Happy 200th Mr. Darwin: Darwin's World
Charles Robert Darwin turns 200 today. He stands as one of those pivotal figures in the course of human consciousness who changed the course of the world. This article, first published in Dawn, is an overview of the life and times of one of the greatest scientific observers in history. We at PakTeaHouse celebrate all human endeavor especially that which seeks to propel humanity forward and for me personally evolution means enlightenment and liberation from dogma, orthodoxy and witchdoctorism that often masquerades as something holy in the good name of faith. I, for one, concur with the more rational and reasonable of the believers who maintain that religion – especially Islam- is completely at peace with the idea of evolution. – Yasser Latif Hamdani … Read entire article »
Filed under: Science
PTH gets flak for Gandhi-bashing
Our occasional contributor and a friend of Pak Tea House (PTH), freethinker has written a piece entitled Gandhi-bashing on Pak Teahouse and has complained about the conservatism of yours truly. I respect freethinker‘s views but two things must be made clear: first of all PTH does not indulge in Gandhi bashing by design. In fact, it gives space to all sorts of opinions as some of the robust discussions here would testify to this un-trumpeted policy. Secondly, in an attempt to engage with the mainstream, PTH also tries to tread carefully. The purpose is not to offend fellow Pakistanis who represent the diversity of views, beliefs and layers of social conditioning found in the country as a whole. If freethinker holds that PTH is conservative, there are many others who … Read entire article »
Science & religion
We are publishing a guest post by Abbas Zaidi, an acclaimed writer. We hope that this thoughtful piece leads to a reasoned debate on this blog-zine. (RR, ed.) The cocoon of science around our lives is so comprehensive that it has become more than a sine qua non for the world to go on today. Not only that. In the non-material, non-day-to-day affairs too science is the inevitable, formidable player. Science is a magic wand that gives credibility and validity to a concept or a methodology. It is rational and logical, and its findings and results are predictable. In the groves of Academe, anything “unscientific” stands to lose; from government funds to simple acceptability. That is why, those subjects that not long ago were purely “humanities” now proudly claim to … Read entire article »
SAJA Panel Discussion on the South Asian Blogosphere
SAJA BRIEFING: The South Asian Blogosphere and How Its Changing the Media 8:35pm Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/saja/2008/09/26/desiblogs The South Asian Journalists Association presents an online panel discussion among some of the best-known names in the South Asian blogosphere. They will discuss the state of the blogosphere (South Asian and otherwise) and how it is affecting how news and information about South Asia and the diaspora is gathered and shared. Sabahat Ashraf of iFaqeer; Anil Dash of AnilDash.com; Karthik of Uberdesi.com; Maria Giovanna of Filmiholic.com; Arun Venugopal of SAJAforum.org Technorati tags applicable to this post: iFaqeer – Blogging – South Asian Blogosphere – Indian Blogosphere – Pakistani Blogosphere … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging, journalism, Media, Pakistan, Society, Writers
A new book elucidates the life and work of Dr. Abdus Salam
by Khaled Ahmed Book title: Science for Peace & Progress: Life and Work of Abdus Salam Compiled, Edited and Introduced by Anwar Dil Intercultural Forum Takshila Research University, San Diego/Islamabad, 2008 On reading the paper, he ran home but was accosted by cheering crowds on the way. His picture that appeared in the papers later showed him wearing turban. He later said he was hiding a nearly bald head because of the wrong haircut given him by his … Read entire article »
The myriad voices of Pakistan
Raza Rumi at Global Voices Pakistan’s growing blogosphere presents a kaleidoscope of the complex, contradictory developments within the country. The country is in the grip of a major movement for upholding the rule of law. Some say it is the finest moment in our history while others term it as yet another agent of instability. Thousands of lawyers and political activists have commenced a long march to Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, to pressurize the parliament and the government to restore the judges dismissed by now ubiquitous and beleaguered President Musharraf. We take our great neighbour China’s history and Chairman Mao, quite seriously. Pak Spectator welcomes the long march with these words: Gallant lawyers from all over the Pakistan have started their Long March towards the Islamabad where a dictator lives who tried to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging, Blogroll, Citizens, Democracy, Pakistan, Politics, Society, Writers
Guide to web hosting services
Need tips on a web hosting company? Kaushal Sheth is a 22 years old IT guy who lives in Mumbai, India. He will graduate this year from the D.J.Sanghvi College of Engineering, University of Mumbai with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in field of Electronics and Telecommunication. He is a talented young man who, when he was around 18, has been addicted to the use of computer and the World Wide Web. While searching for music … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging
Pakistani Censorship Downs YouTube–Globally!
by iFaqeer In my last post, I mentioned the then breaking story that the Pakistan Telecomm Authority was in the process of blocking YouTube from the country. The “reason” given a video that was disrespectful to “An Hazrat, Maulana Mohammad, Rasul Allah”, as we are wont to say in Pakistan, or “The Gentleman, Our Lord, Mohammad, Prophet of God”. Of course, amongst our wonderful, patriotic Pakistanis, there were the immediate questions about whether that in itself was a rumour or documented. Well, please do take a look at one of the documents that went out from the Pakistan Telecomm Authority to the ISP’s on Siliconstani’s blog. The suspicions on the part of the grapevine is that this blocking/censorship happened when it happened because of videos that were ending up on YouTube of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Blogging, Citizens, Democracy, Media, Pakistan, Politics, public policy, Rights, USA
Democracy Rules! Pakistan Blocks/Bans YouTube
There’s an old (from our youth :p) Bollywood song that goes “Main ro’oon ya hansoon; karoon mai kyaa karoon?!” or “Should I cry or laugh; To do, what do I do?” Users subscribing to the Internet though the PTCL (Pakistan Telecom Corporation Limited, the semi- or formerly-government-owned corporation), in particular, have been getting the following message today if they tried to access YouTube: -------------- Dear Internet Users Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (www.pta.gov.pk)has directed all ISPs of the country to block access to www.youtube.com web site for containing blasphemous web content/movies. The site would remain blocked till further orders from PTA. Meanwhile, Internet users can write to youtube.com to remove the objectionable web content/movies because this removal would enable the authorities to order un-blocking of this web site. Best Regards Manager Technical Assistance Center Micronet Broadband Pvt. Ltd. Islamabad ------------- For background, see: http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog/2008/02/22/youtube-blocked-in-pakistan/ http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog/2008/02/22/vote-rigging-videos-in-karachi-could-this-be-why-youtube-is-blocked/ http://www.kidvai.com/windmills/2008/02/last-laugh.html Cross-posted on the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Blogging, Justice, Media, public policy
Az Karachi asth, Radioyay Azad
by iFaqeer About two years ago, Cemendtaur and I started an Urdu language podcast we called Azad Karachi Radio. Yes, the name is intended to generate some discussion and carry a punch. And if you want to hear why we named it that, do listen to the first two programs or so. To cut a long story short, the program has been offline for a bit, but we’re back with Program 10, the first of 2008. It has guest Mehdi Hasnain join me and Cemendtaur to discuss the American Elections, the Pakistani situation and events with Ayesha Siddiqa in California as well as a media item. The program mentions, amongst other things: … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging, Blogroll, Democracy, Elections, Karachi, Media, Urdu, USA
Pak Tea House was noticed
Raza Rumi Today while checking out the incoming links, I discovered that the CNN website had mentioned the Pak Tea House. This was quite edifying to say the least. PTH is just another blog-zine barely a few months old but it is getting some attention. Not that attention from CNN is the aim of this blog-zine; corporate media picks up what complements its spin. Nevertheless, we aim to provide a strong voice that could be cacophonous at times, usually diverse but surely an alternative one. But the real credit goes to its contributors who keep it alive and kicking; and the silent and vocal visitors who add much life to otherwise inanimate words. I thank all these wonderful colleagues, comrades and friends. … Read entire article »
Kabul; Women in Britain; and Putting a Face on Blogging and Civil Society in Pakistan
Sorry I have been MIA for a bit. A couple or three things jump out from the New York Times, NPR and the ‘Net this morning. Firstly, a shout-out to my peeps, so to speak. There’s a clip on Google Video today of an interview with two of Pakistan’s most prominent bloggers on an English-language breakfast show. Well worth watching, what with Pakistan in the news in such a big way. Then there’s an op-ed in the NYT this morning by the country director for the Institute of War and Peace Reporting providing his personal perspective about the bombing of the Serena Hotel in Kabul, a watering hole (and just a place to hole up) for expats, particularly. And there have been other stories about Afghanistan in The Times, on NPR, other … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging, Islam, Islamism, Karachi, Media, Pakistan, Politics, Society, Terrorism, World
Don't strangle the Pakistani blogosphere – Updated
Apparently the blogspot is working and this was not a case of any order to ban the blogs. PTH carried the story below that appeared in the daily News. We apologise if the views below created a different impression. by RR This is a disturbing development. Pak Tea House condemns the ban on blogs if such a diktat has come into effect. The irony of the situation cannot be missed. It was the Supreme Court that had ordered a ban on the blogs following the controversy on Danish cartoons that lampooned our Prophet (SAW). Today, the deposed judges are the subject of these blogs, and hence the ban. How the tables turn in the land of the pure…. … Read entire article »
Pakistanis must stop destroying the pre-Islamic heritage
Came across this pointed though strongly worded post by Danial, where he urges Pakistanis to stop the vandalism against pre-Islamic heritage. “As if the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues wasn’t enough, fanatical mullahs and their constituents from Swat in the Northwest Frontier province attempt[ed] to blow up yet another statue in the name of their twisted version of Islam which is quite alien to the Subcontinent…… … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts and Crafts, Blogging, History, Islamism, World
Spare the Animal and Show Your Piety: Eid ul Adha, 2007
by temporal Eid ul Adha is on or around December 19-22, 2007 depending on where you are. Have a safe and happy holiday with your family. Spare the poor goat or lamb’s life. For those who want to sacrifice the writer please scroll down and read Chapter 22, Verse 37 as translated by Marmaduke, Yusufali, Asad and Usmani: or pick your own copy of the holy Qur’an. They all talk about your devotion, piety, God-consciousness and taqwa that reaches Him. Please pause and think. According to the Hidaya Foundation the cost of one goat/sheep is $100 in the US. Here in Canada the price varies between $90-100. I am not sure about the price in Pakistan or India. What I am sure about is only the well wheeled can afford it. The Poor cannot … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging, Environment, Islam, Love, poverty, World
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