The beginning of the end has begun in Syria

May the people of Syria prevail.
More bloodshed in Dara'a
Crackdown and sanctions
Witness describes crackdown
Iran's hypocrisy and silence

The Horrors & Terror of being a Woman in Pakistan

Pakistan high court frees five accused of retaliation rape

"In a ruling seen as a setback for women's rights in Pakistan, the country's Supreme Court on Thursday freed five men accused of gang-raping a woman on the orders of a village council."

By Alex Rodriguez

Los Angeles Times

KHALID TANVEER / AP

Mukhtar Mai said she feared the men she accused will seek vengeance against her and her family.

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What more can be said about this abomination......

Hyperbolic reviews cause subsequent deflation

The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book very much, but was disappointed only based on the hype it had received in the literary press. Some of the images are haunting and will stick with me and I thought the idea of the Deathless Man was an interesting device.

Ronald Singer: In Memoriam, Five Years On

How timely and appropriate.  There was an interesting article in The New York Times on Friday 15 April, titled "Phonetic Clues Hint Language is Africa-Born".  A biologist from New Zealand has used the model of DNA analysis that has shown the likely spread of humans out of Africa to the rest of the world to look at the origin and dispersal of language in much the same way.  What would have pleased my father, Ronald Singer, about this is the showcasing of  Southern Africa, a region he researched and felt strongly about:  that the most important information about early humans would be found here.  Details of his research can be found in this Memoriam written by Paul Dechow.  Ronald Singer's last work, on Peers Cave in Fish Hoek, South Africa,  is currently being edited by Jay T Stock and Curtis Marean.

A glimmer of good news from Lesotho

One dedicated person can make a difference.  With some help, she can blaze a trail of good news!  An article in Sunday's New York Times profiles Dr.Grace Phiri, a pediatrician committed to saving children in Lesotho from HIV/AIDS.  She now has help from several physicians from USA, who, with grant money from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, do good work.

Spring, again

                                                      A new flower in springtime
                                                      The Mason bees arrive
                                                      A gentle nudge, a reminder
                                                      Ah, Ariel, a soughing, a sigh.