Where in the Brain is the Mind Good job Saad. A pleasant digression from rather difficult topics :=) Ahem!

To a large extent a debate on this topic could go on ad finitum. Lets see what we can accomplish.

In my opinion, the way we define consciousness has a lot to do with how we understand it. Webster`s definition of self awareness is but one, albeit highly validated and accepted, surely there are others. And surely we can create our own custom definition. Right? I will leave it at that.

In New Orleans, 1990, the decade of the brain was greeted with great fanfare in the Neuroscience conference. A number of speakers, including one that you have cited, discussed various aspects of consciousness. I still remember the sense of excitement and the hope that a solution is around the corner. I guess it still is, after all, perpetual future has far more seductive appeal than anything else.

I personally have little problem with the Hameroff driven, Penrose popularized Quantum hypothesis. I strongly believe that structure, in its collective activity, synchronized and patterned operation, is what gives rise to self-knowledge. Francis Crick and Koch have done extensive studies in this area, as have numerous others. I think the eventual solution will come out of the study of neural assemblies and connectivity. It is not too far fetched at all.

In his recent book, Steven Pinker addresses this issue in a qualitative fashion. He also takes an information theoretic approach towards the definition of consciousness. I think there are intriguing possibilities there as well.

The treatment and psychosis level, which Waqas alluded to, is a difficult (because of the qualitative nature) but necessary area of emphasis. After all, eventually, behavior will have to be related to the physico-chemical (at least in my view of things).

The cross pollination of ideas from Physics, Neuroscience and Mathematics, together with sophisticated imaging and recording techniques, is very recent, with time I feel the commingling will pay off and we will begin to get a better insight into what constitutes consciousness. Meanwhile, I think there is a lot to learn from studies that have been carried out on the hippocampus and memory storage/formation.

I dont see any reason for despair, skepticism and hopelessness. The brain will succeed in understanding the brain. However, I dont preclude the possibility that in the process we might have to rewrite the Maxwell Laws for the function of the brain.

Super Bowl XXXII RE: Saeed Jaffer

I disagree that Steelers are undertalented - Kordell Stewart is one talented QB, as are some others. Hopefully, they will grab a title soon ...

Super Bowl XXXII I think the result of the Super Bowl did not make Favre an inferior QB. He does remain a great QB, it just wasnt his day.

For years, Elway has been proclaimed as a pretender, this win only adds a ring in Elway`s career and doesnt make him any better or worse than he was a day before the superbowl. In the same context, Favre doesnt become a ``wannabe`` in an instant. Denver won inspite of Favre.

In my opinion, Favre is still the best QB playing the game and Troy Aikman a close second. Denver, however, is the greatest Football team on Planet Earth :=) GB are the second best and 49ers somewhere after that ...

Bihari Refugees Very interesting.

There is little doubt that Biharis have not been permitted to enter Pakistan because of the ``presumed`` economic/political threat to the existing, original inhabitants. Syed Ahmed, raises a fine point: on the one hand we have morality and on the other we have economic sense.

Reminds me of a true story I heard [not entirely accurate because it has been many years]: A nobel laureate in economics considered slavery as an acceptable norm. Upon being questioned on this controversial issue his response was simple - dont confuse morality with economics. From a purely economic standpoint, cheap bonded labor makes eminent economic sense. The reason that it is wrong is a moral one.

Basically, his point is that if you dont apply the morality constraint on economics then there are numerous things that become possible. For instance, recycling dead bodies, killing old people before they become an economic drain, eliminating the physically disabled, etc. etc. Now, would we do all of them? Or should we argue that some are less repugnant therefore they should be done?

I feel that the issue of Biharis has been politically guided. People with little wealth usually have big hearts. To me this is a humanitarian issue. It is irrelevant that the Biharis should be accepted because they fought against traitors or against the enemy or whatever, it is relevant that they want to come to Pakistan and it is important that Pakistan should not be facist and racist in the making of this decision.

Super Bowl XXXII For my graduate studies I spent over 5 years in Boulder, Colorado. The trials and tribulations of the Denver Broncos, the blow-outs in the super bowls, are all vivid memories from those days. It was quite satisfying to see John Elway get the elusive title today. A wonderful game to watch, almost healed the anguish of a few days ago when Pakistan lost a nail-biter in Bangladesh against India - yup, I watched for all the 9 hours...

Thanks, Ras. You are the man!

Of BB, AZ, and NYT: The Corruption of Politics and the Politics of Corruption Re: Syed Ahmed

Emma Duncan`s book is called Breaking the Curfew. The book has its bit of hyperbole but in general it does make one squirm.

A Bad Day For Ahmeds Very clever writing.

Regarding your closing question.

Nothing would have happened. The DC would not have challenged the dacoits, perhaps they were his friends! And life would have gone on as usual.

Moving along.

I think you provide an examplar for the issue discussed by Dr. Saad Shafqat - The VIP-NonVIP concept resides at the core of our bigotry and prejudice. As people we tend to shy away from ``the-heart-of-the-matter.`` Almost always we choose to push under the rug those issues that tend to complicate the status-quo.

The Overlooked Problem of Pakistani Racism. Well said, sir.

I am glad that you have chosen to open the gates for a discussion on racism and discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of color, ethnicity, level of angreziat, family name (khandaan) and even place of residence thrives in our system. [religious discrimination has not been mentioned]

There is really no need for survey data to prove its existence - you can find racism in some form or the other in almost every aspect of our social makeup, and it is not limited to our geographic confines. We carry our racism with us as we settle in various parts of the world.

In my life I have had to deal with my inbuilt biases in many ways. By just using myself as an example I have to admit that for me it is a conscious struggle to not stereotype anyone, to not be judgemental and presumptuous of anyone, to not discriminate and differentiate among colors, ethnicities and religions. Your article clearly highlights a problem.

You are right about the legislative initiatives that the US has invoked. These initiatives have done a lot to open this issue for discssion and debate. It was an eye-opener for me to hear the arguments in Spielberg`s film Amistad - when Adams defends the ``presumed`` slaves in the US supreme court - it was an exhilirating feeling for me when Cinque screamed ``Give Us, Us Free - Give Us, Us Free - ...`` To me that film was a celeberation of humans who manage to rise above ``prevailing pettines`` and make a difference. In some ways, to me, Chowk is also a celeberation of those amongst us who care to, who dare to, rise above pettiness, prejudice and pompousness.

I look forwrad to hearing comments and narratives of other participants.

Of BB, AZ, and NYT: The Corruption of Politics and the Politics of Corruption A superb response by the author - thanks Adil Najam Sahib. I am glad that I cajoled you to respond to my innocuous sounding queries. Well stated.

I guess the cat is almost out of the bag now - so, taking your cue, let me speak without a veil :=) - you also believe that the answer resides within us and we better stop ``aping`` and start ``doing.`` That the NYT ``liquid-scoop`` is actually meant to justify and trigger certain global-economic forces to come into action - besides absolving the current guardians from any backlash. Gosh, I cant let my mind wander more than that.

I apologize for the structure of my previous response.

Poet Sheikh Ayaz Thank you for sharing some excellent poetry of Shaikh Ayaz. It embarasses me to admit that I had never read his poetry. Occasionally, during my university days the name of Shaikh Ayaz used to come up but sadly I never looked around to learn and understand his work.

Both the translations are remarkable; simple truth and huge emotional content. I wonder why we have failed to respect our writers and poets? Are we really several hundred years off in our social evolution and therefore do the things which the other, these days developed, world left far behind?

I feel there is a strong need to encourage writing, all type of writing, regardless of the content and even quality, not to mention leaning/affiliation. We need to facilitate the written expression of our thoughts our fears and our dreams. I guess Internet is going to do that...

Bebee Phool Nahin Lo Bad Girl (I wonder when you will shed this scandalous pseudonym!):

You said, ``Dont impoverish us in the name of development.`` That is entirely my point. To me it is a dilemma that needs to be resolved.

Of BB, AZ, and NYT: The Corruption of Politics and the Politics of Corruption This is a discussion that has digressed in an amazing manner. I am still stuck on some basic issues that the author alluded to - hopefully, he can amplify them further.

1. Forces of globalization, whick the Chowkwalla`s apparently admire, have made us corrupt?
2. Genesis of corruption in Pakistan has a strong link with the evolution of prostitution?
3. Pakistan is being colonized again because NYT reported facts? (regardless of Chomsky and Manufactured Consent)
4. The ``supply side of corruption`` has not been sufficiently exposed. So, Messrs Dassault and XYZ were equally responsible for making Zardari corrupt!

And ...
Athar: You raise an interesting point, ``Frankly, was the Mughal administration any different?`` Hopefully we can explore that further in all its complex manifestations and ramifications. Very astute.

Bottomline, I agree with the author about viewing Western press with cynicism. Perhaps he should have also explored the possibility that this NYT artcile was carried because someone in Pakistan wanted to see it here. Now how far fetched could that be?

Bebee Phool Nahin Lo Bravo, a plea to look for answers within. Bravo, a plea to topple the cart and design new models. But what is this stuff about simplicity and all that?

Have you ever heard the 80% speak...

``You (20%) may be satiated and have had enough, we (80%) need our day now. We also need to have babies that wear soft diapers and we also need the latest video cam that records every burp and gurgle that our future makes. Who are you to deny us that moment? We will continue to strive and work hard, we will continue to discover the hidden path (even if it is cryptic as C or C++) that will bring the wealth of the West in the laps of our land. We are simply seeking what we are told is right by all.``

Diary of an Agnostic Re: Beatnick`s

So, it would be fair to say that one can be a good human being without ``signing-up`` or affiliating with ``any`` religion? Entirely in line with with the ``Agnostic`s`` viewpoint - ``...I refuse to accept any scripture as absolute, I need beliefs and a code of conduct to aspire to.``

Assuming that the ``Agnostic`` is right and assuming that one can become a ``good human being`` with as simple a charter as proposed, then what is the need for religion? Why not just expand the charter to account for all important issues of life and get on with it?

Not that simple, in my opinion. Religion answers or gives the perception of answering far too many questions than it leaves out. Even though the reference text is simple, practicing it is far far more difficult than adopting a religion. Religions simplify life by providing direct ``leap-of-faith`` answers to questions that we can probably never answer. Religions simplify life because they save us from grieving over questions that neither science nor history can answer. Life within the confines of a religion is far easier than life outside those confines. It is not without reason that this is the case. And it is not without reason that people who are not satisfied with the ``known`` answers find themselves suffering and agonizing over ``trivialities`` which a ``moored,`` non-agnostic, would calmly brush aside as irrelevant.

Flying the Friendly Skies of Emirates Here is another Emirates ``Believe it or Not``:

My friends mother lost one suitcase while enroute to USA and another suitcase on her way back to Lahore. Each time the responsible airline was Emirates! The first suitcase was lost in September and the second in November 1997. All attempts to recover the suitcase have failed.

Good Girls and Bad Postures I am surprised. Did I miss something? In my opinion the article was not about ``breasts`` nor about sexism, not even about women alone - the article was about self realization and self actualization in the face of obstacles. In particular the kind of obstacles that society, culture, peers, media, parents, friends, our-own-self, etc. impose upon us; occasionally by design, often innocently. In my opinion there are plenty of men who have ``bent spines`` from the sharam they have to carry - moreover, there are plenty of women who have chosen to lead there lives as the ``fanciful objects`` of men. But then we are not celebrating those men and women today, at least if we are thinking people...

If we attempt to straighten our spines and unshed our sharam - then perhaps we will discover what that sharam really looked like.