If you’ve been following the news on the latest natural disaster to hit planet Earth, then you know about the powerful earthquake which has killed maybe 30,000 people–primarily in Pakistan, although several hundred have also perished in India. The epicenter of the 7.6 magnitude quake, lay 11km west of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir. And if you’re up on your history, then you are aware that the part of Kashmir which lies in India has been the cause of two wars fought between India and Pakistan, since the partition of British India in 1947.

But strangely enough, this devastating earthquake may have a silver lining.
From the Telegraph:

Training camps used by jihadists battling with the Indian army for control of Kashmir were buried by landslides or left in ruins by the earthquake, bringing hope of a new opportunity for peace-making after a 16-year Islamic insurgency.

Security analysts said yesterday that the earthquake in Pakistan’s highly-militarised Kashmir region had “significantly depreciated” the insurgents’ capacity to carry on their fight for independence in neighbouring Indian-administered Kashmir.

A chance for peace? Isn’t that remarkable if something really good and lasting can come from this. India has offered assistance to Pakistan, and that’s another good sign.

Military sources said that an estimated 1,000 Pakistani soldiers died in the earthquake after their concrete-roofed bunkers along the Kashmir frontier collapsed. Security sources said 15 militant training camps had been put out of action by the earthquake.

Almost all groups fighting the Indian army in Kashmir had ”camp offices” either in Muzafarrabad, the devastated capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, or surrounding areas.

Senior Indian army officers recently claimed the existence of least 55 militant training camps in the region.

So while there are still training camps left in the area, they are now going to be busy dealing with search and rescue, clean-up, and so on. Too busy to worry about attacking the Indian part of Kashmir. I truly hope that both India and Pakistan seize this opportunity to put aside their differences.

Finally, the long awaited–male nurse action figure! Isn’t he cute? Watch him “get into action,” as he swings his stethoscope and clipboard.

There’s really nothing wrong with a nurse doll of the masculine persuasion, but calling it an “action figure” is a bit much. I mean, do we call female nurse dolls action figures or are they just dolls? Or toys? Are doctor dolls ever called action figures?

I know that there’s this big push on to try to make nursing attractive to men (after they were actually banned from most nursing schools during the late 19th century and well into the 20th, and male nurses were banned from the military nurse corps from 1901-1955), but does anyone really think that calling this doll an “action figure” is going to get little boys all hot and bothered about becoming a nurse?

And the fact that the package says MALE NURSE on it, as opposed to just the word “nurse” also seems to indicate that one is unable to tell that this doll is a boy. Do GI Joe dolls say “male soldier?” Does Betsy-wetsy say “female baby doll?”

Anyway, if you collect nursing paraphernalia, this one’s for you. You can buy him at Accoutrements