Page 20
Issue 21, July 2010 ©
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
The Kiki Principle: Debora McNichol* The Whack Awards
In honor of record heat in North Carolina, (subhan Allah) and partially in response to the continuing oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, I would like to present the first annual Kiki Purr award, as well as a few virtual whacks with my new and improved Absurdity Stick ™. Actual trophy and sticks, sorry, are not covered by the Crescent Times’ budget. The first whack goes to President Obama, who upon Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States, stated that Mr. Netanyahu is a leader who is willing to take risks for peace. I would love to be able to take this whack back, Dear Readers, but I am not holding my breath, and I suggest you don’t either. Another half whack for the president, for his impotent use of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for political purposes. NASA is an incredible organisation, with the best scientists and technology in the world. But NASA is expensive; even with budget cuts, it retains over one half of a percent of the American budget. That translates to about US$18 billion, which, even by federal standards, is a lot of duckies. Humanity benefits from this agency beyond the stars and at home; it is an inventor extraordinaire. NASA-based inventions include satellite television, the CAT scanner, cordless power tools, the computer joystick, and the microchip. Very cool stuff. It makes sense then, to keep NASA around, even if it is an expensive program and even if we never make it to Mars. President Obama, however, saddled NASA with another task: a reach out to Muslim dominated countries. This move was intended to make Muslim countries “feel good about themselves” due to Islam’s extensive historical contributions in math and science. Unfortunately, Obama’s attempt to kill two birds with one NASA stone has backfired on him, as conservative America has taken to ridicule of both Obama and the modern Muslim world in response to this act. (Thanks, Mr. President. We needed that.) Alhamdulillah, the Christian world has not cornered the market in Nobel prizes. For every mocking talking head in this country, there is at least one Muslim scientist, insha Allah, making history and people’s lives better. Next time, Mr. President, keep the politics out of science. A whack to British Petroleum, Halliburton (yes, that Halliburton), Transocean, and every talking head who made the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster a political issue. A special whack for Joe Barton, Texas congressman, who apologised to BP for President Obama’s reasonable request to establish a $20 billion escrow account intended to cover damage claims for affected Americans. He called it extortion. Now for the Kiki Purr award, which is for one of those special people who recognise the need to do the right thing, even if it is darned inconvenient, or very, very expensive. This year, Kiki Purr goes to actor Kevin Costner. Influenced by the tragedy of Alaska’s Exxon Valdez oil spill, Costner bought and then developed a piece of centrifuge technology (from the United States government!) in hopes of cleaning up similar oil spills. An interview with Costner reveals that every seven months, the amount of oil spilled in accidents around the world equals the amount of an Exxon Valdez spill. This environmentalist and fisherman wanted to prevent the disastrous effects of a bad accident. Costner, it appears, was trying to do the right thing simply for the sake of doing the right thing. Nice. Costner’s technology is efficient and requires no chemicals added to the treatment area. The machines produce clean water (99.9% oil free) and returns the oil to a completely usable state. Even if this technology is not the entire answer to an oil spill, it is a long way towards a solution. Oil companies should have been climbing over themselves to acquire this technology years ago, yet they did not. Though the machine is efficient, the federal government never mandated the use of this or any other similar technology. Until this disaster, it appeared that Costner’s investment return would remain a goose egg. Seventeen years and US$24 million later, (and two months after the initial explosion) Costner’s technology is a recognised necessity. His company is under contract with BP to build thirty two machines at a half million dollars each. May he make millions, insha Allah. In the meantime, I do hope he graciously accepts this humble award. *Debora McNichol is a Muslim wife, mother, daughter, business owner, editor, and attorney in the USA. She has a general law practice in Virginia and North Carolina, and especially takes pleasure in discussing intellectual property and business law with willing clients, friends, and neighbours.
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
Book Review:
Catch Me If You Dare
Aisha Stacey
The elusive scarf killer is on the loose. Three Muslim women are dead and the investigation is hampered by the distrust of the Muslim community. In strides Rainey Walker, FBI anthropology consultant and sketch artist. The investigation is a turf war between rival investigative teams and task forces but it is Rainey who receives the killers blood smeared message “catch me if you dare” and the chase is on. Move over Lynda La Plante here comes L.D. Alan. DI Tennison may finally have a rival in Rainey Walker. Catch Me If You Dare is a rollicking read, full of descriptive passages that bring the characters and settings to life. The banter between characters reveals hidden character dimensions and the action is tense and suspenseful. The story provides an insight into police work in south west USA and into the multicultural society that exists there. The tension that exists between the various departments and the distrust between the police and the Muslim community are both intriguing story lines. Catch Me If You Dare is also peppered with mini descriptions of life in western Muslim communities and through this we are able to gain snippets of information about Muslim life - and Islam in general - without any overbearing, preachy religious passages. There is a little less gore than would be expected in a serial killer story but that however could work in L. D. Alan’s favour, making the story more accessible to a wider range of readers. A neat little conclusion also leaves the story open for more intrigue and suspense, and another taste of Miss Rainey Walker in future. “Catch Me If You Dare” Author: LD Alam. Available in Australia through Crescent Times
Cat Stevens Down Under To Heal Wounds
Rashid Alshakshir
Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, was back in Australia not only to sing for thousands of adoring fans, but also to heal some old wounds. Yusuf spoke to more than 400 people at the only event he attended outside his concerts, at the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria. He said, “the reason I am actually back in Australia is really to try and mend a few roads which got broken along the way”. Yusuf ’s humility could be seen in his actions, the way he walked and dressed - nice and neat, just not as fancy as Elvis. He spoke about what he made of the Ten Commandments, and his journey to Islam. He recalled when in 1977 he accepted Islam, withdrew from music and began to experience a hard time with the media. “So now I was the Cat on the Mat,” he said. Yusuf said the Australian media was not innocent when it came to his troubles. “Australian journalism? Boy, it’s trouble - not all the time.” He told the laughing crowd, which included his wife and daughter. He performed several songs at the end of the night, and took up the crowd’s suggestion, to sing his hit song Peace Train. Before leaving the stage Yusuf made the peace sign and said “Peace, and thank you”. At 61 years of age, an ageing but much-loved hippie. The National Gallery event was organised by the Islamic Council of Victoria and the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne.
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Prayer Schedule July 2010 Perth, Western Australia
Fajr 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:50 5:50 5:50 5:50 5:49 5:49 5:49 5:49 5:48 5:48 5:48 5:47 5:47 5:46 5:46 5:45 5:45 5:44 5:44 5:43 5:42
Sunrise 7:17 7:17 7:17 7:17 7:17 7:17 7:17 7:17 7:16 7:16 7:16 7:16 7:15 7:15 7:15 7:14 7:14 7:14 7:13 7:13 7:12 7:12 7:11 7:11 7:10 7:09 7:09 7:08 7:08 7:07 7:06
Dhuhr 12:21 12:21 12:21 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24
Prayer Schedule July 2010 Sydney, New South Wales
Fajr 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:32 5:31 5:31 5:31 5:31 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:29 5:29 5:29 5:28 5:28 5:27 5:27 5:26 5:26 5:26 5:25 5:24 5:23 5:23
Sunrise 7:01 7:01 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 6:59 6:59 6:59 6:58 6:58 6:58 6:57 6:57 6:56 6:56 6:56 6:55 6:54 6:54 6:53 6:53 6:52 6:52 6:51 6:50 6:49 6:48
Dhuhr 11:59 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02 12:02
Prayer Schedule July 2010 Melbourne, Victoria Fajr 6:03 6:03 6:03 6:03 6:03 6:02 6:02 6:02 6:02 6:02 6:01 6:01 6:01 6:01 6:00 6:00 5:59 5:59 5:59 5:59 5:58 5:57 5:56 5:56 5:55 5:55 5:55 5:53 5:53 5:52 5:51
Sunrise 7:36 7:36 7:36 7:36 7:36 7:35 7:35 7:35 7:35 7:34 7:34 7:34 7:33 7:33 7:32 7:32 7:31 7:31 7:31 7:30 7:29 7:28 7:28 7:27 7:26 7:25 7:25 7:24 7:23 7:22 7:21
Dhuhr 12:24 12:25 12:25 12:25 12:25 12:25 12:25 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:27
Personal ad: Perth WA
Asr 3:05 3:06 3:06 3:07 3:07 3:07 3:08 3:08 3:09 3:09 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:11 3:12 3:12 3:13 3:13 3:14 3:14 3:15 3:15 3:16 3:16 3:17 3:17 3:18 3:18 3:19 3:19 3:20
Maghrib 5:24 5:24 5:25 5:25 5:25 5:26 5:26 5:27 5:27 5:28 5:28 5:29 5:30 5:30 5:31 5:31 5:32 5:32 5:33 5:34 5:34 5:35 5:35 5:36 5:37 5:37 5:38 5:38 5:39 5:40 5:40
Isha 6:46 6:46 6:47 6:47 6:47 6:48 6:48 6:49 6:49 6:50 6:50 6:50 6:51 6:51 6:52 6:52 6:53 6:53 6:54 6:54 6:55 6:55 6:56 6:56 6:57 6:57 6:58 6:58 6:59 6:59 7:00
Asr 2:39 2:40 2:40 2:41 2:41 2:41 2:42 2:42 2:43 2:43 2:44 2:44 2:45 2:45 2:46 2:46 2:47 2:47 2:47 2:48 2:49 2:50 2:50 2:51 2:51 2:52 2:52 2:53 2:54 2:54 2:55
Maghrib 4:57 4:58 4:58 4:59 4:59 5:00 5:00 5:01 5:01 5:02 5:02 5:02 5:03 5:04 5:05 5:05 5:06 5:06 5:06 5:07 5:08 5:09 5:10 5:10 5:11 5:12 5:12 5:13 5:14 5:14 5:15
Isha 6:22 6:22 6:22 6:23 6:23 6:24 6:24 6:24 6:25 6:25 6:26 6:26 6:27 6:27 6:28 6:28 6:29 6:29 6:29 6:30 6:31 6:32 6:32 6:33 6:33 6:34 6:34 6:35 6:35 6:36 6:37
Asr 2:54 2:55 2:55 2:55 2:55 2:56 2:57 2:57 2:58 2:59 2:59 2:59 3:00 3:01 3:01 3:02 3:03 3:03 3:03 3:04 3:05 3:06 3:06 3:07 3:08 3:08 3:08 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:12
Maghrib 5:12 5:12 5:13 5:13 5:13 5:14 5:15 5:16 5:16 5:17 5:17 5:17 5:19 5:19 5:20 5:21 5:21 5:22 5:22 5:23 5:24 5:25 5:26 5:27 5:27 5:28 5:28 5:30 5:31 5:31 5:32
Isha 6:41 6:41 6:42 6:42 6:42 6:43 6:43 6:44 6:44 6:45 6:46 6:46 6:47 6:47 6:48 6:48 6:49 6:50 6:50 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:53 6:54 6:55 6:55 6:56 6:57 6:57 6:58
European born 59 year old, single Sunni Muslim, Australian citizen living in Perth. Has his own business. Looking for a good Muslim lady to marry, from a good family, who wears hijab, who lives with her family in Western Australia, age up to 36 years old with no children. Open to any race. Slim or full figure welcome. I am 176cm tall, 82-kg, clean shaven, slim, fit and physically active, enjoy a healthy life-style, don’t drink, don’t smoke, easy going, with a great sense of humor, communicate well, very affectionate caring nature. Please contact: IMRAN on 0412-205 166