Port, Hole, Whole Boat Peephole, British Virgin Islands

Port, Hole, Whole Boat Peephole, Virgin Islands.
Sounds So Sinful For So Heavenly A Place



The Baths at Virgin Gorda, in the Virgin Islands, are just an out of the world experience to visit and see.

Getting from the top of the hill to the rock formations, with convoluted steep climbs down through jutting rocks with rising water, narrow paths and scary little landings, enhance the thrill. You walk on planks to where pirates of yesteryear probably walked the plank. But now the scene is serene, and of peace and security.

The sky and sea look satin smooth while the rocks are textured and the light plays games to show rocky shades of olive and mocha on the sides.

You fall in love with it, especially when you see this view, like a port hole of the planet, a peep hole onto a world of boating, yachting, fun and frolic.

Being able to frame the whole catamaran in this triangular opening on what must be volcanic rocks spewed out of earth millennia ago, even with an old pocket Nikon Coolpix S6, was a fun and the picture came out very nice.

A must see place.

© 2008-2010 IMRAN
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Why? Why Now? Why Me? But, Still So Blessed

You all know how positive a person I am. But it is becoming so difficult every day.

Everything of any significance that I NEEDED to happen or fall into place correctly this week, singly or in total, went wrong or led into brick walls. Non-stop. But, I continued to laugh it off, and continued to plug away as I have for the last nearly 2 nightmare years.

But, it just does not stop. The surreally bad week ended just now with my lifeline iPhone 3GS falling out of my pocket (when the earphone cable snagged a chair & yanked it out), falling face down, on tiled floor and being smashed to pieces :-( .

This was just unbelievable bad luck and bad timing because it is the only phone and net connection I had. And, due to the real difficult time in my life, I can't afford to replace it right now.

"Why? Why now? Why me?" were the words of the song "Suzanna, I'm Crazy Loving You" that came to my mind (and the expression on my face, I am sure).

But, as I was walking home from where it happened, devastated at the new challenges that poses, the way things are rapidly crashing, and as all I built over 21 years vanishes before my eyes, the feeling of despair for the unnecessary and unfair loss, I considered how blessed I am.

I am so blessed --- in the dream life I have had, still have now with being alive, healthy & able, and the amazing life that lies ahead, once these worst days are over. God willing. So, Thank You, God, for all the blessings.

Your prayers in these toughest days of my life are appreciated.

18 Years Of A Million Tears. Mother's Memory 2/2

18 Years Of A Million Tears. Mother's Memory 2/2 - IMRAN™, uploaded by ImranAnwar.

2/2. The saddest day of my life, 18 years and a million tears ago.

I flew out of JFK the night of February 1, 1992, headed to Pakistan - where it was already 2/2/1992. I was going to see my beloved parents in Lahore. But, I was en route via Karachi. My Mom had insisted I stop there to condole the death of a relative and a friend's father there, the previous week.

The powerful PIA Boeing 747 jet engines hurtled me over the North Atlantic, erasing 600 miles per hour between my mother and me. But, there was an invisible infinite eternal distance of space and time growing silently, a cosmic chasm that no known power in the universe could shorten.

As the plane was flying towards Europe, life was flying away. As the aircraft was coming in for a landing, unknown to me, my mother's soul was taking off into the heavens beyond this world.

Landing in Karachi, I was smiling and happy, when I disembarked, clueless about what tragedy had struck me but I was unaware of. I went to the airline counter to check the status of my connecting flight to Lahore that was supposed to be for a few days later.

I was flirting with the young lady checking my reservation, asking for a nice window seat. She looked at me in a puzzled manner that I did not understand then. As she quietly typed on the keyboard my curious eye made me read a telex message on her desk, facing her.

As I read the upside down text, my breath left me, my heart stopped. I felt the hand of death clutch my heart...

"Please give priority seating...
Passenger Imran Anwar needs to be on next flight....
Has to attend Mother's funeral."

That is how I found out that my mother had died, just over 50 years old.

Instead of seeing my Mom to open the bags of gifts I was carrying for her and everyone, I would barely get home in time to carry her body for burial. Instead of her pinching my cheeks as she loved to do, all I got to do was touch her cheek one final time, as I fell on my knees next to her. She seemed just to have fallen asleep.

18 years later today, to the day, not a day goes by when I do not shed a tear for my beloved mother. Tears roll down my cheeks as I write these words, and every time I relive that moment.

Ami, I will love you forever, even after I die.


© IMRAN
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Oh God, Where Are Three, I Mean, Thee?

There are fewer topics that can get people riled up more than religion. I generally avoid getting into religious discussions, as I am hardly the image of a religious scholar. But, when I see something totally stupid or retarded or bigoted, against my better judgement, I will comment on it.

A FaceBook connection of mine, Leroy Hite (a right-wing Bush-loving Bible-thumping conservative but still overall nice guy) posted a comment which I had to respond to.

That there is a "Minister" and others posting as if in the throes of some orgasmic rapture while typing their bigoted responses dooming others to hell or worse, made this even more entertaining.

It may also be mildly disconcerting for you to see that supposedly educated people can look upon other faiths with such intolerance. They appear to be no different than Taliban In Trousers.

Since FaceBook is not open to non-members, I am posting here the recent (ongoing) "discussion". It has been a while since I posted something like the good old newsgroup "debates" of 2 decades ago. If you're Christian, especially Catholic, or Muslim, or Jew, etc. surely something will amuse and surely something will aggravate you. What better way to enjoy religion in the new year? :-)

Happy New Year, 2010.

Imran

---

Leroy Hite * Muslims can proclaim their hatred for Jews & Chrisians which is a standard teaching in the Middle East, in all mosques, yet most in the West believe that we all pray to the same God? The Muslims themselves state that Allah is only applicable to them.
Tue at 8:30am

[This was Leroy's comment on some news story. I read his comment as well as the "gems" below & responded]

T Rene' Bachus Bowers basis is "spirit of jealousy."
Tue at 12:10pm

Mark La Roi Liberalism kills brain cells.
Tue at 12:26pm

Minister Patrick Williams Moon god worship. They deny Jesus as the son of God because their allah is not begotten, neither can he beget. This sets them apart from us and dooms them to hell.
Tue at 12:58pm

T Rene' Bachus Bowers unless or until they repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ which many are doing. Jesus is mercifully revealing Himself to many muslims in dreams and visions. may many, many more be brought to the King of kings and Lord of lords by His precious Blood--the only Way!
Tue at 1:25pm

Minister Patrick Williams This is so true, many are having dreams and visions from God, and are coming to the Lord. God desires all men to come to a saving knowledge of His son.
Tue at 1:41pm

Imran Anwar Leroy, sorry, but that is a ridiculous and frankly stupid comment. Muslims believe in Allah, the ONE God, the same as believed by Jews and Christians. We believe in Moses, Jesus etc as Prophets of that same ONE God. Christian fundos (read Bowers's above) post about how "their" God is superior.

Stop spreading hatred and stupid notions about Islam. It simply makes you appear similar to hate-filled AlQaeda supporters with their message of bile and falsehoods about others.
Tue at 6:21pm

Minister Patrick Williams You may say the one god until the end of life but it is not the one God we worship. Our God has a son name Jesus, yours does not. Our God has extend grace freely to us and we are sure, you hope you make it. So you see they are not the same.
lets look a little further.

We believe God became flesh. Not the same god you believe in.
وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلِيٌّ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا
and say: "All praise is due to God, who begets no offspring, and has no partner in His dominion, and has no weakness, and therefore no need of any aid" – and [thus] extol His limitless greatness.

There are many verses in the Koran where Muhammad denies the deity, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus and that He is the Son of God. The Jesus of Islam is just a man and prophet. He is even considered to be a lesser prophet to Muhammad because Muhammad is considered to be the highest prophet of Allah. But our God name is not allah, but
Yahweh, vocalized as Jehovah the tribal god of the ancient Hebrews. In Judaism and Christianity, the name Yahweh is the personal name of God. A name you do not know.
Tue at 6:55pm

Imran Anwar Muslims believe in ONE GOD, supreme being, creator of the Universe, who sent his message to many prophets, from Adam to Abraham to Moses to the immaculate conception of Prophet Jesus. We're not taught Prophet Muhammad was superior to Jesus (who we actually believe shall return, not Muhammad, as the Messiah). I do not believe Jews believe in 3 gods like Roman-paganized later Christianity taught, with most of those "teachings" coming centuries after the time of Jesus, prophet of the One God. (I never could figure out how believing in 3 entities qualifies as MONOtheism, but whatever floats your boat, err, ark, err cloud to heaven, padre ;-)
Tue at 7:42pm

Minister Patrick Williams I never could firgure out how a people could follow a man who had a 8 year old wife. Was a murderer and had no internal peace. A man who took piece of the bible and patched it together with the most ungodly teachings. You will never understand the nature of God, YHWH because you don't belong to him. Jesus said no man come to the Father but by Him. So if you are over there and left out maybe it because he hasn't dealt with you yet. Seek him while you can. Time is short a we shall see whose god is God. Peace be unto you.
Tue at 8:22pm

Leroy Hite Imran - The Doctrine of the Trinity is impossible to understand! That's what makes it believable! Nobody would or could have made up a doctrine like that - One God yet 3 Persons! Can you name the 3 persons of the Trinity Imran?

http://howdyhumor.blogspot.com/search?q=trinity
Tue at 8:50pm

Mark La Roi Let's boil this down to the base issue: is Jesus Christ almighty God?
Tue at 10:37pm

Minister Patrick Williams Yes! And anyone who does not accept this is not my brother.
Tue at 10:56pm

Imran Anwar Partick (and others), you are welcome to believe that 3 different entities can be ONE God. It is not my need or plan or job to convince you about how non-Monotheistic the Roman-Paganized versions of Christ's message of ONE GOD became. Far smarter people have written far better treatises on that.

A simple study of history shows how "modern" Christianity was created long after Jesus time. Ironically, Muslims consider attacks on Jesus blasphemy (or when some suggest "Virgin Mary" was covering for an illegitimate child begot from a life of sin).

So, I find it laughable for you to say things about Prophet Muhammad considering the child-molesting Church is as alive today as the bloodthirsty crusaders and Church leaders BURNING people ALIVE as heretics were far more recently. Christianity a religion of peace? Sure, if you want a good laugh.

If you want to trade slanders on other's religions, remember others can do far worse, and I don't think that is what Leroy wants his page to turn into. Thanks.
Wed at 12:13am ·

Leroy Hite Imran - Did you read my post just above? Christians do not believe that there are 3 Gods & the Trinity was taught hundreds of years before the Romans ever existed (see Is 9:6 for one example in our OT).

The burning alive as heretics & the Crusades were a Catholic event & we are Evangelical Protestants.

I'm glad that you & I are FB friends. You are obviously intelligent & likable but have gotten wrong teaching from liberal Christianity which is not Christian at all my friend.

Here's that link again about the Trinity again:
http://howdyhumor.blogspot.com/search?q=trinity
Wed at 10:01am

Minister Patrick Williams Think one of the major misunderstanding they have of Christians is that they try to lump of all together. As you stated we are not Catholic and frown upon all they did in the name of God. We hold to the true church, whereas they did many ungodly acts and still do. Jesus is God and there is no doubt about this. I care not for their teaching, it no more then the devils attempt to kill the promise God made to Abraham that His blessing should be upon Ishmael, who He foretold, would beget twelve princes and would become a great nation.
The devil raised up a man to distort this promise leading them down the wrong path. It gets no simpler then that. God wanted them to serve Him, but their so called prophet introduced them to another god, not the one we know, and wanted them to know him.
Wed at 2:02pm

Mark La Roi "A simple study of history shows how "modern" Christianity was created long after Jesus time."

~I'd like to see your proof.
Wed at 9:57pm

Minister Patrick Williams He doesn't know any better. He has studied the way the church evolved over the years and Constantine the Roman emperor 324 until his death in 337. He was known for being the first Christian Roman emperor who stopped the persecutions of his predecessor, Diocletian, issuing the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious toleration throughout the empire. The church split later into two sections, eastern and west, both Catholic not protestant as we are. It was under his authority many things entered into the church that did not appear in the first church of the apostles. Pagans were allowed to retain many of their traditions and this brought into the church a form of godliness, which still exists in the Roman Catholic church today, but he can't see that we are not the same. We don't chant, burn incenses, we don't refuse to allow our ministers to marry, recongize the pope as Gods representive on earth, pray to Mary or go to any man seeking forgiveness. Nor do we make saints out of dead men. It is in the name of Jesus we pray. I pray he will research this for himself and see we are not the same but hold to the true teachings Jesus and of the church. I think most muslim people over there and over here are mislead about the differences. Most protestants see Catholics as more closely aligned to muslims. They use the same rosary, which we don't and because the Muslims have a certain devotion to Our Lady and recognize her Virgin Birth and Immaculate Conception, were intrigued by the fact that Mary had appeared at Fatima, which was the name of Mohammed's favorite daughter and regarded by the prophet as the highest woman in Heaven after our Lady. In Zanzibar the sultan placed a wreath of flowers at the Fatima statue's feet. This is why they tolarate Catholics but not protestants. God bless.
Wed at 10:38pm

T Rene' Bachus Bowers May I say that we have been bought by that precious, most wonderful Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?! Hallelujah! The Blood of the King of kings and Lord of lords; the very One Who said, "I and the Father are One." What a marvelous mystery!!! It was His Blood that brought us into the very presence of Yahweh, into the Holy of holies--not something any man, prophet or any other, could do. May I go so far as to say, you might want to sit down on this one, that, because we have the very Spirit of God living on the inside of us (Wow!something we humans cannot fathom but accept by faith,) we have become a "Holy of holies." I was reading just yesterday in the book of John, these words, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send His Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him." Jn 3:16&17 Amplified What a Truth! What a Saviour!!! We should be on our knees right now! The very next verse goes on to say that, whoever trusts in/believes in this Christ will NEVER be judged or condemned, but that he or she who refuses to trust in Him will be condemned. These are not any man's words, but the very Words of God. All people of every tongue and nation, who have believed and trusted in this Jesus Christ as the Only WAY, will be the ones to be caught up in the clouds when He returns to earth.

My dear Imran, these words are not for argument, they are for an invitation for you to see for yourself and hopefully ask more questions. If I may suggest, ask Jesus. Ask Him to reveal Who He is to you. The reason I know He will is because He revealed Himself to me--and changed my life completely. I love Him sooo much for His undeserved favor in my life.
Oh my Father, I ask you to show Imran how very much you love him. Reveal Your love to him and cause him to know that You have an amazing plan for his life--better than any-thing he could ever plan or imagine! Thank You for Imran!
Would You kindly bless him richly? It is in Your Son's mighty
Name that I ask You to do this, the Name that is above every
Name, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You Abba Father, Amen--so be it.
Yesterday at 1:52pm

Imran Anwar Patrick, thanks for the additional laugh.. "They deny Jesus as the son of God because their allah is not begotten, neither can he beget. This sets them apart from us and dooms them to hell." One, it is Allah, not allah. Like I say Jesus, not jesus.

Anyway, by your statement, will Jews also be doomed to hell because they do not believe in the tri-theistic beliefs you have? And, what is your Christian belief in what will happen to the Jews when Jesus returns?

Leroy, I understand that Catholics burnt people alive, killed in crusades for power and wealth, give more power and pomp to an elected man the Pope than Jesus would want, etc. So, do you consider Catholics true Christians or more of a cult?

BTW, the Nazis killed lots of Catholics but history showed Protestants got along fairly well with Nazis as they went about their "work".

Mark, God's gift to mankind, called Google, will provide you info on history of how the current Bible came to be. (Do the MANY "versions" suggest it is the original word of God sent to Jesus?). And, I'd like to see your proof of Jesus as the son of God.

Lastly, Rene, that is the whole point. Faith is a matter of personal choice, not knowledge. You can believe what you want, I can believe what I want. The best of us will be those that live good lives by whatever our faith is and being good to other people. Happy New Year to all you.
3 hours ago

[You will love the responses this got, see below, emphasis added]

Mark La Roi "Mark, God's gift to mankind, called Google, will provide you info on history of how the current Bible came to be. (Do the MANY "versions" suggest it is the original word of God sent to Jesus?). And, I'd like to see your proof of Jesus as the son of God."

~You made the claim, now I merely ask you to back it up. I will not do your work for you. Share your side and I'll share mine. Either you have proofs or you are just sharing what you've been told, which is not knowledge, merely agreement. God does not force us to have faith in nothing, but gives a great deal of evidence.

I am not looking to pick a fight here, you made the claims.
about an hour ago

Minister Patrick Williams Every: The word of God tells us cast not your pearl before swine. Those who reject Christ are swine.
47 minutes ago

[UPDATE: Hilarious to see him come back a few hours later, delete the comment above either not realizing or remembering that FaceBook emails participants of these Wall post discussions all the posted messages as a record, so deleting it on the Wall page does not mean they disappear! His new update was simply:]

Minister Patrick Williams Cast not your pearls before swine
about a minute ago

In any case, my fellow Muslims, as well as Jews, Catholics, Hindus and others who do not subscribe to this idiot's beliefs, I hope you enjoyed being considered equal "swine" in the eyes of Minister Patrick Williams of Elizabeth City, North Carolina!

---

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© IMRAN 2010
Web: www.imran.com
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Happy New Year 2010 - IMRAN™

May you soar to greater heights on every ocean, any adventure, you embark on.

May every sunset open unto promises of brighter blue skies and new tomorrows.

May the new year bring you all the joy and success you ever dreamed of.

May you enjoy it all, in health and happiness, with loved ones, forever.





© 2010 IMRAN

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© IMRAN 2010
Web: www.imran.com
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Have A Ball Above Towering Tree(ts) - Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Enjoy this unique view of the Christmas Tree at Galleries Lafayette in one of my favorite cities in the world, Paris, France. You will like my copyright inserted in the picture. :-)

Though I am a Muslim born in Pakistan, December 25, Christmas Day was always a special day. It is a national holiday in Pakistan (birth date of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of the nation).

Since I went to missionary schools for a great education in Pakistan, they also celebrated it as a Christmas break. And, on a more personal note, it was also the birthday of my beloved late Mother.

For Christmas and this holiday season, I think this is a perfect picture to wish all my friends lots of joys and treats having a ball under (or over) the towering tree(s) of gifts, love and happiness.

© IMRAN
DSCN1097

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
40, Boulevard Haussmann, 
75009 Paris, France

loc: 48.87276862591975, 2.332355493122009

© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
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Pinnacles Of Success Often Shrouded In Fogs Of Uncertainty

A foggy, cold, damp, dreary New York winter day. The Empire State Building disappearing into the jaws of a sepia gray foggy sky. A seemingly depressing moment. But an inspiring moment for me.

I share with you the words that I spoke on creating the image....

Pinnacles Of Success Will Often
Be Shrouded By Fogs Of Uncertainty.
But, They Await You.
Dream. Decide. Act. Achieve!
                        --- IMRAN

I hope the words and the image will inspire you to achieve all that you can dream of.

See it closely and notice how the foggy sky photo noise turned into an amazingly beautiful caramel chocolate 3D sandpaper texture effect in Photoshop. You almost feel you can touch the dimples and grains of it.

© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
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On A Clear Dusk, You Can See Forever

This absolutely unedited and unprocessed photo (except frame and name added in Photoshop) shows how clear winter dusks can be. See it larger,

The day was one of 30-50 miles per hour winds, that brought with them wind chills on top of the cold weather moving through. But what the wind brought in coldness, it took away in pollution from the air.

I braved the wind to walk out onto the beach at my home in East Patchogue and catch the most amazing sunset colors --- made more spectacular by the clarity of the air.

The plane even further in the distance and the birds in the air all fought the wind, which was gusty enough to almost make me fall over from the boardwalk railing I had taken some pictures standing on.

That is Robert Moses Causeway Bridge, literally 17.23 MILES (27+ km) from where I stood and took the picture on my beach at home.

On a clear day you can see forever. 
On a clear night you can see for eternity. 
On a windy day, you can see where the magic of winter sunsets lies. 

I hope you enjoy the warmth of this cold sunset photo of November 28, Thanksgiving Weekend, 2009 in my blessed home by the sea and may we all have even more blessings to be thankful for next year.

© 2009 IMRAN

This Will Live Online Forever
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Stunning Blue Waters, British Virgin Islands

I have seen fewer places with more beautiful blue waters than the Caribbean and especially the waters of the British Virgin Islands at Tortola.

This particular picture was taken with a pocket Nikon S6 as we took a ferry towards Virgin Gorda, one of the most beautiful places I have been.

The blue water at the dock was cleaner and more beautiful than anything even in a swimming pool or bath tub we can imagine.

The boat's propellor's churned the ice-colored but perfectly mild water into shades of teal, turquoise and literally made you say aquamarine. It almost looks like one of those colored iced drinks like Slurpees of this color that you can drink.


© 2008-2009
DSCN3450

Location: 18°25'9.30"N 64°37'1.46"W

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Does Fall On A Tree In The Forest Make Sounds, Of Silence?

When Fall Falls On A Tree In The Forest, Does It Make Sounds, Of Silence?

The total silence and stillness of this moment I captured sounded like life passing by quickly in slow motion. The cracking Sounds of Silence that Fall makes when it creeps up and falls onto a tree in the forest.

Captured during a walk on South Country Road, near my home, in East Patchogue, Long Island, New York.

© 2009 IMRAN
DSC3477_PSF

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Camera:Nikon D300
Exposure:0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:f/5.0
Focal Length:70 mm
ISO Speed:280
Exposure Bias:+4/3 EV
Flash:On, Return detected

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© IMRAN 2009

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Mother Of Exiles, By The Golden Doors

Mother Of Exiles, By The Golden Doors

By Imran Anwar

The Statute of Liberty, in New York, is one of the best recognized symbols in the world. Less known are the full words of the poem found there. See it larger.

On a heavily clouded day in Manhattan, the often blue sky filled with shades of gray was burdened with the weight of a golden red sunset they were trying to conceal.

The light was the worst it could be for a great traditional photograph. But, as I caught the patina of Lady Liberty through the architectural frame painted Gold by the falling sun..... it provided the perfect backdrop for me to remember, and share, the words that hold so true today, and forever.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

© 2009 IMRAN
DSC_3427_PSPF

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Evil Taliban vs Pakistan, What Side Are You On?

Imran Anwar (http://www.imran.com ) asks Pakistanis and Muslims which side they are on in the war so-called jihadi terrorist groups like Taliban, AlQaeda and other evil are carrying out against Pakistan, Muslims, Islam and innocent people.

How difficult is it for Muslims and Pakistanis to say, "Taliban, AlQaeda and these Jihadi groups, killing innocent women and children daily, blowing up mosques, killing defenders of Pakistan, are enemies of Islam and Pakistan" ?

© IMRAN 2009
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Clouds Over Cloud Computing? Raining On The Hype Parade

Clouds Over Cloud Computing? Raining On The Hype Parade

What's In A Name? What's In A Function? What's In The Hype?

By Imran Anwar

A recent blog entry on Internet Evolution by Mary Jander, titled "Clouds May Finally Be Forming for IT" recently caught my attention. Mary wrote about how companies have started looking at cloud computing as an infrastructure platform for their business.

That got me thinking about the very concept of cloud computing - as it is being foisted upon the industry and business. Don't get me wrong. I believe in the Internet and its power since before it became a commercial entity in the United States. It was for this reason that I elected to pioneer and be founder of Internet e-mail in Pakistan nearly 2 decades ago.

I also do not wish to sound like one of those "everything that can be invented has been invented" naysayers. However, even as the technology lover and evangelist, sometimes I see the industry shooting itself in the foot by simply renaming, repackaging, re-hyping concepts every few years.

Obviously, technology has been moving forward at a rapid pace every decade. Back in the day, a green screen operator's "cloud" was somewhere in the big air-conditioned room far away, housing the mainframe. 10 years later the concept of client/server moved the cloud into a less discrete location and made it a little more granular.

Then came the not so successful network computing concept which fell victim to its own hype. Next we have the Internet now being leveraged productively in some creative ways, but again causing marketing driven hype to set it up for potential disappointments and failures.

It is partly for this reason, the lack of clear revolutionary changes in enterprise computing, that we face a problem. We have entire industry initiatives and business plans being built around terms that nobody even fully agrees on the definition of.

Cloud Computing, Web 2.0, the Semantic Web, etc. are just some of the examples of how we, as an industry, are adrift. We are again latching on to buzzwords, hype, self-sustaining waves of "if we talk enough about it, it will happen" -- hoping someone, somewhere, will create a solution which sells enough in the marketplace to validate the original buzzword.

In the past some companies, like Microsoft, would derail perfectly good technologies possibly competing with their products by using FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt). Many good companies, products and technologies fell victim to that. However, despite the best efforts of monopolies of their time, whether in computer hardware, operating systems or telecom, smart, nimble and aggressive competitors did create new products, categories and entire industries.

That is why it is so ironic to me that thousands of companies and professionals are trying to create a new Cloud Computing industry --- without overcoming the FUD factor inherent in the marketplace!

Instead of removing uncertainty about what cloud computing means, what advantages it offers, what risks it carries and how those risks can be overcome, the players who want to lead in this industry are actually putting their faith in uncertainty!

They are relying on poorly defined concepts, media driven hype and evangelist driven buzzwords. They are hoping to be able to come up with something that sticks while no one knows what it all means.

That approach may work in the 3M Post-It sticky notes laboratory. But that is not how an entire industry, Information Technology and the Internet, based on a reality AND an image of clarity, consistency and communication standards can operate or succeed.

This is not the way to overcome the FUD that validly exists in the minds of technology and business managers in the enterprise. Add to that the recent outages, consistent problems and massive hacks that have hit everyone from Microsoft to Google, from Twitter to Facebook, and you can see why selling Cloud Computing as the answer, or even ready for prime time conversion of businesses, is both disingenuous and dangerous.

How many CIOs would be willing to completely bet their careers, and the security, and business continuity, of their organizations entirely on something as nebulous, literally, as cloud computing? I would not. As a CIO in a recent engagement, I started moving my client organization in that direction, for specific, clearly defined, non-mission-critical, business and technology functions. But, the most important, sensitive and mission-critical elements I ensured keeping in-house, in a proven, reliable and secure infrastructure

It is time for us, as an industry and professionals, to get out from under the umbrella of excuses that are often self-contradictory. When asked to define cloud computing we say things like "This is still an evolving platform". When asked to sell the concept to clients, we make it sound like it is as reliable as what clients need and expect, knowing that it is not.

Let us let the rain of facts, client needs, technology realities and user expectations wash away the layers of hype that are coating our vision. Then let us build clear definitions, clear messages, clear value propositions that will sell far better than the hype.

Only with such clarity can we expect the sun to shine on a bright future for Cloud Computing. What do you think?

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What If The Taliban Had Attacked Pakistan's Nuclear Facilities?

Does Pakistan Need Any More Wake-Up Calls? The recent brazen attack by Taliban on the Pakistani army headquarters may be the last wake-up call that the nation is going to get.

Pakistanis have to ask themselves some serious questions. What If The Taliban Had Attacked Pakistan's Nuclear Facilities instead of the Army Headquarters? Or, what if these had been coordinated attacks simultaneously? The results would be horrible and ugly domestically and in the international response and concern about Pakistani nuclear assets.

That there are Taliban, Al Qaeda, Jihadi as well as Khliafat movement supporters and apologists in Pakistan is a sad fact. That there are still Pakistanis who do not see beyond the length of their nose - or a few months of perceived good and bad political stability - and yearn for martial law and its "benefits" is also a sad fact. That there are plenty of "blame America for every problem that Pakistan faces" people in every walk of life is also a given.

But if they all needed any further reminder, slap on the face, and one serious final wake-up call, this attack was it. It literally was an attempt to take over the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, something even India and Pakistan do not try to do to each other in times of cold and hot war. This should show the most ambivalent and secretly sympathetic Pakistanis that the Taliban are the enemies of Pakistan.

It appears that the attackers had inside information before the attack. The fact that there remained a not so secret cadre of Pakistan military officers who theologically, intellectually and emotionally remained supportive of the Taliban was dangerous enough. That they may still be providing material and professional aid to these enemies of Islam and Pakistan is far more treasonous than any actions of corrupt politicians or even dictators imposing martial law.

I must say I am shocked, and seriously disappointed, that the Army did not expect or prepare for the kind of brazen attack that took place. Signs had been pointing to it. Events were leading up to it. Yet, the very center of Pakistan's army operations was caught off guard.

I am surprised at the news reports suggesting that the guards on duty were confused by the fact that the attackers wore army uniforms. This should have been the most basic expectation provided to the guards in their basic training. Expect the enemy at any time, in any guise.

I am also thankful, and actually surprised, that these were not a series of automated attacks by uniform wearing terrorists attacking several Army locations around the country. We should be thankful for that, but also expect, and prepare for the worst.

This also highlights a serious risk that Pakistanis would be foolish to ignore. A similar uniform wearing gang of terrorists could attack nuclear facilities in Pakistan. We are fortunate that this attack did not target nuclear installations. As it is, it is a matter of serious embarrassment and grave concern for Pakistan and supporters of Pakistan.

The time has come for Pakistan, Pakistanis and the Pakistan army to wake up, and march forward, with no doubt, no hesitation in the no prisoners attitude to deal with the cancer that is now obvious to everyone except anyone harboring a secret desire to live in the Stone Age again.

Pakistan has to eradicate the Taliban, and by extension Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan, not for the sake of Afghanistan, not for the sake of America, a not for the sake of any supposed global war on terror. Pakistan has two fully eradicate this cancer from every part of its body and soul for its own survival.

It is not to be easy. There will be blood. Unfortunately, that is what happens when the cancer is allowed to grow freely, or even encouraged in the false assumption that it can be controlled. The time is now. The need is critical. Pakistan's survival is at stake.

Pakistan's army and its people have to work together to meet this challenge together. The time of ambivalence is gone. The time to tolerate terrorists apologists is gone. The time to eradicate the cancer is here. Let us not let down our nation. Pakistan Zindabad.

--

Imran Anwar is a New York based Pakistani-American entrepreneur, Internet pioneer, inventor, writer and TV personality. He can be reached through his web site http://imran.com and imran@imran.com . You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/imrananwar

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Circles Of Life's Seasons; Color Wheels Of Nature Projecting Fate's Movie

Circles Of Life's Seasons; Color Wheels Of Nature's Projector, Displaying Fate's Movie
Stunning Fall Foliage Colors, South Country Road, East Patchogue, Long Island, NY

We may desire for our lives to be eternal Springs, of youth and new joys. We yearn for our days to be endless Summers of bright, sunny, blue-sky filled days.

We may want to never be exposed to the cold brutalities of life's Winters. But, winters do come in every life. And they have to be lived and experienced. As they start casting their longer, colder, crueler shadow across the days of our lives, things fall around us.

But, there is an irony in the seasons, fate and life. Fall, as life that sprung forth last spring, falls by the wayside. Yet, it is also the only time we are given a choice to see and appreciate such dazzling, stunning colors, as only Fall can bring. It gives us one last hurrah of color, to tide us over the cold days we know lie ahead, with the promise of a new life in the new year. And so the circle of life goes. And so it goes.

====

Driving home from running some errands I was amazed at the brilliant fall foliage colors that were highlighted by the sun's late afternoon glow. I went home, picked up the camera and headed back to take these pictures.

© IMRAN 2008-2009
Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/
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Orion's Belt Over Nebulous New York Times

On A Starry Night Calm Orion's Belt Wraps An Eternal Eye Over Nebulous Tumultuous New York Times

It is appropriate that the photo I took after catching the glittering skyline of earth's shining star, Manhattan, and the stars of Broadway and Times Square, is a timeless shot of the stars lining the sky. (See larger size to make out details of nebula, etc. )

They were beyond my grasp but it is just who we are, needing to reach for the stars, across the reaches of time, the vastness of eternity. So, I caught them, the cold cruel burning cores of Hydrogen, for me and you for today, and for forever etched onto the Silicon atoms of my camera's memory ... and the infinite neurons making up my memories in this so finite life.

The sky was particularly dark on this moonless night tonight. There was moisture in the air as a Southern wind was riding the Great South Bay, churning the water onto the beach in tumultuous waves of passion.

Far above, silently watching, the stars burnt in an amazing range of colors you could make out with the naked eye. Even the nebullae visible told their nebulous stories in clear thundering silence. I bowed in prayer, a murmur of thanks, to God, for having allowed me this moment to have lived, witnessed, experienced.

--
I was able to capture this shot with the Nikon D300 with no filters. This picture is as it was taken. See in full size in ALL SIZES if you see the button above.

© 2009 IMRAN
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© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/
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Tags: IMRAN, "Imran Anwar", ImranAnwar, "New York", "Long Island", Universe, Space, Stars, Night, Nikon, Orion, Astronomy

Summer Night City. Dark, Lights, Ironic Sights. Kodak By Nikon

Summer Night City. Dark, Lights, Ironic Sights. Times Square, NY. Kodak Moment On A Nikon.

Nothing beats the energy and feel of being in the heart of the center of the universe, being in Times Square, in Manhattan, New York, USA.

The lights stand out in stark contrast to the dark night.

Reflections of light seem to levitate in mid-town mid-air as if hanging from some unseen bright blinding blinds. There were other ironies in the night,

It was a Kodak moment, but caught on a digital Nikon (2 year old S6 pocket camera).

A Broadway show sign advertises MAMA MIA and music by one of my all time favorite groups ABBA, but, the night reminds me of a different song by them....

It's night, and summer, in the city, in Summer Night City.

As ABBA sang:

"It's elusive, call it glitter
Somehow something turns me on
Some folks only see the litter
We don't miss them when they're gone
I love the feeling in the air
My kind of people everywhere
When the night comes with the action
I just know it's time to go
Can't resist the strange attraction
From that giant dynamo"

I Love New York.

© 2009 IMRAN
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© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/
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Seasons Of My Life - IMRAN

I savor the ups & down of life. And the changing of the seasons is a great time to remember that, to savor that.

I don't want to rush thru life to just the good parts, then regret how life went by even faster than it does. As a brutal & cold Summer ends, I look forward to Fall, its colorful reminders of endings; to Winter's whiter shades of white, seeming desolate but a fresh canvas; so Spring full of love and joy can paint new life on it; so that life and love can be celebrated in Summers to come.

==
I generally do not post my "personal" photos here. But the end of Summer 2009 is a poignant time to post this. I hope it makes you take stock of life too.


© 2009 IMRAN
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© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/
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Will You Spare One Minute For Pakistan? (Urdu/Video)

You say, and believe, that you love Pakistan. Can you spare just one minute in one day to do something for Pakistan? Let Imran Anwar's no-holds barred, uncensored and unrehearsed, words inspire you to greatness. Please Share & Post to your friends and family.

© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/
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Osama On Obama. What's Different Behind Latest Tape?

Osama On Obama. What's Different Behind Latest Tape?

Osama Bin Laden's latest tape talks about Barack Obama but the tone is different from before. Imran Anwar's short but insightful analysis helps you understand what it means.

© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/
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Send More US Troops Into Afghanistan?

Imran Anwar (IMRAN.TV / http://www.imran.com/media/blog/ ) raises very serious questions about the current situation in Afghanistan. Are more US troops the answer? If not, what is? Listen for the answer.


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Unrequited Love by Imran Anwar

You can almost reach out and touch the moon and run your fingers gently on her aging, aged, ageless but scarred face, where times, and passing suitors it disdained, left their marks, with you, the reader, wondering if a gentle tear from a secret subterrainian river will gush forth, as it silently tells the story of its endless, eternal, inescapable love for the blue planet it is forever intertwined with, but desinted never to meet, lest it be a deadly last waltz that would spell doom for both, in a deadly one night stand, a flash of explsoive passion, with the earth's oceans of life-giving liquids gushing forth into the skies, escaping into a climax of everything and a vast nothingness at once... such is the eternal dance of unrequited love of star crossed lovers and planets and moons. Feel it.

==

Full Moon, September 3/4 2009, Heron Pointe, East Patchogue, Long Island, New York, USA.

Words & Photograph © 2009 IMRAN
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----© IMRAN 2009
Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/
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On Defending Pakistan From It's Leaders, On Defense Of Pakistan Day

Should Or Shouldn't Pakistan's General Musharaff Be Put On Trial?

What do you think?


© IMRAN 2009

Web: www.imran.com
Blog: www.imran.com/media/blog/ 
Pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/ 
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Grains Of Sand In The Sky - By Imran Anwar

Grains Of Sand In The Sky

by Imran Anwar

(Dedicated on August 21-22, 2009,
To the memory of my beloved father, Anwar-uud-din.
Born Aug 22, 1931 he left us December 21, 2008)

Over the waves' mighty roar
On a weather beaten shore
Sounds, of pebbles and rocks I find
The tides of time that eternally grind

At first, I defiantly, bravely, stand
Before long, humbly kneel in sand
Here I tremble on an infinite brink
Unfathomable grasp of a mystic link

The ripples sing an endless refrain
"Remember, every fine sandy grain
Does an amazing secret nurse
It too is center of the universe

Under mortal feet on a sandy beach
From far beyond its meagre reach
It too feels tugs from eons afar
Its tiny core yearns to be a star."

On the edge of the wavy bay
At the end of the shiny day
I look up at the darkening sky
Where stars live and meteors die

At this eternal moment in time
No timeless words, no fancy rhyme
No complex grand theory of chaos
Explain simple truth of the cosmos

I realize it's so very true
Nothing even the Sun can do
To any way stop or stall
The certainty of nightfall

Darkness around, near and far
Defied by a single shining star
A turning, blinking distant firefly
A burning grain of sand in the sky


© 2009 IMRAN

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Hi & Low & Behold & Hold, Bold And So Happy Together

Taken around my birthday at a time I was facing some unexpected challenges, about to leave my Singer Island, Palm Beach condo at the Tiara, in 2004, this photo of two lovers, rising up to ride high, but below my balcony on the 37th floor, just always brings a smile to my face. Even though I can fly planes and love boating, this is one activity I am yet to do. I can hardly wait to do it with someone special one day. Words from the song by The Turtles, So Happy Together, just ring out in my ears from this picture.

Imran

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Ominous Dark Clouds, Storms Above & Around, Gold Lining Too Far, Soon Overcome By Darkness - IMRAN

By Imran Anwar

We always hear about how every dark cloud has a silver lining.

But what do you do if there are nothing but dark clouds, ominous, rolling in. Lower and lower, literally falling to 20 feet above the ground. Every peal of thunder and every ring of the telephone, bringing more destructive forces beyond our imagination and control, shaking and uprooting what comes in their path.

As this masive, thunderous storm struck out at Long Island I was hit by two severe economic jolts, shaking my house, and the future of my home, to their foundations in every sense.

There was no single dark cloud with a silver lining. This was as bright as the evening was going to get, deep soul-chilling darkness, rolling in right behind, above, within and all around the ominous clouds.

In the distance, not Silver but a Gold lining, above Fire Island. So close, but just far enough not to save the sinking ship of drowning dreams.

And soon even that ray of hope, lining of Gold, the sliver of remaining faith, first glistening with promise, then dulled and eventually overcome by the sheer forces of darkness, disappeared from view, leaving a uniform dark shroud... Fade To Grey.

No man is an island, but with dreams on fire, and a storm above, even the strongest resolve can be shaken. The pain. The loss. The efforts and work of a lifetime, lost in the process.

I know, this is nothing. It will get worse. Much worse. It could always be even worse, and I am thankful I have all that I have within me, a gift of God.

I shall rebuild. I have no choice. I shall rise again. Because that is who I am. And shall remain as long as I live. So help me God.

©2009 IMRAN
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Web: http://www.imran.TV
Blog: http://www.imran.com/media/blog/ 
Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/imrananwar/sets/ 
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Down To A Sun Filled Sky, Smith Point, Long Island, NY

Another stunning Long Island sunset as a plane turns towards its destination. I am reminded of a novel I read as a teenager, Down To A Sunless Sky.

Protect Your Photos Forever at neternity.org

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©2009 IMRAN

Pakistan Democracy: The Long March, The First Step

What a difference a day makes. What an even bigger difference a week can make.

What an amazing and exciting week this has been for Pakistan as a nation. Its elected leaders had just recently squandered a historic opportunity to set Pakistan boldly and directly on the path to institution and nation building.

On more than one occasion, on TV and radio, I had compared Pakistan, as a nation and especially as a government, to the ship Titanic, except that this one had deliberately hit every iceberg it could find.

Just when it seemed that the current government in Islamabad had completely forgotten the lessons of history - of merely one year ago - something changed. It had appeared that the policies of Islamabad were surely and not so slowly pushing Pakistan in the direction of chaos and eventual return of martial law.

As someone who has told his share of lawyer jokes, for the last one year I have had nothing but praise and kudos for the barristers and attorneys of Pakistan. Theirs is a career dependent upon daily earnings, made from daily work outside the court houses of Pakistan. One could not have been imagined that profession as the consistent and unstoppable source of the year-long protest movement. What the lawyers of Pakistan carried out was doubly special, as they did it against not one but two tyrants within one year.

Besides self-inflicted wounds, almost exactly of the kind that General Musharraf suffered from, perhaps there was some hubris or misconception in Islamabad. Maybe there was a feeling that people in Pakistan have become immune to tyranny. Perhaps it was felt that when push comes to shove Pakistanis are so used to having people in power do what they please that nothing would come out as protest against any power grab carried out by Islamabad.

But just when it seemed that our ship PNS Titanic was headed straight into a minefield, surrounded by icebergs, in the midst of the perfect storm, the most amazing opposite perfect storm arose in response. The nation became a nation.

The Long March, as it was called, was the best example of a peaceful (at least by Pakistani standards) uprising by the people of Pakistan to have their way with an elected ruler trying to cling to, and expand, his power.

I was in Lahore in 1977 when it happened the last time. I remember driving past puddles of blood covered with ash in dozens and dozens of locations on The Mall where anti-PPP protesters had been killed by the government at that time. This time however, thankfully, the perfect storm that arose was one of common sense, decency, courage and people power.

In particular in addition to the lawyers of Pakistan, there are many people I, even as a New York-based Pakistani, want to give thanks to.
This includes Prime Minister Gilani for his understanding of which way the wind was blowing and helping President Zardari see some light. General Kayani must have had to fight the urge not to take over the government. It must have been difficult when the elected leaders were themselves creating a situation that was going to endanger not just law and order in Islamabad but bring chaos across the nation.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has grown in stature not just within Pakistan but also abroad. He is being praised for taking a stand on principle, showing patience and then being very statesmanlike in his response to broken promises from Islamabad. To then show courage and refuse house arrest to march upon Islamabad put him on a much higher level of leadership than he was at before.

Even the police officers who, after some "kaarwai", showed common sense and decency, either to resign or to let the protesters begin their march towards Islamabad, should be considered heroes of democracy. As most of my readers and fans know from my background, during my days at the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, in the early 1980s,

I was a student leader and chief organizer of QSF. The Islami Jamiate Taliba, as well as its parent, the Jamate Islami, were considered the mortal enemies of liberal organizations like ours. They even murdered Anas Choudhry, a final year student member of QSF, the year I joined UET.

But, today, as during the previous year, I am happy to give credit to this party for its principled stand against tyranny and dictatorship.

I never thought it possible, but even a member of the very political party and inner circle of Islamabad, Ms. Sherry Rehman, deserves praise for her decency, courage - and good timing - in resigning her position. It can be argued that she did it because there were others interfering in her ministry rather than what the government was doing to the independent media. But I, and the people, still give credit for her resignation.

Many of these things would not have become possible had it not been for the courageous, first-time in the life of our nation, stand of the real Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Choudhry, and his fellow judges, who resigned under General Musharraf.

They stayed out of office and jobs, despite pressure, incentives and other tricks that governments have at their disposal in Islamabad. I will avoid passing comment on the people who sold out their souls to get the appointments that they got. But I hope that this new chapter in Pakistan's history will also be the time when we start naming our villains for future generations to remember and spit on the names of.

Another hero, an entire industry really, that is among the less respected professions around the world these days, including America, was the Pakistani media. I say this not as a member of the media but as a proud Pakistani American who was ashamed of the silent acquiescence of American media in George Bush and Dick Cheney's shameless rape of the American Constitution and human rights around the world.

American media cannot be shut down by any government. Yet the media here quietly let the Bush government do whatever it wanted.

The Pakistani government, through many of its Stone Age laws curtailing freedom of expression and press, can shut down almost any Pakistani media entity. The bigger they get in Pakistan, the more the government can squeeze them. Even as a teenager I know how many magazines Prime Minister Zulfiqar Bhutto, whom I then admired, shut down for being critical of his policies. Urdu Digest was one that frequently had to reappear under other names.

I was a member of the press in Pakistan when vile dictator General Zia-ul-Haq gave many journalists a taste of what a dictator can do. He had writers' nails pulled with pliers to make them stop criticizing him.

For the Pakistani media to have stood up, first to General Musharraf and then to the current Zardari government in Islamabad, at great risk and financial loss to themselves, is another element to celebrate in this great victory of the people. A lot of credit goes to GEO TV, Jang and many other media.

Lack of space and time prevent me from individually thanking every single group or individual, like Mr. Aitezaz Ahsan, who played a central role in this great turnaround. God bless you all, for being the new heroes of a new democracy that can still rise in our nation.

The long march may have been intended for Islamabad, but it may turn out to be something far more important.

The Long March may have become The First Step in a thousand-mile journey - to the true destiny of Pakistan - as a great, free, democratic society ready to take its place in history.

"Qadam Barhao Saathio, Qadam Barhao"

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Imran Anwar is a New York and sometimes Florida based Pakistani-American entrepreneur, Internet pioneer, inventor, writer and TV personality. He can be reached through his web site http://imran.com and imran@imran.com . You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/imrananwar

Life Is A Beach

There are few places like a beach, and fewer places like beaches in the Caribbean, that are so tranquil. A vision of heaven on earth.

© 2008-2009 - Imran Anwar
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Bird(s) On A Wire, Not Ducks In A Row

I flew back to New York on Valentine's Day, 2009. After getting home, I drove to the dock near my home to catch these birds on a wire, sitting like ducks in a row, against the backdrop of a pink dusk and deep gentle blue sky. Taken with my pocket Nikon S6.

Do check the previous amazing shot in the photostream.

© 2009 IMRAN

India's Triumphant Cultural & Political March

India's Triumphant Cultural & Political March:

From The Slums Of Bollywood To The Red Carpet Of Hollywood

By Imran Anwar

(New York) It was nearly 30 years ago that my first writings were published in a major Pakistani newspaper, the once defunct and then reborn Pakistan Times. The writings continued during my time with the Jang group, in particular MAG Weekly, in the late 1980s, until I left for the United States.

All during that time, despite all my criticisms of whoever was in power at that time in Pakistan, my writings were always full of hope, desire and confidence of a great future that Pakistan had ahead of it. I also often wondered about why people older than me, some who had also travelled abroad, were far more cynical and much less hopeful.

All through that time I had always been the staunchest supporter and the defender of the name of Pakistan, whether it be in writing letters to the editors of foreign journals and newspapers critical of Pakistan or trying to convince foreign diplomats and journalists, as well as Western citizens, about how great Pakistan was going to be.

One of the important yardsticks, which would perhaps now be called a Meter stick under the metric system, was how we were doing in comparison to India. I distinctly recall how Pakistan had always been a pro-western, America-allied, fairly liberal, capitalism driven society.

India, on the other hand, was a country we competed with on the field of sports, the battlefield, as well as for international influence. We used to laugh at the ugly, dinky little cars that the Indians made, instead of importing the fancy ones we were driving in Pakistan.

Yet in the last 20 years that I have lived in America, India has made amazing, impressive and steady marching progress towards becoming a major global player - in almost every industry in the world. Pakistan during that same time seems to have sprinted downhill - faster than any Olympic athlete could.

It should have been a matter of concern for us when India, the long staunch Soviet and Communist ally, became a major trading partner of the United States, a country on which we had long relied, and whose foreign policies we had often followed. India developed a pool of engineering and other professionals, providing services, engineering, talent and operational capabilities to the world's largest companies.

In doing so they earned billions and billions of dollars for their country. During this time, we in Pakistan saw the decline of the educational system, the breakdown of institutions, if any existed, and simply the beginning of the end of what might have been a great future.

It was a matter of personal disappointment, almost shame, for me that the day that India launched its first astronaut into space was also the same day that Pakistan went to the International Monetary Fund to beg for survival money. Shame.

During the same time that we were making a name for ourselves, for kidnapping and beheading visitors to our country, India launched, and continues to run, one of the most impressive media campaigns to promote tourism in its country.

Titled "Incredible India!" this campaign appears in major newspapers, magazines and many other places. It simply takes almost exactly the same kind of tourism places and situations that Pakistan could offer visitors but turns it into a must-visit, mystique-filled, once-in-a-lifetime, cultural experience image.

During this time despite the proliferation of private TV channels in Pakistan, another field where the Indians have done an amazing job has been their film industry. They have leveraged it not just in making a name for themselves, but marketing their country and becoming a source of talent abroad. In addition, in exchange, they are bringing even more visitors and foreign exchange to their country,

First their hottest movie stars started appearing in Hollywood films. Then, despite many Indian movies being barely concealed copies of Hollywood scripts, India was able to convince Hollywood to make many Indian-themed movies.

Then they tied their greater and greater visibility in Hollywood, ever improving quality of Bollywood films - which were getting screened in America. They then mixed in marketing of India and its culture and cemented it with the welcoming of American tourists and filmmakers. This was an amazing recipe to lead India to one of its greatest global public relations successes just a few minutes ago.

The Academy Awards ceremony has just concluded in Hollywood, California. As this publication is going to press, the whole world (including a television audience of probably 1 billion people, along with the many millions more who will read newspapers and see photographs online) has seen India emerging as a triumphant victor on yet another field. This time it' the red carpet of Hollywood and the Oscars ceremony.

Even a movie called Slumdog Millionaire, set against the backdrop of the intense poverty that can be found in India, has turned into a global publicity and financial victory for India, its culture, its movie industry, its tourism and its economy.

And this is not just about showbiz or something that has no global or historic significance. India's clout, its visibility, its popularity and its new-found confidence - even from something as simple as a movie award - is manifesting itself in its ability to dictate to the world.

India can now even dictate what President Barack Hussein Obama's team can or will discuss with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan - who are now in Washington DC.

India not only did not attend the meeting, it made clear to the American government that Kashmir is not to be discussed. The American administration agreed to that. In the meantime the same American Administration has expanded the missile strikes it will carry out within Pakistan – while Pakistan's shameless politicians are merely fighting over dissolving assemblies and not even worried about justice, the one promise that people had asked to be fulfilled, from Karachi to Swat.

The early copies of tomorrow's New York Times show the exactly opposite paths that two countries born on the same day in history have taken.

The Indian movie industry's massive triumph on the Hollywood red carpet is one headline related to India. On the same page, the news item related to Pakistan is about a secret United States unit now in Pakistan to train its commandos to battle AlQaeda and the Taliban.

While American companies, and even individual creative types, are literally discussing over cocktails this very minute the next project they want to do in India, the few people discussing Pakistan are wondering if Pakistan will even survive as a nation.

I wonder if I will be around in 20 years to write a similar analysis. And I wonder where in history, geography and world affairs Pakistan will stand on that day. What do you think?

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Imran Anwar is a New York based Pakistani-American entrepreneur, Internet pioneer, inventor, writer and TV personality. He can be reached through his web site http://imran.com and imran@imran.com . You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/imrananwar