The broken signal was still functional. It stood with its head held high and kept serving the people passing by it. I wonder how it turned into its shabby broken self. My first guess was rioting people who kinda enjoy thrashing anything that comes in their way. Or it could also have been an enthusiast practicing stone throwing while keeping the signal as target. Perhaps some “angry birds” took their anger out on the poor signal they used a a pedestal.

I just wish the repair works would be on their way soon.

Traffic Signal: Smashed or Perhaps Thrashed Too

The good thing is that FBISE has a web site from where the kids (and their parents and relatives and all) can check the result. The web site is http://www.fbise.edu.pk/. The result can be searched out based on the Roll Number, Student’s Full Name or through the name of the institution. This can save everybody time and hassle of waiting in physical queues in the markets or at the school premises.

Thinking all this I also happily accessed the web site to look for the result of an acquaintance. The ordeal I had to go through in doing this was tremendous. The first was the “Server is too busy” blow that I got on my initial access. I kept getting this for quite some time. When the page with a field to enter in a Roll Number along with a Submit button appeared, I forgot all my troubles and considered the worst to be over. I entered in the Roll Number and hit the Submit button, only to be put through the torture of witnessing an “in progress” cursor which eventually ended on a “run time error”. Darn web site!

I did not lose hope and kept on receiving the “busy server” and “run time errors” for more than an hour. During that time I had tried all my options of searching the result; i.e. via the Full Name, the Roll Number and even the name of the institute. Alas! I failed again and again and AGAIN.

Just when I was about to pull out my hair, scream and punch the monitor, I was greeted by a surprise. The result page of that kid had mysteriously appeared on my screen without any errors. I thanked my stars, noted down the result and hurried away from the horrid web site.

I request the FBISE personnel to kindly take notice of this and get the web site upgraded so that people can actually benefit from it without going bonkers.

But who knew that it was just the calm before the storm. The terrorists hit the city of serenity once again and this time the target was the Naval headquarters located on Margalla Road near Zafar Chowk. Apparently the terrorists’ thirst for hitting military headquarters was not quenched with a similar attack on GHQ Rawalpindi about a month and a half ago. They craved for more and next in line was the Naval headquarter.

The attack took place on December 2, 2009 in the afternoon and caused casualties and left numerous personnel with injuries. The people who lost their lives were naval officials. The 13 reportedly injured include a five year old Jonathan.

• I salute the ones who lost their lives trying to foil the attack.
• I pray for the ones who are injured and wish for them to get better soon.
• I can’t say anything about the terrorists as am not sure whether to condemn them or pray for them.

PS: Everybody would be please to know that our president and prime minister once again successfully condemned this terrorist activity.

Read more on this on The News web site here:
http://thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25879

Tip: Get the quantity of “Everyday” in your tea increased to make up for the missing sugar. *giggles*

Title of this post inspired by the lyrics of “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies.

We did miss the “total” eclipse by ‘a country’ but whatever we got was worth having. The sun shadowed by the moon looked absolutely magnificent. It resembled a large cookie out of which somebody had neatly taken a large bite. For those of you who missed out on this event, here is a snap so that they may share in the experience as well. :-)

Solar Eclipse/Sooraj Grehan

I hope all among us who witnessed this cosmic phenomenon protected their eyes as well and saw the eclipse through thick protective screens. I am not sure if it was protection enough but i used an x-ray to view the glorious sun. It was a sight worth seeing. :-)

Pot of Zenia

These might be placed at other places as well but this is where i spotted them. The Zenia clad pots are looking really lovely. Wish to get a bit closer to them to get mug shots of the flowers. :-)

Chaghi Hill Monument

Nope it’s not anyone’s bad eyesight. Nope it’s not the rain either. It is because it was scrubbed clean on May 28, 2009 on Yaum e Takbeer. I forgot to report it but i saw a full water tanker showering water on the monument and few people rubbing & scrubbing it to make it look all pretty. I am glad that they did so. Who knows when will the monument get a chance to take a bath next. :-D

May the women of Pakistan play their role to the fullest in the progress and prosperity of the motherland. Ameen.

For more details on the budget presentation and the budget text itself, please see the following links:

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/business/12-hina-khar-first-woman-to-present-pakistan-budget–bi-11

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Business/14-Jun-2009/Text-of-budget-speech

PS: What actually “was” in the budget is a story for several new posts. ;-)

• Setting foot into the territory of the capital city, Islamabad, is getting more and more tiresome, difficult, annoying, hectic, frustrating, exasperating and much more, with each bomb blast (including attempts) that is caused in the country or the city itself.
• Reaching Islamabad with ease is inversely proportional to the number of blasts taking place in the city.
• To come to the city of serenity, Islamabad, painlessly is now not more than a sweet & serene dream.
• Ways to reach Islamabad easily and quickly and are only fragments of imagination.
• Anyone who boasts of getting inside Islamabad from somewhere out of the city can only be deemed a “Sheikhi Khora”.

Note: I know time of travel is a significant variable but I had to take out my frustration somehow and somewhere. ;-)

That time there was a lot of praise in my mind for the then government and the armed forces who were standing tall in front of the tyrant as a strong protective wall. I knew there were pressures from the bigger intimidating bully (the USA) as well which required dealing with and that filled my heart with even more gratitude for the government and the forces.

I was thinking like a little kid that why can’t we “fight” back and “punch” the bullies. I kept asking this question from myself and always came up with the answer that maybe it is not the appropriate time to retaliate. I did not dare to think even for a second that God forbid we were incapable of replying back. That thought would have been a serious nightmare.

And then in the corridors a little noise was raised. It seemed to be coming from the TV lounge. Everybody in sight or in earshot moved towards the sound. I did too with my lazy steps, thinking that maybe it was some “girly” girl who saw a lizard and was frightened [no offense to the girly girls :-) ]. But when I reached there the scene was quite different.

I heard the news that Pakistan has finally done atomic blasts. And doing so had brought the motherland to the pedestal where 6 other nuclear power nations already stood. I didn’t think of anything else any more after that. I just glided back to my room, feeling extremely light in heart and mind. I could feel the warmth of that feeling all over me. I actually felt proud at a national achievement.

I usually never show much zeal and fervor when the anniversary of this day, known as Yaum e Takbeer, is celebrated. I never go out to any events or chant out patriotic slogans. All I do is remember the day and recall that warm feeling. It lights a little light and makes my heart glow.

That was a day that made us all proud, really proud indeed. May Allah bestow more of such achievements on us, the Pakistani nation.

Pakistan Zindabad! :-)