It seems to be my fate to meet flakes - not the dandruff kind but the flaky people who confirm an appointment, a plan to meet up with you, then conveniently forget they ever committed to anything.

The Moon takes the same time (27.3 days) to rotate once on its axis as it takes to orbit the Earth. This is called synchronous rotation. Does this mean we always see the same face of the Moon, and hence, only 50 percent of its surface? No, this simple picture of lunar motion is not quite correct. Over the course of a lunar cycle, there is an apparent wobbling and nodding of the Moon, collectively called libration, which allows us to see additional 9 percent of the lunar surface.

Friendships are built over time, and increasingly we don't have enough. The world has speeded up, and so have we. Families are busier. Kids are overscheduled. It's the great paradox of the Internet age: The more connected we are, the less we get to know each other. At home, each of us is in our own bubble, furiously connected to keyboards and tiny touch screens, texting and reading emails. The house is quiet, a quiet that does not ask to be broken. Hanging out with pals in the neighbourhood after school is passé. Who has time left for live people? We have sacrificed conversation for connection.

I am increasingly becoming a subscriber to the view that the cultural roots of competing societies must be playing a very critical role in its struggle for survival and prosperity. How effectively a society is able to cope with the challenges it faces depend largely on its culture. Some cultures facilitate quick adoption to emerging challenges while others hinder it. This constraint (or advantage) becomes even more acute when time compression is introduced. Given enough time, most societies can change its cultural patterns to adapt to changes in the environment. However, in a rapidly changing environment, the adoption time becomes the primary determinant of success or failure.

Perhaps it was Janakantha (correct me please if I am wrong), who started the “readers' poll” on a daily basis. And, because it was a good thing, if not anything was popular with some online readers, most other newspapers followed. Who said we were not going digital? In view of the ongoing political situation turning to murder-of-the-innocent on the street, I picked up some of the opinions expressed by readers of Prothom Alo, most so because many readers of the Daily Star may be unaware of the viewpoints expressed in the popular Bangla daily.

At the Friday afternoon rally in the capital, he announced that utility connections to BNP chief Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office would be disconnected if she did not call off the ongoing non-stop blockade. To many people, his threat appeared as a joke as he had made some more such ridiculous remarks in the past.

Imagine what might happen if you survive rape, and seek justice. Prepare to be questioned about your character, especially about your sexual history. Now imagine this happening to you in an open court. If it saddens your heart to think about the mental trauma that a woman or girl goes through in the aftermath of rape, then think about the emotionally tormenting experience she faces when riddled with questions on her character and virtuousness in court.

A testament of Moniruzzaman's apology can be seen in the corridor adjacent to the vault. Here hundreds of film cans have been stacked up as they could not be accommodated in the vault. Some of these have been marked for checking the film's quality and regular clean up.

Following a dilapidated corridor, we reach a wooden door, and enter into a dark room. The light flickers for a bit when it is turned on before illuminating the tiny room with its brightness. A huge collection of film cans ranging from the earliest preserved films to the latest day films emerge in front of us.

She cannot age for she is made of clay. She is but an intricate decoration: part of a brick in Dinajpur's Kantaji Temple.

Dr Maliha Khatun I was in Beijing serving as Ambassador to China, when I was informed that my mother, Dr Maliha Khatun, was in critical condition, following an eye operation.

The Nawab’s Last Bow

In the US, going to my first day at the new office was a unique experience. After passing more than half a century in this world my short height finally received its due credit by my thoughtful boss.