Food for thought- Friday 8th May

Boy with Ball
Siwa Town, near Shali Fortress
Egypt

Update from my personal life: Last Monday night, my lower back began aching. By Tuesday morning, it hurt so much that I was almost crying about it. Tuesday evening, Silke and I ended up at the hospital getting x-rays. Nothing is broken, however a terrible muscular sprain means that the doctors have ordered me on bed rest for four days.
In all honesty, bed-rest lasted about two days before I convinced myself, Silke, and Julia that I could most definitely walk to the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf this morning (I needed a caffeinated beverage), and now I am back in pain and regretting my decision. After some blogging hiatus because of pain, I am back and ready to bitch.
A lot has happened in my hiatus, and so instead of blasting you with tens of thousands of blog posts, I'm just putting up some pertinent links to articles I felt it was absolutely essential that everyone read.

It's probably everything I would have covered in the last week, but wasn't able to. Some are funny, some are political- enjoy:

Women's Rights:

1. Tehran Bureau has beautifully covered the phenomenon of women (and men) lighting themselves on fire in order to kill themselves here. The article isn't as shocking as I'd hoped for it to be, however, it does bring up all of the relevant points- modernization, domestic abuse, as well as the effects of governments not looking after their people.

2. This article, by Dawn.com, discusses women in Karachi and recent effects of Talibanization in the city. Those of you who know me, have probably heard me speak about this, but this article does a more eloquent job of talking about it. It additionally addresses one my biggest beefs with Pakistanis and Karachiites- inability to mobilize.

3. The Aurat Foundation just released its quarterly report on violence against women. The News covers it here. It's as awful as you'd imagine it, but it's more difficult to digest when you realize that these are just the reported incidents.

Pakistan and Politics:

4. Kayani went on record to say that he fully understands the threat that the Taliban poses to Pakistan.

5. PM of Pakistan, Yusuf Raza Gilani is now saying no more peace deals with Taliban. Took you long enough Gilani, but good job.

6. Reuters suggests here, that there may be a return to unity government in Pakistan. Wtf, mate? Dawn seems to agree in this article. Weird, weird happenings.

Fun and Weird (courtesy of Ben and the roommates)

7. Latest hate group in Egypt? Emos. Everyone loves to hate them in the U.S. too, check out the SideWalk-Chalk-Drawing Rebels of Cairo here.

8. Russian prostitutes are complaining because the economic crisis means less sex more pillow talk. Reuters covers the story here.

9. Last but not least, a mission to break up an island in the Pacific made up of trash that's twice the size of Texas.

10. Updated, because it was too good not to add in here. Zardari's interview with Salon magazine. Even if you read nothing else in this list, please read this one. He compares Pakistan's economic situation to Chrysler, restates that Osama is no longer in existence and the best quote of all, that the nuclear arsenal is safe as it's not as if there's just one 'little button' for the Taliban to press. Pakistan, is this HONESTLY, the man you want in charge of your country?