(Listening to music in the early stages after a stroke can improve a patient’s recovery, research suggests)
The researchers compared patients who listened to music for a couple of hours a day, with those who listened only to audio books, or nothing at all.
The music group showed better recovery of memory and attention skills, and a more positive general frame of mind.
Writing in journal Brain, the Finnish team who studied 60 patients said music could be a useful addition to therapy.
Lead researcher Teppo Sarkamo, from the University of Helsinki, said music could be particularly valuable for patients not yet ready for other forms of rehabilitation.
It also had the advantage of being cheap and easy-to-conduct.
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DEAR General Kayani,
As a Pakistani, I have no doubt that you are as delighted with the way the recent elections were conducted as I am. Some of the credit must go to your officers and troops for having assisted in maintaining law and order. But of even greater significance was your decision not to involve the army in any other aspect of the elections. All of us remember all too well the negative role played by Military Intelligence (MI) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in past polls.
As democracy finally returns to our deeply troubled country, and a new government takes shape in Islamabad, I have a few suggestions on how you can help the political system find its feet, and to mix a metaphor, put down roots. I would also like to share a few thoughts on a new partnership between elected governments and the Pakistan Army.
You are well aware of the widespread perception that the army has meddled in politics long enough. Indeed, this feeling has been vociferously expressed by the public and the media over the last year, particularly during the crisis over the fate of the Chief Justice. A crisis, I might add, that was precipitated entirely by your predecessor, and one that brought great discredit to the service you now head.
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Reference: http://pakistanlink.com/
ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday promised the “mother of all elections” when Pakistan goes to the polls next week, reiterating that the vote would be free, fair and transparent. Musharraf also pledged there would be no further delays to Monday’s elections, which were postponed in early January after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at a campaign rally. “This is the mother of all elections,” Musharraf said at a special conference of government officials in Islamabad and shown live on state television. “Despite all the insinuation and apprehensions, the elections will be free, fair, transparent and peaceful. It is my pledge to the nation,” added Musharraf. “The derailed process of democracy is back on track and elections will be on February 18. In the atmosphere of terrorism, no disruption and violence will be allowed,” he maintained. Pakistan’s “reputation is at stake and to an extent our future depends on this,” the former military general said. Musharraf rejected accusations of rigging levelled by opponents. “It is not possible to stop some sort of problems at the tactical level on the question of rigging, but we have taken all measures to make it rigging-free,” he added. President Pervez Musharraf also dismissed a series of recent opinion polls by foreign organisations that show his popularity nosediving. “They are carrying out opinion polls through NGOs (non-governmental organisations) who abuse us,” he said. President said that be believed that country comes first and before the democracy, adding the personal interests cannot be given priority over national interest. He continued to say, ‘I believe in such a democracy which causes progress of the country.’
Reference: http://www.thenews.com.pk/
ISLAMABAD: A full bench of Supreme Court dismissed a petition pleading challenging the nomination of President Pervez Musharaf as head of state.The apex court, headed by Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, heard the case on petition filed by Mr Zahoor Mehdi — a presidential candidate who’s nomination had been rejected by the Election Commission.The EC had dismissed Mehdi’s nomination papers because no one had proposed and seconded him, which was mandatory under the law. The apex court upheld the EC decision.
Zahoor Mehdi pleaded with the court to afford him 15-day time for case preparation and provision of the evidence; however, the court dismissed the case.The apex court full bench comprised Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Mohammed Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqeer Mohmmed Khokhar, Justice M Javed butter, Justice Syed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Ejazul Hasan, Justice Mohammed Qaim Jan khan, Justice Mohammed Moosa K Leghari, Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Yousuf, Justice Mohammed Akhtar Shabbir, Justice Zia Pervez, Justice Mian Hamid Farooq, Justice Syed Sakhi Hussein Bukhari, Justice Syed Zawwar Hussein Jaffery, Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali and Justice Mohammed Furrukh Mehmood.
Meanwhile, the hearing of a petition in the deposed chief justice’s manhandling case has been adjourned for an indefinite period by the Supreme court.
Reference: http://pakistaniat.com/
The nation is gearing up for Election 2008 but issues-based politics remains a distant dream. However as an electioneering ritual all major political parties have announced their election manifestos to offer voters their pledges, promises, potential policies and programmes that will be realised if they are voted to power on February 18, 2008.The comparative analyses of the manifestos of various political parties reveal that special emphasis has been laid on education. At least in the manifestos of Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Pakistan Muslim League-N education figures as priority number one.
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Reference: http://www.authorsden.com/
On 14 February we celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day, usually by the way of exchanging cards, sweets, lingerie, flowers or jewelry. But, what exactly are we celebrating, is it just a holiday the retail stores invented to get our money? One could think so, but no, we are actually celebrating a Christian Holiday, Saint Valentine’s.
We are following a Christian and ancient Roman tradition. By now the Catholic Church recognizes three Saints by the name of Valentine, or Valentinus.The first legend to the background of the celebration of Valentine’s Day is this:During the 3rd century a priest by the name of Valentine, under Claudius II in Rome, secretly disobeyed the law.Claudius had come to believe that a single soldier was a better soldier than a married young man and so decided to outlaw marriage in order to have plenty young strong men with no wives at his disposal. Valentine, the priest, did not obey this law and continued to celebrate the holy bond of marriage for young couples in secrecy. Of course, the way it always works with secret clauses, he was caught and sent to his death.The second legend believes that Valentine was a prisoner who fell in love with a young woman, who came to see him often. It is believed that she was his jailors daughter. Before his untimely death he wrote her a love letter, signed with ‘Your Valentine’. There fore the phrase ‘Be my Valentine’.Some believe he was beheaded, others thought that he died of sickness.
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Reference: http://pakistaniat.com/
In one of my earlier posts on Lahore’s old books shops, Adil Najam raised an interesting point and suggested that Pakistan is ripe for an Amazon type service for selling and buying old books and young Pakistani entrepreneurs should think about it. I don’t know if anyone has started such book selling service in Pakistan but I did come across this wonderful online store, Al Rug , selling handmade carpets. Two young entrepreneurs from Islamabad, one of them is an old friend of mine Yasir Hussain, came up with the idea of marketing and selling Pakistani handmade carpets to Europe and Americas through an online store.
At that time, not many people believed that Europeans and Americans would buy such an expensive product from a Pakistani online store. But hard work and honesty does pay off and, now, its amazing to see the huge success of this unique online store after three years. Definitely a wonderful example to follow. Many of you probably know that the handmade carpets of Pakistan, and particularly of Lahore, are one of our major export items and earning us huge revenues each year.
The gifted artists of Pakistan have the ability to produce ANY kind of carpet. Pakistan is fortunate enough to be blessed with such highly skilled artists, the main requirement for this industry, so the demand remains all time high. The Government of Pakistan is also encouraging this industry through various means. I know that SMEDA and some of the banks are offering easy loans and technical assistance to craftsmen/women for the purpose of setting up their own businesses. For ATP readers interest and information, let me share some background information, present situation and the challenges, including child labor, facing Pakistan’s handmade carpet industry.
Introduction:
Pakistan is amongst the world’s largest producers and exporters of hand-knotted Oriental carpets. In the last few decades, Pakistani carpets have reached the farthest corners of the world.
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Reference: http://www.islaam.com/
Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab
Members of the Advisory Council of `Umar, radiyallahu `anhu, the second Caliph of Islam, were always the `Ulamaa’ (the learned in religion) whether they are old or of young age. Abu Huraira, radiyallahu `anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: Anyone who is most versed in Allah’s Book should act as an Imam for the people; but if they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding the Sunna; if they are equal regarding the Sunna, then the earliest of them to emigrate; if they emigrated at the same time, then the oldest of them.
In another version it is reported: No man must lead another in Prayer where the latter has authority, or sit in his place of honour in his house, without his permission. Muslim transmitted it.
Jaabir radiyallahu `anhu said: Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, had each pair of those killed at the Ghazwa of Uhud wrapped in a single garment and asked which of them knew more of the Holy Qur’an. When one of them was pointed out to him, he had him put first in the side of the grave. Bukhari transmitted it.
Abu Musa Ash`ari radiyallahu `anhu reported Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, as saying: The respect of a Muslim who is of an old age and a follower of the Qur’an leads to the pleasure of Allah provided the follower of the Qur’an is not a transgressor and unfaithful to the Holy Qur’an.
