Nobody has articulated the precepts of good governance better than Hazrat Ali (RA) in his historic treatise in the form of a letter to Malik Ashtar, governor of Egypt. It is worth paraphrasing selected portions from the letter:
‘Be it known to you, O Malik, that people speak well only of those who do good. It is they who furnish the proof of your actions. Hence the richest treasure you may covet must be the treasure of good deeds. Keep your desires under control and deny yourself that which you have been prohibited. Develop in your heart the feelings of love for your people and let it be the source of kindliness and blessing to them.’
‘Bear in mind that you are placed over them, even as I am placed over you. And then there is God even above him who has given you the position of a governor in order that you may look after those under you and to be sufficient unto them.’
‘Maintain justice in administration and impose it on your own self and seek the consent of the people, for the discontent of the masses sterilises the contentment of the privileged few and the discontent of the few loses itself in the contentment of the many.’
‘Remember, the privileged few will not rally around you in moments of difficulty: they will try to sidetrack justice, they will ask for more than what they deserve and will show no gratitude for favours done to them. They will feel restive in the face of trials and will offer no regret for their shortcomings. It is the common man who is the strength of the state and of religion. It is he who fights the enemy. So live in close contact with the masses and be mindful of their welfare.’
‘Do not take counsel of the one who is greedy, for he will instil greed in you and turn you into a tyrant. The worst of counsellors is he who has served as a counsellor to unjust rulers and shared their crimes. So never let men who have been companions of tyrants or shared their crimes be your counsellors.’
‘Keep near to you the upright and the God-fearing, and make clear to them that they are never to flatter you and never to give you credit for anything that you may not have done. For the tolerance of flattery and unhealthy praise stimulates pride in man and makes him arrogant.’
‘Do not treat the good and the bad alike. That will deter the good from doing good, and encourage the bad in their pursuits. Give credit where it is due.’
‘Select for your chief judge the one who is by far the best among the people, one who cannot be intimidated; one who does not turn back from the right path; one who is not self-centred and avaricious; one whom flattery cannot mislead or one who does not exult over his position.’
‘Never select men for responsible posts either out of any regard for personal connections or under any influence, for that will lead to injustice and corruption. Select for higher posts men of experience, firm in faith and belonging to good families. Such men will not fall an easy prey to temptations.’
‘Great care is to be exercised in revenue administration, to ensure the prosperity of those who pay the revenue to the state, for it is on their prosperity that the prosperity of others depends; particularly the prosperity of the masses. Indeed, the state exists on its revenue.’
‘You should regard the proper upkeep of the land in cultivation for revenue cannot be derived except by making the land productive. He who demands revenue without helping the cultivator to improve his land, inflicts unmerited hardships on the cultivator and ruins the state. The rule of such a person does not long last.’
‘Adopt useful schemes for those engaged in trade and industry and help them with wise counsels. Visit every part of the country and establish personal contact with this class, and inquire into their conditions. But bear in mind that a good many of them are intensely greedy. They hoard grain and try to sell it at a high price; and this is most harmful to the public.’
‘Beware! Fear God when dealing with the problems of the poor who have none to patronise, who are forlorn, indigent and helpless. Among them are some who do not question their lot in life and who, notwithstanding their misery, do not go about begging. For God’s sake, safeguard their rights.’
‘Meet the oppressed and the lowly periodically in open conferences, and be conscious of the divine presence there. Never for any length of time keep yourself aloof from the people. The ruler is after all human, and he cannot form a correct view of anything which is out of sight.’
‘It is imperative on you to study carefully the principles which have inspired just and good rulers who have gone before you’.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
new Braille technology
Braille Displays Get New Life With Artificial Muscles
Research with tiny artificial muscles may yield a full-page active Braille system that can refresh
automatically and come to life right beneath your fingertips.
Yosi-Bar Cohen, a senior researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif,
was inspired during a business trip to Washington, D.C., where a convention for people with
visual impairments was taking place.
Bar-Cohen came up with an idea to create a "living Braille," a digital, refreshable Braille device
using electroactive polymers, also known as artificial muscles. He wrote up a technology report
and included information in a related book that he published. His writings inspired other
scientists and engineers to create active displays using this technology, and prototypes are now
under development around the world.
"I hope that sometime in the future we will have Braille on an iPhone. It will be portable and
able to project a picture of a neighborhood popping up in front of you in the form of raised dots,"
said Bar-Cohen. "A digital Braille operated by artificial muscles could provide for rapid
information exchange, such as e-mail, text messaging and access to the web and other electronic
databases or archives."
According to the World Health Organization, about 314 million people are visually impaired
worldwide; 45 million of them are blind.
Recently, Bar-Cohen was contacted by the Center for Braille Innovation of the Boston-based
National Braille Press to reach out to the Electroactive Polymer community and take advantage
of his role in this field. The National Braille Press is a non-profit Braille printing and publishing
house that promotes the literacy of blind children through Braille.
Current Braille Display Technologies
The challenge for creating an active Braille display is in packing many small dots into a tiny
volume.
Unlike hardcopy Braille, a refreshable display requires the raising and lowering of a large number
of densely packed dots that allow a person to quickly read them. Currently, commercial active
Braille devices are limited to a single line of characters. A full page of Braille typically has 25
lines of up to 40 characters per line. Characters are represented by six or eight dots per cell,
arranged in two columns. To produce a page of refreshable Braille using electroactive polymers
requires individually activating and controlling thousands of raiseable dots.
Developing New Braille Technologies
Some of the leading-edge work in Braille technology was developed at SRI in Menlo Park, Calif.
Richard Heydt, a senior research engineer there who was involved in developing a prototype
says, "The electroactive polymer technology seems to be a natural fit for Braille and tactile
display applications."
The Braille display developed at SRI is based on activating a type of polymer consisting of a thin
sheet of acrylic that deforms in response to voltage applied across the film. The individual Braille
dots are defined by a pattern on this film, and each dot is independently activated to produce the
dot combinations for Braille letters and numbers.
In currently available active refreshable Braille displays, each dot is a pin driven by a small motor
or electromagnetic coil. In contrast, in the SRI display the actuators are defined regions on a
single sheet of film. Thus, while each dot is raised or lowered by its own applied voltage, there
are no motors, bulky actuators, or similar components. Since the system has far fewer discrete
components for a Braille dot array, it would be potentially much lower in cost.
"The contributions of the developers of electroactive materials to making a low-cost, active
Braille display would significantly improve the life of many people with visual impairments,
while advancing the field to benefit other applications" said Bar-Cohen.
Looking for the 'Holy Braille'
The Boston-based National Braille Press has recently established a Center for Braille Innovation.
They're looking for the "Holy Braille," a full-page electronic Braille display, at a low cost.
"We feel that the exciting field of electroactive polymer technology has matured to the point
where it can provide real solutions for Braille displays. We welcome and encourage anyone who
wants to take part in Braille innovation," said Noel H. Runyan, National Braille Press, Center for
Braille Innovation
In the spring of 2010, Bar-Cohen is including a special session on tactile displays at an SPIE
conference. SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics. Tactile displays will be
presented and possibly demonstrated at the conference. He hopes these baby steps may someday
lead to a full-page Braille system that will allow people to feel and "see" the universe beneath
their fingers.
JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
-end-
taken from internet
Research with tiny artificial muscles may yield a full-page active Braille system that can refresh
automatically and come to life right beneath your fingertips.
Yosi-Bar Cohen, a senior researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif,
was inspired during a business trip to Washington, D.C., where a convention for people with
visual impairments was taking place.
Bar-Cohen came up with an idea to create a "living Braille," a digital, refreshable Braille device
using electroactive polymers, also known as artificial muscles. He wrote up a technology report
and included information in a related book that he published. His writings inspired other
scientists and engineers to create active displays using this technology, and prototypes are now
under development around the world.
"I hope that sometime in the future we will have Braille on an iPhone. It will be portable and
able to project a picture of a neighborhood popping up in front of you in the form of raised dots,"
said Bar-Cohen. "A digital Braille operated by artificial muscles could provide for rapid
information exchange, such as e-mail, text messaging and access to the web and other electronic
databases or archives."
According to the World Health Organization, about 314 million people are visually impaired
worldwide; 45 million of them are blind.
Recently, Bar-Cohen was contacted by the Center for Braille Innovation of the Boston-based
National Braille Press to reach out to the Electroactive Polymer community and take advantage
of his role in this field. The National Braille Press is a non-profit Braille printing and publishing
house that promotes the literacy of blind children through Braille.
Current Braille Display Technologies
The challenge for creating an active Braille display is in packing many small dots into a tiny
volume.
Unlike hardcopy Braille, a refreshable display requires the raising and lowering of a large number
of densely packed dots that allow a person to quickly read them. Currently, commercial active
Braille devices are limited to a single line of characters. A full page of Braille typically has 25
lines of up to 40 characters per line. Characters are represented by six or eight dots per cell,
arranged in two columns. To produce a page of refreshable Braille using electroactive polymers
requires individually activating and controlling thousands of raiseable dots.
Developing New Braille Technologies
Some of the leading-edge work in Braille technology was developed at SRI in Menlo Park, Calif.
Richard Heydt, a senior research engineer there who was involved in developing a prototype
says, "The electroactive polymer technology seems to be a natural fit for Braille and tactile
display applications."
The Braille display developed at SRI is based on activating a type of polymer consisting of a thin
sheet of acrylic that deforms in response to voltage applied across the film. The individual Braille
dots are defined by a pattern on this film, and each dot is independently activated to produce the
dot combinations for Braille letters and numbers.
In currently available active refreshable Braille displays, each dot is a pin driven by a small motor
or electromagnetic coil. In contrast, in the SRI display the actuators are defined regions on a
single sheet of film. Thus, while each dot is raised or lowered by its own applied voltage, there
are no motors, bulky actuators, or similar components. Since the system has far fewer discrete
components for a Braille dot array, it would be potentially much lower in cost.
"The contributions of the developers of electroactive materials to making a low-cost, active
Braille display would significantly improve the life of many people with visual impairments,
while advancing the field to benefit other applications" said Bar-Cohen.
Looking for the 'Holy Braille'
The Boston-based National Braille Press has recently established a Center for Braille Innovation.
They're looking for the "Holy Braille," a full-page electronic Braille display, at a low cost.
"We feel that the exciting field of electroactive polymer technology has matured to the point
where it can provide real solutions for Braille displays. We welcome and encourage anyone who
wants to take part in Braille innovation," said Noel H. Runyan, National Braille Press, Center for
Braille Innovation
In the spring of 2010, Bar-Cohen is including a special session on tactile displays at an SPIE
conference. SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics. Tactile displays will be
presented and possibly demonstrated at the conference. He hopes these baby steps may someday
lead to a full-page Braille system that will allow people to feel and "see" the universe beneath
their fingers.
JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
-end-
taken from internet
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Conversation Starters
Practicing good parent-child communication is an excellent avenue for teaching social skills and communication skills, which young children will need more and more as they get older. Use these conversation starters to work with your child on active listening and communication.
Does your child copy your disciplinary style? Ask, “If your teddy bear makes a mess or tells a lie, how will you deal with it?”
I see you had a problem with your teacher today. Tell me what happened and let’s see if we can work together on a way to clear up the problem.
I think you made a great drawing. Tell me why you picked the colors that you did. How did you think to draw that?
I’d like you to play on a neighborhood team this summer. What kind of team would you like to play on?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Is there someone you know whom you would almost always be willing to do what he or she says? Who is that person?
Let’s do something fun tomorrow. What do you think would be fun?
Let’s go for a walk around the neighborhood and see how many doors we can count. You can practice riding on your bike while I walk.
Let’s play copycat. You do everything I do. Later I’ll copy everything you do. What did I do that you had the most fun copying? Why? What else do I do that you do?
Let’s play with clay today. What do you like to make with clay?
Our church is having a picnic tomorrow night and the whole family is going. Can you be in charge of getting together things to play with, like flying discs or a baseball?
Tell me about a time you felt (happy, sad, afraid, angry) during the day today.
Tell me about one person you met or played with today.
Tell me about one thing that happened today.
Tell me one good thing that happened at school today.
Tonight, we’re going to have a family meeting to talk about taking care of the dog. Everyone will sign up for feeding and walking the dog during the week.
What are our family rules? Why do we need them?
What are some of the rules in Grandma’s (or another family member’s) house?
What do you like best to do with (a member of the family)? Why?
What do you want to be when you grow up? What makes you want to be that?
What is a rule?
What is your favorite thing to do?
What is your favorite thing to eat?
What makes you angry? What do you do when you’re angry?
What rules do you follow at school? Why?
What scares you? What do you do when you’re scared?
What should happen if you break a rule?
What three words would you use to tell another person about yourself? Why those three words?
What would you like to help me make for dinner tonight?
When do you feel bored? What do you do to stop being bored?
Which would you rather do—play ball or play cards? Why?
Who is your favorite character on TV or in a book? What makes them your favorite? Would you like to be like the character? What would you copy?
Who’s your favorite friend?
(taken from internet)
Practicing good parent-child communication is an excellent avenue for teaching social skills and communication skills, which young children will need more and more as they get older. Use these conversation starters to work with your child on active listening and communication.
Does your child copy your disciplinary style? Ask, “If your teddy bear makes a mess or tells a lie, how will you deal with it?”
I see you had a problem with your teacher today. Tell me what happened and let’s see if we can work together on a way to clear up the problem.
I think you made a great drawing. Tell me why you picked the colors that you did. How did you think to draw that?
I’d like you to play on a neighborhood team this summer. What kind of team would you like to play on?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Is there someone you know whom you would almost always be willing to do what he or she says? Who is that person?
Let’s do something fun tomorrow. What do you think would be fun?
Let’s go for a walk around the neighborhood and see how many doors we can count. You can practice riding on your bike while I walk.
Let’s play copycat. You do everything I do. Later I’ll copy everything you do. What did I do that you had the most fun copying? Why? What else do I do that you do?
Let’s play with clay today. What do you like to make with clay?
Our church is having a picnic tomorrow night and the whole family is going. Can you be in charge of getting together things to play with, like flying discs or a baseball?
Tell me about a time you felt (happy, sad, afraid, angry) during the day today.
Tell me about one person you met or played with today.
Tell me about one thing that happened today.
Tell me one good thing that happened at school today.
Tonight, we’re going to have a family meeting to talk about taking care of the dog. Everyone will sign up for feeding and walking the dog during the week.
What are our family rules? Why do we need them?
What are some of the rules in Grandma’s (or another family member’s) house?
What do you like best to do with (a member of the family)? Why?
What do you want to be when you grow up? What makes you want to be that?
What is a rule?
What is your favorite thing to do?
What is your favorite thing to eat?
What makes you angry? What do you do when you’re angry?
What rules do you follow at school? Why?
What scares you? What do you do when you’re scared?
What should happen if you break a rule?
What three words would you use to tell another person about yourself? Why those three words?
What would you like to help me make for dinner tonight?
When do you feel bored? What do you do to stop being bored?
Which would you rather do—play ball or play cards? Why?
Who is your favorite character on TV or in a book? What makes them your favorite? Would you like to be like the character? What would you copy?
Who’s your favorite friend?
(taken from internet)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Brave young lady
the nation, lahore.
A blind girl from Multan has found a novel way to brighten her life - reporting cricket matches.
In an astounding tale of courage and determination, a Multan-based girl Sania Zaidi has traveled with the Pakistan team to Sri Lanka and is currently working as a reporter. In A BBC journalist said he was surprised to see Sri Lankan skipper Sangakkara addressing her by her name in the post-match press conference at Dambulla. Sania reports cricket matches with the help of her brother. She says she takes her notes most of her notes via TV commentary and her brother accompanies who also renders great help. A lecturer in Mass Communication department in Bahauddin Zakeriya University Multan, she says glaucoma is in her family. The disease is associated with blindness and one of her brother has also suffered from it. By the age of two, doctors had declared that she won't ever be able to see. Her father is a businessman and she has two brothers and one sister. One of her brother also lost his eye sight.. Despite the blindness, she participated in Physical Education practical examinations and was successful. She said she started taking interest in cricket when her father brought a model cricket pitch from Britain with players placed in different fielding positions. She liked the game so much that she started keen interest in matches, and finally decided to become a sports reporter. Sania added that she was a big fan of Sanath Jayasuriya and she had interviewed him as well. She had also interviewed Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Muttia Muralitharan and Mohammad Yousuf. She use a software 'Jose' in her laptop that reads out the text and after listening, she finetunes her work. She spires to report international cricket matches and Sri Lankan tour fulfilled one of her big dreams.
"As a cure for worrying, work is better than whisky"
A blind girl from Multan has found a novel way to brighten her life - reporting cricket matches.
In an astounding tale of courage and determination, a Multan-based girl Sania Zaidi has traveled with the Pakistan team to Sri Lanka and is currently working as a reporter. In A BBC journalist said he was surprised to see Sri Lankan skipper Sangakkara addressing her by her name in the post-match press conference at Dambulla. Sania reports cricket matches with the help of her brother. She says she takes her notes most of her notes via TV commentary and her brother accompanies who also renders great help. A lecturer in Mass Communication department in Bahauddin Zakeriya University Multan, she says glaucoma is in her family. The disease is associated with blindness and one of her brother has also suffered from it. By the age of two, doctors had declared that she won't ever be able to see. Her father is a businessman and she has two brothers and one sister. One of her brother also lost his eye sight.. Despite the blindness, she participated in Physical Education practical examinations and was successful. She said she started taking interest in cricket when her father brought a model cricket pitch from Britain with players placed in different fielding positions. She liked the game so much that she started keen interest in matches, and finally decided to become a sports reporter. Sania added that she was a big fan of Sanath Jayasuriya and she had interviewed him as well. She had also interviewed Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Muttia Muralitharan and Mohammad Yousuf. She use a software 'Jose' in her laptop that reads out the text and after listening, she finetunes her work. She spires to report international cricket matches and Sri Lankan tour fulfilled one of her big dreams.
"As a cure for worrying, work is better than whisky"
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
tips
The road to depression recovery
Recovering from depression requires action. But taking action when you’re depressed is hard. In fact, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like exercising or going out with friends, can be exhausting.
It’s the Catch-22 of depression recovery. The things that help the most are the things that are most difficult to do. But there’s a difference between difficult and impossible.
Start small and stay focused
The key to depression recovery is to start with a few small goals and slowly build from there. Draw upon whatever resources you have. You may not have much energy, but you probably have enough to take a short walk around the block or pick up the phone to call a loved one.
Take things day by day and reward yourself for each accomplishment. The steps may seem small, but if you make time for them each day, they’ll quickly add up. And for all the energy you put in to your depression recovery, you’ll get back much more in return.
Depression self-help tip 1: Cultivate supportive relationships
Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting the fog of depression and keeping it away. On your own, it can be difficult to maintain perspective and sustain the effort required to beat depression. But the very nature of depression makes it difficult to reach out for help. However, isolation and loneliness make depression even worse, so maintaining your close relationships and social activities are important.
The thought of reaching out to even close family members and friends can seem overwhelming. You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to talk, or guilty for neglecting the relationship. Remind yourself that this is the depression talking. You loved ones care about you and want to help.
Turn to trusted friends and family members. Share what you’re going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. You may have retreated from your most treasured relationships, but they can get you through this tough time.
Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. When you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed.
Join a support group for depression. Being with others who are dealing with depression can go a long way in reducing your sense of isolation. You can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on how to cope, and share your experiences. To locate a depression support group in your area, use the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance's Support Group Locator.
10 tips for reaching out and building relationships
Talk to one person about your feelings.
Help someone else by volunteering.
Have lunch or coffee with a friend.
Ask a loved one to check in with you regularly.
Accompany someone to the movies, a concert, or a small get-together.
Call or email an old friend.
Go for a walk with a workout buddy.
Schedule a weekly dinner date
Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club.
Confide in a counselor, therapist, or clergy member.
Depression self-help tip 2: Take care of yourself
In order to overcome depression, you have to nurture yourself. This includes making time for things you enjoy, asking for help from others, setting limits on what you’re able to do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day.
Do things you enjoy (or used to)
While you can’t force yourself to have fun or experience pleasure, you can choose to do things that you used to enjoy. Pick up a former hobby or a sport you used to like. Express yourself creatively through music, art, or writing. Go out with friends. Take a day trip to a museum, the mountains, or the ballpark.
Develop a wellness toolbox
Come up with a list of things that you can do for a quick mood boost. Include any strategies, activities, or skills that have helped in the past. The more “tools” for coping with depression, the better. Try and implement a few of these ideas each day, even if you’re feeling good.
Spend some time in nature.
List what you like about yourself.
Read a good book.
Watch a funny movie or TV show.
Take a long, hot bath.
Listen to music.
Take care of a few small tasks.
Play with a pet.
Write in your journal.
Do something spontaneous.
Push yourself to do things, even when you don’t feel like it. You might be surprised at how much better you feel once you’re out in the world. Even if your depression doesn’t lift immediately, you’ll gradually feel more upbeat and energetic as you make time for fun activities.
Adopt healthy lifestyle habits
Aim for 8 hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Get on a better sleep schedule by learning healthy sleep habits.
Expose yourself to a little sunlight every day. Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you’re getting enough. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, people-watch on a park bench, or sit out in the garden.
Practice relaxation techniques. A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.
Fight depression by managing stress
Not only does stress prolong and worsen depression, but it can also trigger it. In order to get over depression and stay well, it’s essential to learn how to minimize and cope with stress.
Identify your stressors. Figure out all the things in your life that are stressing you out. Examples include: work overload, unsupportive relationships, substance abuse, taking on too much, or health problems. Once you’ve identified your stressors, you can make a plan to avoid them or minimize their impact.
Go easy on yourself. Many depressed people are perfectionists, holding themselves to impossibly high standards and then beating themselves up when they fail to meet them. Battle this source of self-imposed stress by challenging your negative ways of thinking.
Plan ahead. If you know your stress triggers and limits, you will be able to identify and avoid many landmines. If you sense trouble ahead, protect yourself by dipping into your wellness toolbox and saying “no” to added responsibility.
Depression self-help tip 3: Get regular exercise
When you’re depressed, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But exercise is a powerful tool for dealing with depression. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue.
Scientists haven’t figured out exactly why exercise is such a potent antidepressant, but evidence suggests that physical activity increases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain, raises endorphins, reduces stress, and relieves muscle tension – all things that can have a positive effect on depression.
To get the most benefit, aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. But you can start small. Short 10-minute bursts of activity can have a positive effect on your mood. Here are a few easy ways to get moving:
Take the stairs rather than the elevator
Park your car in the farthest spot in the lot
Take your dog for a walk
Pair up with an exercise partner
Walk while you’re talking on the phone
As a next step, try incorporating walks or some other enjoyable, easy form of exercise into your daily routine. The key is to pick an activity you enjoy, so you’re more likely to keep up with it.
Exercise as an Antidepressant
The following exercise tips offer a powerful prescription for boosting mood:
Exercise now…and again. A 10-minute walk can improve your mood for two hours. The key to sustaining mood benefits is to exercise regularly.
Choose activities that are moderately intense. Aerobic exercise undoubtedly has mental health benefits, but you don't need to sweat strenuously to see results.
Find exercises that are continuous and rhythmic (rather than intermittent). Walking, swimming, dancing, stationery biking, and yoga are good choices.
Add a mind-body element. Activities such as yoga and tai chi rest your mind and pump up your energy. You can also add a meditative element to walking or swimming by repeating a mantra (a word or phrase) as you move.
Start slowly, and don't overdo it. More isn't better. Athletes who over train find their moods drop rather than lift.
Adapted from Johns Hopkins Health Alerts
Recovering from depression requires action. But taking action when you’re depressed is hard. In fact, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like exercising or going out with friends, can be exhausting.
It’s the Catch-22 of depression recovery. The things that help the most are the things that are most difficult to do. But there’s a difference between difficult and impossible.
Start small and stay focused
The key to depression recovery is to start with a few small goals and slowly build from there. Draw upon whatever resources you have. You may not have much energy, but you probably have enough to take a short walk around the block or pick up the phone to call a loved one.
Take things day by day and reward yourself for each accomplishment. The steps may seem small, but if you make time for them each day, they’ll quickly add up. And for all the energy you put in to your depression recovery, you’ll get back much more in return.
Depression self-help tip 1: Cultivate supportive relationships
Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting the fog of depression and keeping it away. On your own, it can be difficult to maintain perspective and sustain the effort required to beat depression. But the very nature of depression makes it difficult to reach out for help. However, isolation and loneliness make depression even worse, so maintaining your close relationships and social activities are important.
The thought of reaching out to even close family members and friends can seem overwhelming. You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to talk, or guilty for neglecting the relationship. Remind yourself that this is the depression talking. You loved ones care about you and want to help.
Turn to trusted friends and family members. Share what you’re going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. You may have retreated from your most treasured relationships, but they can get you through this tough time.
Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. When you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed.
Join a support group for depression. Being with others who are dealing with depression can go a long way in reducing your sense of isolation. You can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on how to cope, and share your experiences. To locate a depression support group in your area, use the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance's Support Group Locator.
10 tips for reaching out and building relationships
Talk to one person about your feelings.
Help someone else by volunteering.
Have lunch or coffee with a friend.
Ask a loved one to check in with you regularly.
Accompany someone to the movies, a concert, or a small get-together.
Call or email an old friend.
Go for a walk with a workout buddy.
Schedule a weekly dinner date
Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club.
Confide in a counselor, therapist, or clergy member.
Depression self-help tip 2: Take care of yourself
In order to overcome depression, you have to nurture yourself. This includes making time for things you enjoy, asking for help from others, setting limits on what you’re able to do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day.
Do things you enjoy (or used to)
While you can’t force yourself to have fun or experience pleasure, you can choose to do things that you used to enjoy. Pick up a former hobby or a sport you used to like. Express yourself creatively through music, art, or writing. Go out with friends. Take a day trip to a museum, the mountains, or the ballpark.
Develop a wellness toolbox
Come up with a list of things that you can do for a quick mood boost. Include any strategies, activities, or skills that have helped in the past. The more “tools” for coping with depression, the better. Try and implement a few of these ideas each day, even if you’re feeling good.
Spend some time in nature.
List what you like about yourself.
Read a good book.
Watch a funny movie or TV show.
Take a long, hot bath.
Listen to music.
Take care of a few small tasks.
Play with a pet.
Write in your journal.
Do something spontaneous.
Push yourself to do things, even when you don’t feel like it. You might be surprised at how much better you feel once you’re out in the world. Even if your depression doesn’t lift immediately, you’ll gradually feel more upbeat and energetic as you make time for fun activities.
Adopt healthy lifestyle habits
Aim for 8 hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Get on a better sleep schedule by learning healthy sleep habits.
Expose yourself to a little sunlight every day. Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you’re getting enough. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, people-watch on a park bench, or sit out in the garden.
Practice relaxation techniques. A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.
Fight depression by managing stress
Not only does stress prolong and worsen depression, but it can also trigger it. In order to get over depression and stay well, it’s essential to learn how to minimize and cope with stress.
Identify your stressors. Figure out all the things in your life that are stressing you out. Examples include: work overload, unsupportive relationships, substance abuse, taking on too much, or health problems. Once you’ve identified your stressors, you can make a plan to avoid them or minimize their impact.
Go easy on yourself. Many depressed people are perfectionists, holding themselves to impossibly high standards and then beating themselves up when they fail to meet them. Battle this source of self-imposed stress by challenging your negative ways of thinking.
Plan ahead. If you know your stress triggers and limits, you will be able to identify and avoid many landmines. If you sense trouble ahead, protect yourself by dipping into your wellness toolbox and saying “no” to added responsibility.
Depression self-help tip 3: Get regular exercise
When you’re depressed, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But exercise is a powerful tool for dealing with depression. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue.
Scientists haven’t figured out exactly why exercise is such a potent antidepressant, but evidence suggests that physical activity increases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain, raises endorphins, reduces stress, and relieves muscle tension – all things that can have a positive effect on depression.
To get the most benefit, aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. But you can start small. Short 10-minute bursts of activity can have a positive effect on your mood. Here are a few easy ways to get moving:
Take the stairs rather than the elevator
Park your car in the farthest spot in the lot
Take your dog for a walk
Pair up with an exercise partner
Walk while you’re talking on the phone
As a next step, try incorporating walks or some other enjoyable, easy form of exercise into your daily routine. The key is to pick an activity you enjoy, so you’re more likely to keep up with it.
Exercise as an Antidepressant
The following exercise tips offer a powerful prescription for boosting mood:
Exercise now…and again. A 10-minute walk can improve your mood for two hours. The key to sustaining mood benefits is to exercise regularly.
Choose activities that are moderately intense. Aerobic exercise undoubtedly has mental health benefits, but you don't need to sweat strenuously to see results.
Find exercises that are continuous and rhythmic (rather than intermittent). Walking, swimming, dancing, stationery biking, and yoga are good choices.
Add a mind-body element. Activities such as yoga and tai chi rest your mind and pump up your energy. You can also add a meditative element to walking or swimming by repeating a mantra (a word or phrase) as you move.
Start slowly, and don't overdo it. More isn't better. Athletes who over train find their moods drop rather than lift.
Adapted from Johns Hopkins Health Alerts
tips to cope with depression and anxiety
(taken from internet
Top Ten Tips to Cope With Depression and Anxiety
Feeling blue? Down in the Dumps? Anxious? Depression and Anxiety can be tough to take.
HERE'S HOW TO WIN OVER DEPRESSION&ANXIETY;:
1. Don't fight it; Acknowledge your emotion; allow yourself to feel your sadness . Fighting depression only strengthens it. As paradoxical as this seems, it works! You don't have to act on it; just feel what you feel–and then release it, like you do with catch-and-release fishing, or like you do when you're in an ocean wave. Like a wave, it will come and it will go.
2. Identify what other emotions you are also feeling. Do you also feel angry, scared; sad? What saddens you? Have you had some losses or disappoint-ments? It can help to Remember: in abnormal circumstances, abnormal feelings are normal.
3. Recognize what's happening in your life that is depressing. What events in your life are your emotions connected to? Does the intensity of your emotion match the events in your life? If not, what else could your emotions be about?
4. Does something need to be done about your difficult circumstances? Do what you CAN do; i.e. balance your checkbook, make a doctor's appointment, talk to your boss, call a plumber, apologize to your friend.
5. Let go of what CAN'T be done. Grieve the losses, forgive your mistakes,and forgive others' mistakes.
6. Don't wait until you feel good to treat yourself well. What would you do IF you felt good? DO IT NOW, even though you don't feel like it. Eat regular, healthy meals , call a friend, take a walk, clean your house, do your laundry, answer the phone, etc.
7. Express your emotions creatively. Play (or write) some music. Write an essay, story or a poem. Draw, paint, knit, carve, stitch, whittle–make something that demonstrates how you feel.
8, Turn your emotion into motion. Exercise, take a walk, ride a bike, go to the gym and work out, throw some ice cubes at a sidewalk, scrub your kitchen floor or bathroom; DO something physical, and do it often.
9. Give Thanks for what is going well in your life. Did you eat today? Do you have clothes? Do you have a roof over your head? Can you read? Did the sun come up today? Start with basics you are grateful for, and expand from there.
GET HELP: when none of these things work; when you do these things, and you still are sinking deep into depression; or when you try, but can't do what you know you could do,Get Help!
Please let me know which of these have been most helpful to you. Can I answer a question for you? I am happy to be of assistance.
Sharon M. Barnes, MSSW, LCSW
Top Ten Tips to Cope With Depression and Anxiety
Feeling blue? Down in the Dumps? Anxious? Depression and Anxiety can be tough to take.
HERE'S HOW TO WIN OVER DEPRESSION&ANXIETY;:
1. Don't fight it; Acknowledge your emotion; allow yourself to feel your sadness . Fighting depression only strengthens it. As paradoxical as this seems, it works! You don't have to act on it; just feel what you feel–and then release it, like you do with catch-and-release fishing, or like you do when you're in an ocean wave. Like a wave, it will come and it will go.
2. Identify what other emotions you are also feeling. Do you also feel angry, scared; sad? What saddens you? Have you had some losses or disappoint-ments? It can help to Remember: in abnormal circumstances, abnormal feelings are normal.
3. Recognize what's happening in your life that is depressing. What events in your life are your emotions connected to? Does the intensity of your emotion match the events in your life? If not, what else could your emotions be about?
4. Does something need to be done about your difficult circumstances? Do what you CAN do; i.e. balance your checkbook, make a doctor's appointment, talk to your boss, call a plumber, apologize to your friend.
5. Let go of what CAN'T be done. Grieve the losses, forgive your mistakes,and forgive others' mistakes.
6. Don't wait until you feel good to treat yourself well. What would you do IF you felt good? DO IT NOW, even though you don't feel like it. Eat regular, healthy meals , call a friend, take a walk, clean your house, do your laundry, answer the phone, etc.
7. Express your emotions creatively. Play (or write) some music. Write an essay, story or a poem. Draw, paint, knit, carve, stitch, whittle–make something that demonstrates how you feel.
8, Turn your emotion into motion. Exercise, take a walk, ride a bike, go to the gym and work out, throw some ice cubes at a sidewalk, scrub your kitchen floor or bathroom; DO something physical, and do it often.
9. Give Thanks for what is going well in your life. Did you eat today? Do you have clothes? Do you have a roof over your head? Can you read? Did the sun come up today? Start with basics you are grateful for, and expand from there.
GET HELP: when none of these things work; when you do these things, and you still are sinking deep into depression; or when you try, but can't do what you know you could do,Get Help!
Please let me know which of these have been most helpful to you. Can I answer a question for you? I am happy to be of assistance.
Sharon M. Barnes, MSSW, LCSW
Friday, August 7, 2009
Wonder drug
(taken from internet)
Could hot cocoa be the next "wonder drug" For high blood pressure? Harvard researchers praise stunningly simple discovery!
According to recent estimates, nearly 1-in-3 American adults has high blood pressure. But for the Kuna Indians living on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama , hypertension doesn't even exist. In fact, after age 60, the average blood pressure for Kuna Indian islanders is a perfect 110/70. Is it because they eat less salt? No. Kuna Indians eat as much, if not moresalt, than people in the U.S. Is it due to their genes? No. Kuna Indians who move away from the islands are just as likely to suffer from high blood pressure as anyone else! So what makes these folks practically "immune" to hypertension -- and lets them enjoy much lower death rates from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cancer? Harvard researchers were stunned to discover it's because they drink about 5 cups of cocoa each day. That's right, cocoa! Studies show the flavonols in cocoa stimulate your body's production ofnitric oxide -- boosting blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. In fact, one study found cocoa thins your blood just as well as low-dose aspirin! But that's not all. A Harvard Medical School professor claims cocoa can also treat blocked arteries, congestive heart failure, stroke, dementia, even impotence!
Painless cholesterol cure works in just 7 days -- and drives the "food police" crazy! Want to lower your cholesterol so fast it'll make your head spin? It's a breeze, just eat guacamole -- or any dish containing avocados! Most health experts and nutritionists will tell you this rich, delicious Mexican dish is BANNED from any cholesterol- watcher's menu. But not Dr. Steven Pratt. That's because new research shows eating avocados can lower your cholesterol even faster than drugs.... without the side effects!One study found after just 7 days on a diet including avocados, LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels dropped by 22 percent. Meanwhile, HDL ("good") cholesterol shot up 11 percent -- something most cholesterol- lowering drugs won't do!
The cinnamon cure for high blood sugar
Sprinkle a little cinnamon on your toast, cereal, oatmeal, or sliced apples. It not only tastes good, it lowers your blood sugar!
In a recent study, people reduced their blood sugar levels by as much as 29 percent in just 40 days. That's with NO drugs, NO diet changes -- just plain old cinnamon! The fat that blasts away cancer You've been told cancer runs in families. You've been told what to eat and what NOT to eat -- including LESS fat. Yet Dr. Steven Pratt says there'sone fat you should eat MORE of. It's the monounsaturated fat called oleic acid, found in olive oil! It should come as no surprise. After all, olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet. And people inSpain and Greece are far less likely to develop cancer than in the U.S. But what's really interesting is how olive oil not only prevents cancer, it blasts away cancer cells that already exist! So if you're even the slightest bit worried about cancer, this is oneSuperFood you don't want to be without! NEW prostate-protecting champ trumps tomatoes! Unless you've been asleep under a rock for the past decade, you've heard the news about tomatoes. They contain a potent antioxidant calledlycopene that's been proven to reduce the risk of certain cancers -- in particular, prostate cancer. A famous Harvard study back in 1995 found that out of 48,000 men surveyed, those who ate 10 or more servings of tomatoes a week reduced their risk of prostate cancer by more thanone-third. What's more, they lowered their risk of aggressive prostate tumors (the kind that are really tough to treat) byHALF! But before you reach for that slice of pizza or bottle of ketchup, listen up. What if I told you about a sweet, refreshing food Dr. Steven Pratt recommends that's even better for your prostate than tomatoes? This NEW prostate protecting champ is watermelon! Ounce for ounce, watermelon is even richer in lycopene than tomatoes. And since you probably eat more watermelon in one sitting than you do tomatoes, you don't have to gorge on it 10 times a week in order to slash your cancer risk! Just a few times a week should do it.
Knock out an ulcer with broccoli?! About 25 million Americans will suffer from a peptic ulcer at some point in their lives. To get rid of their ulcers, most will take an antibiotic likeamoxicillin. Pretty tame stuff, right? Wrong! Amoxicillin can bring with it unwanted side effects like fever, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, even a yucky condition called "hairy tongue"! And if you think that's bad, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the cost of treating an ulcer with antibiotics over an average 17-day period can run upward of $1,000!Fortunately, there's oneunconventional treatment with NO side effects Dr.. Pratt swears by. "Eat broccoli!" he says. Why?Broccoli contains a remarkably potent compound called sulforaphane, that kills off the H. pylori bacteria that cause most ulcers. Not only can it knock out an ulcer, eating one serving a day for a month might run you 20 bucks... a fraction of the cost of drugs.
Could hot cocoa be the next "wonder drug" For high blood pressure? Harvard researchers praise stunningly simple discovery!
According to recent estimates, nearly 1-in-3 American adults has high blood pressure. But for the Kuna Indians living on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama , hypertension doesn't even exist. In fact, after age 60, the average blood pressure for Kuna Indian islanders is a perfect 110/70. Is it because they eat less salt? No. Kuna Indians eat as much, if not moresalt, than people in the U.S. Is it due to their genes? No. Kuna Indians who move away from the islands are just as likely to suffer from high blood pressure as anyone else! So what makes these folks practically "immune" to hypertension -- and lets them enjoy much lower death rates from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cancer? Harvard researchers were stunned to discover it's because they drink about 5 cups of cocoa each day. That's right, cocoa! Studies show the flavonols in cocoa stimulate your body's production ofnitric oxide -- boosting blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. In fact, one study found cocoa thins your blood just as well as low-dose aspirin! But that's not all. A Harvard Medical School professor claims cocoa can also treat blocked arteries, congestive heart failure, stroke, dementia, even impotence!
Painless cholesterol cure works in just 7 days -- and drives the "food police" crazy! Want to lower your cholesterol so fast it'll make your head spin? It's a breeze, just eat guacamole -- or any dish containing avocados! Most health experts and nutritionists will tell you this rich, delicious Mexican dish is BANNED from any cholesterol- watcher's menu. But not Dr. Steven Pratt. That's because new research shows eating avocados can lower your cholesterol even faster than drugs.... without the side effects!One study found after just 7 days on a diet including avocados, LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels dropped by 22 percent. Meanwhile, HDL ("good") cholesterol shot up 11 percent -- something most cholesterol- lowering drugs won't do!
The cinnamon cure for high blood sugar
Sprinkle a little cinnamon on your toast, cereal, oatmeal, or sliced apples. It not only tastes good, it lowers your blood sugar!
In a recent study, people reduced their blood sugar levels by as much as 29 percent in just 40 days. That's with NO drugs, NO diet changes -- just plain old cinnamon! The fat that blasts away cancer You've been told cancer runs in families. You've been told what to eat and what NOT to eat -- including LESS fat. Yet Dr. Steven Pratt says there'sone fat you should eat MORE of. It's the monounsaturated fat called oleic acid, found in olive oil! It should come as no surprise. After all, olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet. And people inSpain and Greece are far less likely to develop cancer than in the U.S. But what's really interesting is how olive oil not only prevents cancer, it blasts away cancer cells that already exist! So if you're even the slightest bit worried about cancer, this is oneSuperFood you don't want to be without! NEW prostate-protecting champ trumps tomatoes! Unless you've been asleep under a rock for the past decade, you've heard the news about tomatoes. They contain a potent antioxidant calledlycopene that's been proven to reduce the risk of certain cancers -- in particular, prostate cancer. A famous Harvard study back in 1995 found that out of 48,000 men surveyed, those who ate 10 or more servings of tomatoes a week reduced their risk of prostate cancer by more thanone-third. What's more, they lowered their risk of aggressive prostate tumors (the kind that are really tough to treat) byHALF! But before you reach for that slice of pizza or bottle of ketchup, listen up. What if I told you about a sweet, refreshing food Dr. Steven Pratt recommends that's even better for your prostate than tomatoes? This NEW prostate protecting champ is watermelon! Ounce for ounce, watermelon is even richer in lycopene than tomatoes. And since you probably eat more watermelon in one sitting than you do tomatoes, you don't have to gorge on it 10 times a week in order to slash your cancer risk! Just a few times a week should do it.
Knock out an ulcer with broccoli?! About 25 million Americans will suffer from a peptic ulcer at some point in their lives. To get rid of their ulcers, most will take an antibiotic likeamoxicillin. Pretty tame stuff, right? Wrong! Amoxicillin can bring with it unwanted side effects like fever, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, even a yucky condition called "hairy tongue"! And if you think that's bad, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the cost of treating an ulcer with antibiotics over an average 17-day period can run upward of $1,000!Fortunately, there's oneunconventional treatment with NO side effects Dr.. Pratt swears by. "Eat broccoli!" he says. Why?Broccoli contains a remarkably potent compound called sulforaphane, that kills off the H. pylori bacteria that cause most ulcers. Not only can it knock out an ulcer, eating one serving a day for a month might run you 20 bucks... a fraction of the cost of drugs.
Eye drops may reverse Glaucoma
Eye drops 'may reverse glaucoma' A new type of medicated eye drop may be able to reverse symptoms of glaucoma, an Italian study has suggested. Glaucoma, the world's leading cause of blindness, is caused by pressure inside the eye - intraocular pressure - which damages cells in the optic nerve. The study of rats and human patients found drops containing a nerve growth factor may stop these cells dying, and actually improve vision. It is reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It is estimated that 77m people have glaucoma around the world. The build up of intraocular pressure can sometimes be controlled through other techniques. But once pressure has started to damage optic nerve cells, called retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), it has proved impossible to recover that lost function. And often people with glaucoma do not seek expert help until the condition is already relatively advanced. “ This research would seem to indicate both effectiveness and acceptability as to the means of drug delivery ” David Wright International Glaucoma Association The researchers, from the University of Rome, treated rats with symptoms of glaucoma with eye drops containing nerve growth factor. The animals who were given the eye drops showed decreased levels of RGC death compared with those who did not receive the treatment. The researchers went on to test the drops in three human patients whose intraocular pressure had started to be controlled, but who still showed signs ofprogressive deterioration in their vision. In two of the patients vision improved, while in the other it was stabilised. The improvements lasted up to 18 months after the eye drops were applied. Nerve growth factor appears to trigger chemical changes within cells that prevent them from dying in response to damage. It might also enable cells whose function had begun to be damaged to bounce back. And it might boost the capacity of healthy RGCs to form new connections within the optic nerve, to compensate for any damage that had already taken place. However, nerve growth factor cannot rescue RGCs that have already died - in common with brain tissue, the optic nerve cannot regenerate. Encouraging results Lead researcher Dr Stefano Bonini said: "Although neuroprotection in glaucoma has already been attempted with several compounds, this is the first timethat an improvement in visual function is observed in patients with advanced optic nerve damage." David Wright, chief executive of the International Glaucoma Association, warned against drawing firm conclusions from such a small study - but said theresults were encouraging. He said: "There have been many false dawns in the search for neuro-protective agents for the treatment of glaucoma and it is a feature of research on othercompounds that early promise does not always translate into clinical effectiveness when larger studies are undertaken. "However, this research would seem to indicate both effectiveness and acceptability as to the means of drug delivery. "If these early indications are carried through to wider trials and there are no other problems, then this has the potential to open a completely new methodof treating glaucoma and of preventing unnecessary visual loss in the future." Professor Peng Khaw is director of the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute ofOphthalmology. He said many other substances had achieved good results in animals, only to fail in humans. However, he said, if the researchers could perfect an easy-to-use eye drop formulation that would represent a huge step forward. Story from BBC NEWS:
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Smart cane
'Smart cane' reads e-tags to help blindAP 5 August 2009, 12:28am IST DETROIT: A cane equipped with the technology that retailers use to tag merchandisecould help blind peopleavoid obstacles.An engineering professor at Central Michigan University has created a 'Smart Cane'to read electronic navigational tags installed between buildings to aid the blindin reaching their destinations more easily.During the spring term, Kumar Yelamarthi, the project leader, and five engineeringstudents tested the cane, which is equipped with Radio Frequency Identification technology,similar to what retailers put on products to keep them from being stolen.The students also created a vibrating glove to assist those who are both visuallyand hearing-impaired. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Smart-cane-reads-e-tags-to-help-blind/articleshow/4858002.cms
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
work progress
By Shazia Hasan.
2008-2009
Annual Progress Report
Jaws Section
Introduction
The Computer Section in Ida Rieu which existed since long was using key board memorizing and typing without ability to know if the matter is being correctly typed. This was extremely limited use and provided no practical use. The students found this very monotonous and did not show much interest in pursuing it.
Ida Rieu management decided to upgrade the computer section on the modern lines and in December 2001 launched software based PC training for the visually impaired.
In December 2001, a modest start was made by establishing JAWS based computer training programme with one PC. The Jaws software revolutionized the possibility of PC usage by the visually impaired persons and started attracting a number of students. The user is able to use most of prime features of PC like any sighted person, including internet, surfing, emailing, reading books, exchanging information etc.
As with the help of Jaws a blind person can work par with sighted persons or peep out from isolation, a blind person can get every kind of information by using internet and read ink print books by scanning them. A large group of blind persons who have received computer training from Ida Rieu’s jaws section are now working with mainstream like other sighted persons.
The Jaws Section grew from one PC to four PC and has successfully provided training in the use of computers to a large number of persons. Now we have 4 computers, internet facility and one Braille embosser in our jaws section. Many blind persons have been trained in the use of computers and have been employed with various corporations and Banks..
Some out standing achievements
With limited resources Ida Rieu’s Jaws section have the following achievements of which we are very proud. This is in addition to providing the jaws training program to the students as detailed below in the schedule.
Ten blind students have been trained for KESC who are working at par with sighted persons.
One fairy tale book has been prepared using Jaws and printed in Braille.
English language being a backbone for use of computers, a short English language course was arranged for blind students.
The students from jaws section are efficiently using the internet, exchanging emails and browsing.
Time table
Days
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
P1
Outsider girls
Out sider girls
Firstyear
Firstyear
Out sider girls
firstyear
P2
BA Part 1-g
Ba part 1-g
Ba part 1-g
Ba part 1-b
BA part 1-b
BA part 1-b
P3
Class six
Class six
Second year
Second year
Class six
Second year
P4
Class 9
Class 9
Class 10
Class 10class 9
class 10
P5
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
P6
Class 8
class 8
Class 8
Class 8
Class 8
Class 8
P7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Some out standing students who have been trained by the
Ida Rieu Jaws section
Mr. Amjad Sohail, came from Almaktoom special education school Islamabad, now he is computer teacher there.
Miss Saima. came from Almaktoom school for special education Islamabad.
Mrs. Shaista came from Almaktoom school Islamabad.
Tasneem Maqbool. Done MA in special education from KU. Now working in SCB.
Mr. Ali Azghar. Done MA in Urdu from KU. Currently teaching in National college.
Miss Humaira Aslam. Working in SCB..
Anum Ashraf. She lost her sight 2 years ago, was suffering from brain tumor. Now she is continuing her education.
Ms. Norriya lost her sight 8months ago was suffering from Brain tumor now she is continuing her education.
Mr. Ali Akhtar done BA from KU. Working in KESC.
Mr. Fawad Ahmad Memorising the Holy Quran.
Mr. Abdul Basit now running his shop.
Mr. Sulman Ahmed doing BA from KU.
Mr. Waqar. Teaching at Shaheed-e-Millat special education center.
Ms. Aaisha Aziz living active and socially involved life..
Mr. Shamim Nasir working as Music teacher at happy home school.
Mr. Nasir Hussain doing his business.
Ms. Ambreen Anwar working with GEO TV..
Mrs. Rizwana Tharia. House wife. Now she is living a better life. She is happy because with the help of computer she can read daily news paper.
Mrs. Farhana Lakhani. House wife. With the help of computer she has overcome her limitations. Now she is doing research with the help of internet.
Ms. Amina Abbas. Teaching in Islamia College.
Mr. Shahid Ansari. Done BA from Ida Rieu degree college. Working in KESC.
Mr. noman ahmad. Done MA from KU.
Ms. Anum Naqvi. Doing BA. computer technology has helped her in mixing with mainstream.
We are thankful to Allah for enabling us to assist our visually impaired brothers and sisters to blend in the social mainstream and become a useful member of the society
if anyone of you are interested in helping me in this mission, please contact me at s_hasan21@hotmail.com
2008-2009
Annual Progress Report
Jaws Section
Introduction
The Computer Section in Ida Rieu which existed since long was using key board memorizing and typing without ability to know if the matter is being correctly typed. This was extremely limited use and provided no practical use. The students found this very monotonous and did not show much interest in pursuing it.
Ida Rieu management decided to upgrade the computer section on the modern lines and in December 2001 launched software based PC training for the visually impaired.
In December 2001, a modest start was made by establishing JAWS based computer training programme with one PC. The Jaws software revolutionized the possibility of PC usage by the visually impaired persons and started attracting a number of students. The user is able to use most of prime features of PC like any sighted person, including internet, surfing, emailing, reading books, exchanging information etc.
As with the help of Jaws a blind person can work par with sighted persons or peep out from isolation, a blind person can get every kind of information by using internet and read ink print books by scanning them. A large group of blind persons who have received computer training from Ida Rieu’s jaws section are now working with mainstream like other sighted persons.
The Jaws Section grew from one PC to four PC and has successfully provided training in the use of computers to a large number of persons. Now we have 4 computers, internet facility and one Braille embosser in our jaws section. Many blind persons have been trained in the use of computers and have been employed with various corporations and Banks..
Some out standing achievements
With limited resources Ida Rieu’s Jaws section have the following achievements of which we are very proud. This is in addition to providing the jaws training program to the students as detailed below in the schedule.
Ten blind students have been trained for KESC who are working at par with sighted persons.
One fairy tale book has been prepared using Jaws and printed in Braille.
English language being a backbone for use of computers, a short English language course was arranged for blind students.
The students from jaws section are efficiently using the internet, exchanging emails and browsing.
Time table
Days
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
P1
Outsider girls
Out sider girls
Firstyear
Firstyear
Out sider girls
firstyear
P2
BA Part 1-g
Ba part 1-g
Ba part 1-g
Ba part 1-b
BA part 1-b
BA part 1-b
P3
Class six
Class six
Second year
Second year
Class six
Second year
P4
Class 9
Class 9
Class 10
Class 10class 9
class 10
P5
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
Out sider boys
P6
Class 8
class 8
Class 8
Class 8
Class 8
Class 8
P7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Class 7
Some out standing students who have been trained by the
Ida Rieu Jaws section
Mr. Amjad Sohail, came from Almaktoom special education school Islamabad, now he is computer teacher there.
Miss Saima. came from Almaktoom school for special education Islamabad.
Mrs. Shaista came from Almaktoom school Islamabad.
Tasneem Maqbool. Done MA in special education from KU. Now working in SCB.
Mr. Ali Azghar. Done MA in Urdu from KU. Currently teaching in National college.
Miss Humaira Aslam. Working in SCB..
Anum Ashraf. She lost her sight 2 years ago, was suffering from brain tumor. Now she is continuing her education.
Ms. Norriya lost her sight 8months ago was suffering from Brain tumor now she is continuing her education.
Mr. Ali Akhtar done BA from KU. Working in KESC.
Mr. Fawad Ahmad Memorising the Holy Quran.
Mr. Abdul Basit now running his shop.
Mr. Sulman Ahmed doing BA from KU.
Mr. Waqar. Teaching at Shaheed-e-Millat special education center.
Ms. Aaisha Aziz living active and socially involved life..
Mr. Shamim Nasir working as Music teacher at happy home school.
Mr. Nasir Hussain doing his business.
Ms. Ambreen Anwar working with GEO TV..
Mrs. Rizwana Tharia. House wife. Now she is living a better life. She is happy because with the help of computer she can read daily news paper.
Mrs. Farhana Lakhani. House wife. With the help of computer she has overcome her limitations. Now she is doing research with the help of internet.
Ms. Amina Abbas. Teaching in Islamia College.
Mr. Shahid Ansari. Done BA from Ida Rieu degree college. Working in KESC.
Mr. noman ahmad. Done MA from KU.
Ms. Anum Naqvi. Doing BA. computer technology has helped her in mixing with mainstream.
We are thankful to Allah for enabling us to assist our visually impaired brothers and sisters to blend in the social mainstream and become a useful member of the society
if anyone of you are interested in helping me in this mission, please contact me at s_hasan21@hotmail.com
Sunday, August 2, 2009
smellinng the roses
Smelling the Roses Relieves StressBy RICK NAUERT PHD Senior News Editor on July 23, 2009 A novel technique to relieve stress is an age old naturopathic remedy. New research demonstrates the scent of lemon, mango, lavender, or other fragrant plants are beneficial for stress reduction.Scientists in Japan report the first scientific evidence that inhaling certain fragrances alters gene activity and blood chemistry in ways that can reduce stress levels. Their study appears in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.In the new study, researchers sought to determine the physiological reason for why people have inhaled the scent of certain plants since ancient times to help reduce stress, fight inflammation and depression, and induce sleep. Aromatherapy, the use of fragrant plant oils to improve mood and health, has become a popular form of alternative medicine today. And linalool is one of the most widely used substances to soothe away emotional stress. Until now, however, linalool's exact effects on the body have been a deep mystery. The scientists exposed lab rats to stressful conditions while inhaling and not inhaling linalool. Linalool returned stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes - key parts of the immune system - to near-normal levels. Inhaling linalool also reduced the activity of more than 100 genes that go into overdrive in stressful situations. The findings could form the basis of new blood tests for identifying fragrances that can soothe stress, the researchers say. Source: American Chemical Society
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