The Job haters

Are you doing a job you hate, just to pay the bills? Perhaps Ramadan will be a big wake-up call for you. You might realise you want more personal time, or want a job with more meaning.

In the current job market we have to be grateful for what Allah SWT has given us, but that does not mean we have to settle for less. If you feel stuck in your current job, Ramadan might just provide you with the inspiration to make different choices.

Can you use Ramadan to think about what it really is you want to achieve? Maybe moving to part-time work is an option for you? If you look into your finances then you may find you are actually paying for a lot of luxuries that are no longer as attractive as they once were.

The Hamster-Wheel

If you have a long commute to work, how can you utilise this time? Which single Ramadan goal can you tackle before you start your working day? If you are in the car, then Islamic lectures are a great option. If you are on the train, then my advice would be to get rid of the daily newspaper and replace it with your Mushaf or Qur’an on yourMP3 player. For those who have to take a short bus ride, why not replace the rush hour squeeze, with a walk to work? That way you can ensure you get some exercise during Ramadan, and take care of your health.

The Last Man Back

For business owners like myself it is difficult to take extended periods of time away from working. However, organising your business goals for this month can help you to free up time for personal Ibadah. Also, much of the work can probably be automated or outsourced to assistants, and Ramadan might just be the catalyst that pushes you to get an e-mail auto responder, or to hire more staff.

If you are just starting up your business then it is probably not the best time go away for a month, however, you can plan events and workshops for after Ramadan, and spend time this month on marketing. Marketing is flexible and will fit around your Ramadan schedule. Yet marketing can be one of the biggest drains on your time, so the more effective you can make it, the more time you will gain in your week, InshaAllah.

Finally, if you are just starting out with your business ideas, no need to put them on hold simply because you are fasting. Ramadan is a wonderful time to network, get support – and even do some much needed market research.

The One Allah Loves

n this current economic climate more of us are facing job uncertainties. If you finding yourself unemployed then this can be turned into a blessing – an opportunity to attach yourself to the Masjid, or visit your mother who complains she never sees you! Allah SWT loves those who he tests.

Through our trials we are reminded to be grateful for what we were once blessed with. It also forces us to acknowledge how rich we actually are. You may find you have more time for your kids, or to help with Da’wah work. Being unemployed gives you the time to fulfil the rights of Allah SWT, and fulfil the rights of people. It is an obligation that we all have, but the one who is being tested may find that they are the most productive.

May Allah SWT help you to use this time for His sake, and bless you with future employment, Ameen.

Source: Productiveramadan.com

“Appalling.”

“The guy who designed this ball never played football.”

“The worst ball that I have seen in my life.”

So says everyone from Iker Casillas to Robinho to Fabio Capello. Former Liverpool striker Craig Johnson even wrote a passionate 12-page letter to Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, on how the Adidas ball “could ruin the game as we know it.” Trashing the Jabulani has become something of a sport in its own right, with wildly mishit shots celebrated with resounding cries of “Jabulani!” in pubs and living rooms around the globe.

Now it turns out there is a very real scientific basis for all the moaning. NASA’s aerodynamics people at the Ames Investigation Centre managed to get some MLS players to kick a very dusty Jabulani around to what sounds like a soundtrack from a 1970s instructional video. The tests confirm what everyone has been saying: Jabulani’s scanty 440-gram weight, coupled with the high-altitude conditions in South Africa, means when at speeds of 44 mph or more the ball becomes susceptible to something called the “knuckle effect.” That’s aerodynamic shorthand for “it swerves all around like crazy at high speeds because of the air flow on the seams and stuff,” which isn’t so bad when you get goals like this.

Adidas has yet to respond to the new scientifically based criticisms, and Sepp Blatter and FIFA are meeting in September to discuss the horrible aftermath left in Jabulani’s zig-zagging wake. What’s really frightening though is that we now know World Cup footballers are apparently as adept at noting erratic aerodynamic patterns as NASA’s rocket scientists. Be afraid.

Source: Yahoo News

1: I didn’t understand the assignment

Not every boss has great communication skills. And yes, having a manager who is not good at explaining what needs to be done makes life difficult. At the same time, using your boss’ inability to explain things as an excuse for not doing them just does not fly. If an assignment does not make sense, it’s your responsibility to find out what really has to happen. And if you find yourself in this situation more than once, it is a sign that you need to be extra careful when working with this particular person to get things fully understood.

2: The deadline was impossible

We all know this situation: A manager hands you an assignment with a deadline attached to it. You tell the manager that the deadline can’t be met and you’re told, “I don’t care; make it happen.” When the deadline is missed, you say, “But I told you the deadline was impossible!” and the boss is still angry. The disconnect here is that simply saying that the deadline is not possible is not good enough. As soon as the boss tells you to do it and you passively accept the ridiculous deadline, you make it your responsibility to meet it.

Your best defense is to negotiate a better deadline, and to do that, you need a project plan. The fact is, you always should be able to paint a picture of what a project will entail with some broad strokes anyway, and it is fairly easy to assign some rough estimates of the time to make each step happen. When you show your supervisor that even the most optimistic rough draft of a plan that omits a million minor details shows that it will take three months and they are demanding three weeks, guess what? It is now your manager’s responsibility to deal with the deadline issue. You have turned an opponent into an ally, and no sane boss can hold you accountable for the bad deadline anymore.

3: A valuable resource was not available

A good part of a manager’s job is to ensure that the team has adequate resources in the form of time, money, and equipment. If you are missing a critical resource, your manager needs to know now — not when the project is late or has failed — so that he or she can fix the problem immediately. When you tell your boss ahead of time, it’s not an excuse — it’s asking for help to solve a problem. When you tell your boss after it’s too late, it becomes an excuse and the failure is on you.

4: The requirements shifted

We all know that requirements get changed constantly. All too often, projects undergo the “gold plating” process long after deadlines and success conditions are determined. That being said, it is really bad form to use this as an excuse for failure. It’s up to you to nip these changes in the bud as they come up. With each new requirement, you need to show how it will affect the possibility of meeting deadlines and the defined success conditions and either move the goalposts as the requirements change or don’t allow the change. If you allow new requirements to be added without changing deadlines, you have effectively made it your responsibility to meet the new targets.

5: I have personal issues

We all have personal issues that come up from time to time. But if your personal issues are affecting your projects’ success, you need to either deal with them or get some help with your work. If things have gotten to the point where your boss is asking you, “What is going on here?” it’s too late. Explaining your non-work issues at this point is just going to make your boss even more upset. But if you explain that you are having some troubles as soon as you see they are affecting your work, your boss will be able to make the needed adjustments. Most supervisors would rather shift resources or expectations than try to force someone with an outside issue to be 100 percent.

6: I don’t have enough time

If you do not have the time to do something, no amount of money, motivation, or resources can make it happen. If there is too much on your plate, you need to get rid of some of it or let your manager know you are overwhelmed. If you don’t get any relief, it’s your manager’s problem, not yours if deadlines can’t be met. But like so many of the other situations listed here, it is your responsibility to make it clear that there is a problem as soon as you can, so that adjustments can be made.

7: I don’t know what went wrong

Some projects just fall into a rut and never get out. When you’re doing the project post-mortem, there is no single thing anyone can point to and say, “This is what messed the project up.” All the same, when a project is off the rails, everyone is usually aware of it, even if they don’t know why. This kind of situation can be embarrassing. After all, how can you know that the project is blowing up but not know why? Usually, it’s a case of “death by 1,000 paper cuts.” The project lead had a bad illness and lost a week of time, the servers were down for a day due to hardware failure, the QA person had a death in the family, and so on. All of these reasonable issues can add up to a critical amount of lost work. All too often, we think that if you just keep pushing, maybe the mystery problems will go away and the project will get back on track. But it never actually works out this way. If a project is going south, you have to let people know, even if you don’t know exactly why, so they can adjust expectations.

8: We ran into blockages

Workplaces are filled with people who have different, sometimes contradictory, goals. For example, you might need the QA team to test your application but another team’s project has priority, so your application does not get tested until long after your deadline is missed. These kinds of work blockages happen all the time. If you can’t get the situation sorted out yourself, determine how much delay you will suffer and what your options are and present them to your manager. Armed with that information, your manager will be able to make a decision from there or possibly get priorities straightened out.

9: The only copy of the work got destroyed

If your work is stored on a computer, you have no reason in the world to have only one copy of it. Not only should you be making regular backups, but they should be on different devices in different locations. Back up local files to the network server or work on the network and allow the IT department to handle things. If you think your boss will give you a free pass because the only copy of a critical file was on your laptop, which no longer works after you dropped it, you are dead wrong. In reality, using the “no backups” excuse will have your boss wondering whether you can be trusted with any more projects at all. Back up your work, and you will never have to tell your boss that the dead thumb drive has your only copy of the project.

10: The dog ate my homework

Sometimes, inexplicable events come up that keep you from getting things done. These things happen. Does your boss want to know that your project is late or won’t be done satisfactorily because of these kinds of random issues? Of course not. But sometimes, there simply is nothing that can be done about it, especially when it comes up at the last possible moment. Just roll with the punches on this one.

Source: TechRepublic

A film crew working for the National Geographic publication set-up on southern Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier after landing on the glacier, close to the volcanic eruption on Sunday.

A little boy wanted Rs.50 very badly and prayed for weeks, but nothing happened.

Finally he decided to write God a letter requesting the Rs.50.

When the Postal authorities received the letter addressed to God, INDIA , they were so amused and send the little boy Rs.20
The Postal authorities thought that Rs.50 would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy, and they did not want to spoil the kid.

The little boy was delighted with Rs…20, and decided to write a thank you note to God,

Which read:

“Dear God: Thank you very much for sending the money.
However, I noticed that you sent it through the Postal Authority of India, New Delhi, and those donkeys deducted Rs.30 as tax …….

This sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the ‘Uranah valley of Mount Arafat’ (in Mecca).

After praising, and thanking God he said:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. God has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. God has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn ‘Abd’al Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship God, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you.

I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.

• Status of the computer
• List of running programs and active connections
• Detailed network and WI-FI report
• Screenshot of running desktop
• A picture of the thief (if the stolen laptop is equipped with a Webcam)

Of course you are probably thinking that this is a lot of information to be sending out, especially since, with this setup, your laptop will be sending out this information even when the laptop isn’t stolen. Ah, but the creators have thought of that as well. You can configure Prey to send out the information only if it finds a certain Web URL that you created in the event of the laptop being stolen. We’ll address that in a bit. First, let’s look at how to get the program and install it.

Getting and installing

Before we start, you should know that Prey requires the .NET library. If your laptop does not have this installed, you will have to install it before you can work with Prey. First download the zip file from the Prey Download Page. Once you have that on your hard drive, unzip the file and open the resulting folder. Within this folder you will see a few executable files. The file you need to concentrate on is PreyConfig.exe.

Configuring Prey

Here is the information you will need to set up Prey:

• URL: More on this later
• E-mail address: This will be the address Prey sends all information to.
• SMTP Server: The SMTP server Prey will use to send e-mail.
• Port: The port the SMTP server will use.
• SSL: If your SMTP server uses SSL, you will have to check this box.
• Username: This is the username for the SMTP server.
• Password: This is the password for the SMTP server.

In order to configure Prey, double-click on the PreyConfig.exe file. When the configuration window opens (Figure below), enter the necessary information, but do not enter a URL.

One thing to note is that if you use Google’s SMTP server you will need to set the port to 587 and click the SSL checkbox.

Before you activate Prey you have to locate the PreyAgent executable command. To do this, click the Activate checkbox, which will open an Explorer window where you can locate the PreyAgent.exe file.

Once you have entered all the information, click the Activate button and you are good to go. Prey will begin to send information to the configured e-mail address in the time increment you have configured.

Setting up a URL

As stated earlier, the developers have created a way for you to pseudo-activate Prey should your laptop be stolen. What you do is create a URL that Prey can check for (it will do so at the time increment configured). When Prey finds that URL, it will then begin to send out the information to the configured e-mail address.

The URL you create is up to you, but make sure you have the capability of creating that URL from anywhere at any time. Say you own the domain http://www.mydomainishere.com. You can configure Prey to check for the URL http:///www.mydomainishere.com/STOLEN.html. If your laptop is, in fact, stolen, create a Web page with that address (you can just create a blank STOLEN.html file as Prey checks only for the existence of the address) and then you will begin to receive information at the configured e-mail address.

When you click the Activate button, a new window will pop up with a message telling you the configuration is OK.

Using the Prey Control Panel

If you choose to create an account on Prey’s site, you can take advantage of their Control Panel for more granular control of your stolen hardware. After you sign up for the service, you will get an activation key, which you will enter in the configuration screen. You will also have to add a new device in the Control Panel. Click the Add New Device button once you have logged in. In this new screen (Figure below), you enter a name, select the device type, select the OS, and then click the Create button. When you create the device, you will be given a device code that you will then enter into the configuration screen.

Problem

In order for Prey to actually work, it will have to be booted up and connected online. This can be avoided unless the first thing a thief does is format your hard drive. If that is the case, you are out of luck.

Final thoughts

Is Prey a perfect solution? No, but it is an interesting and well-executed solution that just happens to be open source and cross-platform. This enables pretty much anyone to have at least a slight chance of recovering a stolen laptop. And even the slightest assurance is better than none.

Source:  TechRepublic.

A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year
old son waiting for her at the door.

SON: ‘Mummy, may I ask you a question?’

MUM: ‘Yeah sure, what it is?’ replied the woman.

SON: ‘Mummy, how much do you make an hour?’

MUM: ‘That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?’ the woman
said angrily..

SON: ‘I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?’

MUM: ‘If you must know, I make $20 an hour.’

SON: ‘Oh,’ the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: “Mummy, may I please borrow $5?”

The mother was furious, ‘If the only reason you asked that is so you can
borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march
yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being
so selfish. I don’t work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.’

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door..

The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s
questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down , and started to think:

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $5 and he really
didn’t ask for money very often.The woman went to the door of the little
boy’s room and opened the door.

‘Are you asleep, son?’ She asked.

‘No Mummy, I’m awake,’ replied the boy

‘I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier’ said the woman.
‘It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $5
you asked for.’

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. ‘Oh, thank you Mummy!’ he yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his
mother.

‘Why do you want more money if you already have some?’ the mother grumbled.

‘Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,’ the little boy replied.

‘Mummy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home
early tomorrow.
I would like to have dinner with you.’

The mother was crushed. She put his arms around her little son, and she
begged for his forgiveness.

It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should
not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with
those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to
share that $20 worth of your time with someone you love.

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace
us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel
the loss for the rest of their lives.

Source: Friendly E-mail

1- It is a vital factor in making a person successful in this life and in later life.

“Indeed, the believers, who have Khushu’ in their Salah, are the winners.” [Noble Quran 23:1-2]

2-It is a contributing factor for the acceptance of Salah.

3- It is a way to gain more rewards from the Almighty Allah; the more the Khushu’ a person has, the more rewards he gets.

4- Without Khushu’ the heart cannot easily be purified.

Ways to Gain Khushu

A. Pre-Salah

1- A Muslim should know his Lord very well. Knowing whom one worships makes a person a better worshiper. Having clear and authentic knowledge about Allah increases His love in our hearts. Consequently, faith also increases.

2- Avoiding major and minor sins is very helpful in gaining Khushu’, as the heart becomes more receptive to the words of Allah during and after Salah.

3- Reciting the Quran frequently and consistently softens the hearts and prepares it for Khushu’. Hard hearts do not gain Khushu’.

4- Minimize attachment to worldly matters. Gearing one’s intentions towards the Afterlife helps against the temptations of life.

5- Avoid excessive laughter and useless arguments as they harden the heart and lead to heedlessness.

6- Stop working as soon as you hear the Adhan. When you listen attentively to the call of Salah repeat after the muezzin then offer the relevant supplication. This prepares you for a smooth transition from the business with worldly matters to the business with Salah.

7- Performing Wudu’ immediately after hearing the Adhan prepares you for the pending Salah. Wudu’ also works as a buffer zone before engaging in Salah.

8- Going to the mosque early for praying and continuing mention of Allah drives Satan away and help gain concentration.

9- The waiting time for the congregational Salah helps create a buffer zone between the state of mind before Salah and the state of during Salah.

B. During Salah

1- The Iqamah itself is a final signal to the mind to be well prepared for performing the actual Salah. Remember what the messenger of Allah said to Bilal “Let us enjoy the comfort of the Salah.”

2- When you stand facing the Qiblah remember the following:

a. It might be the last Salah in your life. There is no guarantee to live longer to catch the next Salah.
b. You are standing between the hands of Allah, the Lord of the worlds. How can you be busy with something else?
c. The angel of death is chasing you.

3- Do not forget to make Isti’adthah. It wards off Satan’s whispers.

4- Keep your eyes focused on the place of Sujud. This helps you gain more concentration.

5- When reciting the Fatihah, try to recall the response of Allah to you after every Ayah you say. (When you say: “al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin) Allah responds: “My servant praised me.” etc. This feeling of speaking to Allah puts you in the right mood of Khushu’.

6- Beautifying the recitation of the Quran has a positive impact on the heart.

7- Recite the Quran slowly and reflect upon its meaning deeply.

8- It is recommended to change the Surah that your recite from time to time to avoid the mechanic-like state of repetition.

9- Alternate between the various authentic Sunan such as proclaiming a different opening supplication in every Salah.

10- Undoubtedly, understanding Arabic helps you focus on the intended meaning.

11- Interact with the recited Ayahs;

a. if you hear an Ayah about Allah, glorify Him by saying “Subhanallah”;
b. If you hear an Ayah about Hellfire, say “A’udthu Billahi Minan-Nar”.
c. If you hear a command to make Istighfar, do it.
d. If you hear an Ayah that requests Tasbih, make Tasbih.

12- These forms of interactions are very helpful in keeping you focused.

13- When you prostrate, remember that this position brings you closer to Allah. Seize the opportunity to make sincere Du’a’. Invest these moments in making sincere supplications.

C- Post-Salah

1. When you make Taslim, make Istighfar to Allah as you might have made during Salah.

2. When you praise Allah, thank Him from the bottom of your heart that you have experienced the beauty of Salah in your heart. Getting used to this habit prepares your for the next Salah, as you will always be eager to focus in your prayer.

3. One perfection leads to another perfection. If some one perfects his Salah once, he would be self-motivated to continue on the same level.

Source: Article from Dr. Mamdouh N. Mohamed, Associate Professor at the American Open University.

The world’s tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties, was unveiled to a crowd of thousands and the world in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays.

The official height of the tower, unveiled as ‘Burj Khalifa’, was announced as 828 metres (2,716.5 ft).

A closely guarded secret, the official height of Burj Khalifa was flashed onto a giant screen before an estimated crowd of more than 400,000, as lasers and fireworks lit up the night sky.

Fireworks cascaded from the tower’s spire to the base and lasers blazed out from all levels leaving the crowds awestruck.

The height was disclosed in arithmetic progression, with the numbers being flashed onto the screen, one after another. The tower’s height breaks all existing world records for tall buildings.

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world according to the three main criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The CTBUH ranks the world’s tallest buildings based on ‘Height to Architectural Top,’ ‘Height to Highest Occupied Floor’ and ‘Height to Tip.’

At 828 metres (2,716.5ft), Burj Khalifa is 320 metres taller than Taipei 101, which at 508 metres (1,667 ft) had held the record for the world’s tallest building measured to the architectural top since 2004, the year the project was announced.

Burj Khalifa achieved the distinction of being the world’s tallest structure – surpassing the KVLY-TV mast (628.8 metres; 2,063 ft) in North Dakota , USA – 1,325 days after excavation work started in January 2004.

The tower also beats the 31-year-old record of CN Tower, which at 553.33 metres (1,815.5 ft) had been the world’s tallest free-standing structure on land since 1976.

Burj Khalifa employs a record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000 metric tonnes of steel re-bar and 142,000 square meters of glass; and it took 22 million man hours to build.

Other world records for Burj Khalifa include the highest occupied floor in the world, at over 550 meters (1,800 ft); the highest outdoor observation deck in the world – At the Top on Level 124; and the tallest service elevator, which travels to a height of 504 meters (1,654 ft).

Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said that with the unveiling of the final height of Burj Khalifa, the world now had a new reference point for high-rise developments.

“Burj Khalifa is an example of collaboration on a global scale, and the tremendous positive energy that can be generated when people from all over the world come together to work towards a common goal. Thousands of professionals and skilled workers from around the world worked on this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

“More than 60 of the world’s leading consultants including South Korea ’s Samsung Corporation and New York-based Turner Construction International realized the design for Burj Khalifa of Chicago-based Skid-more, Owings and Merrill (SOM),” he said.

Burj Khalifa employed the latest advances in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and methods. All design considerations took into account the 12,000 people who will live and work in the tower. The handover to residents of the various components of Burj Khalifa will begin in February.

With a total built-up area of about 6 million sq ft, Burj Khalifa features nearly 2 million sq ft of residential space and over 300,000 sq ft of prime office space, in addition to the area occupied by the keenly awaited Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features modern lifestyle amenities including clubs, health and fitness facilities, gourmet restaurants and the 124th floor observation deck, ‘At the Top.’

Burj Khalifa is the focal point of the 500-acre ‘mega-project’ by Emaar Properties, described as the new heart of Dubai .

Fireworks marked at Burj Khalifa inauguration:

The inauguration of Burj Khalifa , the world’s tallest building, developed by Emaar Properties, feature a spectacular display of sound, light, water and fireworks on the evening of Jan 4, 2010.

A combination of dazzling fireworks, light beams, choreographed water displays, and sound & music effects will describe the evolution of the world’s most iconic new building in a breathtaking sensory journey.

In all, 868 high-powered ‘stroboscope’ lights will be integrated into the facade of Burj Khalifa  and the tower’s spire – and each stroboscope will be fired individually to create a series of hypnotic lighting sequences.

The entire display is controlled by a sophisticated arrangement of ultra high-tech IT systems, which choreograph at least 50 different sequences of lighting, fireworks, water and sound effects.

Event experts from France , Britain and the United States collaborated on the project, demonstrating the global spirit of teamwork which defines Burj Khalifa  itself.

Powerful strobe lights will be fixed near the pinnacle of the tower, and six ‘narrow beam’ search lights will be positioned 700 metres up the tower.

The entire inauguration show consists of a pre-show and three themed acts – From the Desert Flower to Burj Khalifa , Heart Beat, and From Dubai & the UAE to the World – and a firework finale.

A giant screen on Burj Park Island, as well as several television screens placed across Downtown Burj Khalifa  including the Waterfront Promenade, will broadcast the inauguration in real-time. Hundreds of international media, including Dubai TV, report live from the scene.

The public  watched at the inauguration ceremony from the Waterfront Promenade adjacent to The Dubai Mall.

The inauguration performance begins with a short film which depicts the story of Dubai and the evolution of Burj Khalifa  as the world’s tallest building. A precisely choreographed sound, light, water and fireworks display then follows.

The first act in the light & sound show, themed ‘From the Desert Flower to Burj Khalifa ,’ is a co-ordinated water, light and firework display. Guests can watch the unfolding of the desert lily, Hymenocallis, the design inspiration of Burj Khalifa . The segment ends with a rhythmic water and fireworks show.

The second act, ‘Heart Beat,’ captures the construction of the tower in a dynamic light show. An astonishing example of technological innovation, the display recreates the effect of a beating heart and uses no fewer than 300 ‘space canon projectors’ to generate a shadow-like image of the tower.

In the third act, ‘From Dubai and the UAE to the World,’ sky tracers and space canons envelop the tower in a strong halo of white light before reproducing the sun beams of the Emaar corporate logo. These then expand in all directions as the lighting rig on the tower’s spire activates.

In its spectacular finale, the show featured an impressive show of 10,000 firework effects on and from the tower, envisaged as the highest in the world. The sparkling display  illuminated the entire Downtown Burj Khalifa  area.

Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director, UAE, Emaar Properties, said that the performance would be unprecedented and symbolic of Burj Khalifa ’s pioneering status.

“Just as Burj Khalifa  leaves an indelible impression on the mind’s eye, so the performance dedicated to the tower’s inauguration on January 4 was a memory to cherish.”

Standing at more than 800 metres (2,625 ft) high and with over 160 storeys, Burj Khalifa  is the world’s tallest building developed by Emaar Properties. The tower anchors the 500-acre Downtown Burj Khalifa  community, described as the new heart of the city.

A little boy went into a drug store, reached for a soda carton and pulled it over to the telephone. He climbed onto the carton so that he could reach the buttons on the phone and proceeded to punch in seven digits (phone numbers).
The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation:

Boy: “Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?

Woman: (at the other end of the phone line): “I already have someone to cut my lawn..”

Boy: “Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now.”

Woman: I’m very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.

Boy: (with more perseverance) : “Lady, I’ll even sweep your house and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of Palm beach.”

Woman: No, thank you.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner: “Son… I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.”

Boy: “No thanks

Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one.

Boy: No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!”

This is what we call “Self Appraisal”

A 90- year old Emirati woman, Fatima Mohammad Ali will compete with her 50 grandchildren in one of the Quran memorization competitions in Khorfakkan, UAE.

She will participate in the competition by memorizing and reciting the Holy Quran. Her participation is considered first of its kind in the world.

Fatima joined Al Hassawi Holy Quran Award in 2001 since the Establishment of Quran and Sunnah Award in Sharjah.

One of her grandchildren, said she has been taking part in the competition despite her illiteracy, as she listens to cassettes and gets help from her other grandchildren.

Fatima walks 700 meters everyday to get to the mosque, where the memorization takes place and refuses to be dropped by anyone.

The Al Hassawi Holy Quran Award has prepared a special honoring ceremony for Fatima at the end of the competition.

SubhanAllah!

Source: Gulf News

1. Hunger Due to Eating the Wrong Food: Symptoms include craving high sugar foods or feeling “hungry” soon after eating a meal.  If you just had a big meal that is high in simple carbohydrates and did not contain fiber, protein or healthy fat, all of which help provide a sense of satiety, you may have experienced a drop in blood sugar. In this case, have a healthy snack, such as a piece of fresh fruit and nuts, or cottage cheese or celery and peanut butter or 1/2 of a sandwich on whole grain bread).
2. Emotional Hunger: Sometimes, our appetites can go haywire when we are experiencing boredom, fear, anxiety, stress or loneliness. Try taking a walk, journaling, listening to some favorite music, calling a friend or chewing a piece of mint gum instead. Read a book, go to a “safe place” like a library or museum or park where you will not be tempted to overeat or distracted by food. Take a bath, meditate, or think about what REALLY would satisfy you, vs. eating to stuff down emotions you do not want to confront.
3. Hunger Due to Sleepiness: Experts at www.WebMD.com state that two major hormones, leptin and ghrelin, affect and control sensations of hunger and fullness. Ghrelin stimulates appetite, while leptin, made in fat cells, alerts the brain that you have had enough to eat. Lack of sleep causes a significant drop in leptin levels as well as an increase in ghrelin levels, a so called double whammy for appetite control and feelings of satiety.  Daytime fatigue may lead people to overeat (often, high sugar, nutrient poor foods) in an attempt to get an extra surge of energy. This is equivalent to placing a Band-Aid on the true problem. It provides only temporary relief, which is soon followed by a crash in energy levels and a resurgence of “hunger” leading to more snacking, increased sugar cravings, etc….a vicious cycle.  If you are feeling mid-afternoon hunger pains, try: a brisk 10 min walk around the block (fresh air helps, as does exercise, to boost alertness and increase circulation), a cup of green tea (high in antioxidants and low in caffeine relative to coffee), a 1/4 cup of almonds and a small apple (high in protein, healthy fat and carbohydrates, low in sugar, and a good source of magnesium and fiber). Even taking a few deep breaths can help curb fatigue!
4. Hunger Due to Thirst: We often mistake thirst for hunger. Try drinking a glass or two of water to identify whether you are truly hungry or just slightly dehydrated, in which case water is the perfect antidote!

When you are really experiencing true hunger, however, it is pretty clear to identify.  For instance, a growling stomach will cause us to be cranky and unfocused…until we get some food, that is! If it has been four hours since your last meal or snack, you may well be truly hungry. Don’t ignore true hunger…doing so may exacerbate it and cause you to overeat to compensate for the missed calories. It is important to eat regularly and consistently to keep energy levels elevated and avoid dips in blood sugar. Try to include fruits and vegetables at each meal and snack, along with some protein (cheese, beans, lean meat/poultry/fish) and some healthy fat (avocado, olives, nuts, oil). This whole foods approach will help keep you at a healthy weight and lessen the likelihood for emotional hunger to rear its head!

Source: Written by Brooke Joanna Benlifer, RD for Sheer Balance

It can be argued that floods and other calamities can bring out the worst in men, due to the looting that often occurs in the aftermath of such disasters. Fatima Al-Ghamdi, however, has a different story to tell.

On that fateful day when the flashfloods wreaked havoc in Quwaizah neighborhood, Fatima, a woman approaching her 60s, ventured out into the heavy downpour holding her sick husband’s hands looking for a safe place.

She had put all her cash and jewels worth more than SR500,000 in a small suitcase, which she carried in her left hand. The water was rising and it was becoming increasingly difficult for her husband to walk steadily against the current.

“If I did not hold him firmly with both my hands he would fall and the floodwaters would wash him away. I had no time to think. I just dropped the suitcase and looked the other way to avoid watching all my valuables disappear in the flood. My husband was dearer to me than anything else in the world,” Fatima told Al-Madinah newspaper.

She said she was happy they could reach a safe place without any incident. They were provided with a temporary apartment in another part of the city.

“But we were left penniless. At times I thought about the lost jewelry but I suppressed them as my husband was more valuable to me,” she said.

However, 11 days after the flood her husband received a call from a stranger. The man said he had come across a suitcase that had a paper with Fatima’s name on it and he wanted to return it.

“I did not believe in my wildest dreams that the valuables carried away by the flood would be returned to me. I thought that the man might have stumbled upon a battered suitcase and all its contents might have scattered in the flood or anyone who might have discovered it would have stolen them,” she said.

But the jewelry box was returned to her and none of its contents was missing.

Aun Al-Ghamdi, a policeman, was the man who found the suitcase. He apologized to them for the delay in returning the box. He said he had tried for 10 days to get their address. He said the suitcase flowed into his car, which was submerged on a road three kilometers from the Quwaizah neighborhood.

“I was on my way to Makkah on Nov. 25 when I ran into the flashflood. In fact, I rescued some people. But as the water was very high, I could not go ahead anymore. I also took the suitcase with me,” he said.

He said he opened the box out of curiosity and was dazzled by its glittering contents. When he found the bank paper with Fatima’s name on it he contacted the bank. The manager refused to give any information for data protection purposes. After 10 days he finally relented and gave Al-Ghamdi Fatima’s telephone number.

Overcome by gratitude, the couple presented him with a check for a large sum of money, but he refused to take it, saying he preferred a reward from the Almighty.

SubhanAllah!

Source: Arab News.

I found some curious Google assumptions on search:

No hurt feelings, this is how Google is reacting

We all have our own kiddy memories of Eid celebration almost as of these cuties:

Are you one of the many people who have their heads hidden behind their cubicles hoping the latest economic storm will blow over? If so, you have lot of company. However, hope is not a strategy. It is better to be prepared than to get caught in a landslide.

Below are five signs your job is in jeopardy.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions can mean only one thing to employees: duplication. In all likelihood, there is someone in the other company performing a similar job to the one you have in your company. In the end, only one of you will be left standing. Never assume that person will be you.

Jaguars Become Rabbits

A clear sign that your company has fallen on hard times is when the president trades in his posh Jaguar for a Volkswagen Rabbit. He may be telling everyone he is making the switch to conserve energy. Don’t believe it. This is a drastic cost-cutting measure. Your job may be next.

People No Longer Seek Your Opinion

You used to be the “go to” person when people were seeking advice on critical projects. Now they seem to go to everyone else but you. Do they know something you don’t know? Has your name been added to the layoff list?

You are No Longer on the Invite List

Your calendar used to be filled to the brim with meetings. Now you have time on your hands to sneak in a manicure. Yet, everyone around you seems to be constantly in meetings. If you’ve gone from being an “A Player” to barely being ranked, then it’s a clear sign you are no longer indispensible.

Why wait to be escorted out the door? Now is a good time to see what else is out there.

Your Competitors Are Slicing Their Workforces

Constant pruning by your competitors is a sign that your industry is in despair. Take the airline industry. Grounded flights, decreased services, and a reduction in the number of travelers can only mean one thing to employees in this industry. More layoffs on the horizon. It’s only a matter of time before your company jumps on board.

Don’t be caught waiting for the ax to fall. Be alert and notice the signs that your ties with your employer may soon be severed.

Source: Techrepublic

Unlike previous “augmented reality” systems, it’s in­expensive, off-the-shelf hardware. Two cables connect an LED projector and web-cam to a Web-enabled mobile phone, but the system can easily be made wireless.

1. Camera: A webcam captures an object in view and tracks the user’s hand gestures. It sends the data to the smart phone.

2. Colored Markers: Marking the user’s fingers with red, yellow, green, and blue tape helps the webcam recognize gestures. Mistry is working on gesture-recognition algorithms that could eliminate the need for the markers.

3. Projector: A tiny LED projector displays data sent from the smart phone on any surface in view–object, wall, or person. Mistry hopes to start using laser projectors to increase the brightness.

4. Smart Phone: A Web-enabled smart phone in the user’s pocket processes the video data, using vision algorithms to identify the object. Other software searches the Web and interprets the hand gestures.

Here is a video which explores this technology:

Video

Someone truly said ” Necessity is the mother of Invention”