Reform Leader Asks Mubarak To Resign Too

Looking at the way things are going in Egypt right now, I really feel it is about time that Hosni Mubarak should leave and give the people some peace in their lives. It is actually quite astonishing how people are so greedy for power and position that they even sacrifice their own character, personality and principles just to stay in power and position. Naturally, mostly such people are hardly those that rule the hearts. 

I for one can say a lot about such rulers because since I was born till date we have seen such political leaders in Pakistan but we don't really know how to bring a balance here. However, things are not the same everywhere else. Other Muslim nations have taken a stand to get rid of selfish dictators. First it was Tunisia and now Egypt where people are tired of monarchies and dictatorships for lifetime - rulers that don't do much for their people and just want to stay for power. 

On Sunday, Nobel Peace Laureate, Mohamed ElBradei also came upfront at Tahrir Liberation Square in Cairo and demanded for the resignation of Hosni Mubarak along with thousands of protestors who have decided to not stop their march defying the curfew that Mubarak has ordered. It seems that ElBradei is going to lead this movement and he is chosen because he is person who is more acceptable to the Western world. ElBradei, however, also made it clear that America should mind its business and doesn't feel USA is credible enough to sort our affairs.

"You are the owners of this revolution. You are the future," ElBaradei told the crowd after nightfall. "Our essential demand is the departure of the regime and the beginning of a new Egypt in which every Egyptian lives in virtue, freedom and dignity."

Let's just hope that this matter is resolved and Hosni Mubarak, who perhaps planned to stay in power till his last breath decides to leave before more people are hurt in this situation. People of Egypt are tired of unemployment, rising prices, corruption and unfair elections whereby no other person can come into power.

STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT

The demonstrations in Egypt could end three decades of repressive rule and bring, at long last, freedom and democracy to Egypt.

The regime is attempting to starve the protest movement of two crucial sources of power: information and solidarity. But despite the internet blackout, Egyptian radios and satellite TVs can still receive broadcasts from across the border -- so Avaaz will work with broadcasters whose signals reach inside Egypt to circulate the number signatures on this statement of solidarity, along with messages of support from around the world for Egypt's people.

Every hour matters. What happens next depends of all of us. Let's stand with those on the streets and build a deafening outcry against rampant corruption and political repression, and for democratic reform. Sign the statement of solidarity--and spread the word about this campaign!

We stand with the people of Egypt in their demand for freedom and basic rights, an end to the crackdown and internet blackout, and immediate democratic reform. We call on our governments to join us in our solidarity with the Egyptian people.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/democracy_for_egypt/?copy

Age Is Just A Number

Toyo Shibata's book "Kujikenaide - Don't Lose Heart"

I don't know about all of you very successful writers out there, but I often have this feeling that one is so stuck up with no change and so many logical questions. I mean seriously, some of the things I questioned and longed for when I was sixteen or eighteen, I still haven't gotten the answer for them. Apart from the fact, that I am genuinely quite an unlucky person, most people I know are not born with such a luck. But still, sometimes, this feeling really sucks.

Anyhow, hopelessness comes and goes. For the longest time I did think I am a pessimist but actually I was not. I am just not very enthusiastic and chirpy perhaps but there is some hope somewhere. Hope is like a bitch that just doesn't stop loving you and so never leaves you.

Here is a story for all who do feel hopeless at times and yes for all those who think they are so old they cannot do anything new in life. 

In Tokyo, there is a 99 year old woman - Toyo Shibata who didn't start writing 50 years ago. She actually started writing poems when she was ONLY 92 years old and when she could no longer focus on her life long hobby of classical Japanese dance due to back pain. But guess what, even when she started so late her writings are actually quite popular amongst the younger generations.

Toyo Shibata

Toyo writes in a simple manner with simple titles. She has a huge experience behind her and has seen decades of changes in her country and around her so she pens them down and that has what made her a success today. Her anthology Kujikenaide  "Don't Lose Heart" is quite a success since 2009 and has sold over 1.5 million copies. It was among the top 10 titles of 2010. 

She also sometimes confesses secretly in her poems about love and her feelings. Some of her poems have titles such as "Everyone's Dreams Are Equal" and "Take It Easy, Don't Try Too Hard". She says she thinks about her current life,past, family and memories...words then come to her and writes her poems. She is compiling another anthology before her 100th birthday in June.

Well after reading about Toyo, I certainly feel age is just another number and that there is hope somewhere yes. I will try to work some more on publishing our book :P

Hayden Christensen

What Happens When An American Kills Pakistanis In Pakistan?

I really told myself for a few days that I won't write about any of this but I have been reading about it so much that it is better to just put it into words. I know I often say the value of life is insignificantly low in my country. I may not like it if somebody else from some other country would say things about Pakistan but then there is no point in denying the truth. Life in itself is not important - human beings from any social strata in any part of our country, animals, nature, trees and plants all of them have been suffering for the longest time here. Slowly and gradually degrading into nothing. Some think about all this and quite a few don't even bother because they have beautiful lives.

Anyway, till now we are being killed and suffered by each other. This time, a foreigner killed two Pakistanis in Pakistan. The more one gets to know about this case the puzzle gets a bit more complicated. The story is all over our media. Although boys, men and women die everyday - that is insignificant. Here, because an American is involved, of course it makes it more worthy of being talked about. Anyhow, the story is somewhat like this so far...

A US official, Raymond Allen Davis shot two young motorcyclists near Lahore's Qurtaba Chowk on Jan 21st. He said he shot them in self-defence. Davis said that the two men tried to loot him and so he retaliated. But then he ran off from the scene. Surprisingly, or not so, another car an SUV was behind him to rescue Davis but whoever was in that vehicle ended up killing a common man on the bike. Police never got hold of that car or who was driving it. Davis does not know who was in it. He said he did call his Regional Security Officer about the incident right after it happened and perhaps they sent someone. But the fact that the vehicle came, killed a common man and fled doesn't make much sense.

There are many muggers and mobile thieves here. People are mugged often. Sometimes they even shoot or kill the people for the sake of a mobile phone. As per the police records, it is proved that the two men were actually robbers and on the same day before they were shot by Davis, they did rob a few people. Two of the complaints have been recognized to be against the dead boys as they were found with the robbed possessions as per the complaints.

The US ambassador Cameron Munter has highlighted the Geneva Convention, which allows diplomats to have the right of diplomatic immunity according to which Davis can not be tried in Pakistan according to the Pakistani court of law. Anyhow, Raymond Davis' identity and diplomatic status will decide this if he is eligible for diplomatic immunity. Surprisingly, earlier US was quiet but in today's papers we can see the change in their stance. They are now saying that he is a diplomat and that his documents can be shared. This is a bit strange too, as per Pakistani diplomats they were silent before or perhaps making his documents to save him.

The peculiar data about Davis is that since October 2009 he visited Pakistan at least nine times. He is 37 years old and has travelled on his regular passport rather than a diplomatic passport, which should have been the case. Pakistani sources don't really have any record or information of Davis' official work ever since he has been visiting since 2009.

As per the policy guidelines issued by the Foreign and Interior Ministries, US officials can not move around without informing their security officials. This is for their own security but Davis was driving a locally registered car instead of a diplomatic car without informing anybody. Another important thing to note is that Davis was carrying and illegal weapon. The police recovered a digital camera, a phone tracker with a charger.

Davis said he never intended to kill them. For six days he will be in police remand. They want to know why was he there at that time, why was he travelling in a private car, why did he not take any security and why was he carrying a wireless set in his car and also why was a SUV following his car. Also, they feel the way he shot the two men shows he is no ordinary diplomat, he seems to be fully trained at it.

Pakistan is under pressure from both ends. Within the country people are angry about this incident. They say it is an Aasia Siddiqui sort of scenario and that Davis should be dealt with according to Pakistan's law. The government does fear that the protests can get ugly with time as this is no ordinary case.

Anyway, it is quite possible that it is proved that it all happened in self-defence and he would be free. I just feel this is not just such a simple thing. It has a bigger game plan to it that is not clear to us. It is quite possible that he would go free but if he does not then it is also possible that this is some sort of a game plan according to which Davis is supposed to do this and be here. I don't know, this is just a thought that came in my mind keeping in mind everything. Actually the truth is that even we are talking about this because of the complications and strangeness revolving around Davis and not because some muggers were shot dead. But it is a rather strange case on the whole. Also, if the government fails to deal with this case in a right manner then it could lead to an uproar amongst common Pakistanis who are tired of not getting justice since forever in all aspects of life.

Vanishing on the 7th Street

This is the kind of movie that one should avoid at all cost.

It is a post-apocalyptic horror-thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and starring Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo.

If you like Hayden Christensen, then you may have a good reason to watch this flick, cause we hardly see this guy & I don’t understand why it’s so. Even Thandie Newton doesn’t seem that irritating & she’s looking for her missing baby. John Leguizamo is seen in too many movies in small roles & in this one too, he has been just fine. There’s a boy named James & he’s waiting for his mama. Over all, everyone has acted well, but the storyline wasn’t that great. People just vanish away in thin air & no plausible explanation has been provided. Only clothes & other possessions of people are left behind. All the characters one by one disappear; only James & another irritating little girl survive.

It might be a real adventure, if something of the sort happens in real life. You know a global black out in which people disappear in thin air. Then we would know how courageous we are & where we stand. That’s the only excitement about the story.

Director: Brad Anderson

Cast: Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, John Leguizamo

Veena Malik Breaks Her Engagement

A few days ago, just when Veena Malik was evicted from Bigg Boss 4, my sister saw on some local morning show that people were predicting the future of Veena Malik. As per that, Veena would break her current engagement. 

So, the prediction has apparently come true. Veena Malik announced that she has decided to end her engagement with her fiance Faisal Akbar Khan. Faisal is a business man in New York and a family friend of Veena Malik. 

Media assumes, this break up has something to do with Ashmit Patel and Veena's closeness. Veena said once again that Ashmit is a good friend but nothing more. Veena said it is her own personal decision and the only reason why she called it off was because she tried hard to work on this relationship but the two can't understand each other well. She has to work hard on her career and so she feels she can't marry him without much understanding. This is why she broke the engagement with Faisal.

She said Faisal proposed a long time ago but she was not interested. It was after her Mohammad Asif dumped her, she came under lots of controversy and Asif married somebody else, that Veena's family asked her to marry Faisal. Veena couldn't refuse her family then after going through so much in her love life.

This is what she said:

"I called up Faisal and told him that I can no longer marry him. I told him that I am breaking the engagement as I have to focus on my career. We couldn't develop an understanding and there was no use in dragging this engagement any further."

Well fair enough if this is what is going through her head. Sometimes when you get into a relationship because of others when you are not mentally ready for it, your heart hardly accepts it. For some people such a situation can be suffocating. I kind of know this feeling. Though the guy seems to be decent but Veena believes she has many men out there waiting for her as she said in Bigg Boss 4 also...so perhaps she would eventually find someone else. 

Sarah Michelle Gellar Is Back On TV with Ringer

Fans of Sarah Michelle Gellar will be quite happy as the famous actress has been away from the screens ever since her last TV hit "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". But now the news is that Sarah is going to make her come back on TV with a CBS drama thriller "Ringer".

In Ringer, Sarah is playing a young woman who is on the run from a mob. She will play the role of her wealthy twin sister, only to discover that her sister has a huge price on her head. Sarah will play both the lead character and the twin sister.

I always liked Sarah Michelle Gellar from the beginning. She is cute and can look sexy too. Her role in Buffy is unforgettable. In fact, I liked her both on TV and movies. I recall how a very skinny girl I knew said she hated Sarah and thought her husband - Freddie Prinze Jr. was so much hotter than her. She totally didn't deserve such a good looking husband. It was a statement filled with jealousy I feel. Most girls can't praise the really nice girls because it doesn't make them feel good. Actually, I guess this couple is kind of perfect for each other without any biasness.

Anyway, we hope Ringer goes well for Sarah Michelle Gellar. 

Charlie Sheen Goes Into Rehab

So just after being hospitalized due to severe abdominal pain, Charlie Sheen decided to check into a rehab facility, which has not been disclosed as yet. The production of his hit show on CBS "Two And A Half Men" has been stopped due to his condition.

"Charlie Sheen has voluntarily entered an undisclosed rehabilitation center today," his rep Stan Rosenfield tells ET in a statement. He added that Sheen has asked that his privacy be respected during this time.

Two and Half Men is an American comedy series which is aired on CBS since 2003 in which Charlie is a jingle writer who lives with his brother and his growing son. It is one of most popular series watched by viewers from its very first season. This is why CBS is quite concerned about Charlie Sheen's health and will not start work till he recovers.

Brooke Shields outrageously flirts with Mike Catherwood

Brooke Shields outrageously flirts with Mike Catherwood on Live with Regis & Kelly. Mike happens to be 14 years younger than her. It has been reported that she just couldn’t hide her attraction.

She even told him while repeatedly touching his arms, ‘You’re very pretty!’ Mike of course loved all the attention.

Wife Locked Up For 16 Years In A Cellar

I read this very disturbing news about a Brazilian man in Rio de Janeiro who kept his wife locked up in a basement for not a day or two but for a good 16 years. The man is Joao Batista Groppo who lived in the same house above the cellar with another woman for all this while. Can you imagine that? This is horrible. 

The man locked her in a 130 square feet cellar. When the cop saw Sebastiana Aparecida Groppo (64 years old) in the cellar she had no clothes but was wrapped in a blanket. She was lying nude on a concrete bed in a foul smelling cubicle with no ventilation or electricity. The condition of that cellar as per the details doesn't even seem fit for an animal, leave alone for a human being.

Joao Batista Groppo who locked up his wife in a dirty cellar for sixteen years is arrested for false imprisonment

The husband, Joao who is also 64 years old claims his wife is mentally ill and very aggressive. He and his companion locked Sebastiana twice for a total period of 16 years. The second time they locked her up was in   2003 when their son died in an accident. He said that locking her up was the only way to prevent her from wandering off or getting lost. The couple was married for over 40 years. He did change his statements. First he said he locked her up for 16 years but then changed it to 8 years.

According to the cop who discovered the locked up woman, she does not seem aggressive but showed signs of mental problems probably due to her long duration of captivity. While Groppo and his companion were arrested, they could go to prison for eight years for this act.

This is so sickening. How can people think of such ways of tormenting living beings? I mean how much hatred is there within that makes one do such things. Locking somebody you married in a cellar like some rubbish or old unwanted documents while you enjoy your life living happily in the same house with another woman. The people who think of such stuff are not mentally stable themselves I am sure.

Vanessa Feltz 'bullied work experience girl to tears'

Beverley Nesbit had a pretty bad week working with the radio presenter Vanessa Feltz. In fact she says that her week on Miss Feltz’s radio show had been the worst. On top of it, she paid to be abused by this lady for a week. She used savings from her part-time job & this sounds pretty bad that you pay your hard earned money to get abused by someone at the workplace.

The BBC is also investigating this abuse case by senior employees.

‘Vanessa was really brash, not like the bubbly person you see on television, but in a rude and arrogant way. She barely acknowledged me, and when she did she said everything I had done was rubbish.’

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, cause celebrities usually turn out to be monsters. They are extra sweet on TV or radio, but in real life, they are very bitchy & abusive. However this Vanessa has taken over from Sarah Kennedy on BBC Radio early breakfast show.

Anyhow, the worst incident happened when Vanessa asked her to write a 2000 word essay on Yeats & Nesbit thought it was a joke. However, the next day, madam asked for the essay & Nesbit told her that she didn’t have access to a computer & she thought it was a joke. Vanessa was quite pissed off & told her that she could have gone to a library & then made Nesbit write that essay then & there.

‘In the end I went to the toilet and just cried. I must have been in there for about two hours, texting my mum. I just wanted to go home…I couldn’t believe how rude and horrible she had been. In the end a producer came and asked me if I was okay’ said Nesbit.

People go through far worse than this. There ought to be some check & balance on these senior people. They think they have the right to abuse juniors. And when they come across anyone who can reply back, they are in a state of shock. Everyone will not put up with shit. But then you have to resign after giving your piece of mind.

What a sad pic!

You could clearly see sadness in the eyes of this poor dog. It’s true we cannot help each & every animal in this world, but we can contribute little bit.

Lately we did contact some organization abroad & that guy showed interest but he asked us to contact some Pakistani representative who would know more about the country & could help easily. Building a proper animal shelter is indeed a tough job. But we know vets who are willing to help & these vets know people who are willing to donate. What we need is some space. Anyhow, Pakistanis have no passion whatsoever. Every Pakistani representative gives us the email of another representative. Fine. You cannot move your ass. We get the picture.

It’s saddening that people are working in such organizations & they don’t want to help out animals at all in their own country. Now we have to contact that other guy again.

I also know some other people who try to help out animals, but even they say they are all alone in it. Either people do big talk or they give you emails of other people. How can you bring about a change with this kind of approach? A particular person for the past 3 years has been running from pillar to post & nothing has been done. This must be so depressing for her.

You can only provide home to 30 or 40 animals in your house, but that’s it. We can’t accommodate hundreds of animals. In these so-called posh areas, they kill dogs just like that. And, for the most part, those dogs are not even dangerous. We used to give food to some dogs & puppies & they were all killed by these bastards. I wonder if there is an end to this madness.

Elizabeth Taylor