In pictures: Oman's empty quarter (BBC)

This was the view from within the tent one night. The total lack of light pollution made star trails visible.




British teacher Mark Evans and New Zealand photographer John Smith spent four weeks exploring the desert in Oman's Empty Quarter.

The pair started near the border of Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman, and travelled north-east towards the famous Umm al-Samim quicksands. This shows the approach to the summit of Oman's highest dune.

They spent time with people in desert communities. This camel has won Oman's revered 'Most beautiful camel' award. Her owner, Sheikh Mohammed, lives in a small settlement 1km from Saudi Arabia.

Offering hospitality to travellers is still a key part of desert culture.

The pair made their journey by car, but they slept under traditional Bedouin tents. This was the view from within the tent one night. The total lack of light pollution made star trails visible.

Dancing black hole twins spotted - (BBC Article)

Dancing black hole twins spotted

A giant amalgam of black holes sits at the centre of the Virgo galaxy cluster

Reseachers have seen the best evidence yet for a pair of black holes orbiting each other within the same galaxy.

While such "binary systems" have been postulated before, none has ever been conclusively spotted.

The new black hole pair is dancing significantly closer than the prior best binary system candidate.

The work, published in the journal Nature, is in line with the theory of growth of galaxies, each with a black hole at its centre.

The theory has it that as galaxies near each other, their central black holes should orbit each other until merging together.

But evidence for black holes nearing and orbiting has so far been scant.

As matter falls into black holes, it emits light of a characteristic colour that in turn gives information about the direction in which the black hole is moving.

Because they are orbiting each other, astronomers have suggested that binary black hole systems would emit two beams, each a slightly different colour.

Todd Boroson and Tod Lauer of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory analysed some 17,500 spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and found such a pair coming from a distant quasar.

The researchers estimate that the two light sources come from black holes between 20 million and one billion times heavier than the sun.

The black holes are separated by an estimated distance of less than a third of a light-year - cheek-to-cheek by black hole standards and significantly more than the postulated binary system spotted by the Chandra X-ray Observatory in 2003.

The pair are estimated to dance around one another every 100 years.

Because they are moving with respect to the Earth as well as to each other, observations of their movement over the next few years could prove that they are in fact the first partnered pair of black holes.

"Previous work has identified potential examples of black holes on their way to merging, but the case presented by Boroson and Lauer is special because the pairing is tighter and the evidence much stronger," said Jon Miller, an astronomer at the University of Michigan.

Doctors of Depravity ... A story of cruelty of Human nature

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-439776/Doctors-Depravity.html

Poem on the plight of People from Tribal Areas Pakistan

kon in k maseeha ka dawa keray
ye jo be-ghar hoey apnay he dais mein
sir pe saya na pairon k neechay zameen
phir be zinda hain insaan k bhais mein
durd ki surkh chadar mein liptay hoey
ik doojay ko hairut say taktay hoey
yeah jo konon mein bethay hain sehmay hoey
in k chehron ki jhurian perho to zara
do qadam in ki janab berho to zara
in k bachon ko mazdor honay say kia
pas roti na ho to khilonay say kia
in k bachon k baray mein socho zra
in ki basti mein ja k dekho zra

door tuk be khushi ka nishan tak naheen
apni ghurbut say majboor yeah khemazan
in ki qismet mein kacha makaan tak naheen
kon samjhay ga ab in ki majboorian
sangzaday hoey moom ki putlian
kion pighelnay lagay in k sham-o-sahar
kion yeah apnay gharon say hoey dar badar
kon in k dukhon ka madawa keray
in ki ankhon mein phir say ujala keray
yeah jo baygher heoy apnay he dais mein
kon in k masail ka adawa keray

sochiye to ham he in k pursaan hain
sochiey aaj kion yeah pareshan hain
gerchay in ka hamara yaqeen eik hay
sarzameen eik hay aur deen eik hay
mulk-o-milut say ehd-e-wafa eik hay
sochiey to hamara khuda eik hay

Capital Talk by Hamir from the Regugee Camps for People from tribal areas Pakistan
http://pkpolitics.com/2008/08/26/capital-talk-26-august-2008/

8 Amazing Holes
These holes are not only amazing, but some of them are really terrifying - especially #8! The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how small one individual is in the scheme of things.

1. KimberleyBig Hole - South Africa

Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world,
this 1097 meter deep mine yielded over 3 tons of diamonds
before being closed in 1914.

2.Glory Hole - Monticello Dam, California
A glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir

3.BinghamCanyon Mine, Utah

This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. Extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly. In its current state the hole is � miles deep and 2.5 miles wide.

4.Great Blue Hole , Belize

This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a
blue hole is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize .
There are numerous blue holes around the world,
but none as stunning as this one.

5.Mirny Diamond Mine , Serbia

I'm pretty sure most people have seen this one.
It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest
open diamond mines in the world. At 525 meters
deep, with a top diameter of 1200 meters, there's
even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few
helicopters having been sucked in.

6.Diavik Mine, Canada

The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it has
its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737.
It looks equally cool when the surrounding water is frozen.

7.Sinkhole in Guatemala

These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred
early this year in Guatemala . The hole swallowed
a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.

And the really terrifying one? #8

Try This. Lets see if you can do ...

Joke: Microsoft vs GM

Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated:

"If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we
would all be driving twenty-five dollar cars that got 1,000 miles to
the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release
stating :

"If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be
driving cars with the following characteristics:

1) For no reason whatsoever your car would crash twice a day.

2) Every time they painted new lines on the road you would have to
buy a new car.

3) Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason, and
you would just accept this, restart and drive on.

4) Occasionally, executing a manoeuvre such as a left turn, would
cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you
would have to reinstall the engine.

5) Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you
bought "Car95" or "CarNT". But then you would have to buy more seats.

6) Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, reliable,
five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would only run on
five percent of the roads.

7) The oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be
replaced by a single "general car default" warning light.

8) New seats would force everyone to have the same size butt.

9) The airbag system would say "Are you sure?" before going off.

10) Occasionally for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you
out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door
handle, turned the key, and grab hold of the radio antenna.

11) GM would also require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe
set of Rand McNally road maps (now a GM subsidiary), even though they
neither need them nor want them. Attempting to delete this option
would immediately cause the car's performance to diminish by 50% or
more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the
Justice Department.

12) Every time GM introduced a new model car buyers would have to
learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would
operate in the same manner as the old car.

13) You'd press the "start" button to shut off the engine

IT Manager: Joke

A hot-air balloonist realises he is lost, and so reduces height to ask directions from a man on the ground: "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"

"Yes," says the man below. "You're in a hot-air balloon, hovering about 30 feet above this field."

"You must work in Information Technology," says the balloonist.

"I do," replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but it's no use to anyone."

The man below is miffed. "You must work in business as a manager," he says.

"I do," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're going, but you expect me to be able to help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's my fault."

A rare occasion

March 21st 2008 was a rare day in the sense that the day was celebrated by most of the religions in one way or other. It was Eid-i-Milad- un-Nabi for msulims, Holi for Hindus, Good Friday (Easter) for Christians, Jashan-i-Nauroz (new year) for Parsi religoin, Brithday of Buddha for Budhists as well as day of Guru Panja (5th Guru of sikhs). As per historians this has probably happened for the first time in human history.

Only if you know how to make it done.

Son: "I will choose my own bride!"
Father: "But the girl is Bill Gate's daughter."
Son: "Well, in that case...ok"




Next Father approaches Bill Gates.

Father: "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Father: "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok"






Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.

Father: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president. "
President: "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"
Father: "But this young man is Bill Gate's son-in-law."
President: "Ah, in that case...ok"


Moral : Even If you have nothing, You can get Anything ,

If your attitude is positive.

Its Fun Time

Q. How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?

A. Concrete floors are very hard to crack!


**********

Q. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?

A. No time at all it is already built.


**********


Q. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?

A. Very large hands. (Good one)


**********

Q. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

A. It is not a problem, since you will never find! an elephant with one hand.


**********

Q. How can a man go eight days without sleep?

A. No Probs , He sleeps at night.


**********

Q. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?

A. It will Wet or Sink as simple as that.


**********

Q. What looks like half apple ?

A : The other half.


**********

Q. What can you never eat for breakfast ?

A : Lunch and Dinner.


**********

Q. What happened when wheel was invented ?

A : It caused a revolution.


**********

Q. Bay of Bengal is in which state?

A : Liquid


**********

ONE EXTRA SHOT


Interviewer said "I shall either ask you ten easy questions or one really difficult question.


Think well before you make up your mind!" The boy thought for a while and said, "my choice is one really difficult question."


"Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice! Now tell me this.


"What comes first, Day or Night?"


The boy was jolted into reality as his admission depends on the correctness of his answer, but he thought for a while and said, "It's the DAY sir!"


"How" the interviewer asked,


"Sorry Sir, you promised me that you will not ask me a SECOND difficult question!"

History of Pakistan from Ancient Times.

A nice collection of facts on regions that are now in Pakistan !

http://www.geocitie s.com/pak_ history/periods. html
http://www.heritage .gov.pk/html_ Pages/history1. html

Pakistani Motor Rickshaw.

It is now time to do an in-depth analysis of the Pakistani motor rickshaw.



The motor- (sometimes auto-) rickshaw was invented by the Reverend Jonathan Scobie, an American Baptist minister living in Yokohama, Japan. The first model was built in 1869 in order to transport his handicapped wife. Today it remains as one of the most important modes of transportation in Pakistan where it was first seen on August 14, 1947. Before that it was not possible to see it in Pakistan.



The three-wheel-design of a rickshaw provides it a better road grip than a bicycle. It also provides gasoline savings when compared with a 4-wheeler taxi and green salad saving when compared with a 4-legged horse. When in need of repairs, the three-wheel structure also helps in lifting it from any side. When a side is lifted, it conveniently sits down on the other two while a mechanic goes looking for underbelly mechanical faults.

Pilot seat. A rickshaw is a perfect example of a compact automobile design. The driver practically sits on a bench seat which is strategically placed on top of the engine. This causes inductive heat transfer between man and machine and keeps the engine cool. The same however, cannot be said for the driver’s butt. The presence of a hot engine underneath, keeps a driver cozy during winters and boiling during summers. It is literally one heck of a hot seat to sit on. The advantage of a bench seat is manifold. A driver uses it to his own advantage to slide from one corner to the other depending on whichever side gives him a better view.



Driver’s Ergonomics. A rickshaw is immaculately designed to keep a driver relaxed during long hours. This has been accomplished by limiting the driving controls to both hands and a leg only. This keeps one leg of the driver free which he can dangle around when tired. Many of us must have seen the common practice where a tired driver lifts one of his legs and conveniently places it on top of the dash-board while still driving the rickshaw.



Starting Mechanism. The height of automotive engineering is the design of rod (danda) start mechanism of the rickshaw engine. A 3 feet long lever is put on the floor of the rickshaw. To start the engine, a driver bends down to the side and lifts one end of this ‘danda’ in a quick swift motion. Look at the photo to the right. If everything else is right then the engine starts. Otherwise the whole exercise of ‘danda’ lifting is repeated as many times as needed.

Passengers Foot-hold. While a rickshaw floor’s mean height above sea level is less than 2 feet, a one-step foot hold is nonetheless provided on the passenger side of the cabin. I’ve never seen anyone using it but it is a detail important enough not to be missed out in this analysis. Most of the passengers bypass this one-step climbing assistance and put their first step directly inside the passenger cabin.

This foot-hold step is visible in the photo to the right above.

Head lamp. Rickshaw comes with a single headlamp. The light emanating from this headlamp is usually just enough that other people can see that something is on-coming but a rickshaw driver doesn’t see anything. Its luminescence makes one constantly reminded of Elton John’s song ‘candle in the wind’



Laws of Reflection. A rickshaw driver usually adorns his rickshaw with a multiple array of reflective mirrors. If a ray of light enters a rickshaw once, it gets trapped and it takes a while for it to get out after being internally reflected many times. These mirrors are placed by the driver to his own strategic advantage. If a passenger is to his liking then these mirrors help the driver to keep an eye on the passenger from many different angles.
Small is Big. I have never seen a group of people denied a rickshaw ride just because of their numbers. It can fit them all including luggage. Many times one can see a family chilling out in the passenger cabin while their younger ones sharing driver’s cabin with the driver. If a rickshaw picks up passengers from a railway station, luggage is easily placed in driver’s cabin.




Flat Tire Replacement. In case of a flat tire adversity, a rickshaw comes fully equipped with a mechanical jack. This jack is in the shape of a rectangular sheet-metal of roughly 12″x 24″ dimension. The simplicity of design here beats all modern hydraulic and geared jack designs. A rickshaw driver simply tilts his rickshaw on a side, inserts this sheet metal plate for support and changes the tire. The whole process of tilting a rickshaw and inserting the jack takes less than 10 seconds.

The Rickshaw Driver Culture. Over the years certain etiquettes have evolved among rickshaw drivers. A passenger cannot just walk into an empty rickshaw and sit. He/She has to take driver’s permission first. The magic question to ask is “Is rickshaw empty?” (rickshaw khali hai?). This question must be asked even if a rickshaw is visibly empty because depending on his mood a driver at anytime may declare a visibly empty rickshaw as occupied. Then there is no question of arguing. Rickshaw drivers have also mastered the sign language. If a rickshaw is empty then instead of saying ‘yes’ a driver usually moves his neck towards the passenger cabin in a long swooshing motion. This means rickshaw is empty. Please get in.





Mirror of Society. Rickshaws are also a mirror of our society. Rickshaw drivers use back of the rickshaw as their scrap book. It displays their favorite poetry, puzzling questions, messages to other drivers, etc. I don’t remember seeing any rickshaw ever without anything written on its back side. Some of these comments are a running commentary on our society’s social and economic fabric. Take a look at 5 sample rickshaw messages:

malik ki gaaRi, driver ka paseena

chalti hai road par bun ka haseena

kabhi aao na Karachi, khashbo laga ke

Daalar ki talaash

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:

Men Are Just Happier People -- What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental $100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. !

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

No wonder men are happier.

Send this to the women who can handle it

and to the men who will enjoy reading it =)

Just enjoy the coffee

A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the simple and cheap ones. It is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, but that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases it even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was COFFEE, not the CUP, but you consciously chose the best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup that we choose does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee which God has provided us. Enjoy your coffee!."

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."

Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
You are the miracle, my friend;
Your life either shines a light OR casts a shadow!
Shine a light & enjoy the Coffee!!!

When Niagra Falls was Frozen-1911

FENG SHUI RULES TO LIVE BY‏

LOTUS TOUTS

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN! When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

Another Joke

NASA was interviewing professionals they were thinking of sending to Mars.

The touchy part was that only one guy could go and it would be a one-way
trip, the guy not ever returning to Earth.

The interviewer asked the first applicant, an American engineer, how much he
wanted to be paid for going. "One million dollars," the engineer answered.
"And I want to donate it all to my alma mater--Rice University."

The next applicant was a Russian doctor, and the interviewer asked him the
same question. "Two millions dollars," the doctor said. "I want to give a
million to my family and leave the other million for the advancement of
medical research."

The last applicant was a Pakistani Politician. When asked how much money he
wanted, he whispered in the interviewer's ear, "Three million dollars." "Why
so much more than the others?" the interviewer asked. The Pakistani
Politician replied, "You give me three million, I'll give you one million,
I'll keep a million, and we'll send the American engineer."

Joke ... About Beers

There's a big conference of beer producers. At the end of the day, all of the presidents of all beer companies decide to have a drink in a bar.

The president of 'Budweiser' orders a Bud, the president of 'Miller' orders a Miller Lite, Adolph Coors orders a Coors, and the list goes on. Then the waitress asks Arthur Guinness what he wants to drink, and much to everybody's amazement, Mr. Guinness orders a Coke!

"Why don't you order a Guinness?" his colleagues ask.

"Naah. If you guys won't drink beer, than neither will I."

Sardar Ji Jokes

Sardar Gurbachan Singh is appearing for his University final examination which consists of Y/N type questions.

He takes his seat in the examination hall, stares at the question paper for five minutes, and then in a fit of inspiration takes his wallet out, removes a coin and starts tossing the coin and marking the answer sheet - Y for Heads and N for Tails. Within half an hour he is all done whereas the rest of the class is sweating it out.

During the last few minutes, he is seen desperately throwing the coin, swearing and sweating.

The invigilator, alarmed, approaches him and asks what is going on.

"Oye, I finished the exam in half and hour ". "But yaar ", he says, "I am rechecking my answers and am not able to tally them with what I wrote."
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------

A sardar ji used to go to college with his dog. After some days dog left the college but Sardar had to go still.

You know why???


...
...


...
...


...
...


Dog graduated but Sardar did not

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

Banta: U cheated me.
Shopkeeper: No, I sold a good radio to u.
Banta: Radio label shows Made in Japan but radio says This is all India
Radio!
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

Banta: Oye, tu to Doctor ke paas jaane waala tha, kya hua?
Santa: Yaar kal jaaonga, aaj thodi tabiyat kharab hai.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

sardar to preto
"eik wari i love u keh day"
preto: nahi menu sharam andi ey
sardar:ek wari keh de
preto: nahi
sardar: dekh le fer meri behan nahi?

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

Interviewer: just imagine your in 3rd floor, it caught fire and how will you escape?

Sardar: its simple. I will stop my imagination! !!

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

When sardar was traveling with his wife in an auto, the driver adjusted mirror.

Sardar shouted, "You are trying to see my wife? Sit back. I will drive."

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

Manager asked to sardar at an interview Can you spell a word that has more than 100 letters in it?

Sardar replyed: -P-O-S-T-B-O- X.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

two sardars found two bombs
one said : oye chal yar police ko dey atey hain
2nd sardar : yar agra in main sey koi rastey main phat gaya to?
1st sardar : oye yar tu fikar na kar, keh den gey k aik he mila tha!!!!!

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

Santa: Doctor saab, mein Chashma laga ke pad to sakoonga na?
Doctor: Haan, bilkul.
Santa: To phir theek hai doctor saab varna Anparh (illetrate) aadmi ki zindagi bhi koi
zindagi hai.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

Banta: Yeh chaaku (knife) kyon ubaal rahe ho?
Santa: Suicide karne ke liye
Banta: To phir ubalney ki kya zaroorat hai?
Santa: Kahin infection na ho jaaye
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---

In an interview,
Interviewer: How does an electric motor run?
Santa: Dhhuuuurrrrrrrrrr. ....
Inteviewer shouts: Stop it.
Santa: Dhhuurrrr dhup dhup dhup