Thursday, October 4, 2007

Boost Your Energy



Boost Your Energy By Simply Going Outside

Ever have one of those dragging days? The Happiness Project suggests you can get an instant short-term energy boost simply by going outside:
Go outside into the sunlight; light deprivation is one reason that people feel tired. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning.
This is especially important for those of us who spend our workdays behind a computer screen; natural light not only can energize you, but it also saves your eyeballs from getting too tired.
This Wednesday: Nine tips for giving yourself an energy boost in the next TEN MINUTES. [The Happiness Project]

Avian Flu



Quickly Diagnose Avian Flu with Luggable Biosensor


With fears of an avian flu pandemic on the rise, a group at Georgia Tech has made it easy for researchers in the field to identify and analyze the virus using nothing more than a laptop and a small suitcase-sized biosensor (demonstrated by scientist Jie Xu at left). Usually it takes several hours in a wet lab to identify strains of avian flu, but the new biosensor works in minutes. Now researchers can rapidly determine whether a sick bird is carrying the dangerous H5N1 strain of the virus that has occasionally jumped to humans.

This portable biosensor is more than just a great way to combat the spread of H5N1. It's also proof that biotech may follow in the footsteps of computer tech, evolving from giant mainframe-sized devices to desktop-sized consumer electronics to handhelds. Sign me up for the handheld virus analyzer, coming to you from Apple in 2018.

Innovate New Tools



Ancient Greeks Didn't Need Math to Innovate New Tools


Apparently the tradition of great engineers not having college degrees goes back 2500 years. Harvard classics researcher Mark Schiefsky has shown that many great technical innovations of antiquity, such as the balance and steelyard, were created by craftspeople with no theoretical training in mathematics. A steelyard is a balance with unequal arms, whose operation is based on ancient mathematician Archimedes' law of the lever. Schiefsky poo-poos the idea that you need a fancy law to make a steelyard, and in fact has proven that steelyards were in use long before Archimedes explained it.

Schiefsky discovered evidence from early Greek writings that craftspeople in the 5th century B.C. used steelyards in the agora, or marketplace :
People assume that Archimedes was the first to use the steelyard because they suppose you can't create one without knowing the law of the lever. In fact, you can--and people did. Craftsmen had their own set of rules for making the scale and calibrating the device. If someone brings a 100-pound slab of meat to the agora, how do you weigh it? It would be nice to have a 10-pound counterweight instead of a 100-pound counterweight, but to do so you need to change the balance point and ostensibly understand the principle of proportionality between weight and distance from the fulcrum. Yet, these craftsmen were able to use and calibrate these devices without understanding the law of the lever.

Once again, history proves that you don't need a degree in physics or electrical engineering to be a brilliant innovator.

Even Without Math, Ancients Engineered Sophisticated Machines [Eurekalert]

Defraggler


Windows only: Freeware file defragmentation utility Defraggler analyzes your hard drive for fragmented files and can selectively defrag the ones you choose. The graphical interface is darn sweet: like the standard Windows Defragger, it shows you the different phases of fragment discovery as the drive is being analyzed. Right now, the application may be buggy as it's in beta, but it successfully delivers single-fragment files out of files that are heavily fragmented. Defraggler is a freeware application, Windows only. Thanks, Steven!
Defraggler


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Night Of Ramadhan



The Powerful Night of Ramadan

By: IslamiCity
 


We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!...This until the rise of morn! (97:1-5)

The Night of Power in His infinite wisdom is encouraged to be searched during the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. Since over fourteen centuries Muslims are striving diligently to benefit greatly from it. A rare trade indeed - pure profit and thousand times more!

Interestingly we have embraced the night for its mathematical magic but seemingly misplaced the very essence of the night. In fact, it was just another dark night. But it became the Night of Power because of what was revealed in the darkness. It is now known to us, a night better than a thousand months. The dark night is illuminating the world and the Quran is guiding the humanity ever since.

The Night of Power is celebrated powerfully. Masajid and communities celebrate the night by staying up all night, listening to lectures, reading Quran, etc. What seems to be missing though is to reflect on the Divine Words and to act upon it. Unless that is done, the real power will not be received from the Night of Power.

Ramadan visits us every year and offers us a reason to reflect on all aspect of our lives. The objects of our wants and fears far surpass the limits of human genius, energy, and mortal life. The sum of all that we need and desire .. spiritual or material, essential or superfluous .. simply exceeds our ability to attain it. What, then, is one to do? The believer turns to his or her Creator in prayer. The response is natural. Whether moved by need or hope, or faced with misfortune or danger, people instinctively call upon God. Prayer is at the center of our very being and the marrow of the Muslim way of life. For many in the English speaking world, however, this face of Islam is virtually unknown.

Dua - Supplication - Prayer is Muslim's hope for everything at all times. Let us submit ourselves and plead and plead and plead ... as He alone can relieve us of our anxieties and sufferings.

(the following is an excerpt from Dua Kumayl that was often recited by Imam Ali (may Allah be pleased with him))

by Thy majesty against which nothing can stand up
by Thy grandeur which prevails upon all things
by Thy authority which is exercised over all things
by Thy knowledge which pervades all things

O Allah! Forgive us of sins that would hinder our supplications
O Allah! Forgive us of sins that would suppress hope
O Allah! Forgive all sins that we have committed and every error that we have erred
O Allah! Accept our apologies and have pity on our intense sufferings and set us free from my heavy fetters (of evil deeds)
O Allah! You are aware of my weakness to bear even a minor affliction of this world and its consequence and adversity affecting the denizen of this earth, although such afflictions are momentary, short-lived and transient
How then can I bear the retributions and the punishments of the Hereafter which are enormous and of intensive sufferings, of prolonged period and perpetual duration, and which shall never be alleviated for those who deserve the same as those retributions will be the result of Your wrath; and Your punishment which neither the heavens nor the earth can withstand and bear!
My Lord! How can I, a weak, insignificant, humble, poor and destitute creature of Yours be able to bear them?
O' my God! My Lord! My King! And Master! Which of the matters shall I complain to You and for which of them shall I bewail and weep?
Shall I bewail for the pains and pangs of the punishment and their intensity or for the length of sufferings and their duration?

Therefore (my Lord!) If You will subject me to the penalties (of hell) in company of Your enemies and cast me with those who merited my punishments and tear me apart from Your friends and those who will be near to You, then my God, my Lord and my Master, though I may patiently bear Your punishments, how can I calmly accept being kept away from You?

I reckon that though I may patiently endure the scorching fire of the hell, yet how can I resign myself to the denial of Your pity and clemency? How can I remain in the fire while I have hopes of Your forgiveness?

So, my Lord! I look earnestly towards You and towards You, my Lord!

I have stretched forth my hands therefore, by Your honor, respond to my supplication and let me attain my prayers and, by Your bounty, frustrate not my hopes and protect me from the evils of my enemies and O' My Lord! have mercy on me whose only asset is hope and whose only weapon is lamentation.

Ameen ... Ya Rabb ... Ameen ... Ameen ...

Greeting....


ASSALAMUALAIKUM..Hi!! Lame betul budak2 dcs ni cuti..Em..pe lagi tolong la mak ayah tu..Kalau 'borin' g la baca buku ke..wat latihan ' programming' ke..
Sempena bulan yang penuh berkat ni aku nak mengucapkan selamat menjalani ibadat PUASA dan SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI 1428h...MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN..

Tak lama lagi rakyat kita dah nak g angkasa..so korang dah 'planning' nak pegi mane2??
Ke dah planning camne nak dapat duit raye?? Hehe..
Apa2 pun buatlah target dan plan dengan bijak skali..

Emm..Ok lah semoga berbahagia di samping orang yang tersayang dan ceria2 selalu...








10 Malam Terakhir


Muslims have spent two-thirds of the month of Ramadan in physical restraint and silent contemplation, and it is in the last third - the last ten days of Ramadan - where the remembrance of God approaches its peak. It is during this time that the practice of fasting and prayer is perfected, and the uninhibited communication between God and His servants takes place. This is the time for the most heartfelt prayers for forgiveness, for deep soul-searching, making amends to friends, and spending freely in charity.

One of the mysteries of this part of the month is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power/Majesty/Destiny (translation varies), which is said to occur on one of the odd numbered days during the last third of the month. It is on this night -- which the Qur'an says is better than 1,000 months -- where sincere prayer wipes one's sins clean. It is also during this period when it is encouraged to spend time in spiritual retreat (i'tikaf in Arabic), praying throughout the night.

A reliable hadith (saying of Prophet Muhammad) explains: "When the last one third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One, descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims: 'Is there anyone supplicating to Me so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so that I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness so I forgive him?" Even with the difficulties of practicing Ramadan in America, it is hard to resist this clarion call, and a few lucky ones spend time in the mosque these last ten nights in concentrated prayer. And the really fortunate ones get to do all of the above in Mecca.

Of course, those of us who do not have the luxury of extra vacation time have to make do with lesser alternatives. One such alternative that is well-suited to life in America (and that I hope is replicated elsewhere) is the AMILA Ramadan Spiritual Retreat, a weekend gathering that was held last week at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse along the northern California coast. This retreat has been held for 16 years, and I've been fortunate to attend seven of them. A small group of men and women gather, joined by a few religious scholars, and engage in religious discussion, joint prayer, and dhikr (chanted remembrance of God).

It is difficult to describe the feeling of connection to God during these last few days. You have walked away from all that is familiar to you, staying up in the middle of the night when your body cries for your bed, holding your hands out in anticipation of catching divine mercy as it falls from the skies. There is a serenity in doing it alone, but there is also a beauty in doing it with other worshippers. It is, in many ways, the heart of Ramadan.

Shahed Amanullah, a frequent Beliefnet contributor, is one of the country's foremost Muslim journalists. He has harnessed the power of the Internet to spread a positive view of Islam. Amanullah is the editor of altmuslim.com, a Muslim news website, and founder of Halalfire Media, a network of Muslim-themed websites with more than five million annual visitors. Through his work Amanullah has tapped into a strong force of online activism. He lives in Texas with his wife and two sons, and looks forward to the spiritual rewards of Ramadan every year.