Best Headlines of all time

           Crack Found on Governor's Daughter

           [Imagine that!]

           Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

           [No, really?]

           Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

           [Now that's taking things a bit far!]

           Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?

           [Not if I wipe thoroughly!]

           Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

           [What a guy!]

           Miners Refuse to Work after Death

           [No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-sos!]

           Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant

           [See if that works any better than a fair trial!]

           War Dims Hope for Peace

           [I can see where it might have that effect!]

           If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile

           [You think?]

           Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

           [Who would have thought!]

           (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide

           [They may be on to something!]

           Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

           [You mean there's something stronger than duct

           tape?]

           Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge

           [he probably IS the battery charge!]

           New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group

           [Weren't they fat enough?!]

           Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

           [That's what he gets for eating those beans!]

           Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

           [Taste like chicken?]

           Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

           [Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]

           Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

           [Boy, are they tall!]

Ramadan Karim

to all muslims and non-muslims alike throughout the world, my best wishes to all of you during this holy month of ramadan.  May God grant you health and prosperity now and in the years ahead. May this month be filled with good health and happiness for you, your family and friends.  Let us renew our pledge to God Almighty to fill this world with love and kindness.  I wish you a blessed Ramadan mubarak....

to all non-muslims, you may be wondering what ramadan is all about. here is some basic understanding on what it really means to us, which I copied courtesy of eHow.com:

Ramadan is the holiest of the four holy months in the Islamic lunar calendar. Once the sighting of the new moon is authenticated from a reliable source, several customs and stringent practices begin as part of the deep rooted Ramadan tradition. At the commencement of Ramadan, Muslims wish each other saying, "Ramadan Mubarak" which means "Blessed Ramadan."

Step2

Ramadan WishesAs instructed in the holy Quran, fasting during this holy month is one of the most significant observances. It is mandatory for all physically mature and healthy Muslims, to abstain from all kinds of foods, beverages, intoxicating substances or any kind of sexual intimacy from dawn to sunset. It is the expression of sincere and personal worship through which Muslims seek divine blessings and achieve a higher plane of spiritual consciousness. That is why the spiritual approach of the fast orders to refrain from greed, slander, false oath or even gossip. Undesirable sights or sounds are to be avoided, during this sacred month. Piety of heart and mind is needed to be achieved through the practice of fasting as it redirects the heart from trivial, mundane pursuits, towards almighty Allah. Spiritual introspection, prayer, doing good deeds for humanity and spending time with friends, family and acquaintances is the spirit of Ramadan.

Step3

Happy Ramadan WishesOne of the long standing traditions of Ramadan is to consume one light meal just before the sun rises, which is known as Suhoor. It is considered a blessed meal. Though it is not mandatory for the Muslims to eat suhoor but it is highly recommended and the intention of continuing the fast all night long without eating suhoor is strongly discouraged. The tradition to take Suhoor, underlines the inherent intention of the fast, which is to show your obedience to Allah and not to show your physical strength. Hence taking suhoor provides the energy necessary to endure the day long fasting.

Step4

A similar tradition, to have a light meal just after the sun sets is called Iftar. Nowadays the radio or television announce the exact time of Iftar. But the old tradition was to listen to the call from the mosque’s minarets to know when Iftar begins. It is usually customary to have dates along with water as Prophet Mohammad also broke his fast eating the same. Some believers also have a light soup made of wheat boiled in meat broth.

Step5

Ramadan is an occasion to spend time with friends, family and well wishers. The breaking of the fast is followed by friends and families greeting each other Ramadan Mubarak and sharing an evening meal, consisting of meat, rice and vegetables.

Step6

Another aspect of this holy occasion of Ramadan is that the last odd numbered nights of the month is considered the “Laylat ul-Qadr”, which in English means, “Night of The Power” or “Night of The Destiny”. It is the most sacred night of the holiest month as it is believed that on this very day angel Gabriel began to disclose the Quran to the Prophet Mohammad. But the exact date is not known to anyone. Nevertheless, praying and seeking religious blessings on this night is considered thousand times powerful than any other night.

Step7

During the entire moth of Ramadan, Muslims are recommended to read the entire Quran. For the convenience of reading the Quran within the thirty days of Ramadan, the 114 chapters of it have been divided in to thirty equal parts.

An important and ancient tradition of Ramadan is charity. After the Ramadan ends Muslims donate a calculated amount, which is enough to feed one poor person in that region for one day. This custom is known as Fitra and it reminds the suffering of the poor, hungry and impoverished. This is also the occasion to pay Zakhat, or the annual alms which is the 2.5% of the entire assets. Zakat is donated to the poor and needy people of the locality as well.

safe at home

I am now safely @ home. first thing gave the kids & MinnieMe a real big hug. been missing them so much...

audacity of hope: Part II

its 6 am in spore. I have been awake the whole night. As usual traveling back home from europe is the most excruciating for me when it comes to adjusting back my body clock. I arrived at the hotel Hyatt at 7 am yesterday and went straight back to bed. I didnt really sleep on the plane despite the fact that the business class which SQ calls Raffles class is probably the best business class of any airlines. I only got up at 4 pm that day. the jet leg is always worst coming back. for me it normally takes 2 to 3 days before I get over it.

well back to the US presidential campaign trail. my own audacity of hope is who ever wins the US presidential election can ensure real peace to the whole world. call me an idealist and yes I am hoping a lot out of Obama. Am I? I dont know. He looks like the kind of guy who can deliver. I dont think Mc Cain will bring peace to the world. Being an army man and a POW during the Vietnam war, his political rhetoric seems to be bent on the "bush doctrine" another saber rattling war mongering hawk! and Sarah Palin? this is a woman who is so proud that his eldest son is going to "aairaaak" (well this is how she pronounces Iraq)..the trouble with americans is, more than half of them dont travel outside of the USA. give them a gun the first time they get out of America  and when they see a bearded arab man, they would all think its Osama bin Laden!  

 I really like Obama, he is half african whose biological father was a kenyan and his stepfather was an Indonesian.  So I am hoping that he will be that bridge between the USA and to the rest of the world.

To be continued..