Edward Snowden: Whistleblower

An example of a decent human being.

This is a guest post by Tristan Ryan.

Before I begin, I’d like to apologize for my sub-par writing 
skills. Although I’m not the worst out there, I don’t do this often, and what you get might be more of a rant or something very rough (perhaps both!) than anything. On top of that, I have my nephew in the same room as me playing with my dogs. I love him to death, but god, he can be distracting.

Anyways, if you’ve been keeping up with current events recently, you might know about all sorts of things happening in America and across the globe, from that verdict in the Trayvon Martin case that let another child murderer get away to Edward Snowden and his noble work to put information and power into the hands of the people. Today, instead of racial tensions emerging from the Trayvon Martin case, I’ll be focusing on our good ol’ pal, Edward.

I’ll give a quick summary for those who haven’t been keeping up with current events recently or just haven’t learned about this yet. Edward Snowden was an intelligence contractor and system admin for the NSA (National Security Agency) who exposed the USA and UK’s spy programs, called PRISM (US) and Tempora (UK) that were (and still are) violating the privacy of not only their citizens, but citizens of other people from other countries. When he leaked this data, a cocktail of people got pissed for a cocktail of reasons. The people and other governments got pissed for being spied on and having their privacy violated, and the governments that were spying got pissed for having their privacy violated (because they honestly seem to care about privacy).

The Sarabjit Conundrum: India-Pak tensions rise again

This Amateur artwork is presented by yours truly, Mirsub. Microsoft Paint, you have saved me once again.

Note: As admin, I've seen this whole drama unfold on Twitter and in the media and it's simply ludicrous. Strayed from the Punjab? Yeah, O.K.
-Mirsub

Guest blog by Fatima Sajjad. She writes for the Tribune.

I am not a blogger or writer and never have I tried my hand at it but the Pakistan India topics are always an interesting choice to begin with! Moreover the Sarabjit Case and the false potrayal of him as 'just a farmer' has forced me to let it out.

I am not an anti-Indian but the way they have reacted to this situation and similar ones has changed my view of them. Lets start with what their very well know and learned people had to say about Pakistan, Javed Akhtar called Pakistan a 'petty establishment' after the death of Sarabjit and others termed Pakistan as an insensitive nation. I ask them,if Pakistan is a petty establishment why did they release several other prisoners convicted of terrorist activites,examples can include Gopaal Daas and Surjeet Singh who were recently pardoned and sent back home safe and sound! If Pakistan is a petty estabilishment why did our soldiers send the little Indian girl,that too with new clothes,candies etc,back to India with full safety! Also,is not India a petty estabilishment too as after the Sarabjit Incident one Pakistani prisoner was attacked by his inmates in Jammu and just by the way he has been struggling for a living as well why is this not telecasted?

Karachi. Here we go again.

Karachi is up to it's same old antics again. Another week, another bombing; the residents here have become used to this. So used to it that we tend to forget that these are not mere stats and figures but people. With lives. 

Some of us rush to social media sites expressing our 'grief' and school-going kids go contemplate whether tomorrow shall be a holiday or not. Let's not forget the good ole' media sensationalizing this by playing un-authorized dramatic soundtracks from movies showing or showing mother clutching their dead sons to their chest.

But as-always the residents of Karachi shall stay strong. Now I've lived in Karachi for almost half my life, if it's one thing it has. It's hope.

Messiah's, Assassinations and What-not!?

Hey there guys, sorry for not posting again after some time. Blogging been taking a bit of a back-seat for me lately. Started making music again (After almost year, due to school).

Anyways, back to topic. The past few weeks for Pakistan have been volatile to say the least. Another MQM official shot dead in Karachi, and Tahir Ul Qadri; a Pakistani-Canadian Sufi Scholar turned Politician/Messiah is taking the centre stage. 

His call for a "million-man march" in favour of reforms and against corruption has propelled cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri to the status as the champion of Pakistan's middle class. Although the protest in Islamabad will achieve little, it casts a spotlight on the population's growing displeasure and it's dwindling faith in Pakistan's mainstream political parties. His liberal views, his open condemnation of terrorism does have my support; though not sure on his motivation for suddenly returning to Pakistan. If he is what he says he is, then he might just turn things around or be another let-down.

Cause and Effect: Social Marketing and its Impact on Society

Facebook is the world's most commonly used social networking site, boasting over one billion regular users. Twitter is becoming increasingly popular as well. These networking sites are by far different than the primitive MySpace and Friendster that used to be popular among teenagers and young adults in the early 2000s. Today we'll discuss how these new and improved social networking sites can actually have drastic impact on our society.

The Arab Spring

In the spring of 2011, many countries in the Middle East had dramatic revolutions and government changes. The citizens in these countries came together in mass numbers and demanded changes. Facebook and other social networking sites played a role in the organization of these gatherings by spreading the word to as many people as possible. Unfortunately, when the governments discovered what they were doing, they took away access to Facebook or to the Internet altogether.

Burn Your Own City, Pakistan Film Protests

 The crudely made "Innocence of Muslims", produced by US-based extremist Christians has triggered protests in at least 20 countries since excerpts were posted online, and more than 30 people have been killed in violence linked to the film.

 I find it amusing to see how the "followers" of the Prophet (p.b.u.h); the man who preached peace, have set out to honor him by destroying their own country and fighting their own countrymen. Don't they realize, that they're playing right into the hands of the makers of the video in the first place? 

How does smashing the windows of innocent motorists have ANYTHING to do with this?  How does burning down our own cities, wrecking our own private property and injuring our OWN people going to solve this? And we're doing this all for what? A  low-budget film made by a nobody.

Pakistan Coming to It's Senses: Rimsha Bailed!

Rimsha Masih,  the Pakistani Christian girl accused of blasphemy for allegedly defacing the Qu' ran has been released on bail.

Even the most veracious supporters of the blasphemy law have come out in support of the 11-year-old girl allegedly suffering from Down’s Syndrome.

Khalid Jadoon Chishti, the Muslim Cleric who fabricated evidence against Rimsha in order to get the christian community in his area to leave (a claim which he denies) to leave has been arrested and himself accused of blasphemy.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are based on British colonial laws dating from 1860 and were amended in the 1980s to add life imprisonment and the death penalty by then dictator General Ziaul Haq. 

Prominent figures like Salman Taseer (the former governor of Punjab) and Shahbaz Bhatti (the Federal Minister for Minorities) have been assassinated for their opposition to the blasphemy laws.

Good thing to see Pakistan coming back to it's senses, I can finally sleep at night knowing that there's still a glimmer of hope of this Country.

U.S. Army Introduces A Miniature Reconnaissance Helicopter

Tiny spy in the Sky Indeed.

Note. this is a guest post by Croatian blogger Ivan Vovk. Author Bio at end of post. 

*first, a little commentary by Mirsub*

"Daayuum. That's some high-tech shit!?".

The U.S. Army introduced a miniature reconnaissance helicopter that will help them fight against the Taliban. Seeing SQ-4 Recon in the picture, we thought that it was a new helicopter toy which will be held for a small and somewhat larger children but it is the without a pilot aircraft that costs $ 35,000 and was produced for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

This little helicopter weight and size of bag of candy, save the

lives of American soldiers in combat against the Taliban, scouting dangerous areas with a height of 400 meters, with autonomy of 30 minutes and reach up to 2.4 km. 

Mitt Romney is Retarded

Microsoft Paint maybe basic but it sure does the trick.

I've seen many stupid presidential candidates in my time (Herman Cain can be a good example) but so far, Mitt Romney take take's the cake for being the most retarded one. 
 
Now, I'm not an expert in US Politics but Mitt Romneys's economic plan isn't exactly reassuring; benefiting the rich rather than the poor.

Though, today I'll be talking more about his foreign policy. During his trip to Israel he makes the following statement:

*Clears throat*

"As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality. And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things.”

Or in other words. Jewish culture is superior than Palestinian culture that's why the occupied territories have a lesser GPD than Israel and NOT because of Israel’s restrictions on trade and strict border blockade (which is responsible for crippling the Palestinian economy). 

Veena Malik's Ramadan Transmission dropped

Glad to know they've finally came to their senses. Though, AFTER getting their much needed publicity.

Hero TV (before this I've never heard of this channel before) decides to drop their transmission of Veena Malik's Ramadan show called "Astaghfaar". 

The promos show us a teary-eyed, over dramatic Veena wearing a modest duppata over her head. In stark contrast from her usual attire.

The people expressed their annoyance through blogs (like this one), twitter, Facebook etc. Sure, turn the Holy Month of Ramadan into a race of ratings. 

Shame on you. 

In Other News: Veena Malik to host an Ramadan TV Show

She couldn't get any more controversial, could she? After the recent nude cover shot for FHM India (or top-less as she would call it). She decides to get all Religious and decides to host a Ramzan show on Hero TV called "Astaghfaar"

Now I know what your thinking " *face palm* Paagal Aurat (Crazy woman)".  But then again, this is VEENA MALIK we are talking about here, she's no stranger to firing mufti's up. 

Supposed ‘Blasphemer’ Burnt Alive by Angry Mob

When I first heard about this, I was a little taken away. I couldn't believe what I was reading. 

A MENTALLY unstable man was burnt alive by a mob on 4th July in Bhawalpur, Pakistan after being 'accused' of blasphemy.  They poured petrol on him and set him on fire. 

This isn't the Islam/Pakistan I know. If this trend goes on for a few more decades, the few people who still have their sanity would have packed their bags and left years ago as the country heads into deeper turmoil. 

I mean the man was CLEARLY INSANE and everyone was well-aware of his condition and what'd they do?
Burn him alive and beat him mercilessly, of course. 

Twitter Banned in Pakistan....again

Not Again.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan blocked the social networking website Twitter on Sunday because it refused to remove material considered offensive to Islam, said one of the country’s top telecommunications officials.

Using their logic, they might as-well ban Google for containing anti-muslim content. This is ridiculous, it's not like banning twitter will stop people from posting anti-muslim content. These politicians and mullah's don't even know what's Twitter all about or how these sites even work, just ban them all. Instead of seeing the good in sites like these, without even giving it a second thought they think it's a good idea to ban them. A lot of over-hyped nonsense.

First YouTube, then Facebook, then Facebook again and now twitter. And it's always for the same goddamn reason (Blasphemous content). Just wait a week or 2 and the ban will be over-turned. The point? nothing. 

I can't even get twitter to work on a smart-phone app and nor is Hotshield working properly.The government's just a bunch of pompous pricks if you ask me.

UPDATE (21/5/12 ):
Twitter's back online barely a day after the so-called 'ban'. Glad to know there's at-least some hope left in this world.

Norway killer says he was a subject to Racism

Note. this post is taken from my previous blog (which has now been deleted) just thought this needed sharing.

And that no-one would call him insane if he were a 'bearded jihadist'.

Now, I'm not a fan with agreeing with what Mass-Murderer's say but he has a point. 

Killer Anders Behring Breivik told a court Monday that questions about his mental health are part of a racist plot to discredit his extreme anti-Muslim ideology.Mr. Breivik, who has admitted to killing 77 people in a bombing and youth camp massacre, said that no one would have asked for a psychiatric examination had he been a “bearded jihadist.”

Sure, so if a white, nationalist Skin-head kills 77 people for a racially motivated reason, HE'S INSANE, CONFUSED CRAZY! I wonder if a Brown, bearded mullah would get the same treatment.

He goes on to say: 

“But because I am a militant nationalist, I am being subjected to grave racism,” he said. “They are trying to delegitimize everything I stand for.”

Mr. Breivik rejects criminal guilt for the rampage on July 22, 2012 saying the victims had betrayed their country by embracing immigration.

Even the defence admits there is virtually no chance of an acquittal, so only thing left to determine is if he's  'crazy' or not.

Earth Hour In Pakistan

Note.  This was a post I made in my previous blog before I switched platforms, just thought I'd re-post it.

Why bother turning off the lights?  In countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and India; daily there is 4-12 hours of load-shedding varying on the situation each-day. 

What is Load-Shedding you say?  The act or process of disconnecting the electric current on certain lines when the demand becomes greater than the supply.  Or in other words, a cruel, sadistic way for the government to piss off it's citizens.

For those of you who don't know what KESC is, it's the company that supplies Karachi with electricity.