From the presenter of the “Most Haunted” comes the book “Ghost Hunters” which captured my reading attention and the time spent with the book has been wonderful. The authors have dealt with the subject in a fairly balance way and have put in a lot of effort to pen their thoughts in words. At stages they simply call the “Ghost” as an act of the mind, or the sub consceince referring in their write-up to SickMan Fraud, that’s what I would personally call him, as these fellows are practically creating short circuits for the perfect human brain and making it go haywire, by explaining their sick theories. That said, the other side of the “Ghost Hunters” comes with some scientific explanations, explaining the apparitions as electrical impulses or the soul as being such, while on the other hand the authors have also tried to explain these unknown mystical happenings using the time theory and the existence of a  parallel worlds and planes.

The authors have also taken pain to refer some deliberately fraud ghost stories as well to being about the balance needed in their work. Some unexplained and fascinating events have also been brought up from the files of investigators.

All in all, the book is a good read and have found it worth having. Though a portion of the book still remains incomplete in my read, I would surely return back to it. For me, the existence of paranormal beings and activities is a subject related to faith and therefore unquestioned, along with intensive studies into the subject, but the book’s neutral way of putting things up for inquisitive mind is very much appealing and sheds light on both sides of the coin, for a subject that has never been given it’s justified place in the real world of education, science and logical examinations.

The books is indeed THE guide to investigating the paranormal, and that too with some practical implications. And please do not judge it by its cover.

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A few days back I stumbled on a twitter account thebookshelter and found that two young ladies in the Emirates have literally started and orphanage for BOOKS!! There are so many good things you could do one might wonder and better buy a new one rather then hording old stuff and also spending on the maintenance of the so called Book Shelter. Apart from that, since the flow of eBooks have begun people have just begun to forget the touch, feel and scent of paper. These are the first few thoughts that same up my mind.

Being a book lover with so many sitting on my bookshelf, personally I would not even think of parting with my books with any one. I love them. Just looking at the shelves filled with them makes me feel my hunger for learning. I took a breath and emailed thebookshelter.ae that I would like to donate. They replied promptly and had the few books that were ready with me, picked-up.

I started surfing their website and found a book that I had been wanting to have a glimpse at since some time but had not dared buy it for the simple reason that time would not permit to go through it.

People who love the written word would not part for it even though the digital world grows faster and feel of paper, its wonderful smell that one breathes in being engrossed in the book opens the doors of imagination, creativity and knowledge. Homes are growing smaller, and the price that once pays per square feet nowadays its much larger for someone to actually fall in love with having a library at home but then I would not dare speak the same having more then 150 books lying on my bookshelf and having known people who have collected newspapers and weeklys over years. The lust and hunger for knowledge in these people cannot be explain in words, for the written word would fall short of it.

For those who would like to know more about the work done by the two Emarati ladies or even have a book for yourself visit http://thebookshelter.ae

Hoping to write more blog posts then the past in 2012.

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Google has tried and tried again to plunge into the social media business to get a scope of it highly lucrative and viral reach but has withdrawn most of its products after the much enthusiasm with which it was launched was never met. Google Wave was withdrawn from the product line and so is Buzz being turned down in a few weeks time.

Google does have to understand that FaceBook has already done its trial and error thing and understands the user’s needs from its age and learn from the trends set by such a successful venture, from its pros and cons, rather then build from scratch and then keep people waiting for the most needed features yet to come. The wait turning tiring and the enthusiasm fading out.

What Google simply lacks is its integrity with existing social networking media. Google+ would have rocked if it were to have feeds from twitter and facebook, from multiple accounts off-course. Better and tighter privacy options and since Google+ does not allow profile pages for Businesses and in turn has launched pages, they should have focused on allowing people to reserve their brands in the URL rather then having to ask then to remember some funky digits.

I recently plunged into the pages thing to get pages reserved for the organizations I am associated with and then kept wondering as to how I could add other contributors and admins to those pages on Google+. At the end of the day I realized they are still working on it. Its quite simple, can’t they learn from FaceBook that this is supposed to be a basic function for a page that represents an organization or a business entity or does Google+ seem to have a single employee, LOL.

The entire game about so many people running into, what I would call, an immature network, is the mere fact that googleplus accounts tend to get listed on google’s search engine faster then a facebook one, but what about other search engines like Bing. Let’s face it Google is still number one and synonymous when it comes to Search Engines.

It needs a lot of patience to educate people on new tools and time is scarce when it comes to the speed of the Internet, so lets wait and watch what how rapidly Google+ makes its way to into the Social Media.

As for the short URL I did manage to get an easy to remember URL for all my Google+ pages as well as my profile.

http://gplus.to/ekhwan
http://gplus.to/attalim
http://gplus.to/hitechuae

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These cards were initially promoted by the MAF group hyper mart, Carrefoure by adding discounts almost every other thing available off the self there. In addition to this the NajmCard boasts upto 4% cash back in all promotional material including the website and all other printed materials. They also have “Free for life” cards with a lower cash back value which is by all means acceptable.

So far so good. The surprises are yet to come, just like most banks that astonish the consumer with finer prints rarely readable, known as, terms and conditions apply. However, these terms and conditions are rarely mentioned in promotional material which lure consumers into a trap of so called loyalty shopping at times, turning it into tied up and bound to shopping.

What a cash back means in Najm Card language is accumulation of points that can later be converted to Carrefoure Vouchers that can be redeemed to pay ones carrefoure bills.

The Najm Card cash back system is not a cash back system but its a holding back customer for myself system.  Such promotional material cannot be deemed as accurate and in consumer interests, rather it is misleading to those who have to offer a blank dated and signed cheque to MAF Finance, have a large salary and other such conditions to apply for the so called Cash Back credit card.

Unless you are willing to pay a good amount of fee for the Najm Card, just forget getting one with an adjustable cash back system. Except for the priority counter benefit at carrefoure nothing is so attractive about the Najmcard. The special discounts that were initially offered also do not exist any longer.

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Have lived in the UAE for many years, right from schooling to adulthood and even being married here makes the country my home away from my birthplace which I haven’t even known for a tenth of my age. Indians in this country have really played a role in the socio-economic development of the nation and we do really feel to be proud of the fact. During childhood, I used to have Emarati friends and go to their homes, play Attari and stuff even. I remember my father’s sponsor and a friend rather, would insist him to visit often when we used to greet him on Eid. He was an old gentleman and we used to know of him as a distant relative and an uncle as kids rather then an Emarati who was our sponsor. Another Emarati uncle I remember from those days was a neighbor who used to help us with water during the hot summer days when it was scarcity. Those days were so peaceful and calm. We used to walk home from school 3 Kms away, play cricket and football but today at the same age my kids would never think of putting a foot out of the home due to the heavy traffic.

I remember seeing the then Ruler of Ajman, a simple and elderly figure sit in public and meet everyone with a friendly gesture. Today is an altogether different story, though having met the now Ruler several times during Eid and other occasions the protocol is different. He is down to Earth and have seen him drive his own car once as he waved from his Merc on a Red Signal stopping on our side.

We have always believed that this country has given us a different view of life, a different dimension to it and a life of prosperity and happiness.

Today as the country marches towards Emiratization in the private sector, I believe that best way to create a better workforce out of the countries youth is, not only to give them opportunities and security of job but also train them for dignity of labor. Uplift them to mingle freely within the corporate culture while not being foreigners in their own land. A skilled, learned, trained and hardworking employee is a corporation’s asset and such human resource are valuable for the entire nation as well as the community. I think the country should encourage the youth to work and have pride in doing so, as well as provide encourage the institutes that want to play a role in this endeavor. Together with all the love that the people here have for this land and nation, everyone can put their piece of brick as we grow.

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To me a chocolate is simply something that is pure and has no add-ons like nuts and biscuits. Its just not the type of chocolate that would give you a heavenly feeling. Mint to some chocolate lovers might be refreshing but its just another add-on bars the real taste of chocolate.

Writing this post was just a matter of bringing out the joy that a friends wife is in the business and she loves to cook those yummies. God knows if she was inspired by his skin complexion, but when it comes to chocolates its totally acceptable. Even finding out for a giggle that a friend can be called a chocolaty, for not only being himself, but also for being a real chocolate lover.

For all those chocolate lovers out there, here is the detail to the home made chocolate maker:

Choco Point,
Home Made Chocolates

Zahra M. Mustafa Shakir,
411,  Saifee Bldg,  Shehabi Colony, Rustampura,
Surat-395002 Gujarat, India
Mobile: +91 9427579491
Email: chocopointin @ gmail.com
www.ch0copoint-in.com

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Since the dawn of civilization man has always been obsessed of communicating his thoughts, the knowledge that he acquire through a long learning process of understanding, experimenting and experiencing. The hunger and thirst for knowledge is what differentiates us humans from all other species that dwell this planet and probably make us feel superior.

The revolutionary age of information has digitized these thoughts and turned the ink into bits and bytes nevertheless the urge for holding a book in ones hand and swallowing the vast knowledge implanted in ink never lessens. The scent of the books its lustful binding and bright pages with shinny ink is what attracts readers to love the hard copies. Mind well that ink is called “rosh’naee” in Urdu because it radiates the light of knowledge and enlightens the soul. Love of books has grown and deepened within my heart and I could hardly resist a wonderful title except when the dept of my pocket is shallower. The Sharjah Book Fair is a place where I find relaxation skimming through pages and titles over the bookshelves and in stalls, and at times the clock stops as I just swallow a finer piece of work rather then just window shopping. The love and passion is never ending.

Though I am a book lover and like spending on a good title but the purse is not quick to open up. Though we are growing in terms of knowledge, education and information which is readily available everyday our lives are becoming shorter and homes smaller, with no spare time nor enough space to store the thought provoking work of authors. Even today books are a luxury for those who could afford to maintain its high costs.

During my recent visit to the Sharjah Book Fair, a thought popped up my mind as I looked up on the large banners that declared “Love for the written word”. The thought of being fortunate to own some of the worlds lovely titles published and happy to have read through the minds of some of the worlds brilliant men time has known was the most prominent. While another thought did sneak in to declare that since the authorities of Sharjah and its leadership are braving such a huge and massive event why not arrange some sort of a pre-owned books fair as well. The reason this thought popped up was seeing the tons and tons of paper displayed at the fair. The rate at which we are producing paper and coping up with demand is growing at such a high pace that I dare to say we might be out of paper in a very near future.

A book fair where people could dispose their pre-owned collection, share, sell, exchange or even give away for recycling would be another such massive event of equivalent impact to the community and our culture as well as our environment. Maybe such a stand alone book fair would not be possible but a well organized section in the International Book Far event could make a huge difference.

To be very much frank and truthful I even do not have an idea of how such an event or a part-event could even be organized but such an initiative would surely be a step forward for the intellectual beings that we humans belong to.

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While studying theology and the philosophy of Islam one would run into the words of Amirul Mumineen Maulana Ali (AS) a devoted disciple of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW) who was enlightened by wahye from Allah Subhanahu. Indeed, Amirul Mumineen was a master of paralinguistic subjects and the art of subjugating the minds of men, which he displayed in his art of warfare. A warrior he was and a master of swordsmanship. History is packed with the heroic victories of Amirul Mumineen (AS) , that led the armies of Rasulallah (SAW) before the battle was even won.

The art of suggestion was what had won these battles, if we were to study the battles from a view point of this subject, apart from being a “moayyad minallah” – helped by Allah, his aura of victory defeated his opponents. To cite a few examples, in Khandaq when Amirul Mumineen (AS) was sent by Rasulallah (SAW) to battle with Amr ibn Abd Wad, Rasulallah (SAW) exclaimed, برز الايمان كله الى الكفر كله, Ali (AS), faith embodied, has entered into war against Amr (who is a non-believer from head to toe). The suggestive sentence was not only in true praise of Ali (AS) but a blow on all those who has waged war on Madina. Then when Amirul Mumineen (AS) answered Amr, he repeated the fact about himself, and declared that he was willful and a visionary. He insisted that truth will prevail. These paraliminal suggestions weakened Amr and he was dead before the battle had even started.

Another example is the battle of Khaybar when Amirul Mumineen (AS) was described by Rasulallah (SAW) as a winner who would fight until he won but never leave the battlefield. While Ali (AS) on the other side pierced a spear in rock right before the fortress where the opponents could see. On seeing this an onlooker from the fortress inquired about the brave warrior and  exclaimed that they had already lost the battle.

The words of Rasulallah (SAW) نصرت بالرعب مصيرة شهر describe the psychological imprints that were laid on the minds of the Mushrikeen who came face to face with his victorious army in the battlefield.

This mastery of suggestive imprints is not limited to the battlefield but is clearly seen in all his instructions be it related to personal effects from eating habits to sleep and medication to the social lives of Muslims.

Amirul Mumineen’s (AS) words have always been the center of philosophical studies in Islam and have explanations to broader subjects since they are derived from the root of Wahye, The Quran. He says:

دوائك فيك وما تبـصر        ودائك منك وما تشعر

وانت الكتاب المبين الذي      بأحرفه يظهر المـضمر

اتحسب انك جرم صغير        وفيك انطوى العام الاكبر

Your medication is inside your own self and your disease is from within. You are the clear book that reveals the untold. While you might think that you are just a small particle but within you lies the entire universe.

Such wonderful words to explain the entire theory of people like Deepak Chopra who said in his “Secret of Enlightenment” that when one looks at the world it is the universe looking at itself through his eyes. These three stanzas of beautiful poetry explain the theory of quantum communication which suggests that each neuron and proton in the universe is communicating with each other. we might not even know but we are in continuous communication on a quantum level with the entire universe which is in fact within and internal rather that apart from us. The law of attraction is what these three stanzas explain in its depth. Facts and theories of healers using Reiki and what not are based on this theory put forward by Amirul Mumineen (AS). The masters of hypnosis and suggestive neuro linguistic programing, the yogis and gurus of meditation have understood the deeper meaning of these wonderful words of the disciple of Rasulallah (SAW).

I recently came across 2 anecdotes in a book called  اللطائف والظرائف which led reduce my thoughts to words and preserve them. The humorous stories of the past. In one of them it was mentioned that Nabiullah Eisa (AS) passed by a yogi who was engrossed in meditation and prayers under the heat of the sun. Upon his Nabi (AS) inquiry of why he would not carry ibadat under the shade he was told that another passerby Nabi before him had prophesied the age of the yogi as 500 years and he did not want to waste time building a shade for himself. To this Nabiullah Eisa (AS) exclaimed that what would the yogi do if he were to be during the era of Rasulallah whose ummat would live between 50 and 60 years of age. The Yogi was prompt in reply and insisted that he would spend such a small life in one sujud (prostration) itself. Indeed, Eisa (AS) was astonished by such a height of will.

Another anecdote is that a group of mischievous learners surrounded their teacher and started to exclaim that the master was ill. Each of them suggested in different words that he should rest, take a leave and visit the doctor. The suggestive words of the boys soon had its toll on the master who started to feel dizzy and weak, until he asked them to take him home. The mischief mongers on their return from his home recited the above stanzas of poetry that illness is from within rather than from an external source.

On reading these words of immense knowledge I recalled my long study of the subject of which I am no master nor a practitioner rather an interested learner and reader.

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His Highness, the ruler is always present on this spectacular event each year and finds time for it from his busy schedule which indeed reflects his love for education and imparting of knowledge. Personally I have been very lucky and fortunate to be present during the opening and visit of the Ruler. Its his humble self that any person, be it a citizen or an expat, can extend his greetings to the scholarly personality as well as accompany him as he scrolls past the hundreds of stalls erected by the participants from all over the world. His Highness Dr. Shiekh Sultan al-Qasimi, signed the English copy of his book (Sard al-Zatt) as well as the new book (Hadeeth al-Zakirah).

It was an overwhelming occasion as he skimmed through the booths, surfing through the titles exhibited on each stalls.

Personally I find great pleasure even window shopping at such a beautiful place and time passes by in such a way hours just seem to be minutes and there is never enough time to inspect each section of personal interest even let alone adventuring into a new field of growing knowledge.

Being a fan of this yearly event in Sharjah, there are a few critical points at mind do need to be considered by the organisers. On this very first day there were no carry bags with the publishers at the booths provided by the organisers nor were there any invoice books, no trolleys and so on. Buying the books was hard on the first day though its better later on. But the situation is the same year after year on the first day.

Once again all the applaud to this event for the sake of the love of knowledge and books.

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Although we might be in the age where Education and Knowledge is freely available everywhere there is a jungle of unknown out there, and people can be misled or get lost in the junk of duplication and sometimes even blunders and Urban legends. We often see these useless junk mails forwarded to us in the form of making us aware, just to find out later that it was a prank and there is no reality attached to it.

Having lived in the virtual world for years, in the form of a passion and a profession, spending hours on the Internet daily, it is often felt that the flow of Information over the Internet needs to be controlled. But then if it is really controlled then we would forfeit the freedom and right to information as well as expression.

However, there is one thing that is often bothering when I surf the internet that people just for some odd and unknown reason to copy and paste material from one site to the other. The copy paste business or adventure just leads to the expansion in the number of pages the internet has rather then real information.

Recently I came across a community site, which is much bothered with its PR than the flow of information due to is commercial aspect, that, it has announced the launch of  articles on historical events and dates according to the Hijri Calender. The website Zeninfosys, has installed Drupal to take care of its copy/paste business from another authentic website of the community mazaraat.com

Looking at the above scenario, one can see no reason for such work and nor does it have any importance other then adding more pages to the internet. It is not only the breach of intellectual rights which at times some authors or owners do not bother about but it does make a difference.

The reason for such acts of plagiarism can only be traced back to commercial benefits where a person might look-up for PR and visitor hits. Certainly the internet has grown to be a larger media version then the Television nowadays with people spending more time in front of their PCs rather then the TV screen.

On the other hand if anyone just wants to enter the internet world and be known the better and more sincere way would be to put forward original words. Content and Information can never be original unless one is a mass researcher but the words in which they are presented can be unique and the way its felt by the reader can be a standout form for each person has a different style of writing or conveying the information that might be useful in the internet jungle.

Apart from that “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person who you originally are”, is a nice quote to fit the topic.

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