A generous request

Hello Edi,

I have been reading your magazine for long. Edi, I only need a little space in your magazine where I could write about various problems prevailing in our society. I hope you won’t refuse me.

Sundas Ghani, Rawalpindi

Send Us your articles.

Nice issue

AoA Ed,

Last year’s Eid issues of Us had been quite boring, but the Eid issue of September 26, 2008 was very impressive. The cover story was very informative. The story by Iqra Asad was great and I appreciate the step taken by Abdul in the story. The articles by Kanza and Meena were good, too. No ads and the improved paper quality of the mag added chaar chand to the mag. Keep bringing such nice issues!

Unsa Athar, Sheikhupura

Dear Ed,

There is no need to praise Us as everyone knows how amazing it is. The issue of September 26, 2008 was very good. The sections that I like the most in Us are 'Letters to the Editor’ and 'Graffiti’. I also like Guru’s advices to people. The stories that you print are good as well. I’ve also sent a few contributions to Us. I hope you’ll print them.

Mashal Rashid

Dear Ed,

I simply want to say that Us rocks!

Ahmed Noman

Dear Ed,

The most special thing about the Eid issue was the diversity of topics. We get to read so much stuff about how celebrities celebrate their Eid, but seldom do we discuss the activities of the less affluent lot on such special days. In this regard, I would like to congratulate Kanza Tariq on writing 'Eid Day - On a different canvas’. It was a very unique piece and the effort that she must have put in it was evident. Well done, Kanza! We need to realise that these people around us have an equal right to celebrate such festivals and such write-ups make us notice them and their problems. The 'Art Mart’ section in Us is apparently a big success! I’m in love with the art work being printed so far. Keep it up!

Aorish Abbas, Rawalpindi

No Islam without Jihad

AoA Editor,

The cover story of September 26, 2008 was very good. Other sections are also going good but please give attention to 'Cyberia’. One page is not sufficient for information about computers and the Internet, therefore, I request you to increase the number of pages for it.  In your cover story of September 12, 2008 issue you mentioned how the young people fall prey to the extremists and are being brainwashed. I agree with the fact, but it is also true that Jihad is a solemn part of Islam and there is no Islam without Jihad. Jihad always takes place against non-Muslims. But the Afghan and Pakistani armies are befriending those non-Muslims.

Muhammad Sadiq, Bannu

Dear Ed,

The issue of September 26, 2008 was a big treat for us. I simply loved the whole issue. The cover story by Javeria Shakil was quite informative. The story by Iqra and the article by Kanza were also good. Hafsah and Meena also did a great job. Us is simply going great but it would be better still if you introduce new writers. I want to request the regular writers to please give chance to the new ones. Itna ziada mat likha karo :) Ed, why don’t you mention the names of those people who write for the 'Graffiti’ section? After all, they also want to see their names in the mag. Secondly, please improve the paper quality because sometimes the pages suck. At least improve the quality of the cover page.

Arsh Azim, Peshawar

What a disappointment!

Hello Ed,

Getting the Eid issue five days before it wasn’t a good idea. I wanted to keep it till the Eid Day, for usually no paper comes during the Eid holidays. But I decided to go through it anyway. Very humbly, I would say it was quite a disappointment. I know you hate it when we dislike stuff written by your 'regular contributors’ but the reality is that the mag is really losing its zing. Kanza’s 'Eid Day - On a different canvas’ was very mundane and predictable. The accounts seemed to be all 'made-up’ - just like many of her recent articles. For sure, Kanza needs to take a break!

The cover story was good which saved the entire issue. Without being too depressive it conveyed what it meant to. The narration, though, could have been a little more interesting. 'Poets’ Corner’, after a long time, managed to miss the target. There was nothing festive but only sobs and sniffs about the issue. The articles printed in this Eid issue looked like essays taken from an eight grader’s English exercise book. I hope you got my point. I’m not being cynical. I have always loved Us and therefore want my younger siblings and cousins to like it, too. But this time the write-ups were dreadfully boring.

Aborigine, derived from the Latin word ab origine, means 'from the beginning’. The word 'aborigines’ is used to describe the earliest inhabitants of any land. However, Aborigines is used to refer to the inhabitants of Australia before the arrival of Europeans in the late 18th century, and to their descendants down to the present. The Aborigines are thought to have arrived in Australia about 20,000 years ago.

They developed a complex culture which gave rise to an interesting art which included paintings on their bodies, on rocks, in caves and on bark; chants, and music played on a kind of trumpet, the didgeridoo. However, their material life remained at the Stone Age level. They lived in semi-nomadic fashion, hunting with wood and stone spears, and boomerangs, and gathering (but not cultivating) edible plants, grubs and so on.

On this level they were superbly skilful and well-adapted to the Australian environment until the arrival of Europeans. This was a disaster for the Aborigines. They are believed to have numbered about 300,000 in the late 18th century, while now there are only a few thousands, the Aborigine way of life was destroyed. Although conditions have improved for many people in the 20th century, the Aborigines remain poor and deprived, and uncertain of what their place should be in modern Australia.

A speeding motorist was caught by radar from a police helicopter in the sky. An officer pulled him over and began to issue a traffic ticket. "How did you know I was speeding?" the frustrated driver asked.

The police officer pointed somberly towards the sky.

"You mean," asked the motorist, "that even He is against me?"

A man was caught for speeding and went before the judge. The judge said, "What will you take: 30 days or $30?" The man thought and replied, "I think I’ll take the money."

Test your intelligence!

- If a girl who works in a candy store is five feet three inches tall, and wears size five shoes, what does she weigh?

Candy

- Which burns longer, a red candle or a white candle?

Neither, they both burn shorter.

- If you have a referee in soccer, and an umpire in cricket, what do you have in bowls?

Goldfish

- How can you drop an egg six feet without it breaking?

By dropping it seven feet - it won’t break for the first six!

- Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?

At the bottom of the document.

- How many books can you put on an empty shelf?

One. After that it isn’t empty.

- Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.

They are not playing each other.

- What did the traffic light say to the car?

Don’t look, I’m changing!

- How do you catch a squirrel?

Climb up a tree and act like a nut.

- Teacher: Give me a sentence with the word 'analyze’ in it.

Pupil: My sister Anna lies in bed until nine o’clock.

- Who was the first underwater spy?