pakistaniat.com Adil Najam This is a painful post to write. Ideally I would have preferred not to have had to write this post. But I have over 300 messages in my in-box of people fussing over the so-called “Draw Muhammad Day” page on the social networking site Facebook and now the Lahore High Court’s decision calling for a ban on Facebook has forced the issue. And that is what pains me. I hope that Facebook administration will remove the page. Not because of any “banning” movement and not because of the Lahore High Court. Just because the page and the … Continue reading Facebook Fiasco: What Would Muhammad (PBUH) Do?

It’s the way they sell ’em! From rude food to crazy cleaning products, the world’s weirdest brands Would you eat a chocolate bar called Plopp or use washing powder called Barf? The odd names might be the reason these products haven’t made it to the UK… Swedes think this candy is dandy, they account for 95 per cent of sales. Wonder why… Drink enough of Pee Cola and you will feel the effects of the beverage which keeps Ghanaians on the go… Bottoms up with Arse wine! It’s a cheeky wine from French vineyards Fillipina women are very serious about … Continue reading From rude food to crazy cleaning products, the world’s weirdest brands

The unaffordable Eurovision song contest The annual festival of camp is being hit by the financial crisis – which means some countries need to rein in their spending Jonathan Moles guardian.co.uk, Norway is hosting this year’s Eurovision song contest after Alexander Rybak won in 2009. Photograph: Sergey Ponomarev/AP It’s all Denmark’s fault really. For years, the Eurovision song contest had been an annual test of new television and satellite technology dressed up as a music competition. Then, in 2000, Denmark held the annual camp-fest in a stadium with 39,000 people in attendance. Ever since, it’s been a contest to get … Continue reading The camp, unaffordable Eurovision song contest

Are magazines really dying out? Though the internet is a serious threat, its ephemeral nature is no match for the tangibility of print Lisa Maclean guardian.co.uk Creators and publishers of printed zines and magazines are dealing with the growing possibility of their medium being rendered obsolete by the expansion of online media – many already offering internet-only subscriptions and exclusive content for social networking followers. The potential of the iPad as a sustainable and viable platform is one that many creatives take seriously, however. But when Apple announced recently that iPad editions will have to have any nudity pre-censored, it … Continue reading Are magazines dying out?

If it survives early tests, this coalition could outlive the decade In a mirror image of Blair’s efforts, Cameron is set on marginalising the right, as part of a bold attempt to redraw the political map Martin Kettle guardian.co.uk In the circumstances it was probably just as well that David Cameron ended his speech launching the government’s detailed programme by making clear that he is, in fact, a Conservative and that Nick Clegg is, indeed, a Liberal Democrat. So much else has been turned on its head in British politics over the past two weeks that it is a comfort … Continue reading The coalition government could outlive the decade

Japanese bureaucrats face up to the clean-cut look Isesaki authorities order staff to shave off beards and moustaches after complaints from public Justin McCurry in Tokyo guardian.co.uk A bearded man in Tokyo: officials in a Japanese town have been told to shave off their facial hair. Photograph: Toshiyuki Aizawa/Reuters In feudal Japan, a beard was considered a symbol of power or a declaration of belligerent intent but bureaucrats in one town could find themselves sent to the bathroom, razor in hand, for sporting even the suggestion of a five o’clock shadow. Authorities in Isesaki, Gunma prefecture, have ordered all male … Continue reading Should Japanese ban beards?

The ban that backfired by Sana Saleem dawn.com Earlier this week, I wrote a blog post regarding the “Draw A Muhammad Day” controversy, highlighting the role of the social networking site Facebook. Let me begin by sharing some of the comments, Tweets and Facebook messages submitted in reaction to my last post (with the saner ones up top): I have deactivated my Facebook account today, and I requested all my friends to deactivate their accounts on 19th May till 21st may to protest against this group. We demand the Facebook Team to remove the group “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” as … Continue reading The Facebook ban that backfired

By Jawed Naqvi dawn.com “In 1908, Hasrat Mohani published an article in his magazine Urdu-e-Mu-alla and criticised the policies of the British rulers of Egypt.” – (File Photo) He coined the Indian freedom struggle’s most resonant slogan: ‘inquilab zindabad’, which roughly translates to ‘long live the revolution”. Indeed, Maulana Hasrat Mohani’s call to arms against colonial occupation resonates through the Indian subcontinent even today though some would say it is beginning to resemble the Cheshire cat’s slowly fading grin, the only discernible feature of what was once a free-spirited beast. Not surprisingly, as often happens when betrayal gets even with … Continue reading Voice of an endless revolt

by Moderator dawn.com Pakistan has blocked two popular websites due to a controversial competition being held on Facebook on May 20. How has the ban on Facebook and YouTube affected you? Has the block on our accessibility to these sites highlighted the fact that how addicted and dependent we are on social networking websites and forums? How do you plan to pass your time instead now that browsing videos and random profiles is not an option? The views expressed by the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group. Continue reading Banned and blocked