M.RISHAN SHAREEF COLLECTION OF ARTICLES.

Invitation to My Book Launch in India

2012-01-02T17:30:00.000+05:30

Dear friends,

Happy new year to you !

I have translated 2011 Swarna Pusthaka Award Winner Writer Sunethra Rajakarunanayake's Novel in to Tamil. And I am happy to inform you that My translation novel entitled "Ammavin Ragasiyam" is published by Kalachuvadu Publishers in India.

The book release function will be held on Sunday, 08th of January, 2012 at 5.45 pm at Book Point, Anna Saalai

(Opp Spencer Plaza), Chennai, India.

I will be extremely glad if you would kindly make it convenient to
participate in this book release function.

I am enclosing the invitation and request you to kindly attend the function.

Thanking you and with warm regards,

Sincerely,
M.Rishan Shareef

01.01.2012

SPICES AND THEIR MEDICINAL VALUE

2011-01-23T13:45:00.001+05:30

SPICES AND THEIR MEDICINAL VALUE

COLDS
Mix a gram of cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey to cure cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay leaf and black pepper. This should be consumed twice a day. Reduce the intake as the cold disappears.

GINGER FOR COLDS.

Ginger tea is very good to cure cold. Preparation of tea: cut ginger into small pieces and boil it with water, boil it a few times and then add sugar to sweeten and milk to taste, and drink it hot.

DRY COUGHS.

Add a gram of turmeric powder to a teaspoon of honey for curing dry cough. Also chew a cardamom for a long time.

BLOCKED NOSE.

For blocked nose or to relieve congestion, take a table spoon of crushed carom seeds and tie it in a cloth and inhale it.

SORE THROAT.

Add a tea spoon of cumin seeds and a few small pieces of dry ginger to a glass of boiling water. Simmer it for a few minutes, and then let it cool. Drink it twice daily. This will cure cold as well as sore throat.

AJWAIN/AJMO FOR ASTHMA.

Boil ajwain in water and inhale the steam.

CURE FOR BACKACHE..

Rub ginger paste on the backache to get relief.

GARLIC FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Have 1-2 pod garlic first thing in the morning with water

HONEY AND GINGER FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Mix 1 table spoon and 1 table spoon ginger (adrak) juice, 1 table spoon of crushed cumin seeds and have it twice daily.

MIGRAINE. .
For the cure of migraine or acute cold in the head; boil a tablespoon of pepper powder, and a pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk, and have it
daily for a few couple of days.

BITTER GOURD IS GOOD..

A tablespoon of amla juice mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice and taken daily for 2 months reduces blood sugar.

TURMERIC CURE FOR INJURIES

For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a
bandage after applying haldi/turmeric.

CRAMPS

You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on your palms and soles of your feet.

HEADACHES.

If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. Make an almond paste by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to forehead.

Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects. OR When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead

FOR ARTHRITIS.

Turmeric can be used in treating arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory property. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

GOOD FOR THE HEART

Turmeric lower cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the internal blood clots improves circulation and prevents heart disease and stroke. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup
of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

GOOD FOR INDIGESTION

Turmeric can be used to relieve digestive problems like ulcers, dysentery. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

HONEY IS A GOOD CURE FOR ALL DISEASES

Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder and have at night.

HICCUPS

Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper on it.. The lemon should be eaten until the hiccups stop.

HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL

In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander/dhania seeds and bring to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink this mixture two times in a day. OR Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol
deposits on the walls of arteries.

PILES

Radish juice should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and then later in the night. Initially drink about ? cup of radish juice and then gradually increase it to ? cup. OR Soak 3-4 figs in a glass of water Keep it overnight. Consume the figs on an empty stomach, the next day in the morning

VOMITING

Take 2 cardamoms/elachi and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting. OR In the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp limejuice, add ? tsp of ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting. OR Limejuice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled limejuice and sip slowly. To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea. OR In 1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip.

WARTS

Apply castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for several months. OR Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a number of times a day. Continue for two weeks. OR Rub cut raw potatoes on the affected area several times daily. Continue for at least two weeks. OR Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood.. OR Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a day. OR Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the warts. OR Apply Papaya juice OR Apply Pineapple juice.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION

In 8 oz of water, put ? tsp of baking soda and drink it. OR Drink plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body. OR Drink Cranberry juice. You can also add some apple juice for taste.

SINUSITIS

Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and garlic, as a part of your daily meals. OR Fenugreek/methi leaves are considered valuable

Police set fire to the village and chase away 54 families: Governor’s (Brigadier) order

2010-11-19T18:30:00.000+05:30

Police set fire to a Muslim village and chase away 54 families: Governor's (Brigadier) order

http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=10233

Police set fire to Muslim village and chase away 54 families: Governor's (Brigadier) order (Lanka-e-News, Nov04, 2010, 11.10PM)

Last 31st Sunday, a group of policemen have arrived at dawn and set fire to a Muslim village Kandalkadu and a Muslim mosque in the Kinniya District and chased away 54 families who were resident there.

The victims say that the police has told them that this suffering was inflicted on the poor villagers by the Governor of the East Brigadier Mohan Jayawickrema.

These unfortunate Muslims are long time residents of Kandalkadu village, and they have registered deeds which they received in 1933 and 1945.There are over 130 families who were displaced due to the war resident in this village and had taken up residence in Kandalkadu. They have gone to their homes after the Trincomalee District Secretary had given written permission to them to stay.

Though these victims have shown their deeds and the letter given to them by the District Secretariat, the police have not heeded any of their pleas. The police had said they have no right to be in those places and questioned how they came into those jungles. After saying that they should obey what they say, the Police have set fire to the houses.

The mosque that was also set fire by the police had been built in 1972, the Kandalkadu residents say. These victims are refugees in the Kinniya Al adhan Vidyalaya.

The Governor, Brigadier Jayawickrema Mohan had arranged for a meeting with these Muslim victims yesterday, he has later postponed it.

A report had been asked from the Kinniya Grama niladhariya. The Grama nildhariya has reported that the victims are resident for a long time ; they have the janasaviya and samurdhi reliefs ; and they are registered even in the electoral registers.

When Lanka e news tried to contact the Governor over the phone regarding this issue, a person answering the call told,Jayawickrema has not come to office today.

When Ranjith Silva's office was contacted, an officer answering said, the District Secretary had gone to the Kinniya District Secretariat.

The pictures depict the raging fire engulfing the houses; a house that has been completely burnt down; a family which is rendered destitute after the fire waiting with their remaining implements and wares; and the police guarding the place burnt down preventing anybody from entering the area.

Let's Send an Appeal Letter on bahlf of Rizana Nafeek

2010-11-02T11:55:00.007+05:30

Assalmmualikum,

Dear Friends pray and act. Do whatever you can do to save a life. You could post or fax the following letter to saudi Ambassador in Sri Lanka.

___________________________________________________________

The Honourable Ambassador
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
39, Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 07
Tele: +94 11 2682087 (011 2682087)
Fax: +94 11 2682088 (011 2682088)

Your Excellency,

Young Sri Lankan girl named Rizana Nafeek under death sentence

I am certain that this name is not unfamiliar to you by now. She is awaiting death penalty in Saudi Arabia at the moment.

She left Sri Lanka many years ago to work in Saudi Arabia even before she turned 18. The death of the infant under her care occurred within a month of her starting work at the particular household. And now, even after an appeal, she has been sentenced to death by the High Court in Dawi Dami. She has been in the prison for more than three years now.

Considering all these facts, her being a child at the time of the incident above all, I would like to plead for clemency for the life of Rizana Nafeek. I am told that the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia may pardon her. Hence I am desperately appealing you to pass on this message to His Majesty, the King.

I am certain that you would do your best to facilitate pardoning this girl.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

.........................................

_____________________________________________________

Special Prayer for Rizana Nafeek

2010-11-02T11:45:00.001+05:30

Muslims in Sri Lanka have been asked to conduct special prayers in mosques seeking Allah’s mercy to rescue Rizana Nafeek, who has been sentenced to death, from the hands of the executioner. We have requested the 1.5 million Muslims spread throughout the country to conduct special prayers to save Nafeek from the gallows,” Alavi Moulana, governor of the island’s western province, told Arab News from Colombo Saturday. “The only thing common among the Muslims all over the world is prayer and submission to the will of Allah the Almighty,” the governor said.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made an appeal to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for clemency to Nafeek. Moulana said he met with the president on Friday evening before the president’s departure to China and Rajapaksa had told him that the appeal had reached the Saudi Royal Court, according to information he received from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh.

“Our president was courteous enough to appeal for clemency to the young Nafeek who was arrested on May 25, 2005 and since then has been languishing in jail,” Moulana said. Moulana, who will lead this year’s Haj delegation, said the 5,500 pilgrims from Colombo would make a special offering at the Mount Arafat during the performance of Haj rituals for the sake of this maid. He also said that the government of Sri Lanka respects the laws and regulations of the Saudi government.

“We know well the country’s judicial verdicts should be respected by all those who are governed by them,” he said, requesting the parents of the deceased infant should show mercy on this young girl who had come here to improve her family’s condition back home.

The governor also said there are over 500,000 Sri Lankan workers in the Kingdom, which has the largest concentration of its workers in the Middle East. “We have no serious labor problems among them,” he said. “Most of them are resolved following negotiations and those unsuccessful deals end up in repatriating the worker at the expense of the government.”

Basil Fernando, director of the Hong-Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission, which funded Nafeek’s appeal, said his organization is seriously concerned about the sentence. He urged the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh to explore avenues that can reach the affected family to solicit a pardon from the father of the deceased infant.

He appreciated the mission’s efforts to hand the appeal letter from the Sri Lankan president to the Foreign Ministry in Riyadh without loss of time and for other diplomatic moves made toward this direction. However, he added that any move to hold direct talks with the victim’s father would be highly appreciable.

Courtesy Daily Mirror.lk/ Arab News

SriLanka Rs 1000

2010-10-28T08:45:00.000+05:30

SriLanka Rs.1000

Astonishing Fact Behind the 1000 Rupees Note

How many of us know that the elephant printed with a man wearing a

cap near it, appearing on the 1,000/- rupees notes, has an astonishing

story behind it?

Every one of us familiar with the Rupees 1000/- notes for its size,

colour and so on, will not know about the factual story of the elephant

and the man with the cap near it, printed on the 1000/- rupees notes

that are now in circulation in SriLanka.

Can anyone imagine that the elephant and the man wearing a cap near it

are from the eastern province, and the man is a Muslim? Yes, they are

from the eastern province. The man is Umar Lebbai Panicker from Eravur

in the Batticaloa district and the tusker in the note was caught in

1925 in the Eravur forest and reared by him.

It is said Umar Lebbai Panicker presented this tusker to Dalada

Maligawa and within a short period, it escaped from there, and went in

search of him to Eravur. He brought it back again and handed over to

the Dalada Maligawa.

His Excellency President late J.R. Jayawardene in order to honour the

long services of the tusker, had declared it as a national asset in

1984. This tusker named as Raja adored the Esala Perehera processions

in Kandy and thus became national fame and honoured nationally.

After this, the government in power then, decided to honour the person

who presented this elephant, to the Dalada Maligawa, by printing the picture of

him, with the tusker nearby, on the notes of rupees 1000/- and the

village Eravur was thus honoured by this action.

The tusker Raja that served in Dalada Maligawa and brought fame and

honour not only for itself, but also to the person who presented it, to the

Dalada Maligawa, and the village Eravur, finally died on July 15, 1988

after serving 50 years in the Maligawa.

"Panicker "is a name given to people who catch elephants in the

forest, rear them and sell to people involved in business,

transporting or carrying very heavy materials and things. Their

decedents are still identified as "Panicker Thaththi" or "Panicker

Kathara"in Eravur. There is a road in Eravur known as 'Panicker Veedy'

named after their name.

Good Hand washing Technique

2010-10-15T18:25:00.002+05:30

Young Sri Lankan woman wins prestigious entrepreneur competition in Mexico City

2010-10-02T18:20:00.001+05:30

Fathuma Nisreen, owner of a bag and garment making business in Sri Lanka, has been named the winner of an international competition for young entrepreneurs, organised by Youth Business International (YBI).
The Sri Lanka business woman was announced as the YBI Entrepreneur of the Year last night at a prestigious awards ceremony in Mexico City, after being interviewed by a judging panel of experts on business and entrepreneurship.

The award reflects the challenges that Fathuma has overcome as well as the huge potential that she has to act as a role model for other Muslims in her community and inspire other women around the world.
In a joint statement, the panel said:
"We chose Fathuma because the award will have the biggest impact on her, her family, her community and send a strong message to the world that women are able to start a business while remaining true to their family values. We thought it was remarkable that she was able to start up her business without having to give up her religious and cultural identity.

Overall, we found in Fathuma the courage to overcome tough times, the intelligence to maintain the family as her main motivator, the vision to grow and most of all, the happiness of building a successful business."

The YBI Entrepreneur of the Year competition celebrates the achievement of young entrepreneurs around the world in building a better world for themselves and others. The competition is supported by Barclays Capital and is now in its fourth year.

Fathuma Nisreen has become a role model in her community for her successes in overcoming the restrictions facing Muslim women entering into business, by setting up a design and manufacturing enterprise specialising in traditional outfits and bags. She was able to start up her business with the support of Youth Business Sri Lanka, an accredited member of the YBI network.

Fathuma was competing against three other young entrepreneurs in the competition:

1. Colin Davison from Canada: Stealth Acoustical Control & Emission Inc
Colin's business enables industrial businesses to reduce noise pollution and employs around 60 other people.

2.Alex Tam and Felix Chung from Hong Kong: Ecosage Ltd
Alex and Felix are helping to tackle the waste crisis in Hong Kong with their recycling business, as well as creating employment for many of the city's ragpickers.

3. Shriram Kaluke from India: Shri Ganesh Enterprises
Overcoming a difficult background, Shriram has grown a business providing cleaning services for water tanks, employing 14 people and servicing 1500 clients.

The judging panel comprised of:
Guillermo Baeza, co-founder of Mexican food company Grupo Bafar
Pedro Tejero, Managing Director of Barclays Capital Mexico
Stuart Macdonald, founder of Seric Systems in Scotland and ambassador for YBI
Laura Suarez, Editorial Director of Entrepreneur magazine in Mexico.

Fathuma will receive prize money of US$5,000 from Youth Business International, as well as an invitation to travel to London for a dinner at St James's Palace, which last year was hosted by The Prince of Wales.

60 uses of salt

2010-09-28T11:35:00.001+05:30

60 uses of salt

1. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.
2. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
3. Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.
4. Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier pouring.
5. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting..
6. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.
7. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.
8. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.
9. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.
10. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks wont stick.
11. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.
12. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.
13. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.
14. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.
15. Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.
16. Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
17. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.
18. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.
19. Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.
20. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.
21. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
22. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.
23. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
24. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.
25. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.
26. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.
27. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.
28. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.
29. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for awhile.
30. A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea. ?
31. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.
32. Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.
33. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.
34. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
35. Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.
36. Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.
37. Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.
38. Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.
39. Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.
40. Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash..
41. Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.
42. Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.
43. Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
44. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains..
45. Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
46. Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.
47. Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.
48. Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor.
49. A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee..
50. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.
51. Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.
52. Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.
53. Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.
54. A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.
55. To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.
56. Salt and lemon juice? Removes mildew.
57. Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you dont want grass growing.
58. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a better look.
59. Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.
60. If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess wont smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.

Smoking and Health Problems.

2010-09-20T19:04:00.000+05:30

Tobacco smoking kills nearly about 420,000 people a year, making it more lethal than AIDS, accidents, homicides, suicides, drug overdoses, and fire. Smokers are also inhaling other chemicals including cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol (wood alcohol), acetylene (the fuel used in torches), and ammonia. Smoke also contains nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, which are harmful gases.

Smokers in their 30's and 40's have a heart attack rate that is five times higher than their nonsmoking peers. Cigarette smoking may be directly responsible for at least 20% of all deaths from heart disease, or about 120,000 deaths annually. Smoking cigars may also increase the risk of early death from heart disease, although evidence is much stronger for cigarette smoking.

Smoking lowers HDL levels (the so-called good cholesterol) even in adolescents. It causes deterioration of elastic properties in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, and increases the risk for blood clots. It increases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (which regulates the heart and blood vessels).

Tobacco smoke may increase cardiovascular disease in women through an effect on hormones that causes oestrogen deficiency.

Smoking is the cause of 85% of all cases of lung cancer in 2000, account for 28% of all cancer deaths. Quitting reduces the risk for lung cancer, even well into middle age.

Smoking and smokeless tobacco also cause between 60% and 93% of cancers of the throat, mouth, and oesophagus. Smokers also have higher rates of leukaemia and cancers of the kidney, stomach, bladder, and pancreas. About 30% of cervical cancers have been attributed to both active and passive smoking.

People who smoke a pack a day have almost two and a half times the risk of stroke as non-smokers. Smoking can affect blood vessels in the brain as it does in the heart, increasing the risk for dementia from small or major strokes.

Studies have now linked cigarette smoking to many reproductive problems. Women who smoke pose a greater danger not only to their own reproductive health but, if they smoke during pregnancy, to their unborn child. Women who smoke are at a high risk of infertility in women, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage and stillbirth, prematurity, and low-birth weight.

Smoking reduces folate levels, a B vitamin that is important for preventing birth defects. Women who smoke may pass genetic mutations that increase cancer risks to their unborn babies.

Men's sexual and reproductive health is not immune from the effects of smoking. Heavy smoking is frequently cited as a contributory factor in impotence because it decreases the amount of blood flowing into the penis. Smoking also reduces sperm density and their motility, increasing the risk for infertility.

Children of smoking mothers are more likely to have more motor control problems, perception impairments, attention disabilities, and social problems than children of non-smoking mothers. Women who breast feed and smoke pass nicotine by-products to their babies, which may contribute to these problems.

Smoking impairs formation of new bone and women who smoke are at high risk for osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women who smoke have 17% greater risk for hip fracture at age 60, a 41% greater risk at 70, and a 108% greater risk at age 90. Smokers have more trouble recovering from spinal surgery.

Eid Mubarak

2010-09-09T05:55:00.003+05:30

Assalamu Alaikkum and Eid Mubarak.

May this Eid Day is full of blessings for you, your family and friends.

May the blessings of Allah fill your life with peace, joy and prosperity!

May this Eid bring the all comforts you've ever wanted and all the joy and laughter you've even wished.

Joyous Eid wishes are being sent your way to hope that your Eid Day is full of everything bright and everything beautiful.

--
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www.mrishanshareef.tk
www.rishanshareefpoems.tk
www.rishanshareefarticles.tk
www.myphotocollections.tk
www.rishanworldnews.tk
www.picturestothink.tk
www.shortstories.tk
www.rishan.tk

Amazing Pictures taken during the Month of Ramadan 2010

2010-09-03T10:45:00.000+05:30

Pls click n the image to see !

With the Dome of the Rock Mosque seen in the background, a Palestinian Muslim worshiper prays during the third Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

A Bahraini man points skyward at dusk Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010, in Hamad Town, Bahrain, towards where a slim crescent moon should be visible to indicate the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time of prayer, fasting and charitable giving. Clouds hampered skywatchers in the Persian Gulf island nation. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) #

A Musaharati, dawn awakener, strikes his drum to wake observant Muslims for their overnight 'sahur', last meal, before the day's fast in Sidon's Old City in southern Lebanon just before dawn August 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Ali Hashisho) #

Kashmiri Muslims pray on a street on the third Friday of Ramadan, in Srinagar, India, Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) #

An Indian Muslim vendor prepares food at a roadside stall in preparation for Muslims breaking their fast at sundown in Mumbai, India on August 19, 2010. (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Palestinian Muslim man decorates an alley of Jerusalem's old city with festive lights in preparation for Ramadan on Tuesday, Aug. 10 2010. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

The crescent moon is seen near mosques in old Cairo on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 15, 2010. (REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih) #

A young Palestinian Muslim girl walks in an alley of Jerusalem's old city holding a traditional Ramadan lantern while celebrating with other children the announcing of the holy month of Ramadan on Tuesday, Aug. 10 2010. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

A Pakistani volunteer pours milk into glasses for devotees to break their fast during Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan on Friday, Aug. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary) #

Muslim girls offer prayers before having their Iftar (fast-breaking) meal during the holy month of Ramadan at a madrasa on the outskirts of Jammu on August 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Mukesh Gupta) #

Egyptians buy fruits at a shop in downtown Cairo on August 20, 2010 during Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan. Egyptians have been complaining from shortages of basic services during Ramadan, which began the first week of August amid sweltering summer temperatures. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images) #

A member of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, lower left, participates in an Iftar, the evening meal when Muslim break their fast during Ramadan, August 17, 2010 at Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia. The Islamic center invited frontline responders for Ramadan dinner to show appreciation and foster increased understanding. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) #

A Muslim man performs ablution before prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the London Muslim Centre on August 18, 2010 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #

A man prays during Ramadan Jummah prayer at the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C. on August 13, 2010. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) #

Indonesian chefs make miniature chocolate mosques for sale during the fasting month of Ramadan, at a chocolate shop in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) #

Muslim pilgrims pray inside the Grand Mosque, with the Mecca Clock in the background, on the second day of the fasting month of Ramadan in Mecca August 12, 2010. The giant clock on a skyscraper in Islam's holiest city Mecca began ticking on Wednesday at the start of the fasting month of Ramadan, amid hopes by Saudi Arabia that it will become the Muslim world's official timekeeper. (REUTERS/Hassan Ali) #

Thousands of Muslims gather in the Grand Mosque, in Islam's holiest city of Mecca and home to the Kaaba (center), as they take part in dawn (fajir) prayers on August 29, 2010, to start their day-long fast during the holy month or Ramadan. (AMER HILABI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Thousands of Muslims circle the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque in Islam's holiest city of Mecca, taking part in dawn (fajir) prayers on August 29, 2010. (AMER HILABI/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Palestinian vendor displays traditional pastries in his shop in the West Bank city of Nablus on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan August 12, 2010. (REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini) #

Jim Otun of Fairfield, New Jersey uses his iPad to read a dua in the Quran at Zinnur Books in Paterson, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) #

A Palestinian boy plays with a homemade sparkler after breaking his fast during Ramadan, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, Aug. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

Flood-affected people break their fast on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in a camp in Nowshera, Pakistan on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010. Pakistani flood survivors, already short on food and water, began the fasting month of Ramadan on Thursday, a normally festive, social time marked this year by misery and fears of an uncertain future. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad) #

A Muslim man places a chart which marks the times to pray on a wall during the first day of Ramadan at a mosque in the southern Spanish town of Estepona, near Malaga August 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca) #

A Sudanese man reads the Koran on the first Friday of Ramadan in a mosque at Umdowan Ban village outside Khartoum, Sudan on August 13, 2010. (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah) #

Indian Muslims take a break as birds fly around Firoz Shah Kotla Masjid after prayers on the first Friday of Ramadan in New Delhi on August 13, 2010. (PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images) #

A mahya reading "Hold the fast. find good health" hangs between the minarets of the Ottoman-era Eminonu New Mosque in Istanbul August 12, 2010. Mahya, where dangling lights suspended between minarets spell out devotional messages in huge letters, are intended to reward and inspire the faithful who have spent the daylight hours fasting. Today just a handful of Istanbul's mosques use Mahya, the phrases dictated by Turkey's directorate of religious affairs. (REUTERS/Murad Sezer) #

Some 200 Muslims, inmates of the Quezon city jail in suburban Manila, are seen through a fence praying at the prison courtyard on August 13, 2010. The large Muslim minority in the Philippines - a country home to 75 million Catholics - is observing Ramadan, the holy fasting month of Islam. (JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images) #

An Indian worker dries Seviiyan - thin vermicelli - which is used for the preparation of "sheerkhorma", a traditional sweet dish prepared by the Muslim community during the holy month of Ramadan at a food factory in Hyderabad on August 16, 2010. (NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images) #

An Indian Muslim vendor separates the seeds of a pomegranate at a roadside stall in preparation for Muslims breaking their fast at sundown in Mumbai, India on August 19, 2010. (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Palestinian woman's shadow is seen on a wall as she waits while attempting to cross the Kalandia checkpoint in order to go pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque on the third Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. Israel loosened some restrictions on Palestinian movement between the West Bank and Israel during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill) #

Palestinian women walk past a barrier at an Israeli-controlled checkpoint on their way to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, on the third Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi) #

An Afghan confectioner holds a traditional sweet for Iftar, the evening meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 16, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images) #

Muslim men pray before Iftar, the evening meal in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the London Muslim Centre on August 18, 2010 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #

The shadow of a Palestinian Muslim praying at "fajr" or early morning prayer is cast on a pole, during the month of Ramadan at a mosque in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

Palestinians struggle at an access point as food rations are given out by an Islamic charity on the second day of the month of Ramadan, in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) #

A child sits with a plate of food that was distributed as part of the holy month of Ramadan, at a refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi) #

Indonesian women pray during the first night of Ramadan in Jakarta on August 10, 2010. (ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Palestinian Muslim man reads from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on "fajr" or early morning prayer, during Ramadan at a mosque in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

An Indian Muslim perfumer selects a bottle of ather (non-alcoholic perfume) for customers at his shop in Hyderabad on August 17, 2010. Muslims apply ather to their clothes as a traditional custom before going for daily prayers during the Holy month of Ramadan. Hyderabad is a well known place for selling Ather some 157 varieties of perfume available on the market. (NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images) #

Children run around inside the premises of Jama mosque after Friday afternoon prayers in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das) #

A Palestinian Muslim worshiper walks in an alley of Jerusalem's Old City, on her way to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque on the third Friday of Ramadan on Aug. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) #

A rainbow is seen as a Palestinian sprays water on Muslim worshipers leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to cool them off as the temperature rises, following the second Friday prayers of Ramadan, in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, Aug. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

Her hands decorated with henna, an Afghan Muslim woman takes part in evening prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 13, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images) #

Shop owner Boualem Bensalem (left) prays in his flat with family and friends before for Iftar meal in Geneva, Switzerland on August 23, 2010. Switzerland is home to some 311,000 Muslims (4.3% of the population). (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) #

A Syrian Muslim girl stands at the top of Mount Qassioun, which overlooks Damascus city, during sunset and prays before eating her Iftar meal on August 22, 2010. (REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri) #

Courtesy: w ww.boston.com/bigpicture

COMMON MISTAKES DURING RAMADAN

2010-08-31T14:50:00.000+05:30

Too much stress on food and drink

For some people, the entire month of Ramadan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Qur’an and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of 'fasting' into the month of 'feasting'. Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance. 'and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance)' [al-A'raaf :31]

Spending all day cooking

Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh, Tahajjud or read Qur’aan, etc.

Eating too much

Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to 'make up for the food missed.' However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything.
The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.' (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless. It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so.

Sleeping all day

Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) 'sleeping away their fast'. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot 'bear' to be awake and face a little hunger or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.

Wasting time

Other people waste away their day playing video games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subhaan Allaah! Trying to obey Allaah by DISOBEYING him!

Fasting but not giving up evil

Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and we think we are sooooo good.
The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.' (Bukhaari)

Smoking

Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadan or outside of it, as it is one of al-Khabaa'ith (evil things).(This includes ALL eg. cigars, cigarettes, pipes, 'Sheesha' ,etc.) 'he allows them as lawful At Tayyibaat (all good and lawful things), and prohibits them as unlawful Al Khabaa'ith (all evil and unlawful things) [al-A'raaf :157]
It is harmful, not only to the one smoking, but also to the ones around him. It is also a means of wasting ones wealth.
The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'There should be no harming or reciprocating harm.' This is especially true during fasting and it invalidates the fast. (Fatwa-Ibn 'Uthaymeen)

Skipping Suhoor

The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.'(Bukhaari, Muslim). And he (pbuh) said: 'The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor.' (Muslim) Stopping Suhoor at 'Imsaak' Some people stop eating Suhoor 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to observe 'Imsaak'. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: This is a kind of bid'ah (innovation) which has no basis in the Sunnah. Rather the Sunnah is to do the opposite. Allaah allows us to eat until dawn: 'and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)' [al-Baqarah 2:187]
And the Prophet (pbuh) said: '....eat and drink until you hear the adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes.' This 'imsaak' which some of the people do is an addition to that which Allaah has enjoined, so it is false. It is a kind of extremism in religion, and the Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed.' (Muslim)

Not fasting if they missed Suhoor – Very Important

Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Suhoor. However, this is a kind of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels of food? It's not like you will die. Remember, obedience to Allaah overcomes everything.

Saying the intention to fast 'out loud' or saying a specific dua to start fasting

The intention is an action of the heart. The Muslim should resolve in his heart that he is going to fast tomorrow. It is not prescribed for him by the Shari'ah to say out loud, 'I intend to fast','I will fast tomorrow' or other phrases that have been innovated by some people. All he needs to do is to resolve in his heart that he is going to fast tomorrow.

Delaying breaking fast

Some people wait until the adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that, just to be 'on the safe side'. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to break the fast, which means breaking fast right after the sun has set.
Aa'ishah said: This is what the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) used to do. (Muslim)
The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.' (Bukhaari, Muslim) Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar, etc. and then have tawakkul on Allaah and break your fast exactly on time.

Missing the golden chance of having your Dua accepted

The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of breaking fast. The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.' (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani). Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Food is more important to them than the chance to have their sins forgiven or the fulfillment of their Duas.

Fasting but not praying

The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.'(Muslim). In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled. al-Bukhaari narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever forsakes ‘Asr prayer, his deeds are in vain.” (al-Bukhaari, 553). What is meant by “his deeds are in vain” means that they become invalid and will not avail him anything. This hadeeth indicates that in the case of one who does not pray, Allaah will not accept any deed from him, so the one who does not pray will not benefit at all from his deeds, and no good deeds of his will ascend to Allaah. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said concerning the meaning of this hadeeth: “The apparent meaning of this hadeeth is that those who do not pray are of two types: those who do not pray at all, which renders all of their deeds invalid, and those who do not pray some days, which renders his deeds on that day invalid. So the loss of all good deeds happens to those who do not pray at all, and the loss of some deeds happens to those who miss some prayers.” From Kitaab al-Salaah, p. 65

Not fasting because of exams or work

Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shari'ah to not fast. You can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying Allaah is much more important than 'good grades'.

Mixing fasting and dieting

DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allah alone. Mixing it with the intention of dieting is a form of Shirk.

Fighting over the number of Raka'ah of Taraweeh

There is no specific number of rak'ahs for Taraweeh prayer, rather it is permissible to do a little or a lot. Both 8 and 20 are okay. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: 'No one should be denounced for praying eleven or twenty-three (raka'ah), because the matter is broader in scope than that, praise be to Allaah.'

Praying ONLY on the night of the 27th

Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other odd nights, although the Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Seek Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.' (Bukhaari, Muslim).

May Allah Almighty accept our fasting and all our prayers and make us the dwellers of Paradise (Aameen).
Please include the entire Ummaah in your daily prayers (Especially the person, who wrote this awesome article).
Anas (Radhi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) say: "Allah the Almighty said: O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it." [at-Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal]

Revelation Order of the Qur'an

2010-08-26T19:10:00.000+05:30

Revelation Order of the Qur'an

The Qur'an was sometimes revealed to respond to various events and incidents. Sometimes it was revealed to support the Prophet (saws) who was faced with many questions, whether by Muslims or non-Muslims, and hardships. Other times was revealed for legislation and for putting rules to govern the social, economical, and political life of Muslims.
The first verses to be revealed, according to the most correct opinion of scholars, are the first five verses of Surat Al-`Alaq, which happens to be Chapter 96 of the 114 chapters of the Qur'an.

Order of Verses
Muslim scholars agree that the order of the verses in every chapter was done or commanded by the Prophet (saws) himself following the commands of Almighty Allah.
The Prophet (saws) once told his Companions after he had received a certain revelation that the arch-angel Gabriel had specified for him the particular order of verses (Ahmad).
There are also many incidents narrated in the books of Sunnah regarding the Prophet's (saws) recitation during prayer. The Companions used to pray every day behind the Prophet (saws) and he used to recite the Qur'an in the order given to him by Allah, and they used to learn and memorize from his recitation.
There have never been any incident in which any of the Companions reciting in any order that violated the order of the verses showed to us by the Prophet (saws).

Order of Surahs
As for the order of the surahs (chapters), the most accepted view is that it was also applied following an instruction given by Almighty Allah. It has been recorded that the Prophet (saws) reviewed the Qur'an with the arch-angel Gabriel 24 times all within his life.
Every year, he used to review it once during the month of Ramadan with Gabriel. During the final year of the Prophet's life, Gabriel revised the Qur'an twice with the Prophet (saws) as a way of confirming it. The Prophet (saws), in turn, used to follow this order in teaching his Companions and communicating the message to them.

Significance of Order
The question of why a surah like Surat Al-`Alaq, which was revealed first not put first in the mushaf (a physical copy of the Qur'an), this will require us to search more in the Qur'an and explore some of its secrets. A deeper look into the whole matter will show us that the order of the Qur'an has a purpose and the revelation of the Qur'an also has a purpose.
For instance, the revelation of the Qur'an responding to specific problems or incidents carries the purpose of solving these problems or providing guidance in these incidents.
During the first 13 years of Islam, the main task of the Prophet (saws) was to call people to Islam based on the Qur'anic revelations that focused on the Oneness of Allah and righteous conduct.
When Muslims migrated to Madinah and an Islamic community started to be well-established and new challenges emerged, the main focus of the revelation was to regulate the life of Muslims through detailing the rulings pertaining to different acts of worship and setting punishments for crimes and so on.
This shows us that the revelation in each of the two stages has a purpose. When the revelation stage was completed, the whole Qur'an was there and the whole message was put in the order that was intended for it to stay till the Day of Judgment.

Explanation of Order
Such an order serves in delivering the message the Qur'an is put for, as it has got another purpose.
If you look at the first surah of the Qur'an, namely Al-Fatihah, you can perceive that it acts as a summary for the structure and the message of the Book (Qur'an) ahead of every reader.
Being Umm Al-Qur'an (the Mother of the Qur'an), it carries all its themes; it summarizes them. It tells us who Allah is: the source of all love and mercy. Therefore, knowing who He is, we should be thankful to Him and worship Him alone. We should seek His help, and He has all the power to give us whatever we need. It makes it clear that Allah is the only One Who can really guide. It speaks about life after death and the consequences of human action and behavior.
The same holds true for Surat Al-Baqarah. The first verses speak about the fact that this Book is above all doubts and it is beyond the abilities of doubters to try to challenge its validity. Then it gives a hint on its main theme — guiding the righteous — and then goes on to speak about the beginning of creation and the story of Adam to establish the theme that humankind is here on earth as a vicegerent of the Creator and should use the Book as a manual to carry out the mission in the right way.
All these themes and messages cannot be carried except through this logical order in which Allah commanded for the Qur'an to be put. If a surah like Al-`Alaq was to be put at the beginning instead of Al-Fatihah, it could have given a significance of course and give a message, but not the exact fully wonderful message that we can get from the order of the Qur'an as it is now.

Why Al-`Alaq in the Current Order?
As for why Surat Al-`Alaq is mentioned in this specific order in the Qur'an, scholars hold the view that in the previous surah of At-Tin, Allah says what means that He has created humans in the best make (At-Tin 95:4). The details of that creation are cited in Surat Al-`Alaq:
*{Read in the name of your Lord Who created. Created humans, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood.}* (Al-`Alaq 96:1-2)

Revelation Order of the Qur'an

Revelation Order	Surah Number	Surah Name	Total Verses	Revelation Place
1	96	Alaq	19	Macca
2	68	Qalam	52	Macca
3	73	Muzammil	20	Macca
4	74	Mudathir	56	Macca
5	1	Fatehah	7	Macca
6	111	Lahab	5	Macca
7	81	Takwir	29	Macca
8	87	A'la	19	Macca
9	92	Leyl	21	Macca
10	89	Fajr	30	Macca
11	93	Duha	11	Macca
12	94	Inshira	8	Macca
13	103	Asr	3	Macca
14	100	Aadiyat	11	Macca
15	108	Kauthar	3	Macca
16	102	Takatur	8	Macca
17	107	Alma'un	7	Macca
18	109	Kafirun	6	Macca
19	105	Fil	5	Macca
20	113	Falaq	5	Macca
21	114	Nas	6	Macca
22	112	Iklas	4	Macca
23	53	Najm	62	Macca
24	80	Abasa	42	Macca
25	97	Qadr	5	Macca
26	91	Shams	15	Macca
27	85	Buruj	22	Macca
28	95	T'in	8	Macca
29	106	Qureysh	4	Macca
30	101	Qariah	11	Macca
31	75	Qiyamah	40	Macca
32	104	Humazah	9	Macca
33	77	Mursalat	50	Macca
34	50	Q'af	45	Macca
35	90	Balad	20	Macca
36	86	Tariq	17	Macca
37	54	Qamr	55	Macca
38	38	Sad	88	Macca
39	7	A'Raf	206	Macca
40	72	Jinn	28	Macca
41	36	Ya'sin	83	Macca
42	25	Furqan	77	Macca
43	35	Fatir	45	Macca
44	19	Maryam	98	Macca
45	20	Ta Ha	135	Macca
46	56	Waqiah	96	Macca
47	26	Shuara	227	Macca
48	27	Naml	93	Macca
49	28	Qasas	88	Macca
50	17	Bani Israil	111	Macca
51	10	Yunus	109	Macca
52	11	Hud	123	Macca
53	12	Yousuf	111	Macca
54	15	Hijr	99	Macca
55	6	Anam	165	Macca
56	37	Saffat	182	Macca
57	31	Luqman	34	Macca
58	34	Saba	54	Macca
59	39	Zumar	75	Macca
60	40	Mumin	85	Macca
61	41	Hamim Sajdah	54	Macca
62	42	Shura	53	Macca
63	43	Zukhruf	89	Macca
64	44	Dukhan	59	Macca
65	45	Jathiyah	37	Macca
66	46	Ahqaf	35	Macca
67	51	Dhariyat	60	Macca
68	88	Ghashiya	26	Madina
69	18	Kahf	110	Macca
70	16	Nahl	128	Macca
71	71	Noah	28	Macca
72	14	Ibrahim	52	Macca
73	21	Anbiya	112	Macca
74	23	Muminun	118	Macca
75	32	Sajdah	30	Macca
76	52	Tur	49	Macca
77	67	Mulk	30	Macca
78	69	Haqqah	52	Macca
79	70	Maarij	44	Macca
80	78	Naba	40	Macca
81	79	Naziat	46	Macca
82	82	Infitar	19	Macca
83	84	Inshiqaq	25	Macca
84	30	Rum	60	Macca
85	29	Ankabut	85	Macca
86	83	Tatfif	36	Macca
87	2	Baqarah	286	Madina
88	8	Anfal	75	Madina
89	3	Aal-e-Imran	200	Madina
90	33	Ahzab	73	Madina
91	60	Mumtahana	13	Madina
92	4	Nisa	176	Madina
93	99	Zilzal	8	Macca
94	57	Hadid	29	Madina
95	47	Muhammad	38	Madina
96	13	Ra'd	43	Madina
97	55	Rahman	78	Macca
98	76	Dahr	31	Madina
99	65	Talaq	12	Madina
100	98	Beyinnah	8	Madina
101	59	Hashr	24	Madina
102	24	Nur	64	Madina
103	22	Hajj	78	Madina
104	63	Munafiqun	11	Madina
105	58	Mujadila	22	Madina
106	49	Hujurat	18	Madina
107	66	Tahrim	12	Madina
108	64	Taghabun	18	Madina
109	61	Saff	14	Madina
110	62	Jumah	11	Madina
111	48	Fath	29	Madina
112	5	Maidah	120	Madina
113	9	Taubah	129	Madina
114	110	Nasr	3	Madina

FAQs about Nutrition during Ramadan

2010-08-23T10:30:00.001+05:30

What is the best food to start my Iftar with?
It is best to start the Iftar meal with 3 dates and a cup of warm low fat soup (such as, vegetable or grain soup) before going to prayer. You may also have a cup of low fat butter milk, but make sure that it is not chilled (chilled drinks do not support your stomach to digest food properly). After prayer you should continue with the main Iftar meal. This approach helps your body adjust to eating again after the long hours of fasting.

Could I delay my Iftar meal to after Magrib prayer?
Yes, you can delay your Iftar meal until after the prayer, but it is better to break your fast by eating 3 dates with a cup of low fat laban (not very cold) or a cup of warm low fat soup.
Do not delay your Iftar meal more than an hour after the sunset. Delaying your Iftar meal for many hours is not recommended as it may cause your blood sugar drop.

Why do I feel sleepy after eating my Iftar meal?
Many people feel sleepy after consuming their Iftar meals. This is due to:

Consuming large amount of food and beverages in a short period of time without alerting their digestive system.
Consuming heavy and fatty meals.
Sleeping after Iftar meal is not recommended, as the digestion will not go well once the person is at sleep. It is better to delay the sleep after consuming the Iftar meal by 2-3 hours.

To avoid it:

Take 3 pieces of dates and a cup of warm low fat soup and pray.
Then you could have your Iftar meal considering:
- Do not consume a lot of food at one time.
- Chew your food well.
- Make your meal low fat (avoid fried food and use lean meat or skinless chicken or baked fish) and if you wish to eat samboosa; eat it baked, not fried.
- Do not overstuff yourself.

Drink fluids between the Iftar & Sahoor meals; not with or immediately after the Iftar meal. Walk for 30 min after your meal. Wait for 2 hours before you practice walking.
Can I drink lemon juice at Iftar meal?
Lemon juice is very acidic and may be cold and sweetened. Therefore, it is not recommended to start your Iftar meal with it.
Start your Iftar meal with 3 dates with a cup of low fat soup or a cup of low fat laban (not very cold). However, you can drink lemon juice between the Iftar & Sahoor meals.
How many calories in one piece of samboosa?
There are 250 calories in one piece of fried samboosa and 125 in a baked one.

It better to use lean meat for samboosa or to have it filled with vegetables, or low fat cheese, or lentils.
Bake it, do not fry it.
Take only 1-2 pieces.
Two pieces of fried samboosas contain 15 grams of oil more than the baked ones.

What is the best timing for Sahoor meal and what should I eat at Sahoor?
Sahoor meal should include more of slow digesting food which lasts for many hours and help reduce the hunger feeling (the above listed food are slow digesting)

The best time for Sahoor meal is as close to Fajer as possible. (around 3:30 -4:00 AM), and it is better not to consume it at midnight or at 1:00 AM.
Sahoor meal should not be heavy, as most of the people tend to go back to sleep after consuming it.
The best food for Sahoor meal is
- A cup of low fat milk or laban or yogurt
- 2 slices of whole wheat bread or 1 cup of oat meal
- Low fat labnah or low fat cheese or peanut better
- Fresh fruit or unsweetened fruit juice or dried fruit
- A cup of cooked lentils or beans

What is the best timing for exercise in Ramadan and what do you recommend?
The best time for exercise is in the evening (2 hours after Iftar meal).

30-45 minutes of brisk walking or swimming are very good options.
You also can go to the exercise room, if you wish.
Make your exercise a fun and daily habit. Do it with a friend or a family member.

What I should eat at Iftar meal?

Your Iftar meal should be well-balanced and nutritious, and better to be low fat.
Meal’s Contents

3 pieces of dates
1 cup of low fat soup (vegetables on grains) or 1 cup of low fat laban.
One cup of steamed rice or pasta.
One cup of salad.
One cup of cooked vegetables.
One portion of lean meat (150 gram cooked) or ¼ chicken without skin, or baked fish (150 gram cooked).
1-2 baked samboosas.
You can have fruits, vegetables, and low fat yogurt or laban, as a snack.
Remember to drink a lot of fluids (especially water) between Iftar and Sahoor meals.

How to reduce my body weight during Ramadan?

To reduce your body weight, you should practice regular exercise (such as 30-45 min of brisk walking or swimming) and follow a healthy low fat meal plan. Please refer to the Nutritional Tips to Avoid Weight Gain During Ramadan.

I have high cholesterol level. What food should I avoid?

Avoid commercial samboosas. You can prepare it at home. (choose vegetable samboosa, lentils or low fat cheese or labnah samboosas) and bake them using a little no stick spray.
Do not add butter or ghee on the top of Harees or Jareesh or to the food.
Use very lean meat or skinless chicken to prepare Harees.
Use skimmed milk or butter milk or yogurt in your meals
Do not use egg yolk or organ meat (liver, kidney, heart, brain).
Replace sweets with fresh fruits.
Replace Gishda (heavy cream) with non-fat labnah
Increase your intake of salads, vegetables, and fresh fruit.
Avoid pancake and other eggs containing dishes.
Do not use palm oil, coconut oil, ghee, butter, or animal fat in food preparation.
You can use olive oil or canola oil or corn oil, but in moderation.
Remember:
Keep your body weight within the normal range and practice regular exercise, as advised.

How much water I should drink?
It is recommended to drink 8-10 cups between Iftar & Sahoor meals.

Do not over drink at Iftar meal, drink 1-2 cups every 2-3 hours
Other good fluids for the body are unsweetened juices (but limit it to one cup/day, as it provides calories), low fat or non-fat milk or butter milk, low fat soup, and Caffeine free diet drinks, or decaffeinated tea or coffee.

How many dates I could eat?
You can have 3-5 dates a day. But 3 pieces is better.
Each piece provides 20 kcal and contains one teaspoon of sugar. It is best to start your Iftar meal with dates.
What should I eat as a snack during the night?
You can eat the following:

One cup of non-fat or low fat milk or yogurt or buttermilk
One fresh fruit or 1 cup of unsweetened fruit juice
2 slices of low fat cheese or 2 tablespoons of low fat labnah
2 slices of whole wheat bread or one cup of oat meal
One cup of salads or vegetable
Diet drink is optional.

I have diabetes and I want to fast, what should I do?
First you should speak to your doctor, as he may adjust your medication. Some diabetic patients can fast safely, however, some are advised not to fast.
If your doctor cleared you to fast, you should do the following:

Divide your meals into 3 (Iftar, midnight, Sahoor).
Take healthy Iftar meal as:
- 3 pieces of dates
- 1 cup of low fat soup (such as vegetable)
- 1 cup of low fat laban, yogurt or low fat milk
- 2 choices of carbohydrates (one cup cooked rice or pasta or 2 pieces of boiled or baked potatoes or 2 slices of whole wheat bread)
- One cup of cooked vegetable
- One cup of salad, without salad dressing You can squeeze lemon on it
- One portion of lean meat (4 ounces cooked) or chicken without skin, or baked fish.

Remember:

Drink more water between Iftar & Sahoor meals
Check your blood sugar before Iftar and 2 hours after the meal and before Sahoor time. Report the blood sugar results to your doctor.
* Refer to the web for "Diabetes Guidelines During Ramadan".

Can the children fast?
It is not recommended for small children to fast. But older children can fast for a few hours (from morning to noon time) to train them for future and to share the fasting values with their families. It is best for them to eat their Iftar & Sahoor meals with their families to get the social and spiritual values of the holy month.

Can the pregnant or lactating women fast?
Pregnant and lactating woman are not recommended to fast. If they want to do so, they should speak to their doctors.
If allowed:

They should consume adequate water & fluids between Iftar and Sahoor meals.
Have adequate rest at day time. Practice walking at night time.
Consume 3 meals (Iftar, midnight and Sahoor)
Ensure adequate nutrition and consume 4 cups of low fat milk or laban on yogurt per day to ensure adequate calcium intake.
* One more time, they have to speak to their doctors, as fasting in Ramadan can cause low blood sugar which may result in harming their babies to be formed during pregnancy, and does not permit adequate milk supplies for breast feeding.

What is the best soup to be consumed during Ramadan?
The best soup is low fat.
Examples

Vegetables (onion, spinach, mixed vegetable, celery, tomatoes, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, green beans).
Grains (wheat, rice, oat, barley, corn)
Legumes (lentils, beans)
Noodles or macaroni
Cream (made with skimmed milk)
Broth
Minestrone
Note: You can mix a little chicken or beef or lamb meat with the soup and you can combine many ingredients, such as vegetables with legumes.

I have constipation, what should I do to have regular motion?
Many fasting people may suffer from constipation during Ramadan. To avoid it:

Consume adequate fluids (especially water 8-10 cups) between Iftar and Sahoor meals.
Include low fat soup in your meal.
Take decaffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, diet drink) between the meals.
Increase your fiber intake by:
- Use whole wheat bread rather than white bread.
- Increase your vegetables & salads intake.
- Mix dried legumes or vegetables in your soup.

Dates have natural laxative. Take 3 pieces at Iftar meal. Consume 3 fresh fruits (with its edible skin) between Iftar and Sahoor meals (such as apple, grapes, pears). Practice walking, as the exercise helps regulate the bowel. Do not consume bananas or baked/boiled potatoes, as they are constipating foods. Replace yogurt with milk. Do not delay evacuation. Train your bowel to evacuate every morning or evening.
I noticed that the color of my urine became dark during fasting? Why is that?
Dark color of urine in an indication of dehydration. To solve it:

Drink 8-10 cups of water between Iftar and Sahoor meals.
Increase your intake of other fluids; such as low fat soup, milk, and unsweetened fruit juice.
Replace dried sweets (such as baklava, or lugaimat) with custard, jello, puddings, as these contain more water.
Replace caffeinated drinks (tea, cola, coffee) with decaffeinated ones, as caffeine is diuretic and depletes the body of its fluids
Reduce salt intake.
Do not consume a lot of meat.
Do not practice exercise in hot season or in daytime. Do it in the evening.

How to reduce the thirst feeling during Ramadan?
To avoid or reduce the thirst feeling:

Drink 8-10 cups of water between Iftar and Sahoor meals.
Increase your intake of other fluids, such as low fat soup, milk, and unsweetened fruit juices.
Replace dried sweets (such as baklava, or lugaimat with custard, jello, puddings), as these contain more water.
Replace caffeinated drinks (tea, cola, coffee) with decaffeinated ones, as caffeine is diuretic and depletes the body of its fluids
Reduce salt intake.
Do not consume a lot of meat.
Do not practice exercise in hot season or in daytime. Do it in the evening.
Reduce the intake of fried, spicy, and salty food (pickles, olives, canned food, zaater, salted cheese, and salted sauces).

How to reduce the hunger feeling during Ramadan?
To reduce the hunger feeling:

Eat your Iftar meal at the sunset time, as permitted.
Divide your meals to 3 (Iftar, midnight, Shaoor)
Delay your Sahoor meal to Fajir time (as close to sunrise as permitted).
Consume more of protein at your Sahoor meal, such as:
- Low fat cheese or labnah or peanut butter, low fat yogurt or laban or milk.
Consumes more of slow-digesting food at Sahoor time, such as cheese, labnah, yogurt, lentils, beans, oat meal, peanut butter, dried fruits, lean meat.
Increase your fiber intake at Sahoor meal, such as whole wheat bread, legumes, salads, vegetables, and dried fruit.
Reduce your intake of sweets (such as jello, jam, honey, pudding, sugary drinks), as sweets do not satisfy the hunger for long hours.
Avoid food smells or food motivations, as it increases the appetite and hunger feeling
Do not practice exercise during day time, evening time is better.
Your body will adapt itself and your hunger feeling will subside when Ramadan days go on.
Do not think of food during your fasting. Pray or read or visit a friend to take your mind away from food.

Is it good to sleep after Iftar meal or Sahoor?
It is not recommended to sleep after Iftar or Sahoor meals due to the following:

After consuming a meal, the digestive system needs to digest the food and then absorb the nutrients. Some food items are easily digested (such as rice or potatoes) while others need many hours to digest, such as meat or fried food. The digestive system slows down during sleep.
Sleeping after consuming the meals leads to improper digestion, and may cause constipation and gas problems. Therefore, it is better to consume low fat food, avoid large meals, practice walking 2 hours after the meal, and then sleep around 3 hours after consuming the meal.

I have gastric ulcer and plan to fast, what foods should be avoided?
First speak to your doctor, as he may adjust your medications (in particular antacids). If cleared to fast, do the following:

Avoid consuming large meals and avoid overeating. Divide meals into 3 (Iftar, mid-night snack, and Sahoor).
Take antacids as advised by doctor.
Consume Iftar meal at the sunset (as permitted) and Sahoor meal as close to Fajer (as permitted).
Chew meals properly and avoid eating too fast.
Reduce fat intake, consume low fat products (milk & its products) and choose lean meat or skinless poultry or fish. Bake food rather than frying it.
Do not smoke.
Do not consume food with temperature extremes (very hot or very cold).
Avoid stressful situations and practice relaxation.
Get enough sleep and rest.
Avoid foods that may worsen the ulcer:-
- Fried food and fatty meals. (Samboosa, Falafel, fried pastries, fatty meats).
- Spicy food, hot sauces, highly seasoned foods, chili, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg, and paprika.
- Caffeine containing beverages & food (tea, coffee, cola, chocolate).
- Highly salted foods (pickles, olives, ketchup, zattar).
- Gas forming foods (garlic, onion, lentils, cabbage, dried beans, dried peas, soft drinks, nut, and popcorn).

Ramadan Planning

2010-08-19T11:50:00.001+05:30

DEAR FRIENDS, MAKE USE OF THIS HOLY MONTH.

Information and Health Tips for Ramadan (on this occation)

2010-08-14T12:20:00.003+05:30

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE

Ramazan Code for Your Home

2010-08-11T13:30:00.001+05:30

Health Benefits of Lemons

2010-08-07T08:48:00.001+05:30

Lemon is one of those super foods with a myriad health and cosmetic benefits. There are a few persons for whom it is an allergen, so make sure you are not allergic to this natural product, before you start enjoying the many benefits.

1. Lemon being a citrus fruit , fights against infection. It helps in production of WBC's and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents infection.

2. Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free radicals preventing many dangerous diseases like stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

3. Lemon lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

4. Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer . They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic. Also blocks the formation of nitrosamines in the gut.

5. Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.

6. A few drops of lemon juice in hot water are believed to clear the digestive system and purify liver as well.

7. The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves head ache and cools the body.

8. Applying lemon juice to acne dries the existing ones and prevents from getting more.

9. Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightener and skin bleach which reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the risk of chemical allergic reactions which is common with hair dyes and bleaches.

10. Lemon juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue.

11. Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold.

12. Lemon juice is given to prevent or treat urinary tract infection and gonorrhea.

13. Lemon juice is applied to the sites of bites and stings of certain insects to relieve its poison and pain.

14. Lemon juice relieves colic pain and gastric problems .

15. Lemon juice soothes the dry skin when applied with little glycerin.

16. Lemon juice used for marinating seafood or meat kills bacteria and other organisms present in them, thereby prevents many gastro-intestinal tract infections.

17. Lemon juice with a pinch of salt (warm) every morning lowers cholesterol levels and brings down your weight.

18. Lemon juice is the best drink to prevent dehydration and shock in case of diarrhea.

19. Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes plaque, whitens the teeth and strengthens the enamel.

20. A table spoon on thick lemon syrup everyday relieves asthma.

21. Lemon juice relieves chilblains and itchy skin.

22. Gargling lemon juice relieves throat infection and also used as a treatment for diphtheria.

23. Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and greasy hair.

24. Lemon applied over the face removes wrinkles and keeps you young.

25. Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.

Health Tips: Safe Computer Use...

2010-08-01T07:15:00.001+05:30

It is not uncommon for individuals to experience eye problems and discomfort such as headache, backache and fatigue from extensive computer use.

Many of the ill-effects of computer use can be lessened or avoided altogether by utilising correct typing technique and posture, ensuring correct set up of equipment and good work habits.

Place computer monitor and keyboard directly in front of you so as to avoid twisting your neck.

Monitor should be 20-24 inches away from eyes and the height of the monitor should be 5-15 inches below horizontal line of sight.

The mouse and keyboard should be at the same height.

Use an adjustable chair that provides firm, comfortable support. Adjust chair height so that thighs are horizontal, and feet are flat on the floor (use a footrest if necessary).

Do not slouch. Chair should be with a backrest for lumbar support.

Ensure that frequently used materials are within easy reach.

Block excessive sunlight with drapes or blinds and use indirect room lighting.

Give your eyes a rest every 15 to 20 minutes by focusing on a distant object for 10 to 15 seconds and blink often to prevent dry eyes.

Qtel and Vodafone ready to implement new numbering plan

2010-07-28T09:00:00.000+05:30

Telecom service providers Qtel and Vodafone have put in place all systems and procedures required to ensure a smooth transition to the new national numbering plan, which adds an eighth digit to all mobile and landline numbers in Qatar from today.

Under this, the first digit of the number will be repeated for both fixed and mobile users in Qatar. For instance, the numbers that begin with 5 and 7 will become 55 and 77 respectively from 12.01am today (July 28).

The affected numbers will be those starting with 3,4,5,6 and 7. From today all mobile and landline numbers beginning with 3,4,5,6 and 7 will thus have eight digits, instead of seven now.

All emergency telephone numbers within Qatar, including 999 and 112, will not be affected. The country code will remain +974. Also, numbers beginning with 1, 2, 8 and 9 will not be changed.

For a period of three months from July 28, people who dial the current seven digit numbers will receive an automated recorded message, asking them to dial again with the new eight-digit ones.

The country’s telecom regulator ictQATAR had said the change would happen automatically and seamlessly for all customers, whether Qtel or Vodafone, with no interruption of service or effect on both networks.

The digit addition move, part of a recommendation by the National Numbering Committee (NCC) of ictQATAR, will create an additional 36mn mobile and 9mn landline numbers, surpassing the highest demand forecast for the next 15-20 years.

Both Qtel and Vodafone said they were “fully equipped” to help customers during the transition.

Qtel is providing all customers a renumbering application for mobile phones free, in support of the new national numbering plan.

The application will automatically analyse and update numbers stored in a mobile phone handset, Qtel said. Local numbers will have an extra digit automatically added, while international numbers will remain unchanged.

It will support the majority of popular handsets in Qatar, including Nokia, BlackBerry, iPhones, Android and Windows Mobile based devices as well as common devices from major mobile phone producers (Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG and others).

To support the launch of the application, Qtel customers will soon receive a link in a direct SMS for the download and installation of the application. Clicking on the link will analyse each customer’s phone and suggest the appropriate version of application to install.

When running the application, customers will have the option to change numbers or undo changes, to ensure that their upgraded address books retain all essential information. Customers will be able to either change all contacts, or make changes selectively.

“The launch of the free application should ensure an easy and trouble-free switchover,” Qtel said.

Vodafone also said it was fully prepared to implement the new numbering plan and help customers through the change.

To aid customers in updating their contact list, Vodafone has detailed on its website (www.vodafone.com.qa) a list of applications and the links to these applications that can be used to make the process of updating contacts lists easier.

Urgent - Blood Needed for 7 months Baby

2010-07-21T20:21:00.000+05:30

Dengue Infographic : Alert On DENGUE

2010-07-17T19:50:00.000+05:30

Click on the picture to see

Before the Babysitter Cares for Your Child

2010-07-11T20:25:00.001+05:30

Here are suggestions for what parents should do.

Before you choose a new babysitter or leave the sitter alone with your child for the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests you take the following precautions:

Choose a sitter who has good references and has training in first aid and CPR.
Make sure the sitter is mature, knows what to do in an emergency and is at least 13 years old.
Give the sitter a tour of your home, and encourage the sitter to show up well before you need to leave.
Provide instructions in the event of a fire, including offering detailed escape plans.
Direct the sitter on how and when to feed, bathe and "tuck in" your child.
Be sure that your sitter knows about any health conditions affecting your child, including any allergies.
Inform your sitter of where you're going and when you'll be back.

My Book release function

2010-07-01T08:23:00.000+05:30

Dear Friends,
I am happy to inform you that My poetry collection entitled "Veezhdhalin Nizhal" is published by Kalachuvadu Publishers. The book release function will be held on Saturday, July 03, 2010 at 6.00 pm at ICSA (Opposite to Kannimara library), Egmore, Chennai ,India.

I will be extremely glad if you would kindly make it convenient to participate in this book release function.

I am enclosing the invitation and request you to kindly attend the function.
Thanking you and with warm regards,
Sincerely
M.Rishan Shareef

Top 10 Environmental Disasters

2010-06-27T20:40:00.000+05:30

Top 10 Environmental Disasters

Source : Times Magazine

Chernobyl

The worst nuclear-power-plant disaster in history. On April 26, 1986, one of the reactors at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine exploded, resulting in a nuclear meltdown that sent massive amounts of radiation into the atmosphere, reportedly more than the fallout from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That radiation drifted westward, across what was then Soviet Russia, toward Europe. Since then, thousands of kids have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and an almost 20-mile area around the plant remains off-limits. Reactor No. 4 has been sealed off in a large, concrete sarcophagus that is slowly deteriorating. While the rest of the plant ceased operations in 2000, almost 4,000 workers still report there for various assignments.

Bhopal

Around midnight on Dec. 2, 1984, an accident at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, resulted in 45 tons of poisonous methyl isocyanate escaping from the facility. Thousands died within hours. More followed over subsequent months — about 15,000 in all. In total, about half a million people were affected in some way. Many of those who survived suffered blindness, organ failure and other awful bodily malfunctions. A shockingly high number of children in the area have been born with all manner of birth defects. In 1989, Union Carbide paid out about half a billion dollars to victims, an amount the afflicted say is not nearly enough to deal with the decades-long consequences. Bhopal remains the worst industrial disaster ever.

Kuwaiti Oil Fires

Saddam Hussein knew the war was over. He could not have Kuwait, so he wasn't about to let anyone else benefit from its riches. As the 1991 Persian Gulf War drew to a close, Hussein sent men to blow up Kuwaiti oil wells. Approximately 600 were set ablaze, and the fires — literally towering infernos — burned for seven months. The Gulf was awash in poisonous smoke, soot and ash. Black rain fell. Lakes of oil were created. As NASA wrote, "The sand and gravel on the land's surface combined with oil and soot to form a layer of hardened 'tarcrete' over almost 5 percent of the country's area." Scores of livestock and other animals died from the oily mist, their lungs blackened by the liquid.

e Canal

In 1978, Love Canal, located near Niagara Falls in upstate New York, was a nice little working-class enclave with hundreds of houses and a school. It just happened to sit atop 21,000 tons of toxic industrial waste that had been buried underground in the 1940s and '50s by a local company. Over the years, the waste began to bubble up into backyards and cellars. By 1978, the problem was unavoidable, and hundreds of families sold their houses to the federal government and evacuated the area. The disaster led to the formation in 1980 of the Superfund program, which helps pay for the cleanup of toxic sites.

The Exxon Valdez

On the night of March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground on Bligh Reef in the pristine waters of Alaska's Prince William Sound. The first of what would turn out to be 10.8 million gal. of oil began to spew forth into the cold waters. It would eventually spread almost 500 miles from the original crash site and stain thousands of miles of coastline. Hundreds of thousands of birds, fish, seals, otters and other animals would perish as a result, despite the mobilization of more than 11,000 people and 1,000 boats as part of the cleanup. While the Exxon Valdez oil leak is considered to be the largest man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history, the Gulf of Mexico spill may eventually surpass it in severity.

Tokaimura Nuclear Plant

On Sept. 30, 1999, Japan's worst nuclear accident happened in a facility northeast of Tokyo. Three workers at a uranium-processing plant in Tokaimura, then the center of the Japanese nuclear-power industry, improperly mixed a uranium solution. A blue flash heralded trouble. As TIME wrote, "One [worker] was knocked unconscious. Within minutes, the others were nauseated, and their hands and faces were burned bright crimson." Two ended up dying, and hundreds were exposed to various levels of radiation.

The Aral Sea

In early April 2010, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon traveled to Central Asia, where he laid eyes upon a "graveyard of ships" — rusting fishing trawlers and other vessels stranded in a desert that stretched for miles in all directions. It was the Aral Sea ... or what used to be the Aral Sea. Situated between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the Aral was once the fourth largest lake on earth, as big as Ireland. Since the 1960s, however, when Soviet irrigation projects diverted several of its source waterways, the Aral has shrunk 90%. What was once a vibrant, fish-stocked lake is now a massive desert that produces salt and sandstorms that kill plant life and have negative effects on human and animal health for hundreds of miles around. Scores of large boats sit tilted in the sand — a tableau both sad and surreal.

Seveso Dioxin Cloud

On July 10, 1976, an explosion at a northern Italian chemical plant released a thick, white cloud of dioxin that quickly settled on the town of Seveso, north of Milan. First, animals began to die. As TIME wrote about a month after the incident, "One farmer saw his cat keel over, and when he went to pick up the body, the tail fell off. When authorities dug the cat up for examination two days later, said the farmer, all that was left was its skull." It was four days before people began to feel ill effects — including "nausea, blurred vision and, especially among children, the disfiguring sores of a skin disease known as chloracne" — and weeks before the town itself was evacuated. Residents eventually returned to the town, and today a large park sits above two giant tanks that hold the remains of hundreds of slaughtered animals, the destroyed factory and the soil that received the largest doses of dioxin.

Minamata Disease

For years, residents of Minamata, a town located on Kyushu (Japan's most southwesterly island), had observed odd behavior among animals, particularly household cats. The felines would suddenly convulse and sometimes leap into the sea to their deaths — townspeople referred to the behavior as "cat dancing disease." In 1956, the first human patient of what soon became known as Minamata disease was identified. Symptoms included convulsions, slurred speech, loss of motor functions and uncontrollable limb movements. Three years later, an investigation concluded that the affliction was a result of industrial poisoning of Minamata Bay by the Chisso Corp., which had long been one of the port town's biggest employers. As a result of wastewater pollution by the plastic manufacturer, large amounts of mercury and other heavy metals found their way into the fish and shellfish that comprised a large part of the local diet. Thousands of residents have slowly suffered over the decades and died from the disease. It has taken as long for some to receive their due compensation from the corporation.

Three Mile Island

"Nuclear Nightmare," screamed the April 9, 1979, cover of TIME magazine. On March 28, the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor near Harrisburg, Pa., partially melted down. Coming two weeks after the release of the Jane Fonda film The China Syndrome, the Three Mile Island incident became the natural outlet for fears about the nuclear-power industry. The ironic thing is that while it has become known as one of America's worst nuclear accidents, nothing much really happened. No one died, and the facility itself is still going strong. While the near meltdown is often cited as the reason no new nuclear plant has been built in America in the past 30 years, the industry had begun to slow down construction before Three Mile Island ever happened.

Have Clean Air at Home - Limit indoor pollution

2010-06-26T08:30:00.001+05:30

Polluted air inside the home can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms.

The American Lung Association offers these suggestions to help keep the air clean at home:

Don't allow smoking in the home.
Have your home tested for radon gas.
Make sure your home's humidity level is below 50 percent. Install a dehumidifier if humidity levels are too high.
To prevent attracting mold, make sure no plumbing is dripping or leaking.
Keep trash covered and food securely stored to ward off pests.
Avoid using candles or sprays to hide odors.
Avoid using household products that contain toxic chemicals.

Breathing Therapy

2010-06-11T21:00:00.002+05:30

The nose has a left and a right side; we use both to inhale and exhale.
Actually they are different; you would be able to feel the difference.

During a headache, try to close your right nose and use your left nose to breathe.

In about 5 min, your headache will go.

If you feel tired, just reverse, close your left nose and breathe through your right nose.
After a while, you will feel your mind is refreshed.

Most of the guys breathe with their right noses, they get worked up.
Do you notice the moment we wake up, which side breathes faster? Left or right? ?

If left is faster, you will feel tired.
So, close your left nose and use your right nose for breathing, you will get refreshed quickly.

This can be taught to kids, but it is more effective when practiced by adults.

My friend used to have bad headaches and was always visiting the doctor.

There was this period when he suffered headache literally every night, unable to study.
He took painkillers, did not work. He decided to try out the breathing therapy. closed his right nose and breathed through his left nose.

In less than a week, his headaches were gone! He continued the exercise for one month.

This alternative natural therapy without medication is something that he has experienced.

So, why not give it a try?

Airliner Black Boxes

2010-06-01T12:45:00.000+05:30

The "black box" is a generic term for two recording devices carried aboard commercial airliners. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) records a variety of parameters related to the operation and flight characteristics of the plane. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) records the voices of the flight crew, engine noise, and any other sounds in the cockpit. All large commercial airliners and certain varieties of smaller commercial, corporate, and private aircraft are required by law to carry one or both of these boxes, which generally cost between $10,000 and $15,000 apiece. The data these devices provide is often invaluable to experts investigating the events leading up to an accident. The recovery of the boxes is one of the highest priorities in any mishap investigation, second only to locating survivors or recovering the remains of victims. FDR information is also often used to study other aviation safety issues, engine performance, and to identify potential maintenance issues.

Example of a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Despite the nickname "black box," the FDR and CVR are actually painted a bright high-visibility orange with white reflecting strips to make them easier to spot at a crash scene. The meaning of the term black box itself is somewhat unclear. Some suggest it refers to the black charring that occurs in a post-crash fire while others believe the color black is a reference to the deaths often associated with an accident investigation. The design of modern black boxes is regulated by a group called the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO determines what information the black boxes must record, over what length of time it is saved, and how survivable the boxes must be. The ICAO delegates much of this responsibility to the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) that maintains a document called the Minimum Operational Performance Specification for Crash Protected Airborne Recorder Systems.
Black boxes first began to appear in the 1950s and became mandatory during the 1960s. These early devices used magnetic tape for data storage, much like that used in a tape recorder. As the tape is pulled over an electromagnetic head, sound or numerical data is recorded on the medium. Analog black boxes using magnetic tape are still present aboard many planes, but these recording devices are no longer manufactured. Newer recorders instead use solid-state memory boards, called a Crash Survivable Memory Unit (CSMU), that record data in a digital format. Instead of the moving parts present in older recorders, solid-state devices use stacked arrays of memory chips similar to a USB memory stick. The lack of moving parts eases maintenance while reducing the chance of a critical component breaking in a crash. Solid-state recorders can also save considerably more data than older magnetic tape devices and are more resistant to shock, vibration, and moisture.

Magnetic tape from within the FDR of EgyptAir 990 that crashed in 1999 Whatever the medium used to record the data, the purpose of the black boxes is to collect information from various sensors aboard an aircraft. The Cockpit Voice Recorder, for example, saves sounds from microphones located on the flight deck. An area microphone is typically placed in the overhead instrument panel between the pilots, and an additional microphone is located in the headset of each member of the flight crew. These microphones pick up conversations between the flight crew, engine noises, audible warning alarms, landing gear sounds, clicks from moving switches, and any other noises like pops or thuds that might occur in the cockpit. The CVR also records communications with Air Traffic Control, automated radio weather briefings, and conversations between the pilots and ground or cabin crew. These sounds often allow investigators to determine the time of key events and system failures.
Analog magnetic tape recorders are required to store four audio channels for at least 30 minutes while digital solid-state devices are required to record for two hours. Both types use continuous recording such that older information is written over as new data is collected beyond the maximum time limit.

Sample data recovered from a Flight Data Recorder The Flight Data Recorder collects data from a number of sensors to monitor information like accelerations, airspeed, altitude, heading, attitudes, cockpit control positions, thermometers, engine gauges, fuel flow, control surface positions, autopilot status, switch positions, and a variety of other parameters. Most parameters are recorded a few times per second but some FDRs can record bursts of data at higher frequencies when inputs are changing rapidly.
The data measured by the different sensors is collected by the Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU). This device is typically located in an equipment bay at the front of the aircraft beneath the flight deck. The FDAU assembles the desired information in the proper format and passes it on to the FDR at the rear of the plane for recording. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required the FDR to record between 11 and 29 parameters, depending on aircraft size, up to 2002 but now requires saving a minimum of 88 sets of data. Analog FDRs can save a maximum of around 100 variables while digital recorders are often capable of collecting over 1,000 parameters over the course of 25 hours.

Diagram of data flow to aircraft black boxes Power for the black boxes is provided by electrical generators connected to the engines. The generators on most large airliners produce a standard output of 115 volt, 400 hertz AC power while some smaller planes instead generate 28 volt DC power. Black boxes are typically designed to use only AC or DC power but not either one. Recorders built for compatibility with the AC power supplies on larger planes cannot be used on small DC-powered aircraft. In the event of engine failure, larger aircraft are also equipped with emergency backup power sources like the auxiliary power generator and ram air turbine to continue operating the black boxes. In addition, the ICAO is considering making a battery mandatory on solid-state recorders to provide an independent power supply in the event of a complete power failure aboard the plane.
A common misconception states that the black boxes are "indestructible." No manmade device is indestructible, and no material has ever been developed that cannot be destroyed under severe enough conditions. The black boxes are instead designed to be highly survivable in a crash. In many of the worst aviation accidents, the only devices to survive in working order are the Crash Survivable Memory Units (CSMUs) in the black boxes. The remainder of the recorders, including the external case and other internal components, are often heavily damaged.

Interior cut-away of a black box design The CSMU, however, is contained within a very compact cylindrical or rectangular box designed to safeguard the data within against extreme conditions. The box is composed of three layers to provide different types of protection to the recording medium. The outermost shell is a case made of hardened steel or titanium designed to survive intense impact and pressure damage. The second layer is an insulation box while the third is a thermal block to protect against severe fire and heat. Together, these three layered cases allow the FDR and CVR to survive in all but the most extreme crash conditions.
Current regulations require the black boxes to survive an impact of 3,400 g's for up to 6.5 milliseconds. This rapid deceleration is equivalent to slowing from a speed of 310 miles per hour (500 km/h) to a complete stop in a distance of just 18 inches (45 cm). This requirement is tested by firing the CSMU from an air cannon to demonstrate the device can withstand an impact force at least 3,400 times its own weight. The black boxes must also survive a penetration test during which a steel pin dropped from a height of 10 ft (3 m) impacts the CSMU at its most vulnerable point with a force of 500 pounds (2,225 N). In addition, a static crush test is conducted to demonstrate that all sides of the CSMU can withstand a pressure of 5,000 pounds per square inch (350 kg/cmï¿½) for five minutes. The fire resistance of the CSMU is further tested by exposing it to a temperature of 2,000ï¿½F (1,100ï¿½C) for up to an hour. The device is also required to survive after lying in smoldering wreckage for ten hours at a temperature of 500ï¿½F (260ï¿½C).

Underwater Locator Beacon on a black box Other requirements specify survivability limits when immersed in liquids. The CSMU must endure the water pressure found at an ocean depth of 20,000 ft (6,100 m), and a deep-sea submersion test is conducted for 24 hours. Another saltwater submersion test lasting 30 days demonstrates both the survivability of the CSMU and the function of an Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB), or "pinger," that emits an ultrasonic signal once a second when immersed in water. These signals can be transmitted as deep 14,000 ft (4,270 m) and are detectable by sonar to help locate the recorders. A final series of tests includes submerging the CSMU in various fluids like jet fuel and fire extinguishing chemicals to verify the device can withstand the corrosive effects of such liquids.
Upon completion of the testing, the black boxes are disassembled and the CSMU boards are extracted. The boards are then reassembled in a new case and attached to a readout system to verify that the pre-recorded data written to the device can still be read and processed.
Another factor important to the survivability of the black boxes is their installation in the tail of the aircraft. The exact location often varies depending on the plane, but the FDR and CVR are usually placed near the galley, in the aft cargo hold, or in the tail cone. The recorders are stored in the tail since this is usually the last part of the aircraft to impact in an accident. The entire front portion of the plane acts like a crush zone that helps to decelerate the tail more slowly. This effect reduces the shock experienced by the recorders and helps to cushion the devices to improve their chances of surviving the crash.

Flight Data Recorder recovered from United Airlines 93 in 2001 Once the black boxes have been located following an accident, they are typically taken into custody by an aviation safety agency for analysis. In the United States, responsibility for investigating most air accidents belongs to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Many countries lacking the capability to analyze black boxes also send their recorders to the computer labs of the NTSB or some of the better-equipped investigative organizations in Western nations. Care must be taken in recovering and transporting the recorders so that no further damage is done to the devices that might prevent important data from being extracted.
Upon receipt of the recorders, the NTSB uses a series of computer and audio equipment to process and analyze any information that can be recovered. The data is translated into formats readily usable by investigators and is usually critical in identifying the probable cause(s) of the accident. This process may take many weeks or months depending on the condition of the black boxes and the level of processing required to make sense of the data. Outside experts are also often consulted to help analyze and interpret the data.

Animation image created using FDR data from American Airlines 587 that crashed in 2001 Flight Data Recorder information is typically presented in the form of graphs or animations used to understand instrument readings, flight characteristics, and the performance of the aircraft during its final moments. Cockpit Voice Recorder information is usually more sensitive and laws strictly regulate how it is handled. A committee including representatives of the NTSB, FAA, the airline, the manufacturers of the aircraft and engines, and the pilots union is responsible for preparing a transcript of the CVR's contents. This transcript is painstakingly created using air traffic control logs and sound spectrum analysis software to provide exact timing. Although the transcript can be released to the public, only select and pertinent portions of the actual audio recording are made public due to privacy concerns.
Flight recorder design has improved considerably since the devices were first introduced in the 1950s. However, no recording device is perfect. Black boxes are sometimes never found or too badly damaged to recover some or all of the data from a crash. To reduce the likelihood of damage or loss, some more recent designs are self-ejecting and use the energy of impact to separate themselves from the aircraft. Loss of electrical power is also a common event in aviation accicents, such as Swissair Flight 111 when the black boxes were inoperative for the last six minutes of flight due to aircraft power failure. Several safety organizations have recommended providing the recorders with a backup battery to operate the devices for up to ten minutes if power is interrupted.

Cockpit Voice Recorder recovered from United Airlines 93 in 2001 Another recommendation is to add a second independent set of recorders on a separate electrical bus to insure redundancy in the event of a system failure. The additional recorders would be located as close to the cockpit as possible while the existing black boxes remain in the tail to reduce the likelihood of a single failure incapacitating both sets. Accident investigators have also argued for the installation of a third black box to record cockpit video. Though pilots have so far resisted the move because of privacy issues, video data would be useful to better understand pilot actions in the moments leading up to an accident.

Information of Quran

2010-05-26T18:00:00.001+05:30

1. How many Sura are in Holy Quran ? 114
2. How many Verses are in Holy Quran ? 6666.
3. How many dots are in Holy Quran ? 1015030.
4. How many over bar (zaber) are in Holy Quran ? 93243
5. How many under bar ( Zaer ) are in Holy Quran ? 39586
6. How many Raque are in Holy Quran ? 1000.
7. How many stop ( Waqf ) are in Holy Quran ? 5098.
8. How many Thashdeed are in Holy Quran ? 19253.
9. How many letters are in Holy Quran ? 323671
10 How many pash are in Holy Quran ? 4808.
11 How many Madd are in Holy Quran ? 1771
12 How many words are in Holy Quran ? 77701.
13 How many parts of Holy Quran ? 30.
14 How many time Besmillah Al-Rahmaan Al-Raheem is repeated ? 114.
15 How many Sura start with Besmillah Al-Rahmaan Al-Raheem ? 113.
16 How many time the word Quran is repeated in Holy Quran ? 70.
17 Which is the longest Sura of Holy Quran ? Al-Baqarah.
18 Which is the best drink mentioned in Holy Quran ? Milk.
19 The best eatable thing mentioned in Holy Quran is ? Honey.
20 Which is the shortest Sura of Holy Quran ? Qausar.
21 The longest verse of Holy Quran is in which Sura? Al-Baqarah No.282
22 The most disliked thing by the God though Halal is ? Divorce
23 Which letter is used for the most time in Holy Quran.? Alaph
24 Which letter is used for the lest time in Holy Quran ? Zaa..
25 Which is the best night mentioned in Holy Quran ? Night of Qadar.
26 Which is the best month mentioned in Holy Quran ? Ramzan..
27 Which is the biggest animal mentioned in Holy Quran ? Elephant.
28 Which is the smallest animal mentioned in Holy Quran ? Mosquito
29 How many words are in the longest Sura of Holy Quran ? 25500.
30 How many words are in the smallest Sura of Holy Quran ? 42
31 Which Sura of Holy Quran is called the mother of Quran ? Sura Hamd
32 How many Sura start with Al-Hamdullelah ? Five_ Hamd, Inaam, Kahf, Saba & Fatr.
33 Which Sura has the same number of verses as the number of Sura of Holy Quran ? Taqveer 114 verses.
34 How many Sura's name is only one letter ? Three, Qaf, Sad & Noon.
35 How many Sura start with word " Inna " ? Four sura - Fatha, Nuh,Qadr, Qausar.
36 Which Sura has the number of its verses equal to the number of Masumeen Saf, 14 verses.
37 Which sura are called Musabbahat ? Esra, Hadeed, Hsar, Juma, Taghabun &; Aala.
38 How many sura are Makkahi and how many are Madni ? Macci 86, Madni 28.
39 Which sura is on the name of tribe of Holy Prophet ? Quresh
40 Which sura is called the heart of Holy Quran ? Yaseen.
41 In which sura the name of Allah is repeated five time ? Sura al-Haj.
42 Which sura are named Azaiam ? Sajdah, Fusselat, Najum ; Alaq.
43 Which sura is on the name of one Holy war ? Sura Ahzaab.
44 Which sura is on the name of one metal ? Sura Hadeed
45 Which sura does not starts with Bismellah ? Sura Tauba..
46 Which sura is called ' Aroos-ul-Quran ? Sura Rehman.
47 Which sura is considered as 1/3 of holy Quran ? Sura tauheed.
48 The name of how many sura are with out dot ? Hamd, Raad, Toor, Room, Masad.
49 In which sura Besmillah came twice ? Sura Naml.
50 How many sura start with the Initials ( Mukette'at ) 29 Sura.
51 Which Sura was revealed twice ? Sura Hamd.
52 In which Sura the back biter are condemned ? Sura Humzah.
53 In which Sura the name of Allah is repeated in every verse ? Sura Mujadala.
54 In which Sura the letter 'Fa' did not come ? Hamd.
55 Which Sura are called Muzetain ? Falk & Nas.
56 Which are those Sura if their name are reversed remain the same ? Lael & Tabbat.
57 Which is that Sura if its first letter is remove becomes the name of one
of the city of Saudi Arab? Sajdah
58 Which Sura start with word ' Tabara Kallazi' ' Mulk & Furkan
59 Macci Sura were revealed in how many years ? 13 years
60 Madani Sura were revealed in how many years ? 10 years.
61 Which sura start with word Kad ? Mujadala & Momenoon.
62 Which Sura is related to Hazrat Ali ? Sura Adiat.
63 How many Sura are in 30th. Chapter ? 37.
64 Which sura every verse ends with letter 'Dal ' ?
65 Which Sura is revealed in respect of Ahllelbayet ? Sura Dahr.
66 Which sura every verse ends with letter ' Ra ' Qauser.
67 In which sura the creation of human being is mentioned ? Sura Hijr V-26.
68 In which sura the regulations for prisoner of war is mentioned ? Sura Nesa
69 Which sura is having the laws about marriage ? Sura Nesa.
70 Which sura if its name is reversed becomes the name of one bird ? Sura Room.
71 In which sura the story of the worship of cow of Bani Esra'iel is mentioned ? Sura Taha.
72 In which sura the law of inheritance is mentioned? Sura Nesa.
73 In which sura the Hegira of Holy Prophet is mentioned ? Sura Infall.
74 In which Sura the 27 Attributes of God are mentioned ? Sura Hadeed.

Air disasters timeline

2010-05-23T16:30:00.001+05:30

Air disasters timeline

A chronology of some of the world's recent air disasters:

2010

12 May: An Afriqiyah Airways Airbus 330 crashes while trying to land near Tripoli airport in Libya, killing more than 100 people.

10 April: A Tupolev 154 plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski crashes near the Russian airport of Smolensk, killing more than 90 people on board.

25 January: Ethiopian Airlines passenger jet crashes into the sea with 89 people on board shortly after take-off from Beirut.

2009

15 July: A Caspian Airlines Tupolev plane crashes in the north of Iran en route to Armenia. All 168 passengers and crew are reported dead.

30 June: A Yemeni passenger plane, an Airbus 310, crashes in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago. Only one of the 153 people on board survives.

1 June: An Air France Airbus 330 travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashes into the Atlantic with 228 people on board. Search teams later recover some 50 bodies in the ocean.

20 May: An Indonesian army C-130 Hercules transport plane crashes into a village on eastern Java, killing at least 97 people.

6 April: An Indonesian army Fokker-27 crashes on landing near Bandung, West Java, killing 24 people.

25 February: A flight from Istanbul to Amsterdam crashes short of the runway at Schiphol international airport. Of the 135 people on board, nine are killed and at least 50 injured.

12 February: A passenger plane crashes into a house in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground.

8 February: A passenger plane crashes into a river in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, killing 24 people, most of whom were from the same family.

2008

14 September: A Boeing-737 crashes on landing near the central Russian city of Perm, killing all 88 passengers and crew members on board.

24 August: A passenger plane crashes shortly after take-off from Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, killing 68 people.

20 August: A Spanair plane veers off the runway on take-off at Madrid's Barajas airport, killing 154 people and injuring 18.

Wreckage of the Spanair MD82, 21 August 2008 [Pic: EFE]
Three days of mourning was declared after the Madrid air disaster

2 May: South Sudan's defence minister is among 22 people killed after engine trouble causes a plane carrying a military delegation to crash about 400km (250 miles) west of Juba.

15 April: Some 40 people die when a DC-9 skids off the runway while attempting to take off in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma during heavy rain, smashing through a wall and into a busy residential area.

24 January: Nineteen people die when a Polish Casa C-295M military transport plane crashes in the country's north-west, carrying officials who had attended an air safety conference.

2007

30 November: All 56 people on board an Atlasjet flight are killed when it crashes near the town of Keciborlu in the mountainous Isparta province, about 12km (7.5 miles) from Isparta airport.

16 September: At least 87 people are killed after a One-Two-Go plane crashed on landing in bad weather at the Thai resort of Phuket.

17 July: A TAM Airlines jet crashes on landing at Congonhas airport in Sao Paulo, in Brazil's worst-ever air disaster. A total of 199 people are killed - all 186 on board and 13 on the ground.

5 May: A Kenya Airways Boeing 737-800 crashes in swampland in southern Cameroon, killing all 114 on board. The official inquiry is yet to report on the cause of the disaster.

7 March: An Indonesian jet crashed and burst into flames on landing at Yogyakarta airport in Java, killing 22 people. The state-owned Garuda airline, which operated the Boeing 737-400, said that 118 people had survived.

1 January: An Adam Air Boeing 737-400 carrying 102 passengers and crew comes down in mountains on Sulawesi Island on a domestic Indonesian flight. All on board are presumed dead.

2006

29 September: A Boeing 737 carrying 154 passengers and crew crashed into the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, killing all on board, after colliding with a private jet in mid-air.

27 August: A Comair CRJ-100 jet goes down shortly after taking off from Lexington in the US state of Kentucky, killing 49 people.

22 August: A Russian Tupolev-154 passenger plane with 170 people on board crashes north of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine.

9 July: A Russian S7 Airbus A-310 skids off the runway during landing at Irkutsk airport in Siberia. A total of 124 people on board die, but more than 50 survive the crash.

3 May: An Armavia Airbus A-320 crashes into the Black Sea near Sochi, killing all 113 people on board.

2005

10 December: A Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashes in the southern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, killing 103 people on board.

6 December: A C-130 military transport plane crashes on the outskirts of the Iranian capital Tehran, killing 110 people, including some on the ground.

22 October: A Bellview airlines Boeing 737 carrying 117 people on board crashes soon after take-off from the Nigerian city of Lagos, killing everyone on board.

The crash site of Mandala Airlines flight A330
The Mandala crash in Medan in Indonesia killed more than 100

5 September: A Mandala Airlines plane with 112 passengers and five crew on board crashes after take-off in the Indonesian city of Medan, killing almost all on board and dozens on the ground.

23 August: A Tans airline Boeing 737-200 crashes on an internal flight in Peru, near the city of Pucallpa. There are 40 people reported dead and 58 survivors.

16 August: A Colombian plane operated by West Caribbean Airways crashes in a remote region of Venezuela, killing all 160 people on board. The airliner, heading from Panama to Martinique, was packed with residents of the Caribbean island.

14 August: A Helios Airways flight from Cyprus to Prague with 121 people on board crashes north of the Greek capital Athens, apparently after a drop in cabin pressure.

16 July: An Equatair plane crashes soon after take-off from Equatorial Guinea's island capital, Malabo, west of the mainland, killing all 60 people on board.

3 February: The wreckage of Kam Air Boeing 737 flight is located in high mountains near the Afghan capital Kabul, two days after the plane vanished from radar screens in heavy snowstorms. All 104 people on board are feared dead.

2004

21 November: A passenger plane crashes into a frozen lake near the city of Baotou in the Inner Mongolia region of northern China, killing all 53 on board and two on the ground, officials say.

3 January: An Egyptian charter plane belonging to Flash Airlines crashes into the Red Sea, killing all 141 people on board. Most of the passengers are thought to be French tourists.

2003

25 December: A Boeing 727 crashes soon after take-off from the West African state of Benin, killing at least 135 people en route to Lebanon.

8 July: A Boeing 737 crashes in Sudan shortly after take-off, killing 115 people on board. Only one passenger, a small child survived.

26 May: A Ukrainian Yak-42 crashes near the Black Sea resort of Trabzon in north-west Turkey, killing all 74 people on board - most of them Spanish peacekeepers returning home from Afghanistan.

8 May: As many as 170 people are reported dead in DR Congo after the rear ramp of an old Soviet plane, an Ilyushin 76 cargo plane, apparently falls off, sucking them out.

6 March: An Algerian Boeing 737 crashes after taking off from the remote Tamanrasset airport, leaving up to 102 people dead.

19 February: An Iranian military transport aircraft carrying 276 people crashes in the south of the country, killing all on board.

8 January: A Turkish Airlines plane with 76 passengers and crew on board crashes while coming in to land at Diyarbakir.

2002

23 December: An Antonov 140 commuter plane carrying aerospace experts crashes in central Iran, killing all 46 people aboard.
German air crash, July 2002
The 2002 collision in Germany was blamed on air traffic control

The delegation had been due to review an Iranian version of the same plane built under licence.

27 July: A fighter jet crashes into a crowd of spectators in the west Ukrainian town of Lviv, killing 77 people, in what is the world's worst air show disaster.

1 July: Seventy-one people, many of them children die when a Russian Tupolev 154 aircraft on a school trip to Spain collides with a Boeing 757 transport plane over southern Germany.

25 May: A Boeing 747 belonging to Taiwan's national carrier - China Airlines - crashes into the sea near the Taiwanese island of Penghu, with 225 passengers and crew on board.

7 May: China Northern Airlines plane carrying 112 people crashes into the sea near Dalian in north-east China.

7 May: On the same day, an EgyptAir Boeing 735 crash lands near Tunis with 55 passengers and up to 10 crew on board. Most people survive.

4 May: A BAC1-11-500 plane operated by EAS Airlines crashes in the Nigerian city of Kano, killing 148 people - half of them on the ground.

15 April: Air China flight 129 crashes on its approach to Pusan, South Korea, with over 160 passengers and crew on board.

12 February: A Tupolev 154 operated by Iran Air crashes in mountains in the west of Iran, killing all 117 on board.

29 January: A Boeing 727 from the Ecuadorean TAME airline crashes in mountains in Colombia, killing 92 people.

2001

12 November: An American Airlines A-300 bound for the Dominican Republic crashes after takeoff in a residential area of the borough of Queens, New York, killing all 260 people on board and at least five people on the ground.

8 October: A Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) airliner collides with a small plane in heavy fog on the runway at Milan's Linate airport, killing 118 people.

4 October: A Russian Sibir Airlines Tupolev 154, en route from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk in Siberia, explodes in mid-air and crashes into the Black Sea, killing 78 passengers and crew.

3 July: A Russian Tupolev 154, en route from Yekaterinburg in the Ural mountains to the Russian port of Vladivostok, crashes near the Siberian city of Irkutsk, killing 133 passengers and 10 crew.

2000

30 October: A Singapore Airlines Boeing 747 bound for Los Angeles crashes after take-off from Taipei airport in Taiwan, killing 78 of the 179 people on board.

23 August: A Gulf Air Airbus crashes into the sea as it comes in to land in Bahrain, killing all 143 people on board.

25 July: Air France Concorde Air France Concorde en route for New York crashes into a hotel outside Paris shortly after takeoff, killing 113 people, including four on the ground.

17 July: Alliance Air Boeing 737-200 crashes into houses attempting to land at Patna, India, killing 51 people on board and four on the ground.

19 April: Air Philippines Boeing 737-200 from Manila to Davao crashes on approach to landing, killing all 131 people on board.

31 January: Alaska Airlines MD-83 from Mexico to San Francisco plunges into ocean off southern California, killing all 88 people on board.

30 January: Kenya Airways A-310 crashes into Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, en route for Lagos, Nigeria. All but 10 of the 179 people on board die.

1999

31 October: EgyptAir Boeing 767 crashes into Atlantic Ocean after taking off from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on flight to Cairo, Egypt, killing all 217 on board.

24 February: China Southwest Airlines plane crashes in a field in China's coastal Zhejiang province after a mid-air explosion. All 61 people on board the Russian-built TU-154 flying from Chongqing to the south-eastern city of Wenzhou are killed.

1998

11 December: Thai Airways International A-310 crashes on a domestic flight during its third attempt to land at Surat Thani, Thailand, killing 101 people.

2 September: Swissair MD-11 from New York to Geneva crashes in the Atlantic Ocean off Canada killing all 229 people on board.

16 February: Airbus A-300 owned by Taiwan's China Airlines crashes near Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek airport while trying to land in fog and rain after a flight from Bali, Indonesia. All 196 on board and seven people on ground are killed.

2 February: Cebu Pacific Air DC-9 crashes into mountain in southern Philippines, killing all 104 people aboard.

Courtesy : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/2008892.stm

Vegetable Gardening Tips

2010-05-22T13:15:00.000+05:30

1. Keep garden vegetables from getting dirty by spreading a 1-2 inch layer of mulch (untreated by pesticides or fertilizers) around each plant. This will also help keep the weeds down.

2. Compost needs time to integrate and stabilize in the soil. Apply two to three weeks prior to planting.

3. Like vining vegetables, but don't have the room? Train your melons, squash, and cucumbers onto a vertical trellis or fence. Saves space and looks pretty too.

4. Onions are ready to harvest when the tops have fallen over. Let the soil dry out, harvest, and store in a warm, dry, dark place until the tops dry. Cut off the foliage down to an inch, then store in a cool, dry area.

5. When planting a flower or vegetable transplant, deposit a handful of compost into each hole. Compost will provide transplants with an extra boost that lasts throughout the growing season.

6. Insects can't stand plants such as garlic, onions, chives and chrysanthemums. Grow these plants around the garden to help repel insects.

7. Plants will do best if they are well suited to your growing area. Take some time to read up and choose plants accordingly.

8. For easy peas, start them indoors. The germination rate is far better, and the seedlings will be healthier and better able to fight off pests and disease.

9. If you're short on space, garlic, leeks and shallots make excellent container plants. They tend to have few insect or disease problems and don't require much room for roots.

10. Another reason to use natural and organic fertilizers and soil amendments: earthworms love them! Earthworms are extremely beneficial in the vegetable garden; increasing air space in the soil and leaving behind worm castings. Do what you can to encourage earthworms in your soil.

11. Water your garden in the early morning to conserve moisture loss and to help avoid powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that are often spread by high humidity levels.

12. Some vegetables actually become better after a first frost, including kale, cabbage, parsnips, carrots, and Brussels sprouts.

13. When transplanting tomatoes, cover the stem with soil all the way up to the first set of leaves. This greatly encourages root growth, making a stronger, healthier plant.

14. Healthy soil means a thriving population of microbes, earthworms and other organisms. A soil that has "good tilth" will produce robust garden plants that are better able to resist pests and disease.

15. A simple five percent increase in organic material (compost) quadruples the soil's ability to store water.

16. If its getting cold and you have tomatoes still ripening on the vine -- save your tomatoes! Pull the plants up and bring them inside to a warm dry place. Hang them up, and the tomatoes will ripen on the vine.

17. Paint the handles of your gardens tools a bright, color other than green to help you find them amongst your plants. You can also keep a mailbox in your garden for easy tool storage.

18. There is an easy way to mix compost into your soil without a lot of back breaking work: Spread the compost over your garden in the late fall, after all the harvesting is done. Cover with a winter mulch such as hay or chopped leaves and let nature take its course. By spring, the melting snow and soil organisms will have worked the compost in for you.

19. Garden vegetables that become over-ripe are an easy target for some pests. Remove them as soon as possible to avoid detection.

20. Over watering is worse than under watering. It is easier to revive a dry plant than try to dry out drowned roots.

Internet - Password Security Tips

2010-05-01T12:40:00.001+05:30

Password Security

With most websites requiring you to create an account, do you find yourself in a bit of a pickle when it comes to inventing passwords? Many people use the same password for all their online accounts and often forget the password they came up with months ago. Hands up who doesn’t feel like banging your head against the wall trying to remember the password you created months ago?

Let’s face it - everyone has problems with creating and remembering secure passwords. That’s why we decided to help.

Tips on how to create and remember your passwords:

•Use the first letters of a sentence that you will remember,e.g. "I have 3 cats: Fluffy, Furry and Shaggy" gives: Ih3c:FF&S, or “Bouncing tigers have every right to ice-cream” becomes: Bther2I-C.

•Take the name of the website and then add your personal twist, like your height or your friend’s home address (e.g. “AmazonOceanRd6’ 2”). Avoid using your own contact details like your phone number or house number.

•Remove the vowels from a word or phrase e.g. "I like eating pancakes” becomes: Ilktngpncks”.

•Use a phrase from your favourite book and then add the page, paragraph or chapter number.

The Do’s and Don'ts of creating passwords

Do:

•Mix letters, numbers and symbols, and use case sensitivity (upper and lower case letters)

•The longer the better. Use passwords that are longer than 6 characters.

•Change your passwords at least every 60 days, cycling the numeric values up or down makes the new password easy to remember.

•Try copying and pasting at least some of the characters in your password that way keyloggers won’t be able to track your keystrokes.

Don't:

•Don’t use words or phrases or numbers that have personal significance. It is very easy for someone to guess or identify your personal details like date of birth.

•Avoid writing your password down, use a reputable password manager to manage all your passwords.

•Don’t use the same password for several logins, especially if they involve sensitive financial or other personal information.

•Don’t tell anybody your password.

•When registering on websites that ask for your email address, never use the same password as your email account.

Tips for Your Allergy Action Plan

2010-04-24T19:35:00.001+05:30

Mild to moderate allergies can ruin a beautiful day. But allergy symptoms are manageable when you plan ahead and prepare for pollen and other allergens.

Make these six tips part of your allergy action plan.

1. Discover Your Personal Allergy Triggers

Most people blame pollen for their allergies, but dust mites, pet dander, and mold also trigger many allergies. To avoid the allergens that trigger your allergic reactions, you need to know what they are. Get an allergy skin test. Skin tests are the one way to know what's triggering your allergies.

2. Check the Pollen Count

Pollen counts are highest on hot, dry, windy days. Check the forecast before making plans. Pollen is released by plants between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., but travels best on mid-day breezes. Plan outdoor activities for early morning or at sunset. Remember, ragweed releases its pollen in the fall, so pollen counts may be high into September or even mid-October.

3. Allergy Proof Your Home

Keep windows and doors closed on days when pollen levels are high. Use an air conditioner to circulate and cool indoor air. And be sure to change the filter every couple of months. If you have carpets, consider replacing them with hardwood or linoleum floors.

4. Clean House to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Pollen, pet dander, and dust settle throughout your house. Vacuum twice a week -- floors as well as furniture such as couches -- to remove these allergens. Use a microfiber cloth to dust bookshelves, blinds, and other surfaces that collect dust. Don't hang clothes out to dry -- they'll bring in pollen. Use the clothes dryer instead.

5. Rinse Allergens Out of Your Hair and Clothes

Pollen collects on your clothes and hair. After an outing on high-pollen days, wash your clothes and rinse your hair. If you like to jog or ride bikes, choose allergy-friendly workout clothes. Polyester fabrics attract and hold less pollen than clothes made of cotton or wool.

6. Proactively Treat Allergy Symptoms With Medicine

The sooner you take allergy medicine, the better it will work to reduce symptoms.

Antihistamines work by occupying histamine receptors sites in your body, thus preventing histamine from causing allergic symptoms. Histamine is the substance your body releases that leads to stuffy noses and itchy, watery eyes from allergies. Antihistamines are most effective when taken continuously during allergy season.

Decongestants decrease nasal congestion by causing blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to nasal passages. They are best for short-term use. Using decongestant nasal sprays for more than three to five days can aggravate allergy symptoms.

Steroid nasal sprays decrease inflammation (swelling) and mucus production. This action helps reduce the reaction of the nasal tissues to inhaled allergens. Nasal steroids can also treat nasal polyps that often cause obstruction and lead to nasal congestion and sinus infections.

Allergy eyedrops usually contain anti-inflammatory agents, decongestants, or antihistamines. Depending on the active drug in the eyedrops, they work by decreasing inflammation or inhibiting histamine release. The result: a decrease in itchy, tearing, or swelling.

A Day in the Internet

2010-04-14T11:20:00.002+05:30

Extreme Heat

2010-04-08T16:10:00.002+05:30

Extreme Heat

What happens to the body as a result of exposure to extreme heat?

People suffer heat-related illness when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn’t enough. In such cases, a person’s body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs. Several factors affect the body’s ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions that can limit the ability to regulate temperature include old age, youth (age 0-4), obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug use and alcohol use.
Who is at greatest risk for heat-related illness?

Those at greatest risk for heat-related illness include infants and children up to four years of age, people 65 years of age and older, people who are overweight, and people who are ill or on certain medications.
What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
What are the warning signs of a heat stroke?

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following:

An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
Rapid, strong pulse
Throbbing headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Unconsciousness

What should I do if I see someone with any of the warning signs of heat stroke?

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:

Get the victim to a shady area.
Cool the victim rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, those with high blood pressure, and those working or exercising in a hot environment.
What are the warning signs of heat exhaustion?

The warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

Heavy sweating
Paleness
Muscle cramps
Tiredness
Weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting

The skin may be cool and moist. The pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. See medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.

What steps can be taken to cool the body during heat exhaustion?

Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
Rest.
Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
Seek an air-conditioned environment.
Wear lightweight clothing.

What are heat cramps and who is affected?

Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms – usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs – that may occur in association with strenuous activity. People who sweat a lot during strenuous activity are prone to heat cramps. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, seek medical attention for heat cramps.
What should I do if I have heat cramps?

If medical attention is not necessary, take the following steps:

Stop all activity and sit quietly in a cool place.
Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.

What is heat rash?

Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young children. Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
What is the best treatment for heat rash?

The best treatment for heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected area dry. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.
Can medications increase the risk of heat-related illness?

The risk for heat-related illness and death may increase among people using the following drugs: (1) psychotropics, which affect psychic function, behavior, or experience (e.g. haloperidol or chlorpromazine); (2) medications for Parkinson’s disease, because they can inhibit perspiration; (3) tranquilizers such as phenothiazines, butyrophenones, and thiozanthenes; and (4) diuretic medications or "water pills" that affect fluid balance in the body.
How effective are electric fans in preventing heat-related illness?

Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Air conditioning is the strongest protective factor against heat-related illness. Exposure to air conditioning for even a few hours a day will reduce the risk for heat-related illness. Consider visiting a shopping mall or public library for a few hours.
How can people protect their health when temperatures are extremely high?

Remember to keep cool and use common sense. Drink plenty of fluid, replace salts and minerals, wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen, pace yourself, stay cool indoors, schedule outdoor activities carefully, use a buddy system, monitor those at risk, and adjust to the environment.
How much should I drink during hot weather?

During hot weather you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst indicates. Increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour. Avoid drinks containing alcohol because they will actually cause you to lose more fluid.
Should I take salt tablets during hot weather?

Do not take salt tablets unless directed by your doctor. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced. The easiest and safest way to do this is through your diet. Drink fruit juice or a sports beverage when you exercise or work in the heat.
What is the best clothing for hot weather or a heat wave?

Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. In the hot sun, a wide-brimmed hat will provide shade and keep the head cool. If you must go outdoors, be sure to apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going out and continue to reapply according to the package directions. Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin.
What should I do if I work in a hot environment?

Pace yourself. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least in the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.

This information provided by NCEH's Health Studies Branch.

14 Simple Ways to Super Charge Your Brain

2010-04-04T12:55:00.001+05:30

Have you ever felt exasperated when you bumped into someone at the store but absolutely couldn’t remember their name? Sure, it happens to all of us.

Despite being the strongest computer on the planet, our brains do lapse. It’s hard to blame them really. As humans, we spend much of or existence stuffing our brains withstuff. Some stuff is worthless, some of it’s meaningful, some of it, well, it’s just stuff and there is an endless amount of it.

No matter how powerful our brains are, they need recuperation time, to be kept in shape, and even an occasional charge. Think of it as a tune up for your brain. Skipping brain maintenance is as silly as the person wandering the parking garage because they forgot where they parked. Is that you? Are you that person? Sure. We all are at some point. No worries, there is hope.

Now I am not a brain surgeon and I am not going to suggest you do anything surgical or dangerous. I am however an astute student of human behavior, so I always look for simple ways to super charge my brain.

Here are some things you can begin doing as soon as today to begin the great brain tune up.

1. Eat Almonds
Almond is believed to improve memory. If a combination of almond oil and milk is taken together before going to bed or after getting up at morning, it strengthens our memory power. Almond milk is prepared by crushing the almonds without the outer cover and adding water and sugar to it.

2. Drink Apple Juice
Research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) indicates that apple juice increases the production of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, resulting in an increasedmemory power.

3. Sleep well
Research indicates that the long-term memory is consolidated during sleep by replaying the images of the experiences of the day. These repeated playbacks program the subconscious mind to store these images and other related information.

4. Enjoy simple PleasuresStress drains our brainpower. A stress-ridden mind consumes much of our memory resources to leave us with a feeble mind. Make a habit to engage yourself in few simple pleasures everyday to dissolve stress from your mind. Some of these simple pleasures are good for your mind, body and soul.

Enjoy music you love
Play with your children
Hug a stranger
Appreciate others
Run few miles a day, bike or swim
Start a blog
Take a yoga class or Total wellness routine

5. Fast for a day
Fasting cleans and detoxifies our body. It is known fact that heavy food not only causes stress on our digestive system but also drains our brainpower. Fasting relieves toxic emotions such as anger, grief, worry, and fears – before they accumulate and cause disease. By cleansing toxic emotions, fasting strengthens metal clarity with increases memory, concentration, creativity and insight.

6. Exercise your mindJust as physical exercise is essential for a strong body, mental exercise is equally essential for a sharp and agile mind. Have you noticed that children have far superior brainpower than an adult does? Children have playful minds. A playful mind exhibits superiormemory power. Engage in some of the activities that require your mind to remain active and playful.

Play scrabble or crossword puzzle
Volunteer
Interact with others
Start a new hobby such as blogging, reading, painting, bird watching
Learn new skill or a language

7. Practice Yoga or MeditationYoga or Meditation relives stress. Stress is a known memory buster. With less stress, lower blood pressure, slower respiration, slower metabolism, and released muscle tension follows. All of these factors contribute significantly towards increases in our brainpower.

8. Reduce Sugar intakeSugar is a non-food. It's a form of carbohydrate that offers illusionary energy, only to cause a downhill slump once the initial burst has been worn off. Excess intake of sugar results in neurotic symptoms. Excess sugar is known to cause claustrophobia, memory loss and other neurotic disorders. Eat food without adding sugar. Stay away from sweet drinks or excess consumption of caffeine with sugar.

9. Eat whole wheatThe whole wheat germs contain lecithin. Lecithin helps ease the problem of the hardening of the arteries, which often impairs brain functioning.

10. Eat a light meal in the nightA heavy meal at night causes tossing and turning and a prolonged emotional stress while at sleep. It's wise to eat heavy meal during the day when our body is in motion to consume the heavy in-take. Eating a light meal with some fruits allows us to sleep well. A good night sleep strengthens our brainpower.

11. Develop imaginationGreeks mastered the principle of imagination and association to memorize everything. This technique requires one to develop a vivid and colorful imagination that can be linked to a known object. If you involve all your senses – touching, feeling, smelling, hearing and seeing in the imagination process, you can remember greater details of the event.

12. SexOur sexual imagination often empowers our ability to daydream, which strengthens our brainpower with greater imagination, visualization and association.

13. Control your temperBleached food, excess of starch or excess of white bread can lead to nerve grating effect. This results in a violent and some time depressive behavior. Eat fresh vegetables. Drink lots of water and meditate or practice yoga to relieve these toxic emotions of temper and violent mood swings.

14. Take Vitamin B-complex
Vitamin B-complex strengthens memory power. Eat food and vegetables high in Vitamin B-complex. Stay away from the starch food or white bread, which depletes the Vitamin B-complex necessary for a healthy mind.

Thanks to Dumb little man !

Facts about blood donation

2010-03-18T10:00:00.001+05:30

* Person above 18 years of age and over 50 Kgs. in weight can donate blood once in three months.

* A normal adult has five to six liters of blood in his/her body of which only 300 ml is used during blood donation.

* This blood is replaced by your body within 24 to 48 hours!

* No special diet, rest or medicine is required after blood donation.

* The donor should not have taken any medicine in the last 48 hours.

* The donor should not have contacted jaundice in the previous three years.

* Every donor is given a medical checkup prior to donation to see if he/she is medically fit and doesn't suffer from anemia, high blood pressure etc.,

* The donor cannot contract AIDS or any other disease by donating blood.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presents award to Jansila Majeed of Sri Lanka

2010-03-13T12:45:00.000+05:30

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the Women of Courage award to Sri Lanka’s Jansila Majeed at a ceremony held at the US State Department in Washington, Wednesday, March 10. Majeed was among 10 recipients of the 2010 award.

First lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton present the 2010 International Women of Courage Award to Jansila Majeed of Sri Lanka, Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at the State Department in Washington ~ AP pic.Tawbah (Repentance)

Women Of Courage Awards
Award goes to women who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights and women’s equality:

U.S first lady Michelle Obama (L) is pictured on stage with the 2010 International Women of Courage Awards recipients at the State Department in Washington, March 10, 2010. With Obama are (2nd L-R) Afghanistan' s Shukria Asil and Shafiqa Quraishi, Sonia Pierre of the Dominican Republic, Kenya's Ann Njogu, Korea's Lee Ae-Run, Sri Lanka's Jansila Majeed, Syria's Sister Marie Claude Naddaf and Zimbabwe's Jestina Mukoko-Reuters pic

Ms. Majeed is the Managing Trustee of Community Trust Fund in Puttalam province. The Trust oversees a number of programs on minority and women’s issues, including women’s rights, peace building, relief work, working with young people, and mine-risk education in the North and East. Ms. Majeed’s own particular focus is on uniting the Muslim and Tamil communities in her province.
Having lived as an internally displaced person (IDP) for almost 20 years, Ms. Majeed has become an energetic activist for services for displaced Muslim and Tamil civilians, focusing particularly on grassroots programs on life skills, health, and women's empowerment. Her activism began in 1992 with a working group of five people. She overcame both the general neglect of the problem of IDPs in the Muslim minority as well as her own community’s strictures against women activists to build a broad-based organization that works on minority and women’s issues in a highly sensitive and politicized environment.

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Young Sri Lankan woman wins prestigious entrepreneur competition in Mexico City

60 uses of salt

Smoking and Health Problems.

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Amazing Pictures taken during the Month of Ramadan 2010

COMMON MISTAKES DURING RAMADAN

Revelation Order of the Qur'an

FAQs about Nutrition during Ramadan

Ramadan Planning

Information and Health Tips for Ramadan (on this occation)

Ramazan Code for Your Home

Health Benefits of Lemons

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Before the Babysitter Cares for Your Child

Here are suggestions for what parents should do.Before you choose a new babysitter or leave the sitter alone with your child for the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests you take the following precautions:

My Book release function

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Tips for Your Allergy Action Plan

1. Discover Your Personal Allergy Triggers

2. Check the Pollen Count

3. Allergy Proof Your Home

4. Clean House to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

5. Rinse Allergens Out of Your Hair and Clothes

6. Proactively Treat Allergy Symptoms With Medicine

A Day in the Internet

Extreme Heat

Extreme Heat

14 Simple Ways to Super Charge Your Brain

Facts about blood donation

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presents award to Jansila Majeed of Sri Lanka

Here are suggestions for what parents should do.

Before you choose a new babysitter or leave the sitter alone with your child for the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests you take the following precautions: