Zodiac signs and personality traits
Know yourself and others There are 12 zodiac signs, and each sign comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses – something figured out by generations of astrologers through painstaking study…
Bachelors who changed the world
Five singles whose legacy lives on Among men who have had an overwhelming impact on the course of mankind, there are many lifelong-bachelors. Of course, there have been influential married men too…
What God is not
And why, in the light of the Quran From pagan deities all the way to pantheistic variants and then to the many monotheistic versions, gods come in numerous variations. A major reason…
Year 2017: snippets
Looking back at the last twelve months Year 2017 is about to give way to 2018, and it’s time to record for posterity some of its more memorable happenings and personalities. It’s…
The God that doesn’t play dice with the universe
On Einstein, quantum mechanics and God’s omniscience Albert Einstein, the father of general and special relativity, also fathered quantum mechanics – albeit accidentally. He didn’t like this unwanted offspring nearly as much…
Dharna and desi liberals
Playing the devil’s advocate How could a gang of protestors be allowed to not only get away with paralysing the country for three weeks, but also end up making the elected government…
Landmarks in philosophy
Five milestones that have punctuated human thought over the centuries Since philosophy has never been accorded its rightful place in our society, the grasp of philosophical concepts on the part of most…
Why more people need to write prose
And that includes you What with the ubiquity of computers and the internet, the means of writing and publishing were never as widespread as they are. And yet, very few people venture…
In praise of facial hair
Why you must give it a try this no-shave November The institution of facial hair has staged a famous comeback from the brink of extinction that looked certain only a few years…
Seven signs you’ve let your patriotism run rampant
Find out if you need to ratchet down your ‘patriotism’ a notch or two Like religious bias and ethnic pride, patriotism often makes people believe things they never would otherwise. At one…
Feminism Unlimited
Gone too far A man hesitatingly tells a feminist, ‘I think I am in love with you.’ ‘Is it because I am a woman?’ she snaps. This may only be a joke…
The ultimate argument for the existence of God
Something no self-respecting desi atheist or agnostic can refute By the end of this article, I hope to have converted even the most hardcore of desi atheists and agnostics. The ‘existence’ of God is of course…
Evolution by unnatural selection
A brief history of our constitutional amendments The smokescreen of the month has come in the form of a new debate on Ahmadis. The architect of the current controversy, quite predictably, has…
How to save democracy
Many of my liberal friends are losing much sleep over the fate of democracy in the country. Personally, I don’t see what the fuss is about; but if saving democracy is indeed…
Once upon a time in Bahawalpur
Or the power (and limitations) of logic Those who have been there would know that few things can match the unpleasantness of being expelled from school. I have had that experience at…
Driving instructions for men
Things they don’t teach at the driving school any more Well I take that back: they probably still teach these things at the driving school. But most graduates of those schools fail…
Articles 62 and 63
What to do about them? Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution cover the eligibility criteria for parliamentarians: lower limit of age, nationality, mental well-being, character and general piety, etc. Their current…