2000 AH

Happy New Years

2011-11-26T15:52:00.001-06:00

Happy 1433

Happy Bring your clone to work day

2011-10-17T10:49:00.001-05:00

a Happy bring your clone to work day to everyone in the celestial empire.

how fast are things changing

2011-10-07T10:36:00.001-05:00

My wife asked me "what are you doing?" to which i replied "downloading a book to my phone" a statement that just ten years ago would have made no sense at all.

TV rights

2011-10-04T17:08:00.003-05:00

In the year 2020 C.E. CNN became the number one rated cable channel when the pentagon signed a contract with them giving CNN the exclusive broadcast rights to the American Invasion and Occupation of Somalia. Fourteen years and 25,000 American and 250,000 Somalian dead later American Military forces withdrew despite the protest from CNN executives as it was still their highest rated program. Many American clergy stated this showed the true decline of America moral fiber.

Robophobia

2011-09-28T08:21:00.002-05:00

Anti Robot prejudice became a real problem on earth after the release of the General worker bot,The GW-23, as millions found themselves out of work.

New Kurdistan Planetary Park

2011-09-10T06:06:00.002-05:00

Established in 1872 AH The first Planetary Park on New Kurdistan is still its most popular park.

EID Mubarak

2011-08-31T20:54:00.000-05:00

Eid Mubarak

2011-08-24T10:35:00.002-05:00

New Sulawesi

2011-08-21T15:34:00.003-05:00

Hadith

2011-08-19T12:05:00.001-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) wife Ayesha said: "(The Prophet) would strive (to do acts of worship) during the last 10 days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 133B

The Prophet also said: "Search for Laylat al-Qadr in the last 10 days of Ramadan."

Al-Muwatta, 19:11

New Markazi

2011-08-16T12:11:00.003-05:00

Map of New Markazi a member of the Shia Systems Alliance. New Markazi has abundant Fisheries. It is Most famous for It's giant cephalopds.

Red Sea Astrarium

2011-08-11T19:08:00.000-05:00

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/star-trek-theme-park-beaming-down-jordan-234216739.html

Most kings adopt a regal air, separating themselves from the common folk.

Star Trek theme park (Rubicon Group Holding)

Not Jordan's King Abdullah II. He's a geek and he's proud of it.

The Jordanian monarch is the chief investor in an upcoming theme park that will revolve around Star Trek. Slated to open in 2014, the park costs a reported $1.5 billion.

That's a lot of Gold-Pressed Latinum.

Unlikely though it may sounds, the coastal town of Aqaba is set to become the center of the Trek universe. The 184-acre theme park -- dubbed the 'Red Sea Astrarium' -- will feature several "multi-sensory futuristic experiences," including a high-tech space-flight adventure simulator.

Can you spot the King of Jordan.

2011-08-11T19:01:00.001-05:00

can you spot the King of Jordan.

New Kelantan

2011-08-10T12:27:00.003-05:00

New Palestine

2011-08-09T06:44:00.001-05:00

2011-08-05T17:27:00.000-05:00

Star ship at sufi monastary.

2011-08-04T18:44:00.001-05:00

2011-08-03T05:42:00.001-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which God has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it, the gates of Heaven are opened [and] the gates of hell are locked. ... He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 611

The Prophet also said: "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan with faith, and seeks God's pleasure and reward, will have his previous sins forgiven."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 109

-----

Ramadan Kareem

2011-07-31T20:50:00.001-05:00

Ramadan Kareem

Internal Computer

2011-07-28T21:20:00.002-05:00

The new Internal Computer.

Sunnah

2011-07-24T16:25:00.001-05:00

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) entered a new town, he would say: "O God. . .put our love in the hearts of its people and put the love of its righteous people in our hearts."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 147

Direct neural link computer interface

2011-07-20T19:48:00.003-05:00

For those who want the fastest and most responsive computer interface, a direct neural interface is the only way to go. The PKG weighs only 100 grams and as it is surgically installed can be taken anywhere. with it neural interface and 200 terabytes of ram you never have to stand there with out an answer. Available at your nearest Alsouq Electronica.

PC interface

2011-07-18T15:30:00.001-05:00

New PC interface kid friendly

2011-07-12T13:01:00.003-05:00

The Newest PC interface is very kid friendly. Easiest to use for those who don't want to get a direct neural interface.

Hadith

2011-07-10T14:18:00.001-05:00

Narrated by Anas ibn Malik - "(The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,) said to me: 'My son, if you are in a position to pass your morning and evening keeping your heart free from malice against anyone, then act according to (this high ideal).' He then said: 'That is my Sunnah (example), and he who loves my Sunnah loves me.'"

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 59

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T21:37:00.000-05:00

Happy 4th of July

New computer

2011-06-28T20:25:00.002-05:00

Hamza does research for a school report on Mars, using the new Windows 5000 interface.

Flag of the Mars republic

2011-06-27T19:41:00.003-05:00

The original flag of the first Martion republic. Designed by two sisters, Lily Thai and Lucy Thai , both of whom had fought agaisnt the Japanese during Mar's war for Independence.

republic of mars

2011-06-26T19:19:00.002-05:00

Citizens are reminded to always have thier ID cards on them.

NORTH AMERICAN CALIPHATE

2011-06-21T17:45:00.002-05:00

Hadith

2011-06-17T17:04:00.001-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be (the charity he or she has given)."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604

The Prophet also said: "The most excellent (form of) charity consists of satisfying a hungry stomach."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 608

Sea Corn

2011-06-13T19:31:00.002-05:00

The Creation of Sea corn by the genetic engineers At New Atlantis Industries during the middle of the 21st century allowed earth to avoid what looked to be major agricultural disaster caused by drought and mass starvation. In the first year New Atlantis Industries "planted" 500 million acres of Sea corn. Not only did this allow them to raise corn without worrying about arable land but it yielded 5 times the amount of corn per acre than any other corn on the market at the time. With out Sea corn,sea wheat and sea soy the Earth could not support the 15 billion people that live there today.

Sea Corn off the east African coast.

Freshwater Squid

2011-06-11T14:53:00.002-05:00

The Freshwater Squid of New Malaysia is constantly causing problems with drainage and sewer pipes. This one caused a major sewage back up before city workers were able to break open the pipe and extract it.

Transporting flood refugees

2011-06-09T18:17:00.001-05:00

Transporting flood refugees to Baton Rouge.

Heavy Cargo Cruiser Over New Orleans

2011-06-08T07:35:00.001-05:00

A heavy Cargo cruiser bring relief supplies to new Orleans after the devastating Hurricane In 2078 AH

2011-05-20T18:14:00.000-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God will not show mercy to a person who does not show mercy to other people."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 20, Hadith 375

The Prophet also said: "(God) has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in heaven will show mercy to you."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2322

baby designs r us

2011-03-26T20:15:00.001-05:00

Moore's Law

2011-03-02T11:21:00.003-06:00

I have been reading and talking about the advance of technology and started thinking about Moore's law, The Idea that computer power doubles every 2 years this trend has proven true ever since Moore stated this back in the 1970s, and if this does continue on in the future what will computers look like. Now to put this into some perspective for myself I use my two year old son and thought what will computers be like when he is my age,42. so in i tried to calculate what computer RAM will be in forty years and following current trends it would be 4,160,000 gigs and that is rounding down.

2010-12-02T16:56:00.001-06:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “(Islam) is spacious (and has room for relaxation). I have been sent with an easy and straightforward faith.”

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 153

Quran 55:33

2010-10-25T18:04:00.001-05:00

O assembly of jinns and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allah)!

Space Freighter

2010-10-23T20:26:00.002-05:00

Space Freighter on the dark side of New Kurdistan. Note in the far right corner we see a convoy sliding in to the star system.

2010-10-12T17:44:00.001-05:00

http://secondlife.com/destination/ummah-of-noor?sourceid=0910-facebook-spirit-islam&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=adheadline&utm_campaign=spirit-islam

thought this was pretty interesting

2010-10-10T20:52:00.003-05:00

"You can never attain righteousness unless you give (freely) that which you love; and whatever you spend, God knows it well."

The Holy Quran, 3:92

2010-10-10T20:52:00.001-05:00

"You can never attain righteousness unless you give (freely) that which you love; and whatever you spend, God knows it well."

The Holy Quran, 3:92

2010-10-06T19:52:00.001-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who alleviates the suffering of a brother. . .God will ease his. . .suffering on the Day of Resurrection. He who finds relief for one who is hard pressed, God will make things easy for him in the Hereafter. . ."

Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1245

2010-09-26T20:03:00.001-05:00

2010-09-18T20:05:00.001-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God. . .will say on the Day of Resurrection: 'O son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me.' (The person) will reply: 'My Lord, how could I feed Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds?' (God will then) say: 'Didn't you know that a servant of Mine (once) asked you for food, but you did not feed him. And were you not aware that if you had fed him, you would have found him by My side?'"

Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1172

The Prophet also said: "O (my) people! Spread greetings of peace, feed (the poor and needy), behave kindly to your relatives, offer prayer when others are asleep, and (thus) enter Paradise in peace."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 269

2010-09-10T12:43:00.003-05:00

EID MUBARAK

2010-09-10T12:43:00.001-05:00

EID MUBARAK

Hadith

2010-09-06T05:59:00.001-05:00

Hasten with your charity, because disaster does not trample it.

-Hadith The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by 'Ali bin Abi Talib

View from space portal

2010-06-16T12:19:00.001-05:00

Science and the Muslim world

2010-06-15T15:42:00.001-05:00

Science and the Muslim world

2010-06-15T15:42:00.000-05:00

2010-06-11T22:17:00.001-05:00

A man once said to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Teach me some words that I can live by. Do not make them too much for me, lest I forget." The Prophet replied: "Do not become angry."

Al-Muwatta, Volume 47, Hadith 11

2010-06-07T23:32:00.003-05:00

A large ocean floater moves out to deep water as the sunsets. they normally feed near shore during the day and float out over deeper water at night.

2010-05-27T20:52:00.001-05:00

HOVERBOARD - NILS GUADAGNIN from nils guadagnin on Vimeo.

Space center abuzz over Atlantis' last launch

2010-05-12T18:34:00.000-05:00

By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer – Wed May 12, 3:40 pm ET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA is getting hit up for extra launch passes, and mission stickers and pins are flying off the shelf. Another Twittering crowd is descending on the space center. Even science fiction writers want in on the action.

Welcome to space shuttle Atlantis' 32nd and final voyage.

When Atlantis blasts off — show time is 2:20 p.m. Friday — only two more missions will remain before the shuttle program ends.

Besides equipment for the International Space Station, Atlantis holds two big tool bins that are crammed full of shuttle and station memorabilia: flags, medallions, bookmarks and the like.

Three miles from the pad, the firing room where launch controllers will give one final "go" is decorated with photos of Atlantis launching, flying in space and landing over the past 25 years. The collage includes patches from each mission, including the last, which depicts Atlantis sailing into the sunset.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100512/ap_on_sc/us_space_shuttle_atlantis;_ylt=Aro6GT67csVvxLb3JMVhcH2HgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ2NGY0MWczBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNTEyL3VzX3NwYWNlX3NodXR0bGVfYXRsYW50aXMEcG9zAzMEc2VjA3luX3BhZ2luYXRlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDc3BhY2VjZW50ZXJh

Transparent Aluminum

2010-04-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

we have been waiting for it since scotty talked about it.

Ceramic Windows
The windows and transparent doors are made of aluminum oxynitride, a millimeters-thin ceramic being developed by the military as a bulletproof replacement for vehicle windows and domes.

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2010-04/future-drive-electric-luxury-racer

Philp K Dick

2010-04-26T18:10:00.003-05:00

If you are not reading or have read Phili K Dick's stories, well you really need to. some of the best science fiction movies made are based on his short stories.

Movie Story

Total Recall =We Can Remember It For You Wholesale

A Scanner Darkly= A Scanner Darkly

Blade Runner= Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Minority Report= Minority Report

Screamers =Second Variety

Paycheck= Paycheck

Next =The Golden Man

Tech update

2010-04-11T09:27:00.001-05:00

http://www.sc.edu/news/newsarticle.php?nid=876

Ordinary T-shirts could become body armor

A simple cotton T-shirt may one day be converted into tougher, more comfortable body armor for soldiers or police officers.

Researchers at the University of South Carolina, collaborating with others from China and Switzerland, drastically increased the toughness of a T-shirt by combining the carbon in the shirt’s cotton with boron – the third hardest material on earth. The result is a lightweight shirt reinforced with boron carbide, the same material used to protect tanks.

Dr. Xiaodong Li, USC College of Engineering and Computing Distinguished Professor in Mechanical Engineering, co-authored the recent article on the research in the journal, Advanced Materials.

“USC is playing a leading role in this area. This is a true breakthrough,” Li said, calling the research “a conceptual change in fabricating lightweight, fuel-efficient, super-strong and ultra-tough materials. This groundbreaking new study opens up unprecedented opportunities.”

The scientists started with plain, white T-shirts that were cut into thin strips and dipped into a boron solution. The strips were later removed from the solution and heated in an oven. The heat changes the cotton fibers into carbon fibers, which react with the boron solution and produce boron carbide.

2010-03-26T17:03:00.000-05:00

2010-03-25T17:21:00.000-05:00

2010-03-24T16:38:00.000-05:00

2010-03-18T20:02:00.000-05:00

German scientists have created a three-dimensional "invisibility cloak" that can hide objects by bending light waves.

The findings, published in the journal Science on Thursday, could in the future make it possible large objects invisible, but for now the researchers said they were not keen to speculate on possible applications.

"For now these...cloaking devices are just a beautiful and exciting benchmark to show what transformation optics can do," said Tolga Ergin of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Transformation optics use a class of materials called metamaterials that guide and control light.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100318/sc_nm/us_invisibility_cloak;_ylt=Ap.G70S_BILXAbU8RgO1sLCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNwNzZ1ZzBsBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMTAwMzE4L3VzX2ludmlzaWJpbGl0eV9jbG9hawRjY29kZQNtb3N0cG9wdWxhcgRjcG9zAzgEcG9zAzUEcHQDaG9tZV9jb2tlBHNlYwN5bl9oZWFkbGluZV9saXN0BHNsawNpbnZpc2liaWxpdHk-

2010-03-18T19:19:00.001-05:00

"We have ordained a law and a way of life for each of you. If God wanted, He could have made all of you a single nation. But He willed otherwise in order to test you in what He has given you. Therefore try to excel one another in good works."

The Holy Quran, 5:48

Aliens on earth

2010-03-15T20:00:00.002-05:00

If we need proof that their could be life on other planets we just need to see the extreme places that we find life on earth.

WASHINGTON – In a surprising discovery about where higher life can thrive, scientists for the first time found a shrimp-like creature and a jellyfish frolicking beneath a massive Antarctic ice sheet.

Six hundred feet below the ice where no light shines, scientists had figured nothing much more than a few microbes could exist.

That's why a NASA team was surprised when they lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet in Antarctica. A curious shrimp-like creature came swimming by and then parked itself on the camera's cable. Scientists also pulled up a tentacle they believe came from a foot-long jellyfish.

"We were operating on the presumption that nothing's there," said NASA ice scientist Robert Bindschadler, who will be presenting the initial findings and a video at an American Geophysical Union meeting Wednesday. "It was a shrimp you'd enjoy having on your plate."

"We were just gaga over it," he said of the 3-inch-long, orange critter starring in their two-minute video. Technically, it's not a shrimp. It's a Lyssianasid amphipod, which is distantly related to shrimp.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100315/ap_on_sc/us_sci_antarctica_sea_life;_ylt=ApJF8eW8WZFJ1w8GsAzOqTsPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJydDJncG1yBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzE1L3VzX3NjaV9hbnRhcmN0aWNhX3NlYV9saWZlBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawN0aGlzdmlkZW9mcmE-

2010-03-15T18:30:00.000-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do you know who is (truly) poor?" His companions replied: "A poor man amongst us is one who has (no money)." The Prophet then said: "The poor of my community will be he who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and charity, but since he hurled abuses on others, brought slander on others, unlawfully consumed the wealth and shed the blood of others...his virtues will be credited to the account of the one (who suffered at his hand)."

Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1179

2010-03-04T18:57:00.001-06:00

"The (true) servants of (God) the Compassionate are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, reply with (words of) peace."

The Holy Quran, 25:63

2010-02-18T09:29:00.001-06:00

"Verily, for all men and women who have surrendered themselves to God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves (before God), and all men and women who give in charity, and all self-denying men and self-denying women, and all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who remember God unceasingly: for (all of) them has God readied forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward."

The Holy Quran, 33:35

2010-02-01T17:20:00.001-06:00

SAY SOMETHING GOOD OR KEEP QUIET - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever believes in God and the (Day of Judgment) should not hurt his neighbor...should serve his guest generously and...should say something good or keep quiet."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Number 158

2010-01-07T11:55:00.000-06:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once offered prayer while carrying his granddaughter on his shoulder. “The (Prophet) led (the people) in prayer while she was on his shoulder. When he bowed he put her down and picked her up when he got up. He kept on doing so until he finished his prayer.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 353

One commentator wrote: "The purpose behind the action of the Prophet of carrying (his granddaughter) in the prayer was to set an example before the Arabs who considered having daughters and carrying them around as something bad or shameful. The Prophet…acted differently from them, and carried a girl on his neck in the prayer, and making something clear by example is much more effective than a mere precept."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 84

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T09:11:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving

EID Mubarak

2009-11-25T16:40:00.000-06:00

EID MUBARAK

Hadith

2009-11-09T18:48:00.001-06:00

GOD ALWAYS ACCEPTS REPENTANCE - TOP

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “God will continue to hold out His hand at night so that anyone who has sinned during the day might repent, and to hold out His hand during the day so that anyone who has sinned at night might repent. And God will continue to do so until the sun rises from the west (on the Day of Judgment).”

Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 16

Hadith

2009-11-03T18:32:00.001-06:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "For every day on which the sun rises, there is a (reward from God) for those who establish justice among people."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 870

Behind the Scenes: Building NASA's Huge, New Rocket

2009-10-26T15:54:00.000-05:00

NASA's first flight test of its Ares I-X booster is only slated to last two minutes, but it represents the culmination of years of work by the rocket-minded ATK Space Systems in Utah and almost 1,000 other NASA workers and private contractors across 17 states.

To ensure that they see the fruits of their labor, technicians have installed more than 700 sensors on the $445 million Ares I-X test vehicle. That electronic swarm should provide engineers with a smorgasbord of flight data, and has led to a few jokes regarding the sensor-studded rocket.

"It's almost like flying a Christmas tree," said Trina Patterson, a spokesperson for ATK Space Systems, an aerospace company based in Magna, Utah. The rocket is set launch at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) Tuesday fromNASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

ATK has good reason to want that data, because it produced the first rocket stage that plays the undeniable starring role in the upcoming launch. Its story represents just one out of many involved in the U.S. space agency's first small step back to the moon with its tallest rocket — the 327-foot (100-meter) Ares I-X — in more than 30 years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20091026/sc_space/behindthescenesbuildingnasashugenewrocket;_ylt=Al9FydrwZ5JPrCgK_ZNIJcWHgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTNpcjYxZjRyBGFzc2V0A3NwYWNlLzIwMDkxMDI2L2JlaGluZHRoZXNjZW5lc2J1aWxkaW5nbmFzYXNodWdlbmV3cm9ja2V0BHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA2JlaGluZHRoZXNjZQ--

New Planets

2009-10-21T08:19:00.001-05:00

European astronomers have found 32 new planets outside our solar system, adding evidence to the theory that the universe has many places where life could develop. Scientists using the European Southern Observatory telescope didn't find any planets quite the size of Earth or any that seemed habitable or even unusual. But their announcement increased the number of planets discovered outside the solar system to more than 400.

Six of the newly found planets are several times bigger than Earth, increasing the population of so-called super-Earths by more than 30 percent. Most planets discovered so far are far bigger, Jupiter-sized or even larger.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091020/ap_on_sc/us_sci_new_planets;_ylt=Aoq5s7K3rpkIppeTncMRNTUPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJqYWRpZ28xBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMDIwL3VzX3NjaV9uZXdfcGxhbmV0cwRjcG9zAzMEcG9zAzYEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDYW5hcnRpc3QzOXNy

2009-10-10T21:18:00.001-05:00

2009-10-07T18:12:00.001-05:00

2009-10-07T18:11:00.002-05:00

EID MUBARAK

2009-09-19T20:06:00.000-05:00

EID MUBARAK

Found: Firm place to stand outside solar system

2009-09-16T18:29:00.001-05:00

Astronomers have finally found a place outside our solar system where there's a firm place to stand — if only it weren't so broiling hot.

As scientists search the skies for life elsewhere, they have found more than 300 planets outside our solar system. But they all have been gas balls or can't be proven to be solid. Now a team of European astronomers has confirmed the first rocky extrasolar planet.

Scientists have long figured that if life begins on a planet, it needs asolid surface to rest on, so finding one elsewhere is a big deal.

"We basically live on a rock ourselves," said co-discoverer Artie Hatzes, director of the Thuringer observatory in Germany. "It's as close to something like the Earth that we've found so far. It's just a little too close to its sun."

So close that its surface temperature is more than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, too toasty to sustain life. It circles its star in just 20 hours, zipping around at 466,000 mph. By comparison, Mercury, the planet nearest our sun, completes its solar orbit in 88 days.

"It's hot, they're calling it the lava planet," Hatzes said.

This is a major discovery in the field of trying to find life elsewhere in the universe, said outside expert Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution. It was the buzz of a conference on finding an Earth-like planet outside our solar system, held in Barcelona, Spain, where the discovery was presented Wednesday morning. The find is also being published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090916/ap_on_sc/us_sci_rocky_planet;_ylt=ArYtCo7TXL84zaT2DwcPpL0PLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJrbmZxNXUyBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwOTE2L3VzX3NjaV9yb2NreV9wbGFuZXQEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA3RoaXNpbWFnZXBybw--

hadith

2009-08-06T18:33:00.001-05:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said the best supplication for forgiveness from God is: “O God, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant and I try my best to keep my covenant (of faith) with You and to live in the hope of Your promise. I seek refuge in You from (any) evil done by me. I acknowledge Your favors upon me and I acknowledge my sins. So forgive me, for none forgives sins but You.”

The Prophet added: "If somebody recites this during the day with firm faith in it and dies on the same day before the evening, that person will be one of the people of Paradise. And if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it and dies before the morning, that person will (also) be one of the people of Paradise."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 115

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Aamus

2009-07-09T16:46:00.000-05:00

Al-Hujwiri , " The Kashf al-Mahjub "

There are two kinds of speeches and two kinds of silences. Speech is either truth or a falsification, and silence is either fruition or heedlessness. If one speaks the truth, his words are better than his silence, but he who invents falsifications, his silence is better than his speech.

Al-Hujwiri , " The Kashf al-Mahjub "

Captain Khalid Muhammad sat feeling troubled in his ready room sipping his warm cup of tea and contemplated what his communications officer had told him earlier. He had been having a rather pleasant conversation with his first officer Commander Fadel Shaker whom he had served with for over 10 years now and the Sensors Officer Lt. Kathem El-Saher a young go getter from the planet Khalwat, over a dinner of spicy curried beef, rice and lemon grass soup, about the new star system they had just slid into. The crew was excited as the second planet’s surface was 65 per cent covered in oceans and had an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere. The sensors had also showed and abundance of plant life and with an average temperature at sea level on the equator of 26c. The sensors had also shown that the planet was teeming with life.

They had been joking about where they were going to build their retirement homes on the planet, which they were currently calling Aamus, with Lt. Kathem El-Saher saying he would want to find where the best ski slopes were on the newly discovered world and build a large home there, when Sub-Commander Amr Diab the communications officer had interrupted saying that he had just picked up some video transmissions coming from the planet.

“Aliens?” asked Lt. El-Saher eagerly his face bright with anticipation.

“No, not Aliens” replied Sub-Commander Amr Diab a no nonsense man in a slightly annoyed tone, looking at Kathem El-Saher he thought if the man had a tale it would be wagging right now. He had then gone on to explain further, it was this further explanation which was bothering the captain.

First Citizen Kenny Macaskill was feeling annoyed. It was dark outside of his office window and he watched as the rain poured down in sheets, the park across the street being lit up by the occasional flash of lightening. The Rain wasn’t annoying him as it was cleaning up the streets of the capitol city which were sorely in need of it after yesterday’s founders’ day celebration, something which consisted mostly of throwing powder of various bright colors on your friends, foes and people chosen by random in the crowd. As a boy and even when he got older participating with his own children, he had always enjoyed the annual Founders day festival, but now his aides had advised him that as First Citizen it would not be dignified and so he had gone to some official dinner, that had annoyed him. Not that the aides said it, but that he had listened to them. Of course that was not what was really bothering him nor the fact that his secretary had put sugar in his coffee again why the boy kept doing that as he was quite competent at everything else his job required of him.

No what was annoying the First Citizen was that instead of having a year or two of warning about a starship approaching the planet he was told that there was one already in the star system and then they only knew about it because some astronomy grad students studying the huge and violent storms of the gas giant Gallaudet and saw it pass by the gas giant. They had originally thought they had discovered a new comet or asteroid then observed it making a course change. The military trying to keep the news of the star ship hush was currently providing free room and board for all of the astronomy students.

The military had gone on to with, what the First Citizen found to be refreshing, extreme efficiency to commandeer the largest telescopes on Sterns’ world and had confirmed that it was most matter of fact a star ship. They had also managed to determine, according to the classified report on the First Citizen’s large metal and glass desk, that it was not an Ark ship like the one which had brought the original colonist from Earth to Sterns’ world. The report went on to say in clipped military language that the star ship was not only of unknown design but that they were not even sure how its propulsion system worked.

After reading the short report to his assembled cabinet The First citizen sat down in his overstuffed green leather chair and called for opinions and questions. The cabinet quickly exploded with questions and opinions.

“Aliens!” stated Sayuka Isoyama the petite Minister of Culture, her entire tiny body shaking with intense anticipation.

“I doubt that it is aliens” replied Josh Brolin the Minister of science and technology, his facial expression relaying to everyone in the room that he thought Sayuka was a few slices short of a whole loaf. “It is far more likely that in the several hundred years that have passed since this colony was founded that earth has made various technological advances which we are not familiar with.” He then sat down taking his glasses off to clean them.

“Invasion Sir, you should call up the military reserves and deploy our star fighters at once” demanded the rather frightened red faced Minister of Agriculture a man used to combating crop pests not the aliens who he was sure would begin landing soon.

“Well there are two problems with that plan, one we do not have any star fighters and two we do not have any star fighters. Now I do realize that it is the same reason but it such a big one that I felt I should mention it twice. Our space command entirely is made up of two asteroid defense ships and three shuttles which we use to put satellites up in orbit and only the Asteroid defense ships are armed.” Stated Gerhard Stoltenberg the bear like minister of defense while looking at the minister of agriculture with contempt. “And military intelligence has determined that the ship is too small to be carrying an invasion force. It has perhaps a crew two hundred.”

“It could be an Alien military reconnaissance vessel” retorted the Agricultural minister trying to regain some of his composure.

“It is not aliens, and why would anyone invade us?” Asked Minister Brolin.

“Earth is overpopulated, it was even so when our ancestors left hundreds of years ago. It has probably only gotten worse and they need to resettle the excess population” blurted out Minister Isoyama whom after the initial shock of the news had passed, had decided it was not aliens.

“It would be easier and cheaper then to just send out thousands of Ark ships” Stated the Defense Minister.

Sub-Commander Amr Diab turned the video monitor to the channel the video stream they had interpreted was on. The officers watched it for a few minutes when Captain Muhammad asked the question that had crossed all of their minds, “what is wrong with the audio?”

“Nothing sir, there is none “replied Sub-Commander Diab with a wily grin he continued, “We have looked at thirty seven video broadcasting streams coming from the planet and none of them have audio. Also we have been unable to detect any audio radio broadcasts coming from the planet.”

“That doesn’t make any sense, one of the first things colonies do is set up a radio station or two. “Said Lt. El-Saher in a confused tone.

“We had the same thought. Me and the boys in communications looked at the programs and while many news, sports and even science programs had text subtitles and narration running under the pictures. Many of the pure entertainment programs did not. Then we looked at everyone was doing with their hands and we realized that they were talking with their hands” said the Sub-commander who was becoming very enthusiastic.

“How did they all become deaf? Was their some sort of virus or chemical accident? I do not see how this could happen on such a large scale.” stated the captain a puzzled look on his face and in his tone.

“We do not know sir, but I am sure that it is not beyond Confederation science to reverse it. Such an offer of help could really help with the diplomatic overtures.” Replied sub-commander El-Saher.

“I am sure that the Confederacy will be happy to send medical teams from New Malaysia or New Kurdistan to help the people of …. What do the people call their world?” asked Captain Khalid Muhammad.

“Sterns’ World, Sir”

“Yes, Sterns’ World. Help the people of Sterns’ World.”

Just as the First citizen was thinking to dismiss the meeting before it turned into a fist fight a well dressed female Aide to the First Minister came in to the conference room and slipped him a hand written note. He read it quickly and after getting everyone’s attention announced that the ship was sending them a text message.

The C.S.S. Hamza Yusef sat in high orbit over Sterns’s world, where thousands of very excited amateur astronomers, along with several dozen very concerned military stations watched it. The military stations monitored closely everything the could of the C.S.S. Hamza Yusef, taking special care to make sure that they did not try to communicate with anyone outside of the official government channels. And this was because; despite Sterns’ world’s government best efforts at keeping the arrival of the C.S.S. Hamza Yusef a secret everyone knew. One news station was keeping a steady of a blurry picture of the ship in orbit while instant experts discussed the implications of its arrival on Sterns’ world’s society.

The First Citizen could feel the veins in his neck throbbing as his entire 2 meter frame shook with rage. Help, the foreigners had dared to call it help. Stern’s world was a society which existed in silence. The concept of a society which exists in silence was enshrined in their world’s constitution. A Society in Silence was engraved on Mark Sterns statue outside of the Parliament building. This very thing is why their ancestors had left earth, to get away from this type of prejudice and now after hundreds of years the hearing world had finally tracked them down or if Captain Khalid Muhammad was to be believed, stumbled across.

First Citizen Kenny Macaskill had, had the military step up their jamming operations so that the foreigners ship would not be able to communicate with anyone outside of official channels the internal security apparatus try to make sure there were no leaks. Problem was Sterns’ world was not a police state and people were use to freely expressing themselves. The First citizen was afraid that the dangerous alien ideas that the C.S.S. Hamza Yusef would expose the population to, would destroy their society.

The crew had just finished praying Isha a few minutes before and while most of them were still making dhiker or praying Sunnah, Captain Khalid Muhammad and Sub-Commander Amr Diab met to discuss the day’s events in the officers’ mess over cups of thick sweet Turkish coffee and a large platter of walnut Baklava. Their day had been very busy and both men were grateful for some time to relax.

“The laser flashes directed at the ship are defiantly not an attack sir” stated Sub-Commander Amr, “it is old morse code. It took us a while to find a file on Morse code but we have been able to decode the message, somebody down on the planet is asking us if we can really make their children hear. I can tell you that this is not an official government request.”

Captain Khalid sighed and scratched his head. “Then we do not respond, from the emails and news broadcast we have been monitoring their world is already in an uproar about the offer we made them. I am not about to compound our problems by negotiating outside of official government channels. We are leaving the official diplomatic mission that will be here soon, inshallah, enough of a mess.” Said Captain Khalid sadly still thinking about how his offer of help had blown up in his face.

“Understood sir.”

The two men spent the rest of the evening in silence simply enjoying the coffee and thinking of home.

The First citizen wearily looked at the newspaper, he felt as if nearly all his strength had drained away. The newspaper showed tens of thousands of protesters in the streets of the capitol, demanding to be allowed to talk with the Starship in orbit. He knew that soon it would be hundreds of thousands in the streets all across the world. Even members of parliament were for an open dialogue with the foreigners and not just members of the opposition but members of his own party.

Business leaders were sending him text messages hourly it seemed demanding to be allowed to negotiate some sort of trade deals. At breakfast that very morning he and his teenage daughter had argued with his wife and eldest son, who was home on holiday.
An argument that had ended with hurt feelings and words that everyone wished they could take back.

Captain Khalid had told him that the C.S.S. Hamza Yusef would soon be leaving the system and that another ship carrying a diplomatic mission would arrive shortly aster their departure. The captain promised the first citizen that they would impose nothing on Sterns’ world but would respect any decision that they made.

First Citizen Kenny Macaskill simply did not want to go down in the history books as the first citizen who oversaw the collapse of Sterns’ world’s society.

Crash

2009-07-07T16:50:00.001-05:00

The Crows

2009-07-06T18:06:00.001-05:00

The C.S.S. Azizur Rahman’s 1st officer Abdullah Yusef Ali, looking sharp in his new forest green uniform and wrap around data glasses, informed the captain that the engine room had stated that worm hole drive was ready and charged. The men on the bridge all looked anxiously to the captain awaiting his orders. They all knew that the Astronomy fellows at explorer command gave them a 90% probability of discovering a life supporting planet in the star system they were about to slide into.

"Let us go see what no other man’s eyes have ever gazed upon, " said Captain Khaled Hosseni, a large man with golden brown skin and dark piercing eyes which had the ability to look right through a man to his core, "engage the worm drive."

Within minuets the C.S.S. Azizur Rahman had slid into the outer fringes of the new star system. With the speed and efficiency of the well trained crew that they were, the men and women of the C.S.S. Azizur Rahman quickly down to the business of exploring a new and uncharted Star system. A shabash probe was launched to get a look at the area of space on the other side of the sun.

The Sensors Officer one of the older men on board, began conducting a detailed spectral scan of the nearest frozen world in hopes of finding valuable resources. Meanwhile three Jao class probes were launched towards the 4th planet from the sun , which they suspected of being able to sustain life.

It was the communication chief who made the discovery that the star system was already inhabited as he realized that what at first had seemed to be a lot of background radio noise was in fact encrypted radio messages being broadcasted through out the star system. He immediately notified the captain and the diplomatic officer. Afterwards the communications chief Taufik Zahid, a very efficient man from New Malaysia, started running the encrypted messages through the standard decryption programs as well as a few that he had designed himself. His wide brown face broke into a grin as he leaned back into the molded plastic chair, this mission was just starting and already it was very interesting.

Captain Khaled Hosseini did not simply have a cloud of gloom over his head, he had a full blown hurricane of gloom over him. He had left on an exploration mission, being told that there was a 90% probability that there was a planet in the star system that could sustain human life. Meaning he was going to be naming the world , its’ continents and seas something he had looked forward to; to being informed by his 1st officer that the 4th planet had to much background radiation, to much volcanic activity and not enough oxygen. Through 1st officer’s team assured him in 10 or 20 million years the planet would be ready for terraforming.

On top of this he is informed that the star system is actually inhabited already by humans. Which according to chief Zahid who had decoded the messages and the diplomatic officer seemed to be divided up into approximately 7 different factions that were all at war with one another. He told them that by Asr to have a full briefing prepared for the senior officers.

Sohaib Sultan felt as if he had been training to be a diplomat his whole life. He had gone to a French immersion elementary school and had taken English in high school. While getting his bachelors, a double degree in anthropology and sociology, he had taken several semesters of mandarin. A year of study on Camelot and his PhD in International affairs before he joined the confederate navy got him his diplomatic officers’ commission. And yet from reading the decoded transmissions, he felt that the best diplomatic tool the captain was going to have at his disposal would be the seven missile tubes and the 400 Jezzail missiles.

Queen Jenny Nimmo of the red crows listened to her right hand Sir Eoin Colfrey as he explained about the aliens or as he corrected not aliens but other humans, humans from another star system. He urged her to open negations with them right away and before there dreaded enemy the white crow or even one of the other factions did. By creating an alliance with this new element he told her, who knew what new weapons or defense systems they might get a hold of to use against the other factions.

Baron Paul Stewart, the left hand of the queen, told her that if they were to gain such weapon marvels the outsiders were sure to have, that they could bring about the fabled United Kingdom. Queen Nimmo knew the stories of the Mythological United Kingdom, she had heard them her whole life. The colony ark had brought them to this star system only to discover that the world they had thought of settling was poisonous. The people were a united kingdom; Queen Nimmo had some of the antiques from the supplies the original settlers had brought with them that bore this motto, but there had been dissenters among them.

The original colonist had voted to leave this star system to look for a new world but the dissenters sabotaged the ship and they were all stranded. From that the United Kingdom dissolved and the different groups arose. The white crows, the black crows, the sun crows, the war crows, the night crows and her own glorious group the red crows. She dreamed of the day she would united all of the crows and lead them out of that which the first red crow queen had described as their own little purgatory.

Queen Jenny looking down from her thrown informed Sir Eoin the right hand of the queen that she would meet with the ambassador of these confederates.

The C.S.S. Azizur Rahman’s diplomatic officer Sohaib Sultan smiled nervously as his dark brown eyes darted about the room as he addressed the captain.
“They have agreed to speak to us sir.” Said Sohaib quickly.

“Now, I have been told that there are several factions, so by they; you mean who?” asked the captain quietly hoping that Sohaib would calm down.
Standing next to each other it was obvious that the golden brown skinned captain Hosseine was about ten centimeters taller than the olive complexioned commander Sohaib.

“The queen of the Red Crows, Queen Jenny Nimmo. They contacted us not long after we slid into the star system. Our intelligence tells us that they are an English speaking multi-ethnic colony originally sent out by the United Kingdom or Great Britain as it is also referred to back on earth. I am suggesting that all the members of the contact team be armed sir. For what we have been able to assertion these crows form alliances and break them regularly. Being able to deceive your enemy is a virtue among them. Even the way they all call each other crow has a rather unpleasant foreboding.”

“How do you mean?”

“What do you call a group of crows in English sir?”

Captain Hosseini raised an eyebrow questioningly a puzzled look on his face.

The Contact team and their security detail sat in the C.S.S. Rahman’s ship boat the Jao going over code words. Both the Contact team and the security detail wore Jawan body Armor; the contact team had 12mm pistols in shoulder holsters while the security detail carried these as well as standard issue G.A.R.s and their own personal edged weapons.

The Jao’s pilot hailed the red crow asteroid colony, noting that the colony’s defense guns had both a radar and Lidar lock on them. They were given clearance to dock and the pilot did so as quickly as he could without making anyone to nervous.

The pilot and two men of the security stayed with the ship boat, the five other members of the security detail and the contact team were ushered through a maze of corridors and passageways, at one point they went through a huge crowded market place with multiple levels and a ceiling that appeared to be at least 50 meters up. They all took note that everyone they passed, who appeared to be over the age of seven, was armed.

Sohaib looked about the Queen of the Red Crows thrown room and found himself fascinated by the laser engraved metal walls. All of the metal engravings were of various space battles of which Sohaib did not doubt the red crow had won. Above the Queen’s thrown in thirty centimeter tall gold letters was the motto ‘Buaidh No Bas’; Sohaib would find out later that this was Gaelic for victory or death. The queen sat on a high back ornately carved wooden thrown, wearing a gold and red dress which seemed to shimmer. Standing next to her on her right side Sohaib recognized, from video talks held earlier, Eoin Colfer all decked out in red and black. Another man whom Sohaib did not recognize stood to her left wearing black body armor. Red Crow security men stood along the walls watching them warily.

Gifts were presented to the Queen, a Persian rug, a hologram of the planet New Malaysia and an ornate knife which she seemed most impressed with. Queen Jenny quickly agreed to allow the confederates to establish an embassy and a trading post in the New London star system. As negotiations continued it became apparent to Sohaib that what the Red Crows wanted was weapons. Unfortunately for them the Confederation was very unlikely to allow them to buy weapons considering the status of the New London star system and even if they were to be willing to, the Red Crow did not seem to have anything they could trade for them. The meeting ended with all smiles and the Queen giving them a gold coin with her likeness one side and the Red Crow emblem on the other as well as a hand crafted dagger, but as soon as the contact team was gone the grumbling began.

Upon arriving back to their ship Sohaib was informed by the 1st officer that there was a message waiting for him from one of the other factions. Sohaib opened up the designated channel using the encryption code sent with the message and found himself talking directly with the Queen of the White crows, Eleanor Mcevoy.

“I have been informed that you have opened negotiations with the red crow murder. We the White crow would also like to entertain you and begin the process of becoming your friend.” She said with a seductive smile. Something that Sohaib felt looked good on the Attractive green eyed blond woman whose face was literally framed by a gold crown which had gold rope chains hanging off of it.

He explained to her with so many competing factions that in the New London star system that most likely an embassy and trading post would be established not in one of the current space colonies; but on an uninhabited asteroid. This way the confederation hoped that it could convey that it did not wish to take sides in the internal squabbles between the different Crow murders.

Sohaib did not know that the White Crow had a reputation for patience and long term planning, as Queen Mcevoy asked about trading agreements and possibly sending students to study in the confederation. He did realize quickly while talking to her that behind that dazzling smile and bright green eyes was a cunning mind and a woman who was not to be trifled with.

Once Commander Sohaib had finished what at times seemed to be an interrogation with the White Queen, he went back to his quarters to write up his proposals shaking his head. For it seemed to him that the Crows were the worst combination of violent barbarians and high tech society.

Red Crow war master Frances Kent stood in front of the throne, Queen Jenny gazing down on her as War Master Frances thumped her chest and stated that she had thirty fighters and two cruisers ready to engage the alien ship. War Master Kent looked very impressive in her red and black battle armor, two 10mm auto-pistols strapped to her in shoulder holsters, knives in wrist sheaves and a claymore sword signifying her station strapped to her back. A cruel grin danced across her face as she talked of battle.

The Queen’s left hand Paul Stewart stepped out of the shadows, which his black body armor blended into, a 10mm pistol with a silencer on one hip and the garrote signifying his office on the other and spoke. “We have intercepted messages between the White Crows and the C.S.S. Azizur Rahman. If the White Crows gain the allegiance of the confederation they will become the dominant power in this star system. We cannot allow this,” he said with a hiss.

“Your majesty the fighters and cruisers that we spoke of are already in position to attack. If you wish I can send more ships, but our defenses if one of our outer settlements was attacked,” said War Master Kent.

Eoin Colfer the Queen’s right hand stood up in his red and black combat armor, two 12mm pistols in shoulder holsters, a large gold chain with the medallion which symbolized his office hanging around his neck and spoke in a steady and quite voice,” we still do not have a good idea of what type of offensive weapons and defenses that their ship has, we should wait until we have more intelligence. I can even go to the Sun Crow and gain us allies in this attack. They would be able to give us another twenty fighters easily.”

“And if they join us in this attack any spoils would have to be shared with them, something I do not wish to do”, said Queen Jenny rising from her thrown. “ No, two cruisers and thirty fighters should be plenty, but to reassure you Eion, I shall dispatch 6 more fighters from our guard here.”

And with that remark they all understood that the decision to attack was made and the discussion was over. The die was tossed.

It was after Fajr and the senior staff was eating in the officer’s dining room. They had all finished their initial reports and the captain had called for this meeting before they departed the New London Star System.

Commander Sohaib Reported that Eleanor Mcevoy Queen of the White Crows had agreed to donate an Asteroid to the Confederation to build an embassy and trading post on; as he finished up a voice broke over the P.A. system informing the captain that the ship had detected a large number of inbound ships. Captain Hosseini ordered the Ship to battle stations.

The atmosphere on the bridge of the C.S.S. Azizur Rahman was tense. As Lt. Ibrahim Dabdoub called out to the captain “ tracking multiple targets, more than three dozen fighters and two large ships look like light cruisers, unknown weaponry.”

“Load all Missile tubes, power up the magnetic pulse cannons and activate the missile defense guns. Fire when enemy ships are in range,” said captain Hosseini in a loud clear voice.

Missile tube commanders sat and watched as the red crow fighters came into range and almost in unison they uttered the basmallah as they pressed the firing studs next to their scanner screens. Seven Jezzail missiles locked on and went zipping towards their targets followed by another and another. Several red crow fighters managed to get into range and fire their missiles only to see them deflected by the C.S.S, Azizur Rahman’s magnetic pulse cannons. Two red crow fighters closed on the C.S.S, Azizur Rahman and tried to engage it with their guns only to be knocked out by the magnetic pulse cannons.

War Master Kent stood on the command deck of the red crow warship The Morgoth and it and the Warship the Glaurung to accelerate into firing range and fire everything they had at the alien ship, specifically targeting its missile launchers and maneuvering thrusters. All three ships started firing at each other at approximately the same time, the confederate ship getting its missiles away perhaps a second earlier.

The battling ships continued to close the distance between them while steadily firing at each other. Captain Hosseini first had his gunners firing all at the Glaurung which allowed them to successfully overwhelm her defenses. A red crow missile got through and struck the C.S.S, Azizur Rahman shaking her but to the red crows dismay did not take her out, for unbeknownst to the red crow was that while the confederate ship was not a warship as an exploration vessel it was constructed to go out alone and handle itself. This included two armored hulls each 25 centimeters thick separated by a self sealing gel.

With the Glaurung destroyed war master Kent called for a hasty retreat. Captain Hosseini decided it was probably for the best not to pursue and to continue preparations to leave the star system as planned. He did intend to change part of his report and double or perhaps even triple, he mused his recommendation on the amount of military production the embassy and trading port would need.

2009-06-26T19:13:00.000-05:00

Carnplant of Nur

2009-06-19T11:12:00.002-05:00

The Carnplant of Nur drifts over the oceans of Nur where its tendrils float through the water allowing it to filter feed on plankton. its large gas sack is filled with hydrogen gas. Unlike other drifters the carnplant is not an animal but is classified as a plant. and does gain most of its energy from photosynthesis.

Nur

2009-06-15T13:26:00.003-05:00

The world of Nur is most famous for the markets of its capitol Nur city. where it is said anything can be bought if you just know where to look and have the right amount. Of course there are also lots of things for sale there that no one could possble want which the merchants of Nur city will also sell you.

2009-06-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

HADITH OF THE DAY: BEWARE OF ANGER -

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendants of Adam.”

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1331

crows part 5

2009-06-12T20:41:00.000-05:00

Crows part 4

2009-06-04T12:16:00.001-05:00

Spooky Science

2009-06-04T08:10:00.000-05:00

Quantum entanglement is just spooky - even Einstein thought so. As if particles (as in particle physics) have telepathic empathy.
The theory of quantum mechanics predicts that two or more particles can become "entangled" so that even after they are separated in space, when an action is performed on one particle, the other particle responds immediately. Scientists still don't know how the particles send these instantaneous messages to each other, but somehow, once they are entwined, they retain a fundamental connection.
This bizarre idea riled Einstein so much he called it "spooky action at a distance."
A new study found that this eerie quantum link can apply even to situations that resemble the larger, everyday world. Scientists entangled two pairs of vibrating particles separated in space, so that when one pair was forced to change its movement, the other pair did as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090603/sc_livescience/einsteinsspookyphysicsgetsmoreentangled

Tech changes since i had kids.

2009-05-29T11:28:00.000-05:00

Some of the differences between myself and my children, the oldest being 12, my children have never known a world without cell phones. They cannot imagine being at the store and not being able to call mom to see if they can get ice cream or if she knew about the sale. I watch my oldest send text messages faster than I can type and with out looking at the screen. I was always impressed when a friend simply had a phone in his room, which usually was simply an extension from the family phone. Oh and beepers are something they give you at restaurants so you know when your table is ready.

Having a computer in the house is a matter of fact for them not some new marvel. They find those old Atari games on the internet quaint and know that they can create more realistic looking ones. They have never used a type writer and laugh at the idea of not having spell check.
If you have enough money you can go into space, a simple fact of life for them, they don’t remember how hard it was to dream to be an astronaut. They don’t recall when there wasn’t a space station.

They ask me what the soviet union was and are puzzled by people getting worked up about china since all of their toys are made there.

They don’t know that you can make popcorn without a microwave oven. This also applies to hotdogs, and heating up leftovers from last night.

They don’t know what a walkman is, but can download music to their MP3 player without help.

They believe music has always been sold by the song.

A television is optional for them as they watch most of their programs online when ever they want to. When we go to the library the first thing they do is check out the movies then they go look for books.

There was no Cartoon Network, Disney channel, Sprouts or Noggin either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. I had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons.

2009-04-21T16:06:00.000-05:00

HATFIELD, England – In the search for Earth-like planets, astronomers zeroed in Tuesday on two places that look awfully familiar to home. One is close to the right size. The other is in the right place.

European researchers said they not only found the smallest exoplanet ever, called Gliese 581 e, but realized that a neighboring planet discovered earlier, Gliese 581 d, was in the prime habitable zone for potential life.

"The Holy Grail of current exoplanet research is the detection of a rocky, Earth-like planet in the 'habitable zone,'" said Michel Mayor, an astrophysicist at Geneva University in Switzerland.

An American expert called the discovery of the tiny planet "extraordinary."

Gliese 581 e is only 1.9 times the size of Earth — while previous planets found outside our solar system are closer to the size of massive Jupiter, which NASA says could swallow more than 1,000 Earths.

Gliese 581 e sits close to the nearest star, making it too hot to support life. Still, Mayor said its discovery in a solar system 20 1/2 light years away from Earth is a "good example that we are progressing in the detection of Earth-like planets."

Scientists also discovered that the orbit of planet Gliese 581 d, which was found in 2007, was located within the "habitable zone" — a region around a sun-like star that would allow water to be liquid on the planet's surface, Mayor said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090421/ap_on_sc/eu_britain_new_planet

2009-04-08T16:21:00.001-05:00

All that is with you is bound to come to an end, whereas that which is with God is everlasting. And most certainly shall We grant unto those who are patient in adversity their reward in accordance with the best that they ever did."
The Noble Quran, 16:96

Hatim al-Asamm , The Kashf al-Mahjub

2009-03-19T20:30:00.001-05:00

Hatim al-Asamm, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"

Since I understood four things, I have discarded all other knowledge. First, that my daily sustenance has already been apportioned to me and will neither increase nor decrease by my futile efforts, so I strive to increase it no more. Second, I alone and no one else can atone from my sins, so I devote myself to the Lord. Third, I know that I will never be able to escape death, which is in our pursuit, so I have prepared myself to meet him. Fourth, I know that God is observing me; therefore I refrain from doing what I must not do.

Hatim al-Asamm, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"

Space shuttle Discovery blasts off with crew of 7

2009-03-15T20:11:00.000-05:00

Space shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven rocketed into orbit Sunday evening, setting off on a space station construction mission cut short by launch delays that dragged on for more than a month.
Discovery rose from its seaside pad just as the sun was setting, a spectacular sight for a space agency anxious to get the flight going. As the shuttle sped away like a brilliant star, part of the launch plume glowed pink, peach and golden. The shuttle was visible for several minutes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090316/ap_on_sc/space_shuttle

Iranian Satellite

2009-03-12T07:30:00.001-05:00

Iran said Tuesday that it had launched its first domestically produced satellite, a move that has prompted concerns in the United States and other nations about Iran's nuclear ambitions and its ability to deploy long-range ballistic missiles.
The launch on Monday, coinciding with celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, also creates an early challenge for President Barack Obama, who has sought to strike a conciliatory tone toward Iran by conditionally offering dialogue after years of tensions. The United States and other nations believe Tehran wants to develop nuclear weapons, a charge that Iran's leaders deny.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/04/africa/04iran.php

Phoenix Mars Lander Found Liquid Water, Some Scientists Think

2009-03-10T17:28:00.000-05:00

During its more than five-month stint on Mars last year, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander found evidence that liquid water existed at the spacecraft's landing site, some Phoenix team members say.
Water is key to all forms of life as we know it and the discovery of liquid water would suggest a greater opportunity for biology on the red planet.
The new but controversial conclusion comes from observations of a set of "little globules" attached to struts on the lander's legs that were photographed by Phoenix's robotic arm camera over the course of the mission, as first reported at Spaceflight Now.
These globs were seen to apparently move and grow between snapshots, and 22 members of the Phoenix team, including principal investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona in Tucson, think that this behavior combined with other Phoenix findings indicates that these blobs might have been liquid water that was splashed up onto the spacecraft as it landed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20090310/sc_space/phoenixmarslanderfoundliquidwatersomescientiststhink