With reference to the article Highway robbery (November 28), though I don’t own a gas station I am sure the writer will agree that an accusation without proof is nothing but unethical.
The gas cylinder in his car is a constant-volume vessel. Hence it cannot vary is the volume of the gas pumped in. The mass of gas pumped in, however, can vary depending on the pumping pressure. Higher pressure implies higher mass for a constant volume. In laymen terms, with higher pressure you are simply able to force more gas into the cylinder. The pumping pressure can easily vary from one filling station to another. Of course, what shouldn’t change is the normalized gas consumption, defined as the mass of gas or cost of gas consumed per kilometre of travel.
In short, if he receives more mass of gas in his cylinder, he shouldn’t worry. Rather, he should be able to run his car for a proportionally longer distance. If not, then he has every right to worry.
TAYYAB NOOR GANDHI
Karachi
The price of marrying twice
With reference to the article The price of marrying twice (November 21) whether a divorcee or an unmarried girl, just the attitude of the husband towards his wife can fortify the female’s happiness.
Recently in our neighbourhood an eligible bachelor married a divorced lady, with a child and she was also older than him by two years. He faced immense difficulties in getting his parents’ consent. But it was his perseverance and impregnable behaviour and assurance of being right that eventually got him the deserving position in his parents eyes.
Solution only lies in the just, cautious, courageous behaviour of the male. If the husband is sincere in his relations nothing wrong can be done to his wife or at least harsh impacts on wife can be minimized or reduced. Women too should be patient as anxiety in times of trial is the height of affliction.
Facing agony with a life partner is far better than facing it alone.
MAHRUKH HAIDER
Karachi
Children: a blessing or a bane?/
With reference to the article Children: a blessing or a bane? (November 28), I share the views of couples who have decided not to have children. It all seems very logical to me. It is simply a couple’s choice based on their perception of the world and their own abilities and energy and they should have every right to exercise it.
S.A. KHAN
Karachi
An iconic change
With reference to the article An iconic change (November 28), I do not agree with the writer that the today’s youngsters no more keep personalities like Yasser Arafat as their role models. It is not because time has changed or the media or any other force has caused such a change. The fact is that everyone has their own ideals and in their aspiration to achieve those ideals, they set their feet on the path of those persons who have held the same ideals and have been unbeaten in attaining them.
We cannot expect an artist (actor, singer etc.) to have a statesman like the Quaid-i-Azam or a freedom fighter like Arafat as his role model; likewise, we cannot expect a madressah student to have Shah Rukh Khan or Bill Gates as his role model. A friend of mine who is doing his MBA says Shaukat Aziz is his role model, not because he is a Prime Minister, but because he has been a good banker. Another friend of mine studying political science has Kemal Ataturk as his role model. Similarly, persons pursuing different fields of life have different role models.
One lesson notable that every person, especially the young, must learn from the lives of such great personalities is ‘never give up come what may’. We should set our ideals first, and once set stand by them no matter what.
