Alan Greenspan's book tour

Former Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan has been promoting his book "The Age of Turbulence" for the last couple of weeks. Among other things, he is talking about his reasons for supporting the Iraq invasion and his assessment that the Chinese stock market is a bubble waiting to burst. On the question of his support for Iraq invasion, he explains that he was convinced Saddam Husain would block the Strait of Hormuz if not removed from power. I think he's just flat wrong on this reasoning.Other than the US or Europeans, the only power that had the capacity to close the Strait is Iran. The removal of Saddam has, in fact, strengthened Iran significantly and made it more likely that the Strait would be closed in the event of war in the Persian Gulf involving Iran.
On the question of Shanghai bubble, he is more qualified than most but I still think he is wrong. The Chinese economy is very strong and growing rapidly. China is the factory of the world and it is developing a very large consumer class of its own with a pent-up demand not too different from the US consumer demand right after the WW II. So the Chinese markets are backed up a strong and rapidly growing economy to justify high valuation of its stock.

NEDians Convention 2007 Video

Here's a video with some of the highlights of NEDians Convention 2007 held on Sept 8, 2007 in Silicon Valley, CA. It's courtesy of NEDian Ali Hasan Cemendtaur.

PakAlumni Photo Album

Here's a brief slide show of the PakAlumni Photo Album:


Find more photos like this on PakAlumni Worldwide: The Pakistani Social Network

NEDians Convention 2007

NEDians Convention 2007 was held this year on Sept, 2007 in Silicon Valley, CA. It was very gratifying for the NED Alumni of Silicon Valley Steering Committee and me personally as the Chair to see a tremendous response from the NED alums in all parts of the US, Canada and Pakistan.
The attendance was almost 400 people exceeding our expectations. There were keynote speeches, panel discussions and a banquet followed by stand-up comedy and music entertainment. Dr. Shamsul Haq, the Pro VC of NED, represented the Vice Chancellor Mr. Abul Kalam. Here's a recorded video message to the convention by the Vice Chancellor:


Find more videos like this on NEDians Worldwide

Pakistan Day Celebration in Silicon Valley, CA

Pakistan Day was celebrated today at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, CA under the auspices of PACC, Pakistan American Cultural Center. PACC is a newly formed group in the bay area led by an NEDian Asghar Aboobaker, Farrukh Shah Khan and others. This was quite a celebration with food, flags, music and games. A job well done for a start. I took the opportunity to go along with my family to join the fun and celebration and promote NED Convention 2007. Here are a few pics I'm sharing with you:

Haq Family in Niagra, Canada

I took sometime off with the family in Canada and attended a family wedding as the summer approaches to a close. I also used the opportunity to meet NEDians and promote the Nedians convention in Sept in SAn Jose. Here are a few pics to share:

Do you know the way to San Jose?

Well, if you don't, please visit www.nedians.org asap. No procrastination, no excuses, if you really want to be a part of the largest gathering of NEDians anywhere outside of Karachi in 2007. If you are an NEDian, this is a unique opportunity to celebrate the NEDian in you, the rich heritage of NED and genuine pride in your accomplishments and the achievements of your friends in the high-tech valley in California. Show up and be counted! Sign-up on line and we'll show the way to San Jose. Be there Sept 8, 2007.
Riaz

NED UNiversity Alumni Convention 2007

NED Alumni of Silicon Valley, CA are celebrating the illustrious history and the rich heritage of our alma mater on Sept 8, 2007 in San Jose, CA. I am very proud to be one such alumnus enthusiastically helping organize this historic event, a first in the high-tech capital of the world, which is now home to hundreds of NEDians. NEDians have made a strong contribution to the development of this valley, its economy and its reputation of innovation around the world. Yours truly is proud to have made his contribution as the lead designer of the Intel 80386 microprocessor and his contribution to Pentium processor/software development and as an entrepreneur and cofounder of two high-tech startups. Please visit www.nedians.org to learn more about NED and NEDians in the high-tech valley. This event is open to both NEDians and non-NEDians. So feel free to register early online at nedians.org.

Sicko challenges the power of US Healthcare lobby

I saw Michael Moore's latest documentary "Sicko" last night along with my family. It opens as usual with a "Bushism" this time relating to healthcare "Litigation prevents OBGYNs practicing their love of women". Then it gets much more serious in bringing out the atrocious state of healthcare in the US and compares it to what the healthcare lobbyists deride as "socialized medicine" in Britain, France, Canada and Cuba. It clearly shows that the people receiving healthcare in these countries are healtheir and happier than the US healthcare consumers.
It also points out the corrosive power and influence of the healthcare lobbyists in the US and how they have essentially purchased the key legistators with large campaign contributions.
My earnest hope is that this movie will reingnite the healthcare debate and have a positive outcome for the average healthcare consumer this time.

Release BBC Correspondent Alan Johnston

As an American Muslim of Pakistani origin, I appeal to the captors of Alan Johnston to please release Alan unharmed immediately. BBC and its correspondents in the Middle East are among the few objective sources of news in the West about the events in Israeli occupied terreitories of Palestine. Instead of targeting the BBC, we ought to appreciate and support the BBC staff around the world.