thelandofpure test post content

thelandofpure test post content

Irrigation benefits stack up for dry summers

 To export primary produce, from trees to cheese, we need water.

That is the simple truth underpinning the Ruataniwha Dam project in the Hawke's Bay, along with others like it.

Some have raised concerns Ruataniwha will not be financially viable or environmentally sustainable and that it will suffer from lack of demand.

To answer these criticisms, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has consistently put publicly accessible information on to its website.

The large-scale storage of water isn't a new concept because towns and cities do that with "town water".

Federated Farmers strongly supports water storage for farming, as well as Ruataniwha, in principle.

Our final backing awaits the final business case; then and only then will we know if it is financially viable.

The last big water storage scheme to open for farming was South Canterbury's Opuha Dam.

Opuha opened in 1998. It came about because of the same issues we have here - a lack of reliable water over summer.

Today, Opuha irrigates farmland, supplies town water and generates electricity.

It also provides permanent flow to the formerly "summer-dry" Opihi River, offering recreational, tourism and environmental opportunities.

In drought-proofing South Canterbury, Opuha has vindicated every promise made about it. Yet Opuha only came about due to the perseverance of a small band of believers spanning two decades.

From a pure bottom line perspective, the latest report I read says farm revenues could rise by $160 million each year including $25m for households.

Ruataniwha could generate 630 new jobs, with an additional 530 much-needed jobs predicted down the line.

Ruataniwha would potentially free Central Hawke's Bay from the annual rainfall lottery.

The dam will have the capacity to irrigate 25,000 hectares while generating 6.5 megawatts of electricity - enough to supply more than 3000 households with clean renewable energy.

Where exactly are the downsides?

Much of the criticism revolves around low take-up due to the cost and that dairying will be the only land use able to afford it.

A council report from November 2010 put the on-farm investment at $7394-$9428 per hectare. In the September 2012 report, the on-farm water distribution cost is between 20c and 30c per cubic metre.

But can farmers like me afford not to irrigate?

Current water takes are prone to summer irrigation bans, highlighting the absolute need for reliable water when those bans affect 200 consent holders.

Macfarlane Rural Business predicts irrigation will be taken up by dairy (37 per cent), arable farming (32 per cent), and sheep and beef (13 per cent).

 Other land uses, like horticulture, will likely fill the balance.

Reliable water may see distinct "farm types" blur along with better farming practices to optimise income per hectare.

Irrigation keeps pastures green, and green pasture means soils and valuable nutrients stay on-farm and out of water.

Budget 2013 estimated this year's drought will shave 0.7 per cent off the nation's economy - upwards of $2 billion.

Having run a calculation on my sheep and beef farm, using the costs above, it seemingly stacks up.

Farmers like me would likely irrigate a portion of a farm creating a "pasture factory", if you like.

This means we can keep stock on-farm rather than destocking in dry summers.

This means I can send stock at the optimum time rather than being forced into it by a lack of feed or water.

Drought is a fact of life; it has happened before and it will happen again.

Ruataniwha potentially means we can farm through it and doing that benefits all.

Source   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/advice/8757494/Irrigation-benefits-stack-up-for-dry-summers

Pledge to build new Pakistan

After making rapid increase in its conventional weapon capability, Pakistan has become the 5th nuclear power of the world. There is also no gainsaying the fact that Pakistan is a strong country in respect of defence.

To increase capacity of conventional weapons is also prerequisite for us. Because Pakistan is fully aware of the fact that there exists a country in its neighbourhood with whom it had fought three wars in the past. Had Pakistan not taken steps to strengthen its defence capability, the Jewish lobbies would have overpowered it long before. Today we are the 5th nuclear power of the world which is of course a matter of pride for us. We have abundance of all kinds of resources. But still we have to confront a worst economic and political debacle in all the times. The country where a labour goes to bed with empty stomach cannot make progress and development as compared to the other developed and progressive states of the world. It is due to this reason that today the future and existence of Pakistan has become a question mark in the eyes of all of us. Almighty Allah has bestowed all his blessings upon Pakistan. But in spite of all these blessings and gifts we are living in a state of slavery and servitude.

Therefore we are unable to view and judge the beauty, charm, the mantle and spiritual capability expanding in our surrounding. Pakistan is the fifth biggest nuclear state of the world fully equipped with the mettle of scientists and engineers. But in spite of all such blessing my countrymen are passing through a state of darkness and ignorance.

Similarly as mentioned earlier, we have become the 5th nuclear state of the world. But people have no access to the basic amenities of life. Not only is this but we have also become the 6th biggest military power of the world. Due to our exceptional technical capability we have become a cause of fear for the rest of the countries of the world. There exists enough capability and cavalry in our youth to face all sorts of challenges of the world but sorry to say that we are at war with our own people on our own land. Again Pakistan is an agricultural country we can yield and produce enough quantity of wheat and maize to export to other countries of the world. But very sadly to say we have to confront an acute food shortage in all the times.

Besides our gas reservoirs stands 6th in Asia. We are enriched with gas reservoirs but still the excessive load shedding continues unabated for the domestic and CNG consumers. So we are compelled to import gas from Iran on exorbitant rate so to fulfil our needs and demands.

Moreover vast reservoirs of gold and copper at Ricodac in Baluchistan have been found. Its value has been estimated in billions. But ironically we are running our domestic affairs by taking huge tranche of debt from IMF and World Bank. The gold mine in Balochistan is stated to be 5th in the world. But still the gold prices have jumped up with alarming proportion of 65000 per Tula.

There also exist vast reservoirs of oil and gas in Pakistan. According to available estimate the reservoirs of oil are billion barrels while that of gas is trillion cube/feet. But in spite of all these the petroleum prices have touched the highest point. Then the canal system of Pakistan is also considered to be the best in the world. It is the largest in the world territory-wise Pakistan is 1/3 of Russia but its canal system is bigger than Russian one. Every year million cusec of our water get wasted by falling down in Arabian sea. We have no water for our irrigation but India is hell bent to withhold Pakistan share of water thus causing water crises for Pakistan.

Tourism can be proved a major source of our income generation. There exist ample opportunities of tourism. We have even more beautiful and scenic spots and resorts of tourism than Switzerland. But in spite of all, the influx of tourist is less than other countries of south Asia.

Now the question arises that why did it not make any progress and headway in its economic spheres despite enriched with huge natural resources. The per capita income is less than 2 dollar despite having immense potentiality and capabilities of resources and manpower generation. Excessive power outage has become a routine matter. People are compelled to commit suicide due to extreme poverty and starvation.

Pakistan is no longer a poor country. Plunderers and looters are busy day in, day out to plunder its wealth with both hands but still the country survives and alive in the comity of the nations. The people of this land are work hard. They work up to 12 hours a day. But in spite of all we have remained far behind in the race of progress and development as compared to other countries of the world. It is also echoed and feared that sooner or later Pakistan will go toward disintegration due to its worst economic and political instability. If we can become nuclear power, then we have also the potential to acquire economic strength and stability and come at par with the other economic tigers of Asia. Obviously, Pakistan economy is at the brink of total collapse. Now the time has come to get rid of all those elements that are bent upon to loot and plunder its wealth by both hands. In order to achieve this particular objective we all have to exercise of our right to vote in a right direction. Let us pledge to purge this pure land of Muslim brethrens from the clutches of feudalism and capitalism only through vote in the election to come. It is the only available outlet which can steer our people of this quagmire once and for all.

Source  http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/6051/

Sweden: More Than Ever, The Land Of Internet Freedom

“This is happening right now in Homs, Syria...” Hans Eriksson shows a shaky video of column of smoke just after a bombing from Bashar al-Assad’s troops.

Bambuser is the name of the service launched by this 44-year-old Swede, which allows any smartphone user to broadcast live what’s happening in front of him – without any censorship. The service is a precious resource for Arab Spring protesters.

“In these countries where information is – or was – under heavy surveillance, it is crucial to be able to show the details of the repression. The world needs to know,” says Eriksson. His service is used by CNN, the BBC and Al-Jazeera.

From 5,000 to 10,000 raw, unedited videos are uploaded every day by this 12-person  start-up. Bambuser is the latest symbol of Sweden’s fight for freedom of speech on the Internet.

Three years ago, the country decided to take a stand for the promotion of freedom on the Internet. Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt launched a dialogue with companies on Internet freedom. He was soon followed by Hillary Clinton, who made an acclaimed speech on Internet freedom in 2010.

“Freedom of expression has always been a cornerstone of the Swedish government, we just extended it to the Internet,” says Ministry of Foreign Affairs Special Adviser Johan Hallenborg. “The freedom to say what we want on the Internet or anywhere else is a human right.”

In 2011, Sweden launched a U.N. initiative with the support of more than 80 co-sponsors, to promote, protect and facilitate human rights on the Internet. The resolution, which affirmed that ““the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of frontiers and through any media of one’s choice” was adopted in July 2012 by 47 states of the U.N. Human Rights Council.

“It’s a start. With this resolution, we will be able to promote the perspective of human rights on the Internet in order to force the states to be more transparent,” says Hallenborg.

What freedom of speech doesn't include

Transparency is also Netnod’s creed. This foundation, which handles most of Europe’s Internet physical transit, is also lobbying operators and the governments for the “transmission of information, without restriction, without monitoring, without modification and without discrimination,” according to director Kurtis Lindqvist.

Freedom of speech doesn’t mean “the right to say absolutely everything,” says Hallenborg. “Of course there are limits, the same limits as offline communications,” he adds. In Sweden, hate speech, denying the Holocaust, inciting violence or crime is forbidden. Swedish Internet providers have already blocked, at the bequest of law enforcement, hundreds of Internet pages containing child pornography.

The Kingdom of Sweden still managed to rank number one on the World Wide Web Foundation’s 2012 Web Index, an overview of the web’s availability and impact on countries around the world.

(The controversial site Wikileaks, which publishes secret information from anonymous sources, has long based most of its servers in Sweden, in large part because of the country's protections for Internet freedom)

Why is Sweden encouraging digital freedom of speech so fervently through its companies and politics? “When you launch a service in such a small country, you have to think globally to be successful,” says Eriksson. “For this to happen, you need an open dialogue.”

Thinking global to be successful can also be applied to Swedish companies. In a country where the Foreign Ministry includes the Ministry of Trade, they “dream of an open world where everyone can communicate,” says Hallenborg. “This would help to promote democracy, to reduce poverty, to encourage education and develop trade. A global market would provide many opportunities, especially for local companies.”

Not so naive at all: behind the humanist ideal of digital freedom, Sweden is busy looking out for its commercial interests as well.

Source  http://www.worldcrunch.com/tech-science/sweden-more-than-ever-the-land-of-pure-internet-freedom/bambuser-netrod-speech-press-arab-spring/c4s11172/#.UVAnoUqDHFw

Now the Desert Is Just a Desert

 TWELVE years ago I was broke, broken and on drugs in Mexico City, one of the most densely populated places on earth, and I dragged myself to the Mojave in California, one of the loneliest. I was following a deep tradition of healing journeys to the desert. The consumptives of the 19th century came to soothe their lungs in the dry, clean air; the Christian mystics of the fourth century retreated far from the Nile River Valley into their desert cells, seeking spiritual transformation. In recent years, the desert West has seized the imagination of a new generation of Americans from both coasts with the means to buy a vacation house in Sedona, Ariz., Joshua Tree, Calif., or Marfa, Tex.

At the same time, the desert has received new denizens from other social stations — working-class refugees from gentrified cities, immigrants from Asia and Latin America. I was among the cohort who went because it was cheap. I started to put my life back together, aided by the relative quiet that characterizes a landscape that is simultaneously considered so utterly alien and so iconically American. But I eventually realized that the place I’d come to to purify body and spirit was anything but pure. Nearly everywhere I encountered precisely what I’d been running away from: poverty, racial tensions, drugs, addiction, smuggling-related violence.

After a few years, because of my family and career, I had to leave the desert and move to Los Angeles. Then, last summer, more than a decade after I left Mexico City, my nephew Noah made a healing journey whose itinerary was the opposite of mine. He abandoned my wife’s and his hometown, Albuquerque, to take refuge with us, fleeing the desert that I fled to.

He is a smart, earnest kid who is every inch his 21 years, with progressively large black “gauges” expanding the already gaping holes in his earlobes and a prominent piercing across the bridge of his nose. He’d gotten himself into trouble in Albuquerque. Noah and his mother, my sister-in-law, struggled for years in the desert of drugs, and he knew he had to leave.

Noah is a Westerner, even if our popular notions of the region haven’t caught up to the way it’s lived today. His parents are Mexican-American and African-American. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood devastated by addiction and incarceration. For his generation, the desert landscape that has served as symbolic touchstone for American natural grandeur — prime real estate for those seeking detachment and spiritual renewal — is increasingly phantasmagorical.

Migrants from Mexico and Central America are fed methamphetamine by the coyotes who are rushing them along the trails. Drug smugglers, crossing the desert en route to the rest of the country, drop off samples along the way, like pharmaceutical company reps trying to open up new markets. Just south of the border, in Mexico’s “gran desierto,” the drug war rages, indifferent to the cowboy antics of “America’s Toughest Sheriff” Joe Arpaio. The violence of turf battles and hideous mutilations correlates with spiking rates of abuse and overdose on this side of the line, on Native American reservations and in the shadow of the tourist destinations.

Adding to the strain is the fact that the desert West has endured a heavy burden in the Great Recession. Its foreclosure rates are among the highest in the nation. Two states — Nevada and California — still have unemployment rates hovering around 10 percent. Call it desert capitalism. Or the desert of capitalism.

Yet very little of Noah’s West is visible to the rest of the country. The region’s tourist imagery (aided by the artistic brilliance of the likes of Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams) has proved extraordinarily resilient in spite of what lurks just beyond the edges of the frame. Take, for example, the Santuario de Chimayo, a Catholic shrine that is one of northern New Mexico’s most popular destinations. Entrenched poverty and heroin addiction exist within yards of the old church and its pit of holy dirt, said to hold miraculous healing powers. The tourist is shielded from that sight by the living diorama of the Old West.

This is a shame, because the American desert stands for the extremes we endure as a country. It is a place of radical growth at opposite ends of the economy, of increasing diversity and the nativist reaction against it. It highlights the utter failure of the “war on drugs” to stem the tide of smuggling and abuse. The Old West brought us Arizona’s draconian immigration law; the New West helped elect and re-elect Barack Obama, with Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado swinging into the blue column. And, of course, as troubled as the region is, it’s still vast enough to harbor the kind of natural beauty that drew me and countless others to it. The beauty is still there, alongside the darkness.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, my newly clean nephew and I have taken to watching episodes of the television series “Breaking Bad.” We imagine ourselves versions of the show’s protagonists: Walt, the chemistry teacher who stumbles into manufacturing meth while fighting cancer, and his protégé, Jesse, who gets by the way many young Westerners do — scheming and scamming in a world where drugs are the central fact of life.

As we watch ourselves on-screen, we share our war stories, reliving the highs and the crashes. We also recognize many of the locations in Albuquerque, where the series is set and filmed. Hey, that’s the gas station by Grandma’s, Noah will say, or I’ll spot an old restaurant whose green chile I miss. Sometimes, we catch sight of the rusty-hued Sandia Mountains in the distance — the land I desired for its purity and Noah fled for its fallenness.

Rubén Martínez, a professor of literature and writing at Loyola Marymount University, is the author of “Desert America: Boom and Bust in the New Old West.”

Source  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/opinion/now-the-desert-is-just-a-desert.html?_r=0

The 25 Most Dangerous Fighters in MMA History

Maybe it was just Nate Marquardt's leg, but something this weekend got me thinking about the most dangerous fighters in MMA history.

Dangerous can mean different things, I suppose. But when I think about it in this context, I think about fighters who stand the biggest chance of doing two things: harming their opponent and wanting to harm their opponent. Someone for whom, as B.J. Penn has said, fighting is not a sport, but a fight. Someone you can see relaxing after the fight with a trank dart or two.

Records and statistics are certainly part of the equation, but recognizing someone as dangerous largely happens on a gut level. Do they fight with bad intentions? Are they dirty? Are they, eh, temperamental? The best or most effective fighters aren't necessarily the most dangerous.

Here are my top 25 examples, covering alllll of MMA history. With apologies to "Lightning" Lee Murray, this list only considers actions inside the cage. Did I miss one? Let me know in the comments. But hey, let's try to contain our aggression out there.

Source  http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/12/17/city/karachi/journalists-civil-society-members-hail-implementation-of-new-pak-india-visa-regime-2/

Another day in the ‘land of pure’

Belying lofty claims by the federal and provincial governments of putting in place foolproof security arrangements for mourning processions during the holy month of Muharram, terrorists struck two imam bargahs in Karachi and Rawalpindi at will on Wednesday, killing at least 22 people in their destructive trail.

The horrifying and tragic incidents came as the government prepares to host the D8 summit in Islamabad today (Thursday) to be attended by high-profile dignitaries from across the Muslim world, leaving the authorities scrambling over the country’s security situation ahead of the crucial moot.

The bombings on the two imam bargah were not the only violence shaming the government’s claims, as three security officials and four policemen were among nine people killed in terror attacks in Quetta and Bannu, respectively.

The imam bargah bombings came only two days after the bombing of another imam bargah in Karachi on Sunday that killed four Shia mourners. Ironically, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has claimed that there’s no sectarian friction in the country and such incidents of terrorism are the work of a “third power”.
The Rawalpindi blast took place at around 11:30pm outside Qasre Shabbir imam bargah in the city’s Dhok Syeddan area on Misriyal Road, when a large number of Shia mourners had gathered for a Muharram congregation.

The explosion left at least 20 people dead and injured more than 46. Reports said seven hand grenades had been recovered from the site as well.

Sources said the attack had been carried out by a suicide bomber, adding that there were chances of the death toll climbing as a number of victims were critical.

Rescue personnel faced difficulties when mourners refused to leave the surroundings and electricity to the area was cut off after the blast, causing further panic and confusion. Evacuating the injured was another problem as the ambulances had been parked a little distance away from the site of the blast.

The government declared an emergency in all hospitals in Rawalpindi, while Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered the administration to make all out efforts to deal with the incident’s aftermath.

Earlier in the evening, two people were killed and sixteen, including journalists and security personnel, injured in twin blasts that hit Karachi’s Orangi Town.

The first blast occurred close to imam bargah Haider Qarar in Orangi, while the second occurred an hour later next to the gate of the facility.

The blast occurred when a large number of Shia mourners were busy in Muharram rituals inside the facility.
Witnesses said a motorcycle rider was heading towards the imam bargah but collided with a rickshaw before getting closer, triggering an explosion that resulted in nine people being injured and damages to several shops and vehicles.

Security personnel and rescue officials rushed to the area and initiated evacuation and shifting the injured to hospitals.

Just as the rescue activities were underway, another explosion jolted the area, injuring several journalists, security and rescue personnel.

Seven people were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital with injuries.

Police and Rangers pushed back the crowd and media teams after the second blast and completely cordoned off the area. The Bomb Disposal Squad said initial investigations revealed that ball bearings were not used in the second blast and it was not as powerful as the first one. SIU SSP Raja Umar Khattab said, “Security personnel were busy in investigating the first blast when the second bomb went off. He said it could not be confirmed if the first blast was a suicide attack or not. He, however, said explosives for the second blast were planted in a cement block.

But DIG West Javed Odho said the first blast was carried out by a suicide bomber and killed a rickshaw driver and injured seven others. Odho said the police force was working across the city and the assigned deployments would remain in their locations.

A police official said on condition of anonymity that the second bomb targeted security officials. 

Source  http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/11/22/news/national/another-day-in-the-land-of-pure/

Remembering Iqbal Haider

With the demise of Iqbal Haider, Pakistan has lost a leading liberal voice, a committed champion of human rights and the supremacy of law, a valiant defender of democracy, and, above all, an extremely caring person who was always true to his heart. His ideologically-driven active political career spanning over four decades, based on strong convictions and solid principles, is a testament to his consistent struggle for the cause of humanity.

Haider wanted to liberate Pakistan from the shackles of religious bigots. He was a staunch opponent of General Ziaul Haq’s ‘Islamisation’ and a foremost critic of the consequent Talibanisation of society. One of his last deeds before leaving us was to unite his liberal friends in Karachi to establish the Forum for Secular Pakistan, as an institutional response to the growing threat from religious extremism. Reclaiming Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s secular legacy was a cause he always professed and worked for.

Iqbal Haider worked tirelessly for the rights of the unprivileged and supremacy of law in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) was founded in his office and he remained its co-chairperson and secretary general until recently. As a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, he contested many challenging cases, defending the fundamental rights of bonded labour, victims of honour killing and missing persons. During and after General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s regime, he led the civil society movement to restore the higher judiciary and steadfastly supported the stance of the Supreme Court in high profile cases concerning political corruption, violence in Karachi and the rights of the Baloch people.

Haider’s fight for democracy was no less significant. He entered national politics in the 1970s through the leftist Qaumi Mahaz-e-Azadi party of Meraj Muhammad Khan and has always been identified with that wing of politics ever since. The 1980s also saw him joining the Pakistan Peoples Party and serving in various leadership positions, mostly provincial, until becoming a party senator in 1991. In 1993, he served in the second government of premier Benazir Bhutto, first as law minister, then as human rights minister and finally, as attorney general. He never cared about any position of power and had an ability as a parliamentarian to reach across the aisles for accommodating arch political rivals.

Haider was by nature anti-war and pro-peace. He believed in national liberation movements but opposed any recourse to violence for the purpose. He was an outspoken critic of the jihad in Kashmir. In recent years, besides assuming the HRCP responsibility, he proactively participated in the activities of Aman Ki Asha, the joint India-Pakistan media-civil society initiative for closer people-to-people links between the two countries. He campaigned for a nuclear-free South Asia. He called for open borders and greater trade between India and Pakistan. For that, he and other peace activists also received the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice in 2010.

Haider was a diehard humanist. Those who knew him long enough knew what a good soul he was — simple, down-to-earth, with no pretentions. There was hardly ever a gap between his words and deeds or between his public position and personal life. In a society where corruption is rampant, he had a long stint in politics, remained senator for over a decade and held powerful ministerial portfolios such as law — and yet, there is not a single charge of corruption against him. It was a great privilege to know him personally. Like most of his friendships, it was a common cause that brought us together back in the mid-1990s, when I reported some gruesome stories of child and woman rights violations in the media. As law minister, he took swift action against the culprits and in support of the victims in each case.

It is hard to accept the tragedy of losing a person who was so full of life and passion. He has left us all too early but with lots of lasting memories. The noble lessons of his upright life and all the heroic struggles it entailed are worth emulating for all those who want to make a difference in recreating Pakistan’s destiny towards a better future.

Source  http://tribune.com.pk/story/468079/remembering-iqbal-haider-2/

India clashes with Pakistan at UN

India's external affairs minister took on Pakistan at the United Nations on Monday for raising the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.

S. M. Krishna told the General Assembly that India has resumed dialogue with Pakistan and wants to normalize relations. But he lashed out at a speech last week by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardarif, saying the neighboring nation had no business meddling in India's predominantly Muslim state of Jammu and Kashmir, which India claims as sovereign territory.

"An unwarranted reference has been made to Jammu and Kashmir from this podium," he said, adding, "We wish to make it abundantly clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India."

Zardari said in his speech that Kashmir remained "a symbol of the failures of the United Nations system rather than its strengths." He said a solution could only be reached in an "environment of cooperation."

As the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly wound down Monday night, representatives of India and Pakistan traded several rounds of rebuttals before a mostly empty chamber. The Pakistani delegation was seen smiling and shaking their heads as an Indian diplomat issued yet another reply to a statement by Pakistan.

A violent separatist insurgency that started in 1989 drew a crackdown by Indian forces that has killed about 68,000 people in Kashmir, where public resentment against Indian rule runs deep.

The rebellion is largely suppressed, with occasional flare-ups. The Indian army said last week that a fierce gunbattle killed a suspected rebel and a soldier.

Earlier this month, Indian police arrested Merajuddin Wani, one of the longest-surviving rebel commanders in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Source  http://www.newson6.com/story/19686545/india-slams-pakistan-at-un

Hollywood, land of Opportunity

There’s more to the movie business than just actors, directors and producers. Hollywood also employs a small army of executives who produce, market and distribute motion pictures. 

According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., employment in California’s motion picture and television industry increased by nearly 10% in 2011, adding 11,700 jobs. But while Tinseltown may have a reputation for being more about who you know than what you know, many of its executive positions require a formal post-secondary education.

Many area schools offer advanced degree programs designed to give entertainment industry executives a competitive edge.

Edward Noeltner is president of Beverly Hills-based Cinema Management Group, which acquires, licenses and distributes motion pictures worldwide. He holds a master’s degree in critical studies from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. 

“That sort of critical background has helped me immensely in my career in terms of picking some winners,” said Noeltner, who has licensed movies including “Chicago” and “The Hours.”

“First of all, I got a bachelor’s degree in radio and television production [from the University of Arizona in 1980],” he said. “That set me up for working in the industry … the technical ins and outs.”

Gregoire Gensollen is vice president of international distribution and strategy at FilmNation Entertainment, an international sales, distribution and production company with offices in L.A. and New York. He earned his MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2006.

“Most of my electives were in the producers’ program in the [UCLA] film school,” Gensollen explained. “It’s extremely hard [for me] to have a macro view of the [movie] business … without having the different classes that are offered at UCLA, both the pure business MBA and the film school.”

As of this year, UCLA Anderson offers an entertainment certificate within its general management MBA.
People considering an entertainment-related degree should take into account not only a program’s ranking but also its location, Gensollen said. He recommends L.A. because of its bountiful opportunities for entertainment internships — he did nine while at Anderson — and networking opportunities.

Legal eagles

The movie industry’s myriad contracts and negotiations provide plenty of work for entertainment lawyers in Los Angeles.

G. Fabricio Lopez, principal counsel at a major entertainment company, enrolled in UCLA Extension’s Paralegal Program upon arriving in Los Angeles from Ecuador in 1994. 

“It was very hands-on,” Lopez recalled. “One instructor was a judge, another a prosecutor, another a paralegal. So they were very academic, but at the same time very ‘This is what you do on a daily basis.’”
Lopez graduated from L.A.’s Loyola Law School in 2004, where he now teaches. His advice to aspiring entertainment attorneys is to seek out schools, like Loyola, that offer the option to focus on this area of law.

Professor David Ginsberg, who heads UCLA School of Law’s Entertainment, Media and Intellectual Property Law Program, advises students contemplating an entertainment law career to choose an undergraduate degree they are passionate about rather than one that necessarily pertains to entertainment or law to better round out their skills.

“Between the UCLA School of Law’s first-year and entertainment law specialization program, we will provide a curricular and analytic approach appropriate to training a well-prepared entertainment lawyer,” he said.

Accounting is another specialty offering good opportunities in the industry. Los Angeles is home to more than 50 accounting firms specializing in entertainment, according to Roger L. Torneden, director of business, management and legal programs at UCLA Extension. 

“Differentiation is key for a new entrant [into entertainment accounting], as is up-to-date continuing education,” Torneden said. “In addition to a bachelor’s degree or higher education … courses in entertainment studies or a new certificate program in accounting, finance, taxation or personal financial planning would seem indisputable evidence of such a personal commitment.”

Supporting roles

As for talent managers and agents — though many have no related academic qualifications — post-secondary programs can help launch an agency career.

“A jurist doctorate or MBA with an undergraduate degree in marketing would be ideal,” said Von Johnson, who created and teaches UCLA Extension’s Business of Entertainment class.  “Students will benefit from electives in content production, post-production and theater.”

“My biggest lesson for students is that they must learn how to network,” said Larry Auerbach, who had a 47-year career at the William Morris Agency. As associate dean of student industry relations at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Auerbach created the school’s Graduate Certificate in the Business of Entertainment program and its undergraduate Business Cinematic Arts program, both in conjunction with the Marshall School of Business.

Source  http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/education/la-ss-education-hollywood-land-of-opportunity---20120803,0,3076962.story

Land of the Giants

The battle of Bud Light versus Coors Light is starting to look more like Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona against Miller, Coors and Blue Moon, reported The Chicago Tribune.

Last week's announcement that Anheuser-Busch InBev had agreed to buy Corona-maker Grupo Modelo (see Related Content below for previous CSP Daily News coverage) is the latest move in a long trend of consolidation in the beer market, leaving it increasingly about two giant players--AB InBev, based in Leuven, Belgium, and MillerCoors, based in Chicago.

Competitors SABMiller, based in London, and Molson Coors Brewing Co., based in Denver, established a joint venture to manage their brands in the United States in 2008. The resulting MillerCoors has also established a craft and import division, which houses brands like Blue Moon, Peroni, Leinenkugel, Pilsner Urquell and Crispin Cider.

AB InBev, which became the world's largest brewer after the takeover over St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch in 2008, will be unable to manage the Modelo brands in the United States after the deal closes, said the report, because the additional brands would send the company's domestic market share past 50%.

Modelo brands like Corona, Pacifico and Modelo Especial will continue to be managed domestically by Chicago-based Crown Imports, which will be owned by Constellation Brands based in Victor, N.Y. Mexico City-based Grupo Modelo is selling its 50% stake in Crown to Constellation as a result of its acquisition (see Related Content below for previous coverage).

AB InBev will continue to busy itself with Bud Light, America's best-selling beer, along with Michelob, Shock Top and other brands consumers might not associate with the brewing giant, including Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Bass and Beck's, the report said.

Source  http://www.cspnet.com/news/beverages/articles/land-giants

In the land of the long white cloud, sun belatedly shines for blessed, brave and bold Wallabies

Talent, producing under pressure and excellent man management are all integral parts of a victorious World Cup campaign. Luck also plays a crucial role.

During the Wallabies' two World Cup triumphs, good fortune came at important times. The 1991 team was blessed by being able to play consistent line-ups as they were not hit by any major injury crisis. Likewise in 1999, the World Cup winners had only a few niggles, some like Tim Horan dragging himself out of a sick bed to help the Wallabies win a semi-final, and then were given a leg up when France knocked out the All Blacks, and offered Australia a far more comfortable finale.

In the case of the 2011 team, it appears at last luck has turned their way. When a team has only 24 per cent of the territory and 44 per cent possession, does not actually string a proper back-line move together and their lineout fails to function losing five of its own throws, and they were still able to beat the defending World Cup champions, you have to say they're also blessed.

Advertisement: Story continues below

The players know that. The reactions in the Wallabies dressing room were, not surprisingly, ones of shock.

As Wallabies centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, who basically did not see the ball all day, said: ''I've got no fingernails left. This is just pure relief. I'm still shaking.'' Or Berrick Barnes, who again played with decorum off the bench, said: ''The sun was shining on us. Gee, we had to endure something in that second half, but thank God, we got the result.''

The Springbok camp were moaning about getting a rough deal from New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence, believing that the man of the match, Wallabies breakaway David Pocock, got away with murder at the breakdown, adding further to the belief that Australia are suddenly the Lady Luck side of the tournament.

But no one can say the Wallabies have had an easy ride. It appeared everything was working against the Wallabies making an impact in this tournament until Sunday. A lot of the bad vibes were self-inflicted, but they also had to overcome some tricky hurdles before securing themselves a semi-finals berth.

First there was the embarrassment of James O'Connor failing to make the World Cup squad announcement or official team photo after he went to one too many eastern suburbs pubs. That incident exposed the raw underbelly of the Australian team, and the resentment some in the broader Wallabies group felt towards the young breed, and the suggestion they were allowed to get away with too much.

That wound took some time to heal. Then when the Wallabies arrived in New Zealand, they were beset with injuries, none worse than just before the Ireland pool match. Digby Ioane went first, and on the day of the game, Pocock and Stephen Moore - two of the most important Wallabies forwards - were forced out through injury and illness.

Without this trio, the Wallabies were well short of their best, and it showed against Ireland, who bashed them and forced them into the tougher part of the finals draw.

The injuries also continued to pile up, to the extent that in two pool matches, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had only 24 players to choose from, prompting the unexpected but delightful selection of No.8 Radike Samo on the wing against Russia.

They somehow got through that, and even though injuries are still hovering, it is not so dire. And the bad vibes are now hitting the other countries, in particular the All Blacks, who apart from trying to stop certain players getting on the drink, are losing big names every day with a wide variety of ailments.

Maybe Barnes is right: the sun is at last shining on the Wallabies, and an unexpected tournament transformation is in the offing.

Source http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/in-the-land-of-the-long-white-cloud-sun-belatedly-shines-for-blessed-brave-and-bold-wallabies-20111010-1lhl6.html

Scholarship set up at a US law school in honour of a deceased Pakistani student

The parents of Momina Cheema, a 25-year-old Pakistani student who died in a road accident last month, announced establishment of a scholarship at the University of Virginia School of Law, her alma mater, to honour the memory of their daughter.The announcement was made by Momina’s parents—Tayeba Zia, a columnist for the Daily Nawa-i-Waqt and Dr. Akhtar Cheema, a medial specialist—on the occasion of her chehlum at their residence in Queens, a borough of New York City.The scholarship will be funded at $ 100,000, and the school will begin giving awards when the funding has reached $ 50,000, according to Paul Mahoney, the Dean of school.

“The scholarship would be awarded annually and a preference would be given to students who express an interest in Islamic law or culture,” Dean Mahoney said in a letter to Dr. Cheema.

Momina’s parents said they also plan to set up a scholarship in Momina’s name in Pakistan for outstanding students to help them acquire higher education.

The Chehlum was attended by a large number of the bereaved family’s friends, civil society representatives and members of U.S. based Pakistani media.

Source http://ftpapp.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=145821&Itemid=39

Corruption bigger threat than Pak: Anna Hazare

As the final round of talks between the government and the civil society failed, Anna Hazare sharpened his attacks on the government Wednesday, calling corruption and politician-bureaucrats nexus a bigger threat than Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, the noted social activist refuted government’s charge of trying to float a parallel government, saying, “We don’t want a parallel government. We want an autonomous Lokpal on the lines of Election Commission and Supreme Court which are out of the government’s direct control.”

He accused the government of trying to divert the people’s attention from the main issue by bring up talks about a parallel government.

Anna questioned government’s intention to curb rampant corruption in the country saying, “Why is the government not agreeing to bring CBI and other investigative agencies under Lokpal’s ambit? It seems government is not serious about corruption.”

Anna strongly demanded to put the whole bureaucracy under Lokpal’s ambit and also seemed disapproving of bringing NGOs under its purview. He went on to allege that the government didn’t want a strong Lokpal as it lacks will power and also as it didn’t want to end corruption in the country.

Speaking at the press meet, former IPS officer and a prominent member of Team Anna, Kiran Bedi said, “There is nothing for the common man in the government’s version of the bill. The common man is directly concerned with the lower bureaucracy but the government’s version of the bill only covers higher bureaucracy.”

Bedi added, “Government’s Lokpal won’t be able to solve the problems of the common man as it has no mechanism to lodge a direct complaint.”

She also asserted that the CVC and the CBI should come under Lokpal’s ambit, saying, “The CBI reports to the government so it cannot function independently.”

Also present was Arvind Kejriwal, who raised questions over government’s intentions saying, “It is not clear that for whose corruption, the government’s Lokpal Bill is. Though the bill covers 65000 government officers, more than 15 lakh NGOs come under its purview. Government should make it clear that whether it is for checking the corruption of bureaucrats or the NGOs.”

Earlier yesterday, the ninth and the final joint panel meeting on Lokpal was held at the office of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, chairman of the drafting committee. Except Home Minister P Chidambaram, who was in Jammu and Kashmir, all the other nine members had attended the meeting.

Sources said that the civil society draft contains contentious proposals like inclusion of the Prime Minister, higher judiciary and conduct of MPs inside Parliament within the ambit of the Lokpal.

It also seeks jurisdiction over the CBI and state Lokayuktas.

The civil society draft has a provision relating to the panel for the selection of Lokpal and his removal in which a citizen has the right to move the Supreme Court.

Source http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/corruption-bigger-threat-than-pak-anna-hazare_714480.html

Video: Hilarious Interview with Charlie Sheen

Cleveland can barely contain itself today, what with Charlie Sheen being in town and all. Just about every news outlet threw out calls on Twitter and Facebook this morning imploring anyone who saw the Warlock around town to let them know where he was at, presumably so they could stick a mic in his face and land a pure-gold interview like this "exclusive" that WKYC scored. 

One person in this interview sounds like an idiot. The other one is Charlie Sheen.

Source  http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2011/04/05/video-hilarious-interview-with-charlie-sheen

A neglected coupe de plume

An average Pakistani bookworm will read or come across a treasure trove of intense and often realistic literature composed by fellow citizens. In those words of experience and observation, fictional or otherwise, they will agree with at least some of what the book says or tries to convey, for that matter. That feeling of being able to relate leaves a positive message for the reader who might think, ‘Oh, we share something in common.’ A bond is built; trust is generated between the reader and the writer. A sense of belonging takes form and that is exactly what a bookworm searches for among other feelings while reading. If you look closer, you will see Pakistani English literature gracefully detaching itself from the resonating tone of Indian English tradition; stuck in the past, lamenting colonisation, analysing prevalent corruption in the system and sometimes, describing a room over ten or eleven pages with burdensome details.

But during that saunter down aisles and aisles of prose and poetry, we tend to overlook one stark truth: where are the books for children? More importantly, why are there terribly few English books for the young ones? Of course we have Roald Dahl, Sweet Valley High, Harry Potter, Enid Blyton and a few dozen others (not to forget the cringe-worthy addition of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight for the “youth”), but they all have one thing in common: they are not Pakistani. They cannot speak of the experience to be a young one in this country. They do not share the simple joys, sometimes sadness and now, the restlessness of being a Pakistani youth.

I attended several educational and literary conferences where popular figures stressed upon the need to encourage literacy and reading books in our country – but there was something missing. Children are often forgotten at such occasions; a lot is honked, little is done. But forgive me for my glumness: there are efforts being positively channeled into this direction as well. The Pakistan Children Writers Guild was formed for promoting literature for children of which Dr. Mujeeb Anwar Hamidi is the patron-in-chief along with Professor Saher Ansari, Jamil-u-Din Aali, Masood Barkati, Alhaj Shamim-u-Din, Naheed Nargis, Fatima Suriya Bajia, Altaf Qadri, Dr. Aslam Saeed and Agha Noor Mohamed Pathan part of the executive committee of the guild. In this regard, a small yet colourful ray of hope was given by Mahnaz Malik who published her first story book for kids title ‘Mo’s Star,’ a story about a penguin trying to reach the stars.

I recall my fourth grade student’s snarky yet true remark during a reading class: “You know, if they coloured these books and told better stories like my grandfather does, I would read them with a lot more interest. Promise.” I did not doubt her honesty a single bit simply because she was right. Our children want to read books they can relate to. As far as I know, no matter how glamourised and addictive Twilight gets, young Pakistani girls cannot relate to Bella for two good reasons: 1) There are no vampires in Pakistan thanks to the angry summers we get. 2) I don’t have a number 2.

On a serious note, there is a dearth of localised English literature for children in the land of pure and that needs to be addressed, especially due to the education emergency we are facing. Book clubs should be formed, reading circles should be encouraged, young graduates and high school students ought to take the time out for younger ones and share stories with them. It is truly a simple task with incredible rewards. But above all, writers need to emphasize on the significance of children’s books and make sure that they step forward with contributions for these young minds.

No doubt, the achievements garnered by our writers must be extolled wherever and whenever possible, but we need to shift our focus towards a younger yet significantly larger audience. This crowd is the most neglected and unheard in our country. The irony is that it comprises the majority of our nation and, from what you and I have been told since childhood according to the loud teacher with the horn-rimmed spectacles in class, the majority is authority. These boys and girls want books. Give them something to read and something they can relate to.

Source  http://blog.dawn.com/2011/03/29/a-neglected-coupe-de-plume/

From Purifoy to pure joy, Blazers finally land as champs

The shot felt like it hung in the air for eternity. All the frustrations, all the slights, all the close-but-no-cigar finishes in recent UAB basketball history accompanied the ball as it ascended from the hands of a freshman who didn't know any better.

Rising ...

"It felt good coming off my hands," Preston Purifoy said.

Rising ...

"It felt like it was up there about 20 minutes," Jamarr Sanders said.

Rising ...

"First I thought (Gary) Flowers was going to block it," Mike Davis said. "Then I thought it was an air ball, and I said, 'Why did I call that play?' And then it goes through the net, and I said, 'Oh my goodness, he made the shot.'"

UAB has landed.

Whether the Blazers eventually get invited to the NCAA Tournament team was immaterial Wednesday night. They are C-USA champions -- an unlikely one, given preseason expectations for an inexperienced team -- and a win away Saturday over East Carolina from their first outright conference title since 1989-90.

So they jumped on each other's backs. They danced in the aisles of Reed Green Coliseum. They screamed and jumped and skipped and pranced all through the tunnel back to the locker room.

Remarked a Southern Miss reporter: "I've never seen a team celebrate like that after beating Southern Miss."

You celebrate when you toss the monkey off your back and stomp on it. You celebrate when you finally make the crucial play in the big moment rather than succumbing to excruciating games of what-if in your head.

It was, without a doubt, the biggest win in Davis' five-year tenure at UAB.

"For sure, because we've fallen short," Davis said. "We had an opportunity to beat Memphis. We had an opportunity to beat UTEP last year before the conference tournament. We've been so close. This is so big because, without a doubt, it gives us a share of the championship. No matter what happens on Saturday, we're No. 1 in our conference."

UAB won because Aaron Johnson, Davis' pick for C-USA Player of the Year, had 14 assists and one turnover. He created points non-stop, even though a jammed thumb contributed to 3-of-9 shooting and hurt him at the foul line -- a constant theme for the Blazers, who were 4-of-14 at the stripe.

Free-throw shooting could have been an excuse. In the past it might have been after a loss in a must-win, winnable game.

"Yeah, free throws can win or lose games," Johnson said. "We're just gonna keep fighting. That's all we know."

Johnson is the heart of the Blazers. When you're one of 11 siblings, stand 5-foot-8, and have always been told what you can't do rather than appreciate what you can do, what else is there to do but fight?

"Everybody wants to criticize us," Johnson said. "We don't care what nobody says."

UAB won because Sanders, the team's best player and leading scorer, woke up from another slumber. He went scoreless in the first half and got benched for seven minutes because Davis didn't like his energy.

David read him the riot act at halftime. Sanders' response: 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting in the second half, including six in the final two minutes during a brilliant back-and-forth duel with Southern Miss' Flowers.

"I couldn't go out this game with six points or three points," Sanders said. "Whatever it took, I had to will this team to a win tonight."

But ultimately UAB won because a freshman came off the bench and sank a shot headed for the heavens.

"I've hit plenty of shots like this," Purifoy said nonchalantly.

Oh, freshmen.

Johnson, a senior, shook his head knowingly at Purifoy's remark. He was a freshman once who surprised everyone with a game-winning basket.

"It didn't sink in for me for a while, and it hasn't sunk in him for yet," Johnson said. "It's gonna sink in for him after Saturday, though."

UAB might need three days before Purifoy's shot ever lands.

Source http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/03/from_purifoy_to_pure_joy_blaze.html

Pure Cycle Corp (PCYO) Hits New 52-Week High at $4.60

Shares of Pure Cycle Corp (PCYO) hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday. The stock traded as high as $4.60 during mid-day trading and last traded at $4.34. The stock previously closed at $4.05.

Pure Cycle Corporation is a water and wastewater service provider that contracts with landowners, land developers, home builders, cities and municipalities to design, construct, operate and maintain water and wastewater systems. The Company’s assets include owning water rights to provide domestic and irrigation water to customers (it owns surface water, groundwater, reclaimed water rights and storage rights); infrastructure (such as wells, diversion structures, pipelines, reservoirs and treatment facilities) required to withdraw, treat, store and deliver domestic water to customers; infrastructure required to collect, treat, store and reuse wastewater, and infrastructure required to treat and deliver reclaimed water for irrigation use by customers. It provides water services to approximately 258 Single Family Equivalent (SFE) water connections and 157 SFE wastewater connections located in south-eastern metropolitan Denver.

Pure Cycle Corp (PCYO) traded up 7.16% during mid-day trading on Wednesday. The stock has a 52 week low of $2.03 and a 52 week high of $4.25. Its 50-day moving average is $3.68 and its 200-day moving average is $3.29. The company has a market cap of $95.7 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of N/A.

Source http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2011/02/02/pure-cycle-corp-pcyo-hits-new-52-week-high-at-4-60/

Turkel Committee defends choice of Galant for IDF chief

The Turkel Committee, which vets senior civil service appointments, defended Wednesday its choice to approve Major General Yoav Galant for the top military post despite allegations that he had been involved in appropriating plots of public land near his home. 

The committee discussed the issue only briefly before approving Galant for the position of Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, sparking a wave of public criticism and questions. 

In response, the committee declared Wednesday that its responsibility was to ensure that the candidate's values were "pure", and that he was non-partisan and otherwise free of personal attachment to any government entity. 

"[The committee is] not a panel of inquiry, and thus does not have the tools necessary to carry out investigations of the sort," it said in the statement. "It is not authorized to conduct an investigation and relies only on the information provided." 

The High Court of Justice on Wednesday, meanwhile, rejected a petition lodged by the Green Party to bar Galant from assuming the position until allegations against him are cleared. 

Galant is expected to testify on the matter next week. 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak named Galant as the next chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces in August, to replace Gabi Ashkenazi once the latter steps down.

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had requested that the High Court delay by 10 days its consideration of the Green Party's petition, in light of new information he had received about the case. He asked the state comptroller to submit his final report as soon as possible, but the report will be completed only after Galant has testified.

Source  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/turkel-committee-defends-choice-of-galant-for-idf-chief-1.337930

Retronomicon 01.12.11: Super Mario Land

The Retronomicon heads into handheld territory this week with a game that was really make or break for Nintendo's mascot and the Gameboy! Join 411's Lee Price as he takes a look at Super Mario Land!

Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the best retro column to have ever been opened on your browser in this particular second, the Retronomicon. As ever I am your host Lee Price and this is the usual spiel about how I'm going to show you the best that old school gaming has to offer. And I am. As for my current school gaming, it has almost exclusively been taken up by my apparent desire to play Final Fantasy VII through to completion. I haven't had as much time as I would like to dedicate to my gaming this week, but what I have had has been used by over-leveling my party and busting through FFVII for the umpteenth time. I do adore the game, regardless of the arguments that seem to rage around the title in regards to its quality in comparison to other games in the series. I'm loving it all over again anyway. So much so that I have literally played nothing else all week. The rest of my time has been spent working and making my way through a bunch of films that I picked up the other day. Anyway enough of that nonsense, because I believe its about time we got to the...

Source  http://www.411mania.com/games/columns/169665