Somebody has obviously picked up the mattress and is sleeping on it, blissfully unaware that he or she is a millionaire.

I agree with Punditty.  Obama could really make a massive sweep. MC estimates are a little more conservative.

Fadi669 has posted a spectacular photograph of Lalazar Plateau, which I visited for the first time in 1955. I walked to the farthest trees in this photgraph. May I point out, however, that Kashmir is beyond the snow covered peaks in the distance. Lalazar is located in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Pakistan cannot be responsible for hijacking in other countries unless it can be proved that we had something to do with it.  If somebody wants to hijack an aircraft and bring it to Pakistan, he should beware that we have the death penalty for hijacking. Normally, the government does not even permit such aircraft to enter our air space. 

Sound advice by stars and stripes. MPAs and MNAs who make up the electoral college must do what is in Pakistan's interest.

Pakistan is surrounded by countries where the price of wheat flour and other edibles is far higher than in Pakistan. Result: smuggling across the border and shortages in Pakistan

This would quite a hilarious story if it were not so serious. The Taliban first became popular in Afghanistan because they campaigned actively against social evils that are prohibited in Islam. They are trying similar tactics in Pakistan.

 

This article highlights important problems relating to the tribal territories of Pakistan, such as official corruption and lack of adequate transport infrastructure. I wonder if conditions have improved in recent months.

Thanks for uploading the photo Liberachi

Alas, the death toll has apparently increased to 11, according to latest reports. I hope they are wrong. At altitudes of over 7500 metres, there are a number of ways for even the best climbers to get into serious trouble. One understands from Rheinhold Meissner's comments on the BBC that some of the climbers lacked sufficient experience to cope with an emergency on K-2. Any even the greatest climbers can fall off a great peak, as Mallory and Irvine did at Everest in 1924 and Herman Buhl at Chogolisa in 1957.

At least seven climbers are feared dead in the avaalanche, perhaps more according to the BBC. The avalanche apparently destroyed the ropes providing a descent throught the Chimney, a bottleneck, making it extremely difficult for any but the most expert climbers from coming down the mountain. I heard Meissner on the BBC say that too many amateurs were attempting the 8000 metre peaks and they lacked the cutting edge skills  to cope with major emergencies.

Missner suggested a traverse to the Chinese side of K2. One recalls his famous traverse of Nanga Parbat in a similar emergency, but he paid a heavy price for that by losing his brother Gunther on the way down. 

Dear HealthyHuman, the man-eating crocs are found in the northern rivers and along their beaches in Queensland and the Northern Territories. But you are right, the man was lucky to escape from the Australian snakes, which have a deadlier bite than our cobras.
All in all, he came out ahead and he could have made a lot of money giving an exclusive interview.

The financial companies have positioned the entire US economy on a dangerous slope. It need leadership of the highest order to avoid a slide to disaster in which millions of lives could be ruined in the United States. The economic consequences could be global in scope and contribute to financial and political instabilty in far off places.

I think that this is far healthier and happier cartoon than New Yorker's double-edged, wounding broadside. Justice has been done and the naughty lad has a well-deserved black eye.

The rhetoric is already quite heated.
We need the twoo sides to cool off and negotiate an peaceful accord

This is a popular scam. Usually such messages are emailed. The writer, a fictitious person, has the chutzpah to use a popular news site to solicit help. Wow. I suggest this account be investigated and your readers alerted against such solicitations, otherwise they could come to financial grief.

Thanks, for your comments. We have all partaken of feasts in our time, and hopefully with good health we may do so in future. There is no need for G-8 leaders to eat Big Macs.

The reason many newspapers wrote against G-8 making a public display of haute cuisine at Sapporo is the timing. The food crisis is a real one for billions of underprivileged people in the world who for many reasons do not have enough nourishment. One of the reasons food production in developing countries is low is on account of agricultural subsidies given to western farmers.

If you read Chogolisa's article, you will find that on an average, each household in Britain wastes $900 of food per annum.
I am sure the Japanese hosts meant well and I prefer Japanese food to MacDonalds, but this was a public relations setback.

The Pakistan authoriities should check this report because it points to the possibility of blatant corruption and exploitation.

The Khasadars should be paid their salaries without delay and stern action should be taken against those who are embezzling public funds. (Dr. Sivana)