(Science Article) Pluto Demoted!

Not a planet anymore

New Definition of a Planet

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted on an official definition of the word "planet" at their general assembly on Aug. 24, 2006. Celestial bodies must meet the following conditions in order to be classified as planets: (1) The object must be in orbit around a star, while not being itself a star, (2) the body must be massive enough for its own gravity to pull it into a nearly spherical shape, and (3) the object has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. The last criterion is the one that led to Pluto's demotion. While the exact parameters of "clearing the neighborhood" have not been set, the other planets have either assimilated or repulsed most other objects in their orbits, and each has more mass than the combined total of everything else in its area. The same cannot be said for Pluto, which has turned out to be one of many objects in its orbit.

Pluto is Out!

Pluto's new classification is "dwarf planet," while the eight planets remaining—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—are planets. The dwarf planet definition mirrors the planet definition in the first two conditions. The third condition says that the object has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and the fourth states that it is not a satellite. A dwarf planet does not meet the third condition of a planet, but it must meet a fourth: a dwarf planet cannot be a satellite. As a result, Pluto's satellite Charon, briefly considered as a full-fledged planet in the solar system, is back to being a moon. The term "pluton" was rejected and the name for this class will be decided upon in the future.

Others Considered for "Planethood"

The asteroid Ceres (classified a planet when first discovered in the 1800s) andEris (previously nicknamed "Xena"), both formerly under consideration for planetary status, are now out. Ceres and Eris have joined Pluto as dwarfs. The IAU also has a dozen candidate planets awaiting future designation as dwarf planets, including Sedna, Orcus, Quaoar, Varuna, Ixion—all found beyond Pluto; the asteroids Vesta, Pallas, and Hygiea; and four yet unnamed bodies (2003 EL₆₁, 2005 FY₉, 2002 TX₃₀₀, and 2002 AW₁₉₇).

Also defined was "Small Solar System Bodies" as all other objects except satellites orbiting the Sun. These include the asteroids, Trans-Neptunian Objects, comets and other small bodies.

Some Qoutes About Love & Life

LoVe YoU MoThEr

My mother is the most important person in my life. I have been mentioning her in almost all of the essays I write. The problem is, I cannot really express how I feel about her in just words. My mother is not my whole life, but she is a really big part of it. My whole world does not only revolve around her, but she is the most influential person who inspires me. My mother is not just another woman. She is extraordinary.

I have known her for 23 years, three months, one day and nineteen hours. I know her very well, and I had learned to love her since the day we first met. Relatives always tell me stories about my birth. They tell me how important I was to my mom. I was the foundation of her joy, strength, peace and love. She has never lied to me about my father. I do not remember asking about him. Ever since, I already knew he was in a better place. I do not remember my mom having a hard time explaining to me my situation – having no father. She was always straightforward. She explained things very simply, like she knew everything. I thank her for being simple. I thank her for telling me the truth, so that I did not need to believe a lie that would have made things easier for me. When in fact, not knowing the truth would have made things complicated.

She has taught me all I need to know to live life as a sixteen-year old teenage girl. She taught me how to feel. Well, she did not only do that. She showed me how to handle these feelings of anger, fear, guilt, joy, sadness, excitement, hate and anxiety. She also showed me how to give and take. I learned from her that giving is a lot harder than taking, but the former is much more satisfying when it is done. She told me that giving makes one happy. I am sure she is right because half of her life, she has been giving me what I need, and in spite of all that years of giving, she is happy. Though very slowly, I am learning how to give freely. Little by little

When you knew how to speak, what was your first word ? It is Mom. We have grown up in the arms of our mothers. We have grown up in the great love of our mothers. No one loves us like our mothers, no one is willing to sacrifice everything for us like our mothers. If someone asks you “Who is the best woman in your life ?”, I bet you will say it is your mother. And if someone asks me like that, my answer also is my mother.

With me, my mother is the best woman in the world. No one can replace her in my heart.  I admire my mother, I don’t know why she is always busy with daily chores, taking care of my family but she never say she is tired.

Every day, she is the first person in my family, who wakes up very early. Then, she makes breakfast for my family. When my father goes to work, I go to school, my mother stays home and does all the daily chores. When my father and I come home, there is always a delicious dinner, which is waiting for us. After the dinner, my mom washes the dishes. Sometimes, I ask her to help, but she says: “It is fine, you should go upstairs and do your homework”. Mom always wake up very early, and Mom is the last person can take a break after a busy day. I realize that without my Mom, my father and I cannot have the clean house, the delicious meal and the clothes which always iron straight. Mom gives me and my father all her love.

She loves us more than herself. Her love for us is great like the ocean, the universe and nothing can replace it. She is not only my mom, she is also my friends, my big sister, who I can share all my problems and stories in life with. When I am sad, happy or stressful, Mom is always by my side and comfort me. Sometimes, I get angry with my mom because she remind me too much things, especially they are all things I know. Then, I realize that she just wants me- her son to be good.

Making my mother cry is the worst thing, but I did. I’m a boy, and playing games is the most favorite things to do of boys. I played games everyday. Anytime, when I had free time, I played games, when I came home from school, I played games . I played until midnight, I played until I was tired and slept on my desk. My mother knew it and she always told me to stop playing and focus on studying. I said “yes” to make her feel please and then I continued to play. When you play games, you just focus on that, you forget to study, that were what happened to me. My mother didn’t know anything until my school had a parents conference. She was shocked when she saw my report. My grade was going down. She asked me why my grade went down, I was quiet and looked at her. It seemed like my mother knew the reason why. She was quiet, stared at me and sigh.

Suddenly, I saw tears from her eyes, she cried. She told me many times that I should not play games too much, I needed to focus on studying, but I ignore her advice. When she cried, I felt so sorry and guilty. I wasn’t brave enough to looked at her. Then I came to her slowly, hugged her and said: “I was sorry, mom. I knew that I had made a big mistake. I felt so sorry. Mom, please forgive me. I promised that I wouldn’t do this again. I was so sorry. I made you cry.” And she hugged me tight, she whispered: “How couldn’t I forgive you ? I was just a little disappointed, but I knew, you would know how to fix your mistake, I love you.” I cried after she said that, just a bit, but I did cry.

Mom, you gave me everything but you never ask me to pay back. You are the best, the greatest woman in this world and in my heart. I love you forever. I am happy when I have you by my side to take care of me, to protect me and to give me your love. I am happy when I am your son. In the future. I will be an successful adult in life and I can take care of myself. But in my mother’s eyes, I know that I am always her little son as I was.

                                                                                                     By :: Abdullah Bin Umar

                                                                                                 Twitter> @abdullahsany007

Beautiful Swat Valley

Attractions Swat Valley The magnificent Swat Valley, popularly called as Switzerland of Pakistan, is situated north of Peshawar. In ancient times it remained center of flourishing Buddhist civilization, still having its marks found at various places. Its old name was Udyana that means the land of gardens. The archeological sites and monasteries dating back to Buddhist era add to its historical charm. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Swat Valley is full of screaming rivers, lush green forests and snow-covered peaks adding to its natural attraction. Green fruit orchards, beautiful lakes, gushing streams and a fascinating landscape make it a place worth seeing.  Buddhist Stupas Just 7 km from Landakai, a road goes towards Nimogram, which is further at a distance of 21 km. Nimogram is famous for its monastery on the top of a hill overlooking the whole area. Three main stupas with several other ones are also found here. These archeological sites revive the Buddhist period of this place. These structures have been built with dress stones, a mastery by the old artisans. They resemble Andan Dhery monastery situated in Dir district. Shankardar Stupa This Buddhist stupa, just three km from Barikot, unfolds its attractive glimpses on the right side of the road. It was approximately built between the third and the fourth centuries AD, perhaps being the only relic with its original dome still intact. On the right side of the road, nearly one and half kilometer from the stupa, large figures of Buddha carved on a rock revive memories of that once glorious period of Buddhism in this region. Mingora Mingora being lifeline of trade and business activity is the main central city of Swat valley adjacent to Saidu Sharif. It offers food outlets, restaurants and hotels. Locally produced items beautifully displayed at its main bazaar, shops, show rooms etc. include semi precious stones, embroidered dresses, hand woven ladies shawls, bed sheets and woodwork. Traditional ornaments and antiques are available at shops. Visitors on trips to Swat valley usually stroll its bazaars for shopping at the end of their journey. You can find emerald mines in hills northward of the town, famous worldwide for their expensive and valuable emeralds. Saidu Sharif Being capital city of picturesque Swat valley, Saidu Sharif is the principal seat of administration for looking after and managing regional government affairs. Several colleges, schools, government offices are situated here. A museum reflecting Buddhist era history, the tomb of Akhund of Swat are sited here along with archeological sites of Butkara Buddhist stupa. Saidu Sharif has a small airport from which air service is regularly operating connecting it with Peshawar and Islamabad.  Swat Museum This museum full of Swat’s old heritage is situated between Mingora and Saidu Sharif.Gandhara Buddhist artifacts, antiques and similar articles are beautifully showcased telling the tale of once glorious era. Ancient life of this region is portrayed in shape of samples of local embroidery, jewelry, and carved wooden articles. The museum is closed on Wednesdays.  Marghzar About 13 km from Saidu Sharif, is sited the serene small town of Marghzar at the foot of Mount llam. Its White Marble Palace, built by ruler of Swat in the early 1940s, adds to the grandeur of this peaceful town. The palace has now been converted into a top class hotel with excellent lodging and boarding facilities. While journeying towards Swat, you can see a road turning towards Islampur, a small village famous for its medicinal plants. Wildlife is found in its forest.  Malam-Jaba A trip to Swat is incomplete without seeing Malam- Jaba, about 44 km from Mingora, a modern hill resort with surrounding mountains raising its natural attraction and beautiful landscape. Both outdoor and indoor recreation facilities are available. It is a newly developed resort having a four star hotel and chairlift. During peak summer, it is flocked by visitors taking respite from mid summer scorching heat in plains. A hotel complex with a mini golf course and a ski run provide good entertainment. At a height of about 2743 m above sea level, Malam-Jaba offers beautiful landscape of mountain peaks full of snow, green valleys and sprawling forests refreshing minds in a cool and more serene atmosphere generously gifted by nature. Miandam Encircled by mountains the picturesque tourist resort of Miandam is at a distance of about 57 km from Saidu Sharif. Surrounding mountains during the summer do not allow the sun to cast its shadows on this attractive resort making it the coolest place. A PTDC motel, few hotels and official guest houses keep this beautiful place alive in summer seasons. It provides a refreshing view of large forests, fruit orchards and flowing streams. Madyan Situated on the banks of surging Swat river, Madyan (1312 m above sea level) is at a distance of 57 km from Saidu Sharif. Its riverside location and cool climate make it an attractive spot with rows of shops, hotels and restaurants queued along the road. A trout hatchery adds to its fascination. Local handicrafts, embroidery and antiques are displayed at roadside shops.You can make a trip to nearby valleys from here.  Bahrain This riverside small town, at a distance of 66 km from Saidu sharif and just 10 km from Madyan, is most frequently visited resort because of its location on the road leading to other beautiful resorts. A humming bazaar with shops, eateries and hotels make it a popular place. Household traditional decoration items are available at shops. Architectural beauty is fully evident in wood-made pillars and fixtures of mosques and buildings arousing interest of visitors. Nearby valleys full of lushgreen thick jungles offer hiking on narrow mountainous paths. Kalam Being home town of Kohistani inhabitants, Kalam is like an earthly paradise in Swat Valley. Located at a distance of 40 km from Bahrain, Kalam is the main town of this region presenting one of the most panoramic natural beauty. The people known as Kohistanis are its original inhabitants proud of their own language and still unchanged traditions.A fascinating view of 6471m Falaksair Peak with its melting snow even during summers from Matiltan (3000m) is ecstatic. The journey is incomplete without seeing and going to Mahodand, a famous lake, about 23 km beyond Matiltan. The picturesque Kalam provides road access to reach magnificent valleys of Ushu (2286m), Utrot (2225m) and Gabral (2286m) above sea level, where journey through green forests and beautiful view of landscape is mesmerizing. Rivers and lakes at Kalam offer good trout fishing after getting permits obtainable from the Fisheries Department.  Lake Mahodand At a distance of 35 km from Kalam, Lake Mahodand is a natural lake charm -wise the most attractive all over Swat region. A metalled road leads to this treasure of natural beauty and onward is a jeep track treacherously running along the edges of exceptionally green waters of swat river. The overall view is magical. Trout fishing in the lake is a favorite pastime. Famous Lakes Of Swat Valley Swat valley has several other natural lakes of which Kundol Dand, Khapero Dand, Dara Dand and Bisigram are the famous ones. Climate The best season to visit Swat is from March till October amidst pleasant weather. It is the time when the valley wakes up for tourists gracefully welcoming them amidst its magnificent mountains, meadows, forests and streams providing them perfect retreat. Languages Pashto and Kohistani are the commonly spoken local languages, while Urdu and English are also spoken by the people. Shopping Decorative household articles and colorful embroidered items are trademark of Swat valley. Embroidered table cloth, ladies shawls, mats, handicrafts, caps, wood furniture, honey are the popular items. Swat’s is famous for its precious and semi precious stones particularly its emerald. How To Get There Linked with Peshawar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi by road, Swat can be reached from all these three main cities. Its distance from Peshawar is 151 km. The distance from Rawalpindi via Nowshera-Mardan and Malakand Pass is 270 km. It can be reached by road from Gilgit via Besham, the main town located on Karakoram Highway passing through mighty Himalayan mountains. Map

The seasons of the year differ in different parts of the world. In countries in the temperate zone, like England, the year is divided into four seasons Winter (December, January and February), Spring (March, April and May), Summer (June, July and August) and Autumn (September, October and November).

The winter is the cold season. The land is often covered with snow; lakes and ponds and streams are frozen; the sky is dull and cloudy, and there are frequent storms of wind and rain. All veg­etation seems to be dead; the trees are bare, the grass is brown, and all the flowers have disappeared.

In March, the climate chang­es, often suddenly. The warm, moisture-laden west wind prevails, and the air becomes warm and mild. The flowers come out, the trees put forth their new leaves, and the grass becomes green. The birds begin nesting, and the woods are full of their singing; and the farmers are busy ploughing and sowing.

With June comes the summer warm but not hot like the Indian summer and flowers and trees are at their finest. In June and July the farmers are busy making hay, and in August they begin to reap the wheat.

September and October are beautiful autumn months; the har­vesting is completed, the orchards are laden with fruit, and the leaves of the trees turn yellow and red. and begin to fall; while November is stormy and cold, and the days shorten and the nights lengthen, till winter comes round again.

In a hot country, like India, the seasons are different, and are marked not so much by differences of heat and cold, as by rain and dryness. In South India and Bengal, it is more or less hot throughout the year; but from October to June it is dry, while from June, when the monsoon breaks, there is more or less continual rain until the end of September.

In North India, there are violent extremes of heat and cold. From November to Feb­ruary is the cold season, the cold being sometimes comparatively severe. In March it begins to get hot, and the dry heat increases steadily until in June it is blazing hot, and the temperature often rises to Fahrenheit, when the monsoon breaks, and the

temperature is reduced; but it still remains hot, and the humidity in the air makes it steamy and very uncomfortable until the rain ceases. This division of seasons gives Indian farmers two harvests in the year.

They begin ploughing as soon as the monsoon rains soften the soil in July, and sow cotton and maize, which they reap in October the Kharif harvest. Then they plough again and sow wheat and other crops, which they reap about March the Rabi harvest.

The seasons are caused, of course, by the changes in the position of the earth to the sun, as it rolls round it in its yearly course.

Tourism In Pakistan

• the tourist spots in general
• the areas which tourists like to visit. The worth of these areas.
• how tourism is managed and controlled. Suggestions for improvement.

The conclusion. We should have the best international standards of tourism in the country
     Pakistan is blessed with excellent tourist spots nearly all over the country. Historical places merge into natural sights in the most appealing manner. We have the sights worth-seeing at Banbhor, east of Karachi, with its famous museum. Makli in Sindh has the largest necropolis (large graveyard east of Karachi), with its famous museum. Makli in Sindh has the largest necropolis. Thatta is famous because of Makli. Moenjo-daro near Taxila, Harappa near sahiwal, the Lahore Fort, the Badshahi Mosque, Jehangir's and Nur Jehan's tombs and the Shalimar Gardens in  Lahore are famous historical sights. The Khyber pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  through which conquerors from Afghanistan and Iran entered India, is a natural sight that reflects history. Murree, Ayubia , Swat , Kagan and Naran in the north and Ziarat in Balochistan are fresh and cool like open nature. Kalam and its famous Mahudan lake in north are paradisiacal in natural beauty. The Saiful-Maluk alke is close to Naran. It is the hightest lake on earth whose depth is still unknown.the beautiful mountains around it dwarf us in our human existence. Natural beauty , in all its forms , is offered by mountainous Khyber Pakhtunwa, its valleys , lakes and streams. Historical and cultural sites are found in plenty in Sindh and Punjab. 
Tourists , from within the country and abroad, like to visit the northern areas most of all. Theri scenic beauty and charm are comparable to the best in the world, say, in Swize3rland, Canada and Us . The Hunza valley in the north is close to the famous K-2 and Rakaposhi moutains, among the highest peaks Tourists stay in  motels and go on long walks, also attempting mountain climbing. the historical sites and cultural centers like tombs of famous saints and museums also attract a great number,. We find Harappa near Sahiwal.
Tourism in the country is managed by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. It has its offices in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Abbotabad. It publishes tourism books, pamphlets and pictures of tourists visiting tourists who take them around tourists spots and explain their features.
The terrorist attacks on foreigners, especially from the western countries , has affected the tourism industry severely. Now Pakistan ranks 103 in 124 countries offering tourism facilities. The travel and hotel facilities at tourist sites are not very encouraging. then the general social, political and economic conditions have not been favorable even to the citizens. Sightseeing and tourism in Swat have been seriously effected by the war-like situation. 
The people should join the government in its efforts to crush terrorism. the government should improve the law and order situation in all possible ways. then all sorts of facilities should be provided by the government in hotels and tourists homes . we should have the best international standards of tourism in the country. With these Pakistan will become first-rate tourism country..

Brief Essay on Man as a Social Animal

Here is your essay on Man as a Social Animal!

Long ago, Aristotle expressed that ‘Man is essentially a social animal by nature’. He cannot live without society, if he does so; he is either beast or God. Man realises his goals, his existence in the society: he finds various ingredients in society through which he can attain the perfectness of the life. The day, he is born to the day he leaves this planet he is in the society

Man like ‘Robinson Crusoe’ can never develop his personality, language, culture and ‘inner deep’ by living outside the society. The statement that a man is a social animal implies that man cannot live without society. Society is indispensable for him. He needs society as matter of nature, necessity and for his well being. All these three implications are explained as follows:

1. Man is a social animal by nature. Man’s nature is such that he cannot afford to live alone. No human being is known to have normally developed in isolation. Maclver has cited three cases in which infants were isolated from all social relationships to make experiments about man’s social nature. The first case is of Kaspar Hauser who from his childhood until his seventeenth year was brought up in the woods of Nuremberg.

In his case it was found that at the age of seventeen he could hardly walk, had the mind of an infant and could mutter only a few meaningless phrases. In spite of his subsequent education he could never make himself a normal man.

The second case was of two Hindu children who in 1929 were discovered in a wolf den. One of the children died soon after discovery. The other child could walk only on all four, possessed no language except wolf like growls. She was shy of human being and afraid of them. It was only after careful and sympathetic training that she could learn some social habits.

The third case was of Anna, an illegitimate American child who had been placed in a room at the age of six months and discovered five years later. On discovery it was found that she could not walk or speak and was indifferent to people around her.

These cases prove that human being is social by nature. Human nature develops in man only when he lives in society, only when he shares with his fellow beings a common life. The accounts of the noble savage free from all social restraints living in woods and appeasing his appetite with the fruits are idyllic tales devoid of all historical value. Even the sadhus who have retired from worldly life live in the company of their fellows in the forest.

All this tends to show that society is something which fulfills a vital need in man’s constitution, it is not something accidentally added to or super imposed on human nature. His very existence is wielded into the fabrics of society. He knows himself and his fellow beings within the framework of society. Indeed, man is social by nature.

2. Man lives in society because necessity compels him so. Many of his needs will remain unsatisfied if he does not have the cooperation of his fellow beings. Every individual is the off- spring of a social relationship established between man and woman. The child is brought up under the care of his parents and learns the lessons of citizenship in their company.

If the newborn’ baby does not receive protection and attention by the society, he would not survive even a day. We get our needs of food, shelter arid clothing fulfilled only by living and cooperating with others. The stories of cases cited above prove that people reared among animals away from human beings remained animals in habits. The importance of society for physical and mental development is thus obvious. No one can become a human being unless he lives with human beings.

Fear of wild animal makes some seek cooperation of other; the satisfaction of food hunger, rest-hunger etc. through exchange or barter may bring some into relation; joint action and division of labour may be found necessary for the achievement of some common end which the individual alone may not be able to secure. The need for self-preservation, which is felt by every being makes a man social. Therefore, it is not due to his nature alone but also due to his necessities that man lives in society.

3. Man lives in society for his mental and intellectual development. Society preserves our culture and transmits it to succeeding generations. It both liberates and limits our- potentialities as individuals and moulds our attitudes, our beliefs, our morals and ideals.

The mind of a man without society, as feral cases show, remains the mind of an infant even at the age of adulthood. The cultural heritage directs our personality. Thus society fulfills not only our physical needs but also determines our mental equipment.

It therefore stands established beyond any doubt that man is a social animal. Man requires society as a sine qua non condition for his life as a human being. It is not one or a few particular needs or tendencies of man that compel him to live in society but without it his personality cannot come into being.

On the basis of the above discussion it may be concluded that individuals and society are interdependent. The relationship between them is not one-sided; both are essential for the comprehension of other. Neither the individuals belong to society as cells belong to the organism, not the society a mere contrivance to satisfy certain human needs. Neither the society itself has a value beyond the service which it renders to its members, not the individuals can thrive without society.

Neither the society is inimical to the development of individuality, nor it exists in its own right. In fact, both are complementary and supplementary to each other. Cooley writes: “A separate individual is an obstruction unknown to experience and individuals. Society and individuals do not denote separate phenomena but are simply collective and distributive aspects of the same thing.”

Explaining the relationship between individual and society Marcher observes: “Society with all the traditions, the institutions, the equipment it provides a great changeful order of social life, arising from the psychological as well as the physical needs of the individual, an order wherein human beings are born and fulfill themselves with whatever limitations and wherein they transmit to coming generations the requirement of living. We must reject any view of this pattern that sees the relationship between individual and society from merely one or the other side”.