All of Turkish government being sued out of power.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7321964.stm

This lawsuit highlights the fear that staunch "secularists" in Turkey posses of religion. The reason I put quotes around secularists is because secularism is supposed to be neutral toward all religions, Turkish folks (although a minority) seem to have taken it to a whole different level, however.

To summarize, the ruling party in Turkey AKP has recently "relax[ed] the rules on the Islamic headscarf.", this (in addition to some other reforms that the party has undertaken over the years) has been seen as an attack on "secular Turkey", hence, despite the fact that AKP won 47% of Turkish votes in the last election, the court is still going to consider AKP's ban from politics.

How is that for a doze of democracy?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7321964.stm

Don't you love Google?

To quote:

"Notice here how Google's lobbying paid off for everyone: Verizon gets the airwaves it wanted. Google gets access to Verizon's customers, who will now be allowed to run the search company's apps on their phones. And we? Right, we get the freedom to do what we want on the wireless Internet. Thanks, Google."

http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/03/21/fcc_spectrum/

Pak's coalition gov't speaking some sense, who could've guessed.

So there was an article today in Guardian about Pakistan's new "coalition government" claiming that they will be willing to "meet with the militants", as opposed to continue the violent confrontation that Musharraf had launched couple of years or so ago.

I personally don't think the new incumbents are doing this because somehow all of a sudden they have developed a concern for the 'good of the people' since they are the same individuals who have raped and pillaged Pakistan for decades. I think the change of heart occurred because they know that by continuing the current "strategy" of use of force, that the US has advocated and required of Pakistan since 9/11, they would only pitch Pakistan into a potential civil war. Being the smart thieves that they are, they know that no Pakistan = no looting!

No matter what the incentive, I think it's a step in the right direction. Would they keep to it or not, only time would tell...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/23/pakistan?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

Two year old geography whiz

This kid is just two years old, and can practically point out every country on the world map! I especially love the way she takes 'jumping breaks' and then continues on, too cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43yCiKlbCo

Pakistan toward a Civil War, as we speak

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/mar2008/paki-m19.shtml

People seem to think that more use of force in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as opposed to diplomacy and negotiations, is the solution to the so-called "war on terror".

The only thing I would like to know is where such use of force has actually made things better for a common man? We are not talking about the rich for whom, it's obviously made millions and billions.

As common sense dictates, and many other political/military analysts predict, more use of force in Pak/Afghan region would intensify internal violence, and in case of Pakistan, would push it toward civil war.

To quote form the article below:

"The escalation of US operations can only have a profoundly destabilising impact, not just in the border regions, but throughout Pakistan, which is already wracked by deep political crisis. While the PPP and PML-N won a decisive victory in last month’s election, in part because of their criticism of Musharraf’s collaboration with the US, the mood will quickly turn as the new government seeks to maintain the US alliance amid ongoing American strikes on Pakistani soil."

But like always, those in power are doing what would benefit them as opposed to what would benefit the people, since in the end, if things went down south, the rich and the powerful always have the options of fleeing and living in exile, it's the poor who pay with their livelihood and life for such mistakes.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/mar2008/paki-m19.shtml

Joke: Modern Medicine

An Israeli doctor says "Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him looking for work in six weeks."

A German doctor says "That is nothing, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him looking for work in four weeks.

A Russian doctor says "In my country, medicine is so advanced that we can take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have them both looking for work in two weeks."

The Texas doctor, not to be outdone, says "You guys are way behind, we recently took a man with no brains out of Texas, put him in the White House for eight years, and now half the country is looking for work."

Asif Zardari is acquitted, go fabulous Pakistani justice!

Asif Zardari (the husband of recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto), one of the most corrupt officials Pakistan has ever known, has been acquitted of all charges. Just so happens that the same man is known as Mr. 10% in Pakistan for taking massive kickbacks, not to mention the famous incident where he tied a bomb to a businessman's ankle to make him go to the bank and withdraw money to give to Zardari.

Now Zardari can run for an office, including Pakistan's Prime Ministership!

And so the comedy of fucked up Pakistani justice continues...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7296955.stm

How do I exchange US $ with something else?

So given that the US economy is going into a recession (or already is, depending on who you talk to), the US $ has been and going to further lose its value. Common sense dictates you exchange it something that wouldn't lose it's value as quickly.

It could be Euro, or gold http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7294040.stm

Any suggestions as to how should I go about doing exchanging the currencies or buying gold? If you've done it, do have a preferred dealer (person, website) etc.?

Any economists, business gurus, bankers out there?

Dolphin saving whales

Animals are so intriguing, there is still so much to know about them! Another example, where a dolphin came out of nowhere to help two stranded whales where all other efforts almost failed by the humans.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7291501.stm

==============

A dolphin has come to the rescue of two whales which had become stranded on a beach in New Zealand.

Conservation officer Malcolm Smith told the BBC that he and a group of other people had tried in vain for an hour and a half to get the whales to sea.

The pygmy sperm whales had repeatedly beached, and both they and the humans were tired and set to give up, he said.

But then the dolphin appeared, communicated with the whales, and led them to safety.

The bottlenose dolphin, called Moko by local residents, is well known for playing with swimmers off Mahia beach on the east coast of the North Island.

Mr Smith said he gave the dolphin a pat to say thank you

Mr Smith said that just when his team was flagging, the dolphin showed up and made straight for them.

"I don't speak whale and I don't speak dolphin," Mr Smith told the BBC, "but there was obviously something that went on because the two whales changed their attitude from being quite distressed to following the dolphin quite willingly and directly along the beach and straight out to sea."

He added: "The dolphin did what we had failed to do. It was all over in a matter of minutes."

Back at play

Mr Smith said he felt fortunate to have witnessed the extraordinary event, and was delighted for the whales, as in the past he has had to put down animals which have become beached.

He said that the whales have not been seen since, but that the dolphin had returned to its usual practice of playing with swimmers in the bay.

"I shouldn't do this I know, we are meant to remain scientific," Mr Smith said, "but I actually went into the water with the dolphin and gave it a pat afterwards because she really did save the day."

Guess what makes the headlines.

So a new report by a consortium of British aid agencies says that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is the worst in forty years, holding Israel responsible (Israel disagrees) http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-03-06-voa24.cfm, but guess what makes the BBC headlines http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7282269.stm where eight people were killed by two gunmen.

As brutual as this shooting is, it still wouldn't even compare to what Israel has done to Palestinians over the decades. But mainstream media apparently doesn't think so.

Beginner's guide to Muslim Bioethics

This was published in a Wired Science blog, nice to see a rather positive (and true) aspect of Islam, as the author says "Interesting stuff, and in some ways more progressive than I expected."

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/03/a-beginners-gui.html