Launch a satellite TV channel in 1.5 months…almost done. Have to finish this election technical stuff before I leave for #Islamabad. #log #Photos #Pakistan #Lahore #media
This is where Martin Patience of BBC got stuck in a streaming buffer! #news #media #log
At 7:15pm, the low buzz of a drone was heard overheard. Seconds later, an enormous explosion engulfed the area, destroying the boat and several nearby homes. Sources say 46 Watertown residents were killed in the missile strike, including 12 children.
A hypothetical narration of a drone targeting the Boston Marathon bombing suspect in Watertown by an American Facebook user based in San Francisco, has gone viral amongst Pakistani Facebook users. Within 24 hours the post was shared more than 5000 times and generated hundreds of comments.
What if Watertown was Droned?
(via globalvoices)
(via docecomoacanela)
Google Street View Hyperlapse
Probably the best thing you’ve seen for a long time!
Stradivarius trees: Searching for perfect musical wood (By John Laurenson)
Switzerland is home to some of the best violin makers in the world. But how do they know which tree will make a top quality violin? A wander through the forest with a master tree picker gives an idea of the enormous experience and instinct required.
Just any tree will not do when combing a forest in Switzerland for the perfect musical wood - its age, the weather and even the position of the moon help to craft the warmest, fullest notes.
Lorenzo Pellegrini shook his head and walked away, knee-deep in snow. (Complete article)
There is even something very musical about the article! And this article is not even about instrument making, it is about Lorenzo.
- April 15
- , 2013
The Independent: Atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris face Islamophobia backlash
They are often described as “The Unholy Trinity” – a trio of ferociously bright and pugilistic academics who use science to decimate what they believe to be the world’s greatest folly: religion.
But now Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris are on the receiving end of stinging criticism from fellow liberal non-believers who say their particular brand of atheism has swung from being a scientifically rigorous attack on all religions to a populist and crude hatred of Islam.
In the last fortnight a series of columns have been written denouncing the so-called New Atheist movement for, in one writer’s words, lending a “veneer of scientific respectability to today’s politically-useful bigotry.” (Complete article)
Got back to Lahore around 6pm, after a little rest had dinner and then left for the office. Had a CRASH COURSE in technical setup for News Channel with different vendors and technical consultants. Got back home like 15 minutes back. Should get some sleep because have to be up at University around 8:30am for some important meetings.
Oh and between all those meetings tomorrow, I have got my second lecture on Entrepreneurship for Engineers - and I haven’t even completely prepared my lecture yet.
I am also sorry for not responding to the messages/replies on the tumblr. I haven’t been using tumblr from my computer for quite sometime now. Hopefully should be doing that over the weekend.
Only few weeks working this close with a media group and I have realised so many things. Maybe journalists go through the same process as doctors where they grow this mechanism to disconnect from their patients or as the Relief works who have to train themselves to not get emotional in a situation. But this is a tough job.
Hearing about a terrorist attack which killed over 60 innocent people and then talking about it purely in terms of business and exposure is something which will take me a considerable amount of time getting used to. I am glad that the senior editor who called me up last night to tell me about it as one of the “achievements” quickly realised that I am not yet cut out for it - and was able to change the tone of discussion.
Newspaper printing press. #log #photos #Pakistan #Lahore #media #news
CMKY illustrated. #log #photos #Pakistan #Lahore #media
- February 12
- , 2013
I am still working for the University and for all the things that annoy me about it, I am able to derive pleasure from my ability to contribute something back to the society. Without any doubt my actions are small and insignificant but the thought that they might enable someone else to take things to a new level is satisfying. Sometimes exposing people to new ideas and different thought process is more important.
New however is that I will be conducting a weekly workshop on Entrepreneurship at the University this semester. I always said that I will never teach until I have already done my PhD but this one just held my interest. So if you are in Lahore and will like to attend one of these let me know, probably I can arrange a spot for you. [Also if you yourself or you know someone is an Entrepreneur and an Engineer, and can share the experience GET IN TOUCH!]
And yes, I have also taken up a position with a new publishing house to head their Strategy for New Media (online publishing). Interestingly it is a Urdu newspaper with a very different outlook (if you are in Pakistan, chances are that you’ve already seen or heard about it - or will probably hear more about it soon) and given I get to do pretty radical things for a Urdu newspaper, it is exciting.
Oh and beside all this got a call from Nomi while he was out shopping with his wife and this is how it went:
Nomi: Usman, guess who I just saw at mall?
Me: Who?
Nomi: Remember *insert name of that girl from 10 years back*
Me: OH YES!
Nomi: YES!
Me: Say Hi to her from my side and better take a picture!
Nomi: Can’t do it, I am with my wife…holding my daughter at the moment.
Me: eh! Come on, your wife will understand - tell her it is for Usman.
*I did not get the pictures I asked for. Maybe I should start going out for shopping*
There isn’t much I can do to remove bigotry from my country but can at least help with spellings and grammar. Apparently some people still believe there is a CONSPIRACY behind the whole Malala incident. (complete discussion here)
American Sniper author Chris Kyle shot dead in Texas (news)
This pretty much requires no commentary, since this helps one a lot:
Married with two children, he has now retired from the military and has published a book in which he claims to have no regrets, referring to the people he killed as “savages”. (complete: What goes on in the mind of a sniper?)
Live by the sword, die by the sword!
