PAKISTAN -- US RELATIONS

Sometimes I wonder as to what went wrong and why it went wrong between Pakistan United States (US) relations?

            If I look back in the past I see United States of America as one of the close friends of Pakistan.

            Though I was not born then but I was told by my elders and also I read it through the history that whenever there was need US was there to help us. Why?

            May it be the Kashmir war of 1948 or any other war thereafter US was there with Pakistan, helping. And it was not wars only in which the US was there to help us out. It was even all types of natural calamities that US bailed us out.

            I remember that at the time of Independence, India refused to give our share of Revenue/Machinery/Arms & Ammunitions. Of course it was with the preconceived idea of destroying Pakistan economically as well as capturing it militarily. And India never hesitated to show her nefarious designs. In 1948, it attacked the Pakistan Territory and captured great part of Kashmir. Pakistan at that time was not having much of Regular Armed forces and India was fully aware of it. The Limited Army we had at that time was ill equipped with no armed vehicles, Guns and Aircrafts. It was US which came for our resource. It provided us Tanks, Armed Personal Carriers, Trucks, Jeeps, communication equipments, Arms and Ammunitions. If it was not of US and the Mujahedeen of Northwest Frontiers Province we would have lost the entire Kashmir Territory and thus the Originating points of all the Rivers. That would have been catastrophic and India would have succeeded in finishing Pakistan with Thirst and Hunger. Though it is very correct that “Man proposes, ALLAH Disposes” but still ALLAH has HIS own way of working.

            Let me also throw some light on the general economic conditions of Pakistan during that era. There was scarcity of food. Despite having a vast land we did not have much of Agriculture to support the population with the required food. I still remember as a child that ships loads of Wheat, Rice, Sugar, grains, pulses and Flour use to come from the US in aid and on them the monogram of US flag and Pakistan Flag joined together with two shake hands was used to be printed.

            In those days, natural calamity in shape of Floods, especially in East Pakistan, was a regular phenomena and guess who came to our rescue in even those hours of our need. It was the US of course. Their planes, Helicopters carrying relief goods use to come immediately and the food and clothing used to be distributed amongst the sufferers. If it was not of US we were not in a position to recover and it would have been disastrous for the new emerging nation, Pakistan.

            Lets look it from the strategic point of view. After the Second World War, it was the US which stands out as the victorious country. Russia, Britain, France etc were in the list of “Just Survived”. They just enjoyed the jubilance of the victorious and that was US. And if it was not of the US, they all would have been defeated.

Having said that now let us come to Indo Pak subcontinent. At that point of time, the Victorians US, who emerged as the only Super Power, having open choice with her, selected Pakistan as her friend and ally. Despite the fact that in the region India was much bigger in size & economy and a definite larger market for US goods who was badly in need of money as its economy was all shattered due to World War II. This is also a known fact that India tried their utmost to make friends with US but, due to unwillingness of the US, failed. Ultimately India joined hand with the USSR. Have we ever thought as to what was stopping US to make friend with India. Apparently, all US befits, in the short as well as in the long run, would have been with India. But still it made friends with Pakistan. If we look back in the history, we will find that at that time due to US, even UK, France and Germany also became friends of Pakistan. If we see it realistically who was stopping US to make friend with India, None.

            I also remember that US helped us in all walks of life. May it be training of Armed Forces, may it be supply of Arms & Ammunition, and may it be industrial development and training of their staff. May it be education sectors of Pakistan or May it is Science & Technology or may it be Road & communication infrastructure. So much so, I can very safely say that if it was not of the US, we would never have become a nuclear power.

            Having favored us in all the above said fields and making us able to stand on our own two feet, US deserved to be loved by us and have to get the status of most favored nation. However, surprisingly it is not so. I was wondering as to why?

Since the beginning there is lot of propaganda against the US. Initially it was apparently Jamat-e-Islami who was deadly against US and it seems that the originator of all the negative propaganda against the US. Now, as the fact would have been, for quite some time due to some reasons unknown Jamat-e-Islami has been labeled as pro-US political party.

            As of now, we wonder, why Pak-US relations are not that good as they were in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Only one thing comes to my mind. Let us take it this way. In a home if we have two brothers and one brother is always favoring and helping the little brother and in return he only expects some respect from the little brother. On the other hand he only gets undue bashing from the little brother. Now let us analyze as to how much the Big brother will tolerate. It is natural that a time will come when the Big brother will start getting annoyed and start squeezing and twisting the things around. And now if at this juncture the little brother starts hue and cry that Big brother is not looking after him, that will not be justified.

            Keeping the same in view, we as Pakistani needs to review our behavior and conduct towards the US. Still even now whenever we are in trouble we look towards the US for help, why? On what claim? And still the big brother is not disappointing us but of course now, at times, they have some of their preconditions.

            In the end, I have a big question to ask. If today the US changes its policy and decides that Pakistan as a Nation is no more required than what will happen? On our Eastern border India is already prepared to take on Pakistan and waiting for a chance.

Let me show you a picture. India has the capability of amphibious landing and has an Aircraft carrier and a larger Navy. It is much larger than Pakistan Navy. Pakistan Navy doesn’t have the capability of neither amphibious landing nor it has the capability and resources of defending its territory from any such attack. Today if India decides to make a two pronged attack one from the Pakistan’s Eastern borders and simultaneously another from the south on the Makran Coast, where the civilian population is already hostile, will we be able to stop it, probably not. India also has the capability of vertical attack and that is through its para divisions. What if with this two pronged attack, it decides to make it a three pronged attack and make the vertical landing of troops at our important installation and also use it to cut our Logistics at two or three places, for example at Multan, Rahimyarkhan and Kharian and make a linkage operation through its ground forces. And also to drop its para brigades at the airbases of Sargodha, Karachi, Attock and Chaklala.  Are we prepared for this? No certainly not. Neither our troops at all levels are prepared nor are our public in general prepared to defend against such eventuality. Only a well trained, mentally motivated and well equipped or at least moderately equipped population can withstand the vertical attacks. A motivated and equipped civilian population is the one which can only give some potent resistance to the landing force. Sadly, we are not prepared for it. In my view if India, despite having capabilities, is not adopting the above course of action is because of the fear of US.

            Now why I am portraying this picture just to make realize the general Pakistani Public that is this the way we treat our Big brothers. Or is this the way we return the favors. Let us analyze our behavior and attitude towards the US. Look at the way US is still accommodating and look at the way we are paying back. I don’t know from where, we always have a conspiracy theory that US is trying to destroy us. Oh come on, have a heart and be rational. If today US wants to destroy Pakistan or capture Pakistan, who is stopping. It will be matter of hours that Pakistan will be no more and become a US captured territory. Do you like stupid still think that China will come to our rescue? I mean why? Why should China put her self into trouble and pitch herself again US. You think Iran will dare think of doing something. It doesn’t have the capability. Who else than? Afghanistan? No question he would dare. Russia, forget about it. Rest like, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Turkey, UAE etc are not even capable of nor they are potent.

            Keeping all the above in view, what I think is that whatever the case or whatever the reasons that US still like us and support us, it is time now that we should start behaving and make a policy which should at least bring us to that level of friendship and mutual confidence which was there from 50s, to 80s.    

 American Ladies doing Crabbing at Karachi

 American Tourist waiting for a Bus on a Bus stop at Lahore

Astronaut of NASA’s Apollo 17 and his wife wave to fans on their arrival at Lahore Airport (1973)

Famous Hollywood stars Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger arrive at Lahore Airport, 1954

 General Eisonhower and President of Pakistan at Pakistan

 Jacoline Kennidy at Shalamar Garden Lahore

 President of Pakistan with the US first Lady Jacoline Kennidy at Pakistan

 President Nixon at Radio Pakistan Karachi with Z A Bokhari of Pakistan

 President Lyndon Jhonson with President of Pakistan at Pakistan

 General eisenhower and Kennidy with the President of Pakistan at Pakistan

President Kennidy with President of Pakistan at Pakistan

ALLAH IS WITH US.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

20 Painkillers in Your Kitchen

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO TAKING MEDICATION!!!!

20 Painkillers in Your Kitchen

Make muscle pain a memory with ginger

When Danish researchers asked achy people to jazz up their diets with ginger, it eased muscle and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent of them within two months. Experts credit ginger’s potent compounds called gingerols, which prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended dose: Add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to meals daily.

Cure a toothache with cloves

Got a toothache and can’t get to the dentist? Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic. Bonus: Sprinkling a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.

Heal heartburn with cider vinegar

Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every meal, and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.

Erase earaches with garlic

Painful ear infections drive millions of Americans to doctors’ offices every year. To cure one fast, just place two drops of warm garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for five days. This simple treatment can clear up ear infections faster than prescription meds, say experts at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Scientists say garlic’s active ingredients (germanium, selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of different pain-causing bacteria. To whip up your own garlic oil gently simmer three cloves of crushed garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin olive oil for two minutes, strain, then refrigerate for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of the book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. For an optimal experience, warm this mix slightly before using so the liquid will feel soothing in your ear canal.

Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries

Latest studies show that at least one in four women is struggling with arthritis, gout or chronic headaches. If you’re one of them, a daily bowl of cherries could ease your ache, without the stomach upset so often triggered by today’s painkillers, say researchers at East Lansing ’s Michigan State University . Their research reveals that anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant red color, are anti-inflammatories 10 times stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin. “Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so they can prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain,” explains Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State University . His advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily, then continue until your pain disappears.

Fight tummy troubles with fish

Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases...if your belly always seems to be in an uproar, try munching 18 ounces of fish weekly to ease your misery. Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and belly pain and, in some cases, provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription meds. “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatories, that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal tract,” explains biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead , MA . For best results, look for oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.

Prevent PMS with yogurt

Up to 80 percent of women will struggle with premenstrual syndrome and its uncomfortable symptoms, report Yale researchers. The reason: Their nervous systems are sensitive to the ups and downs in estrogen and progesterone that occur naturally every month. But snacking on 2 cups of yogurt a day can slash these symptoms by 48 percent, say researchers at New York ’s Columbia University . “Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the nervous system, preventing painful symptoms even when hormones are in flux,” explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of gynecology at Yale University .

Tame chronic pain with turmeric

Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian spice, is actually three times more effective at easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain for 50 percent of people struggling with arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to Cornell researchers. That’s because turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of pain-producing hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D. and author of the book, Reversing Diabetes. The study-recommended dose: Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto any rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dish.

End endometrial pain with oats

The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal. Endometriosis occurs when little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow outside of the uterus. Experts say these migrating cells can turn menstruation into a misery, causing so much inflammation that they trigger severe cramping during your period, plus a heavy ache that drags on all month long. Fortunately, scientists say opting for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for up to 60 percent of women within six months. That’s because oats don’t contain gluten, a trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women, making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at Colombia University .

Soothe foot pain with salt

Experts say at least six million Americans develop painful ingrown toenails each year. But regularly soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths can cure these painful infections within four days, say scientists at California ’s Stanford University . The salt in the mix naturally nixes inflammation, plus it’s anti-bacterial, so it quickly destroys the germs that cause swelling and pain. Just mix 1 teaspoon of salt into each cup of water, heat to the warmest temperature that you can comfortably stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20 minutes twice daily, until your infection subsides.

Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple

Got gas? One cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at California ’s Stanford University . That's because pineapple is natually packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.

Relax painful muscles with peppermint

Suffering from tight, sore muscles? Stubborn knots can hang around for months if they aren’t properly treated, says naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies. His advice: Three times each week, soak in a warm tub scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm water will relax your muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your nerves -- a combo that can ease muscle cramping 25 percent more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.

Give your back some TLC with grapes

Got an achy back? Grapes could be the ticket to a speedy recovery. Recent studies at Ohio State University suggest eating a heaping cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels, significantly improving blood flow to damaged back tissues (and often within three hours of enjoying the first bowl). That’s great news because your back’s vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs are completely dependent on nearby blood vessels to bring them healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is essential for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.

Wash away pain injuries with water

Whether it’s your feet, your knees or your shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New York ’s Manhattan College , say you could kick-start your recovery in one week just by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues. “Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. “And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain.” One caveat: Be sure to measure your drinking glasses to find out how large they really are before you start sipping, she says. Today’s juice glasses often hold more than 12 ounces, which means five servings could be enough to meet your daily goal.

Heal sinus problems with horseradish

Latest studies show sinusitis is the nation’s number one chronic health problem. And this condition doesn’t just spur congestion and facial pain, it also makes sufferers six times more likely to feel achy all-over. Horseradish to the rescue! According to German researchers, this eye-watering condiment naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do. The study-recommended dose: One teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms clear.

Beat bladder infections with blueberries

Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. That's because blueberries are loaded with tannins, plant compounds that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can’t get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers University .

Heal mouth sores with honey

Dab painful canker and cold sores with unpasteurized honey four times daily until these skin woes disappear, and they’ll heal 43 percent faster than if you use a prescription cream, say researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates . Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading viruses and speed the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.

Fight breast pain with flax

In one recent study, adding 3 tablespoons of ground flax to their daily diet eased breast soreness for one in three women within 12 weeks. Scientists credit flax’s phytoestrogens, natural plant compounds that prevent the estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain. More good news: You don’t have to be a master baker to sneak this healthy seed into your diet. Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce or add it to smoothies and veggie dips.

Cure migraines with coffee

Prone to migraines? Try muscling-up your painkiller with a coffee chaser. Whatever over-the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers at the National Headache Foundation say washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of coffee will boost the effectiveness of your medication by 40 percent or more. Experts say caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more quickly and more effectively.

Tame leg cramps with tomato juice

At least one in five people regularly struggle with leg cramps. The culprit? Potassium deficiencies, which occur when this mineral is flushed out by diuretics, caffeinated beverages or heavy perspiration during exercise. But sip 10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato juice daily and you'll not only speed your recovery, you'll reduce your risk of painful cramp flare-ups in as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

NEXT GENERATION PHOTOGRAPHY

360-degree pictures . . . next generation photography

Note it is not just 360. It is 360 at every latitude...try going up or down.

You can also look straight up and down.

Click on the pictures below and when they come up, click again and drag your mouse in any direction and the picture will give you a 360-degree view. Amazing Photography.

Try not to get dizzy!

PICTURE 1 <http://www.utah3d.net/panoramas/SulpherCreek_swf.html>

PICTURE 2 <http://www.utah3d.net/panoramas/DoubleArch1_swf.html>

PICTURE 3 <http://www.utah3d.net/panoramas/PaysonC_swf.html>

PICTURE 4 <http://www.utah3d.net/panoramas_2/AztecButte_swf.html>

PICTURE 5 <http://www.utah3d.net/panoramas_3/GrandView.html>

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

KEEPER

     I grew up with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen before they had a name for it. A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. 

     Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away.

     I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. 

     It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

     But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. 

     Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return.. So... While we have it..... it's best we love it.... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken......... And heal it when it's sick.

     This is true. For marriage....... And old cars..... And children with bad report cards..... And dogs with bad hips.... And aging parents...... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

     Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. 

     There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special........ And so, we keep them close! 

     I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are "keepers" in your life. Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Keep them close! 

When you die, 10 things ALLAH won't ask you: 

1.... ALLAH won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2....ALLAH won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 

3.... ALLAH won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4.... ALLAH won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it. 

5.... ALLAH won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6.... ALLAH won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. 

7.... ALLAH won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8.... ALLAH won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character. 

9.... ALLAH won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, if You've asked Him into your heart, and not to the gates of Hell. 

10.... ALLAH won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to, He already knows your decision.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

World's Fastest Plants

Bunchberry - World's fastest plant explodes with pollen

 

Cornus canadensis (bunchberry or Canadian dogwood) grow in dense carpets in the tiaga or boreal forests of the northern hemisphere. Flowers bloom in late spring and produce small, edible, red berries during the summer. Credit: J. Edwards.

Like a medieval catapult, the bunchberry dogwood shoots pollen grains into the air faster than the Venus flytrap can snap its jaws shut, giving this launcher the speed record for plants.

"Most people think of plants as stationary and sedentary," said Joan Edwards of Williams College. "We were even surprised how fast this flower opens."

Using high-speed video observations, Edwards and her colleagues timed the tiny explosions of Cornus Canadensis, a species of dogwood that covers the ground of spruce-fir forests from Virginia to Canada. The flower opens its petals and fires its pollen in less than 0.5 milliseconds.

This discharge is quicker than other speedy organisms: the Venus flytrap closes in 100 milliseconds; the froghopper (an insect) leaps in 0.5 to 1.0 milliseconds; the mantis shrimp (a tiny crustacean) kicks in 2.7 milliseconds.

This shows a flower first closed and then open. The bar is 0.04 inches (1mm). Credit: M. Laskowski.

Bunchberry flower opening, recorded on video at 10,000 frames per second. Time elapsed is indicated. First frame shows a closed flower with four petals fused at the tip, restraining the stamens. Scale bar is 1mm. Credit: D. Whitaker, M. Laskowski, A. Acosta, J. Edwards.

Venus Flytrap's Speed Secret Revealed

Closed cilia around the prey

The Venus Flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, is a carnivorous plant that catches and digests animal prey—mostly insects and arachnids. Its trapping structure is formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves and is triggered by tiny hairs on their inner surfaces. When an insect or spider crawling along the leaves contacts a hair, the trap closes if a different hair is contacted within twenty seconds of the first strike. The requirement of redundant triggering in this mechanism serves as a safeguard against a waste of energy in trapping objects with no nutritional value.

The carnivorous Venus flytrap plant can snap its clamshell leaves around an insect in less than a second. But how?

Unlike animals, plants have no muscles or brains. And plants are not known for their ability to move quickly, as a team of scientists and engineers point out in the Jan. 27 issue of the journal Nature.

The secret has been revealed: The flytrap's leaves snap from convex to concave the same way that a contact lens can flip inside out, the scientists say.

The team cut up leaves to study their natural curls, and also painted fluorescent dots on intact leaves to track their insect-devouring action with high-speed cameras.

Like most lenses, Venus flytrap leaves are doubly curved, that is, curved in two directions, which allows the leaves to store elastic energy.

With a contact lens, the two directions are perpendicular to one another. With a Venus flytrap leaf, they are not. That property creates an especially rapid elasticity that causes the leaf to snap even more quickly from convex to concave.

Venus Flytrap leaf

Bamboo - The Fastest Growing Woody Plants in the World

Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family.

In bamboo, as with other grasses, the internodal regions of the plant stem are hollow and the vascular bundles in the cross section are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement. The dicotyledonous woody xylem is also absent. The absence of secondary growth wood causes the stems of monocots, even of palms and large bamboos, to be columnar rather than tapering.

Bamboos are also the fastest growing woody plants in the world. They are capable of growing up to 60 centimetres (24 in.) or more per day due to a unique rhizome-dependent system. However, this astounding growth rate is highly dependent on local soil and climatic conditions.

Bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significance in East Asia and South East Asia where the stems are used extensively in everyday life as building materials and as a highly versatile raw product, and the shoots as a food source.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/, wikipedia.org

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

About Facebook

Facebook Facts

“Are you in the stone age? 

WHAT?  You are not on FACEBOOK!!”

“GET SOME LIFE!!! 

DO YOU REALLY HAVE A LIFE WITHOUT FACEBOOK!!!”

     Ok guys that is what we hear when you see that some person is not using facebook, as facebook is among those things which have a real impact on your life now days. After Google or YouTube this website of social networking has earned popularity a lot!

     We have started living our life with and for facebook only; it has become oxygen for millions of people.

     Introduction: Facebook is a social networking service launched in February 2004, owned and operated by Facebook, Inc. As of September 2012, Facebook has over one billion active users, more than half of them using Facebook on a mobile device. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as friends, and exchange messages, including automatic notifications when they update their profile. Additionally, users may join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics, and categorize their friends into lists such as "People From Work" or "Close Friends".

Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow Harvard University students Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum,Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. The website's membership was initially limited by the founders to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. It gradually added support for students at various other universities before opening to high school students, and eventually to anyone aged 13 and over.

     In May 2005, Accel partners invested $12.7 million in Facebook, and Jim Breyer added $1 million of his own money to the pot.

     According to a May 2011 Consumer Reports survey, there are 7.5 million children under 13 with accounts and 5 million under 10, violating the site's terms of service.

     And you and I are quite aware of that! So here we have these interesting top ten facts about facebook that are really interesting.

10.
     Can you imagine a country that bans facbook? Certainly not guys, as in why would a country ban facebook. Country Syria has banned facebook as it is against the promotion of their religion and war campaign.
9.
     Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg is the world’s youngest billionaire having worth of 12.5 billion dollars almost.
8.
     Psychologists have introduced a disease called FAD (Facebook Addiction Disorder) and I guess everybody is suffering from that.
7.
     Facebook doesn’t accept strange sounding names like Leboe’ or Allien, they can have their facebook accounts deleted without any explanation.

6.
     This one is interesting, let us say facebook doesn’t like Breastfeeding mothers, because if any mother uploads a picture of breastfeeding their babies, the account is deleted for sure!
5.
     It is said that facebook users are 85% college students and around 70% of them log in everyday.
4.
     More than 30 million users update their status at least once a day.
3.
     Among 13 people one has always a facebook account and more than 500 million people use facebook till today. And each user has almost 130 friends at an average.
2.
     Around 333,333,333 photos are uploaded daily on facebook to share them with your family and friends.
1.
    Now this one is really interesting! 

More than 60% men and women have used facebook to stalk their ex! 

Because you cannot be caught that you are following and you will not be suffering any humiliation.

Entertainment Weekly included the site on its end-of-the-decade "best-of" list, saying, "How on earth did we stalk our exes, remember our co-workers' birthdays, bug our friends, and play a rousing game of Scrabulous before Facebook?" Critics, such as Facebook Detox, state that Facebook has turned into a national obsession in the United States, resulting in vast amounts of time lost and encouraging narcissism.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

Desktop Shortcut Keys

These days in the rush of work it is difficult to go to different Menus and click the use. So mostly it is easy to use Shortcut Keys from your keyboard. Here are some of them. I shall keep improving this list often later. Now let us see the top desktop shortcut keys

Windows key + E = Explorer

Windows key + Break = System properties

Windows key + F = Search

Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows

It also happens when you click the show desktop button 

Windows key + R = Run command pop-ups

ALT + Tab = Switch between windows

ALT, Space, X = Maximize window

CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager

CTRL + C = Copy

CTRL + X = Cut

CTRL + V = Paste

CTRL + Z = Undo an action

CTRL + Y = Redo an action

CTRL + A =Select all items in a document or window

CTRL + B = The selected text will become bold repeat will unbold

CTRL + I = The selected text will become Italic repeat will undo Italic

CTRL + U = Will underline the selected text and repeat will undo underline

CTRL + + = Will zoom out the screen

CTRL +  - = Will zoom in the screen

CTRL + T = New Tab will open

CTRL + O = New Window will open

CTRL +  P = Print Window will open

CTRL +  S = Will open Share window and in Word Document it will save the           document

F1 = Display Help

F2 = Rename the selected item

F3 = Search for a file or folder

F4 = Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer

F5 = Refresh the active window

F6 = Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop

F10 = Activate the menu bar in the active program.

More are  

Press  Windows key + E = my computer window will open.

Press  Windows key + R = my Run dialogue box will open.

Press  Windows key + U = Utility Manager will open.

Press  Windows key + L = Log off window will open.

Press Alt key + F4 = all Working windows will close

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

10 Things You Didn't Know About Yourself

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani