Bilawal Butto in the party

His antics at Oxford University would shock people in Pakistan awaiting Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's return to take over the political dream shaped by his murdered mother Benazir.



The 19-year-old's preparation for his role in one of the world's Muslim states has certainly been unconventional.

Orthodox Muslims will be surprised to see the new leader of the Pakistani People's Party with his arms slung casually around two girls, one of whom declares herself as "bisexual" on a social networking website.

Conversations he has with friends on Facebook make reference to being hungover, his friendship with a girl he calls "Boozie Suzie" and "free alcohol".

There is no evidence that Bilawal drinks alcohol – but he was certainly living it up with his two female friends at a raucous black-tie party thrown by a student drinking society.

Bilawal had been enjoying his first year at Oxford before he was named as his mother's successor after her assassination last month.

It was all a far cry from the country of his birth, which is bound by Muslim customs where drinking is forbidden, homosexuality is illegal and male and female friendships carefully controlled.

Bilawal and the girls were dressed up for the annual Cardinals' Cocktails event where, for a £10 entrance fee, students can drink many cocktails.

The Cardinals is an exclusive all-male society favoured by the wealthiest undergraduates at Christ Church, Bilawal's college at Oxford.

They hold the event for non-members once a year to raise money for a lavish dinner to be enjoyed by their privileged members at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Only a handful of Christ Church students are allowed to join each year and they are initiated by being forced to down a bottle of port followed by eight pints of beer.

Bilawal and his friends were among hundreds of other students – not Cardinal members – at the bash this year.

Bilawal Butto in the party

His antics at Oxford University would shock people in Pakistan awaiting Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's return to take over the political dream shaped by his murdered mother Benazir.



The 19-year-old's preparation for his role in one of the world's Muslim states has certainly been unconventional.

Orthodox Muslims will be surprised to see the new leader of the Pakistani People's Party with his arms slung casually around two girls, one of whom declares herself as "bisexual" on a social networking website.

Conversations he has with friends on Facebook make reference to being hungover, his friendship with a girl he calls "Boozie Suzie" and "free alcohol".

There is no evidence that Bilawal drinks alcohol – but he was certainly living it up with his two female friends at a raucous black-tie party thrown by a student drinking society.

Bilawal had been enjoying his first year at Oxford before he was named as his mother's successor after her assassination last month.

It was all a far cry from the country of his birth, which is bound by Muslim customs where drinking is forbidden, homosexuality is illegal and male and female friendships carefully controlled.

Bilawal and the girls were dressed up for the annual Cardinals' Cocktails event where, for a £10 entrance fee, students can drink many cocktails.

The Cardinals is an exclusive all-male society favoured by the wealthiest undergraduates at Christ Church, Bilawal's college at Oxford.

They hold the event for non-members once a year to raise money for a lavish dinner to be enjoyed by their privileged members at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Only a handful of Christ Church students are allowed to join each year and they are initiated by being forced to down a bottle of port followed by eight pints of beer.

Bilawal and his friends were among hundreds of other students – not Cardinal members – at the bash this year.

Fortunately for him, his father, Asif Ali Zardari, has announced his son is too young to take power and that he will maintain day-to-day control of the party while Bilawal continues his studies.

Bilawal, who arrived at Christ Church in September to read history, grew up in Dubai after his mother left Pakistan for a self-imposed exile in 1999.

At Oxford he has not been seen at the student Islamist Society.

One senior society member said: 'He doesn't come to any of our events.' He has chosen instead to spend his time with gregarious new friends.

Two of the girls to whom he is particularly close, as our pictures show, are described on Facebook as being "engaged" to each other – Julia Caterina Hartley and Kirini Kopcke.

Julia, who was educated in Brussels, lists herself as interested in both women and men and is a member of the university's Lesbian Gay And Bisexual Society.
She and Bilawal are obviously close, often pictured cosying up together, and after Benazir Bhutto's assassination on December 27 she wrote on her Facebook site: "Julia can only think of the Bhuttos." Many of Bilawal's conversations on Facebook can be openly viewed by dozens of his friends and countless other Oxford University students.

Bilawal flirts good natured with another female student, saying: "There is a void in my life now, it's a deep dark hole in my sloe [sic] ... that can only be filled with ... boozie suzie!!"

Fellow first-year student Sammy Jay is also a close friend.

The face of Bilawal appears on a number of pages throughout Facebook but only one, using the alias of Bilawal Lawalib, is authentic.

In one exchange, before Mrs Bhutto's assassination, he tells a female friend that he "misses his secret lover" and in another exclaims "what free alcohol! I may take you up on that when I get back to Oxford!".

Bilawal's grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who founded the Pakistan People's Party and was the country's first elected prime minister but was executed in 1979, attended the same college.

His mother was a popular student and president of the Oxford Union.

The current Oxford Union President, Luke Tryl, says the new Bhutto is "quite popular in Union circles; very charismatic and engaging.

1 million dollars reward offered by a Saudi Khalid Bin Talal to anyone who captures an Israeli soldier

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - A member of Saudi Arabia’s royal family increased to $1 million a reward offered by a Saudi cleric to anyone who captures an Israeli soldier to swap him for Palestinian prisoners.

Prince Khaled bin Talal, brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, told the kingdom’s al-Daleel TV station by telephone Saturday that he was raising a previous offer made by Sheik Awadh al-Qarani, a prominent Saudi cleric who promised $100,000 for capturing an Israeli soldier.

“I tell Sheik al-Qarani that I support you and I will pay $900,000 to make it one million dollars to capture an Israeli soldier to release other prisoners,” said a voice identified as Prince Khaled, who holds no official position in the government.
The Saudi offers follow in the wake of the release of Israeli soldier Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was held by Hamas in Gaza for more than five years. Israel has agreed to free over 1,000 prisoners in exchange.
Prince Khaled said he made the offer in response to what he said were Israeli threats against Qarani’s life. He did not provide any further details.

1 million dollars reward offered by a Saudi Khalid Bin Talal to anyone who captures an Israeli soldier

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - A member of Saudi Arabia’s royal family increased to $1 million a reward offered by a Saudi cleric to anyone who captures an Israeli soldier to swap him for Palestinian prisoners.

Prince Khaled bin Talal, brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, told the kingdom’s al-Daleel TV station by telephone Saturday that he was raising a previous offer made by Sheik Awadh al-Qarani, a prominent Saudi cleric who promised $100,000 for capturing an Israeli soldier.

“I tell Sheik al-Qarani that I support you and I will pay $900,000 to make it one million dollars to capture an Israeli soldier to release other prisoners,” said a voice identified as Prince Khaled, who holds no official position in the government.
The Saudi offers follow in the wake of the release of Israeli soldier Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was held by Hamas in Gaza for more than five years. Israel has agreed to free over 1,000 prisoners in exchange.
Prince Khaled said he made the offer in response to what he said were Israeli threats against Qarani’s life. He did not provide any further details.

Family Comments of Cricketers Muhammad Asif, Salman butt and Muhammad Amir

Spot-fixing case: Butt's sisters speak out

Spot-fixing: Mohammad Asif's father appeals to govt

Family Comments of Cricketers Muhammad Asif, Salman butt and Muhammad Amir

Spot-fixing case: Butt's sisters speak out

Spot-fixing: Mohammad Asif's father appeals to govt

10 Things You Should Never Say To An Emotional Woman

It’s a rare man who knows how to deal with an emotional woman. I know that “feelings” scare a lot of dudes and in their fear and perfectly admirable desire to “fix things,” they become inert, inept, or insensitive. I’ll never forget the first time my most serious boyfriend saw me cry. He didn’t say anything at all, he just started to tear up with me. I remember thinking the man was a f**king genius! And I love him! And he should write a guide book for the rest of mankind! Not that I expect every man to cry with me, not at all, I just want them to let me feel without trying to make it stop, to comfort me without making me uncomfortable. But that’s rare. In the midst of an emotional jag, I usually end up reassuring the man that my emotions will soon come to an end and life as they know it will resume. This is why I prefer going to my female friends when I’m upset, they know better than to tell me to “buck up” or something lame like that. Just shut up and pass the tissues. After the jump, some things guys say when we’re emotional that really don’t work and some much better alternatives.
1. Lame Phrase: “You’re going to be alright.”
Of course I’m going to be alright, Captain Obvious, just give me a minute.
Better Alternative: “I can see how upset you are right now.”
2. Lame Phrase: “Don’t cry.”
That’s like telling me not to breathe. Once the tears have started coming, they’re not going to stop.
Better Alternative: “Let me get you some tissues.”
3. Lame Phrase: “Maybe you just need to get laid.”
Um, sex is probably the last thing on my mind right this second. Your magic penis can’t solve this problem.
Better Alternative: A simple form of physical affection does wonders here. Hand holding, hair stroking, or spooning recommended. We might even want to do it once we’ve found our way out of Emotionville.
4. Lame Phrase: “Stay strong for me.”
When will you learn that being emotionally vulnerable is a form of strength? Also, I’ll stay strong for me, not for you.
Better Alternative: “You are strong. You can handle this.”
5. Lame Behavior: Dead silence, a look of confusion, or a big, annoyed-sounding sigh. All non-verbal communication failures.
Better Alternative: Eye contact. A compassionate expression. Empathy tears (a very advanced move).
6. Lame Phrase: “It’s not a big deal. We don’t need to make a production out of this.”
Well, it’s clearly a big deal to me.
Better Alternative: “Explain to me why you’re so upset.”
7. Lame Phrase:“Are you getting your period?”
Aren’t I allowed to be upset and have it not be related to my period? Sensitivity happens all month long, buddy.
Better Alternative: “Are you feeling sensitive today?”
8. Lame Phrase: “There’s nothing you can do to change it, so why are you getting upset?”
If we abide by that logic, the world will be an even colder, crueler place to live. True fact: human beings sometimes get upset about stuff we can’t change.
Better Alternative: “I know it’s hard to accept.”
9. Lame Phrase: “You are overreacting.”
Well … this is my reaction right now. So … yeah.
Better Alternative: “Maybe it’s not as bad as you think.” or “It will get easier with time.”
10. Lame Phrase: “Pull yourself together.”

10 Things You Should Never Say To An Emotional Woman

It’s a rare man who knows how to deal with an emotional woman. I know that “feelings” scare a lot of dudes and in their fear and perfectly admirable desire to “fix things,” they become inert, inept, or insensitive. I’ll never forget the first time my most serious boyfriend saw me cry. He didn’t say anything at all, he just started to tear up with me. I remember thinking the man was a f**king genius! And I love him! And he should write a guide book for the rest of mankind! Not that I expect every man to cry with me, not at all, I just want them to let me feel without trying to make it stop, to comfort me without making me uncomfortable. But that’s rare. In the midst of an emotional jag, I usually end up reassuring the man that my emotions will soon come to an end and life as they know it will resume. This is why I prefer going to my female friends when I’m upset, they know better than to tell me to “buck up” or something lame like that. Just shut up and pass the tissues. After the jump, some things guys say when we’re emotional that really don’t work and some much better alternatives.
1. Lame Phrase: “You’re going to be alright.”
Of course I’m going to be alright, Captain Obvious, just give me a minute.
Better Alternative: “I can see how upset you are right now.”
2. Lame Phrase: “Don’t cry.”
That’s like telling me not to breathe. Once the tears have started coming, they’re not going to stop.
Better Alternative: “Let me get you some tissues.”
3. Lame Phrase: “Maybe you just need to get laid.”
Um, sex is probably the last thing on my mind right this second. Your magic penis can’t solve this problem.
Better Alternative: A simple form of physical affection does wonders here. Hand holding, hair stroking, or spooning recommended. We might even want to do it once we’ve found our way out of Emotionville.
4. Lame Phrase: “Stay strong for me.”
When will you learn that being emotionally vulnerable is a form of strength? Also, I’ll stay strong for me, not for you.
Better Alternative: “You are strong. You can handle this.”
5. Lame Behavior: Dead silence, a look of confusion, or a big, annoyed-sounding sigh. All non-verbal communication failures.
Better Alternative: Eye contact. A compassionate expression. Empathy tears (a very advanced move).
6. Lame Phrase: “It’s not a big deal. We don’t need to make a production out of this.”
Well, it’s clearly a big deal to me.
Better Alternative: “Explain to me why you’re so upset.”
7. Lame Phrase:“Are you getting your period?”
Aren’t I allowed to be upset and have it not be related to my period? Sensitivity happens all month long, buddy.
Better Alternative: “Are you feeling sensitive today?”
8. Lame Phrase: “There’s nothing you can do to change it, so why are you getting upset?”
If we abide by that logic, the world will be an even colder, crueler place to live. True fact: human beings sometimes get upset about stuff we can’t change.
Better Alternative: “I know it’s hard to accept.”
9. Lame Phrase: “You are overreacting.”
Well … this is my reaction right now. So … yeah.
Better Alternative: “Maybe it’s not as bad as you think.” or “It will get easier with time.”
10. Lame Phrase: “Pull yourself together.”

Top 10: Tips For Traveling In Style

Most of us dread traveling. It's not the long plane ride to or from a relaxing vacation in Europe that gets us, though, it's those 36-hour work trips to Houston or Baltimore, in coach, that ruin your week and make you feel like you haven't slept in months.

There are certain things you can't control: Leave at night and you risk flight delays; leave early in the morning and you lose hours of sleep getting to the airport. Unless you have money to burn, you're crammed into coach like poultry and, even in business class, the air and food quality are still poor. Everyone is using the filthy little bathroom and being treated like a helpless toddler. However, you can control the way you prepare and what you pack.

The following are 10 tips for traveling in style, to help you get through those difficult one- to three-day trips looking and feeling good.

Top 10: Tips For Traveling In Style

Most of us dread traveling. It's not the long plane ride to or from a relaxing vacation in Europe that gets us, though, it's those 36-hour work trips to Houston or Baltimore, in coach, that ruin your week and make you feel like you haven't slept in months.

There are certain things you can't control: Leave at night and you risk flight delays; leave early in the morning and you lose hours of sleep getting to the airport. Unless you have money to burn, you're crammed into coach like poultry and, even in business class, the air and food quality are still poor. Everyone is using the filthy little bathroom and being treated like a helpless toddler. However, you can control the way you prepare and what you pack.

The following are 10 tips for traveling in style, to help you get through those difficult one- to three-day trips looking and feeling good.

Loneliness may cause fitful sleep

People who are lonely may be more likely to have sleepless nights, researchers said Tuesday in a study that suggests loneliness may not only cause unhappiness, it may be bad for your health.
Reporting online in the Journal Sleep, Lianne Kurina of the University of Chicago and colleagues studied loneliness and sleep patterns among a group of residents living in two colonies of Hutterites in South Dakota.
People in this religious sect live communally, sharing possessions and meals. They are rarely socially isolated.
She said the findings were similar to those from a 2002 study of college students that compared feelings of loneliness to sleep quality. It found that the lonelier the students felt, the more fitfully they slept.
Wrist bands
 The researchers collected information on feelings of loneliness, blood pressure and sleep from 95 residents of the Hutterite communities, with a mean age of 40.
To measure sleep, study volunteers wore wrist bands that measured their activity and level of restlessness during sleep.
Among the residents, roughly half said they were not lonely. But among the remaining half, the researchers noted a trend between increasing feelings of loneliness and social isolation and more fitful sleep.
"Basically, the lonelier individuals had sleep that was more broken up. There was more movement during the night, more periods of short sleep duration, more tossing and turning," Kurina said by phone.
Kurina said her study does not prove that loneliness causes sleepless nights. Instead, it may help to explain why loneliness has been associated with poor health. "Its evidence of one way in which feelings of loneliness might get into the body" and affect health, she said.

Loneliness may cause fitful sleep

People who are lonely may be more likely to have sleepless nights, researchers said Tuesday in a study that suggests loneliness may not only cause unhappiness, it may be bad for your health.
Reporting online in the Journal Sleep, Lianne Kurina of the University of Chicago and colleagues studied loneliness and sleep patterns among a group of residents living in two colonies of Hutterites in South Dakota.
People in this religious sect live communally, sharing possessions and meals. They are rarely socially isolated.
She said the findings were similar to those from a 2002 study of college students that compared feelings of loneliness to sleep quality. It found that the lonelier the students felt, the more fitfully they slept.
Wrist bands
 The researchers collected information on feelings of loneliness, blood pressure and sleep from 95 residents of the Hutterite communities, with a mean age of 40.
To measure sleep, study volunteers wore wrist bands that measured their activity and level of restlessness during sleep.
Among the residents, roughly half said they were not lonely. But among the remaining half, the researchers noted a trend between increasing feelings of loneliness and social isolation and more fitful sleep.
"Basically, the lonelier individuals had sleep that was more broken up. There was more movement during the night, more periods of short sleep duration, more tossing and turning," Kurina said by phone.
Kurina said her study does not prove that loneliness causes sleepless nights. Instead, it may help to explain why loneliness has been associated with poor health. "Its evidence of one way in which feelings of loneliness might get into the body" and affect health, she said.

10 bad job signs

Work is scarce, and these days even getting to the interview stage for a new position is almost an achievement in itself. There are, however, jobs that would be best to stay away from very far, unless you are completely desperate.

But how can you tell during the interview whether taking on this job will be like stepping into a minefield?
10 signs of disaster
Oh! It's you…. The interviewer has clearly forgotten that he/she is supposed to interview you and you get the feeling that the interviewing process is rather slapdash. Also the interviewer has clearly had this task assigned to them at the very last minute.
Unknown CV territory. It becomes clear during the interview that the interviewer has not really looked at your CV, since questions are asked, which could easily have been answered by reading this document.
Where there's smoke. The interviewer smokes without asking you if you mind. Not only is this considered bad manners, it is also against the law and shows a lack of respect for prospective employees. This won't happen in large companies, where smoking is forbidden in workplaces, but if you are being interviewed by a small business, it can and does happen.
Warning. If any employee or interviewer warns you against certain other employees, take note. This place of work is probably a snakepit and backstabbing and office politics are probably the order of the day. Also, take great care never to confide in this particular person who issued the warning. He or she probably cannot be trusted.
Mystery vacancy. Your question about why this post is vacant is not answered honestly. You get the feeling there is something they are trying to hide, such as the high turnover rate in that position, or that the previous person in that post was fired.
Full training provided. Although certainly not always the case, this phrase usually means that they don't want to pay experienced people. Very often the training is also very short and insufficient and merely an excuse to underpay staff.
Dangling details. Questions about specifics, such as medical aid and pension or salary structure are dismissed with vague statements. Be very careful, they could be trying to hide something. It is very difficult later to prove that you were promised medical cover during the interview. Ask for details in writing if you are offered the job.
Job description mystery. You leave the interview and you still have no real idea what the job will require you to do every day. Direct questions were skillfully evaded and you are still mystified. If the interviewer is upfront and says that you will have to do a wide range of things, at least you know what you're letting yourself in for.
Hail fellow, well met. A job interview is a formal thing. An overfriendly interviewer who slaps you on the back is off-putting and leaves you not knowing which social codes to follow. This person is not your friend and may later be your boss. Be careful if people are too friendly.
One big, happy family. Be careful of interviewers who describe their company as 'one big happy family'. Anyone who is part of a family will know that these are often at loggerheads with each other. An interviewer who has to tell how happy everyone is who works there, is probably not being completely honest.

10 bad job signs

Work is scarce, and these days even getting to the interview stage for a new position is almost an achievement in itself. There are, however, jobs that would be best to stay away from very far, unless you are completely desperate.

But how can you tell during the interview whether taking on this job will be like stepping into a minefield?
10 signs of disaster
Oh! It's you…. The interviewer has clearly forgotten that he/she is supposed to interview you and you get the feeling that the interviewing process is rather slapdash. Also the interviewer has clearly had this task assigned to them at the very last minute.
Unknown CV territory. It becomes clear during the interview that the interviewer has not really looked at your CV, since questions are asked, which could easily have been answered by reading this document.
Where there's smoke. The interviewer smokes without asking you if you mind. Not only is this considered bad manners, it is also against the law and shows a lack of respect for prospective employees. This won't happen in large companies, where smoking is forbidden in workplaces, but if you are being interviewed by a small business, it can and does happen.
Warning. If any employee or interviewer warns you against certain other employees, take note. This place of work is probably a snakepit and backstabbing and office politics are probably the order of the day. Also, take great care never to confide in this particular person who issued the warning. He or she probably cannot be trusted.
Mystery vacancy. Your question about why this post is vacant is not answered honestly. You get the feeling there is something they are trying to hide, such as the high turnover rate in that position, or that the previous person in that post was fired.
Full training provided. Although certainly not always the case, this phrase usually means that they don't want to pay experienced people. Very often the training is also very short and insufficient and merely an excuse to underpay staff.
Dangling details. Questions about specifics, such as medical aid and pension or salary structure are dismissed with vague statements. Be very careful, they could be trying to hide something. It is very difficult later to prove that you were promised medical cover during the interview. Ask for details in writing if you are offered the job.
Job description mystery. You leave the interview and you still have no real idea what the job will require you to do every day. Direct questions were skillfully evaded and you are still mystified. If the interviewer is upfront and says that you will have to do a wide range of things, at least you know what you're letting yourself in for.
Hail fellow, well met. A job interview is a formal thing. An overfriendly interviewer who slaps you on the back is off-putting and leaves you not knowing which social codes to follow. This person is not your friend and may later be your boss. Be careful if people are too friendly.
One big, happy family. Be careful of interviewers who describe their company as 'one big happy family'. Anyone who is part of a family will know that these are often at loggerheads with each other. An interviewer who has to tell how happy everyone is who works there, is probably not being completely honest.

How to Reboot Yourself

This is what you’ll hear if you’re working on a film set and they’re going to reshoot a scene. I’ve been an extra in several films, and the more times I heard that phrase meant the more hours I was going to be spending on set that day. It wasn’t the greatest sentence to hear, but deep down I knew that the intent behind it was to get the scene completed just right. Going “back to ones” time and time again rebooted the scene until it worked.
There are times in our lives where we need to reboot ourselves. We get stuck in a pattern, follow the wrong path for too long or simply need a jolt; that’s when rebooting can be the best thing we can do. Think about when you reboot a computer: you’re essentially changing how it is currently functioning (usually slowly and sluggishly) and getting it back to where it was when you first powered it up. You’re not changing the entirety of the computer, just the way it is currently operating. When you reboot yourself, you’re doing the same thing. You’re not changing the inner workings of yourself, you’re changing how you’re currently operating.
But rebooting yourself isn’t as easy as pressing a power button or holding down control-alt-delete. There’s more to it than that.

Remove Yourself

When you are going about the reboot process, you need to step back and steer clear of whatever it is that you’re doing that is causing the need to reboot. That may mean taking a day off of work mid-week or taking a trip to get away from it all so that you can get clear with yourself. Regardless, it has to be something that you would not normally do. Calling in sick mid-week or taking one of your vacation days to break the pattern of a steady work week is one method. Using paid vacation to go as far away from what’s got you stuck is another. This isn’t running away from the problem – this is putting yourself in a place where you can really look at it and decide what the next step is. The goal is to reset yourself and you can’t do that when you’re still “on”.

Rest Yourself

Once you’ve taken the time to get clear on your next move, take the time to enjoy that moment. When a computer reboots it takes a bit of time to refresh itself. You don’t press the power button and see it instantly turn back on. It spends time getting ready for what’s next. That’s what you need to do.
You need to reflect on what you’ve decided to do and why you’ve decided to do it – and then look forward to what’s next. There’s no clutter involved, no stress. You’re just warming up. You’re getting ready to go. That takes time and energy. So rest up…and then go.

Recognize Yourself

Now that you’re clear and rested, recognize what you’re going to do to keep operating at the level you need to without having to reboot again anytime soon. Rebooting slows you down initially but once you’re up and running again you start to progress rapidly – as long as you stay focussed on what your intention is. You need to recognize this and act on it, otherwise you’ll be rebooting yourself again far too soon.
If you do end up having to reboot yourself too often for your liking, then there’s a bigger problem. You’re worn out in the current situation and no reboot can sustain you for very long. That’s when you need an overhaul. Coming to this conclusion also takes recogintion on your part, so having the awareness to recognize yourself in the rebooting process can save you a ton of time, enery and suffering in the future. As with a computer, there’s nothing more frustrating than having to constantly be rebooted. Recognize when a reboot works and when an upgrade is in order. It’s not just a time-saver – it’s a lifesaver.

Yourself…Rebooted

Just as being stuck can be a stick in the craw of your productivity, so can not knowing how to get yourself unstuck. The next time you feel that you’d be better off just trudging through your difficulties, think about giving yourself a reboot. It may just be the wake-up call you need, and now you’ve got the tools to get it done.
Don’t quit on yourself and your situation. Take a page from technology and “force quit” what’s going on and fire yourself up again. You may find out a lot more about what’s going on inside you and whether or not you need to refresh your life – or if you need to upgrade your life.

How to Reboot Yourself

This is what you’ll hear if you’re working on a film set and they’re going to reshoot a scene. I’ve been an extra in several films, and the more times I heard that phrase meant the more hours I was going to be spending on set that day. It wasn’t the greatest sentence to hear, but deep down I knew that the intent behind it was to get the scene completed just right. Going “back to ones” time and time again rebooted the scene until it worked.
There are times in our lives where we need to reboot ourselves. We get stuck in a pattern, follow the wrong path for too long or simply need a jolt; that’s when rebooting can be the best thing we can do. Think about when you reboot a computer: you’re essentially changing how it is currently functioning (usually slowly and sluggishly) and getting it back to where it was when you first powered it up. You’re not changing the entirety of the computer, just the way it is currently operating. When you reboot yourself, you’re doing the same thing. You’re not changing the inner workings of yourself, you’re changing how you’re currently operating.
But rebooting yourself isn’t as easy as pressing a power button or holding down control-alt-delete. There’s more to it than that.

Remove Yourself

When you are going about the reboot process, you need to step back and steer clear of whatever it is that you’re doing that is causing the need to reboot. That may mean taking a day off of work mid-week or taking a trip to get away from it all so that you can get clear with yourself. Regardless, it has to be something that you would not normally do. Calling in sick mid-week or taking one of your vacation days to break the pattern of a steady work week is one method. Using paid vacation to go as far away from what’s got you stuck is another. This isn’t running away from the problem – this is putting yourself in a place where you can really look at it and decide what the next step is. The goal is to reset yourself and you can’t do that when you’re still “on”.

Rest Yourself

Once you’ve taken the time to get clear on your next move, take the time to enjoy that moment. When a computer reboots it takes a bit of time to refresh itself. You don’t press the power button and see it instantly turn back on. It spends time getting ready for what’s next. That’s what you need to do.
You need to reflect on what you’ve decided to do and why you’ve decided to do it – and then look forward to what’s next. There’s no clutter involved, no stress. You’re just warming up. You’re getting ready to go. That takes time and energy. So rest up…and then go.

Recognize Yourself

Now that you’re clear and rested, recognize what you’re going to do to keep operating at the level you need to without having to reboot again anytime soon. Rebooting slows you down initially but once you’re up and running again you start to progress rapidly – as long as you stay focussed on what your intention is. You need to recognize this and act on it, otherwise you’ll be rebooting yourself again far too soon.
If you do end up having to reboot yourself too often for your liking, then there’s a bigger problem. You’re worn out in the current situation and no reboot can sustain you for very long. That’s when you need an overhaul. Coming to this conclusion also takes recogintion on your part, so having the awareness to recognize yourself in the rebooting process can save you a ton of time, enery and suffering in the future. As with a computer, there’s nothing more frustrating than having to constantly be rebooted. Recognize when a reboot works and when an upgrade is in order. It’s not just a time-saver – it’s a lifesaver.

Yourself…Rebooted

Just as being stuck can be a stick in the craw of your productivity, so can not knowing how to get yourself unstuck. The next time you feel that you’d be better off just trudging through your difficulties, think about giving yourself a reboot. It may just be the wake-up call you need, and now you’ve got the tools to get it done.
Don’t quit on yourself and your situation. Take a page from technology and “force quit” what’s going on and fire yourself up again. You may find out a lot more about what’s going on inside you and whether or not you need to refresh your life – or if you need to upgrade your life.

Internet Users in Pakistan Cross 20 Million Mark

Pakistani internet users have been on the rise with accelerated pace, crossing 20 million benchmark with a greater percentage accessing the internet via mobile phones, said Freedom on the Net in it’s 2011 annual report.
The report cited International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and said that estimated users have been surging significantly on monthly basis however, the Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) estimated a far lower number of internet users at only ten million.
On the other hands, some of the local think tanks said that the internet users have crossed 24 million benchmark at present with surging number of broadband and mobile internet users.
The report stated that the Internet is available in all the major cities of the country, as well as in many remote areas. The majority of people use dial-up connections whereas broadband internet is growing speedily in big cities.
With the explosion of mobile-phone use and the gradual spread of broadband internet in Pakistan, access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) has increased, as have citizen journalism and online activism, the report said.
Pakistan does not yet have a third generation (3G) network, which is also a hindrance for the spread of broadband internet and other wireless services in the country. Remote areas of the country have no access to broadband, and are left with only a slow, intermittent dial-up connection, rendering any meaningful online activities very difficult.
The number of broadband users reached almost 1.5 million mark. Pakistan is recently ranked as one of the top countries that registered high growth rate in broadband Internet penetration, Point Topic, a global broadband tracker said in its report published a few months back.
The country, which has seen a boom in its telecom sector and information technology services in recent years, recorded around 46.2 percent growth of subscribers and is placed fourth on the ranking list.
There more than 50 internet service providers including 10 broadband companies operating in different parts of the country under their license at various charges.
These service providers have brought advanced technology to deploy their network including Wimax, DSL, FTTH and HFC. The number of operators with variety of technology has been expanding base of technology users with competition, showing the falling rates of service by every passing month.
The different service providers include PTCL, Wateen, wi-tribe, Qubee, Link Dot Net, Infinity and Comsats. The broadband packages are lowest in the world ranging from Rs. 250 to Rs 3,000 per month depending on the speed and utility of data by the subscribers. However, the stiff competition among the operators has resulted constant decline in quality of service.
Pakistan has already developed and expanded its technology highways with international undersea cable for its future demands. Presently, there are four undersea cables connecting Pakistan to rest of world including PTCL’s owned SMW3, SMW4 & IMEWE and one with TWA.
The domestic internet highways or domestic Fiber backbones providers are PTCL, Wateen, Mobilink and Multinet.
Internet has been evolving in its different technological modes through high-speed broadband and has become a basic need of the people for the purpose of information, education, entertainment and business. Hence, it is an indispensable source that plays a vital role in different aspects of a masses’ life.
Pakistan’s digital growth prospects have begun to look brighter lately. Besides having a large bilingual (English and Urdu) Internet using population as the estimated viewership of blogs have reached nearly 3.4 million.

Internet Users in Pakistan Cross 20 Million Mark

Pakistani internet users have been on the rise with accelerated pace, crossing 20 million benchmark with a greater percentage accessing the internet via mobile phones, said Freedom on the Net in it’s 2011 annual report.
The report cited International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and said that estimated users have been surging significantly on monthly basis however, the Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) estimated a far lower number of internet users at only ten million.
On the other hands, some of the local think tanks said that the internet users have crossed 24 million benchmark at present with surging number of broadband and mobile internet users.
The report stated that the Internet is available in all the major cities of the country, as well as in many remote areas. The majority of people use dial-up connections whereas broadband internet is growing speedily in big cities.
With the explosion of mobile-phone use and the gradual spread of broadband internet in Pakistan, access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) has increased, as have citizen journalism and online activism, the report said.
Pakistan does not yet have a third generation (3G) network, which is also a hindrance for the spread of broadband internet and other wireless services in the country. Remote areas of the country have no access to broadband, and are left with only a slow, intermittent dial-up connection, rendering any meaningful online activities very difficult.
The number of broadband users reached almost 1.5 million mark. Pakistan is recently ranked as one of the top countries that registered high growth rate in broadband Internet penetration, Point Topic, a global broadband tracker said in its report published a few months back.
The country, which has seen a boom in its telecom sector and information technology services in recent years, recorded around 46.2 percent growth of subscribers and is placed fourth on the ranking list.
There more than 50 internet service providers including 10 broadband companies operating in different parts of the country under their license at various charges.
These service providers have brought advanced technology to deploy their network including Wimax, DSL, FTTH and HFC. The number of operators with variety of technology has been expanding base of technology users with competition, showing the falling rates of service by every passing month.
The different service providers include PTCL, Wateen, wi-tribe, Qubee, Link Dot Net, Infinity and Comsats. The broadband packages are lowest in the world ranging from Rs. 250 to Rs 3,000 per month depending on the speed and utility of data by the subscribers. However, the stiff competition among the operators has resulted constant decline in quality of service.
Pakistan has already developed and expanded its technology highways with international undersea cable for its future demands. Presently, there are four undersea cables connecting Pakistan to rest of world including PTCL’s owned SMW3, SMW4 & IMEWE and one with TWA.
The domestic internet highways or domestic Fiber backbones providers are PTCL, Wateen, Mobilink and Multinet.
Internet has been evolving in its different technological modes through high-speed broadband and has become a basic need of the people for the purpose of information, education, entertainment and business. Hence, it is an indispensable source that plays a vital role in different aspects of a masses’ life.
Pakistan’s digital growth prospects have begun to look brighter lately. Besides having a large bilingual (English and Urdu) Internet using population as the estimated viewership of blogs have reached nearly 3.4 million.

Pakistan Blocks Thousands of Adult Websites

Pakistani internet service providers have started the process of blocking websites with adult and explicit content, told us multiple sources from the industry.
Earlier this month PTA, telecom regulatory authority of Pakistan, had decided to block the access of those websites in Pakistan that contain adult content.
As we reported earlier, PTA has plans of blocking 150,000 such websites in coming weeks, however, initial list of 1,000 websites has been sent out to all ISPs, mobile operators and international gateways to get them blocked.
ProPakistani has got the said list of 1,000 websites, which we aren’t publishing it here for obvious reasons. But we can tell you that they all are adult websites and few of them are ranked in top 100 Alexa list for Pakistani most visited websites. Local adult websites are also included.
ISPs are given 8-10 days to get the orders implemented. Most of the ISPs, including PTCL, have already blocked these websites, while others are making the necessary preparations for the blockade.
PTA is also planning to devise a way for general users to report adult websites to authority. After through review authority will keep adding such reported websites/URLs to the black list.
Internet Service Providers on other hands aren’t comfortable with the overheard involved in the blocking of websites. They say that blocking high number of websites may result into slow performance by routers and increased latency due to high number of filters over the network.
PTA decided to ban explicit websites after immense pressure from bloggers, hackers and activists. They, along with parents, are certainly rejoicing authority’s decision.
However there are users who are opposing the ban, few of them think that this way PTA will get the axe to cut any website under the cover of explicit material. But sources at head-office of PTA tell us that they will make this process of blocking websites very transparent and visible to everyone, so that no one fears the unlawful use of power

Pakistan Blocks Thousands of Adult Websites

Pakistani internet service providers have started the process of blocking websites with adult and explicit content, told us multiple sources from the industry.
Earlier this month PTA, telecom regulatory authority of Pakistan, had decided to block the access of those websites in Pakistan that contain adult content.
As we reported earlier, PTA has plans of blocking 150,000 such websites in coming weeks, however, initial list of 1,000 websites has been sent out to all ISPs, mobile operators and international gateways to get them blocked.
ProPakistani has got the said list of 1,000 websites, which we aren’t publishing it here for obvious reasons. But we can tell you that they all are adult websites and few of them are ranked in top 100 Alexa list for Pakistani most visited websites. Local adult websites are also included.
ISPs are given 8-10 days to get the orders implemented. Most of the ISPs, including PTCL, have already blocked these websites, while others are making the necessary preparations for the blockade.
PTA is also planning to devise a way for general users to report adult websites to authority. After through review authority will keep adding such reported websites/URLs to the black list.
Internet Service Providers on other hands aren’t comfortable with the overheard involved in the blocking of websites. They say that blocking high number of websites may result into slow performance by routers and increased latency due to high number of filters over the network.
PTA decided to ban explicit websites after immense pressure from bloggers, hackers and activists. They, along with parents, are certainly rejoicing authority’s decision.
However there are users who are opposing the ban, few of them think that this way PTA will get the axe to cut any website under the cover of explicit material. But sources at head-office of PTA tell us that they will make this process of blocking websites very transparent and visible to everyone, so that no one fears the unlawful use of power

Use Facebook on Mobile Free for 90 Days with Ufone

Ufone and Facebook are collaborating with each other to provide free Facebook access on mobile. As part of launch promotional offer with Facebook’s Java Application - 90 days free access is being provided by Ufone without any data charges.
Earlier Mobilink offered a similar service but it was available for text updates only i.e. loading pictures was not free.
Launch Promotional Offer:
Starting 1st August 2011 and extending for 90 days, use of Facebook Java application for free. On the 91st day from 1st August 2011, standard GPRS charging will apply on use of application. Promotion period will end on 29th October 2011.
Regular charging will proceed 30th October 2011 onwards. During the promotion period, all external links/applications will be excluded from free browsing i.e. applications added from the “Apps” tab in Facebook application will be charged as per selected GPRS plan.
Application Download:
Application can be downloaded from Facebook page on Ufone WAP Portal. From your handset please access the following link to download the application:
http://wap.ufone.com/ufone/includes/app_pages/community/facebookapp.jsp
Once downloaded, the application will be installed automatically.