A Penny for My Thoughts

Burning Holy Scriptures

2010-09-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Christian, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, and so on: each of us has our own belief system that we hold dear and the U.S. Constitution protects our freedom to believe or disbelieve in any creed. But, no one group's religion can be intolerant of another. Instead, we are supposed to considerate of beliefs that are different than our own.

Along come the beliefs of the Dove Outreach Center, a fundamentalist Christian group based in Gainsville, Florida that openly preaches hatred of Islam and Muslims. The group wants to protest 9/11 by burning copies of the Quran, Islam's holy scripture.

Such a horrific plan has sent Muslims across the globe into shock and anger, since burning the holy scripture of any religion is a sign of hatred and intolerance. Some of us are see the contradiction that the "Dove" Outreach Center, which preaches about God and loving mankind, is behind the horrific plan.

Some Gainsville residents have spoken out against the plan and, hopefully, other Americans will do likewise. Otherwise, Muslims in the United States will believe that few Christians are tolerant of them.

Guests from the South

2010-08-12T06:49:00.000-07:00

Sneaking across the southern border into the United States are poor, desperate Mexicans hoping for a better life. On the surface, they are no different than the rest of us who have come to America for a better life. However, a huge difference is that several million Mexicans are here illegaly, with no valid green cards.

Those of us who have taken the legal route can't ignore the double standard: we go through a long and tedious process, with numerous hurdles to get our American visas, yet illegal aliens simply enter this country on their own.

Many American employers have no problem hiring illegal immigrants for low wages, no benefits, and horrible working conditions. And, employers often add fear to the mix, since they can threaten to report illegal Mexicans to the authorities.

Mexican immigrants deserve better--they need adequate pay and a safe work environment. But, these changes will only take place if the estimated 20 million illegals become legal through a fair process.

To stop further illegal immigration, the United States needs to enforce border patrols, and it needs to go further. The U.S. government must streamline and speed up the process of giving visas to law-abiding people from all countries, including Mexico. The time has come for a real solution.

A Mosque at Ground Zero

2010-08-06T16:56:00.001-07:00

Conservative talk show hosts and the former Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin, have spoken out against plans to build a mosque and Islamic center close to Ground Zero, the site of 9/11.

Their opinion is based on the false premise that this group must consist of radical, terrorist-supporters who want to offend 9/11 victims. Instead, the Muslims behind the mosque project are peaceful moderates who want to show other Americans that they have no connection to the terrorists.

And, who can forget that at least 60 Muslims died on September 11th? The "Ground Zero Mosque," as critics have dubbed it, can be a reminder of how terrorists see all Americans as their enemy. And perhaps, the mosque will give us hope for the future.

Precious Miracles

2010-07-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

Cute, adobable eyes twinkle at you and the tiny lips curl into a heart-melting smile-a human baby is no ordinary miracle. Recently, a friend's baby became so ill she needed to stay in an intensive care unit. She was close to death, with pale skin, faint breathing, and an indescribable coldness. Thankfully, God answered our prayers and saved this baby's life.

Which brings me to the shocking reality of unwanted babies. Teenage girls have thrown away newborns in trash cans, as if they were moldy fruit. Posssibly, they commit this crime because of society's grim view of unwanted pregnancies: gone are the opportunities to have fun, to get a fine education, and to land a great career. But, society seems to forget that babies don't choose to come into this world, so why should the little miracles have to pay with their lives?

In the United States, one solution to the problem of baby-dumping has been to create laws that allow mothers to drop off babies at safe locations, no questions asked. Perhaps society will encourage teenage mothers to take responsibility for their babies, but until then, laws are necessary to protect these precious miracles.

A Greener Way to Live

2010-07-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

While some of us prefer to think of environmentalists as "whackos" who warn that Earth's end is near because of human beings' misuse of its resources, others realize that every person has to do his or her share to keep our planet healthy. But, we often don't know what to do since the options seem too daunting, such as purchasing a hybrid or a solar home.

To overcome this problem, students and faculty from three well-known universities have created a website, found at www.stepgreen.org, which encourages us to take small steps for a greener planet. For instance, turning off the television when no one is watching and walking to short destinations are some of the actions we can take. We can see approximately how much money an action can save, such as $42.08 a year when walking replaces driving.

Also, the website ranks actions according to popularity and a sidebar displays popular actions with a larger font size. We can create a MySpace or Facebook page and see a graph of our action's impact as well.

Stepgreen.org shows us that we don't have to be extreme in order to be green.

Books That Come To You

2010-07-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

Let's say you wanted to read the latest science fiction thriller, or perhaps a celebrity chef's newest cookbook. You could go to your neighborhood public library and check out a copy, or you might take an easier route by going to the library's website from your home computer. Here you can download digital ebooks for free, just as you would check out print versions.

This trend has upset some publishers, who worry that sales of print versions will go down. To make up for this potential loss, most publishers charge libraries the same price for both digital and print books. On the other side, library directors do not want to pay that hefty price for ebooks, when consumers can download them for a much lower price at Amazon and other online retailers.

Both libraries and publishers must reach an agreement, since ebooks are here to stay. Many internet-savvy readers enjoy downloading digital books to their laptop, iPhone, or computer, and the trend can only grow in popularity.

Spreading Goodwill in a Tough Economy

2010-07-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

Maybe you needed a coffee table for your living room or a chair for the office-you find great deals at your local Goodwill store. The Goodwill brand has existed since 1902, when a Methodist missionary named Rev. Edgar Helms hired poor immigrants to repair and sell donated items. Such a simple, yet innovative idea, led to successful Goodwill stores, not to mention jobs for disadvantaged Americans, throughout the country.

Now Goodwill is doing so much more. In response to so many Americans losing their employment, Goodwill has job centers that provide training and job-search assistance. You can find your local center by going to http://recovery.goodwill.org/career/. And, http://www.gcflearnfree.org is a Goodwill site that you may want to check out for free online training, along with help in everyday skills, such as saavy shopping and using bus maps.

We can help Goodwill in their mission by donating sellable items or our time as volunteers. As in Rev. Helms' time, community support is crucial.

A Funny Look at Muslims

2010-06-28T11:41:00.001-07:00

While "humor" and "Muslims" might not seem a good fit, Canada has "Little Mosque on the Prairie," a, award-winning tv show that infuses a small-town religious minority with this trait. Zarqa Nawaz, the producer, has created storylines that affect the modern Muslim, such as prejudice relating to terrorism, whether or not to celebrate Halloween, and having an imam (or pastor) that can relate to youth.

The characters on "Little Mosque" are a blend of Muslim and non-Muslim characters. From Babar, the mosque caretaker, to the mayor, the entire bunch interacts realistically to teach lessons without being preachy. The talented cast who play these characters have done an excellent job, including Canadian-born Shelia McCarthy.

Through fictional characters, "Little Mosque" has been giving viewers the impression that Muslims are average people, a simple message that deserves to be heard. To watch episodes, you can go to [http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/internet/little_mosque_on_the_prairie/] or other sites.

Lost American Jobs

2010-06-22T16:05:00.001-07:00

In the 1960s, manufacturing jobs, such as building cars and applilcances, formed a vital part of the American economy. Then, companies outsourced many of these jobs China and Mexico. Americans turned to the service sector, with opportunities in tech support and customer service.

Now, the trend is to outsource these jobs to save costs and to increase profits. Many of us have called our telephone provider to resolve a billing issue and talked to a representative thousands of miles away, in India perhaps.

Such a situation has frightened people into believing their jobs will be next to go. As Steve Mushero in "Off-Shoring the Middle Class" has said, we are not alone, since change is global. A positive side to this story is that other countries are outsourcing jobs to the United States. We can acquire skills that these foreign employers need.

And, the government and American companies can do more to help those workers who've lost their jobs to outsourcing. Training and education can boost our ability to compete in a global market.

Population Woes

2010-06-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Soon, food production won't keep up with world population growth, and people will starve, said nineteenth-century Thomas Malthus and Paul Ehrlich in 1968. Both of these thinkers' predictions proved false.

Nevertheless, critics continue to advocate population control, ignoring the massive food surplus that exists throughout the world. People in developing countries complain about the lack of wheat, corn, and other staples, but the food exists. Food never reaches the consumers because political groups often try to use the supply as a weapon. For instance, one faction hoping for power may hide or export grains to upset the general public, who will blame the ruling party.

Other causes of "food shortages" are possible, such as low wages. When people can not afford to purchase food, then the problem is economic, rather than related to high-population growth.

While scare tactics regarding population growth leading to starvation can make huge headlines, common sense tells us that the situation isn't too bad. In fact, the entire human race has plenty to eat.

Real Americans

2010-06-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

"Naturalized American" or "of ________descent" are terms the media throws out to describe people accused of terrorism who are from the Middle East or South Asia. The implied message is that these people really aren't Americans, so no surprise--they've become terrorists.

I disagree. More than 4 million Americans are of Middle East or South Asian ethnicity and most of us are peaceful, hardworking people. We may not embrace all aspects of American culture, like dating, drinking, and lewdness. Yet, we are American as much any one from Germany, England, or other European countries.

Since long ago, Muslim Americans, including those from Syria, Pakistan, and Saudia Arabia, have contributed to making the United States a great place to live. And, we'll continue this tradition, despite the negative stereotyping from the media.

A Bottle of Injury

2010-05-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

Walk in any urban American neighborhood and you'll see shattered glass from beer bottles. Many beer drinkers don't mind smashing empty bottles on the ground, or worse, on other people. Not suprisingly, injuries result.

Some beer manufacturers, like Anheuser-Busch, have introduced aluminium bottles, but critics complain that only glass containers perserve the beer's flavor. The aluminium bottles are a huge improvement over the can counterparts and, no doubt, researchers are working on even more advanced designs.

Adding to the debate is the environmental aspect, since glass bottles are more difficult to recycle: you have to put glass in separate containers for safety reasons. Yet aluminium bottles can go in all-purpose recycling bins and get sorted out later.

While the effects of drinking beer is another topic, those people who are beer lovers ought to be more supportive of aluminum bottles. Our neighborhoods, as well as our environment, will be much better off.

A Paradox About Weight

2010-05-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

While some journalists obsess over how fat American children are, others say that too many youngsters are prone to eating disorders. In fact, you may notice that the media often reports these two related stories without considering their connection.

As the media preaches that thinness is divine, children can't help but have a negative view of their weight. They resort to bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating, which seem to be easy weight-loss methods. In reality, eating disorders lead to serious health problems and even death.

The media can no longer ignore reality: it has a duty to encourage children to have a positive image of themselves. While being overweight can be unhealthy, going overboard to reach thinness is just as dangerous.

An Open Library

2010-05-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

The days when your child grabbed an encyclopedia off the bookshelf to research his assigned country are practically gone. Instead, he will probably use a search engine to locate maps and statistics from the Internet. He may use the free "Wikipedia" to easily get information on Peru.

Wikipedia is part of a growing trend of "open source" learning that encourages visitors to contribute articles--in essence, creating a worldwide library. Previously, the Encyclopaedia Brittanica was popular, but often had outdated information. Wikipedia has quickly gained respect by publishing the latest facts and trends sent in by average readers.

Encyclopaedia Brittanica has tried to compete by asking visitors to send in articles, which would be published separatedly from the scholarly writings. Nevertheless, Wikipedia seems to dominate the market. While Wikipedia isn't a set of golden, leather-bound volumes, this new "encylopedia" is, as the saying goes, priceless.

Garden for Five-Year-Olds

2010-05-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

A new kind of learning came into existence in 1837 when German thinker Friedrich Froebel designed a school just for three- and four-year-olds. Froebel called the school "kindergarten," which translates to "children's garden." His kindergarten was a place for youngsters to learn by playing.

Today, many youngsters in the United States attend kindergarten, but they have little time for play as their teachers strive to prepare them for the rigorous first grade. In fact, the American preschool has taken over as a play center for children, giving them a fun way to enter the school system. Children ages three and four can prepare for kindergarten in a less-restricted environment.

Most children are at least five years old when they reach kindergarten, depending on state laws. Studies show that older children attending kindergarten perform better than younger counterparts, at least in the elementary years. Thereafter, the younger children catchup.

And, in response to parents' daycare needs, many kindergartens run all-day programs, compared to the previous trend of half-day. The benefits of longer school time is debatable, but all-day programs do have more flexibility in providing children playing opportunities. After all, five-year-olds need to play just as much as preschoolers.

Mediation vs. the Courtroom

2010-05-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

Since ancient times, people have gotten into disputes with each other. And, just as long ago, people have used a competent outsider, the mediator, to come to an agreement. In the United States, mediation is now part of growing trend that replaces the traditional, costly, and complicated court system with alternative-dispute-resolution methods.

Specifically, mediators can be lawyers, social workers, psychologists, or just about any one since previous job experience is not a requirement. But past job (or volunteer)experiences can be helpful in transitioning to a career in mediation.

Since all mediators need basic negotiating skills, you will definitely want to get mediation training. Currently, no requirements and certifications exist for the mediation field.

Even you do not pursue a career in mediation, your skills can be useful in your current job. You may be able to resolve workplace disputes with mediation skills, possibly stopping situations from reaching the courtroom.

What's Inside These MnMs?

2010-04-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

You pick up a bag of peanut MnMs on a supermarket shelf and notice the small, green "what's inside" label on the front. You turn over the bag and see a bigger, greener label on the back of the bag. These labels show the Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) amounts, which the manufacturer, Mars, has been using since 2008.

Mars is probably the first US company to use the GDA system, which is common in many European countries. GDA provides some of the same information that you find in the "nutrition facts" labeling that the Food and Drug Administration currently requires, but the new system gives key facts in an easier-to-read format.

Part of the GDA system involves the front of the package, where you see total calories and the percentage of the "Daily Value," as well as the unit of measurement. In case of the MnMs, the unit is "per pack," meaning one bag.

The second part of the GDA is the back of the packaging, where you see the unit of measurement at the top. Next, you get the amount and percentage of calories, total fat, saturated fat, sugars, and sodium. Lastly, the bottom of the label tells you the type of diet, adult or child, that the portions are based on.

Consumers seem to be like getting nutrition information through the GDA system and the FDA is looking into using similar labeling. Way to go Mars for being pioneers in food labels!

A Real School for Peace

2010-04-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

In a war-torn part of the world lies the School for Peace, founded by a Jew-turned-Catholic who put his beliefs into action. In the heart of Israel, between the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Father Bruno Hussar started this unique school and the village that surrounds it. Not surprisingly, the village is named "Neve Shalom-Wahat As-Salam," which translates into "Oasis of Peace," in Hebrew and Arabic, respectively.

Father Hussar's envisioned the Oasis of Peace as a place where Jews, Muslims, and Christians could live together in harmony, while breaking down misconceptions. The village's school spreads it message of peace to students, visitors, and others through workshops and lectures. In fact, 45,000 people have benefited from the School of Peace's education so far.

In an era where peace is hard to come by, Father Bruno has given the world a model of peaceful living that actually works.

History, My Story, Our Story

2010-04-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

The creation of the United Nations, the end of slavery, the start of the Cold War--we have learned the names of so many events, as well as bits and pieces of what ocurred. But, as critics claim, history lessons have lacked critical thinking or a deep understanding of cause and effect relationships. For instance, schools rarely teach why Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery.

African-American thinkers are asking for a rewrite of history, which clearly depicts slavery and its effects on the United States. Likewise, other minorities want a better discussion of Japanese-American internment camps and European explorers' treatment of American Indians. Meanwhile, Muslim-Americans may want more discussions in history books of their struggles and accomplishments.

While no history classs can completely discuss any one group that makes up the fabric of our nation, our future generations deserve better history lessons than we have received. The results willl be better thinkers and knowledge-seekers, who will go on to create a richer society.

Fighting Without Guns

2010-04-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

Greg Mortenson fights terrorism, but not with guns. His weapon is education and, through the Central Asia Institute, he builds schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has risked his life and put up with hardship by traveling to these countries every year to make sure every dollar is put to good use. Even death threats from fellow Americans, shortly after 9/11, did not deter Mortenson.

Mortenson was a nominee for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. And, President Obama has donated $100,000 of his Nobel Peace Prize award to the Central Asia Institute. But, to get this far, Mortenson, as well as his wife and children, has made uncountable sacrifices. And Mortenson continues on with his mission of educating children thousands of miles away, giving them and their families much-needed hope.

A Nineteen-Year-Old Professor

2010-03-31T20:08:00.000-07:00

Reading at 8 months and completing college at age 10 was possible for New York-native Alia Sabur. She went on to earn a PhD in materials science and engineering from Drexel University and then, in 2008, got a professorship at Seoul, South Korea's Konkuk University. Alia credits her parents' support for her accomplishments. And, possibly, Alia's elementary school administrators helped her go from the fourth grade straight to college.

Other gifted students aren't so fortunate because they go unnoticed. Some become bored with the regular school curriculum and fail classes, while others are the targets of bullies. Since politicians and educators focus on below-average students, their gifted peers don't receive much attention. Remedial students do need help, but so do above-average students--to harness their talents, rather than hide them.

Experiments on Prayer

2010-03-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

"Remember me in your prayers," is a common phrase. Supplicating to a higher prayer is common in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, as well as Eastern religions. In today's world of experiments, researchers have tried to conduct scientific research on prayer's effectiveness. Yet, as Dr. Harold Koenig of Duke University points out, prayer is difficult to test. No researcher can prevent an ill person, or her family and friends, from praying. Also, no one can control God's choice to accept or reject the prayer.

Whle we can not conduct useful experiments on prayer, we see the power of prayer in our daily lives. People on the verge of death regain their health, when prayer joins medical treatment. And prayer helps relieve stress and fight depression. Having a higher power on our side is comforting, something we realize when we pray.

A Race for Equality

2010-03-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Light-skinned human beings who owned dark-skinned people-a situation, difficult to believe, that was reality not too long ago in the United States. "Race for Freedom: the Underground Railroad" depicts four slaves' struggle to reach Canada, where they can be free. The 1994 film is a sharp contrast to modern society, where African-Americans have rights equal to the majority, at least in theory.

This film forces us to consider why African-Americans and other minorities still struggle for equality. Perhaps, as minorities, we have not taken advantage of all our resources; some of us lack a college education, or even have a high school diploma. Instead, a significant number of minorities have turned to drugs and despair.

While we might want to blame our problems on society or culture, the greatest responsibility comes from ourselves. If we want equality, we need to channel our energy towards success.

Trailblazers for Afghan Women

2010-03-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

Burnmark, sores from beatings, or a missing nose--the Afghan women at this secret shelter show signs of extreme abuse. Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a Queens, New York-based organization that runs this shelter, where females in danger of death can be safe. WAW knows that education is crucial in preventing abuse because men, who are usually ignorant of Islamic law, may justify their behavior with religion. The group runs a center to help Afghan families in Kabul, as well as one in Queens that focuses on women's literacy. To find out more about WAW, or to donate funds, please see http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/index.php.

They Cry-You Smile

2010-03-08T06:20:00.000-08:00

Seeing homeless, crying children on tv can be a reason to smile. No, you didn't read a mistake--the plight of thousands of Haitians, young and mature, reminds us that we have plenty of reasons to be grateful. While we should help the earthquake-shattered victims, we also need to look at the big picture. Our troubles are tiny in comparison, whether we are laid-off or dealing with less pay. We must show our gratitude by smiling at friends, family, and anyone else we meet in our daily routine. In this way, we can thrive and succeed.

"Read" a Book in Seconds

2010-03-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

While you shouldn't judge a book just by its cover, you can make preliminary judgements based on reviews. For ages, literary enthusiasts have enjoyed reading writers' opinions of books and I've joined this group by becoming a reviewer for http://www.bookideas.com/. I enjoy reading and reviewing books on different topics, such as ancient pottery, business, and politics. And, while I can reprint my reviews in this blog, I won't, in case this audience isn't interested. But, if you'd like, you can go to the site and check my and other authors' reviews. If you've written a book, you or your agent can contact the site owner about a possible critique-I mean, review.

Sky-High Rewards

2010-02-26T09:50:00.000-08:00

If you love flying to different destinations around the world or travel for business, then Emirates Airlines might be worth a try. In case you're wondering, this post isn't a paid promotion. I'm letting you know about an airlines that has excellent employees, including dedicated flight attendants, as well as fine in-flight entertainment and comfortable seats! An added benefit is that organizations can sign up for Business Rewards, which they can redeem for tickets, while their traveling employees simultaneously earn Skywards Miles. The Skywards program lets customers redeem miles for merchandise, such as iPods and designer jewlery, or tickets. For more information, please see http://www.emirates.com/us/english/business_rewards/Benefits/the_benefits_of_rewards.aspx.

Quick Career Courses

2010-02-25T09:40:00.000-08:00

With many of us looking for a job or trying to keep one, now may be a good time to enhance job skills. An easy method is to take online courses, such as those you can find at http://www.onehourcourses.com/. Like the name says, these courses usually take about an hour to complete and include management, leadership, and other vital areas. The prices are sensible--you can find a few free courses as well. You can study when convenient, but once you purchase a course, you have 60 days to access it. And, after finishing a course, you get a certificate, along with a more-marketable you.

A Convining Terrorist or An Innocent Woman?

2010-02-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

Even though the mainstream media avoided mentioning her case, the trial and conviction of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui may be one of the U.S. government's biggest wins or worst blunders. Dr. Siddiqui, a Pakistani-American neuroscientist educated at MIT, went missing in 2003. She was last seen with her three children in Karachi, Pakistan on her way to the airport. According to the U.S. government, Dr. Siddiqui reappeared in Afghanistan in 2008, where she came out behind a curtain, picked up a rifle, and shot at two soldiers. One soldier returned fire and wounded her in the torso, as the story goes.

This incident led to Dr. Siddiqui's Manhattan trial, where she faced attempted murder and other charges. She contended that the U.S. government secretly held her in a prison, where she faced torture and rape. And her family insists that Dr. Siddiqui has no links to terrorism. Meanwhile, the government contends that her ex-husband's uncle, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, mentioned her name in connection with terrorism. Mmm, sounds reliable.

Terrorism is a real threat, no doubt, but what about due process? Dr. Siddiqui's family has stated that the judge had, in essence, instructed the jury to find her guilty--he told them that aquitting her would mean a blemish on our government's record. Wouldn't putting away an innocent woman for 30 or more years be a huge blemish?

Your Story on Screen

2010-02-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

Just about every U.S. immigrant has her or his own story to tell. Your story may be about difficulty adjusting to a different culture or about someone who has helped make life easier. Your story can be happy or a bit sad. A group of talented people have come together to collect stories from average Americans who are immigrants or children of immigrants.

The project is known as "Choosing America," and its located at http://www.choosingamerica.com/. Here, you can find out how to send your story, which can be from 1500 to 4000 words (roughly 2 to 6 pages long). Then, the group in charge will choose some stories to turn into films and will produce a documentary about the authors. According to the website, the authors will be able to keep the copyright to their work.

So, put your experience on paper and others may see your immigration story on screen. Good luck!

Teamwork That Works

2010-01-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

Today's culture misrepresents leadership traits since the leader alone can not achieve success. In reality, the team as a whole works towards a common goal. Human resource professionals often needt to encourage effective teamwork within their company. Teams often face many obstacles, such as vague goals, cultural barriers, and unclear individual responsibilities. According to http://www.teamworkandleadership.com/2009/08/your-top-ten-obstacles-to-teamwork-teamwork-tuesday.html, the number one response many Linkedin users gave was the lack of a competent leader, perhaps because of a mispreception of a leader's duties.
For a successful team, the leader must view himself or herself not as only as a delegator, but as a person that values each member of the team and that encourages creativity. But a high-performing team needs more than an effective leader. The team needs clear goals and responsibilites, as well as a willigness to make changes, if necessary. By constantly evaluating its progress, the team can work effectively towards successful completion.

Innovation in Architecture

2010-01-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

The problem: Sears needed office space for its many employees in Chicago. The solution: an innnovative design by structural engineer Fazlur Khan, a Bengladeshi-American, where nine tubes cluster together to create a super-strong skyscraper. Known as the Sears Tower and now renamed the Willis Tower, this building is the tallest in the United States.
The creation of the Sears Tower led to other buildings that used the tubular design, such as the Citigroup Center. Advantages of this design included more window space and the use of less steel. For an image of the Sears Tower, you can see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazlur_Khan.

A Waste of Time or Not?

2010-01-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

Cheap entertainment that every household should have might be one way to define television. Or, perhaps you believe that tv is a waste of time, since you can spend those minutes on more important activities. Reading, visiting loved ones, or jobhunting might be more worthwhile. I've heard of households that have a tv set in every room of the house, including the bathroom. In contrast, some people don't even own one televsion. I suppose the best solution is to watch tv in moderation, when you have the spare time. After all, time is a precious resource-once its gone, it won't return.

Too Good to Keep

2010-01-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

Throwing away new clothes is company policy, if that company is Walmart. The retail giant is probably guilty of dumping bags of merchandise, instead of donating those items to charity. You can read http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/nyregion/06about.html for more information.
One possible reason for the odd behavior is that the store doesn't want people to return those items for a refund, according to http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread532542/pg1. If that's the case, then Walmart should only give returns when the customer has a receipt. The company should adjust its secret policy, or at least openly admit that it throws out unsold merchandise.

A Whole New Way

2010-01-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a whole new way of communication--through blogging. As you can tell, I've added a game widget, along with some pretty fish. But, the words are the heart of any blog, so please feel free to comment on any of my posts, or my blog in general. I'd love to hear your thoughts. And don't hesistate to create a link to my blog, if you'd like.
I'm also creating a schedule of topics, so you (and I) will automatically know what each day's post will be cover. We'll see how this format works out. Be sure to give me your input as we go on this adventure.

To Believe or Not to Believe

2010-01-10T15:53:00.000-08:00

In my former professional life, I sent strangers my writing; or, as the industry jargon goes, queried editors to publish my work. Some editors rejected the articles, but offered words of encouragement. Others weren't so nice. For instance, one charming magazine editor said, "The words are so boring (yawn)..." But, I didn't believe her--in fact, I wanted to prove her wrong. I sent the same article to another publication, and received a check within weeks.

The lesson learned from this incident is simple, but applies to any profession: personal success doesn't come from others, but from yourself. You decide whom to believe, so you can shut out the negative talk. Eventually you will be successful!

Friend or Foe?

2010-01-09T19:41:00.000-08:00

"What's HR?" I've heard people ask. HR, or human resources, is a not-so-new department in most companies. You might have heard of "personnel department," another, older name for HR. These people handle payroll, recruiting, hiring, possible harassment, and more. Employees may think that HR is their best friend, but human resources is ought to protect the best interests of the company. Sometimes HR may be part of layoffs, unfavorable performance appraisals, and other "bad" events. Nevertheless, this department is vital to a company's success and will probably grow in importance.

Anger vs. Gratitude

2010-01-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

I've observed that, as human beings, we have a tendency to remember situations where we've been angry much more than when we've felt gratitude. For example, we probably will recall -over and over- a driver who didn't give us room for a right turn or one that kept us from merging on the freeway.
However, when we look at situations of gratitude, they only seem memorable for a few minutes. We may have felt grateful for the person who let us go first at the stop sign, when the right-of-way wasn't ours, but we soon forget this incident.
Some people might have trained themselves to focus on the positive incidents in their lives and to "forgive and forget" the bad ones. The rest of us should inspire to be like them.

Poetry and Music

2010-01-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

An updated kind of poetry is spoken word, with its distinctive rhythm, repetition, and rhyme, giving its creators a unique way to express themselves. A similar form of poetry is the nasheed, Islamic music that focuses on promoting goodness and gratitude towards God. The formats vary, with some nasheed containing no music, like that of Yusuf Islam. Meanwhile, artists like Zain Bhikha may use the drum or another instrument.

On the other hand, Islamic rap is a new form of music, with its strong beats and equally strong themes. For Muslim teens, Native Deen is one popular rap group, whose songs sometimes deal with drugs, drinking, and other problems of society.

To hear nasheed and Islamic rap, here are a few links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L-GOHa5-YQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjIsSdsT6A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAfUMfCtcDA

Steel Barrier For Gaza

2010-01-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

The Egyptian government is putting up an underground steel barrier at its border with Gaza. The point is to prevent humanitarian supplies from reaching the Palestinians. Innocent people are using this route for supplies since their town is under siege and, politics aside, every human being is entitled to food and medication. Whatever problems exist in the region, the solutions do not lie in promoting starvation. Too often both sides of a dispute sacrifice other's lives for their own agendas.

By the way, if my blog interests you, please become a follower.

The World's First Lipstick

2010-01-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

While women are naturally beautiful, who can deny the power of lipstick? Lipstick first appeared way back in 1000 CE when Abulcasis, an Andalusian-Arab Muslim, gave a description in his 30-volume medical encyclopedia. The huge book got translated in Latin, leading to the spread of lipstick know-how. Some people think that Egyptians created lipstick, but their mixture of iodine and bromine caused sickness, besides giving lips color. So, Max Factor, Revlon, and others can credit Abulcasis, or Abu al-Qassum al-Zahrawi, for today's popular lip embellishment: the lipstick.

Helping the Uninsured

2009-12-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

A while back I wanted to keep busy doing meaningful work--what I found was a chance to encourage uninsured families to apply for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, two insurance programs for low-income Californians. Certified Application Assistants, as they're called, are certified to give free help in the somewhat complicated process.
I signed up with an Enrollment Entity, a person who would act as supervisor. Then I studied the various rules and regulations for both insurance programs, such as who qualifies as a family member and whose income counts. I took an exam, passed, and received an ID number to use when sending online or paper applications for families.
I ordered applications and handbooks in English and other languages, which I distributed to local nonprofits and mosques. I assisted any one who asked for help in filling out the application for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. I felt I was doing a tiny, but significant, part to improve society through these programs.
Unfortunately, these programs are always in danger of losing federal and state funding. They aren't the perfect fix for all unisured since families with income outside the limits don't qualify, yet these Americans can not afford private health insurance either. However, Medi-Cal and Healthy Families do offer relief for some low-income families. And, until a better solution comes along, we need these programs to stay.

New Thinking in the New Year

2009-12-30T09:52:00.000-08:00

I've experienced discrimination outside the workplace--like the elderly lady standing in line with me at the supermarket who commented to her companion, "Amazing what kind of people you see around here." My reaction is one of pity because she obviously is not in touch with reality. The United States is home to many different races and ethnicities, all of us adding to this country's richness.
As an inspiring human resource professional, I appreciate diversity training, where managers and employees become more aware of discriminatory behaviors. Hopefully, such training will create more inclusiveness at work, and in the rest of our lives.
As the new year rolls around, let's all have one resolution: to be more tolerant and understanding towards one another. As a nation of good people, we can help foster peace in our everyday lives.

My First Post

2009-12-29T10:49:00.000-08:00

Hello and Assalamu alaikum (Peace be upon you)!
After hearing so much about blogs, I'm joining in as the year 2010 comes around. Besides improving my typing/writing skills, I can share my thoughts:
As the sluggish economy seemed to improve, I was able to find paid employment. Seeing talented professionals become laid-off did discourage my jobhunting, but I was persistent. I took classes to improve my computer and office skills and networked with other jobseekers. And I didn't mind volunteering to add some meat to my resume. Next up is a permanent position!