasting is good for your heart
Thursday, 20 October 2011
The Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Utah reports that short-term fasting -- going 24 hours with nothing but water -- not only lowers a person's risk for heart disease, but it also decreases blood cholesterol, triglyceride levels and blood sugar (all risk factors for heart disease). The study also found that, during the fasting period, women experienced a 1,300% increase in human-growth hormones, a reaction intended to protect the body's lean muscle mass. Men experienced a 2,000% increase.
Labels: Health
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, October 20, 2011,
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Why everyone blogs and why you too should?
I have been in bogging for a long time now. In 2007, I wrote a post Why Everyone Blogs and Why You Too Should? I asked readers and fellow bloggers to list their reasons to blog. Some 85 people answered and gave their reasons as to why they blog? I often go back to the post to find out if those bloggers are still blogging. Sadly there are very few who are still blogging. Rest has faded away.
It is so easy to get lost in excuses when your desire to blog and it is only natural. May be we are programmed not to pursue goals even if we truly believe and we want it. The reasons may be any: fear of failure, other more pressing priorities in life, not enough time. That is why in life you may find usual circle - start something then give up, or you start then stop then start again. Many of us go through this exercise at some poi of time in life. This life cycle is truer in case of blogging. Several studies indicate that most blogs are abandoned soon after creation (with 60% to 80% abandoned within one month, depending on whose figures you choose to believe) and that few are regularly updated.
Eve shorter is the life span of bloggers who start a blog for goal of making money through blogging in hurry. Too soon, they find that it is one of the difficult tasks and abandon their effort. That is why I suggest that have a solid reason to start a blog, research your subject and plan what you want to contribute Making money is even harder than most of us think.
Blogging should be an informed decision. If you don’t have a thorough plan in place then don’t start.
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, October 20, 2011,
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The World's Greenest Companies
Green momentum has seriously stalled during the past few years, at least in the public sector-but many of the globe's big companies missed the memo. Top-ranked companies are approaching green projects with increasing tenacity, even in this weak economy. Newsweek's 2011 Green Rankings analyze the biggest companies in America-and the world-to determine which firms are leading on environmental issues. The rankings are among the most rigorous and comprehensive of their kind, providing a clear framework for comparing the environmental commitment and performance of major corporations across all different industries.
Read at the rest of this article on The Daily Beast, Related: How Going Green Can Help You Make Money
Labels: Environment
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, October 20, 2011,
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The internet is rapidly running out of addresses
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
IP addresses aren't just used for computers; an address gets assigned to every device that accesses the internet (including, for instance, phones and cars). John Curran, president of the American Registry for Internet Numbers, estimates that 94% of the IP addresses currently available have already been allocated. This is largely a problem for service and content providers, but it is one that will have to be resolved within a year.
Labels: Technology
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, October 19, 2011,
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Happy Birthday to Dr. Senta Maria Anna Siller
Monday, 17 October 2011
On the occasion of the 75th birthday of Dr. Siller Siller, I on my own behalf and on the behalf of all friends of Thatta Kedona, take this opportunity to thank her heartily for her exemplary and untiring efforts towards the cause.
Happy Birthday to Dr. Senta Maria Anna Siller – the honorable Mother of Dolls who is recipient of Floriade (the Netherlands), Gestaltetes Spielgut (Creative Toys – German Toys Industry), Bundesverdienstkreuz (highest civil order of merit of the Federal Republic of Germany) and many more honors.
We recommend Dr. Senta Maria Anna Siller for Pakistan President's Award for Pride of Performance.
Labels: Dr. Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, October 17, 2011,
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Learn to protect environment
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Labels: Environment, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, October 16, 2011,
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Pakistan Truck Art
With thanks to Jamil Bravo
Labels: Truck Art
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, October 16, 2011,
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Foundation for Promotion of Acedemic Collaboration
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Introducing FPAC - Foundation for Promotion of Acedemic Collaboration
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, October 13, 2011,
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DS Jaspal – Retracing his roots
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Damanbir Singh Jaspal, Principal Secretary (with a rank of Chief Secretary), waits in his room for some towels that he has sent for. He is dressed in a modest light green shirt, with a plain green turban wrapped on his head. His beard is neatly tucked away, and with the serious looking spectacles on his nose, he can be easily mistaken for a visiting professor staying at the Punjab University Executive Club. The only thing that glints in his appearance is his gold watch, loud but sleek but his sophisticated and well kept appearance is only incongruous with his haphazard surroundings.
Most odd for anyone is the large plant that has taken up almost one corner of the room, right between the striped brown sofas, and Jaspal’s suitcase, which lies yawning open, so that this plant can be cut into the right size, wrapped in a wet towel, and transported along with him to the Wagah Border and subsequently to Chandigarh, India. In fact one cannot miss this plant, as its leafy scent pervades the room just upon entrance.
“This is a beri tree-cutting that someone kindly brought to me from Sialkot last night,” says Jaspal. “I thought I wouldn’t be able to get this but coincidently I did. Now once I get back, I’ll see that it gets put into the root trainers as soon as possible so we can clone it later.” Even though Jaspal says the Quran too has mentioned a herb or two, where it upholds trees as part of nature, Sikhism is perhaps the only religion that actively endorses the protection of trees, relating to them spiritual evolution, and preserving within them heritage, environment, beauty, majesty and history all in one.
These trees are those under which the Sikh gurus have rested and sought shelter under, while their scriptures and legends mention forests where the military often passed from during wars. “Gurus often took rest under these trees and met with others under their leafy shade,” informs Jaspal. “As a result Sikh followers have erected gurdwaras in respect of these trees, such as the Ambh Sahib and the Beri Sahib. But the sad part is that many of these trees have died or have been suffocated thanks to several other reasons.”
“Air is the guru, Water is the father and Earth is the great mother,” reads a line from the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib. It declares that the purpose of human beings is to achieve a blissful state and to be in harmony with nature. Furthermore the Gurus inferred that it is not the girth, size, or beautiful flowers that determine the significance of a tree but its usefulness that makes it important.
The trees that have sanctity in Sikhism include Bohr (Ficus Bengalensis), Pipli (Ficus Religiosa), Jand (Prosopis Spicigera), Garna (Capparis Horrida), Karir (Capparis Aaaphylla), Phalahi (Acacia modeta), Reru (Mimasa Leucophloea), Luhura (Cordia latifolia), Tahli (Shisham), Imli (Tamarind), Amb (Mangifera Indica), Harian Velan, Neem (Margassa), Ritha (Sapindus Mukorosa), Kalp (Mitragina Parvifolia) and Ber (Zizyphus Jujube).
Four of the most sacred trees associated with the Sikh shrines, namely Beri of Dukh Bhanjani, Beri of Sri Harmandir Sahib, Beri of Baba Budha (also of Sri Harmandir Sahib), Beri of Gurdwara Ber Sahib of Sultanpur Lodhi and Beri of Lachi Ber of Sri Harmandir Sahib highlight the role that trees have played in Sikh history. But this is not the only reason that led Jaspal to literally create a museum of trees. The first sparks of his interest in trees started when he was Minister of Forests. “I had a thought; a kind of realization that many of our gurdwaras are named after trees.
The Imli Sahib, the Ambh Sahib, and the Taali Sahib in Lahore; and these are sacred trees. But no one gave a thought to why these trees were connected to the shrines. So I began my research work, and I found out that at least 59 shrines were named after about 19 trees, and some of these trees don’t even exist any longer, while some of these shrines are untraceable.” Japsal for one means the Gurdwara Taahli Sahib, which he knew was located somewhere in Lahore, but since the tree was gone, no one knew any more where the shrine was. Still he stresses that his interest in the preservation of trees is ‘secular’.“Religion may have a link with this interest of mine, but trees are important, trees must be preserved. Most of the people who have bought my book online are non-Sikhs, and none of my tree exhibitions have ever been held at Gurdwaras,” he claims. But at the same time, in paving Gurdwaras with marble, many of these ancient trees have been felled and an important part of Sikh heritage has been destroyed. The mango tree at Mohali’s shrine Ambh Sahib is now nothing but a stump.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, October 12, 2011,
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Islamic Calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy has come a long way since this fine art was first started on parchment or papyrus with a quill from the seventh century, and was used in making copies of the Quran. Now it is genre of fine arts practiced all over the world particularly in Muslim societies. And it continues to flourish. Now innovative artists write Quranic verses in vibrant colors that are pieces of art in themselves.
Related: Art for Allah, Khate-e-Ra’ana - calligraphy script invented by Ibn-e-Kaleem
Related: Art for Allah, Khate-e-Ra’ana - calligraphy script invented by Ibn-e-Kaleem
Labels: Art, Calligraphy
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, October 12, 2011,
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Happy Birthday to Eman
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Labels: Eman
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, October 09, 2011,
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Stave Jobs at his best - Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
Commencement address by Steve Jobs a few months ago when he stepped down as the CEO of Apple. As Jobs passed away on October 5, rediff.com brings you his words of advice that are as relevant today as they were in 2005 when he addressed students of the Stanford University.After going on medical leave that has lasted six months, Steve Jobs has announced that he is stepping down as CEO of Apple.
It is common knowledge that the head honcho of the one of the most valuable companies in the world, who built it up from scratch, is ailing from pancreatic cancer.
There is a lot we can learn from Jobs and not all of it pertains to succeeding in your profession -- he believes you should live life to the fullest, without compromise. Here, we present a prepared text of the commencement address delivered by Jobs on June 12, 2005:
I am honoured to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.
Labels: Apple, Stave Jobs
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, October 09, 2011,
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Geopolitics of Peace
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Nadir Mir
Geopolitics defined in multi ways is also ‘war politics among nations!’ When major powers clash, it leads to a great war. Ironically, the Clausewitzian notion of ‘war being the continuation of policy’ appears to be turned upside down. As detractors and peace advocates lament ‘policy is the continuation of war’! Again Clausewitz interjects ‘if policy is grand so will war be!’ The so called globalists (left over Neo Cons plus new converts) whisper aloud that they want another ‘Grand War’ as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya were not enough. War with Iran was aborted or delayed and has left them heartbroken.So now Geopolitics is leaning towards a new rumored war against Pakistan and possibly Iran, as is being projected by some US think tanks. This includes the Huttington, ‘clash of civilization theorists’ plus propagandists and balkanists as appearing in the Huffington Post. Even Henry Kissinger the ever green American Geostrategic sage has talked of the ‘Balkans of the next World War’. This war if ever fought would be the most tragic – suicidal war. Without aim and end, with little to gain and a lot to lose by all. Besides peaceful alternatives are available. The futility of a ‘Great War’ or the ‘Reign of Total Chaos’ needs to be understood before understanding the value of peace. The world needs an era of peaceful prosperity; therefore let us dwell on the ‘Geopolitics of Peace’.
First the global geopolitical environment must be grasped pragmatically. The Western World’s dominance in world affairs appears to be fading. At least the global economics balance is tilting away from the Western World. Much before 2020, China may rival the US economy. America today faces a serious debt default. If the US economy has slowed down the EU has its own ailments. In a nut shell, Western monopoly on global wealth stands challenged and rebuked by Eastern and other global economies. Strategically – militarily, Russia has made a comeback. Though there can be no invasion Soviet fashion, post Georgia, Moscow has drawn the Rubicon. Heart land Russia is confident, tactically cooperative yet strategically hostile to the West.
By contrast US – NATO spent a decade chasing elusive, asymmetrical Islamic antagonists. Bogged down in protracted war, US – NATO, after facing resilient Taliban in Afghanistan and stoic Iraqi resistance, forayed into the Libyan adventure. US unilateral raid in Abbotabad, Pakistan has surged Anti Americanism. But Anti Americanism is not confined to Pakistan, but shared in Iran, Turkey, Arab World and a large global swathe.
The Western world’s decline and rise of the rest (Farid Zakriya) has been further compounded by the Middle East revolutionary fervour. Yet US hyper war military remains pre-dominant, even as Robert Gates “avoid land war in Asia” warning must be heeded. American Geo Strategy is at a turning point. Pakistan – Iran – Afghanistan – Turkey – Saudi Arabian Peninsula – India are all Rim land players. A new contest may be starting. If the Bush Neocon era symbolized the –‘encirclement of Russia’, a new era may be on the horizon. The Obama Admistration cajoled by left over Neocons, friendly India, and persuasive Israelis is in a bind over Pakistan – China. The Geopolitical question is to relent or escalate? Yet Saudi Peninsula – North Africa also beacons Western – American attention. Post Osama period marks a defining moment for America. Logic, US economic malaise and war weary American public want the troops back home. The globalists want ‘perpetual war’. Peaceful deinduction is the logical step from Afghanistan. Still hubris, miscalculation, greed and ill advice can lead to a Cold War with China and Hot War in the region. Though the global environment may not replicate a century earlier but still Mark Twain was apt ‘history may not repeat but it does rhyme’.
Labels: Geopolitics
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, October 08, 2011,
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Google Page Rank Update - October 2011
Friday, 7 October 2011
Google updated PageRank sometime tonight. One of my blogs have jumped from PR 3 to 4 and another h as gone down from 4 to 3. Go check your Page rank and see your gains and losses. Previous PR update was on Monday June 27, 2011.
Labels: Blogs, Google PR, PageRank
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, October 07, 2011,
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Steve Jobs - 1955 - 2011
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Steve Jobs (1955-2011), the Apple co-founder and former CEO, has died at the age of 56 after a long and highly public battle with cancer.
Steve Jobs! You left your mark and made a great difference in the world of computing. You will me missed for a long time.
Read more »
Labels: Apple, Steve Jobs
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, October 06, 2011,
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Yoga against dengue
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
As soon as dengue spread, various ways to cure the epidemic also surfaced. Although medical science has yet not been able to produce any definitive medicines for prevention and treatment of the deadly disease, but there are other ways to tackle the epidemic. Some people may have been profiteering out of the epidemic but curing through exercises and preventing through a simple plastic bottle trap costs nothing at all.Yogis claim that yoga had the power to save people from dengue. According to followers of the non-violent ideology, dengue attacked people because people were addicted to harm each other. Regular sessions were being conducted to create awareness among the masses about curing dengue through yoga. Famous Karachi-based Yogi Wajahat participated in one of such sessions to teach Lahoris techniques to prevent and cure dengue. His tips included some herbal treatments, a few breathing and posing exercises, and a magical net that he claimed would prevent mosquitoes from approaching people.
And not to forget his flying insect trap, which was really amazing. Wajahat advised wearing khaki and dark coloured clothes to keep mosquitoes away. In diet, he said, low fat foods and less use of sugar should be maintained for the epidemic seasons for reason, he described, fats and sugar caused such chemical reactions in body that cause mosquitoes to get attracted to people. Eating fruits with peels and fresh vegetables were the best natural defence against all diseases, he suggested. The yogi also advised taking ‘neem’ products to create immunity against poisonous insects. He said the fragrance of basil tree was the natural mosquito repellent. Lahore could get rid of the deadly dengue by mere growing a black basil tree in each house, he claimed. When recovering from diseases, the yogi said, use “munaqqa” (dried grapes) to energise the body.
After giving plentiful of herbal tips, he came to the fever management through breathing exercises, which he claimed would help normalise the temperature of the body. Under this subject, he taught two exercises, including cool breathe and alternate breathing. The earlier was useful to lower high temperature and blood pressure while the later was used to balance the body in both cases of low or high temperature. A dengue patient might not be able to perform the exercises in actual poses but it could be done in any way, as the main purpose of controlling the temperatures was accomplished with mere breathing only, he told.
The yogi also focused on creating some positive energy in the body by sitting in specific yoga poses. There was no disease, which mental power could not cure. He turned towards the mental exercises portion. Describing different kinds of mental exercises, he said that visualising was recommended by yogis to fight a disease. Through mental powers, one could put a shield across oneself to prevent mosquitoes, Wajahat claimed.
Naming it “Yogi Jala” he said that a person could shield his home or office and mothers could conceal their children from mosquitoes or whatever they wanted through their mental powers. Sit in a relaxing pose, close your eyes, check the space around you moving hands in space and start imagining a fiber taken from God and knitting it around yourself and that was it, you are shielded, he said, explaining the procedure.
The last tip was his self-designed mosquito trap made with a neck-cut bottle. Cut a bottle through the neck, put the inverted upper part inside the open side of bottle and wrap around a black paper and the mosquito trap was prepared. A cup of water with brown sugar dissolved in it and a bit of yeast to attract the flying insects should be included in the trap, he said. The yogi also claimed a ring tone of special frequency could cause mosquitoes to disappear. The tone could be found on the Internet with the name of a mosquito repellent tone. Finally, he concluded with an exercise of yoga by playing a soothing tone on Buddhist Ball, which he claimed relaxes the nerves by washing away all thoughts from the mind.
Labels: Yoga Pakistan, Yogi Shamshad Haider
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, October 05, 2011,
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From the Mother of the Dolls
Monday, 3 October 2011
Dear Friends!
I started in 1993 to make handicraft dolls in the village of TGD together with the village girls. The effort was based upon available resources and a respect for the local tradition. Especially the hand-made dolls representing the dresses of the different provinces and minorities became very popular.
Only scarce information was available at that time about these groups and their dresses and obtaining the relevant materials was also a problem. Detailed field studies were needed to obtain and organize the required information, which was quite expensive.
It was very important for the project, which was initially supposed to be only a women project, to feel and sense the local peculiarities, abilities and skills.
I lived between 1993 and 1998 on invitation of the village elders in the village and trained about 120 women, who practically started to earn some income right from the start through increasing sale of their products in the provincial capitals. But never were and are the NGO-Members dependent upon the project, as only additional income is generated. The village women already have a house for residence and agricultural land, so that the additional income enables them and their families to remain in the village and not move to cities, where life continues to become more expensive and paid work keeps shrinking.
This project is meant to provide for income of women in the rural areas. The daughters have grown up in the meanwhile and since 1998 also young men from the village are integrated into the project and are engaged –among others- with the use of appropriate technology.
The products have been regularly developed further with the help of volunteers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. The NGO Members on the other hand have participated in Workshops in Dubai, Germany and Iceland and contributed in this way to the aims and objects of the effort.
Changes in political situation have necessitated a flexible approach: Nuclear tests, economic changes and local disputes have led to a decrease in sales, which has affected the locals as well as foreigners. The number of Melas has also decreased due to well known reasons. It is necessary to react quickly to changes, so that products were also offered to collectors and other customers, even if the number of orders were small and meant for customers in Japan, Australia, North America and Europe.
The success of the dolls project led to invitations in other countries, so that today women in Cameroon (since 1998) Columbia (since 1999), Iceland, Greece and Germany are also making dolls. The undressed dolls for Europe are made in our village in Pakistan.
With the help of volunteers we were also able to support the project by selling various dolls to ethnological museums in Europe.
I often receive letters and calls and my well-wishers ask me about my whereabouts. Dear Friends, customers and collectors, of course I have not forgotten you. The current intensive but very interesting work in the German project reminds me of the years between 1993 and 1998, which were not possible without the support and help of local and foreign volunteers.
The technological advances of today make many things easier, so that time zones are bridged and you can easily reach me by eMail and Skype and information can be broadcast through the Internet Radio of TGD, as well as the Thatta Kedona blog.
In the hope to be together with you and wishing all success to our village women through you purchases and interest in the project, I look forward to seeing you again, - in Pakistan or in Germany, in reality or virtually !
We try to sense future developments in our projects, including ground-breaking concepts to conserve energy. The motto here remains: Words must be followed by actions, so that active environmental protection can be carried out !!
I greet you heartily once again and remain
Heartily yours,
Labels: Dr. Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, October 03, 2011,
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Give peace a chance
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Sabir Nazir at Pakistan Today
Labels: Cartoon
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, October 01, 2011,
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