SYRA STAR

sairali

2011-05-27T17:10:00.002+05:00

always and forever :)
this post is dedicated to my husband.

2 node circular link list

2011-05-18T12:33:00.002+05:00

A couple of days back I was flicking through channels and ultimately STAR World caught my attention. The thrilling t.v series BONES was on air. I dont't follow it, regardless I stopped on the channel. That very interest my friend Zahida came to my mind and I thought of her. Interesting thing here is that Zahida loves the show and finds a resemblance between me and the leading character of BONES. So she says whenever she watches it 'saira yaad atee hai'...i.e she is reminded of me. And now the same show reminds me of her :)

For me, this happens often that a circular link of rememberance is formed. When a thing\event\happening reminds someone of me, then an association between that thing\event\happening and the person who recalls me is formed in mind.

Generalizing this if a certain thing reminds someone of you, then that same certain thing will remind you of that someone :) I hope I am making sense and not sounding crazy to the readers here. Does such an association build up in your mind too?

Bird Migration

2011-04-15T11:19:00.003+05:00

Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds them there except Allah. There are certainly signs in that for people who believe.

[Surah An-Nahl, 79]

~Courtesy: A friend

Elements of Uniqueness in humanbeings

2011-04-13T21:01:00.012+05:00

I am compiling a list of elements that is unique in every human being. The level of detail that Allah has put to make individuals distinct from one other is simply amazing. Please add on to my list.

1- voice

2- style of talking

3- structure of face

4- height

5- built

6- style of walking, footsteps.

7- pattern on our palms

8- pattern under our feet

9-skin pattern on our hands, (if you look closely the waves of lines, and scattered line patters vary from person to person)

10-color of skin

11- color of eyes

12- mannerism

13- postures

14- bone structure 15- weight

16- structure of hair eg: straight, curly, wavy

17- color of hair eg brown, golden, black

18- and ofcourse personality traits vary from every individual some of these elements are similar amongst siblings and family but on a whole every single humanbeing is like no other. There are/have been billions of humans but so many permutations courtesy Allah. SubhanAllah

new additions by UFKhan

19- Retinal patterns. These are very unique - even twins don't have the same retinal patterns

20- Size of eyeballs and shape of Eyebrows

21- Diameter of aorta

22- shape of Nails

23- Length and thickness of eyelashes

24- Size/shape and whiteness of Teeth

25- Skin appearance, besides color

26- Structure of nose

27-Fluffiness of hair

28- Size of feet

29- Blood group

30- Structure of Brain

31) Genes - being part of the DNA, they carry genetic information responsible for a large number of physical features.

32) Degree of righteousness of one's Heart

33) Mind/Mentality Certain non-physical elements probably have the most weightage in determining the uniqueness and distinction of individuals, e.g. (32) and (33).

another me?

2011-04-05T17:32:00.003+05:00

Have you ever had that moment in life when you look back at something that you wrote that brought back a realization of your own old self and you smile to yourself thinking wow, was that really me? :) It happened to me today;

A friend recently floated an old article that I wrote for my blog over 2 years ago with a few lines of praise. I read the appreciation note and ignored the link until a few days later she took the care to bring it to my attention by appreciating it again in person. Consequently I spared a moment to reread my own writing. After having a read I was quiet for a couple of minutes pondering that how I have changed over the years, and what different state of mind, heart and thoughts I was at that point of time. Life or something like it.

Remember me in your duas

A Teacher and A CEO

2011-02-09T10:25:00.004+05:00

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Barbara. Be honest. What do you make?"
Barbara, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, and then began...)
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents CAN'T make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding ISN'T EVERYTHING.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in maths. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,
work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life (Barbara
paused one last time and then continued.)
Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
What do you make Mr. CEO?
His jaw dropped, he went silent.

A profound answer!

Courtesy ~ A friend

Value has a value only if its value is valued

2010-04-29T12:03:00.000+05:00

she said....

2010-03-21T22:05:00.000+05:00

if you die i will kill you
~S

before time takes 'you' or 'them' away

2010-02-25T16:18:00.006+05:00

Things must be sorted out before it's too late

Chances must be availed before you don't have any to miss

Mistakes must be accepted before there is nothing left to repeat

Feelings must be shared before they turn to cold to be warmed

Temper must be tapped off before it costs you a world

Words must be appreciated before they lose their charm

Take some time out for your beloved ones before time takes you or them away

I believe so, do you?

~courtesy a friend

What are friends for? A Longer Life

2010-02-23T15:23:00.002+05:00

NYTimes: In the quest for better health, many people turn to doctors, self-help books or herbal supplements. But they overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging and prolong life: their friends.
Read On

True friends are a blessing from Allah. My friends & family make me healthier, alhamdulillah
=)

crucial element of bharosa in dua

2010-02-22T12:47:00.004+05:00

'Allah se jab mango to is bharose kay saath kay Aay Allah jab maine tujse nahee manga tab bhee tunee mujhay diya tau ye kesay mumkin hai kay main tujse mango or tu ata na karay'

~Courtesy Maryam

feeling beyond words

2010-01-20T11:56:00.001+05:00

Promises are not made, they are lived
~S

Closer than you think

2010-01-15T12:37:00.002+05:00

A vacationing American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.

"Oh, a few hours," the Mexican fisherman replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.

The Mexican warmly replied, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats."

Proud of his own sharp thinking, he excitedly elaborated a grand scheme which could bring even bigger profits, "Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."

Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"

After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."

"And then what, señor?" asked the fisherman.

"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?" asked the young fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."

The moral of the story is: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think

~Courtesy Nadia

On Life and Death

2009-12-10T10:08:00.001+05:00

"Death cannot be justified by reasons, it is God's will; but life can be justified by the choices you make. You can either die a victim of terrorism, or you can give your life fighting it and saving the future"
~Isbah Zulfiqar

Triple Filter Test

2009-11-25T17:03:00.002+05:00

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Keep away from ill-thinking/suspicions because ill-thinking is the greatest falsehood.” [Bukhari]

During the golden Abbasid period, one of the scholars in Baghdad, the capital of the Muslim caliphate at that time, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
Scholar: "Hold on a minute, before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
The Man: "Triple Filter Test?"
Scholar: "That's right, before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
The Man: "No, actually I just heard about it and ..."
Scholar: "All right, so you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
The Man: "No, on the contrary..."
Scholar: "So, you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: The filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
The Man: "No, not really."
Scholar: "Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Allah tells us in the Quran: "O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh (meat) of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful." [49:12]

Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) would keep a stone in his mouth so he could not speak without giving himself time to think first. Let's pass our intended speech through the triple filter test before we madly utter our every thought. And lets subject others to the triple filter test too before we hear any damaging number of things from them.

~Courtesy SAK

Darling, hair dryer please

2009-10-27T12:23:00.001+06:00

Where there is a will, there is a way

2009-10-02T21:10:00.001+06:00

If there is a way, I will find one
If there is none, I will make one
~Anonymous

Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.

2009-10-01T21:53:00.002+06:00

2 quotes i like

“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”

~Anonymous

“I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.”
~Anoymous

Ladies, watch your heels!

2009-09-30T15:30:00.005+06:00

NYTimes: Some women love their shoes so much it hurts. Researchers have found that smart shoe choices pay off in the long term: women who had mainly worn supportive footwear like sneakers or athletic shoes in their younger years cut their risk of common foot pain later in life by more than half, compared with women who had worn shoes that gave average support, like high heels hard-soled or rubber-soled ones. Read On

This post reminded me of:

Teebster's wicked witch walay black boots;

Monay's soft and cute ballerina shoes;

B's pamela anderson type shoes she likes

and SAK's long boots (heels walee -the ones she wore at lakeview :))

It takes a moment to break but an entire lifetime to make

2009-09-28T18:01:00.005+06:00

This is a true story that happened in Japan.

In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan breaks open the wall. Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet.
He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when he checked the nail, it was nailed 5 years ago when the house was first built !!!

What happened?

The lizard has survived in such position for 5 years!!!!!!!!!!

In a dark wall partition for 5 years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling.

Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 5 years! without moving a single step--since its foot was nailed! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing from where it came, appears another lizard, with food in its mouth.

Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another lizard has been feeding it for the past 5 years. Imagine? it has been doing that untiringly for 5 long years, without giving up hope on its partner. Imagine what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind can't.

Please never abandon your loved ones. Never say you are busy when they really need you . You may have the entire world at your feet, but you might be the only world to them. A moment of negligence might break the very heart which loves you through all odds. Before you say something just remember, it takes a moment to break but an entire lifetime to make.

Courtesy SAK.

Fluffy

2009-08-20T23:00:00.003+06:00

Fluffy looked heavy. I chased it. Picked him up and he turned out to be light as a feather. Fluffy(late) came from a Chinese origin.

Teebster, Fluffy says hi to your godzillo.

Optimistic | Pessimist

2009-07-29T20:43:00.004+06:00

I have been an optimistic person all my life....one of my friends actually criticizes me for being too optimistic about anything and everything but I can't help it, that's how I think, it comes naturally. That doesn't imply I am unrealistically positive or not sensible about it. Maybe I don't give up easily when my heart is inclined towards something. Generally being optimistic is considered a good thing and it works for me, though the disappointment level is amplified and so is the heart-ache if things don't work out the way I intended.Nevertheless so far so good . The potential of some serious pain hasn't stopped me from reaching out to a wish. All praise and thanks to Allah who has been most kind and most giving and I pray for his continued mercy and compassion for me and everyone I know. Ameen

I came across the article that I quote below. It's an interesting read. I could relate to the thinking style of a pathological pessimist who worries about the worst-case scenario but is willing to give it a shot. I do worry about the worst case too, at times I worry sick but i try to shoo away the negative thought by making dua.The article published in Times Online brings to surface the postive sides of being a pessimistic.

Imagine you are walking down the street. It is a lovely day — clear blue sky, a light breeze, sunshine. You marvel at what people refer to as “the miracle of life”. The leaves are so green! The birds are chirping! You are blissfully caught up in a state of vitamin D-induced euphoria. You think of the person you love most in the world, someone to whom you are profoundly attached. Visualising their face, you have a sense of infinite safety; you are filled with joy.

Then, you picture them dead.

Suddenly you are filled with dread, consumed by all the what-ifs that are contained in this thought. Thousands of them, like a shoal of sardines, racingare contained in this thought. Thousands of them, like a shoal of sardines, racing frantically through your mind. The more you try to push this thought away, the more space it occupies, expanding uncontrollably until you are not just experiencing the loss but are fixating on the details. The funeral arrangements, the life-insurance papers, questions of their Pin and the password for their e-mail.

Forget the leaves on the trees — you have more pressing concerns. Where’s the joy in being alive now? The sunshine has become oppressive; it’s no longer energising; it causes melanoma. You cross over to the shady side of the street. Read On

So be patient with admirable patience.

2009-07-08T20:08:00.004+06:00

Here is a collection of some verses from the Holy Quran on Patience. If you come across any, other do share and we can build on the list. Thank you

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"Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure", [The Troops : 10].

"And We will certainly bestow on those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions", [The Bee : 96].

"And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk", [Mankind : 12].

"And be patient and persevering; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere", [Spoils of War : 46].

"But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil, then that will be a determining factor in all actions", [The Family of Imran : 186].

"But give glad tiding to those who patiently persevere, who say, when afflicted with calamity : 'To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return'", [The Cow : 155-156].

Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 46

And seek help with patience and prayer, and this indeed is hard except for the humble in spirit

Chapter : 3 (Al-`Imran) Verse : 187

You shall surely be tried in your possessions, and your persons, and you shall surely hear many hurtful things from those who were given the Book before you, and from those who set up equals to Allah. But if you show patience and fortitude and act righteously, that indeed is a matter of high resolve.

Chapter : 12 (Yusuf) Verse : 19

And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said, 'This what you say is not true but your souls have made a great thing appear light in your eyes. So comely patience is now called for. And it is Allah alone Whose help is sought against what you assert.'

Chapter : 12 (Yusuf) Verse : 84

He replied, 'Nay, but your minds have embellished to you an evil thing. So now there is nothing left for me but goodly patience. May be Allah will bring them all to me; for He is the All-Knowing the Wise.'

Chapter : 14 (Ibrahim) Verse : 13

'And why should we not put our trust in Allah when He has showed us our appropriate ways? And we will, surely, bear with patience all the harm you do to us. So, in Allah let those who trust put their trust. '

Chapter : 16 (Al-Nahl) Verse : 128

And, O Prophet, endure thou with patience; and verily thy patience is possible only with the help of Allah. And grieve not for them, nor feel distressed because of their evil designs.

Chapter : 21 (Al-Anbiya') Verse : 86

And call to mind Ishmael and Idris and Dhu'l-Kifl. All were men of patience.

Chapter : 40 (Al-Mu'min) Verse : 56

So have patience. Surely, the promise of Allah is true. And ask forgiveness for them for the wrongs they have done thee and glorify thy Lord with His praise in the evening and the in morning.

Chapter : 46 (Al-Ahqaf) Verse : 36

Have patience, then, as the Messengers, possessed of high resolve, had patience; and be in no haste concerning them. On the day when they see that which they are threatened, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried in this world save for an hour of a day. This warning has been conveyed; and none but the disobedient people shall be destroyed.

Chapter : 50 (Qaf) Verse : 40

So bear with patience what they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before its setting;

Chapter : 70 (Al-Ma`arij) Verse : 6

So be patient with admirable patience.

Smart Women

2009-07-01T17:10:00.001+06:00

Barbara Walters, of Television's 20/20, did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan several years before the Afghan conflict.

She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands.

She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands.

From Ms Walters' vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppres
sive Taliban regime, the women walked even further back behind their husbands, and seemed to appear happy to maintain the old custom.

Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, 'Why do you continue with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?'

The woman looked Ms Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation said...
'Land Mines.'

The moral of the story is (no matter what language you speak and where you go)

BEHIND EVERY MAN, THERE'S A SMART WOMAN!

Blog Anniversary II

2009-06-22T16:44:00.002+06:00

Two years ago I wrote on my first first blog post "If love is pure it never ends". Today I say again, "If love is pure it doesn't end, it only grows."

I leave a quote from One Tree Hill as a point to ponder on:

Imagine a future moment in your life where all your dreams come true. You know it's the greatest moment of your life and you get to experience it with one person. Who's standing next to you?

Stay tuned to SYRA STAR. Happy Blog Anniversary II.

=)

iFAST

2009-06-02T13:39:00.004+06:00

Ever since I studied the elective course 'Distributed computing' and heard about 'Multi-Agent systems' during my college days at FAST I thought it would be fascinating to have a mobile application that would allows students to add and drop courses, see the real-time whereabouts of the on-campus activities, review their grades and course history and perform a variety of other administrative tasks that are normally accessible only over secure campus networks.

It's very intriguing to know that Standford university and others of the like have already implemented such an appication called iStandford for their students carrying iphones. How cool is that!
You can read about it here, here and here.

Also I thought, if each student or cell phone could have an RFID attached on campus, each student can track down his/her friends, class mates, T-A, Pofessor and so forth via an application on the cell phone that would show some what like a university campus map pointing to where people on our peer list can be located and reached to in the campus at a given time. Ofcourse there would be pros and cons and privacy issues to deal with. Maybe in a couple of years, such a feature will be in the making if not already. In case no one else has thought of it, which I doubt, I should patent my idea =).

Teebsters day at work

2009-05-31T22:27:00.009+06:00

On a frivolous note

fresh day begins with music videos on you tube

followed by video games on yahoo games

then musica time

some chatting

more chatting

and finally when she is tired from a hard day's work it's time for some programming :p

Teebster, it was so much fun taking these pics chupke chupke

Teebster strikes again!

2009-05-27T09:19:00.002+06:00

The Teebster Mesh! Who says office is boring :)
My monitor is most honored by the decoration :p. Thank you teebster for sparing my ring :)

Make dua for Anything you want. Everything you want

2009-05-15T11:55:00.006+06:00

Peyton: "Make a wish and place it in your heart. Anything you want. Everything you want".
Lucas: "Do you have it? Good. Now believe it can come true. You never know where the next miracle is going to come from, the next smile. The next wish come true."
Peyton: "But if you believe that it is right around the corner. And you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it. To the certainty of it."
Brooke: "You just might get the thing you're wishing for."
Nathan: "The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it. So make your wish. Do you have it?"
Haley: "Good. Now believe in it. With all your heart."

~One Tree Hill

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Present your most dear wish in the form of dua to the ever hearing Allah, and know at heart he can make it happen for you. One of the etiquette of making dua is to be firm. Allah mian likes the confidence we put in Him =).

I quote from this site:
Be firm when making dua: Yahya related from Malik from Abu’z Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ”When you are making dua, do not say: ‘O Allah, forgive me if You wish. O Allah, forgive me if you wish.’ You should be firm in your asking, for there is no compelling Him.”
Source: Al Muwatta hadith 28, volume 15.

Click here to read more about the etiquette's of making dua.

Happy Praying :)

Allah's artistry in color By Harun Yahya

2009-04-11T17:13:00.004+05:00

He Who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not find any flaw in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look again-do you see any gaps? Then look again and again. Your sight will return to you dazzled and exhausted! (Surat al-Mulk: 3-4)

Click on the image for a better view or visit the source here or here

For what's it worth----Protect It

2009-04-02T20:43:00.005+05:00

The quote below striked to me. It's from the movie Pursuit of Happiness which is based on the inspiring true story on the struggle in the life of Christopher Gardner.

"You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period. "
~Christopher Gardner [to his son]

I also liked the following quote from the movie The curious case of Benjamin Button. The movie itself is interesting too. It's longer then the usual Hollywood movies and gets a bit slow. Nevertheless I liked it and would recommend it. The movie has no twists and turns. It's simply about the life of a person who ages backwards and that's the whole charm of the movie.

"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."

~Benjamin Button [Voice over; letter to his daughter]

Music and Memories

2009-03-29T16:33:00.003+05:00

Have you ever formed associations of music with memories.? Like a song reminds me of my friend because she sings it to me and similarly a song can remind you of the happy time when all friends were together, sang and listened to it repeatedly on a school trip? Or a song that used to play on the car's radio while you ride to school daily? Or a song that reminds you of someone who said something similar to you? All such songs have become special to me because of it reminds me of special people or hearty occasions. A recent study shows the memories and emotions that people associate with familiar songs are a part of the brain where the wiring for memories and thoughts about music appears to be linked.

"What seems to happen is that a piece of familiar music serves as a soundtrack for a mental movie that starts playing in our head. It calls back memories of a particular person or place, and you might all of a sudden see that person's face in your mind's eye," study author Petr Janata, associate professor of psychology at the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis, said in a news release issued by the school. "Now we can see the association between those two things -- the music and the memories." Read On

Source: Health Day

This also reminds me how much I don't like the ring tone that's plays when the driver is here to pick me up for work in the morning. Some may feel this way about their alarm tones.

Unveiling game-changing wearable technology

2009-03-26T20:11:00.002+05:00

Pretty impressive

Courtesy Khany

All you need is ONE

2009-03-25T21:30:00.003+05:00

At this moment there are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just not facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world, six billion souls. And sometimes... all you need is one.

~Peyton [One tree hill]
Courtesy Ali

Teebster--the prankster

2009-03-24T16:06:00.002+05:00

Ok, So I return to my office seat after a minute or two and find my wall paper set to this image. Then I see a very giggly teebster! So lesson learnt is never to leave your work station unlocked even for a minute!

Good one teebz! Now you better watch out! :p :)

My favourite T-Shirt

2009-03-19T20:00:00.000+05:00

I have had this T-shirt for almost a decade and I continue to treasure it. My friend, Momina gifted it to me. She told me before hand that she's going to get me a t-shirt..I was like.."no no no beeru, i don't wear t-shirts"..and she said "when you see it, you will surely want to wear it"

It's the size of my hand and the message on the shirt says: THOUGHT I'D BUY YOU A T-SHIRT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY BUT THE TAILOR HAD THE WRONG SIZE WELL AT LEAST I REMEMBERED THE DAY!!

Momina, I m still trying to fit into it :)

The Mysterious Envelope

2009-03-14T18:54:00.005+05:00

One fine morning in late 2007 a mysterious, creative envelope addressed to me, landed on my office desk. Inside was a pretty bracelet. I was most pleasantly surprised.

It read

SairaStar,

Remember the girl from the village,
Remember the girl from the town,
Remember the gal who spoiled this ugly elixir envelope
By writing UPSIDE DOWN :)

Happy Birthday, may you have a wicked life full of blogs,fans and a prince in shining armour ;)

On the corner it said P.S Guess Who! :p

By far the most interesting envelope and unique birthday wish addressed to me.

The birth of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h)

2009-03-10T13:34:00.006+05:00

Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), the Master of Prophets, was born in Bani Hashim lane in Makkah on Monday morning, the ninth of Rabi‘ Al-Awwal, the same year of the Elephant Event, and forty years of the reign of Kisra (Khosru Nushirwan), i.e. the twentieth or twenty-second of April, 571 A.D., according to the scholar Muhammad Sulaimân Al-Mansourpuri, and the astrologer Mahmûd Pasha. [Muhadarat Tareekh Al-Umam Al-Islamiyah 1/62; Rahmat-ul-lil'alameen 1/38,39]

Ibn Sa‘d reported that Muhammad’s mother said: "When he was born, there was a light that lit the palaces of Syria." Ahmad reported on the authority of ‘Arbadh bin Sariya something similar to this. [Mukhtasar Seerat-ur-Rasool, p.12; Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd 1/63]

It was but controversially reported that significant precursors accompanied his birth: fourteen galleries of Kisra’s palace cracked and rolled down, the Magians’ (people worshipped fire) sacred fire died down and some churches on Lake Sawa sank down and collapsed. [Reported by Al-Baihaqi, but Al-Ghazali didn't approve it - see Fiqh-us-Seerah p.46]

His mother immediately sent someone to inform his grandfather ‘Abdul-Muttalib of the happy event. Happily he came to her, carried him to Al-Ka‘bah, prayed to Allâh and thanked Him. ‘Abdul-Muttalib called the baby Muhammad, a name not then common among the Arabs. He circumcised him on his seventh day as was the custom of the Arabs. [Ibn Hisham 1/159,160; Zad Al-Ma'ad 1/18; Muhadarat Tareekh Al-Umam Al-Islamiyah 1/62] Read On

I was born on a Monday morning too, I am delighted to have my birth day of the week common with the best person ever.

=)

Eid Milad Nabi Mubarek!

Source: SunniPath Library

Near but Far

2009-03-09T20:14:00.003+05:00

A saint asked his disciples, Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.'

'But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint. 'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?'

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.

Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.'

Then the saint asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

MORAL: When you argue do not let your hearts get distant; do not say words that distance each other.

~Anonymous

Bonds from heaven

2009-02-27T14:14:00.003+05:00

...Really important meetings are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other....
~Paulo Coelho

Believe it or not :)

No network or battery problem

2009-02-22T16:07:00.002+05:00

A text message I liked:

Prayer is a free outgoing call to God. No network or battery problem, always good signals and all messages sent. Make prayer a habit.

Courtesy: Mahrukh

Seek forgiveness from the person you have wronged

2009-02-20T12:48:00.004+05:00

Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)

Allah's Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said : "Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his pardon (before his death), as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. (He should secure pardon in this life) before some of his good deeds are taken and paid to his brother, or, if he has done no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of his brother are taken to be loaded on him (in the Hereafter)."

Bukhari Hadith 8.541

Good Suffering > Wicked Prospering

2009-02-09T22:32:00.007+05:00

In the part of this universe that we know there is great injustice, and often the “Good Suffer”and often the “Wicked Prosper”, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying.
[Bertrand Russell]

For me, the thought of bad things happening to good people is more annoying. God promises justice in the hereafter. May there be justice in this life too. Eventually, the good shall win. Right beats wrong, good trumps evil and love overrides hate. Ameen

Kotable Kotations

2009-02-06T10:29:00.003+05:00

"To be is to do"
By Socrates
.
.
.
"To do is to be"
By Plato
.
.
.
.
.
"Do be do be do"
By Scooby do

Courtesy: ShahrukhStar

I've learned

2009-02-05T13:37:00.003+05:00

Written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words.

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular .

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher..

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned .... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom and Dad that I loved them one more time before they passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned..... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

A definition to remember

2009-01-31T22:59:00.003+05:00

Recently I watched the hollywood movie: A walk to remember. It reminded me of two other movies namely Sweet November and The Notebook. All three being sweet movies and interesting to watch in their own place. If you have seen all three maybe you can connect the three movies too.
There is a quote in the movie from the bible that I liked, posting it below:

“Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offense. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and endurance. Love takes no pleasure in other peoples sins but delights in the truth; It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.”

The Splashes of Life

2009-01-29T17:01:00.004+05:00

My grandfather took me to the fishpond on the farm when I was about seven and he told me to throw a stone into the water.

He told me to watch the waves created by the stone, and then he asked me to think of myself as that stone.

"You may create a lot of splashes in your life, but remember the waves that come from those splashes will affect the peace of all your fellow creatures," he said.

"Remember that you are responsible for what you throw into your circle, and that your waves will touch many other circles. Always try to live in a way that the waves that come from your circle send out the peace of your goodness to other circles."

"Remember the waves that come from anger and jealousy will also send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for all the waves."

That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world.

We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt and anger. We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside whether we voice them or not. Whatever is sloshing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all the other circles of life.

Remember the eternal wisdom: WHATEVER YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS

[Author Unknown]

Courtesy A friend

Stop!

2009-01-19T21:55:00.001+05:00

~Helen Ward drew for One Tree Hill

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Saira Andleeb once wrote "There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who wont any more, and who always will. So don't worry about the people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future" BUT "You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories" and there's a reason for that too !

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thoughts:

The loss of a dear one is saddening. Unfortunately or fortunately people do leave, but they don't always leave. Sometimes they come back. Destiny has ways of bringing them back to us. Destiny brings together people who are meant to be together, for better or for worse. They say it is destined. They say it is written. Indeed it is! But do we sit back when we fear losing someone, hoping that destiny would magically bring them back to us. NAY! we fight for them! By doing so, sometimes the stars change course. Sometimes destinies are written to be erased and rewritten by forces of love! But sometimes we have to have the courage to let go and embrace destiny and have faith that Allah wills for the better. In such conflicting times the heart knows the difference. The guidance comes from within. God speaks through hearts. Listen to the inner voice. Celebrate!

No pain, No gain! Must there always be pain?

2009-01-18T22:47:00.005+05:00

"Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken." But I wonder if there's no breaking then there's no healing, and if there's no healing then there's no learning. And if there's no learning then there's no struggle. But the struggle is a part of life. So must all hearts be broken?"

~ Quote in italic by Albert Camus
Description quote taken from One Tree Hill.
Image by Helen Ward

I like Green Tea, do you?

2009-01-10T21:22:00.007+05:00

One good habit that I have developed ever since I started my professional career is to have at least one cup of green tea on work days. Not only does it taste good, it has plenty of benefits. Green tea is a far more healthier alternative to tea and coffee. Let me give you a tip; add few drops of lemon and it taste even better. If you want to make it more special, add ilaychie and saunf. :)
While I go and make my self some green tea, please read 25 reasons why you should be drinking green tea. Happy Reading

1. Green Tea and Cancer

Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease

Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging

Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally. It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

5. Green Tea and Skin

Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging.Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green Tea and Arthritis

Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

7. Green Tea and Bones

The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea.It helps keep your bones strong.
If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol

Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green Tea and Obesity

Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes

Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's

Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's

Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease

Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure

Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure.Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning

Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green Tea and Immunity

Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu

Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu.Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma

Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection

Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning, soak a cotton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes

Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay

Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green Tea and Stress

L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.

24. Green Tea and Allergies

EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies.So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

25. Green Tea and HIV

Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells.What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

Courtesy: A friend

Sidra Reflects

2009-01-02T09:35:00.002+05:00

Sunset over River Ravi

"Ever seen reflection of a sunset on the surface of a peaceful river? How serene and enchanting... but how very delicate... a single pebble can destroy your view...dispersing the beauty into wild spread of mere colors... which makes no sense no meaning to anyone but me myself... such is the beauty of a dream... beautiful, enchanting and sometimes mesmerizing for a short time...Pebbles of reality can distort them and shred them... yet they mean a world to me... and I try to hold onto its every color... every hue... every tinge of it... because it was my dream... and every bit of it was my happiness.. my joy... my life!"

[Sidra]

May all your dreams come true Sidra. Ameen

ILLUSION

2008-12-31T15:25:00.001+05:00

Have you ever had a dream that seems so real, when you woke up you didn't know what to believe? What would you do if what you thought was true wasn't and what you thought wasn't true was? Would you retreat into your dreams with the hope of finding a more perfect reality? Sometimes life is stranger than a dream and the only way to wake up is to face what lies hidden in your soul. And you can only hope that in those moments of dark reflection that you are not alone."
[Lucas Scott-One Tree Hill]

Sooner or later you got to accept and face the reality. The sooner the better! Be brave.

The heart speaks louder than the tongue

2008-12-21T20:17:00.003+05:00

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
[John Bunyan]

The heart does speaks louder then the tongue. Seems more effective too. The connection is so strong. Words aren't needed. The heart speaks itself. It's like magic; being stuck in a trance. Praying to Allah, letting the heart do all the talking. Silently. Painfully.Peacefully.

Chased

2008-12-16T20:21:00.005+05:00

He finally did it. Now Rruuuuuun!!!

recall the older post from the archive

This image reminded me of this one time, rather two times, I got chased by a dog. Both the incidents occurred in quick successions. I was around 11 years old wandering on the hill tops of Azad Kashmir during summer vacations. The first time I was leading my gang, jumping and humming away and all of a sudden, out of no where a wild stray white/ yellowish labore dog pounced off an intersection. Since I was the speedy me, I was quite ahead of my cousins in the walk. Being the nearest victim I was the target of attack. Gulp! So I ran, and I ran. I ran for my life towards my cousins. I ran my heart out, and that is one feeling I clearly remember. It felt as if my heart was in my mouth beating a zillion times a second. Thank God I didn't run in the opposite direction. The dog got scared of the crowd of my cousins and retreated.

The other time was perhaps a week after my first encounter. Just my luck! I was playing in a yard at one of our relatives place. On a corner, lied a big brown bushy dog. He looked extremely sad to me so I wanted to pat him to cheer him up. I tip toed towards him. When I was almost 4 meters away he got up and sat so I stopped. Ah, his big black poor sad eyes looking at me deeply. I took a step or two and extended my hand towards the dogee. The big black sad eyes became ferocious scary large eyes. This time I screamed first and sprinted like crazy again. My cousin and my brother were playing cricket in the lawn near by. My cousin took charge of the situation. It was his pet.

PHEW!

Up Up & Away

2008-12-14T13:51:00.005+05:00

Artist: Alex Ross

Superman is my hero, who is yours?

Emotionally Intelligent Anger

2008-12-12T13:51:00.006+05:00

Anyone can become angry that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way: this is not easy.

[Aristotle]

Keep sailing

2008-12-06T12:41:00.008+05:00

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and sails of your seafaring soul. If either be broken, you can but toss and drift or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas. For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining. And passion, unattended is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
[Khalil Gibran]

Don't let the obstacles on the way override you. Remember, you are bigger then your problems. As long as you keep going, you will sail through eventually. The rudder and the sails can be fixed; if you keep going, your reason and your passion will reinforce each other too.

Some good moments of life

2008-11-30T14:47:00.013+05:00

To laugh until it hurts your stomach
To clear your last exam
To fall in love
To hear accidentally that somebody said something good of you
To pass a while with your best friends
To see an old friend again and to feel things haven't changed
To wake up and realize it is still possible to sleep a couple of hours
To have tea and dry fruit with family in winter evenings
To see a sleeping baby smile
To know that someone is smiling with heart because of something you said or did
To unexpectedly find some money in an old jacket pocket / purse / drawer
To learn a lesson for life from a person you don't know at all. For example: words of wisdom from a taxi driver, or a laborer
To come across a funny note scribbled on an old notebook written by a friend in one of the boring lectures
To feel the warmth when someone brings your/their favorite chocolate for you
To be warmly greeted by your mommy in the morning as if you were still a baby
To have garam garam pakoray made by mama on the first winter\summer rain
To sit on a big rock on top of a mountain and watch the sunset and sunrise
To take a lot of photos with a lot of excitement, (like a kid playing with his precious most toy) specially with your brand new camera
To read letters from old friends
To view old photo albums
To dine on the iftari table with family
To win a bet.
To complete the final stage of a video game
To see a smile on Mom's/Dad's face.
To win a heated argument.
To have your favorite meal be it savour or chicky meal or a sizzling steak or a cheesy lasgnia :). Also to have your favourite scrumptious dessert.
To fix a really hard bug (specific to software engineers) or complete a work related module

Thanks for contributing everyone. God bless you all with these happy moments and more =)

kaisay keh doon

2008-11-25T21:57:00.003+05:00

ishrat thukrai mainay apnay aap warna
fitrat ko tha mairi naagavaar phisalna

mairi muflissi per zarra ghum na kerna
jazba-e-imaan ki daulat ko samajhna

kaisay keh doon tum ko umeed rakhna
yoon hii mujh per ayenda aitemaad kerna

yeh lagan hai kaafi saamaan-e-safr apna
bun na jai bojh, tum per ye maira sapna

gar naa mil sakay thikaana dil mazboot rakhna
yaser yeh dard hai shaafee issay yaad rakhna

[Khany]

nothing vs everything

2008-11-23T19:00:00.002+05:00

“What has he lost who has found You,
and what has he found who has lost You? “
- Ibn ‘Ata’Allah -

You-->Allah

Where to tap

2008-11-19T12:10:00.002+05:00

Ever heard the story of the giant ship engine that failed? The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster.

He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer.

He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life.

He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.
"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"
So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer - $ 2.00

Knowing where to - $ 9998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference!

Courtesy: Zunaira

Whose dream am I dreaming?

2008-11-17T19:50:00.001+05:00

Douglas Adams once wrote that he felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it. I wonder too.....

A little hidden something

2008-11-09T16:01:00.004+05:00

There is always

A little truth behind every JUST KIDDING
A little curiosity behind every JUST WONDERING
A little knowledge behind every I DON'T KNOW
And a Little Emotion behind every I DON'T CARE

~Anonymous

* I think sometimes there a huge emotion behind 'I don't care' =)

They are not you

2008-11-05T14:02:00.001+05:00

~Helen Ward
(More famous as Peyton's art work in One tree hill)

Plan, but understand that we only live by Allah’s grace

2008-10-26T16:58:00.002+06:00

Sometimes Allah breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes Allah breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes Allah allows pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes Allah sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes Allah allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes Allah takes away some things from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.
Plan, but understand that we only live by Allah’s grace.

~Anonymous

Want to see a phone disappear?

2008-10-20T15:41:00.004+06:00

Source : Dilbert

Coutesy: Saira A.K, for introducing the Dilbert comic to me =)

NYTimes: Girl Power at School, but Not at the Office

2008-10-13T09:54:00.003+06:00

By HANNAH SELIGSON

I was born in 1982 — about 20 years after the women’s rights movement began. Growing up in what many have called a post-feminist culture, I did not really experience institutional gender bias. “Girl power” was celebrated, and I felt that all doors were open to me.

When I was in college, the female students excelled academically, sometimes running laps around their male counterparts. Women easily ascended to school leadership positions and prestigious internships. In my graduating class (more than half of which was female) there was a feeling of camaraderie, a sense that we were helping each other succeed.

Then I left the egalitarianism of the classroom for the cubicle, and everything changed. The realization that the knowledge and skills acquired in school don’t always translate at the office is something that all college graduates, men and women, must face. But for women, I have found, the adjustment tends to be much harder. It was certainly hard for me — I lasted only nine months in my first job out of college.

Inspired by my own rocky entrance into the work world, I decided to interview other young women and discovered that many of them, like me, were facing a steep workplace learning curve. What was it, I wondered, that was making our first career steps so wobbly when we had been so accomplished and self-assured in school?

Read On

mein ney pyaar kiya

2008-10-11T22:11:00.002+06:00

Jaan jaati hai by Khany

jaan jaati hai par mein ney aitebaar kiya
jaan jaati hai magar mein ney iqrar kiya

terray aanay sey dil ko hosala-e-aitemaad mila
tujh sey pehlay mein ney abdan inkaar kiya

jeeta tha mein roz yeh tamanah lay ker
tujh sa koi hasseen merra sahaara hota

tu bichra bhi jo mujh sey tou yoon bichra zaalim
malamat bhi na ker sakaa, dil tou halka hota

phir bhi terra yeh karam tu ney merra naam liya
jaan tou jaani hii thi khushaa keh mein ney pyaar kiya

~Khany

Editors note: The poem is originally titled Jaan jaati hai.

Islamica Magazine - The Loss of Mercy - And Where To Find It

2008-10-10T10:42:00.004+06:00

Through the Prophet's character and behavior true gentleness and mercy can be seen manifest in action

by FARAZ RABBANI

Sectarian bloodbaths in Iraq ... suicide bombers blowing themselves up in parking lots of hotels, taking innocent lives...female madrassah students in Islamabad waving cane sticks at shopkeepers and vendors ... people being turned away from Islam from the harshness of many of those deemed "religious" ...

There is a loss of mercy and gentleness around. Yet we see anger and harshness abound, and one wonders what has gone wrong.

In reality, Divine guidance and Prophetic teachings are nothing but a manifestation of mercy-and any understanding of religion lacking in mercy is lacking in true understanding.

Our problem is that we fail to act on the implications of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) having been, "sent only as a mercy to all creation." [Qur'an, 21.107] The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself emphasized that, "I was only sent as a gift of Mercy." [Bazzar and Tabarani, from Abu Hurayra; sound]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) explained, too, that, "The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth and the Lord of the Heavens will be merciful to you." [Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud, from Abd Allah ibn Amr; rigorously authentic] It is a sign of the way of traditional Islamic scholarship that this is the first hadith (Prophetic teaching) traditionally conveyed by a scholar to their students.

Learning to Love

Mercy relates to how one views others. A leading Kuwaiti scholar whom I met last summer advised that, "We have to teach people how to love God's creation, because this is central to the Prophetic example and teachings. This look of love and mercy is a condition of faith itself, for the Prophet cautioned us that, "None of you truly believes until they love for their brethren what they love for themselves." And the "brotherhood" mentioned here is the brotherhood of humanity, not merely that of Islam-as Imam Nawawi and other classical commentators have mentioned.

Dealing with Disagreements

In dealing with disagreements, Imam Razi mentions an important principle in his great Qur'anic exegesis: there is no contradiction between being firm on what one understands to be the truth and between being gentle. Rather, the way of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) is to be firm, when firmness is called upon, but with mercy and gentleness-in both attitude and action.

When one differs with others, one must maintain the excellence of character and conduct that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said was the very purpose of Divine Guidance, when he explained that, "I was only sent to perfect noble character."

It is only with this gentleness and excellence that people, ultimately, listen to the call to guidance. It once happened that some non-Muslims greeted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with an insult. His wife, A'isha, insulted them back. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not. Rather, he simply replied, "And upon you," which is the standard reply to the greeting of, "Peace be upon you." Then, he said to his dear wife, "A'isha! Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters." [Bukhari, from Ai'sha] And he also taught that, "Gentleness is not found in anything except that it makes it beautiful; and gentleness is not taken out of anything except that is makes it ugly." [Muslim and others, also from A'isha]

Imam Razi explains that the very purpose of Divine revelation is for messengers to convey the call to believe and submit to God. This purpose cannot be fulfilled unless people incline towards the message and are at ease with it. And this, in turn, cannot be fulfilled unless its bearers are merciful and generous; overlooking others' mistakes and forgiving their errors; and being respectful of them.

This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself was. Allah commends him, saying, "It is from the Mercy of God that you were gentle with them. Were you harsh and hard-hearted they would indeed have fled from you." [Qur'an, 3.159]

The underlying respect of others, even those one differs or disagrees with, is affirmed in the Divine command in the second part of this very verse, "So overlook their errors, seek forgiveness for them, and consult them regarding matters."

The Fault in Fleeing

Harshness within communities leads to disunity and discord (fitna), as people "flee from each other," to use the Qur'anic metaphor above. The Prophetic example entails that we differ with respect for the other party. We should see the good in them; consider the points and issues of commonality, and not merely those of difference; and always assume that they, too, are sincerely seeking the truth.

And then when we act or speak in matters or situations where there is disagreement or difference-whatever it may be and whomever it may be with-we should stop and consider: how would the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) have acted in this situation? If we reflect on his example, we cannot possibly imagine him acting with other than excellence, mercy, and gentleness in any situation or with anyone.

Source: Islamica Magazine

Hazrat Ali's comment on dua

2008-10-09T09:26:00.000+06:00

"Jab meri Dua qabool ho tu khushi hoti hay ke is mey meri marzi hay or jab na ho to khushi or bhi barh jati hai ke is mein Allah(s.w.t)ke marzee hai"
~Hazrat Ali (R.A)

Courtesy SAK

Animation Vs Animator

2008-10-05T23:01:00.002+06:00

Courtesy A friend

Forgive everyone for everything

2008-09-28T22:34:00.001+06:00

Odor affects the emotional tone of dreams

2008-09-27T13:50:00.004+06:00

Health Day: Can the smell of rotten eggs or roses change the type of dream you have?

Quite possibly, new research suggests.

German researchers are reporting that when people smelled the scent of rotten eggs while sleeping, the nature of their dreams turned decidedly negative, while those who got a whiff of the scent of roses had more positive dreams.

"We were able to stimulate the sleeper with high concentrations of positively and negatively smelling odors and measure if the stimuli were incorporated into the dreams and changed the emotional tone of dreams," said the study's lead author, Dr. Boris Stuck, a professor of otorhinolaryngology at Heidelberg University.

"We found that the sleeper hardly ever dreamed of smelling something. Nevertheless, the emotional tone of the dream did change depending on the stimulation," he said.

Stuck said that previous research had shown that other types of stimulation, such as sound, pressure or vibration, could influence the content and the emotional tone of dreams.

Read On

I love Jalebi

2008-09-26T13:21:00.003+06:00

I have never seen a jallebi that big a size! But I love em thin and crisp freshly fried.

Source : The Big Picture

It has a life if its own

2008-09-19T20:18:00.002+06:00

I try to log on to the Internet, but its not working. It's never been the same since I destroyed the connection. I called various technicians, but when the finally turned up, they could not find any thing wrong with the computer. They asked me what I was complaining about, spent half an hour doing tests, changed configuration, and assured me that the problem lay not with me but with the server. I allowed myself to be convinced that everything was, in fact, fine and I felt ridiculous for having asked for help. Two or three hours later, the computer and the connection would crash. Now, after months of physical and psychological wear and tear, I simply accept that technology is stronger and more powerful than me: it works when it wants to, and when it doesn't, it's best to sit down and read the paper or go for a walk, and just wait until the cables and the telephone links are in a better mood and the computer decides to work again. I am not, I have discovered, my computer's master: it has a life if its own.

~Paulo Cohelo
The Zahir

Life goes on.....

2008-09-14T13:34:00.000+06:00

Why evil exists?

2008-09-13T10:28:00.001+06:00

Allah does not create pure evil which does not have any good or contain any benefit, wisdom or mercy at all, nor does He punish anyone without having committed a sin. Something can be good in terms of its creation when viewed in a particular perspective and at the same time be evil when viewed in another way. Allah created the devil and by him He tests His servants, so there are those who hate the devil and fight in His way and they stand at enmity towards Satan and his followers and there are others who are at allegiance with the devil and follow his steps. So evil exists in His creatures by His will and wisdom, not in His actions or act of creating.

Source: Book-> Fortification for Muslims

The Arrogant Nafs!

2008-09-03T22:31:00.002+06:00

When Allah created the intellect, He said

O intellect, turn away. And it turned away.
O intellect, turn and come. And it turned and came.
O intellect, who am I? It said, “You are Allah, Lord of the worlds.”

When Allah created the nafs, He said

Turn and come. And it turned away.
Turn away. And it turned and came.
O nafs, who am I? It said, “You are you and I am I."

Allah overcame the nafs with hunger, and it was humbled. Allah said

O nafs, turn away. And it turned away.
O nafs, come. And it came.
O nafs, who am I? And the nafs said, “You are Allah, Lord of the worlds."

Source: taken from a Sunnipath lecture

Ramadan Mubarek

2008-09-02T09:49:00.003+06:00

Dear Muslims,

Ramadan Mubarek. Alhamdulillah we are lucky to enter this blessed month once again. May Allah give us tawfeeq to make the most of it. InshAllah.

Below are certain parts of Imam Zaid's article Ramadan Lessons that I would like to share:

Abu Hurayra, may God be pleased with him, relates that the Prophet, peace upon him, said: “The reward of every action undertaken by the human being is for him—and good deeds will be rewarded from ten up to seven hundred times—God says: ‘Except for fasting, that is for Me and I will determine its reward......"

In the tradition mentioned above, fasting is exempted from the deeds whose reward is multiplied up to seven hundred times. We understand from this that its reward transcends this particular numerical value. Rather, God multiplies its reward many times over what is mentioned in the tradition, with no specific limitation. One reason for this is that fasting is a manifestation of patience and God has said of the person displaying patience: Rather, the patience ones will be given their reward without numerical limitations (40:10)

Another version of the tradition we mentioned initially states: “Every action the human being does is a source of expiation for his [misdeeds], except fasting, it is for Me and I will reward him for it.” Among the nicest explanations of this is that given by Sufyan b.’Uyayana, he said: “When the Day of Judgment comes God will take account of His servants and all those he [the servant] has oppressed will be recompensed from the reward of his good deeds until only the reward of fasting remains. At that point God will recompense the remaining oppressed parties [from His bounty] and enter the servant into Paradise on the reward of his fast.” This narration has been recorded by Imam al-Bayhaqi [11], and others.

Based on this meaning we understand that the fast is for God in that no one can take the reward of the fast from the one who has undertaken it. Rather his reward is stored up with God.

In a related issue, it has been said that the reward of all of the religious actions might be a source of atonement for sins [that do not include acts of oppression] until none of that reward remains. It has been related that on the Day of Judgment [a person’s] good deeds will be weighed against [his] bad deeds with the good deeds atoning for the bad ones. If after this process any good remains on that basis its subject doer will enter Paradise. This opinion has been expressed by Sa’id b. Jubayr and others. It also has been related from the Prophet, peace upon him, by Imam Hakim from the narrations of Ibn ‘Abbas, may God be pleased with him and his father.

Based on what has been mentioned [concerning acts of oppression] it is possible to say that the reward of fasting is not removed by this process of atonement for one’s sins, or by anything else. Rather, its reward is held back and then given in full to the servant and based on that he will enter Paradise.

Sweet Revenge

2008-09-01T17:17:00.002+06:00

The difference

2008-08-28T16:54:00.004+06:00

A Sage was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said. 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.' The Lord led the Sage to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the Sage looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the Sage's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.The Sage shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The Sage said, 'I don't understand.'

'It is simple,' said the Lord.

'It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'

A dialogue between a Flower and a Pearl

2008-08-27T14:47:00.002+06:00

One day, a brilliantly beautiful and fragrant flower with attractive colors met a pearl that lives far in the bottom of the sea and has none of these characteristics. Both got acquainted with each other. The flower said: "Our family is large; roses and daisies are members of the family. And there are many other species that are various and countless; each has a distinctive scent, appearance etc." Suddenly, a tinge of distress appeared on the flower.

"Nothing accounts for sorrow in your talk; so why are you depressed?"The pearl asked.

"Human beings deal with us carelessly; they slight us. They don't grow us for our sake but to get pleasure from our fragrance and beautiful appearance. They throw us on the street or in the garbage can after we are dispossessed of the most valuable properties; brilliance and fragrance."The flower sighed.

And then the flower said to the pearl: "Speak to me about your life! How do you live? How do you feel it? You are buried in the bottom of the sea."

The pearl answered: "Although I have none of your distinctive colors and sweet scents, humans think I am precious. They do the impossible to procure me. They go on long journeys, dive deep in the seas searching for me. You might be astounded to know that the further I lay, the more beautiful and brilliant I become. That's what upraises my value in their thought. I live in a thick shell isolated in the dark seas. However, I'm happy and proud to be in a safe zone far from wanton and mischievous hands and still the humans consider me highly valuable".

Do you know what the flower and the pearl symbolize?The Flower is the UnHijabed Woman and the Pearl is the Hijabed Woman.

Courtesy Cloey

Disconnect

2008-08-24T13:20:00.001+06:00

It is useless to have a learned tongue but an ignorant heart.
~Shaykh Abdal Qadir al Jilani

Teary eyes and glowing heart

2008-08-22T21:03:00.003+06:00

What has happened to your eyes, (the more) you tell them to stop, the more they continue flowing.

What is the matter with your heart, (the more) you tell it to come to its senses, (the more it is distracted).

Does the lover think that his love can be concealed.

While his eyes are shedding tears and his heart is glowing.

- Excerpt from the ‘Qasidah Burda’ by Imam Busairi

Golo Molo and friends

2008-08-20T22:10:00.001+06:00

Chono mono

Bailu cutie

Goshi janu

Pinky

Choto

Golo molo

Reddy

Zeenie leenie teenie

Snow white

Gopo baby

God bless my friends infinitely.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

2008-08-16T09:10:00.004+06:00

Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams. (Standford University, 2005)

14th August

2008-08-14T17:23:00.004+06:00

Mera Jaaga Ehsaas
Meray Mann Ki Hai Pyaas
Mainay Tori Zanjeer
Mera Dil Hai Azaad
Meray Dil Main Junoon
Yeh Joshila Hai Khoon
Meri Apni Zameen
Mujhay Is Pay Sukoon
~Noori

You can listen to the lyrics of this music score here .
I also enjoyed viewing and listening to this national anthem video.

Happy Independence day! Pakistan Zindabad!

Blink! Scientists move closer to invisibility cloak

2008-08-11T21:55:00.000+06:00

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists say they are a step closer to developing materials that could render people and objects invisible.

Researchers have demonstrated for the first time they were able to cloak three-dimensional objects using artificially engineered materials that redirect light around the objects. Previously, they only have been able to cloak very thin two-dimensional objects.

The findings, by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, led by Xiang Zhang, are to be released later this week in the journals Nature and Science.

The new work moves scientists a step closer to hiding people and objects from visible light, which could have broad applications, including military ones.

People can see objects because they scatter the light that strikes them, reflecting some of it back to the eye. Cloaking uses materials, known as metamaterials, to deflect radar, light or other waves around an object, like water flowing around a smooth rock in a stream.

Metamaterials are mixtures of metal and circuit board materials such as ceramic, Teflon or fiber composite. They are designed to bend visible light in a way that ordinary materials don't. Scientists are trying to use them to bend light around objects so they don't create reflections or shadows.

It differs from stealth technology, which does not make an aircraft invisible but reduces the cross-section available to radar, making it hard to track.

The research was funded in part by the U.S. Army Research Office and the National Science Foundation's Nano-Scale Science and Engineering Center.

Source: The Associated Press

Harry Potter certainly had lots of adventures aided by the invisibility cloak. Maybe time is near for our friendly disappearances ;)

Watch who ya whistle at :p

2008-08-07T11:49:00.003+06:00

The best slogan written in front of a famous beauty parlor: "Don't whistle at the girl going out from here, She may be your grandmother"

~Courtesy A friend

Four Keys to Success

2008-08-05T16:35:00.006+06:00

If 4 matters are present, success is guaranteed:

1) one's intention must be true;
2) one's goal must be true;
3) the means one takes must be true; and
4) the way one takes the means must be true.

Explaining the Four Keys to Success

1. True Intention

A true intention is for one’s action to be sincerely for the sake of Allah.

Allah Most High says, “They were only ordered to worship Allah, making their religion sincerely His.” [Qur’an, 98.5]

And, “Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.” [Qur’an, 18.110]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Actions are by intentions, and each person shall only have that which they intended.” [Related by Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Umar (Allah be pleased with him)]

Imam Ibn al-Mubarak (Allah have mercy on him) said, “How often is a small action made tremendous through its intention, and how often is a tremendous action rendered small through its intention.” [Dhahabi, Siyar A`lam al-Nubala, 8.400;

2. True Goals

Having a true goal entails that one’s goal is something that is pleasing to Allah, in accordance to the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) that has been explained to us in the Shariah.

A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Anyone who acts in way not in accordance with this affair of ours shall have it rejected.” [Related by Muslim]

3. True Means

Taking true means entails several things:

a) one take the most effective outward means to accomplish one’s goals; and

b) one take the most effective inward means, including complete reliance upon Allah, and ensuring that one’s action is in accordance with the general guidance of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and any specific sunnas related to one’s action.

4. True Way of Taking the Means

This entails that the way one takes the means be in accordance with the spirit of excellence, wisdom, gentleness, dignity, and forbearance that are the essence of the way of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).

~Allama Shabbir Usmani's commentary on Sahih Muslim

Source: Sunnipath Q & A

Stars

2008-07-31T19:24:00.004+06:00

Stars are fascinating objects. Generally we think of them as part and participants of giant constellations. People of knowledge have navigated the way by studying the pattern of stars for centuries. A single star, no matter how bright, is never sufficient for this purpose; rather it is the relationship between stars from which we seek to learn. Stars have led the way so reliably, in fact, that some have come to exaggerate in matters relating to them. Thus we hear of attempts to divine the future based on star patterns. Stars consume themselves in lighting up the night sky. We perceive stars mostly by the light we receive from them. Amongst themselves, however, stars communicate in more subtle but surprisingly more compelling tones. They operate under the influence of each other's gravity. Superficially gravity may not dazzle the observer but it never fails to exert a pull. And if we were to investigate only a little more closely we find that it is, in fact, gravity itself which transforms an otherwise ordinary rock into a dynamic life-giving beacon in the sky. Stars are not born overnight. The drama and publicity that coincide with the discovery of a star can potentially blind us to the long and tireless struggle leading up to this episode. To become luminous the star must exert a sufficient gravitational pull by first acquiring critical mass. Gaining mass in space that is devoid of matter, like gaining righteousness in a world whose concerns are devoid of things that really matter, is a painstakingly slow process. it demands the discipline of steadfastly pursuing a straight path in the face of compelling and competing forces.

Must stars form over millions of years? If by stars we mean self-luminous heavenly bodies then indeed there are no shortcuts. In this sense 'shooting stars', meteors, are not 'stars' at all; quite the opposite. They are in fact no more than star dust, mere pebbles, and small boulders wandering astray through the voids of interstellar space. Unlike real stars, they fuel not their own fires but rather like parasites they shine only by consuming the host atmosphere that they have managed to penetrate. These meteorites, if they survive their plunge through their host's atmosphere, inevitably sink to the ground while stars, they soar for the skies. The entire existence of stars is marked by patient perseverance while the meteor's claim to fame is a single moment of unrestrained exuberance. Eventually both meteors and stars give off light. Yet how different are their characters! Is one who dedicates his life to following a path and attains glory in the process equal to one whose sole purpose in life is to seek self-gratification by whatever means possible? if we value justice then we must judge not only the end but also the means that are employed.

It is the discipline of the stars which we need to emulate in pursuing our goals; brightness and glory is but a consequence of this effort for those who are fortunate. Stardom might be distant but even in the process of associating with stars we become elevated planets, our paths guided by a star's gravity, gathering their light and wisdom and reflecting a fraction of it. Stars shine not only to guide, they shine also to grow. For surely if there were nobody present to witness them they would not cease to shine. Stars are easily obscured. It is true that all stars eventually burn out. More often, much more often, however, it is the moods of our own atmosphere that hinder our vision. A vagrant cloud of suspicion, dust and smoke kicked up by our activities, the ambient stray light from our worldly distractions, any one or a combination of them could be the culprit responsible for making stars appear to twinkle moodily or to disappear entirely. Fortunately, rediscovering stars is rather straightforward. Sometimes it requires only that we wait for the winds of change to sweep the clouds away. We might wait longer still for the rains to cleanse our atmosphere, a spiritual catharsis, until we can see again. When we are acutely distracted, however, it might require that we move out and away from the bright and noisy city to the calm and quiet reprieve of small towns and solitude. Here, we will find once again that the stars continue to shine vying for our attention. And if through our efforts we confirm only the demise of a star, then it was but a star amongst many. For to follow the stars is not only to burn selflessly in the dark of the night. But it is also to guard selfishly one's dignity and independence in pursuing a course through the cosmos of life in the company of others, the dazzling and the humble. While stars appear to us as belonging to constellations, it is well to remember that in fact they are light years apart from their nearest neighbors, each star in its own very personal circumstance.

So if your stars too have disappeared make certain that you were not mistaking a passing meteor for a real star. Then invest some time on analysing yourself; often a small shift in your position will result in their reappearance. However if they fail you still, it is no permanent loss and your efforts are not in vain. Just look up at the night sky to confirm how your struggle has birthed a dozen new stars that you never known existed.

~Khany

MYTH: 8 glasses of water a day

2008-07-28T14:26:00.003+06:00

NYTimes : I had long believed that eight glasses of plain water a day were important to keep the body hydrated but it turns out that the toilet paper manufacturers were behind this notion. Researchers have been unable to find scientific support for it. The body’s need for liquids can be met in many ways, including drinking coffee, tea and eating fruits and vegetables with a high water content.

For details of this myth and more health related myths read the source article Health 'Facts' you only thought you knew

Riddle

2008-07-25T10:56:00.004+06:00

My favorite Riddle from childhood, lets see if you can figure it out.

I work in dark,
The longer I live,
The Shorter I grow,
What am I?

:)

The power lies within the heart

2008-07-20T13:31:00.003+06:00

"In every community there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it"
~Marianne Williamson

Dedicated to Isbah

All I have is me

2008-07-18T15:44:00.003+06:00

SAK, this one is for you :). I liked this shair.

"Zindagi to apne he kadmo pe chalti hai faraz
Auron ke sahaare to janazey uthha karte hain"

Prayer of a wise man

2008-07-15T23:22:00.002+06:00

"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not from safety from danger, but deliverance from fear"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

They say...

2008-07-09T22:50:00.004+06:00

The biggest achievement in failure is knowing that you tried.

Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak, sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go

Always listen to your heart, cause even though it's on your left, it's always right.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
~ Will Rogers

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
~ Lao-Tse

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

If you get ignored by some one, it means that you have been notice by that person first.
~ Dr. Tulli

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit that you are scared

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

You try,You fail, You try You fail, But the real failure is when you stop trying!
~ The Haunted Mansion, Walt Disney

It's only after we've lost everything, that we're free to do anything
~ Tyler Durden, [Brad Pitt] in Fight Club

Keep your head and heart going in the right direction and you wont have to worry about your feet.

Today is the Tomorrow, I was worried about Yesterday.

Pay no attention to those who talk behind your back! It simply means you are two steps ahead!

Those who are afraid to fall, will never fly

No matter how dark the night, morning always comes
~ lulu [final fantasy 10]

I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem.
~ Christina

Courtesy Hira

Yaadon key samandar

2008-07-07T11:25:00.005+06:00

kaash yaadon key samandar mein doob sakta mein bhi
yaar kehtay key pyaar lazawaal kiya

par tu nay yaadein bhi naa baksheen mujh ko
mein kinnarray baitha yoonhi takta reh gaya

jiss kashti ka tha dil-e-naa-saboor muntazar
uss naao ka aana dil pey bohat bhaari guzra

terri kiss ada pey na jaane mein nisaar howa
sirf itna maana key mein be-ikhtayaar howa

ghum-e-yaar liay jeetay hain hazaroon yoon hii
tum bhi jee lo gay yaser iss pyaar bina

~Khany

Desktop Wallpaper Calander-July

2008-07-04T11:21:00.003+06:00

For more desktop calender's click on the image above. You will be redirected to the source. I have the image above set as my wallpaper :).

Sho Shweeet

2008-07-02T09:38:00.002+06:00

So sweet, so adorable, so cute. The innocence of kids makes them endearing.