MY PERSONAL DIARY

I perceive the world as a playground .....

2011-08-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

English Translation

I perceive the world as a playground

Where dawn and dusk appear in eternal rounds
In His Universal form is a plaything the throne of Solomon
The miracles of the Messiah seem so ordinary in my eyes
Without name I cannot comprehend any form
Illusionary but is the identity of all objects
My anguish envelopes the entire desert
Silently flows the river in front of my floods
Ask not what separation has done to me
Just see your poise when I come in front of you
Truly you say that I am egotistical and proud
It is the reflection, O friend, in your limited mirror
To appreciate the style and charm of conversation
Just bring in the goblet and wine
Hatred manifests due to my envious mind
Thus I say, don't take his name in front of me
Faith stops me while temptations attract
Inspite of Kaaba behind and church ahead
I am the Lover, yet notorious is my charm
Thus Laila calls names to Majnu in front of me
"Dies" not one though the union is a delight
In premonition of the separation night
Alas, this be it, the bloody separation wave
I know not what else is in store
ahead of me
Though the hands don't move, the eyes are alive
Wine and goblet, let them stay in front of me
Says "Ghalib"
Conscience is companion and trusted friend
Don't pass any judgments in front of me.

Original Urdu

Baazi-cha-aie-Atfal Hai Dunia, Mere Aage
Hota Hai Shaboroze Tamasha Mere Aage
Ik Khel Hai Aurang-e-suleman, Mere Nazdeek
Ik Baat Hai Ajaaz-a-Maseehah, Mere Aage
Juz Naam, Nahin Surat-a-aalam Mujhe Manzoor
Juz Vaham, Nahin Hasti-e-ashiya, Mere Aage
Hota Hai Nihan Gard Mein Sahra, Mere Hote
Ghista Hai Jabin Khak Pe Dariya, Mere Aage
Mut Poochh, Ki Kya Haal Hai Mera, Tere Peeche
Tu Dekh Ki Kya Rung Hai Tera, Mere Aage
Sach Kehte Ho Khudbeen-o-Khuddara Hun, Kyon Na Hun?
Baitha Hai Butt-a-Aaeena-Seema, Mere Aage
Phir Dekhiye, Andaz-e-Gul-Afshani-e-Guftaar
Rakh De Koyee Paimana-o-Sahba Mere Aage
Nafrat Ka Guman Guzre Hai, Mein Rushk Se Guzra
Kyonkar Kahun, Lo Naam Na Unka Mere Aage
Iman Mujhe Roke Hai, To Khenche Hai Mujhe Kufra
Kaba Mere Peeche Hai, Kalisa Mere Aage
Aashiq Hun, Per Mashook-Farebi Hai Mera Kaam
Majnun Ko Bura Kehti Hai Laila Mere Aage
Khush Hote Hain, Pur, Vasl Mein Yon Mur Nahin Jaate
Aayee Shab-a-Hijran Ki Tamanna Mere Aage
Hai Moujzan Ik Kulzum-e-Khun, Kaash, Yahi Ho
Aata Hai, Abhi Dekhiye, Kya Kya, Mere Aage
Go Hath Mein Jumbish Nahin, Aankhon Mein To Dum Hai
Rahne Do Abhi Sagar-O-Meena, Mere Aage
Humpesh-O-Hummastrab-O-Humraaz Hai Mera
"Ghalib" to Bura Kyon Kaho, Accha Mere Aage

Beauty of my mystic Islamabad

2011-03-28T23:51:00.000-07:00

Share38

As the winter is on its Peak in Pakistan, We all are having really beautiful and cold days. The weather is so beautiful and all the living beings are enjoying amazing misty moments in Islamabad. The beauty of the green heaven is covered with Fog and Its a good time to enjoy the Hot Coffee or a nice camp fire. The nature has showered all his blessings over the Capital city. The foggy look of the city where as create a bit problems for the drivers to see the traffic but even then every one is enjoying these lovely days of Cloudy & Mystic Winter. I have captured some vague scenes of Islamabad for you to see so Enjoy.

The sun trying to shine at Islamabad but the clouds are not allowing

It was really difficult to jog even on the routine track

Isn't the scene looks like a Wordsworth's abode :-)

The depths of lonely beauty

Road to Heaven ! isn't it

I am trying to see the Third light pole , Can you?

A Giant building covered with Fog

Way to a beautiful road (Jinnah Avenue)

They are trying to touch the Sky

Bye Bye ;-)
http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2011/01/beauty-of-my-mystic-islamabad.html

Surely you're not thinking of resolutions....Are you???

2011-01-06T21:53:00.000-08:00

Friday, December 31, 2010

It is with some reticence that I write my final post for this year.

In the northern part of Queensland, floods have been ferocious, engulfing thousands of homes, forcing families and individuals to evacuate into unfamiliar and not the cosiest of temporary refuge.

How do you celebrate the auspicious closing of one year and the opening of a new one when, virtually in your backyard, thousands have been robbed of the spirit of celebration? Or so it would seem.

I know that no sorrowfulness on my part will alleviate the flagging spirits of my neighbors. I'm also reminded that, while the proximity of this latest disaster makes it less easy to ignore or even want to ignore, everyday, somewhere in the world, many more suffer disasters of one form or another.

So, here I am with a jumble of inconvenient thoughts and feelings. Yes, inconvenient because they make me feel less than celebratory at this rather momentous time of years, old and new.

My expanding awareness of life's realities, however, provides some recourse.

I can connect, in spirit, with the spirit of hope and faith within each of these people, here and everywhere else on this earth - hope and faith that things can and will get better even if we don't know the exact machinations of how.

I can summon within me, the spirit of determination to focus on desirable possibilities rather than undesirable ones, and connect with others in this spirit of determination.

I can raise within me the natural spirit of glee and optimism rooted in my knowing that in any adversity, there are doors of opportunity. We only have to have an open and willing mind. (It wasn't all that long ago when I was homeless for eighteen months).

I can celebrate and increase the spirit of joy and hope that seeks to move freely throughout the world rather than be an obstacle to it.

These are the things that come to mind now. They are anchored in my knowing that any outcome in the material/physical world has its origins in the mind, within the ever-expanding screen of our imagination.

I want to join all my friends and family across the world - those that I've seen face to face and those whose faces I've not seen but whose spirit I've felt deeply - in celebration.

I'm not going to ask you what your resolutions for the New Year are. But I do want to ask you what your dreams are. Will you share them with me?

As for me, my dreams are of:

meeting my perfect partner and having an amazing, exciting, fun, adventurous, inspiring, romantic, liberating and adoring relationship with him
enjoying the beauty and goodness and greatness of my two children as they experiment with life
doing something truly significant in the service of others, something that I will enjoy wholeheartedly and that will benefit them in big and meaningful ways
exploring and enjoying even more the friendships I have made, on and off-line - really seeing and enjoying the beauty and magnificence of each person I meet
traveling to places where I can spend time enjoying the people and their spaces
singing, playing guitar, writing, drawing, cooking much more competently, freely and frequently than I currently do
enjoying wealth and abundance

Wow! There they are. I didn't think I'd be making any of this public but, hey, another one of my ongoing dreams is to live more freely than I've ever done! This is one way of doing it.

I do wish you, my very,very dear reader, with all the warmth and affection in my heart, a truly spectacular 2011. May every desire of your heart be delivered in bountiful measure!

Thank you for being such a beautiful part of my life in 2010.

Love, hugs and kisses - TBT

http://thoughtbubbleten.blogspot.com/2011/01/no-this-is-not-fess-up-time-but-have.html

I have got a fabulous thing guys just read :-) as my entry back in my blog -)

2010-04-20T00:54:00.000-07:00

by: www.twitter.com/2morrowknight

This is the latest post in our series, TwitterPowerhouses, which focuses on the contributions of people who've helped to expand, influence, and redefine how we view social networking.

What inspires you? The answer to that question can be found in the timeless words of a visionary leader or literary giant, the stunning beauty of historical landmarks and modern marvels, or the fighting spirit and the responsibility to support causes that speak to the very best of what humanity has to offer. Or, all of the above.

Truly, inspiration is a brand than can never be oversold. This is why I am excited about profiling the 16 people below. They are among the most respected, motivational voices on Twitter today. They inspire hundreds of thousands with their daily dose of gratitude, use of icons, thought-provoking blogs, support for nonprofits, and a great mix of uplifting quotes and affirmations.

In one of his great pieces on inspiration, Russell Simmons writes,

We are thinking about the question "What inspires you?" and we are inspired by compassionate love. With great love all things are possible. This is true. In Mahatma Gandhi's words, "love is the strongest force the world possesses, and yet it is the humblest imaginable." Mother Teresa spent her life working to give a voice to the poor and to promoting love as an essential ingredient to life. Her life devoted to the poor was among the richest in human history. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years imprisoned because of his actions to end the loveless and dehumanizing oppression of Apartheid.

Indeed, our lives are wonderfully defined, and refined, by the gravitational pull of positive people. We're drawn to what they promote, how they express themselves, and most of all, how their words line up with their actions. This is what Simmons is talking about. And just as we are inspired by the figures he mentioned, legions are also inspired by the 16 TwitterPowerhouses below. Men and women who are as richly diverse and captivating as the world we all inhabit.

Marcome / @MarcomeAn accomplished singer/songwriter from Canada, she created
"Twitter me Some Love", an inspirational song which has become a certified
viral hit. Her "New World Music" is truly fascinating.

Lotay Yang / @LotayBased in Los Angeles, CA, he is the founder of Black Card Circle, an elite
social network of prominent business professionals, who use their access, connections and wealth to benefit charitable organizations worldwide..

Mia Rose / @DrMiaRose
One of Australia's most celebrated and respected
photographers and relationship therapists. Her blog is a great read that
tackles a variety of issues. Her Healing Love Notes are great.

Joseph Ranseth / @JosephRanseth

Ranseth routinely travel throughout North America to meet

and connect with his friends on Twitter. His life's mission is to

touch lives & love using social media.

Ann Farkas / @TrendyDC

Ann has spent the last two years concentrating on the needs of

others: traveling, supporting an orphanage in Peru. This former corporate

exec is a serious Twitter favorite.

Lori Moreno / @LoriMoreno

A former corporate attorney, Moreno has found her calling, and

maintains a great site with news, love and romance, and her unique brand

of feel-good content.

Arun Charles / @LiveTorque

This awesome feed is maintained by Arun Charles, and has one of

the most pleasant and distinctive avatars on the site. A smile will

surely become your best friend in the world.

LollyDaskal / @LollyDaskal

Daskal is a speaker and author who uses her popular blog

Lead from Within to help others overcome obstacles and setbacks, and

empowering others to be their most Successful Self.

Mlomb / Mlomb

A mobile apps developer who also blogs, his page includes
interesting "cool facts" about civilization. He lives by the words:

"Creativity requires the courage to let go of uncertainties."

Amy Neumann / @CharityIdeas

Neumann is apart of The United Way Emerging Leaders Council, and

tweets about ways to use social media for non-profits. Her website details her

dedication to helping people and giving back.

Dr Jefferson Boggs / @DrJeffersnBoggs

More than anything else, Love anchors his feed. Love for art.

Love for social networks. And, love for humanity. His tweets reflect

his travels to Paris and Rio, as well as the positive experiences shaping his life.

Eleesha / @Eleesha

Eleesha is a popular author, blogger, and "sharer of words of

inspiration", affirmations, and positive thoughts. Her blend of

words and icons is intoxicating.

Ariaa Jaeger / @AriaaJaeger

Life coach, vocalist, and humanitarian, Jaeger uses her popular music

and words to help foster and create the positive things she wants to see in

the world. Her Ariaaisms are real jewels.

Marvin Towler / @MarvinTowler

A consciousness explorer, Towler believes inspiration is a necessary

component to achieving anything in life. The historical and contemporary substance

of his tweets reflect his association with the Agape Spiritual Center.

Dahara / @Dahara

Business owner, lawyer, and artist, Dahara's tweets have propelled

her to one of the most retweeted individuals on the site. Her

rescue work with animals is truly inspiring.

Farrukh Siddiqui / @FarrukhSiddiqui

Siddiqui's tweets not give the reader a glimpse into his soul,
but also his love and passion for the people, geography and history

of Pakistan. His blog rocks.

Author's Note: In case you missed it, here's Part 4 of the series: Twitter and the Inspirations of Iconic88.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2morrowknight/16-people-on-twitter-who_b_541932.html

Paradise

2009-12-31T08:16:00.000-08:00

Dec 26, 2009

Narrated Abu Said Al Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him)

The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihe wassallam) said, "The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (i.e. a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star far away
in the East or in the West on the horizon; all that is because of their superiority over one another (in rewards)." On that the people said, "O Allah's Apostle! Are these lofty mansions for the prophets which nobody else can reach? The Prophet replied," No! "By Allah in whose Hands my life is, these are for the men who believed in Allah and also believed in the Apostles."

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him)

The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihe wassallam) said "There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) a rider could travel in its shade for a hundred years. And if you wish, you can recite: 'In shade long extended..' (56. 30) and a place in Paradise equal to an arrow bow of one of you, is better than (the whole earth) on which the sun rises and sets."

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him)

Allah's Apostle (sallAllahu alaihe wassallam) said, "Allah said, 'I have prepared for My pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being.' If you wish, you can recite this verse from the Holy Qur'an: 'No soul knows what is kept hidden for them, of joy as a reward for what they used to do.' " (32.17)

Ref: Sahih Bukhari

Served by Ibn Hanif

http://guidingfriends.blogspot.com/2009/12/paradise.html

My stephmother is an alien

2009-11-19T09:40:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Recently, I have noticed that quite some people are in a relationship with a partner who's already having a child from a previous relationship. I've never thought that it would happen so much, but it's absolutely a normal phenomenon these days.

Coming from divorced parents myself, it's a bit strange, that I feel that it's something big, having a relationship with someone who's already got a child. I can only imagine how hard it must be, dealing with step-children. Although they're not necessary difficult, there's usually jealousy involved. Who loves who more? Why is she getting gifts? Why do they get more time?

My parents have been seperated for a long long time. It's hard to explain, but I don't mind that fact. Nor does my brother. We just don't have a band with my father, as he's been in L.A. for a great part of our life. My mom has had a few other relationships after that, but there was never trouble involving my brother and I, being the step-children. The other way around, both of us never rebelled against any of my mom's boyfriends. They were always welcome. Kinda...

Being totally honest, I don't think my brother and I cared about that. This sounds weird, right? I've never ever felt something for any of my mom's boyfriend. No negative feelings, but no positive feelings either. It's not like I've ever felt that a certain man was supposed to be my step-father. I just had no feelings or what so ever for those persons. So, I never rebelled, but I was never thrilled about someone either. I can't explain why.

I think it's really hard to judge anyone in these situations. I totally understand it, when step-children would rebel. Who's that new person, intruding our life? What does he/she want? Does he/she want to take our father/mother's place? Who does mom/dad love more? We didn't ask for this?
On the other hand, I can understand the jealous and scared feelings of the step-parent as well. Are those children nice? Why does he/she spend more time with them? Who does he/she love more? Will they accept me? Will they ever respect me? I didn't ask for this?

Though I'm the "step-kid", I'm very happy I'm currently not in a relationship like that. I think these relationships need a lot of time, patience and understanding from both sides. Years can go by, before everything will be in it's place. Sometimes years are not even enough....

How do you feel about this?
Are you maybe a step-kid or a step-parent?

ps: this is meant to be a thought prevoking post, not a depressing one. In case you thought that... *SMILE*

http://notesfromthetoothfairy.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-stephmother-is-alien_15.html#comment-form

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

2009-11-16T22:59:00.000-08:00

You can win the lottery, but not an argument.

The scarecrow has been in the field so long he thinks it belongs to him.

Lessons are learned, not taught.

Mannequins can't dress themselves. Stones go wherever you throw them.

Should I refuse the honey because the bee stings?

What is fog on the surface is also fog deep inside.

The things I'm not learning are teaching me a lot.

Never do anything important if you can help it.

It's easy to see the dark side. All you have to do is close your eyes.

Order is what exists before you start arranging things.

One person is a person; two is a statistic.

Dreams change the world, but only in dreams.

Be grateful to those who refuse your demands. They are your benefactors.

The landscape looks different from every blade of grass.

Life is simple. You just have to stop trying to figure it out.

http://wwwaphorismscom.blogspot.com/

What You Lookin At, Boi?!

2009-09-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday, 23 August 2009

"Mr.Fish: Seriously? What is this thing you pointing out at me? What? You gonna kill me?

Me: No Mr.Fish. I just love your colours and thank God that your handsomeness is this easy to be seen.

Mr.Fish: So yeah, you happy now? You wanna paparazzi me? *not sure how he knew Paparazzi without knowing the camera*

Me: No Mr. I just love that you're a beautiful creature. :)

Mr. Fish: HELL YEAHH I am! Now, go home and go to sleep boi or i'm gonna call my bodyguards!

Me: Ok man, Ok. just take it easy! Life is easy if you keep your cool attitude. Be a little laid back and put a smile man. Smile for your life and you'll be happy. Cry about it and nothing will ever make you happy, unless you decide to be!".

Kuwait Scientific Center, Kuwait. Taken by Socceraholic

http://planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-you-lookin-at-boi.html

3 Fundamental Techniques on Handling people

2009-09-03T00:13:00.000-07:00

Technique no. 2 The Big secret of dealing with People

The book said that there is only one way under high heaven to get anybody to do anything. Did you ever stop to think of that? Yes, just one way. And that is by making the other person want to do it.
Remember : there is no other way.
Of course, you can make someone want to give you his watch by sticking a revolver in his ribs. You can make your employees give you cooperation -- until you back is turned -- by threatening to fire them. You can make a child do what you want it to do by a whip or a threat. But these crude menthods have sharply undesirable repercussions.

The only way I can get you to do anything is by giving you what you want.
What do you want?
As Sigmund Freud said that everything you and I do springs from two motives: the sex urge and the desire to be great. I'll repeat. 1. sex urge and 2. desire to be great
Another insight from John Dewey, America's profound philosophers, phased it a bit differently. He said that the deepest urge in human nature is " the desire to be important ", oopps, remember? " the desire to be important ".
Now, what do you want?
Not many things, but the few things that you do wish, you crave with an insistence that will not be denied. Some of the things most people want include :

1. Health and preservation of life
2. Food
3. Sleep
4. Money and the things money will buy
5. LIfe in the hereafter
6. Sexual gratification
7. The well-being of our children
and lastly..
8. A feeling of importance

Almost all these wants are usually gratified - all except one. But there is one longing-almost as deep, almost as imperious, as the desire for food or sleep-which is seldom gratified. It is what Freud calls "the desire to be great" and Dewey calls the "desire to be important".
Everybody likes a compliment, the deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
A gnawing and unfaltering human hunger and the rare individual who honestly satisfies this heart hunger will hold people in the palm of his or her hand and even the undertaker will be sorry when he dies.

It was the desire for a feeling of importance that led an uneducated, poverty-stricken clerk to study law books he found in the bottom of a barrel of household.
It was the desire that makes you want to wear the latest styles, drive the latest cars, and talk about you brilliant children.
It is this desire that lures many boys and girls into joining gangs and engaging in criminal activities.
If you tell how you get your feeling of importance, that determines your character.That is the most significant thing about you.

So how can we give that importance to other people?
Simply by appreciating every little thing they do, not just flattery but sincere and honest appreciation. One of the most neglected virtues of our daily existence is appreciation.Honest appreciation got results where criticism and ridicule failed.
Hurting people not only does not change them, it is never called for. Take a look at this words by Emerson, he said, "Every man i meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn from Him" Let's cease thinking of our accomplishments, our wants. Let's try to figure out the other person's good points.Then forget flattery. Give honest and sincere appreciation. Be " hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise" and people will cherish your words and treasure them and repeat them over a lifetime, repeat for years after you have forgotten them.

Principle no.2 - Give honest and sincere appreciation

http://secretsofabetterboss.blogspot.com/2009/08/3-fundamental-techniques-on-handling_15.html

Independence Day Celebration On its Peak

2009-08-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 14, 2009

Just want to Share with you What's going on in Islamabad tonight. I have just reached home after a great long drive to Constitution Avenue with more then thousand of People on Cars, Bikes, Truks as well as on Legs. They were all Enjoying & Celebrating the night before The Glorious Morning of Independence. Have a look at Picture Show & Enjoy the enthusiasm of Pakistani Nation

PAKISTAN
HAPPY
INDEPENDENCE DAY

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/08/just-want-to-share-with-you-whats-going.html

Mind your tongue !

2009-08-14T05:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

There was once a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail back into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but took at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. "

The little boy then understood how powerful his words were. He looked up at his father and said "I hope you can forgive me father for the holes I put in you."

"Of course I can," said the father.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Practice consideration in your speech as well as your actions and when you feel tempted to speak harshly, control that impulse and talk calmly instead. Let no hear harsh words from you. speak little, speak sweetly, speak only when there is pressing need, speak only to those whom you must. Do not shout or raise your voice in anger or excitement. Speak on a topic that is of interest to the other person. Listen twice as much as you speak since God has given two ears but only one tongue.

http://www.aksindiblog.com/2009/08/mind-you-tongue.html

Endangered Species: Travel Blogger – About Getting Death Threats – What would you do?

2009-08-14T04:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 30, 2009

This morning I received an e-mail from a fellow travel blogger. The mail contained a comment of a reader who is not amused by the author’s posts, to say the least.

The comment reads [off course I have edited out the foul language]:

Youguys have nothing but trying s**ttiest to pick on someone else’s business website and whatever youguys are doing is such a bad idea.
I will find out who the f**k youguys are and hire some sort of vietnamese gangs to f**k anyone whoever are female in your f**king
family.
then I would love to see your f**kin’ head chopped off and have all kinds of s**t down in your f**kin’ neck, alright?
Don’t go around and do things like that and if I ever get to see this kind of s**t once more then since I know who the f**k you are and you better be careful…
Thanks for the co-operation…

Sic! This is not funny. What to do? Erase it as spam? My first reaction is “A big no! Lodge a complaint with the provider through which the comment was posted and the provider used as “e-mail” adress.”…but it is very easy to impersonate somebody so there is no guaranty the perpetrator will be found. Furthermore I would lodge a complaint with the local police.

So most likely it won’t help. However further than that you couldn’t go if you’re an average blogger on a small budget (smaller at least than the Landlord of my prior post who can afford to sue first and talk later). Maybe it helps getting it out of your system.

If you look up death threats in various search engines you get all sorts of results. At least you’ll see it happens more. Austrian based I.P.I. International Press Institute from which I borrowed the picture, watches over Free Speach. But further than noticing that journalists are threatened and even murdered and offering public concern. They offer no handbook how to handle threats…

The incident kept in the back of my mind and I decided to post about it. Recently another befriended travel blogger got a threat of a civil law suit and took a sabattical week to get it out of his system. I hope this helps my friend getting it out of his system. I also hope the community of travel bloggers offers some thoughts here.

http://www.happyhotelier.com/2009/07/30/endangered-species-travel-blogger-about-getting-death-threats-what-would-you-do/#respond

2009-08-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Precious Gemstone Emerald

If we talk about precious gemstone than the first thing that comes in the mind of a common person is diamond but people who know much about precious gemstones would always take the name of emerald first. Precious gemstones are classified differently by many different people. But the most valuable and the superior of all are the diamonds,emeralds,rubies and sapphires.

Some times pearls are also added in the list but technically they are not gemstones by any means, however they can get as valuable as any of the stones mentioned above. But of all these stones, emerald stands unique and is surely the one that can leave all stones behind in value.

Diamonds is usually considered to be the most valuable of all stones and this fact is quite valid however at times emerald can get very precious due to its rarity. Further if emeralds are absolutely clear or are of very rich color than they can be deemed even priceless because it is very very hard to find such emeralds naturally.

Presently with the advent of synthetic gemstones the charm of naturally occurring gemstones is fast fading but still traditional people always look for the natural ones and they very much no how to buy one. But majority of the people are unaware of the difference between natural and synthetic gemstones and buy anything what they get.

Emerald naturally have many inclusions and it can be very easily told if an emerald is natural or synthetic, however one would always need and expert for the evaluation of the actual price of an emerald.

For Further Reading On the Topic Visit Here

http://hubpedia.blogspot.com/2009/06/precious-gemstone-emerald.html

Yupo Cypress and Fantastic Lunch!

2009-08-14T04:41:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 27, 2009

I was very fortunate to be invited to my good friend and fabulous chef Janice's house today to paint and have lunch. She prepared us the most scruptious meal of Gazpacho soup, Shrimp salad and a Blackberry Sorbet, everything we ate, we wanted the recipe! it was so delicious and fresh.

Okay, sorry to get side track about the food, but it was soooooo delicious!

Here's my second try at Yupo and I decided to do a cypress on a rock cliff. I learned that having a small spray mister, helps move and mix the paint into cool designs, (cover any area's you don't want water on, because it'll move the paint)

The more you mess around with it after laying down the initial paint, the more chances of messing it up! It doesn't like control freak artists like me who want it perfect! so it's a good teacher on loosening up and letting it flow.
I went outside to take a picture of it hoping to get better shot.
Here's a close up of it, although the bottom is cut off.

http://watercolormuse.blogspot.com/2009/07/yupo-cypress-and-fantastic-lunch.html#comments

Do you hit your children?

2009-07-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Four reasons you should refrain
from corporal punishment.

1. Hitting children teaches them to become hitters themselves. Virtually all of the most dangerous criminals were regularly threatened and punished in childhood. It is nature's plan that children learn attitudes and behaviors through observation and imitation of their parents' actions, for good or ill. Thus it is the responsibility of parents to set an example of empathy and wisdom.

2. In many cases of so-called "bad behavior", the child is simply responding in the only way he can, given his age and experience, to neglect of basic needs. Among these needs are: proper sleep and nutrition, treatment of hidden allergy, fresh air, exercise, and sufficient freedom to explore the world around him. But his greatest need is for his parents' undivided attention. In these busy times, few children receive sufficient time and attention from their parents, who are often too distracted by their own problems and worries to treat their children with patience and empathy. It is surely wrong and unfair to punish a child for responding in a natural way to having important needs neglected. For this reason, punishment is not only ineffective in the long run, it is also clearly unjust.

3. Punishment distracts the child from learning how to resolve conflict in an effective and humane way. "When we make a child afraid, we stop learning dead in its tracks." A punished child becomes preoccupied with feelings of anger and fantasies of revenge, and is thus deprived of the opportunity to learn more effective methods of solving the problem at hand. Thus, a punished child learns little about how to handle or prevent similar situations in the future.

4. Punishment interferes with the bond between parent and child, as it is not human nature to feel loving toward someone who hurts us. The true spirit of cooperation which every parent desires can arise only through a strong bond based on mutual feelings of love and respect. Punishment, even when it appears to work, can produce only superficially good behavior based on fear, which can only take place until the child is old enough to resist. In contrast, cooperation based on respect will last permanently, bringing many years of mutual happiness as the child and parent grow older.

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/07/do-you-hit-your-children.html

The Darag-e-sharif in Ajmer and more

2009-07-02T08:46:00.001-07:00

Feb 5, 2009

A quick trip to Ajmer and Pushkar was not only rejuvenating but also enriching. Since this post is rather delayed, I am gonna keep the descriptions rather short and crisp.

These are shots taken at the Ana lake, an artificial lake named after Anaji Chauhan. It is the beautiful marble pavilions alongside the lake, built by Shahjahan, that enhance the overall beauty of the place. The dusking sun's golden hue added to the serenity of the place.

The 'Dargah Sharif'' is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country. It is the tomb of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden.

The pilgrims make rich offerings called 'nazrana' at the sacred spot where the saint has been entombed that include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense that put in to the fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. Outside the holy place of the Dargah, professional singers called 'qawwals' sit in groups and sing hymns in the praises of the saint. Qawwalis at the shrine and fragrance of the incense sticks together create a divine effect.

Information source: http://www.rajasthan-tourism.org/prime-attractions/dargah-sharif.html

The lane to the dargha is thronged with shops selling rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood, incense and the chaadars that devotees offer as their nazrana inside the tomb.

Insides of the Nasiyan Jain Temple.

Dhai din ka jhonpra, the legend goes that this mosque was constructed in two and a-half days.

http://psychedelicflights.blogspot.com/2009/02/holy-ghats-of-pushkar-and-darag-e.html

Fruit Display Before And After

2009-06-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

Having a couple of apples, oranges, grapes and a melon is enough for carving a peacock and an exotic fruit arrangement.

A peacock is made from a melon, green and red grapes and orange.

An exotic fruit arrangement is made of orange, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, red apple, green apple, radish and marrow squash.

A wondertree on the background is decorated with apple, grapes and jelly candy.

Fruit display before carving

And the same fruits after

http://garnishfood.blogspot.com/2009/05/before-and-after.html

Think Positive About Age and Live Longer

2009-06-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Friday, February 27, 2009

Be Positive and Add 7.5 Years to Your Life:

Research shows that how you perceive aging affects how long you will live. In a study of 660 people, those with more positive perceptions of their own aging lived an average of 7.5 years longer. This effect remained after other factors such as age, gender, income; loneliness and health status were controlled.

Look Forward to Aging While You Are Young:

The study compared death rates of the 660 study participants to their answers to a survey 23 years ago. Therefore, adjusting your perception of aging while you're still young can have a tremendous effect on your life expectancy.

Improving Resiliency:

No one knows for sure why a positive attitude seems to lead to a longer life. Researchers believe that positive thinking about aging can increase a person's will to live, making him or her more resilient to illness and more proactive about health. Another explanation given was that mental stress of aging is lower for people who have a positive attitude. Positive thinking and stress reduction have also been linked.

Finding Insight as You Age:

What's so great about aging? Good question. Our society prizes youth and beauty above all. Messages about aging tend to emphasize the negative aspects. But, like fine Rice, people should get better as they age. Experience, combined with maturity, gives older people great insight. Older people are more in touch with spirituality and the priorities which have true depth. By following a simple, healthy lifestyle you can preserve your health and energy your whole life.

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/02/think-positive-about-age-and-live.html

This would not have happened to my son

2009-06-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Well, I didn't say it. But I feel I have a reason to support this statement. Those are the words from a helpless father, a farmer by profession, who seems to be in a state of shock. Reason - his one and only son is battling for his life. His son became a victim of a racist attack. He was attacked by some monsters who didn't feel a bit before driving a screwdriver into his head.

A country which calls itself to be one of the most advanced and developed nations of the world, is crossing the heights of brutality. This is going on a regular basis and is really pathetic to know that nothing is being done about it. Let us delve inside the whole issue. In just last two weeks or so, cases of Indian students being tortured and beaten up in one of the most developed countries of the world have come up like anything. From students to taxi drivers, no one is being spared. Reason for all these madness - Because we are from different nation. We are not supposed to be treated well. We are bound to suffer like anything. We have no rights to enjoy our lives. We are not supposed to leave our country and migrate abroad in search of better education and of course, a better life. Please don't make a mistake here. These are not my thoughts. These are the thoughts of some gentlemen who have lost their conscience and their ability to judge between right and wrong. Their minds are swaying in a pool of racism. They cannot tolerate people from different origin. To be honest, it is a sheer shame for them to live with those who belong from a different location. Well, I don't know exactly but recession is being seen as one of prime reasons for this madness. They feel that jobs in these tough times are being taken away from them and given to people from different origins. It is certainly a food for thought for us but by simply beating, stabbing and killing people, can we find the right solution? No, not at all.

There has to be a proper solution to this problem. But it looks as if no one is ready to listen. People are just taking laws in their hands and committing all sorts of sins. Who, What and Why seems to have vanished from their thoughts. Only thing they take pride in doing now is to attack and avenge. And this avenge is filled with racism. Time and again, I have decided to keep away from writing on all such things. But I don't know why I always feel like writing on such inhuman acts. Actually, I am compelled to write on such topics. Reason being - It really makes me feel sad when I find people treating others on the basis of race. Well, I cannot keep asking the same question again and again - Why? Why this racism? Why do some people behave like monsters? Why do you hate people from any different community so much? Why do you think that we are snatching jobs from you? To me, a job like thing is totally dependent upon one's caliber. If you deserve it you will definitely get it. No matter who you are and from where you belong to. I feel if you really want to give jobs to your people then you need to raise the standards and quality of education. Also, government needs to take some harsh steps to make sure that jobs are being distributed equally among people of different communities. Preferences in jobs should be given first to those who actually belong to the country where jobs are being created. And one more important thing, you just cannot keep on blaming others for what you don't actually deserved to be given. Make no mistake here. I am not here to spread any hate or criticize anyone. Please excuse me if you are hurt. But yes, I do feel that whatever is happening is totally inhuman. No words can justify this madness. This just goes to show that education has become worthless today. Its a pity that still we are evaluating people on the basis of Racism.

Let us put an end to all these madness. This is not going to help at all. We need to be more sensible on this issue. Promoting hate and violence won't do any good. It is likely to worsen this issue. Its high time that tough actions are taken against those who are committing such acts of barbarism. Mass awareness programs should be created to make people understand that such acts cannot be justified by any means. Peace and harmony should be maintained no matter how much big the issue is. Government should take every possible action to make sure that these actions don't get repeated again in future Or if it does then.....................

http://www.aksindiblog.com/2009/06/this-would-not-have-happened-to-my-son.html

Thank you for your generous Support

2009-06-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million,

Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolie
Thank you for your generous support
I hope more people will contribute to help
IDPs of Pakistan.

WASHINGTON, June 18 (APP): Holloywood stars Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million, through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to the UN Refugee Agency to help displaced Pakistanis from Swat and other northwestern areas, where a military offensive has been launched to oust the Taliban militants. Jolie has worked with the UN refugees agency for eight years and visited Pakistan three times in recent years.

According to People.com, Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for refugees, thanked the foundation and called the situation in Pakistan “The most challenging humanitarian crisis of the past decade.”

More than 2.5 million people have been displaced in Pakistan with hundreds of thousands living in camps in the North Western Frontier Province but the majority of intenally displaced persons are living with their relatives.

Jolie will celebrate World Refugee Day in Washington on Thursday with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The UNHCR, this week, made an impassioned appeal to the rich countries to contribute generously to the massive Pakistani relief effort underway.

The U.S. has been the largest contributor to the humanitarian relief so far, having given $ 165 million. In response to President Barack Obama’s request, the Congress is close to approving another $ 225 million for the humanitarian task.

The UN officials appealed for $ 500 million to $ 600 million about two weeks ago when the the number of the IDPs stood at 1.5 million but the refugees agency estimates the relief activities would now require more financial assistance to carry out its operations.

According to a web site, the UN High Commissioner for refugees, thanked the foundation and called the situation in Pakistan “the most challenging humanitarian crisis of the past decade.”

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/06/thanks-you-for-you-generous-support.html

When Will We Stop Allowing Sexual Predators to Murder Little Girls?

2009-06-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

Jun 5, 2009

Neveah Buchanan, 5 years old, found in a shallow grave covered with cement.
RIP little Sweetie.

Its a sad day when your child is at risk of murder just by stepping out the front door. Some may say this had been going on throughout history, it may not happen any more now than it did 100 years ago, it just SEEMS like more because the of the media.

To that I say:

Right, and now we also have advanced technology that allows us to track sexual predators with GPS ankle bracelets, it allows us to go online and find out how many live in our neighborhood, and study after study that PROVES this type of person can not be rehabilitated. But they are out there prowling around victimizing our children. WHY?

How many little girls have to die for someone to do something. I wish I knew what I could do, this is something I could easily devote my life to. In fact, I better stop typing about it because I feel my blood pressure rising. This subject has the ability to make me so angry like nothing else.

If you want to be astounded by the number of missing children, many who were later found murdered after being raped and/or sexually abused, I can point you to a few sites that will break your heart.

Of course not all missing children are murdered....and not all murdered children are killed by sexual deviants, some are killed by their own mothers.

Here are a few faces you may or may not recognize....innocent girls who's lives ended in horror (note, Haleigh Cummings has not been found, but considering the circumstances of her disappearance, I would be shocked if she's still alive).

Haleigh Cummings - still missing

This little girl, Caylee Anthony, was not abducted by a sexual predator,

but most likely killed by her own mother.

This to me, is even worse.

http://barbara-007.blogspot.com/2009/06/when-will-we-stop-allowing-sexual.html

What do Muslims think of Jesus?

2009-06-16T07:20:00.001-07:00

Friday, June 12, 2009

It is sad that many Christians do not know that Jesus, peace be upon him, holds a very high position within Islam. Unlike Orthodox Judaism, Islam considers Jesus to be the promised Messiah, a word from God, born of the Virgin Mary to bring a new covenant to the people of Israel.
Nevertheless, the Qur'an, the main book in Islam, leaves no room to accept concepts developed by Church theologians after the departure of Jesus, such as the sonship of Jesus (accepted at the Council of Nicaea on May 20, 325) or the idea of adding the Holy Spirit as the "third head" for God (developed as the concept of the Trinity in the Constantinopolitan Creed of 381).
In fact both concepts (the sonship of Jesus and the Trinity) tend to negate many clear verses in the old and New Testament. For example:

Hear, 0 Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:4)...that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that IAm He: before Me there was no God, neither shall there beafter Me. 1, even 1, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43: 1 0-1 I)And Jesus answered him: The first of all the commandmentsis hear, 0 Israel:' Me Lord our God is one Lord. (Mark 12:29)... We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. (I Corinthians 8:4)

Given these verses, one should be careful not to take the verse in John 1: I literally because it could easily have been mistranslated from the Aramaic into the Greek and should read "and the word was God's."
It should be noted here that in the Greek language theos is God while theou means God's (see any Greek dictionary or see the book Muhammad in the Bible by Professor Abdul Ahad Dawud, former bishop of Uramiah, p. 16).
On more logical grounds, insisting that Jesus is God or son of God as the main article of faith reduces the 'natural' human instinct to believe in a Creator (it is 'natural' because every human being feels that anything that is organized must have an organizer) from believing in an absolute Creator of the universe who is felt naturally into having to believe in a given historical event that is limited in both time and space.

http://islambychoice.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-do-muslims-think-of-jesus.html

Do You Really Need a Multivitamin ?

2009-06-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Posted by ca at 12:30 AM | Saturday, November 1, 2008

By Cathy Roll

Everyone seems to be an expert on something these days. I myself do not tend to listen to the so called 'experts' as much as I listen to people who have a lot of experience. For example, I am not an expert on MS, but I have a great deal of experience with it...my own diagnosis. I am not an expert on adoption, but I have a great deal of experience in that area too....with my 2 daughters. I am not an expert on emotional and behavior disorders in teens. I do not feel that my M.A. in severe affective disorders qualifies me as an expert. But I do have over 10 years of experience teaching in self contained classrooms with teens with emotional and behavioral disorders. Am I an expert in anything? Probably not. Do I have a LOT of experience in a lot of different areas? Yes.

As a teacher, I listen to 'experts' tell teachers how to teach and what the best practices are...many of these experts have never been in a classroom. Now, give me a front line successful teacher with a track record of excellent learning and a B.A or a B.S. and I am all ears. I would listen to that teacher over a Ph.D. who has never been in the classroom.

This does not mean that I discount an experts opinion totally, far from it. But I do way experts opinions against experience. I also read the conflicting opinions that experts have with one another. Take vitamins for example. My own MD says that everyone needs to take a multivitamin. OK, sounds reasonable. Why then do I read reports that says there is no benefit to taking a multivitamin? Take Harvard Medical School for example. They published an article in their Harvard Health Publications stating:

"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a meeting on multivitamin and mineral supplements in May 2006. Experts listen to presentations by other experts for a couple of days, then issue a "state of the science" statement.

In this case, the statement was extremely cautious. Present evidence is "insufficient to recommend either for or against the use of multivitamin/multimineral supplements by the American public to prevent chronic disease," was the inconclusive conclusion."

An inconclusive conclusion? Yet in the same Health Publication, Harvard Medical School goes on to say,

Yes to a multivitamin

Dr. Walter Willett, chair of the Harvard School of Public Health's nutrition department, has suggested that taking a multivitamin daily is a form of nutritional insurance. He still says it's a good policy, despite the spate of negative study results.

So what to do? Do you need to take one or not? Is it possible to eat a balanced diet and receive all of the nutrients you need? Is there a person in America that eats a balanced diet?

Well if you continue to read medical journals, you will also see the new studies coming out about vitamin deficiencies. Remember how we were told to slather our kids with SPF 50 before going out in the sun to prevent skin cancer? It is still a good idea, but with blocking the sun's rays you are also blocking the vitamin D. That is becoming a huge problem. Read what Harvard has to say:

"What's special about vitamin D? This fat-soluble vitamin is exceptional among vitamins in three ways. First, it has a unique mechanism of action in the body. Second, you can't get very much of it naturally through your diet. And third, many Americans are deficient in this vital nutrient. That final point is keenly important, in light of burgeoning evidence that vitamin D's health benefits extend far beyond its reputation for building healthy bones. Over the past decade, studies suggest that adequate amounts of vitamin D may lessen the risk of several types of cancer (including cancers of the colon, prostate, and breast) and may also play a role in preventing high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, and even schizophrenia. And a 2007 meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials showed that vitamin D supplementation may even help people to live longer."

After listening and reading what the experts have to say, I do take that into account and then I consider my own experience. Since being diagnosed with MS, I have been looking for alternative natural treatments. I found a liquid supplement that had multivitamins and multiminerals. It also had a detoxifying formula, heart healthy formula, anti aging formula and more. All of this was in one supplement. I could stop spending money on so many different formulas and get 10 formulas in one. I decided to perform my own little experiment to see if I really could cut down on all of the supplements I was taking. I got one bottle for $19.95, a much better price than any other liquid I had tried. I decided to try the recommended dose of 1 ounce for 30 days. It did not take the whole month before I knew that this formula was working. After only 1 week I had more energy and after 2 weeks I felt like a whole new person. I like that it has Mangosteen juice in it too. There have been great studies with mangosteen and MS. I had been buying a bottle of mangosteen but I quit doing that. I only use the liquid supplement. I liked it so well that I have my daughters taking it as well. I only give my youngest daughter 1/2 ounce. She is tiny!

So my experience says that taking a multivitamin is beneficial. I have seen too many people benefit from supplements. I know that some experts say that there is 'no evidence' to support taking a multivitamin, but there are those that say it is beneficial. I choose to trust my experience and the voice of experts that make sense to me. I know that I have a healthy diet, and so do my daughters. If that is all we need then why do we feel so good with supplements? Trust your experience too.

http://nwlost.blogspot.com/2008/10/do-you-really-need-multivitamin.html

An Adventurous Woman

2009-06-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Back in the ’90s, Daphne Merkin, one of our best critics and trend-watchers, predicted that “if the last decade of the 20th century is to produce any great literature” it will be “around the subject of death.”

This has proved true.

The literature of death may have begun with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s classic “On Death and Dying” (1969)or with Judith Viorst’s “Necessary Losses” (1986), a book I buy for anyone who is grieving. Or the subject may linger in the air because of global warming and terrorism.

How does an atheist prepare for death? This is a theme Diana Athill explores in “Somewhere Towards the End.” Her grapplings are impressive: “My own belief — that we, on our short-lived planet, are part of a universe simultaneously . . . ordinary . . . and incalculably mysterious . . . — does not feel like believing in nothing and would never make me recruit anyone for slaughter. It feels like a state of infinite possibility, stimulating and enjoyable — not exactly comforting, but acceptable because true.” read more...

http://travel-newss.blogspot.com/2009/02/adventurous-woman.html

True Happiness

2009-06-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Money can’t buy happiness , we all know that … but many times we act as if we’d be happier with a bit more money. No matter how much we earn, no matter how much we have in the bank, no matter how nice our clothing or cars, none of it will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it could take us decades of pursuing wealth and luxury items before we realize this.

Its three things that don’t cost a thing. These three things have been proven by research — surveys of hundreds of thousands of people about what they have, what their lives are like, and how happy they are.

Good relationships We have a human need to be close, to be intimate, with other human beings. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong marriage or close and loving relationships with our family members will make us much more likely to be happy. Action steps: Take time, today, to spend time with your loved ones, to tell them what they mean to you, to listen to them, and develop your relationship with them.

Positive thinking. I’m obviously a big supporter of positive thinking as the best way to achieve your goals, but it turns out that it can lead to happiness too. Optimism and self-esteem are some of the best indicators of people who lead happy lives. Happy people feel empowered, in control of their lives, and have a positive outlook on life. Action steps: Make positive thinking a habit. In fact, this should be one of the first habits you develop. Get into the habit of squashing all negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. Instead of “I can’t” think “I can”. It may sound corny, but it has worked for me, every time.

Flow. This is a popular concept on the Internet these days the state we enter when we are completely focused on the work or task before us. We are so deep in our task that we lose track of time. Having work and free time that gets you in this state of flow will almost without doubt lead to happiness. People find greatest enjoyment not when they’re passively mindless, but when they’re absorbed in a mindful challenge. Action steps: Find work that you’re passionate about. Seriously this is an extremely important step. Find hobbies that you’re passionate about. Turn off the TV this is the opposite of flow and get outside and do something that truly engages you.

You’ve been given the Three Secrets to Happiness. Don’t waste them!

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/04/true-happiness.html

I Saved My Home From Foreclosure,by Standing up to Adversity and Winning! I want to help you to!

2009-06-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

March 6, 2009
Filed under: Uncategorized — hollythehousewife @ 2:51 pm

My name is Holly. I am a housewife and my husband is a truck-driver. His name is Ted. We have 2 little girls 4&5 yrs. old and an 11yr old son. We bought our house about 2 years ago. We lived the American dream all of 3 days before my husband was laid-off, due to gas prices soaring. We didn’t realize what was about to happen. The same week my husband was laid off our entire plumbing system collapsed. We had our emergency savings just in case something happened. We thought we would be covered by our homeowner’s ins.,our AHS warranty,and the inspection. No! All 3 of those entities had loopholes to get out of their contracts. So our 4,000$ in savings for an emergency went to the plumbing.
My husband pounded the pavement every day looking for a job & I started to clean houses just to put food on the table. My husband found a job w/in 3 weeks, but the snowball effect had already started to take effect. The three weeks we went w/out income started a chain of bad times for us.

I went to the Gov’t to get some kind of food assistance. They informed me that since they go by my husband’s previous check stubs, we made to much money the month before to qualify. Strike 1! The next thing I did was try to put my girls on some kind of health ins. I was told since your husband will be getting a paycheck in 2 weeks, you don’t qualify for health ins. for your kids. I said “I can’t afford the 900.00$ premium a month through his work”, the gov’t says “he makes too much money to qualify for assistance”. So we are one of those millions of AMERICANS that can’t get health ins.
Now there is the 2nd &3rd strike against me. Now in the meantime I have been calling my mort. co. “SAXON MORTGAGE” and begging them to work with me, by this time our car had already been repossed. I was not gonna let my home go w/ out a fight! SAXON MORT would not work w/ me. I would send them money, and they would send it back to me . So they have been giving me the auction day on my home, and the past 6 months I have been packing a pic-nick for my girls and I go to the county courthouse steps and ask people not to bid on my home. Guess what AMERICA no one has bid on my home. So I think the mort. co. is gonna work w/me now we will see.

JUST WHEN YA THINK IT CAN’T GET WORSE!!!!

I am still on pins and needles about my house,but when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. You will never believe that 2 weeks ago, I am on the phone w/Roger Wicker’s office(running for senate)when I hear a scream like I have never heard before, it was my 4yr old Kendall. She had broken her arm in half !!! I throw the phone down and get my little girl to a hospital.

She ended up having to have surgery it was supposed to take 45 min. It ended up taking 2hours. Now I am terrified because one dr. told me that the pins would have to be surgically removed, and another dr. told me that they could be taken out in the office. There is no way I am gonna let a dr. take them out in the office because it hurts. If I had health ins. or enough money they would do it surgically. I do want to add that the dr.s at lebauhnner were awesome dr.’s. They assured me that they weren’t gonna hurt her. I didn’t know if I’d been duped by one dr. or not. The dr. that told me the pins would’ve had to be surgically removed was at the 1st hospital I rushed Kendall to. Anyway I’m just glad it’s over!!!

I AM SO GLAD KENDALL IS BETTER!!!!!!

It has been a few weeks now since Kendall’s pins were taken out. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was gonna be. She is doing fine and we will never get another trampoline as long as we live. We are still in the same position. We make too much money to get any health ins. from the gov’t,and not enough money to pay a 900.00$ a month premium through My husband’s job.
My home is still in foreclosure and I am trying to get a meeting w/ the ceo of morgan stanley John J. Mack. Morgan Stanley owns my mortgage co.Saxon Mortgage. I have learned that Saxon Mort. is benifitting from the 700billion dollar bail out. How ironic is this? My family’s tax dollars (400$ a week) is bailing out SAXON MORTGAGE, and they won’t except our house note. How much sense does this make? If SAXON MORTGAGE would’ve taken my money in the first place and started working w/ their customers instead of rushing to foreclose on everyone, they could’ve worked out payment plans for their customers. Now their customers are having to bail them out with no say so in the matter. It is not fair! I do not believe that I am entitled to have a meeting w/John J. Mack ,but someone needs to tell him what is going on a Saxon mort. I don’t care who tells him ,but someone needs to.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID !!! HOLLYtheHOUSEWIFE TOLD MR. MACK WHAT WAS UP!!!

Now about health ins. the medical bills have started rolling in,since Kendall broke her arm. That is where we need to stand up and take 5 minutes out everyday and call your state rep. I know if enough people start flooding our elected officals office w/ phone calls asking them (or their office) what they are doing w/ our tax dollars then something will be done. That is all I’m asking.
All you have to do is find out who your rep’s,congress person,senator,mayor etc….. you get my point. Just pick out one of those people and put their # in your cell phone and on your way home from work, school, grocery store. Ask them, why our tax dollars (yes,yours and mine) are going to bail out BIG BUSINESS,MORTGAGE CO.,AUTOMOBILE CO.,when they should have just taken their customer’s money in the 1st place. Instead they decided to foreclose and reposess on people’s accounts, not realizing if they just would have listened to people’s story in the 1st place and restructure their loans and mort., they(BIG BUSINESS) would not have to be bailed out by us, the taxpayer, we have no choice in the matter.
So, I propose,forget bailing out wall street. It is time for AMERICA to demand,from our elected officials, BAIL US OUT !! Yes bail us out ! ,HOLLYtheHOUSEWIFE,SAMtheSOFTWARE GUY.TEDtheTRUCKER(my husband by the way),andCONNIEtheCRANE OPPERATOR.
These are all real people with real jobs. We are the backbone of America. So we need to DEMAND that we be treated that way and start holding people accountable for the job they were elected for.

PS remember we are their boss. WE PUT THEM IN,WE CAN TAKE THEM OUT ! 5 minutes a day is all it takes to get your point across.

Thanks for reading
HollytheHousewife

http://hollythehousewife.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/please-read/

Lotus Elise..wowwww

2009-06-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

19.5.09

Lotus assembly presented a number of new versions in 2008. The Lotus Elise came with two great versions. One of the Elise spared off with 189 hp or 141 kW of power wit 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The Elise SC sported non-intercooled supercharger version with 218 hp or 163 kW of power with 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, way below the base level at 4.9 seconds with the top speed of 148 mph or 238 kmph with a 1.8l Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine ,6 speed manual gearbox and a spoiler.
The NA Elise will maintain the style of previous models. The Elise SC will appear different sporting a rear spoiler similar to 72-D edition spoilers and new wheels. The weight remains more or less like the Lotus standard of 1,987 lb or 901 kg i.e. only 3 lb or 1.4 kg more.
Three models are available in Europe. Elise S has a 134 bhp i.e. 100 kW / 136 PS, 1.81 Toyota 1ZZ-FE engine, 5 speed manual gearbox, 0-60 mph in 5.8 sec, and top speed of 127 mph / 204 kmph.
The Elise R has a 189 bhp i.e. 141 kW/192 PS, 1.81 Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine, 6 speed manual gearbox, 0-60 mph in 4.9 sec, and top speed of 150 mph or 240kmph. All the hot cars are available in various colors in the market. The cars have antistatic effect on spectators with the brilliant color combination made by Elise.

http://onlyautomotive.blogspot.com/2009/05/lotus-elise_19.html

Rain Forests

2009-06-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Rain forests are the world's oldest living ecosystem They currently cover only 6% of the earth's surface but contain more that 1/2 of the world's plant and animal specimens which provide both food and medical products. A rain forest is described as a tall dense jungle. The reason it's called a "rain" forest is because of the high amount of rain it gets each year (usually between 68-78"). The climate is very hot and humid so the plants and animals that live there learn to adapt to the climate. The rain forest is made up of 4 layers: emergent (200' trees that tower over the forest floor), canopy (primary layer of the forest that forms a roof over the 2 remaining layers), understory (little sunshine causes the plants to have larger leaves to try to reach the sun) and the forest floor (very dark with almost no plants growing).

Rain forests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface. They are being destroyed because of the perceived value of the rainforest's land by governments, logging companies and land owners.

http://maxibabe.blogspot.com/2009/05/rain-forests.html

Want More Traffic? Then Create A Blog About How To Get More Traffic

2009-06-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday, February 26, 2009

While reading an article posted on ezinearticles.com titled: "Blog Traffic - Why Most Blogs Never Get Much" I found it to be somewhat promising as a source of reference until I got to the last sentence - "And for over 100 more tips on successful blogging, I invite you to grab your free copy of my ebook Secrets of Successful Blogging at http://www..." I realized it was just another soft-sell approach. The link goes to one of those cheesy looking sites. You know, the ones with the huge fonts. Yes, his ebook is free to read and yes it does offer a modicum of important information for the first time blogger, but, ultimately, he is offering the same advice that's readily available all over the internet and subsequently the free ebook is just a guise to get you to go another link with an offer that will cost you.

Most bloggers know, or eventually discover, that there are no secrets to getting lots of traffic any more than there are secrets to getting rich, quickly or otherwise. Just as I'm trying to sell you on my writing skills so that you will return to my site now and again, all bloggers are out to sell something, whether it's information, an idea, a product, a service, or just a piece of themselves.

It seems so absurdly difficult to get traffic (other than resorting to what I suggest in this post's title or relying on AlphaInventions.com), that one could easily develop an obsessive compulsive disorder as a result of that pursuit. That constant quest by many bloggers has given birth to an entire online cottage industry comprised of tens of thousands of websites that exists for the sole purpose of showing bloggers how to find the holy grail method of getting people to visit their sites. From my perspective it's those self-appointed traffic gurus who wind up getting the web traffic as we find ourselves drawn to their sites like moths to a light bulb.

Creating a blog titled "Get more traffic to your blog" or "Surefire ways to get traffic" will most likely peak anyone's interest, what you have to ask yourself can you actually deliver the goods? What can you offer that isn't already splattered all over the internet? (as an aside, notice how I put both titles in bold. That's supposed to get Google's algorithms attention so that it can deliver better ads, otherwise ads won't come close to matching the content, but that's a whole other topic I wrote about some time back called: Irrelevant Google Ads). Regurgitating and reiterating the same information found on thousands of other blogs is useless, although I have found some to be much easier to understand that others. The only real distinctions between those blogs are how they are formatted and designed, still, new blogs pop up everyday offering the same 'ol same 'ol.

So what's the answer to getting lots of traffic? About all one can really do is satisfy the standard SEO requirements, which you can find at this link: Google's SEO Starter Guide, and continue writing in the hope that eventually people will find your site... that is, if you can get your blog out of Google's sandbox... or better put, Google's quick-sandbox.

As I mentioned midway through this article, using tools like Alpha Inventions is a quick fix and will get you a lot of immediate traffic, but content and quality of a blog is still tantamount to having a dedicated readership

http://www.understandinginternettechnology.com/2009/02/want-more-traffic-then-create-blog.html

STIGMATIZED AND MARGINALIZED

2009-06-01T04:28:00.000-07:00

Written and Posted by Saif Farooqi @ his blog on Friday, October 31, 2008

Life could have such a dark picture, I would have never realized it. About three years ago, in July 2005, I worked in a research project in which I had to interact with people who are stigmatized and marginalized.

The research project was about the self-esteem and health issues of six stigmatized groups, namely, the downtrodden, beggars, lepers, physically handicapped people, eunuchs, and widows (in some parts of India, being a widow is considered to be a taboo). I mainly had to interview the downtrodden, but later I was also assigned to interview beggars, lepers, and the physically handicapped people.

To interview the downtrodden I, with a group of people, had to go to the slums. I had never seen a place like this before. It was a totally different experience for me. Wherever I could take my eyesight, I could only see trash spread all over the place. My first reaction was that how could people live in such a dirty place. Within a few minutes of staying there, I could realize the extreme level of their poverty.

Their destituteness was clearly reflected in their behaviour. They were extremely needy and always expected to be helped by the people who are financially better than them and also who are on the upper strata of the society.

When I interacted with them initially, they thought I was a government official who had come to help them with some funds. When they realized that I had come for my own personal benefit and that I am not going to be of any help to them, some of them reacted with a lot of aggression. Despite that I, somehow, made them agree to give interviews. Initially they were a bit calm, but later I believe they got offended by some of my questions and got extremely angry. Some of them abused me with the foulest of languages. Once, if I had not left at the right time, I would have definitely been beaten up by the people over there.

I had also gone to the snake charmers society. I was shocked to see the conditions in which they lived. It is hard to express in words, the kind of condition they were living in. The whole ambience was quite frightening. They were all drunk and because of that their eyes became red. They were extremely loud in their behaviour. When I first went there, all of a sudden there was havoc created. When I sat down, I do not know why they all surrounded me and kept staring at me. One of the snake charmers tried to snatch my money and was extremely abusive in his use of language.

However, I was not at all offended by this kind of behaviour. Their behaviour clearly showed the kind of anger they had towards the society and the kind of frustration they had with their own miserable condition.

They lived in extremely dirty places with trash spread all over the place. They did not have clean water to drink. They used water from drains, ditches, and nullahs. They did not even have proper houses to live. They stayed in small tents made of recycled plastic. Inside the tents it is really congested and dark. Spending just ten minutes inside the tents became suffocating for me. The snake charmers lived in even worse conditions. They stayed under a bridge and the place was so dirty that one would feel like to vomit. It is not possible to believe that they actually lived over there.

Although some of the downtrodden behaved quite aggressively, many of them were very cooperative. They were happy to lend a helping hand and contribute in their own way to the study. They gave a detailed account of how they are mistreated by others and how they are looked down upon by other people in the society. They said that government officials and even NGOs always promise to help them, but they do not do anything at all. They also told that many a times the government announces funds to be given to them, but none of those funds reach them.

Most of them said that they are always abused and even beaten up by others and that they cannot do anything about that. They said that many a times people make them do a lot of work, but do not give any money to them in return. When I asked a young rickshaw-puller about how often has he been treated like an animal, he smiled embarrassingly and said that it happens all the time. The way he said those words really touched my heart. These people have been continuously humiliated and abused by others. It would not be an overstatement to say that their life is a living hell.

Interviewing the beggars was a big challenge, initially. It took me a lot effort to make some of them comprehend, properly, the questions that I asked. Probably their living conditions had made them incapable of having such a conversation. Like the downtrodden, the beggars also had always been humiliated by others. They told that they are always abused and at times even beaten up for very trivial matters.

The beggars used to gather at a place where they get food and other necessities from others. But, the people used to give them such things just for name sake. Usually people give beggars raw rice and pulses, but the manner in which they gave such things is extremely humiliating and disorderly. They give a fistful of either rice or pulses to each beggar. Rather than giving it to them properly and humanly, they just throw it while standing and do not even bother if it is falling in their bowl or its falling on the ground. Usually, most of it used to fall on the ground.

I was asking one of the beggars about the kind of food that he gets to eat. Immediately at the same time a woman came and threw some rice to him, out of which about three-fourth fell outside his bowl. He smiled and said that this is the kind of food that he gets.

It was nice to see a totally different side of beggars. Interacting with them made me realize that they are like any other individual. They also have families and they are also worried about the future of their children. Like any other person, they also have some unfulfilled dreams. Some of them were even cracking jokes with me. All this was something that I had never realized before about beggars.

Interacting with the physically handicapped people was a good learning experience. The way they led their life is really inspiring. They had accepted their disability without any complaints. They had a lot of self-belief and positive thinking within themselves and did not let their disability deter them in any way.

They said that they felt happy if people genuinely helped them, but did not like anybody to sympathize with their condition. They also disliked to be labeled as physically handicapped. They said that they do not really like the term and do not think of themselves as handicapped. They also said that due their disability they have to face a lot of struggle in their life, but they are prepared to fight it out even if it requires them to do so for the rest of their life.

While asking questions about their disability, I could clearly see their facial expression change to that of being a bit of disgust. I had to tell them that these are routine questions and that they should not take it in a bad way. I also apologized to them for hurting their feelings unintentionally. I felt bad when one of them said to me that my questions have made him realize that he is a physically handicapped person. But, on the whole they appreciated our (me and my colleagues) effort and felt happy for our concern towards them.

If interacting with the physically handicapped was inspiring, then interacting with the lepers was very disturbing and depressing. I had gone to a Christian Missionary hospital to interview the lepers. It was really sad to see the lepers suffering from the excruciating pain they had due to their disease. Their pain was so unbearable that almost every where, in the hospital, I could hear the patients moaning and crying.

Some of them said that they have been abandoned by their family and that nobody comes to see them. They said that now the hospital has become their home. All the lepers that I spoke to said that the pain, due to their illness, was so unbearable that they were eagerly waiting to die. Among all the patients that I talked to, I remember one of them, who was probably in his worst condition. Both his hands were infected and a lot of water was pouring out from his eyes. He could not even wipe the water that was coming out from his eyes. I could clearly see the kind of discomfort that he was going through because of this. As mentioned above, talking to the lepers was a very disturbing experience for me. I was truly badly affected by this experience for many days after.

The whole experience of interviewing the four different kind of stigmatized and marginalized people was a big eye opener for me. I always knew that such people existed. But, actually interacting with them and spending time with them was something different. I became more sensitive towards them. I could understand them in a better way and got a lot of awareness about their needs as well as the various problems that they face.

It has been more than three years now, since I worked in that research project. But, I still remember each and every detail of the happenings of that time. The anger and frustration of the downtrodden, the helplessness of the beggars, the struggle and fighting spirit of the physically handicapped, and the unbearable pain of the lepers, everything is still very clear in my mind. The whole impact that this had on me has changed me as a person to a great extent.

http://lifepsychologyandalotmore.blogspot.com/2008/10/stigmatized-and-marginalized.html

Liquid found in saturn

2009-06-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The liquid found on Saturn's moon, Titan makes one of the most exciting and challenging discoveries of our century, since besides Earth, this is the second solar body with liquid on the surface in the system. The lake-like formations contain liquid hydrocarbons, most probably ethane according to NASA press release. Cassini spacecraft was the probe to send hundreds of pictures of Saturn and its satellites in its forty close flybys in the area. According to theories, there could be real oceans of methane, ethane and various other hydrocarbons; the dark color of the liquid found on Saturn's moon could only point to these components of crude oil. Nevertheless, the liquid form was not confirmed until a probe reached the surface of Titan in January 2005.

The depth of these pools or lakes of liquid found on Saturn's satellite could be a few or hundreds of feet deep. Infrared scanning by Cassini spacecraft allowed an approximation of the features. Yet, the main question remains as whether this planet can support life or not. Another Saturn moon, Enceladus, revealed cold water geysers issuing from liquid reservoirs lying a little below the frozen soil. Could such discoveries start a new era in the planetary exploration programs? Though life is difficult to imagine in the cold conditions of this icy world, right beneath the surface of Enceladus, all the premises indicate that life is more than possible.

This is the reason why the liquid found on Saturn's Enceladus set the course for new investigations for life in the solar system. Plus, the other prerequisite for life existence on Enceladus, organic materials, is also met: there is methane, ethane, carbon dioxide and several others. Last but not least, near the thermal vents, deep down in Saturn's center, the temperature could also create a favorable environment for the appearance and development of life forms.

The liquid found on Saturn's moons makes the most exciting discovery in the last twenty five years, since volcanic activity was identified on one of Jupiter's satellites. Though the source of the water geysers could not be spotted by the camera of the spacecraft the water and ice sprays were very visible in the sunlight, in the polar region of Enceladus. The same warm-icy model in the structure of comets applies to this liquid found on Saturn's satellite, Enceladus, since the geysers were identified as a combination of ice and hot water vapors.

http://astronomyforeveryone.blogspot.com/2009/01/liquid-found-in-saturn.html

MUST SEE IF YOU HAVE A COMPUTER @HOME AND MUST SHOW TO ALL TO WHOME YOU CARE JUST AS I DO FOR YOU !

2009-05-30T08:28:00.002-07:00

I Can't upload the post it doesn't make me feel good , you have to click to see, MUST SEE AND READ

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/05/computer-users-take-care-something-you.html

Morphing Naturally

2009-05-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

We have several animals that change color in Alaska, which I like to call morphing naturally.
In this post I will be talking about two of them, the Snowshoe Hare (rabbits) and the Ptarmagin (bird)
(pronounced tar-ma-gen).

Metamorphose:
1. To change the form or nature of; transform.
2. T subject to metamorphosis or metamorphism
3.to undergo or be capable of undergoing a change in frm or nature.
Excerpt taken from: Dictionary.Reference.com

Snowshoe Hare in a Summer Coat of Browns

Actually Alaska has two different breeds of Hares, one is called the Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) and the other is called the Alaskan Hare (Lepus othus) which is also known as the Tundra Hare. In this post I am going to just concentrate on the Snowshoe Hare.

Snowshoe Hares are about 18 - 20 inches long and weight about 4-5 pounds. They have a brownish tan in color coat in the summer with some bits of white fur on the feet and underbelly.

Their fur changes to what looks almost pure white against the snow, with the underfur being a gray color. It is during the winter months that the black tips on their ears stand out. Their paws are completely covered in fur including the skin pads so that their feet are well protected from the ice and snow in the winter, which is why they called Snowshoe hares.

Snowshoe Hare in a Winter Coat of White

The Snowshoe hare breeds when they are about 1 year old. and they have 2 or 3 litters a year. The gestation of the Snowshoe hare is approx 36 days. The baby hares called Leverets (tho I call them bunnies) are born in May here in the interior of Alaska, with as many as 6 little ones. The female hare breed again, immediately after they have had a litter.

The tiny bunnies are born in a small hole or depression, they weigh around 2 ounces and unlike a rabbit, they are born with fur, and are usually up and about before their fur completely dries from birth. In a couple of days after birth they are wandering around, and in just a couple of weeks are eating the green grass and vegetation.

You can usually find Snowshoe Hares in the forests with spruce trees, and in swamp areas. They eat a large variety of plants and will also eat the buds off the Aspen and Willow Trees.

They are most active during the evening and early morning hours, you can usually see them sitting on the sides of the road. Just sitting straight up looking all around. They usually will travel around in the same paths in the summer and winter.

Snowshoe Hare Tracks in the Snow

They populate in cycles, some years in a row we will hardly see a Hare anywhere, then all a sudden they are everywhere. You always know the cycle is high in number because there are usually Snowshoe Hare carcasses all over the roadways, because they are so thick in number and are constantly hopping onto the roads unexpectedly

The Ptarmigan also called Rock or Willow Ptarmigans are the Alaska State Birds. Whenever I see one they always remind me of a small chicken, some say pidgins... They are very round looking birds. They can fly but seems like they would rather be on the ground or low bushes.

Ptarmigan in Summer Feathers

They always seem so calm to me. You can practically walk right up to them before they start showing any signs of nervousness. They glean the berries off the low bushes on the ground. They have no problem with blending in, in fact you practically can't see them until you are practically walking on them. In the summer they are covered in a mixture of brown, black, tan and white feathers, they really blend well into the ground cover and bushes.

In the winter they turn completely white, you cannot see them in the snow unless they move, and that is only because their eyes look so dark against the white feathers, that you notice them when they move against the white snow. They are very beautiful birds and they are also good to eat. Hunting season for Ptarmigans is usually around August through March, and there is usually what they call a bag limit set. You have to check in with Alaska Fish and Game to find out what the requirements are in the area you plan on hunting in.

Ptarmigan in Winter Feathers

They are easy to catch, because as I said you can practically walk right up to them, some refer to them as "dumb birds" because it seems to take them a few minutes to realize they may be in danger, and then they fly practically straight up... into low tree branches when they do take flight.

Later...

K Fields

http://www.arcticulates.org/morphing-naturally.html

The best day during which the sun have risen is Friday

2009-05-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

posted by Farrukh Siddiqui on his blog

Friday is the best day of the week. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that Rasoolillah (SAW) had said, "We (Muslims) came last and yet we are the first on the Day of Judgment. They have received the books before us (meaning Torah and Injil). We have received the book after them (meaning the Quran). Friday was their day to be glorified. However, they disputed on that while Allah had told us Friday is the day to glorify. Thus they will follow us. The Jews glorify Saturday, and the Christians glorify Sunday."

Also reported by Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nisai, and Al-Tirmidhi, that Rasoolillah (SAW) had said, "The best day during which the sun have risen is Friday. It is the Day Adam was created. It is the day when Adam entered paradise and also when he was taken out from it. It is also the day on which the day of judgment takes place."

Actions to be undertaken on Fridays

Men are obligated to participate in Friday Prayer. Allah (SWT) said in Surah Al-Jumauah, (verse 9), what can be translated as, "you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to Prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is best for you if you but knew."

In addition, Rasoolillah (SAW) had warned from not attending Friday Prayer. Imam Muslim and Ahmad had reported that Rasoolillah (SAW) said about people who do not attend Friday Prayer, "I wanted to ask a man to lead people in the prayer so that I may go and burn houses of men who did not attend the Friday Prayer with us" He also said reported by Imam Muslim, Ahmad and Al-Nisai, "Either they (meaning people who do not attend the Friday prayer) stop neglecting Friday prayers or Allah will set a seal on their hearts so they can not find the right path again." In another authentic hadith reported by Abu Dawod, Tirmidhi, Al-Nisai, and Ibn-Majah, that the Prophet (SAW) said, "Who ever does not attend three Friday prayers, (without a valid excuse) Allah will set a seal on his heart"

It is also recommended to increase supplication especially at the last hour of the day since it is the hour when requests are replied by Allah. In an authentic hadith reported by Imam Al-Nisai, Abu-Dawod, and Al-hakim, that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "Friday has 12 hours, one of which is the hour where cries are granted for Muslim believers. This hour is sought at the last hour after Asar."

It is encouraged to send salaam upon the Messenger of Allah (SAW) during Fridays and Friday’s night because of an authentic hadith reported by Imam Abu-Dawod, Al-Nisai, and Ibn-Majah, that the Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said, "The best day is Friday. On Friday Adam was created, and died. On Friday is the first time the trumpet is blown (meaning when every creature dies) and the second time the trumpet is blown (referring to resurrection). So increase the number of times you wish peace upon me since this prayer will be shown to me." They asked him, how our prayers will be shown to you after you have vanished. He replied, "Allah has prohibited earth to cause the body of Prophets to decay."

It is also recommended that Muslims recite Surah Al-Kahf, because of the authentic hadith reported by Imam Al-Baihaqee and Al-Hakim, that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had said, "Who ever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, Allah will give him a light to the next Friday."

It is also recommended that Muslims clean and wash themselves and make sure they smell nice when they attend Friday Prayers. Imam Muslim and Bukhari reported that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "Every Muslim is obligated to wash on Fridays and wear his best cloth. Also, he should use perfume if he has any."

It is important to come early to the Friday prayer. All of the hadith collectors, except Ibn-Majah, reported in an authentic hadith that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "If one washes himself and then went to Friday Prayer, it is considered as if he donated a camel for the sake of Allah. However, If he went in the second hour then it is considered as if he donated a cow and if the third hour then as if he donated a big sheep and if the fourth hour then as if he donated a chicken and if the fifth hour then as if he donated an egg. Then when the Imam starts delivering the speech the angels come and listen to it." Also in anther authentic hadith reported by Imam Abu-Dawod that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "On Friday the angels come to stand on the doors of the mosque (masjid), the angels record who comes first, if the Imam starts delivering the speech, the angles close their files and come to listen to the speech."

It is forbidden to work on Fridays after the call for the prayer was announced because Allah says in Surah Al-Jumuah, (verse 9), what can be translated as, "When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business."

Also, it is forbidden to talk during the Khutbah. Several sayings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) cover this subject. In an authentic hadith reported by the group of Ahadith collectors except Ibn-Majah, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "If you told your friend to pay attention on Friday while the Imam is delivering the speech then you committed a sin of vain talk." Another authentic hadith which was reported by Imam Ibn-Majah and Attermizi that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "Even who touches the gravel on the floor then he committed vain talk, and he who does commit that there will be no (Jumuah) Friday for him."

It is also disliked to walk between sitting people during Friday gathering unless there is an empty spot to fill. In an authentic hadith reported by Imam Abu-Dawod, Al-Nisai, and Ahmad that, A man came and started walking between people during a Friday gathering while Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was delivering his speech, so the Prophet told him, "Sit because you caused harm to other people and came in late."

It was not legislated to consider Friday as a day off and not work during it. Because Allah (SWT) said in Surah Al-Jumuah, (verse 10), what can be translated as, "And when the prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land and seek of the bounty of Allah." It was not a habit of any of the companions to consider Friday as a day to take off work.

Finally , there are two important matters for us in this country to be cautioned of. First of all, we must not neglect Friday Prayers because of work, study, or other matters. Every Muslims should make attending Friday Prayer as his top priority. It is important to do so since ignoring it three times with no valid reason will cause the heart to be sealed from the right path.

The second matter to watch for is the losing of one’s interest in the importance of Friday. This is especially important for the growing generation who is used to the concept of weekend being Saturday and Sunday and knows almost nothing about the importance of Friday in the eyes of Muslims. So it is our duty to remind them and ourselves about this great day which is the best day of the week and try to spend it according to Islamic teaching.

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/05/best-day-during-which-sun-have-risen-is.html

Navajo Madonna

2009-05-28T05:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Navaho Madonna (large version), charcoal pencil..NFS

This was the first of eight drawings of this Navajo girl, and was actually done on watercolor paper, intending this to become a watercolor. I have two remaining, six others are in private collections. She has the most incredible eyes I've ever seen, and "eyes are the window to the soul".

http://josesinclair.blogspot.com/2008/01/jose-sinclair-portraits.html

No Compulsion in Religion

2009-05-27T03:22:00.000-07:00

Published by One Muslim under religion, truth on Saturday, February 14, 2009

Last few days, I read the article from a blog condemning Islam as the religion which says no compulsion in religion but force their believers to do this and that. After a while, I feel I want to clear the things up based on my own understanding.

The person used to be cited so many verse in Qur'an and by cruel describe all the means from his opinion and some referred to the very anti-islam idol. But I am thinking of, why he said like that? No doubt Qur'an is first written in Arabic so till the end of the day, its better to be that way. However, since we are living in different continents, Qur'an has been translated by various people with different languages. Thus this sometimes can give a slight dissimiliarities and tend to sometimes slipped somebody out from the exact meaning written in the Qur'an. Also, ,most of the times, people like us tend to reach the meaning of every words just in a small closed scoop, which is contrast with the best approach been told; by expanding our mind and see the words in Qur'an as a bigger place.

Al-Baqarah: 256...

Let there be no compulsion In religion: Truth stands out Clear from Error: whoever Rejects Evil and believes In Allah hath grasped The most trustworthy Handhold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth And knoweth all things.

So is it real no compulsion? No force? for me its YES!. No compulsion for each and every of you to believe/ not believing in Islam. Thats it, no compulsion for you non-muslim in the first place to accept and believe in Islam and all system in Islam. You have the words of God, you have a total freedom in chosing what religion you exactly want to believe with. Thats true but please don't misunderstood with the situation when you are in the religion, after you says shahadah, you are then a Muslim (which is common like in other religion, after you embrace that religion, you are automatically then bound to all of its rules of conduct). You can't just want to be in Islam but be an other Muslim following your on desire. Its not correct and if you do that you are not following the God, but you are following your own self. You are not following the religion of God, you are following the religion of yours.

So free to choose a religion but if we extend further, the Lord use the other verse for Muslim to help others see the truth, show others the evidence of true religion and the means inside. In doing that, we Muslim as a servent however have no right in forcing others to believe or far than that forcing others to embrace Islam as their religion.

If their spurning is hard on thy mind, yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a sign,- (what good?). If it were Allah.s will, He could gather them together unto true guidance: so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)! (Al An'am: 35)

See? If Allah want to apply the force in religion, then there is no need the hard way in teaching others about Islam, there is no need for prophets, no need for us to spread the words of Islam. Thats simple, Allah want us as a human embrace Islam by our own will, after we are exposed to the truth, see the so many evidence of the truth, we are expected to use our own ability to see, think and accept the truth.

If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe! (Yunus: 99)

Even all creatures (except satan) are willingly turn their head down towards the first human, Prophet Adam, accepting our ability to think better with our mind and follow the pure feeling of heart chosing what is good from what is bad. Thus it is our own duty now to be able to choose, as we are all have both what it takes to do that. Embrace Islam 100% by your own will and He is everytime welcoming.

http://stories-frameoflife.blogspot.com/2009/02/no-compulsion-in-religion_14.html

Stomach upsets and headaches? Try peppermint...

2009-05-27T03:12:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Peppermint is more than just for flavoring food. It can do more- it helps relieve headaches and stomach upsets.

Peppermint has high menthol content and is a popular flavoring agent for toothpaste, candies, and tea. It is a calming agent that helps in soothing an upset stomach, and because it has numbing and calming effects, it is used to treat headaches, skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea, menstrual cramps and flatulence. Its soothing aroma can counter the symptoms of the common cold. Peppermint is said to have a positive effect on patients with depression.

According to studies, peppermint extract is much more effective than conventional pis and aspirins in relieving headaches. Peppermint can also be used to prevent skin diseases, urinary tract infections, and herpes. It can relieve asthma when taken as tea.

sources:

Peppermint.www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/peppermint-000269.htm
Jenny Hope,Peppermint'beats pills for soothing a headache'.www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/health-main.html?in_article_id=383116&in_page_id=1774
Peppermint:Good for you and delicious in tea.www.compleatmother.com/womens-health/herbs/peppermint.shtml
Bato Balani.ISSN 0117-7052 VOL. 28 NO.3 SY 2008-2009

http://jongstrivialities.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-peppermint-relieve-headaches-and.html

A Muslim student is a diffrent student

2009-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Every hard-working student has a lot of positive motives that strengthen his or her performance and give them the patience to continue along the tiring path of learning.

But when it comes to a Muslim student, it differs a lot and here are some examples.

Being a Muslim student, I keep in mind while studying that Allah SWT opens a path to Paradise for those who step on the path of acquisition of knowledge.

So, I will study because as a Muslim, I do love science and knowledge by nature, they both will lead me to wisdom and development on all levels of my life.

*I will study because I know Allah has created me smart, with developed mind and I don’t want to lose -by being lazy- anything I have the ability to get indeed only with some little effort.

*I will study because I need to be someone good and to turn my current reality into the best.

*I will study because I always wanted to be a good example for an open minded Muslim Arab female, by being so I could be a reason to change the world's negative points of view about us.

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This is a kind of inspiration from that period of time I'm passing through now, The final exams..

Also found here

I pray for all students to get the best of what they study and to get the results they are looking forward to...

May Allah help us all...

:)

http://guidingfriends.blogspot.com/2009/05/muslim-student-is-diffrent-student.html

Guinness Book of World Records & PAKISTAN.

2009-05-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Smallest Quran Pak
The smallest published Quraan Pak measures 1.7 cm x 1.28 cm x 0.72 cm (0.66 in x 0.50 in x 0.28 in). It is published in an unabridged, bound version, in fine print Arabic and is 571 pages long. Dr Muhammad Karim Beebani at October 15, 2004 in Pakistan.

Widest Gauge Railway
The widest gauge in standard use is 1.676 m (5 ft 6 in). This wide gauge is used in Pakistan, Spain, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Argentina, and Chile. The narrower standard gauge, 1.435 m (4.698 ft), is more common in much of America and Europe.

Most Wickets In A One-day International Career
The most wickets taken over a one-day international cricket career is 440 by Pakistan's Wasim Akram in 319 matches between 1985 and 2001. Wasim took the wickets at an average of 24.04 runs. Born in 1966 Lahore, Wasim Akram started playing cricket, like many Pakistanis, on the streets. He made his international debut at the age of 18 after an invitation to join the national team's training camp as they prepared for a match against New Zealand. Wasim's ability to move the ball in the air combined with his pace and accuracy has earned him a reputation as one of the world's best fast bowlers. In February 2000, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Fastest Cricket Bowler
The highest electronically measured speed for a ball bowled by any bowler is 100.23mph (161.3km/h) by Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) against England on 22 February 2003 in a World Cup match at Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa.

Nicknamed the 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib burst onto the cricket scene in 1999, but has since struggled to cement a first choice place in the Pakistan line-up. He has played for many teams, including: Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines, Rawalpindi Cricket Association, Somerset, Khan Research Labs, Durham, Lashings and Pakistan.

Largest Mosque
The largest mosque is Shah Faisal Mosque, near Islamabad, Pakistan. The total area of the complex is 18.97 ha (46.87 acres), with the covered area of the prayer hall being 0.48 ha (1.19 acres). It can accommodate 100,000 worshippers.

Largest Football (Soccer)
A football made from artificial leather PV-PVC and hand-sewn by staff at Ihsan Sports of Hajipura, Sialkot, Pakistan, had a diameter of 4m (13ft 1in) when measured on 30 June 2002. The super-sized soccer ball an exact replica of the company's standard football was made from 32 separate panels that were laminated, printed then hand-stitched together. It was unveiled at the Al Faysaliah shopping mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by members of the Disabled Children's Society. "I was amazed at the size of the football," said one spectator, "and I imagine it would be really hard to actually play with."

Heaviest Weight Lifted With Ear
The heaviest weight lifted using only the ear is 51.7 kg (113 lb 15 oz) by Zafar Gill (Pakistan), who lifted gym weights hanging from a clamp attached to his right ear and held the weight for seven seconds on May 26, 2004 at Lahore, Pakistan.

Largest Volunteer Ambulance Organization
Abdul Sattar Edhi (Pakistan) began his ambulance service in 1948, ferrying injured people to hospital. Today, his radio-linked network includes 500 ambulances all over Pakistan, and attracts funds of US$5 million a year.

Largest Appendix Removed
An appendix removed from a 55-year-old Pakistani man on June 11, 2003, at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan, measured 23.5 cm (9.2 in) in length. The operation was carried out by Dr. Riaz Ahmed Khokhar.

The appendix is a long, thin, worm-like pouch sticking out of the join between the large and small intestines. Doctors are still not sure of its purpose or even if it has a purpose and although it contains immune-system cells, if it's surgically removed, health doesn't suffer.

Highest Margin Of Victory - One Day Int.

The largest victory margin is 233 runs by Pakistan against Bangladesh (320 for the loss of three wickets to 87 all out), at Dhaka, Bangladesh, on June 2, 2000.

Youngest Cricket Test Player
The youngest Test player ever is Hasan Raza (Pakistan) who made his debut, aged 14 years 227 days, against Zimbabwe at Faisalabad, Pakistan on 24 October 1996.
Born 11 March 1982 in Karachi, like other Pakistani cricketers Raza was given test match experience very early. The right-handed batsmen has played for Pakistan Customs, Habib Bank Limited, Karachi Cricket Association, and Pakistan.

Largest Flaming Image Using Candles
The largest flaming candle image took place at the Serena Hotel in Faisalabad, Pakistan when 48 people lit 8,154 candles to create the Sandoz logo on December 31, 2003.

Most Men's Squash World Team Titles
The most men's squash world championship team titles won is six, by Australia, in 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1989, and 1991; and Pakistan, in 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1993.

Jahangir Khan
Jahangir is listed in Guinness Book of World Records as having the most world championship squash titles. He was unbeaten in competitive play for five years. During that time he won 555 matches consecutively. This was not only the longest winning streak in squash history, but also one of longest unbeaten runs by any athlete in top-level professional sport.

Pakistani student blazes his way into Guinness Book of World Record
Sitting seven A-levels might easily have done the trick, even though he had started to study some of the subjects only three days before the exam.
But he was determined to get some good grades. So he sat another three, and three more. Then another nine. Just in case, he took a couple of AS levels along the way.The 18 year-old boy genius took the long list of exams within 12-months netting himself 22 A grades, one B and one C

Pakistani Shalwar Kurta makes it to the Guinness World Record
For all those who prefer to wear jeans and t-shirts, here’s news for you. Our very own Kurta shalwar has made it to the Guinness World Record as Pakistan holds the record of making the world’s largest kurta. The length of the kurta is 30 times more than that of a standard medium-sized kurta and stands at a staggering height of 101 feet. The cuff opening alone is 15-feet wide whereas the length of each sleeve is almost 57ft. The entire kurta weighs 800kg with each of its four buttons weighing 10kg each. The material used is 800 yards long while 450metres of thread has been used. It took a team of 50 hard-working professional tailors a period of 30 days to put together the kurta.

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/04/guinness-book-of-world-records-pakistan.html

Snuff your Highly Fragrant Candle Wicks

2009-05-24T03:51:00.000-07:00

Use a Wick Snuffer for less black Smoke

If you enjoy highly fragrant candles like candlemamma does then you know that maintaining your candle is very important. If you enjoy scented candles please remember that a candle is made up of a blend of ingredients. Your wax choice, wick type, color, and fragrance oil play a large role in how much black smoke you see or smell coming from your highly scented candle. Candle ingredients will also determine how often you trim your wicks.

The most important factor I have found as a candlemaker who tests her fragrant candles is how you maintain your wick. All candles will smoke. Most candles smoke more when the wick is blown out. This is a fact. The best way candlemamma has found to remove black smoke from her fragrant candles when extinguishing them is by using a wick snuffer. Candlemamma received her candle snuffer as a gift and it has been the best gift she could receive for maintaining her candles and wicks. This snuffer is very easy to use and clean. The black smoke and wax that builds up on this snuffer cleans up easily. Brass coating makes this snuffer nice and slick. Just wipe with a paper towel immediately after using and the candle wax mess is gone. You won't be able to snuff your wicks out in hard to reach candles with this snuffer. That is why you need the other flatter end of the wick snuffer. The flat end you can use to dip your still burning wick into the melted liquid wax pool thus extinguishing your wick with no black smoke to fill your nose or house. Extinguishing your candle wick in the melted wax pool also gives a little added scented wax to your wick for future burning pleasure.

As a candle lover, candlemamma enjoys the rich and high fragrances of candles not the smell of black smoke. Candlemamma's husband sneezes alot when she doesn't use her candle snuffer. Candle snuffers are highly recommend by candlemamma. Look for candle snuffers at you local department store or online to use with all candles.

Don't forget to visit the Angels weekly. Thank You Ladies for your wonderful help with my candlemaking articles.

http://candlemammascandlecreations.blogspot.com/2009/04/snuff-your-highly-fragrant-candle-wicks.html

Prophet Muhammad's(Peace be upon him)Last Sermon

2009-05-22T05:43:00.000-07:00

On the return of the sacred month of pilgrimage, the Prophet, under the presentiment of his approaching end, determined to make a farewell prilgrimage to Mecca. In February 632, he left Medina with a very considerable concourse of Muslims. It is stated that from ninety thousand to one hundred and forty thousand persons accompanied the Prophet.Before completing all rites of the pilgrimage, he addressed the assembled multitude from the top of Mount Arafat in the following words:
"0 people! Listen to my words, for I know not whether another year will be vouchsafed to me after this year to find myself among you. Your lives and property are sacred and inviolable among one another until you appear before the Lord, as this day and this month are sacred for all; and remember, you will have to appear before your Lord Who will demand from you an account for all your actions. 0 people, you have rights over your wives, and your wives have rights over you. Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah and have made their persons lawful unto you by the words of Allah. And your slaves, see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the stuff you wear, and if they commit a fault which you are not inclined to forgive, then part with them; for they are the servants of the Lord and are not to be harshly treated. 0 people, listen to my words and understand them. Know that all Muslims are brothers. You are one brotherhood; but no man shall take aught from his brother, unless by his free consent.Keep yourselves from injustice.Let him who is present tell this to him who is absent. It may be that he who is told this afterward may remember better than he who has now heard it.The Prophet concluded his sermon by exclaiming: "0 Lord, I have fulfilled my message and my work." The assembled multitude, all in one voice, cried: "Yea, verily you have."
The Prophet again exclaimed: "0 Lord, I beseech You, bear witness to it." Having rigorously performed all the ceremonies of the pilgrimage, that his example might be followed by all Muslims for all succeeding ages, theProphet returned with his followers to Medina.

http://messengermuhammad.blogspot.com/2008/09/prophet-muhammadspeace-be-upon-himlast.html

Let us create hope among hunger | Let us do something for the poor and the needy | Let us think beyond money

2009-05-21T04:28:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 24, 2009

* More than 500 million people are living in "absolute poverty" and more than 15 million children die of hunger every year.
* World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the population is underfed and another third is starving.
* Even in the United States, 46 percent of African-American children and 49 percent of Latino children are considered chronically hungry.
* In Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, 80 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty.
* In Ethiopia 75,000 children are now in immediate need of therapeutic feeding, and the numbers are growing.
* In Africa, a child dies every three seconds from AIDS and extreme poverty, often before their fifth birthday.
* In Africa, more than one billion people do not have access to clean water.
* In Africa, every year six million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday.
* More than 50 percent of Africans suffer from water-related diseases such as cholera and infant diarrhea.
* In Africa, more than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day, 300 million are children. Of these 300 million children, only eight percent are victims of famine or other emergency situations. More than 90 percent are suffering long-term malnourishment and micro nutrient deficiency.
* Nearly one third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are underweight.
* 43% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have safe, accessible drinking water.

SHOCKING but TRUE !!

Yes friends, what you are seeing above is a sad truth of our society..must say the whole world. At one instance, everything seems to be fine but at the next instance, it makes us wonder - How and Why? We are all blessed with a great parents. We are all lucky to have a decent life, a life which is quite satisfying because we all have an easy access to basic and advanced amenities of life. But just think of those who cannot live their lives as the way we do. Think of those who are going through this global tragedy. Think of those who are dying every minute, every second. Think of those who don't have anything to eat. Think of those who don't even have an access to clean water. Think of those whose lives revolve around hunger and hope. Think of the poor at least...

Its is really a sad sad situation. Being myself from India, I know what poverty means in real sense. I have been through different facets of this so called society - from the richest to the poorest. Let me tell you one more thing about me, I hail from one of the most poorest and corrupt states of India - Bihar Well, I was not born poor. I was lucky enough to born in a family which was financially good and stable. But that was never the case with some of them who were quite close to me. Most of them were born poor and had to live from hand to mouth. Most of they had hardly anything to eat and drink. I remember whenever we used to travel to our village to our home, we made sure that we keep some sweets and extra clothes. And you know why - Because the moment we reached our home, kids from nearby homes would surround us with a hope. Those kids would just stare at us without saying a word. And we could make it out all very easily. They wanted something from us. But they never wanted to beg for it. That was something which was worth noticing. How could one ignore such innocent faces? How could one be so stone hearted ? We just hadn't any solutions to their problems apart from those sweets and some clothes. And honestly speaking, they were happy. They were happy to know that someone was there to care for them. Someone was there to think for them. Someone was there to provide a ray of hope. Someone was.....

Its been more than 50 years of our country's independence. But I feel sorry to say that condition hasn't improved still. Yes, the unequal distribution of wealth has left a grave impact which is the reason why rich get richer by the day and poor get poorer. A lot can also be blamed on corruption. Well, it not only us who are suffering. Africa, the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, seems to have suffered the most from this global tragedy. Some of the African parts like Kenya, Ethiopia and Sahara region have been worst affected. Well, there are 'n' number of reasons why a country like Africa is suffering the most when it all comes to poverty and related issues. Some of the top reasons are - War, AIDS and Famine. These three factors have brought to Africa an entirely new concept, children with no family members, no blood relatives, no extended family members. No elders to care for them, they are lost and bereft in a cruel world, and no one seems to care. Three fourths of poor people in Western and Middle Africa, mostly rural areas are dependent upon agriculture for their livelihoods. And sadly, the capacity of rural people to make a livelihood has been dramatically curtailed by warfare, and per capita food production has plummeted. Land degradation, a consequence of extensive agriculture, deforestation and overgrazing, has reached alarming levels and further threatens livelihoods. The poorest people live in isolated zones, deprived of the social safety nets and poverty reduction programs available in semi-urban and urban areas. eg. West Africa, East Africa.

Well, we have seen how poverty is taking toll on millions of lives. Its high time for people like us to show that we too care for them. Yes friends, believe me - There is no other service as noble and as great as the service done for the poor and the needy. This is why services like HEIFER INTERNATIONAL are in the news. HEIFER is an international organization which is focussed on one and only one thing - End hunger from this earth. And to be very honest, HEIFER has been very successful in its mission offlate. You can also go through their success stories here Heifer's success stories Now, its really great to see blogcatalog members and Hiefer international members partnering each other for this huge cause. As a concerned person what you can do is very simple. Just pass on the gift. Dear, please visit this heifer gift catalog and choose the gift of your choice and just send it to your friends and ofcourse to anyone whom would you want it to send to. There are many ways to contribute infact. You can give more things by visiting the Heifer international website.

So friends, are you ready to play your part just like me? Are you ready to make some difference to the society by supporting and availing services from HEIFER INTERNATIONAL? Are you serious enough on this global issue? Can you think beyond money? Can you contribute something ? Can you just give your few hours for this huge cause? Can you be a part in making this world a better place to live in ? Can you ???????

http://cyberholic2007.blogspot.com/2009/04/let-us-create-hope-among-hunger-let-us.html

Every soul shall have a taste of death

2009-05-21T03:50:00.000-07:00

Gaida has beautifully presented a very true aspect of life after life, we should not forget that soon we have to wind up all the work or no matter whether we would be ready or not the flight would never be late , have to go on time so be prepared!

((كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ)).

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception."

((أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِكْكُمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُشَيَّدَة))
"Wherever ye are, death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high!"

****************

Few days ago, a 21-year-old friend of mine called Mostafa(known amongst us by Adam) died of Hodgkin lymphoma cancer (type of malignant tumors) that they discovered during the year of 2007 …

The story of what happened is quite long but I'm just shocked and I'm not able to talk much about it..

because it's the first time for me to experience such a situation...

This is a reminder for all of us, death is very near more than anyone can expect, no matter how old or healthy you are...

***************

Prepare for Departure

Habib al-‘Abid reports: Once, when I arrived in al-Basrah, I was surprised to see that the markets were closed, and the streets empty.

I called out: “O people of Basrah, is this some kind of holiday of yours that I am unaware of?”

Someone answered: “No, but al-Hasan al-Basri is in the main gathering place [of Basrah], giving a speech to the people.”

I hurried to his gathering, and when I arrived there, I saw him sitting down on some high ground.

He was saying:

“O people, prepare for departure, for very little time remains from this world.
Prepare to move [to the hereafter], for there is no way to stay here.

Do you not know that you will soon be surrendered to the place of trial [i.e. the grave, Hereafter, etc.]?

Do you not know that each one of you will soon be alone with his deeds and that you will be presented [with your deeds] to Allah on the Day of Judgment?

He [subhaanahu wa ta’aala] forbade you from sinning, but you have not stopped sinning.

He [subhaanahu wa ta’aala] has encouraged you to seek out Jannah, but you do not [seem to] desire it or long for it.

He [subhaanahu wa ta’aala] [threatened] you with the Hellfire, but you are neither afraid nor terrified of it.

Your white hairs are warning you of approaching death, so what are you waiting for?
O white-haired one, you are able to perform good deeds, so what is your excuse?

O one who obeys his mouth and his desires, who wastes his share of the akhirah by taking his entire share in this world, who persists in committing sins and evil deeds, if only I knew: what your excuse will be before Him [subhaanahu wa ta’aala]?

What argument will you put forth when you go to Him [subhaanahu wa ta’aala]? You are lost and misguided, so ask Allaah, the All-Mighty, to forgive both me and you.”

((Taken from: Al-Mawa’idh wal-Majalis’, P. 181))

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Brothers and sisters, remember him in your prayers, please..

and ask Allah Almighty the forgiveness for all of us..

http://inalllanguages.blogspot.com/2009/04/every-soul-shall-have-taste-of-death.html