Observing Ramadan – Boston.com

source site – Observing Ramadan – The Big Picture – Boston.com

Muslim faithful throughout the world are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan. Observant Muslims participate in fasting (sawm), one of the five pillars of their faith, this entire Lunar month (this year it extends from September 1st to the 30th). Eating, drinking, smoking and sexual activity is prohibited from dawn until sunset, when the fast is broken with the evening meal called Iftar. Local customs define varying traditions, including differing types of food used to break the daily fast. The fasting is meant to teach a person patience, humility and sacrifice, to set aside time to ask forgiveness, practice self-restraint, and pray for guidance in the future.

the site has some truly excellent photos of the faith.

Happy Labour Day

It’s Labour Day. Which means it is a day off for many working folks. Me? Yeah. Off day as well.

So how do I spend my off day? I initially planned to go to the track to check out some friends there. They are having a track day. But instead I woke up late, and did a bit of work catching up. Dang, got a few documents to read and approve.

Anyway, work alone is boring so I do my usual web stumbling. Lots of good sites to view and wander through. But one thing sticks out… a fan site for a news reader. Yeah, Melissa Theuriau is nice looking. But who would dedicate a fansite for a newsreader? Ok I admit… I am a fan. *grin* Aaah… them french babes.

Seasons greetings!

Seasons Greetings

Another 3 days to Christmas and another 10 days to the New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are now approaching the final corner of the year and down to the start/finish straight.

I hope that for many of you 2005 was a great year. It certainly is for me, and many of the ingredients in 2005 would form a nice foundation for 2006: so I am looking forward to better things come end year and the new year 2006. And yeah, 2006 will be World Cup year – so more sleepless nights. As ever, I will be cheering out for Brazil. They are looking strong for retaining the cup. And for the second year running, Brazilian Ronaldinho was recently named FIFA World Player of the Year.

Anyway, back to the seasons’ greetings. Received a card from a celebrity friend today, but I am embarrassed that I do not have her address to reply. Anyway, did a bit of googling to look for any info that could give me her address, but instead found some amusing sites. I thought I should share these sites (not related to my friend, but has her name mentioned somewhere in them) anyway:

  • The four word film review – an interesting concept in having users just give four words as a review of a film. I like films, and often read reviews… this one should save me time in deciding whether to watch a film or not. But I think the novelty will soon wear off.
  • Melayu.com – this site contains a fairly active forum – mainly in Bahasa Malaysia… and mainly topics of Malay interest. Will probably visit in the future to get a feel of the young Malay mind.
  • yikes! chuminskaya.blog – erm… a blog by a Malay dude, I think. The guy seems to travel a bit. Nice places.

Okay – see you later.