Shaheed Bhagat Singh

“The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation here after, but to make the best use of it here below; and not to realise truth, beauty and good only in contemplation, but also in the actual experience of daily life; social progress depends not upon the ennoblement of the few but on the enrichment of democracy; universal brotherhood can be achieved only when there is an equality of opportunity - of opportunity in the social, political and individual life.— from Bhagat Singh's prison diary, p. 124” 
― Bhagat Singh, The Jail Notebook And Other Writings

Here's a guy on the verge of receiving capital punishment, a dead man walking, and instead of destroying his dignity and integrity like so many have done either in old age or on their death bed by shunning all that makes sense in favor of all that doesn't, this 23 year-old man mocks the fabricated fear of the afterlife by celebrating reason as he awaits the hangman's noose while scribbling away in jail in the city of Lahore.  

Water, the source for Prices

It's a little strange hearing folks from different countries citing drought as a reason for poor crops or lack of output.  It highlights the benefits Pakistani farmers have in many cases with the irrigation system. 

When I was farming, I'd worry about the tube well breaking down and the lack of electricity exacerbated the poor corn crops of 2011, but by and large, the availability of water was certain. 

When I speak to farmers or traders from Argentina or Southwest United States, drought/lack of water is not an unheard of phenomenon.  In fact, it's almost expected.  Prices for different products shoot up.  The lack of water still moves the world, like in many ways it did the ancient Egyptians and Harrapans.  

On the other hand, I recently read about the Swarna variety of rice - it's cheap and whats more, a new breed is capable of growing even after being submerged in flood waters for 15 days.  

Hazaras and Turis Australia Bound

There are a lot of cab drivers from Kurram Agency in Dubai, specifically from Parachinar.  Being Turi Shia, they tend to be quite 'pro-Pakistan Army' as they've been at the receiving end of sectarian violence.  For them, the enemy and dangers won't go away after NATO leaves.  Their enemies are people who speak their own language, read their own Koran and pray in the same direction.

Like the Hazaras of Quetta, they have also begun seeking safer pastures.  One of the cab drivers said that the first 200 Parachinaris have made it to Australia after heading to an Indonesian island close by and illegally entering Aussie waters.  They are lured by dreams of jobs, a passport in 3 years and more importantly living in a place where they will not be open targets for believing in a different form of religion.  He expects droves of his fellows to follow suit.