Friday, October 28, 2011

Official Google Enterprise Blog: Google+ is now available with Google Apps

Official Google Enterprise Blog: Google+ is now available with Google Apps: Posted by Ronald Ho, Product Manager Google Apps fans, today we’re ready to add you to our circles. Google+ makes sharing on the web more l...

Monday, October 17, 2011

BlackBerry outage made roads safer, police claim (extracted from Sophos Naked Security)

BlackBerry outage made roads safer, police claim

According to media reports, police in the United Arab Emirates have given a surprising explanation for a dramatic fall in traffic accidents last week: drivers' BlackBerrys weren't working.

It's claimed that last week's worldwide BlackBerry outage, which frustrated business people around the world who were unable to communicate with their colleagues, had one positive result - less texting and reading of emails by people who should have been concentrating on driving instead.

Road traffic accidents in Abu Dhabi are said to have dropped by 40%, and there was a 20% reduction in Dubai in the past week.


Read full story from Sophos Naked Security hereLink



If you need any convincing, here's a shocking video that was made to highlight the danger. Please note: the video is graphic and may be upsetting to some people.



Whether you believe the police are right that the BlackBerry outage contributed to the reduction in road traffic accidents or not, please don't text and drive.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

UNSG Ban urges global leaders gathered at UN to 'shape the world of tomorrow'

UN Secretary General's speech to the General Assembly

"We must invest in people — particularly in education and women’s and children’s health. Development is not sustainable unless it is equitable and serves all people."
- Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

Ban urges global leaders gathered at UN to 'shape the world of tomorrow'

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses world leaders gathering for the high-level debate of the 66th General Assembly Session


Read full speech here --> http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=1310

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Remembering 9/11: 2001 plus 10 - what next?

Ten years ago on this day, I was attending radio communication training in our office in Islamabad, Pakistan. I remember a colleague coming into the room and whispering to some of us that there was a terrible accident in New York. A plane has crashed into the Wall Trade Center.

While still trying to digest this info - imagining how a plane could be flying at such low altitude in the first place, we received another notification a few moments later, that a second plane has crashed into the other tower. It doesn't look like an accident anymore! This was when it became clear that something terrible has happened that will forever change the way we live, the way we travel, the way we come to view and understand terrorism.

A few hours later, as it became apparent that this was a terrorist attack, we were asked to return to our hotels and wait for further instructions. What struck me the most was that on walking back to my hotel with some colleagues, we observed people glued to TV sets on the sides of the roads with mixed reactions - talking, laughing, some clearly in shock, some seem to enjoying the moment. This mixed reaction was difficult to comprehend, considering what we're just witnessing. As I turned ON the TV set in my room and started to really follow the news, that's when it hit me. I realized that the reaction on the streets of Islamabad did look scary.

As it became clear that it was the work of Al Qaeda, certain security measures were put in place and we had to cut short our training and return to our various duty stations. Security at the airports were scaled up as Pakistan became a country of special interest in the hunt for Al Qaeda's leadership, their operatives and allies.

Almost ten years to the day, the Al Qaeda leadership was dealt a terrible blow with the capture and killing (or rather, the killing) of its leader, Osama bin Laden. With the demise of the newly appointed deputy shortly after this incident, clearly shows that the leadership is in disarray. However, Al Qaeda continues to remain an ideology rather than a movement.

What next? Continue to win hearts and minds by all means. "Evil prevails when good men do nothing".

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The "big picture": What makes it worth looking at?

I, like a lot of other people, like to focus on the "big picture". But, one must never forget that the "big picture" is made up of several "small pictures". If the quality of the "small pictures" are blurred, so too will be the quality of the "big picture". Attention is to detail is what sets apart the final results.

Google+ what?

I just made it into Google+, considered to be the Facebook rival. Wow!

So far, it has been a very protected system - by invitation only. Still not available in Google Apps and for Google Apps accounts. Quite frustrating on that front. I was lucky to get an invitation from a colleague.

But, is it a good thing to keep it so protected and keep potential users longing for the system? I wonder if that's a productive way of introducing a system for which success will depend on numbers at the end of the day. Google should learn from the past. Its search engine became popular and dominant simply because it was easily accessible to everyone - no restrictions. I feel that the same principle should apply to a social networking system.

I'll try it out for a couple of days and see whether it was worth the wait and convincing enough to switch from good ole FaceB.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Health Fact or Fiction?: Cellphone May Cause Cancer

Cellphone Cancer 540x576 Fact or Fiction?: Cellphone May Cause Cancer

Radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization. The agency now lists mobile phone use in the same “carcinogenic hazard” category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. As of 2010, there were more than 303 million subscribers to cell phone service in the United States, according to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association. Globally, the number of cell phone subscriptions is estimated to be 5 billion.

A team of 31 scientists from 14 countries, including the United States, made the decision after reviewing peer-reviewed studies on cell phone safety. The team found enough evidence to categorize personal exposure as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

Naturally Yours cell phone dangers 2 Fact or Fiction?: Cellphone May Cause Cancer

Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy. Concerns have been raised that this energy from cell phones may pose a cancer risk to users. The tissues next to where the phone is held absorb this energy. What that means is they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer for mobile phone users, but have not been able to draw conclusions for other types of cancers.

Radiofrequency energy is a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation; exposure depends upon the technology of the phone, distance between the phone’s antenna and the user, the extent and type of use, and distance of the user from base stations.

Microwave Radiation1 550x365 Fact or Fiction?: Cellphone May Cause Cancer

The Apple iPhone 4 safety manual says: When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) away from the body. BlackBerry Bold advises users to “keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 inch (25 millimeters) from your body when the BlackBerry device is transmitting.”

Man speaking on mobile phone 550x687 Fact or Fiction?: Cellphone May Cause Cancer

Finally, cell phones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to connect to cellular towers. A moving phone, or a phone in an area with a weak signal, has to work harder, giving of more radiation. So users can avoid using their cell phones in elevators, buildings and rural areas if they want to reduce their exposure, experts say.


http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8958028018205241777

Friday, July 22, 2011

Save Lives in Drought-Stricken East Africa: You can donate to the World Food Programme

Save Lives in Drought-Stricken East Africa

The Horn of Africa crisis has become the very highest global humanitarian priority. With famine in southern Somalia and more than 11 million people in need of food assistance in the region, countless lives hang in the balance.

Your emergency donation allows us to reach more people on the edge of survival – especially women and children. Your support could not be more critical at this time. We urgently need more resources to expand our emergency relief operation.

Make a lifesaving donation today by filling out the form to your right. Any donation made through PayPal Checkout (below) will be directed to where it is needed most. Please note that monthly gifts may be directed to where most needed if funding needs shift in the future.

Read more --> https://www.wfp.org/donate/hoa_banners

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Some facts about hunger... that you can help change

Some hunger facts, courtesy of the World Food Programme

TOP 4 HUNGER STATSLink




For more facts and figures visit --> http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Don't be too busy to parent: Do Busy Schedules Mean Lax Parenting?

Don't be too busy to parent



It’s true that most workers spend more time with their colleagues than they do with their families. And with so many survivors of economic-downturn-induced layoffs handling the duties once carried out by two or even three people, family time is even more limited. Unfortunately, parents overcompensating for their absence are spoiling their kids, says Lori Gottlieb, a therapist and author of an article, “How to Land Your Kid in Therapy.” Child psychologist Dan Kindlon concurs. “We don’t set limits, because we want our kids to like us at every moment, even though it’s better for them if sometimes they can’t stand us,” says Kindlon.
 

Do Busy Schedules Mean Lax Parenting?

[extract from the Wall Street Journal]

Everett Collection
A scene from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Are accommodating-to-a-fault parents raising a generation of over-entitled shrinking violets? Are our busy schedules causing us to coddle our kids during the limited time that we spend with them? That’s the theme of “How to Land Your Kid in Therapy,” the cover story in the current Atlantic magazine, which was a popular topic of conversation around the swimming pool this weekend.
  
Read on

Sunday, June 26, 2011

FAO Media Centre: Annan warns hunger could become permanent disaster

FAO Media Centre: Annan warns hunger could become permanent disaster

Annan warns hunger could become permanent disaster


Land size of France bought by hedge funds in 2009, says chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Photo: ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
Kofi Annan addresses the 37th FAO Conference, 25 June 2011.
25 June 2011, Rome - Kofi Annan, chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, has warned that the current food security crisis, with almost one billion people hungry, could turn into a permanent disaster, endangering millions of lives as well as international cooperation.

"Along with tackling the linked problem of climate change, delivering global food and nutrition security is the challenge of our time,” he said.

Delivering the 27th McDougall Memorial Lecture on food security today, the former UN Secretary General and Nobel Peace Prize winner said, "if countries cannot come together successfully to deliver food security – this most basic of human needs – our hopes for wider international co-operation look doomed."

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Riots in Dakar: Senegal's Abdoulaye Wade backs down on run-off

Protesters cover their mouths as they run through a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration in Senegal's capital Dakar 23 June 2011 

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade has dropped some of his planned constitutional changes, officials say.
He no longer wants to reduce the proportion of votes needed to win a presidential election, and avoid a run-off, from more than 50% to 25%.
As MPs met in the capital, Dakar, to discuss the planned amendments, riot police used tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators outside.

Read full story from the BBC here --> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13887613

Some more photos of the riots from my camera:

















Monday, June 20, 2011

Living lessons: The Pig and The Horse

The Pig And The Horse

There was a farmer who collected horses; he only needed one more breed to complete his collection.
One day, he found out that his neighbor had the particular horse breed he needed. So, he constantly bothered his neighbor until he sold it to him.
A month later, the horse became ill and he called the veterinarian, who said:
- Well, your horse has a virus. He must take this medicine for three days. I'll come back on the third day and if he's not better, we're going to have to put him down.

Nearby, the pig listened closely to their conversation.

The next day, they gave him the medicine and left.
The pig approached the horse and said:
- Be strong, my friend. Get up or else they're going to put you to sleep!

On the second day, they gave him the medicine and left.
The pig came back and said: Come on buddy, get up or else you're going to die! Come on, I'll help you get up. Let's go! One, two, three...
On the third day, they came to give him the medicine and the vet said:
- Unfortunately, we're going to have to put him down tomorrow.
Otherwise, the virus might spread and infect the other horses.

After they left, the pig approached the horse and said:
- Listen pal, it's now or never! Get up, come on! Have courage! Come on! Get up! Get up! That's it, slowly! Great! Come on, one, two, three.Good, good! Now faster,come on.Fantastic! Run, run more!
Yes! Yay! Yes! You did it, you're a champion!!!

All of a sudden, the owner came back, saw the horse running in the field and began shouting: It's a miracle! My horse is cured. This deserves a party. Let's kill the pig!

Points for reflection: 
This often happens in the workplace. Nobody truly knows which employee actually deserves the merit of success, or who's actually contributing the necessary support to make things happen.

THINK....
LEARNING TO LIVE WITHOUT RECOGNITION IS A SKILL!

If anyone ever tells you that your work is unprofessional, remember: amateurs built the Ark and professionals built the Titanic.

REMEMBER…
DON'T LOOK TO BECOME A PERSON OF SUCCESS, LOOK INSTEAD TO BECOME A PERSON OF VALUE!
 
And when it’s your turn, remember to speak up for the pig :-)

Have a Lovely Day

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Breaking News! - Mariama Bah graduates to High School & Bella Bah wins President's Education Award

Breaking news!

 


Today, the Bah family is celebrating two happy events:

  • Mariama Marissa Bah (Grade 8), has graduated from Middle School to High School at the ISD, at a ceremony held today 14 June.
  • Bella Bah (Grade 6) wins the President's Award for Education Excellence, in recognition of Outstanding Academic Excellence.

We are very proud of you both and thank God for everything.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Discover the 90/10 principle

Discover the 90/10 principle




Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations).

What is this principle?
10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light. but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example. You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.

After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse.

You look forward to coming home. When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is "D". You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.



Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off. Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take outpour frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It CAN change your life!!! Enjoy...