Nice issue on the whole!

Hi Ed, 

The issue of October 31, 2008 was a blast. I really liked the cover story, 'All night long'. It was written in a great manner. 'Poets' Corner' was out of this world and I really enjoyed all the poems. The mag is doing great. Keep up the good work!

Mustafa Turi, Islamabad

Dear Ed,

The issue of October 31, 2008 was as usual fantastic. The cover story by Salman Latif and Momal Mushtaq was amazing. I found Ayesha Siddiqua to be really crazy about her love. The 'Art Mart' was inspired by some scenery I guess. As always, 'Poets' Corner' was good. This time, 'The Movie Page' by Fatima Zakir caught my attention for the first time because it had information about Zibahkhana. I also missed Zibahkhana ;).

Arsh Azim, Peshawar

Salam Ed,

I think Us is going through tough times these days. But then, every cloud has a silver lining, so we should never stop hoping for the best. Coming to the issue of October 31, 2008, the cover story, 'All night long' was quite childish. It seemed as if something was missing. I felt really bored while reading it. But what stole the show was the article 'My crazy love affair' by Ayesha Siddiqua. It was really a sweet piece. Good effort, Ayesha! By the way, I think 'The Movie Page' needs a little attention.

Mehreen Abdullah

Dear Eddie,

I don't have words to praise what Us and Aangan-Rozan are doing for the victims of child abuse and molestation. As a student of psychology, I want to tell you that for a shattered mind and a broken, confused teenager, these words of solace can actually be life-saving.

'...All this While' by Sardar Mohkim was a wonderful poem and Naeema, too, deserves credit for giving chance to these young poets. The cover story 'All night long' was quite disappointing. It looked too childish and untrue. With due respect to the writers, the jokes were played badly! I hope you guys take it constructively.

Binish Sarfaraz, Rawalpindi

How can I contribute?

Hi Ed,

I have been reading Us for many years and now I also want to contribute for its new section, 'Art Mart' which is really excellent. I just want to know about the conditions to contribute for it. I mean, in which form should I send my contribution? Beside that, the other sections are really cool. And please resume the section, 'My Teen Years'.

Shagufta Bashir

The drawing should be on an A4 size paper. It can be a painting, sketch or pen and ink work. Do write your name with the drawing.

Thumbs up, Ayesha!

Salam Ed,

The story, 'My crazy love affair' by Ayesha was very touching. It was great! Keep up the good work!

Tayyeba Ahmad, Lahore

Hi Ed,

The article, 'My crazy love story' was the best article you guys have ever published so far. Keep rocking, Ayesha!

Maria Nizam, Peshawar

This is Pakistan, mind you!

Hello Ed,

I'm a regular reader of Us and this is my first letter to the mag and actually it was Unsa's letter that compelled me to write to you. Shame on her that she says that Iqra's article on fashion was great and that TV channels should also learn something from her. Let me remind Unsa that this is Pakistan where Islamic system prevails. Therefore, such openness is unacceptable according to our social order. In the end, I would like to say that please don't print too many ads.

Fawad, Peshawar

In Iqra's defence

AoA Ed,

I am shocked to read the harsh criticism on Iqra Asad's cover story 'Perennial Fashion'. Most of the published letters term the cover story as an attempt to promote vulgarity and to provoke young girls to shed off their clothes. My dear friends, that cover story was neither humourous nor a fashion guide; it was purely a sarcastic piece. It actually mocked contemporary fashion and criticised the nonsensical fashion sense of many of today's young girls. I can surely say that the writer's sole motive to write the piece was to make people, who tend to adopt obscene fashions, ashamed of themselves.

Lastly, while reading an article please try to understand its genre. Don't mix up humour with satire or you will never be able to comprehend the actual tone of the write-up.

Sehar Sheikh, Lahore

Hey everyone!

I'm not being arrogant, but seriously, am I the only one who gets sarcasm? Really, I'm serious. Didn't it cross anyone's mind that Iqra's article may have been sarcastic? I'm sure if it was serious it wouldn't have been printed. 'My crazy love affair' was hilarious! Brett Lee is indeed undeniably good looking. And, dear Editor, I have a teeny tiny request. Please print a nice poster of Patrick Wilson as Raoul de Chagny and another one of Chace Crawford.

Farah

Hello Edi,

I thoroughly enjoyed Iqra Asad's cover story, 'Perennial Fashion' (October 17, 2008). It was wonderful to see such an article. Great job, Iqra! And even more than that, I loved the feedbacks you got from people who were mad at the cover story! I always knew sarcasm was dead, but I believed in reincarnation. Not anymore. I couldn't believe no one got the actual spirit of the article! You need to print more satirical articles, to make people understand what sarcasm actually is!

Very amused

Pray for earthquake victims

AoA Ed,

Another disaster hit the country! The terrible earthquake in Balochistan left me in a terrible shock. All the memories of October 8, 2005 came rushing back. The mere thought of losing your relatives can kill one, and losing all your relatives simultaneously is truly unbearable. May God have mercy on us.

Unsa Athar, Sheikhupura 

Not so good!

Dear Editor,

The issue of October 31, 2008 was not up to the mark. The cover story was actually the weakest point since it offered nothing fresh.

I don't think anyone here can even afford the carved pumpkins. And then Halloween in our country is still a no-no! The article, 'My crazy love affair' was good. Sheharbano Khattak's write up was very good. In the end, I would like to defend Iqra's cover story by saying that it was not obscene; it just couldn't do justice with the satire.

Minahil Tareen, Gujrat

Do you know?

Dear Editor,

Do we actually celebrate Halloween here? No, I guess. I don't remember any kid knocking on my door, asking for 'trick-or-treat'; never have I seen a discount on pumpkins for the jack-o-lanterns; and bonfires and costume parties - hell no!

Did Salman Latif and Momal Mushtaq know that the UN celebrates 24-30th October as World Disarmament Week? Do they know America's new President's policies might as well change the world? Are they aware Global Warming has killed the Autumn romance and raised the average October temperatures up to three degrees? Well, obviously, they don't.

I won't even say how not-inspiring the cover story was. It just had no purpose being there on the jacket and four pages.

'White, the colour of Innocence' was an extremely beautiful piece. Really good! And I watched a lady from Aangan-Rozan on a morning show that day; It just made me feel so proud to see the emancipation and strength the organisation is struggling for. I am glad Us is playing a very positive role in giving Aangan a platform.

Resham Tyrewala, Lahore

Tired of repeating requests

 Dear Eddy,

I can only describe your mag in three words: It is awesome! Your issue of October 31, 2008 was wonderful. I just have two requests. Number one: please stop printing advertisements because they make Us look like an ordinary mag and I want your mag to be unique. Number two: I am tired (probably the other readers are too) of asking you to stop printing the 'Greetings' page. Please give some attention to my letter and keep up the good work! 

A lonely frog, desperate for any form of company, telephones the Psychic Hotline to find out what his future has in store. His Personal Psychic Advisor advises him, "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you." The frog is thrilled and says, "This is great! Where will I meet her, at work, at a party?" "No," says the psychic, "in a Biology class."

1. What goes up and down the stairs without moving?

2. I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thoughts follow close behind. What am I?

3. What goes around the world but stays in a corner?

4. Give me food, and I will live; give me water, and I will die. What am I?

5. Throw me off the highest building, and I will not break. But put me in the ocean, and I will. What am I?

6. What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?

7. A certain crime is punishable if attempted but not punishable if committed. What is it?

8. You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I am dead. What am I?

9. I am mother and father, but never give birth or nurse. I'm rarely still, but I never wander. What am I?

10. I'm the part of the bird that's not in the sky. I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry. What am I?

Answers:

1. A rug.

2. A nose

3. A stamp

4. Fire

5. Tissue

6. A river

7. Suicide

8. An onion

9. A tree

10. A shadow

• There are about a billion bicycles in the world, the greatest share being that of China with its 400 million bikes.

• The first basic bicycles, which were without pedals, were built by Frenchman De Sirvac in 1690. The pedals were later added by a Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick Macmillan.

• The first five-seat bicycle, called quindem, was first built in 1940.              

• The world speed record on a bicycle is held by John Howard, Olympic Cyclist and Ironman triathlon winner from the US. In 1985 he reached 245.08 km/h (152.2 mph), cycling in the slipstream of a specially designed car.  

• A cycle can weigh as light as 3.2 kg and as costly as over 20,000 bucks.

• Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), which began in 1891, is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road, covers over 1200 km and imposes a 90-hour time limit.

• Japan employed 50,000 bicycle-troops in WW II while Britain used airborne 'Cycle-commandoes' with folding bikes.

• It has been estimated that, on average, approximately 20 life-years are gained from the health benefits of road bicycling for every life-year lost through injury.