The YouTube Baby Being an avid reader of NFP I never expected this from him.

This article is a rant. And like so many other blogs where this video has been discussed, it all boils down to that person raising the questions is a bearded student of some madrassah. If the same speech had been made by some girl (or guy) in jeans we would be applauding her and also using the opportunity to emphasise that our current education system is flawed as this student educated in some posh school is bold, confident and knows how to talk straight to a dictator.

Somebody has raised question about abductions. Just google about freedom of press in Pakistan. Pakistan ranks amongst the countries with lowest freedom of press. Having numerous channels ranting about with or without uniform does not constitute freedom of press. Where are the abducted persons? How many journalists have been abducted by government so far? whats really happening in Baluchistan/Waziristan? Nobody dares to discuss this on TV channels. Private channels are usually available in urban areas. If the government is so in favor of freedom of expression, why don`t have a few of these anti-government discussions on PTV?

Saddam: The Butcher of Baghdad and the Shame of Mesopotamia If Saddam is a butcher of Baghdad, then Musharraf may very well be butcher of Baluchistan. As per Christian Science Monitor (http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1221/p01s04-wosc.html)

``I would say this now qualifies as a `crimes against humanity` situation,`` says one foreign observer who has interviewed delegates from the region.

For six months, aid agencies and diplomats have been pressing Pakistan authorities to permit them to distribute aid packages, which include emergency rations, tents, and medicine. The UN won`t deliver aid without permission from the host nation, says Robert van Dijk, the top UNICEF officer for Pakistan.

``When we went back there recently, we found the same numbers of people,`` he says, ``and even worse conditions - among the worst I`ve ever seen.``

Do Pakistanis deserve a democratic system? The author has beaten around the bush to reach the following conclusion ``Democracy is a good thing but under present circumstance we did not have an alternative to Musharraf`` which every other tom, dick and ``enlightened moderate`` already believes.

If our `political commentator and historian` justifies his ``enlightened moderate`` beliefs in this manner, why do we have an objection when our semi-literate fanatic uses selected anecdotes or sayings to justify his beliefs.

Confessions of a She-Driver ``she-driver``? I was expecting something else. May be I browse on the internet too much

Men of Letters you overdid it. I have to leave it half way. The concept was good though.

What Osama gave Muslims One of the pointless articles I have read on the subject.

Corporate War on Terrorism Re: # 1

Mr. Ranjit! US is leaving Afghanistan and leaving NATO forces to clean up the mess left by them. Though I agree with you on the front that I dont see what Mr. Qazi is trying to say in this article.

The Yin and Yang of Domestic Surveillance The US State Department spokesman said on Tuesday that “the greatest threat to Pakistan and to a more democratic, more prosperous Pakistan are the terrorists” - Daily Dawn, January 19.

I did not know that Pakistan was a democracy. I think wikipedia should also introduce a different definition of democracy.

Cheers

Who Really Exploits Women? A very good article on chowk previously published on the same topic can be found at the following link:

http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00000964&channel=chaathouse&start=50&end=59&page=6&chapter=1&order=0

The Devil is the New Intern by Saville’s Desk A very refereshing read. You should write more often. I wish it was a longer as it kept me engrossed. Nice work. Though I stare at women but this was a completely new perspective on the idea.

The Curse of Mullah Though I don`t support the mullahs but the fact remains that mullahs won the seats in the parliament fair and square. At least they did not get 98% votes in a referendum with a turnout of 71%.

The bill was presented in the parliament and was stamped by the majority. Can we say the same for our LFO that is keeping His Highness Mr. MAcho Musharraf on the throne. I think not. Dont you forget that NWFP budget has the highest percentage dedicated to education. How many of our other assemblies and governments can claim that.

And who in NWFP except for those going to Burn Halls and Cadet Colleges or Private colleges where trousers. The majority of the population already wears Shalwar Qameez.

I think we are making a mountain out of an ant hill.

Take care

Days of Yore Shahram, this is Ibrahim.

Buddy dont wash the dirty linen in public.

I still remember the slap vividly which your father gave you the other night when we were watching the Misr Channel around 2 oclock in the night.

And the Mujra you brought over.

Those were good and precarious times.

Take care.

Of Doom and Gloom I dont think you have seriously read the columns in Urdu newspaper. This is coming from the guy who relished the columns in Dawm The News, Friday Times and many other syndicated columnist.

What you fail to understand is that Urdu columnist has a common man as his audience and he writes for him. WHat do these Irfan Hussain, Ardeshir Cowasjee, Najam Sethi write for -> not the common man. They have much higher issues to discuss such as where did a particular sexually liberating vagina monologue was conducted, how the big players are playing power politics and what new kind of band was in town. Sometimes I think Cowasjee is more of a hype building guy, luring people into power politics.

What I would suggest is next time you read the columns in an English daily, check it out whether a common man can comprehend the issues being raised in the article usually in an obscure language implying that the writer possesses a large vocabulary.

Good Girls and Bad Postures I don`t know about you guys but I have started to believe in evolution. The girls in our family are born slouching and we all accept them as they are. May be years of preaching by our ancestors has built it in their genes.

However, to put the record straight, havent seen this preaching recently. I have seen so many up-standing, chest jumping, and hip swaying girls recently in other families` weddings and parties, I think times have changed. people have accepted the changes that are taking place. We, however, come to expect it.

I only go to those Mehndi`s where I know there will be a lot of hip swaying dances by family women (I mean the other families). Mine is still the conservative type.

The slouching, embarassed girls are only found in Khwateen Digest and the like magazines where this girl who is simple and does not actively participates in the function turns out to be the cinderella winning the heart of the prospective mother in law and her son. All the beauty and hip swaying efforts of the other girls go waste.

Education Hey buddy.
Cool Down.
We just had a budget presentation. Then Musharraf has struck a deal with Bush. Soon all our miseries will be over. Our reserves have crossed the $10Billion mark with no mention how much SBP has bought from kerb. Our exports have crossed the so much tried $10 billion mark. All is not rotten in State of Pakistan

Being an Investment Analyst, your task must be to recommend Investments to ur clients. Currently, the highest stakes are being offered by the premier casino of Pakistan a.k.a Karachi Stock Exchange. With no improvement in economic fundamentals over the 2 years unless u count the post 9/11 inflow of remittances resulting in building up of reserves as an acheivement, the Stock Market will again be the highest performing market as all the investment/funds/idle liquidity of banks/remittances are channeled to it. So cool down the rage due to non availability of investment avenues, and suggest the same to all ur clients what everyone else is doing: Put the money on PSO

Regarding the Demand for new industrial setup, if the private sector is not putting its money on line nor the foreigners are showing much interest except for privatization, the government should incur a deficit and set up industries itself. Well, it is doing quite the opposite by moving towards lowering deficit and decreasing Public Expenditure in this budget.

You are left with one option only: Put your money on PSO

Bollywood in the Panic Room Though I am not fan of Indian movies, yet I find them better that Pakistani movies. And I never watch Pakistani movies at home, because once u push the Fast Forward Button on the remote, it is next to impossible to take your finger of it till the film ends.

There are usually two reasons to watch PAkistani movies:
1. Either it is preceeded by marketing campaign claiming to use the latest technology (which by indian standards seems arcane). This is a pathetic reason to watch the movie. Once I watched a movie said to be the first digital movie ``teray pyar mein``. The only thing different from other run of the mill movies was that for a half a minute, the heroine ran and for that 30 seconds u can hear her steps pounding on the ground and not some background music. These are big budgeted flops.

2. Or there are articles in the newspaper that the censor board had been very negligent with this movie. THIS IS THE MOVIE TO WATCH. If the story is somewhat digestable, the movie might make money

Other than these, the remaining are the usual run of the mill stuff with nothing to go for. And dont watch them at home because u wont be able to switch to normal playback once u Fast Forward it.