Ibn Sina

Welcome Aboard!

Ibn Sina, the Arabic speaking humanoid robot, recently thrilled other passengers as Emirates Airlines flight EK817 was transporting one of the world’s most advanced robots from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Emirates News Agency reported.

A first for the airline, Ibn Sina, named after an 11th century philosopher, travelled as a first class passenger on the flight.

Able to verbally interact with people, Ibn Sina stunned fellow passengers as he was checked in at Emirates’ dedicated first class check-in counter and relaxed in the airline’s first class lounge prior to boarding his flight.

The robot can recognize faces, understand and converse with people speaking in Arabic – complete with gestures, connect to the internet and retrieve information.

It is one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots.

It was accompanied by Dr Nikolaos Mavridis, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the United Arab Emirates University College of Information Technology in Al Ain where the machine was developed, along with two of his assistants.

It had to be cleared for travel by the Dubai Police Authorities, the Dubai International Airport, and the Emirates’ safety team. Ibn Sina was travelling to Riyadh to become the key exhibit at a conference and exhibition on higher education.

‘The planning and integration of numerous Emirates departments is testament to our commitment to give every passenger, human or not, the best level of care and service possible,’ Mohammed Mattar, divisional senior vice president of airport operations, was quoted in local media as saying. ’Ibn Sina embodies the forward thinking and innovative ethos of Emirates and we were honoured to have him fly with us.

‘This was certainly an interesting challenge for the team however through careful planning Ibn Sina was successfully transported to his destination and we look forward to many more trips of the same nature.’

Ibn Sina2

Courtesy-Daily Mail

Shahrukh Khan

In democratic and secular India a muslim does not even have the freedom to express his opinion in mere words! Even a man like Shahrukh Khan who has a muslim name only and  has married a hindu lady and his way of life does not have a slight resemblance to a muslim. He has brought so much fame, wealth and goodwill to his country, India. He has been a true ambassador and a role model for Indians but ….when and if he says something which no matter how just but has a slight a inclination towards Pakistan….his sincerety is questioned!!!

I was shocked to read what Bal Thakarey has to say about Shahrukh after Shahrukh’s comments about not including Pakistani players in IPL. It shows how much hatred and negativity this extremist hindu party has. I remember they expelled Jaswant Singh on writing about Mohammad Ali Jinnah. But read below and have a laugh…. (in todays sensible and educated times…)

Shahrukh Deserves Nishaan-e-Pakistan: Bal Thacheray

“Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday said Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan deserves Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishaan-E-Pakistan, for supporting the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL.

In a scathing editorial in Saturday’s party mouthpiece Saamna, Thackeray said that the “Khan” inside Shah Rukh Khan must be crushed by the “Har Har Mahadev” war cry of the “Shivaji” inside the Hindus.

This was an oblique reference to Chhatrapati Shivaji’s killing of Bijapur general Afzal Khan, sent by Sultan Adil Shah II of Bijapur in 1659, at Pratapgad in Satara district of western Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena hit out at Shah Rukh Khan, also the Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner, after he said he would have picked a Pakistani player for the Indian Premier League matches if his team had a slot.

IPL franchise owners did not bid for Pakistani players during the auction for the IPL III, which has snowballed into a major spat between the two countries.

The editorial said that if “Shah Rukh wants to give a red carpet treatment to Pakistani cricketers on the blood of innocent Indians slain by Pakistani terrorists from Kashmir to Mumbai”, then, Thackeray warned, the Shiv Sena will never permit it.

It pointed out that by supporting the cause of Pakistani players, Shah Rukh has insulted the memory of the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks – for which Pakistan may confer the Nishaan-E-Pakistan – but Indians will spit on him.

The editorial further noted that nobody from the Congress has raised a voice against Shah Rukh since he is considered close to Sonia Gandhi.

Thackeray wrote in his article that “since SRK has so much love for the Pakistanis the Bollywood actor could appoint 26/11 terror accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab as the captain of his Kolkata Knight Riders team and Mohammed Afzal Guru (facing death penalty for the 2001 attack on parliament) as the vice captain in the forthcoming IPL match”

Shiv Sena calls Shahrukh khan, Aamir Khan 2 Idiots, asks them to play in Pakistan.

ipad

A mobile phone for a giant or a mini laptop! Ipad is not out yet but the comments are pouring from all sides.

The device is half an inch thick, with 9.6 inch in display and weighs 1.5 lbs. I would just love to have 10 hours of battery life to  continuously watch on my device.

Mr Jobs said:It’s so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone. But who would want to replace it with his phone or laptop or maybe both!

We can see everyone buying one only if Apple succeeds in making it a status symbol.

Seattle Times writes “The iPad is a remarkable device that plays video beautifully, has incredible responsiveness, and is one of the loveliest pieces of personal electronics I’ve ever seen…..Whether you should buy an iPad is an entirely separate question from how it acts. It could be spectacularly useless and a commercial flop, but that doesn’t change how fantastic it is.”

Critics viewpoint is also interesting ….

he display – the iPad’s backlit LCD screen is too bright for extended e-book reading.

Battery life - At 10 hours, it’s ahead of any netbook, but still a good 20 or 30 hours behind any e-book on the market.

Security - If your iPad gets stolen, there’s apparently no way to remotely lock it.

Apps lock-out – The iPad only runs apps from Apple’s App Store. Which is a lot of apps, admittedly, but not everyone’s happy about Apple’s inconsistency when it come to what apps it allows for sale.

Camera - There isn’t one.

USB input - There isn’t any. At least, not without an adapter.

No Flash - Without Flash, forget about displaying around the majority of internet content the way you could on a netbook or laptop.

Multitasking - Is impossible on the iPad, which means you can only use one application at a time, reducing its functionality as a work computer to little more than a large iPhone.

No HDMI - So you won’t be sitting back to watch any movies you download from iTunes on your TV. Read more.

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” – Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

Steve Jobs

Ibne-insha

And who can sing it better than late Ustaad Amanat Ali Khan! This is a master piece by him and no one can sing it like him….

Award

Young achievers of Pakistan are making their protest heard by refusing awards. If justice cannot be achieved in a proper way and if media is not playing its role in raising issues then people do make efforts like these. Samad Khurram was the first drop of  rain and Asma Waheed is the latest. I am impressed by the awareness and understanding of todays youth regarding the situation prevalent in the country. They are not only aware of the happenings but are bold enough to make their voices heard. I find them better then people like me who sit at home and cry their heart out for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

“OPF declines to recieve award from minister

The News-Afshan S. Khan

Islamabad

In a surprising incident, a student of ‘O’ levels, Asma Waheed, declined to receive her excellence award and certificate from Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr. Farooq Sattar on account of what she termed helplessness of the government in the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui currently detained in the US.

The incident took place at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected students council members and award distribution ceremony of the OPF Girls College, F-8/2, here on Thursday.

“I want the government to bring back Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who is the daughter of Pakistan. Her safe return to Pakistan is 100 times more important than receiving an excellence award from the federal minister. I would be a dummy if I don’t vent out my feelings towards her and her sovereignty,” she said on the stage before receiving a round of applause from the audience, comprising students, parents, faculty members and guests.

This is the third incident of this kind where students have refused to receive merit certificates from government officials on account of their political differences.

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr. Farooq Sattar said that he was happy to see the courage of the girl, who has shown her strong emotions and feelings towards Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and termed it their democratic right.

“I am equally worried over this issue and I consider this a democratic right of people to express themselves in whatever way they feel like,” he said. He offered to take the students’ council delegation to the president, prime minister and the US ambassador for talks on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s safe return to Pakistan.

Dr. Farooq Sattar said: “We are going through a bad phase but we have to work really hard to mobilise the country, which can be done by the unity of working class and middle class. We need to shun feudalism, capitalism and tribalism, which have destroyed the fabric of our society. We need to develop our socio-economic stature on war footings and that can be done only by collective leadership, collective wisdom and collective decision through which we can have collective responsibilities.”

He said: “The dreams can only come true if vision and action are brought together. We need to recognise our national heroes on every front so that there is more inspiration for the younger generation. Our IQ level is far better than citizens of most countries. We just need to utilise it at the right time.”

http://teeth.com.pk/blog/2008/06/18/student-refuses-award-from-us-ambassador

rain

The other day I was telling my eight year old after she finished reciting Quran that this is one of the moments when our duas and prayers are heard. I asked her to make a secret wish directly to Allah. Later she said she would like to share her secret wish with me. I was assuming that she may have asked for material things like toys or Cds. I was pleasently surprised to know that she wished to have “rain” ! She wanted to play in rain. We as adults make calculations about simple things in life and forget the amount of happiness it may give us if we enjoy these blessings of Allah Almighty. Rain brings joy to all but its a neccessity too.

We are running short of underground water in Islamabad and the dams are going dry. The atmosphere is full of dust and half the country if engulfed in smog due to pollution. It has not rained at all this winter. I remember the last rain was in october last year! I think all of us should pray for rain.

Prayer for rain:

According to the sunnah of our Holy Prophet (may Allah shower his peace and blessings on him) muslims should perform Salat ul istasqa (Arabic: صلاة الإستسقاء‎), a prayer consisting of two rakaah performed during the times of drought to ask Allah for rain.

Two rak’at of namaz is performed during any time except those times in which it is not desirable to pray. In the first rak’ah, the imam recites Sura Al-A’la after Sura Al-Fatihah. And in the second rak’ah, he reads Sura Al-Ghashiyah after Al-Fatihah, and he delivers a khutbah before or after the salah. As soon as he finishes the khutbah, the people present turn their outer garments around, each placing its left side on his right side and its right side on his left, face the qiblah, supplicating Allah and raising their hands while doing so.

Ash-Shaf’i states that it has been related from Salim ibn ‘Abdullah, on the authority of his father that the Prophet would say for ishsqa’: “O Allah, give us a saving rain, productive, plentiful, general, continuous. O Allah, give us rain and do not make us among the despondent. O Allah, (Your) slaves, land, animals, and (Your) creation all are suffering and seek protection. And we do not complain except to You. O Allah, let our crops grow, and let the udders be refilled. Give us from the blessings of the sky and grow for us from the blessings of the earth. O Allah, remove from us the hardship, starvation,and barrenness and remove the affliction from us as no one removes afflictions save Thee. O Allah, we seek Your forgiveness as You are the Forgiving, and send upon us plenteous rains.” Ash-Shaf’i said: “I prefer that the imam would supplicate with that (prayer). ”

Sa’d reported that for ishsqa’, the Prophet would supplicate: “O Allah, let us be covered with thick clouds that have abundant and beneficial rain, frequently making a light rain upon us and sprinkling upon us with lightning. O Allah, You are full of majesty, bounty and Honour.” This is related by Abu ‘Awanah in his Sahih.

‘Amr ibn Shuaib relates from his father, on the authority of his grandfather, that for istisqa’, the Prophet would say: “O Allah, provide water for Your slaves and Your cattle, display Your mercy and give life to Your dead lands.” This is related by Abu Dawud.

It is preferred for the one who is making this supplication to raise his hands with the back of his hands toward the sky. Muslim records from Anas that the Prophet would point with the back of his hands during ishsqa ‘.

3 siyanay

         A new quiz show on Aaj tv impressed me a lot. I agree that I love quiz shows since I was child starting “Blockbusters”, “Kausoti”, “Zauq-e-aaghi” and even “Neelam ghar” but this new show called “3 Siyanay” seemed very refreshing and original.

Adeel Hashmi is the host whose fluent urdu seemed music to my ears! He used english in between like we all do but his “urdu” was correct! Most of the tv hosts these days speak a langauge which no urdu speaking should be proud of. Good job Adeel! He looks good and speaks well.

There are three “siyanay” in the show, who are Rubina Ashraf, Mustansir Hussain Tarar and Mohsin Saeed. They all complemented well as a team. Their first contestent impressed with his knowledge.

Click here if you want to participate or tune in at 8:00 pm on friday if you want to catch an episode. have fun.

Burj Dubai

Another concrete wonder has emerged on the earth’s surface which will be inaugurated today on 4th of jan. 2010. This 160 storey structure which is around 800 metres tall will officially  be opened by the Ruler of Dubai with fireworks display and light show in a celebration that also marks four years since his ascension to power.

When I visited Dubai as a child decades ago, it was a sleepy fishing village with a very few 4-5 storey buildings. Looking at Dubai now and the pace with which it has developed it seems more like a miracle!

Burj Dubai is another feather in the cap of Sheikh Muhammad who has made this dreamland a reality. It is visible across dozens of miles of rolling sand dunes outside Dubai. From the air, the spire appears as an almost solitary, slender needle reaching high into the sky. The developer’s chairman said it cost about $1.5 billion to build the tapering metal-and-glass spire billed as a “vertical city” of luxury apartments and offices. It boasts four swimming pools, a private library and a hotel designed by Giorgio Armani.

The tower is engineered with a six-sided central core to minimize the forces of wind — a critical factor on such a tall building. Still, engineers say the Burj will sway more than four feet at the top.

Members of the public will be able to watch the inauguration of Burj Dubai on January 4, 2010 from the adjacent Burj Park Island, developer Emaar said in media release on Thursday. Click to see.

Only prayers are not enough, concerned authorities should either play their role or admit their failure. This song “Awain na kar zulm” by Abrar ul Haq raises this very sensitive issue and it is shot in a touching way too.

Imran Khan

All the local news channels are showing that Imran Khan, our former cricketing superstar, Chairman of Tehrik-e-Insaf fell ill suddenly. He is taken to Shaukat Khanum Hospital and an operation is being down right now.

Please pray for his health and quick recovery. May Allah bless him with a healthy life. I wish he does some good for the people of Pakistan. Although his hospital is already a major contribution in the health sector and a is a trend setter too.

Later according to the geo tv….

LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief underwent a successful surgery to rectify an intestinal problem which he had developed this morning.

Spokesman of Tehreek-e-Insaaf said the former all-rounder had complained of severe stomach pain after his regular exercise routine at his residence in Lahore this morning.

“He suffered cramps in his small intestine during the exercises and was taken to the Shaukat Khanum hospital for diagnosis where doctors decided to do the surgery,” he said.

After the operation Imran Khan has been shifted to a private room and doctors have advised him rest for three to four days.

Imran Khan was supposed to address a public meeting on Monday.

“Doctor Aamer did the surgery and he is satisfied that Imran is out of danger and his condition is stable now. It was a minor problem,” the spokesman said.

Former captains, Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul Haq and leading political figures called up the hospital to inquire about Imran’s health as the former captain is held in high esteem in cricket and political circles for his outspoken views.