I hope any of our Stew members who live in Pakistan like SH. are safe and sound. Yikes there is so many strange weather patterns going on in the world. Between the fires, floods, hurricanes, and volcano's it get's really sad to see so much suffering. Hope all our Stewbies are safe and sound in any of those areas that are experiencing such uncontrollable things.
Oh I'm alright! Thanks for asking! Actually, I'm situated right at the Arabian Sea (the Seaview beach area of Karachi city). So no danger of any flooding here - Maybe a tsunami, but the last one was in 1945, and nothing since... Besides, I'm a Doomsday Prepper - So I seriously doubt if any major flood or some other kind of natural disaster can get me! Anyway, looking at our own GardenStew's map which shows all the member's locations. I really don't see any momber situated in the flood hit areas. So no need to worry, as none of our members are hurt. However in the last few days I did see a lot of troop mobilization, and so now the word is that Pakistan Army has taken control of the relief and rescue situation - So once more, nothing to worry about. But you guys are right, as the global weather pattern is changing for sure. A while ago I saw the documentary named "Chasing Ice" - So I suggest everybody sees it to get a better idea of what's really going on with Earth.
S-H So glad to hear that you and other stew members are safe and sound. We live on top of part of the Niagara escarpment. So for sure no possibility of flooding here ever. Would be kind of never raking if I witnessed troop mobilization as you have. Glad they are helping all those refuges.
Nerve racking to see troop mobilization? How so??? Yes I did get stuck in traffic (for about half an hour) as the traffic police had turned off all the signals on the main roads - And so were giving priority to all military vehicles - But that was just about the most discomfort that I experienced. I guess you guys rarely get to see your military in action. We however (culturally also) see the military as a very friendly and gentlemanly force. One that is always there for support, and is unable to do anything wrong. Be it getting rid of a stupid elected leader and his or her equally ridicules regime. Or averting any other foreign threat. Another thing to note is that our military is the 6th largest in the world. And the 1st largest in the Middle East region. But for our physical size, I think we are the most densely militarized nation... Perhaps in Israel and North Korea will they have this ratio of soldiers per every citizen that could be slightly higher. However they have the draft, which we don't - So our over 600,000 men strong military is actually a professional one, not bloated by conscription. Besides, our military is also the largest contributor to the United Nations peace keeping force - So we's got a lot of experience when it comes to relief operations. Please see this video as an example of how our military (even when they are not called in) selflessly aids the people wherever and whenever possible, completely on their own - And that too totally for free! Why? Because this (they say) is their job, to defend, but also assist, endlessly, 24/7... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuZEb_lSK-E By the way, I saw the mobilization of these guys, the Corps of Engineers, along with their heavy equipment. It's very easy to recognize them from a distance, as they (the all weather all terrain combat engineers) are the only ones who wear a blue beret cap. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22R9MblzLs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EpxqG6SvhA Anyway, we already know that when it comes to doing anything right - Civilian set up always fails. So in our entire history, whenever we did something right, it was always due to the military's assistance. To put it another way, military is the real landlord of Pakistan, while the President, the Prime Minister, National Parliament and Senate too, as well as the entire civil government - Are all like misbehaving annoying little tenants (each section with it's own massive delusions of grandeur)... Which is why when the situation calls for some real action to be taken - Military simply tell them all to kindly step aside please and don't interfere anymore (until the trouble is averted). After which they again let the kids back inside the playground (elected offices), so they can once more freely have their delusions of grandeur!!! Just see this video (from 1978) as an example, which I personally think of as the funniest moment in our history - When Chief of the Army General Zia-ul-Haq became President-General Zia! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yaij3HX_M5I And here is another equally funny moment from 1999: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlwO2LWVCDY
