JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | ECONOMY | DECEMBER 7, 2009 US Retail Analysts Shell-gaming Black Friday Results More Profits Not Sales is the Pulse of the Economy It is quickly becoming evident that US retail analysts have much ado about nothing when it comes to deciphering the recent results of "Black Friday's" sales reports! In fact, one quickly gets the sense that they're shell-gaming the public media while...Read More
DR. BABUR ZAHIRUDDIN | SOCIETY | DECEMBER 7, 2009 Save the Crocodiles of Manghopir Endangered Animals of South Asia In my life time I must have visited Karachi more then 30/40 times for the purpose of leisure, pleasure, work or to attend family functions. Hailing from an orthodox religious family I have always been inspired and attracted to visit Holy places and shrines for personal Nirvana...Read More
ASMA SHAMSHAD | SOCIETY | DECEMBER 6, 2009 The Facts and Myths About Hypnosis "Your wish is my command master.." For years now, movie makers across the globe have been successful in fooling their innocent audience, making them believe one could forcefully hypnotize another and once hypnotized use their subjects to rob banks and commit murders. They have made them believe...Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | GOVERNMENT | OCTOBER 27, 2009 Pakistan has Given Reverse Aid to the US Worth $5.1 billion Since 2006 "Military Expense" Incurred by the US or "Military Aid" Much hue and cry has been made out of the Aid US has given to Pakistan over the years. However, all this Aid amounts to pittance when we realize that US has given Pakistan over a period of 60 years only $8.9 billion dollars in economic assistance. This amount is less than even the remittances...Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | ECONOMY |OCTOBER 13, 2009 President Obama's Time Bomb and the US Economic Recession Tough Times for Generation Y As the U.S. President enjoys the lime light of his Nobel Peace Prize a silent tsunami of extreme proportions is slowly headed his country's way. It is "the jobs void of Generation Y" within a high pressure zone of "white collar crime without consequence"..Read More
DR. BABUR ZAHIRUDDIN | ECONOMY | SEPTEMBER 13, 2009 Jewel in the Crown: Reqo Diq Copper and Gold Deposits in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan Sold for a Song On June 14, 2008 there was a well attended demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club.This incident was well reported in the National news papers, but it did not make any headlines nor any ripples were caused in the national way of life of an ordinary Pakistani citizen. This event passed un-noticed...Read More
SHABANA KHILJI | LITERARIA | SEPTEMBER 13, 2009 Yanky Panky Celebrating 4th of July The Indies saw ships come sailing by, sailing by
And life was never the same for them
There Pilgrim Fathers sowed many seeds
Growing sturdy cops and fighting men...Read More
DR. BABUR ZAHIRUDDIN | POLITICS | SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 Why Are the Americans Here in Pakistan's Sphere of Influence Yet Again? American Ego or Hegemony? It was a very cold morning on the 15th of February 1989 that the last Soviet soldier was crossing the bridge at HAIRATAN to TERMEZ on the Soviet side. During the previous weeks thousands of RUSSIAN troops had driven up the SALANG Highway in tanks, trucks and APCs,...Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | ECONOMY | SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 De-coupling from the US Guilt-free in the Current Economic Scenario Clouds of Economic Gloom Hovering Over the US First off, I kindly request that you read my lips; “there will be no economic recovery in the United States for the next 15 years”! Any doubts about this, I suggest you visit The Lost Decade Journal and read the piece “Being like Japan Would Put Things Mildly”...Read More
MUHAMMAD REHAN ZAFAR | ECONOMY | SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 Decades After Independence, Pakistan's Railways Like India's In Dire Need of Reform Bullet Trains for Pakistan? An effective and robust transport system is a necessity for economic development. The British empire of nineteenth century knew that and to fulfill its enormous logistic requirements it built a strategically designed railways network across the subcontinent. Railroads have proved to be the most ... Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | RELIGION | AUGUST 20, 2009 Management Theories from Islam Managing and Leading in Islam The management theories of Islam as espoused and practiced by the pioneers of Islam, might be centuries old but they still hold to this day as some of the best ways of managing and leading.The concept of theory Y managers is demonstrated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) personal...Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | POLITICS | AUGUST 19, 2009 Democrats May Crash and Burn Early Democrats and Their Myopic Economic Policies President Barack Obama, Vice President Biden, their administration and their Party all possess some outstanding qualities, as well as some impressive personnel. The president himself has said that the United States was hit by an economic tsunami that has had far-reaching consequences...Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | ECONOMY | AUGUST 12, 2009 Pakistan's Energy Crunch Hits Harder Harnessing the Enormous Power of Nature to Propel Pakistan into the Future Pakistan is facing an acute energy shortage mainly caused by lack of proper planning and vision for the future. Pakistan can become a strong and vibrant economy only if we have a vision for Pakistan as a “fossil fuel-less” country. If we just ponder for a second... Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | GOVERNMENT | AUGUST 11, 2009 It's "High Noon" in America The Corporation vs. The People I have found that to compress and format the socio-financial picture in the United States today has been a fleeting task, as if herding eels on dry land. Holding down two jobs simultaneously in a 60 hour week while maintaining five blog pages for free, a Twitter account...Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | GOVERNMENT | AUGUST 10, 2009 The Fox and the Weasel The Essence of Democracy The US was founded by some very brave people who believed in the rights of freedom and “happiness” for all. They did not sign the Declaration to be ruled by the wealthy, corporations, or religious idealists. In fact if one takes the time to sit down and actually read this document...Read More
MUHAMMAD REHAN ZAFAR | POLITICS | AUGUST 9, 2009 For What Gains? Commentary on Baitullah Mehsud's Demise How to Win the Insurgent War? Another successful strike by US drones leaves another top Taliban commander dead. Systematic elimination of insurgent political leadership is a proven tactic in low intensity combat and this tactic has been used very successfully in previous examples... Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | POLITICS | AUGUST 8, 2009 Billion Dollar US Embassy in Islamabad and the Threat to Pakistan's Sovereignty It is Time for the US to Go Home and Leave Pakistan Alone It has been reported that the United States has been involved in creating and supporting secessionist movement in Balochistan along with promoting unrest in northern Pakistan by supporting some Taliban elements in Swat. Many news sources have mentioned that the insurgency... Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | GOVERNMENT | AUGUST 7, 2009 America's Hope is Right Under It's Nose Vanishing Prosperity in America While scanning a row of empty retail space downtown, I heard a distant thunder. It was a thundering pair of feet some 60 million strong. A herd of up and coming consumers who’s presence is still not well known, yet who’s shear size is foreboding....Read More
LT COL(R) MUHAMMAD SARWAR | RELIGION | AUGUST 7, 2009 Business Ethics in Islam Islamic Perspective on How to Gain and Spend Capital Business and businessmen have always been held in high esteem in Islam. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself led a few business ventures and even travelled to Syria in this connection. He successfully and profitably completed the assignment given to him by the Prophet’s wife...Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | POLITICS | AUGUST 6, 2009 Sarkozy's Nazisque May See its Reckoning Religious Intolerance is Growing in Europe In a swell of shear stupidity, French President Sarkozy is clearly turning out to be the EU’s loosest cannon on deck. And his latest attacks on his domestic Muslim community may very well bring his nation’s economy to its knees...Read More
MUHAMMAD REHAN ZAFAR | ECONOMY | AUGUST 4, 2009 The Debt Trap: IMF, World Bank and Pakistan Trade Not Aid is the Way to the Future for Pakistan 14th August, a day we celebrate as our independence day is fast approaching amidst ever worsening financial condition and ever growing debt burden. The tradition of taking debt for stimulating growth in our economy was started in early years of Pakistan but these debts... Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | POLITICS | AUGUST 3, 2009 Dust in the Air: The Iran Question Iran Deserves to Be Left Alone in Time of Trouble I have something to say to those of you who have asked me why I have not been making any public comments on the current conditions in Tehran. Iran's present day population is 98% Islamic. Though I have Muslim friends and I recognize their beliefs which are "peaceful" and... Read More
JEAN-PAUL CASSONE' | FREE MARKETS | AUGUST 3, 2009 US Recession Brings Unforeseen Changes Big Business Hit Hard by Recession In accessing data from the America’s Research Group’s May 7th press release it reflects that their new survey unearthed no discretionary spending going on in America; a recent fact coming straight from it’s CEO and founder, Britt Beemer. Mr. Beemer stated “people are not even... Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | FOOTLOOSE | AUGUST 3, 2009 My Journey to Iowa - Part I The I-35 Expedition My friend from high school had invited me to visit Iowa. He had visited me in Oklahoma while I was studying in the University of Central Oklahoma. My friend had recently transferred to Iowa State University for a bachelor degree in Computer Engineering from Pakistan. My university on interstate I-35 was... Read More
MUHAMMAD REHAN ZAFAR | ECONOMY | JULY 27, 2009 The IMF Quagmire The IMF Debt Trap The Pakistan has been dependant on foreign aid and loans since decades now and the increasing debt burden never seems to end. This dependence began during Ayub era when Pakistan started its first five years plan with US assistance. Since then taking loans by successive government... Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | JUNE 11, 2009 Sherwood Forest Has Never Been Greener: Rise of the Open Source Movement Netbooks and the New Open Source Movement Converts The Open Source Movement (OSM) has come a long way since the inception of the concept by computer geeks and programmers as an alternative to proprietary software where intellectual property rights are not impugned with the use and free distribution of the software.... Read More
