HEARD IT AND READ IT

Prepared by Bassam Mechammil 

April 2011

For comments; please email Mechammil@aol.com

 

 

 

 

حجر الشيشة‏=3‏ علب سجائر‏!‏

إذا كنت من مدخني الشيشة‏,‏ فاقرأ بعناية هذه النتائج التي انتهت إليها دراسة بحثية مصرية رائدة‏,‏ فجرت أكثر من مفاجأة في وجه هذه الظاهرة التي شهدت في السنوات الأخيرة انتشارا سرطانيا بين مختلف الأعمار من الجنسين‏,‏ فيما يشبه الموضة التي اجتاحت بصفة خاصة منطقة الشرق الأوسط‏.‏

فقد ساد اعتقاد خاطيء بأن تدخين الشيشة أكثر أمانا من السجائر‏,‏ وظن البعض أن وجود المياه كوسيط‏,‏ ينقي الدخان من سمومه ويلطف من درجة حرارته‏,‏ ولذلك قرر فريق بحثي علمي متكامل‏,‏ من دكاترة كليتي الهندسة والطب‏,‏ دراسة الآثار السلبية لتدخين الشيشة علي صحة الإنسان‏,‏ وتمكن الفريق المكون من الدكتور مدحت المسيري أستاذ الهندسة الفيزيائية والطبية‏,‏ والدكتور مصطفي كمال أستاذ الصحة العامة‏,‏ والدكتور طارق العربي بمركز الوقاية من أخطار البيئة بمشاركة مجموعة من المهندسين‏,‏ من ابتكار جهاز إلكتروني يعمل بالكمبيوتر ليحاكي آلية تدخين الإنسان للشيشة‏,‏ ويتكون من اسطوانة تماثل حجم الرئة ويتحرك بداخلها مكبس ليحاكي عملية سحب النفس‏,‏ وعند عودة المكبس يتم طرد الدخان إلي أجهزة التحليل الكيميائي والفيزيائي بعد أن يكون قد بقي بداخله مدة تماثل بقاءه في صدر المدخن‏.‏

وتمكن الفريق من الوصول إلي نتائج بالغة الأهمية‏,‏ أهمها أن درجة حرارة الفحم والدخان تزيد علي‏450‏ مئوية‏,‏ وهي درجة عالية جدا لا تستطيع المياه تبريدها‏,‏ كما أكدت التجربة إمكان انتقال الميكروبات والفيروسات من صدر المدخن ورئتيه للمياه التي لا تتغير من مدخن لآخر‏,‏ كما وجد أن تدخين‏25‏ جراما من المعسل يعادل تدخين أكثر من‏60‏ سيجارة‏,‏ حيث يبتلع المدخن في كل جرعة دخان ما يساوي‏500‏ إلي‏600‏ سم مكعب يملأ بها صدره دفعة واحدة‏,‏ كذلك وجد أن جرعات الدخان تفقد الرئة مرونتها‏.‏

 

 

 

 

روعة الكلام

 

المـــرحــــوم
إنسانٌ محظـوظ ينسى النـاس سيئـاتـه وينسبون إليـه حسناتٍ كان مجرداً منها في حيـاتـه
القبــــر
المـأزق الـوحيد الذي لـم يتمكن أحـد حتى الآن أن يخـرج منـه

الصـــــديق
شخـصٌ لا يفيـدك ومـع ذلك تستمتع بـوجـودهـ

الــرجل المغـرور
ديـك يظن أن الشمس لـم تشرق إلا لتسمع صـوتـه

الإنسان
مخلـوق يـولد باكيًا ويعيش شاكيا
الـزوج المحتــرم
هـو الذي يذكر عيد ميلاد زوجتـه ولكنه ينسى عمـــرها

الهـــواء
طعام تقدمه السماء مجـــاناً لكل الفقـــراء

العـاقـل
إنسان لا يسعى إلى نيل السعادة بل يسعى إلى تجنب الشقاء

المتشائـم
شخـص يخير بين شّـرين فيختـار الشـرين

العـــام
فتـره مكـونـه من ثلاثمائة وخمس وستين خيبـة أمـل

السعـادة
عطـر لا تستطيع أن تنشره في الناس دون أن يعلق بك قطرات منه

التجـاعيد
تـوقيع الزمـان على الـوجـوه ليثبت مـروره عـليها

الفتـــاه
إنسانٌ يصــرخ إذا رأى فــأراً ويبتسم إذا رأى ذئبـا

الغــرور
مُسكن يخفف آلام المغفـلين

الــزمـن
لــص ظــريف يسـرق شبابنــا

البســـمة الــدافئة
لغـــة اللطـــف العــالمية

الـــرجل العظيـم
إنسان يحمل بين ضلـــوعـه قلب طفل

الضحكــــة
أعظــم سلاح تكافــح بـه الحيــاة

الصــــــدق
كتـاب نـادر ، لا يطبـع منه إلا نسخـه واحـدة فقــط

الأمـــــل
أحــلام البائسين

الحب الخالـــد
حـب المــرء لنفسـه

الغيـــرة
مجهـر يكبــر الأشـياء الصغيــرة

الـــــزواج
الاقتنــاع بحـلاوة الحــرية داخل قفــص

معهــد التجميل
مـكان تحصل فيه المـرأة على وجـه من الطين

الــــــخ …
علامـة تستخـدم لجعـل الآخـرين يعتقـدون بـأنـك تعـرف أكثـر ممـا تعــرف

الضميـــر
صـوت صغيـر يهمـس في أذنـك ليـريـك كـم أنت صغيـر

الشخص الصريــح
هـو الذي يقـول كل ما يخطـر لـه ، دون أن يفكـر فيه

 

 

أقوال

إذا أردت الاستمرار في المعرفة، عليك أن تكون مستعداً طيلة حياتك لمواجهه خطورة الفشل.

برنارد شو‏

لعله من عجائب الحياة، أنك إذا رفضت كل ما هو دون مستوى القمة، فإنك دائماً تصل إليها.‏

كونفوشيوس‏

عليك أن تفعل الأشياء التي تعتقد أنه ليس باستطاعتك أن تفعلها .‏

هوراس‏

افعل الشيء الصحيح، فإن ذلك سوف يجعل البعض ممتناً، بينما يندهش الباقون.‏

رالف إمرسون‏

الخيال أهم من المعرفة‏

آينشتاين‏

إذا كان الألم حاداً، فإنه سريع الزوال.‏

أبيقور‏

الإيمان مكمل للحياة الأخلاقية، غير أن الأخلاق لا ترتكز على الإيمان وحده، إذ إن الحياة الأخلاقية هي الحياة التي ترتكز على الحكمة، ولا يحياها إلا من فهم حقيقة ما يريده ومعرفة السبل إلى هدفه.‏

سقراط‏

كلما كان المجتمع حراً، استطاع أن يحرر الفكر وأن يطوره. وكلما استطاع المجتمع أن يطور الفكر، فإن حضارة هذا المجتمع تتطور بالضرورة.‏

هيغل‏

للبحث عن الحقيقة يلزمنا، ولو لمرة واحدة في حياتنا، أن نشك في جميع الأشياء ما أمكننا الشك في ذلك.‏

ديكارت‏

قد أكون مختلفاً معك في الرأي، ولكني مستعد للموت دفاعاً عن حقك في إبداء رأيك.‏

فولتير‏

إن الإجابة الوحيدة على الهزيمة هي الانتصار.‏

سومرست موم‏

عندما أقوم ببناء فريق فإني أبحث دائماً عن أناس يحبون الفوز، وإذا لم أعثر على أي منهم، فإنني أبحث عن أناس يكرهون الهزيمة.‏

وليام جيمس‏

يخسر الناس معظم الفرص التي تواجههم، لأنها تأتيهم دائماً بملابس العمل، فلا توجد فرص مجردة من الجهد إلا في الأحلام، ولا يقابل الفرص في الأحلام إلا النيام.‏

توماس أديسون‏

إن الاتصال في العلاقات الإنسانية يشبه التنفس بالنسبة إلى الإنسان، فكلاهما يهدف إلى استمرار الحياة.‏

مارك توين‏

ينقسم الفاشلون إلى نصفين: هؤلاء الذين يفكرون ولا يعملون، وهؤلاء الذين يعملون ولا يفكرون أبداً.‏

جون غاردينر‏

عندما لا يكون هناك أمل في المستقبل، فحتماً لن يكون هناك معنى للحاضر.‏

جون ماكسويل‏

نحن نسقط لكي ننهض، ونهزم في المعارك لنحرز نصراً أروع، تماماً كما ننام لكي نصحو أكثر قوةً ونشاطاً.‏

جون تشارلز سالاك‏

إن أعظم اكتشاف لجيلي، هو أن الإنسان يمكن أن يغير حياته، إذا ما استطاع أن يغير اتجاهاته العقلية.‏

ونستون تشرشل‏

إن عينيك ليستا سوى انعكاس لأفكارك.‏

فرجينيا ساتير‏

قد يتقبل الكثيرون النصح، لكن الحكماء فقط هم الذين يستفيدون منه.‏

روزفلت‏

إذا لم تغير ما تفعله دائماً، فلن تغير النتائج التي تحصل عليها دائماً.‏

بيتر فرانسيسكو‏

لا أقول مستحيل مطلقاً لأي أحد أو لأي شيء.‏

ريتشارد بريسلر‏

 

 

 

كاريزما

 

 

2010 Tax Changes You Need to Know Before You File

New Tax Rule - BIG Changes to Estate Taxes

This is one time we were happy to see Congress not get something done! Because Washington was too dysfunctional to enact new legislation, there is NO estate tax for 2010.

The estate tax was re-instated for 2011 as part of the year-end 2010 Tax Relief Act. The new rules for 2011 include a maximum 35% tax rate on anything you pass on to your loved ones after the $5,000,000 exemption. That's up from $3.5 million in 2009, so if you should be so fortunate to have a large estate, you can pass along more of your wealth before the estate tax kicks in.

Plus, the annual gift exclusion is $13,000 per individual per year. That means if you are lucky enough to have money you wish to pass along to your heirs (or anyone !), you can give each individual up to $13,000 tax-free each year.

Smart estate planning is key to keeping your hard-earned wealth in your family's hands--NOT Uncle Sam's--when you pass.

New Tax Rule - New Existing and First-time Home Buyer Credits

In order to help stimulate the housing market, the government created a special credit for first-time homebuyers.  The program rules have changed every year since. 

In 2010, President Obama extended the $8,000 credit through September 2010. In order to qualify for the 2010 credit, you must NOT have owned a home in the United States in the three years prior to buying this home.

In addition, there is a tax credit for existing homebuyers for 2010. Eligible homebuyers receive a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price up to $6,500. In order to qualify for this credit, you must have lived in the same residence for five consecutive years at some point in the past eight years.

Both credits apply to homes that had a signed contract by April 20, 2010 and closed on by September 30, 2010.

There are income limits and other special rules, so be sure to ask your tax advisor or do your research to learn all the details.

New Tax Rule - New Mileage Deductions

Deducting miles driven for work or other purposes can be a huge tax break and save you significant money. Too bad the IRS cut the standard mileage deduction rates for 2010. Here are the new rules:

·The deduction for business mileage is 50 cents per mile (a 9% cut!)
·The deduction for medical and moving purposes is 16.5 cents per mile
·The deduction for miles driven related to charitable work stays at 14 cents per mile (OK, so maybe the IRS doesn't have a heart made of stone).

 

How Smoking Cigarettes Damages Your Teeth And Gums

Once your primary teeth are gone, you only get one set of teeth for life. One good working set to serve you through countless hours of cutting, mashing, chewing, gnawing and grinding! In this respect, it is vital that you take care of these priceless tools and make sure they remain healthy and strong.

One nasty habit that has a profoundly negative impact on teeth as well as gums is smoking. Smoking primarily affects the respiratory system, mainly your lungs. It also has detrimental affects on other parts of your body.

Smoking causes problems with teeth and gums that can get compounded and result in serious oral ill health.

Smoking is closely linked with Mouth Cancer, and this alone should be enough to elucidate the harmful effects of smoking on oral health. It also causes gums to become puffy and inflamed. Blood flow to gums reduces as a result and they become weak which in turn makes teeth weak.

Puffing on a cigarette also makes the mouth very dry and greatly reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth. Saliva plays the vital role of cleaning the oral cavity and keeping it healthy. As a result, smoking jeopardises oral health, cleanliness and causes bad breath.

And of course, tobacco stains teeth and causes them to become yellow. The tar in cigarettes gets deposited on the teeth causing them to look stained. This not only looks terrible, it also corrodes the natural protective covering of teeth and weakens them further.

 

7 Foods That Fight Fat

Posted on Mar 31st 2011 11:00AM

Want to get more bang for your bite? These foods do double duty: They help you blast fat and make you feel full longer, so you'll eat fewer calories.

Eggs
78 calories each
An egg's not only a nutritional powerhouse, but it's also loaded with protein that satisfies. Eat eggs for breakfast; they'll curb your appetite enough that you'll have about 330 calories less than usual throughout the rest of the day.

Bonus tip: For a healthy fried egg, brush a nonstick skillet with a smidge of oil or cooking spray. You'll get crispy edges without much fat.

Dark chocolate
170 calories for 1 ounce
Just one more reason to indulge: Nosh on dark chocolate and you'll eat less at your next meal, according to research from the University of Copenhagen.

Why? Compounds in chocolate slow down digestion and make you feel full longer. A small piece of chocolate (aim for the size of a business card) can also curb your cravings for salty, sweet and fatty foods.

Pine nuts
95 calories for 1/2 ounce (about 84 nuts)
Move over, almonds! The heart-healthy fatty acids in pine nuts boost satiety hormones that make you feel full, according to Korean researchers. The same fatty acids also keep belly fat at bay.

Cheese
76 calories for 1 ounce
Go for fresh goat cheese or feta for a dose of conjugated linoleic acid -- it helps you feel full and burn more fat. Cheeses from grass-fed animals have the most CLA, so buy ones labeled "grass fed."

Skim milk
86 calories for 1 cup
Most of us think of milk as kids' stuff, but it boasts grown-up benefits. Milk's proteins (whey and casein) can make you feel more satisfied than sugary drinks. CLA in milk fights fat, too.

Oranges
59 calories each
An orange is one of the most satisfying grabs from the fruit bowl, thanks to all that fiber. Oranges were the highest-ranked fruit on the "satiety index," a list of 38 filling foods put together by Australian researchers. And fiber fights fat: People who eat more fiber have less flab. (Fab!)

Potatoes
161 calories each
High-carb spuds often get a bad rap, but they deserve to be a dieter's BFF. Three times as filling as a slice of white bread, potatoes top all of the foods on the satiety index. Plus, the resistant starch in potatoes help your body burn fat, too.

 

ITRC Solution 14 – Protecting Your Online Identity

The need to protect your identity online has become increasingly important with the growing number of social networking and blogging sites available. Personality profiles and blogging about personal experiences creates a public record of your personal information. Once it is posted – it’s nearly impossible to pull back.

The ITRC suggests the following tips to protect your identity online:

• Use the highest level privacy settings that the site allows. Do not accept default settings.
• Read privacy and security policies closely – know what you’re getting into. Some major social networking sites actually say they will use or sell information about you (not individual data necessarily, but aggregate information based on your personal information and that of others using their site) in order to display advertising or other information they believe might be useful to you.
• Use the least amount of information necessary to register for and use the site. Be careful when picking a screen name – make sure it doesn’t provide clues to your “identity”.
• Create a strong password and change it often. A strong password should be more than 8 characters in length, and contain both capital letters and at least one numeric or other non- alphabetical character.  Use of non-dictionary words is also advised. Do not share your password with others.
• Be wise about what you post. Never post personal information such as your address, phone numbers, e-mail address, driver’s license number, Social Security Number (SSN), birth date, birth place, school’s name, or student ID number. When blogging, do not disclose your location for any given day or the exact location for an event you are going to attend.
• Be careful when posting photos. Make sure they do not provide clues – such as where you live, work or go to school. Also, do not post photos depicting negative behaviors – including drinking, provocative poses or illegal activities. While you may attempt to delete the photo at a later time, it will continue to exist in the cyber world.
• Only connect to people you already know and trust. Don’t put too much out there – even those you know could use your information in a way you didn’t intend.
• Verify emails and links in emails you supposedly get from your social networking site (e.g. the recent Facebook scam emails that asked customers to re-set their passwords). These are often designed to gain access to your user name, password, and ultimately your personal information.
• Install a firewall, reputable anti-spam and anti-virus software to protect your information-- and keep it updated.

 

Study Adds to Growing Evidence That Lap-Band Surgery Is Risky

 

By Catherine Donaldson-Evans Mar 22nd 2011 2:00PM

Half of those who try Lap-Band surgery have to get the implants taken out later because the implants stop working or erode, according to a new study.

Laparoscopic gastric banding, which involves inserting adjustable bands or rings over the stomach and inflating them with saline to limit how much food can pass through, has become a popular weight loss treatment, but growing evidence has shown that it's a risky procedure.

Researchers from Saint Pierre University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium, tracked 82 people for at least 12 years after they'd had the operation. All the patients had the procedure at the same hospital between 1994 and 1997.

The scientists found that 49 of them had to undergo at least one revision surgery because the device malfunctioned or they suffered complications, ABCNews.com reported.

The findings in the Archives of Surgery also showed that 41 of the patients had their Lap-Bands removed later and 14 of those had a gastric bypass procedure as a result. The reason? In the majority of cases, patients hadn't lost a sufficient amount of weight or the band stopped working properly.

"The high failure rate of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, at least in our hands, could be detrimental to its future continued widespread use as a restrictive weight loss operation," wrote the authors led by Dr. Jacques Himpens.

Still, some were happy with the results of the surgery. Of the 78 patients who expressed their level of satisfaction with the initial procedure, 60 percent reported being "very pleased" or "pleased," according to the study.

During follow-ups, the researchers documented that on average, those who'd had Lap-Band surgery lost 43 percent of their original extra weight, with a body mass index decrease of 7.8 points, ABC reported.

Thirty-two of the 82 who were tracked said they'd had serious complications from the Lap-Banding, 23 of them experiencing erosion of the implants and nine having pouch dilation. Nineteen of the 23 required removal of the bands or gastric bypass surgery. Six of the nine had to have the devices taken out.

The scientists said obesity-related conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, didn't improve in patients over the course of the study. In fact, the chances of developing them stayed the same or rose, they said.

Not surprisingly, the results were the best in patients who didn't have problems with the bands slipping.

The authors admitted that their research had shortcomings, particularly since they focused on only one institution performing the surgery and they conducted the study when the technology had just been introduced in the 1990s.

 

 

10 Worst Foods for Your Stomach

By Amy Capetta Mar 21st 2011 2:00PM

 

If you think you're the only one who suffers from belching, stomach bloating and abdominal discomfort on a regular basis, think again: The most current statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention state that the average number of annual visits to physician offices and hospitals regarding digestive system conditions total 42.2 million. And according to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 95 million Americans suffer from poor digestion.

The common culprits for digestive issues are cooked food, since heat destroys the natural enzymes found in raw foods that aid in digestion, and aging, due to a decline in enzyme production of about 13 percent with each passing decade, said Dr. Steven Lamm, a board-certified internist and faculty member at the NYU Medical Center.

While those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, acid reflux (also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease) or an ulcer will have various reactions to different foods and drinks, experts agree the following 10 items are likely to irritate one of more of these tummy-related conditions.

Stomach-sensitive food: mint
Why it can affect you: While peppermint has numerous benefits, including aiding in digestive issues, it can also have the reverse effect and increase heartburn symptoms, Dr. Gerald Ashton Isenberg, who works in the gastroenterology department at UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, told AOL Health. "Mint increases the chance of acid reflux because it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that is located at the end of the esophagus, allowing acid from the stomach to back up into the food pipe," he explained. Keep in mind this holds true for anything that contains mint, such as peppermint tea and even peppermint gum and breath mints.

Stomach-sensitive food: sodas and fruit juices
Why they can affect you: According to Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, both of these beverages contain a whopping 3/4 teaspoon of sugar per ounce. "Many people have heard of lactose intolerance, but fructose intolerance is another major cause of IBS," he told AOL Health. He further explained that as many as 30 percent of adults have fructose malabsorption, meaning their bodies can absorb less than 25 grams of fructose (six spoons) at a time. "Whatever the body cannot absorb acts like a sponge by sucking water into your gut while triggering unhealthy infections in the colon."

Stomach-sensitive food: beans
Why they can affect you: Beans can produce intestinal gas because they contain oligosaccharide, a type of complex sugar comprised of large molecules too big for the small intestine. In addition, the body cannot break down this complex sugar because it lacks the enzyme to do so.

Stomach-sensitive food: coffee
Why it can affect you: Teitelbaum said that the acids in coffee can irritate the stomach lining, which can cause excessive production of hydrochloric acid, leading to indigestion and reflux, especially for those with ulcers or who are prone to heartburn. Sorry, java lovers, decaf contains the same acids and will result in the same reaction. To satisfying your coffee craving, Teitelbaum suggested drinking one cup of licorice tea a day, which has been known to soothe the stomach and treat ulcers.

Stomach-sensitive food: broccoli
Why it can affect you: Registered dietitian Katherine Brooking told AOL Health that broccoli is a gas-producing veggie that may cause stomach issues for those who deal with IBS. Broccoli is placed in the category of soluble fiber, a type of fiber that doesn't break down until it reaches the large intestine, where digestion causes gas. Plus, broccoli contains a small amount of raffinose, a complex sugar that produces gas, which is also found in beans.

Stomach-sensitive food: tomatoes
Why they can affect you: "Tomatoes can be an esophageal irritant, bringing about symptoms of acid reflux, heartburn or making heartburn worse," said Isenberg. This juicy red fruit is highly acidic, which, in turn, stimulates the production of extra digestive acids in the stomach. As a result, these acids can creep back up the esophagus, aggravating a sensitive esophagus or further damaging the lining of the esophagus. Tomato-based foods, such as marinara sauce, pizza sauce and salsa, fall under this umbrella, as well.

Stomach-sensitive food: milk-based products
Why they can affect you: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 30 to 50 million American adults are lactose intolerant. "We are the only species that continues to drink milk after weaning, and many people lose the ability to digest lactose -- the milk sugar -- as they grow into adulthood," said Teitelbaum. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine, stated the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. "So any lactose you don't digest becomes party food for the gut bacteria, and they say 'thank you' by making a lot of gas," said Teitelbaum. Substituting "real" milk, ice cream and cheese for dairy products labeled lactose free should ease this problem, along with choosing milk that contains lactase and hard cheese, since it naturally contains less lactose than soft cheese.

Stomach-sensitive food: fatty foods
Why they can affect you: Foods high in fat, including fried foods, can increase symptoms of acid reflex and IBS, said Brooking. The reason: Fatty foods take longer to break down in the body, so they remain in the stomach for an extended period of time. As a result, the body automatically produces extra stomach acid in order to aid in digestion. Keep in mind that overeating (in general) will also cause a delay in digestion and will stimulate the stomach to secrete more acid.

Stomach-sensitive food: iced drinks (with meals)
Why they can affect you: Teitelbaum explained that indigestion isn't typically caused by too much stomach acid but more often by the lack of it. "Digestion relies largely on stomach acid and digestive enzymes," he said. "Your digestive enzymes work best at 98.6 degrees -- and ice-cold drinks can inactivate them, causing indigestion." He advised drinking something hot (like tea or hot water with lemon) when you're dining and snacking and saving the cold drinks for in between mealtimes.

Stomach-sensitive food: chocolate
Why it can affect you: Last (and certainly least) is the beloved, dark, any-time-of-day treat. While chocolate has been proven to have health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of stroke, it can also cause indigestion and heartburn. "Chocolate contains concentrations of theobromine, a compound that occurs naturally in many plants such as cocoa, tea and coffee plants," stated Lamm. "And this compound has the ability to relax the esophageal sphincter muscle, letting stomach acid squirt up into the esophagus." Chocolate also contains caffeine, another agent that encourages the stomach to produce excess acid.