Last Day of 2006

The one of unchanged aspect of time is passing of the years,a year is gone so quickly with leaving one clear message that we all are getting older.For the last posting of year I was thinking to put resolutions for coming year and found top five resolutions for the year 2007,with these I wish all my dears a happy and prosperous year 2007.

Top five New Year resolutions:
· I will take a good care of my health and will be fit the whole year.

· I will spend more fruitful time with my family and good friends and will make every effort to make them happy.

· I will enjoy my life more, be optimistic and happy.

· I will be more helpful to others and spend some part of my earnings in charity.

· I will be organized and disciplined. I will go early to bed and also wake up early.

second part of the last one is flex able..........!!??

Blink

Psychology has been my favourite subject and I always enjoyed reading about human psychology.In 2005 when I was in Banja Luka (Bosnia& Herzegovina) on a Sunday morning an interesting programme was on air at CNN, it was about a book"blink"written by Malcolm Gladwell.The writer spoke about his research and findings,here is a brief introduction of this book for readers.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is a 2005 book by Malcolm Gladwell in which he explores the power of the trained mind to make split second decisions, the ability to think without thinking, or in other words using instinct.
The author describes this phenomenon as "thin slicing": our ability to gauge what is really important from a very narrow period of experience. In other words, spontaneous decisions are often as good as - or even better than - carefully planned and considered ones. Gladwell draws on examples from science, advertising, sales, medicines and popular music to reinforce his ideas.
Gladwell explains how an expert's ability to "thin slice" can be corrupted by their likes, dislikes, prejudices and stereotypes, and how they can be overloaded by too much information. That is why police might be suspicious of a dark man out at night, as in the case of Amadou Diallo, when other signs would indicate that he poses no threat. Gladwell also tells us about our instinctive ability to mind read, how we can get to know what emotions a person is feeling just by looking at his face. He informs us that with experience, we can become masters at the game of thin slicing, but the book is not a course in mind-reading or even quick decision-making.

http://www.gladwell.com/blink/index.html

Humor from Great Minds

" As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two... " Sir Norman Wisdom

" One of the most difficult things in the world is to convince a woman that even a bargain costs money. " Edgar Watson Howe

" A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success! " Doug Larson

" A harmful truth is always better then...a useful lie! " Eric Bolton

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I realized that The Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked him to forgive me. " Erno Philips

" I only go to work on days that don't end in a 'y'. " Robert Paul

" We spend the first twelve months of our children's liv! es teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve telling them to sit down and shut up. " Phyllis Diller

"Laughter is the closest distance between two people. " Victor Borge

" Start every day with a smile and get it over with. " W.C. Fields

" Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else. " Will Rogers

" Always get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't wasted a whole day. " Mickey Rooney

" I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens. " Woody Allen

" Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. " Erica Jong

" Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out of it alive. " Elbert Hubbard

" Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use. " Wendell Johnson

" In life, it's not who you know that's important, it's how your wife found out. " Joey Adams

" I've been in love with the same woman for forty-one years. If my wife finds out, she'll kill me. " Henry Youngman

" Have you noticed that all the people in favor of birth control are already born ? " Benny Hill

Alphabet of Happiness...

A--Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.

B--Break Away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.

C--Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.

D--Decide that you'll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.

E--Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you'll learn more about yourself.


F--Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

G--Grow Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.

H--Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.

I--Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.

J--Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you'll grow.

K--Know that no matter how bad things seem, they'll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.

L--Love Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there's room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there's room for endless happiness.

M--Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you'll suffer less stress and worry. Then you'll be able to focus on the important things in life.

N--Notice Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.

O--Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there's still much to be thankful for.

P--Play Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.

Q--question ask many questions, because you're here to learn.

R--Relax Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.

S--Share Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.

T--Try Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish.

U--Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that's wasted has no value. Talent that's used will bring unexpected rewards.

V--Value the friends and family members who've supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.

W--Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.

X--X-Ray Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you'll see the goodness and beauty within.

Y--Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you'll find success at the end of the road.

Z--Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.

Our love,Our treasure

While starting this blog I mentioned about lost treasure (books) and new treasure in my life,I mentioned that for me and my wife our new treasure are our three sons,they are the genuine jewels in our life. For them and all children on earth I pray guidance,right path,peace and prosperity.

Here is an other opinion, beautiful poem by Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran"On Children"

"Your children are not your children:
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which
You cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
But seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday."

Bosnia Accord-11years ago

I remember start of Bosnian war in 1992. That time I was at Police training college. I remember well the Dayton agreement and end of war,I still have some newspaper cuttings of those events.That time I was not aware of being one day in that country.In 1998 Pakistan police contingent was selected by UNSAT to serve as UN Civpol in Bosnia,myself,Ali and Afzal were among the young officers selected to depart with first batch in March 1998.It was one of the great experience of our life.The time spent there will be remembered in our life.I left the country in 1999 for Kosovo and went again last year,something has changed but a lot has to be done to bring harmony and peace in between different ethnic groups of the country.Significant economic investment and development is needed to provide jobs to young people there.I will write more on that some time later. Just to add that all three presidents Izetbegovic,Millosevic and Tudjman has since died.

Here is what happened 11 years ago on same date, published on bbc website on 14 December 1995.

On 14th December1995: Bosnia peace accord ends three-year war

Leaders of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia have signed the Dayton Accord in Paris to end three-and-a-half years of war in the Balkans.
Under the deal Bosnia is preserved as a single state but it is divided into two parts.
It will be made up of a Muslim-Croat federation representing 51% of the country's territory and a Serb republic holding the remaining 49%.
Sarajevo will become a unified city with Serbs giving up some suburbs which they currently control.
The so-called "safe-enclave" of Gorazde will remain under Muslim control but it will be linked by a land corridor to Sarajevo.
The three leaders signed the deal surrounded by European heads of state in a Parisian palace before 50 world leaders and international organisation chiefs.
'Closer ties'
Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic said the country had been an outcast for too long.
He said: "As to the implementation of the peace agreement and the role of the international peace force, the key of the success of its mission is even-handedness, just as partiality is the key of failure."
Croatia's Franjo Tudjman spoke of his aim for closer ties between his people and the European Union.
And Bosnia's Alija Izetbegovic, referring to his dream of a multi-ethnic Bosnia said he felt he was "drinking a bitter but useful medicine".
The deal was driven by President Clinton's team and Nato will move into protect the area - with overriding power - as a temporary measure.
The success of maintaining the deal will determine aid for the war-torn country where at least 200,000 people have died in the bloodiest conflict seen in Europe since World War II.
Several million people have been left homeless - some the result of so-called ethnic cleansing operations. Many other refugees fled the country rather than get caught up in the fighting.
The American president told the summit that it was up to the three leaders and their people to ensure peace.
"No one outside can guarantee that Muslims, Croats and Serbs in Bosnia can come together and stay together as free citizens in a united country sharing a common destiny," President Clinton said. "Only the Bosnian people can do that."

Human Rights and Human Dignity for LEO

I was involved studying and later teaching Human dignity and Huamn rights to the local and international police officers in Bosnia and Kosovo.The experience of imparting human dignity training to a multi ethnic local police service in special district of Brcko in Bosnia was amazing experience. Training programs like these played an important role in breaking the barriers among the officers from different ethnic groups.Brcko was decleared special district in Bosnia where all three ethnic groups were encouraged to return to their pre-war homes and businsses and an impartial,professional multi-ethnic police service was the needed institution to implement this very sensitive and important task.

Today is 10th December, its a world day of Human rights.On today's date in 1948 the nations of world agreed to pass Universal Deceleration of Human rights,this decleration contains a total of thirty articles outlining people's human rights, but the most important principles declared are considered to be the following:

The right to life, liberty and security of person.The right to an education.The right to employment, paid holidays, protection against unemployment, and social security.The right to participate fully in cultural life.Freedom from torture or cruel, inhumane treatment or punishment.Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.Freedom of expression and opinion.

Human dignity is defined as"the innermost and social right to respect with regard to values and dignity, and to which each and every person is entitled purely because they are human. Every person is born with human dignity and it cannot be lost. The unborn and the dead are also entitled to it".

JUNOON

Junoon has been my favorite music group since its creation in 1990.During my UN missions in Bosnia and Kosovo Junoon music has played a vital role of feeling home in mission area.
below is recent article published on group's journey.

Blending Sufism with rock music

The genesis of Pakistani band 'Junoon' (obsession or passion in Urdu) is interesting. Apparently the name came to lead guitarist and vocalist Salman Ahmad in a dream when he 'saw' one of his teachers shaking him and saying, "Tumhey mousiqui junoon hai!" (meaning "You have an obsession for music!").

Currently comprising, Ahmad and Ali Azmat (lead and vocalist), enthusiastic audiences eagerly await every new release. Both members have released their debut solo album in the market. According to Azmat and his team, they are back in the studio for his second solo album, which will be launched in 2007. Ahmad on the other hand claims that Junoon will release their eighth studio album in the year 2007.

The popular band was formed in 1990 by Ahmad and included Azmat on vocals and Nusrat Hussain on keyboards. The group was later complemented by Brian O'Conell (bass guiter), while band manager Shehryar Ahmad provided the backing.

Though the band's first album, the self-titled Junoon, failed to create a stir in the Pakistani music industry, their second album Talaash began creating a cult following for Junoon. However, it was only after their 1995 release of their third album, Inquilaab (Revolution) that Junoon's popularity reached a zenith.

According to Ahmad: "Our music blends rock with Sufi (a mystical strain of Islam) sentiments. The poetry and songs of Bulle Shah and Baba Farid, both renowned Sufi saints, have attracted me. I have also been inspired by other Sufi masters who believed that it is only through love that one comes closer to each other and God." Junoon's tunes blend rock guitars, bluesy vocals with eastern inputs such as tablas, raga-inspired melodies, traditional Paksitani folk music and Sufi poetry.

A landmark is Junoon's career is the immensely popular hit single Sayonee (1998), a part of their successful fourth studio album Azadi (Freedom). A year later Junoon released their fifth studio album, named Parvaaz (The Flight), based largely on the poetry of Baba Bulleh Shah. The album was recorded and mixed at Abbey Road Studios in London and hailed by the critics as the group's best work to date. Another laurel was the award of Best International Group at the Channel [V] Music Awards in New Delhi in November 1999 where Sting, Def Leppard and Prodigy performed along with Junoon.

Among other achievements of the group: a UNESCO invitation to perform at the Millennium Peace Concert in 1999 in Paris; the release of Ishq (2001) and Deewar (2003); the appointment of Ahmad as Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations. Likewise, following the 9/11 attacks, Junoon helped to organise a concert at the General Assembly on UN Day with Junoon and an Indian group performing at the Assembly Hall, a first of its kind. They also released what they called their first English language single, No more -- a tribute to 9/11 victims.

The last few years have been productive for Junoon. In 2003 their song Garaj Baras was selected as part of the soundtrack for the Pooja Bhatt film Paap, which topped the charts in 2004. Pappu yaar tang na kar, a single by the band, again leapfrogged to the no 1 spot in Pakistan.

In 2005, bass guitarist of the band Brian O'Connell returned to his native New York. Pakistani musician Mekal Hazzan and the band's producer John Alec have been playing bass guitar for live shows in his place. A reunion took place in Dubai, UAE in March 2006.

Junoon is still that same sensational entity that it was when it released Inquilab and Aazadi. Fans await great music and lots of it in their next album.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/05/d610051403115.htm

Take a break

For a short break:

http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/%7Eakitaoka/index-e.html

Success

One of my all time favorite quote:

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson???

Emotional Intelligence

In 1998- 1999 I served as UN Civpol in Brcko Bosnia.Kosovo mission was started in June 1999,many of civpol transfered to Kosovo to start the UNMIK police mission in the province.I also volunteered to join the kosovo mission,before departing to kosovo we had last shopping at American PX near Brcko. one of the book caught my attention at PX was titled "Emotional intelligence" by Daniel Goleman(first published in 1995),I never read or heard about this word before,I bought the book and it was in my luggage for about a year until I started to read few chapters of it during my second mission in Kosovo (2000-2002) and only after knowing that book has been sold in thousands in U.S and around the world.

what is EI:

motional Intelligence, also called EI and often measured as an Emotional Intelligence Quotient or EQ, describes an ability, capacity, or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one's self, of others, and of groups.

Emotional intelligence, on the other hand, "is a type of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use the information to guide one's thinking and actions" (Mayer & Salovey, 1993: 433). According to Salovey & Mayer (1990), EI subsumes Gardner's inter- and intra personal intelligences, and involves abilities that may be categorized into five domains:

Self-awareness:
Observing yourself and recognizing a feeling as it happens.

Managing emotions:
Handling feelings so that they are appropriate; realizing what is behind a feeling; finding ways to handle fears and anxieties, anger, and sadness.

Motivating oneself:
Channeling emotions in the service of a goal; emotional self control; delaying gratification and stifling impulses.

Empathy:
Sensitivity to others' feelings and concerns and taking their perspective; appreciating the differences in how people feel about things.

Handling relationships:
Managing emotions in others; social competence and social skills.

Why is emotional intelligence important?

Researchers investigated dimensions of emotional intelligence (EI) by measuring related concepts, such as social skills, interpersonal competence, psychological maturity and emotional awareness, long before the term "emotional intelligence" came into use,since then there has been a lot written on the topic and this has earned importance in today's international multi-cultural workplaces.There are thousands of studies and tests available to read and measure own EQ.

Pioneering Study Shows Richest Two Percent Own Half World Wealth

The richest 2% of adults in the world own more than half of global household wealth according to a path-breaking study released today by the Helsinki-based World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER).

The most comprehensive study of personal wealth ever undertaken also reports that the richest 1% of adults alone owned 40% of global assets in the year 2000, and that the richest 10% of adults accounted for 85% of the world total. In contrast, the bottom half of the world adult population owned barely 1% of global wealth.

The research finds that assets of $2,200 per adult placed a household in the top half of the world wealth distribution in the year 2000. To be among the richest 10% of adults in the world required $61,000 in assets, and more than $500,000 was needed to belong to the richest 1%, a group which — with 37 million members worldwide — is far from an exclusive club.

The UNU-WIDER study is the first of its kind to cover all countries in the world and all major components of household wealth, including financial assets and debts, land, buildings and other tangible property.

‘One should be clear about what is meant by “wealth”,’ say co-authors James Davies of the University of Western Ontario, Anthony Shorrocks and Susanna Sandstrom of UNU-WIDER, and Edward Wolff of New York University. ‘In everyday conversation the term “wealth” often signifies little more than “money income”. On other occasions economists use “wealth” to refer to the value of all household resources, including human capabilities.’

‘We use the term in its long-established sense of net worth: the value of physical and financial assets less debts. In this respect, wealth represents the ownership of capital. Although capital is only one part of personal resources, it is widely believed to have a disproportionate impact on household wellbeing and economic success, and more broadly on economic development and growth.’

The sons of Adam are like the limbs of the same body.
For they share the same essence in creation.
When one limb is put to pain
Th e other limbs cannot remain at rest
O thou who do not feel the suff erings of mankind
Th ou deservest not to be called a human being.
Sadi, Gulistan (Th e Rose Garden, 1258)

Inspiring people

A friend has shared this:

Recently I attended a lecture on inspiring people to use their everyday actions to change the world, improve our environment, our health, and our communities and make our planet and the people on it much happier.

There are people who identify weaknesses and turn them into strength, they are able to distinguish threats from opportunities.

The vision for the future is based on the simple formula: Small changes x lots of people = BIG change

How might we promote simple but significant shifts in attitudes and behaviour?
How might we engage sufficient numbers to achieve a measurable impact?
How might we make waves, reshape common sense, change the world?

Site for the month-An invitation to Truth

This below mentioned website is one of my favorite website,I have been regularly browsing and reading this site for many years now,copy the link and open in new window or click the heading to go to site.

http://www.harunyahya.com/index.php

Quotes for the day

Child, nothing makes me angry,ever.
To me anger is a very dangerous and irrational behavior that contributes nothing of value to the angry person.It's total waste of a person's precious time and life.
I USUALLY LAUGH INSTEAD(Unknown)

The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.(Edith Sitwell)

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.(Carl Jung)

Banbhans-family born of love and kindness

With the kids growing time passing and life goes I have strong reflections of my childhood coming in mind.I was told that my grand father Haji Mir Muhammad Banbhan and my grand mother took care of me while I was about two years old and my parents went for Hajj.I have always been very attached to my grand parents and they are on top of my heroes list.May Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala rest their souls in peace and grant them a high place in paradise,Aameen. My grand father was a simple,God fearing and a pious man.The way he established our family by working meticulously and sending his kids faraway for education was the foundation of a family born of love and kindness.My father and uncles took education far from home village and established their lives with dignity and honesty,their labor of love brought fruits of life in our lives and with the grace of almighty Allah we have spent a good life.My father wanted to send all his sons to a good school and with the elder brother joined cadet college,he wanted all of us to go and study there,besides elder brother I manged to get in to college only after he has signed my application form and departed to eternal world to see lord of the worlds (may Allah bless him with choicest place in Jannah-al-Firdaus,Aameen) from here its journey of about 26years of which many days and events are so fresh in mind and one of the tragic day was just about a year ago when our beloved mother also left us, departed to almighty Allah where all of us has to return one day. May Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala rest her soul in peace and grant her a high place in paradise.Aameen.
Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, They think of you.