To read or not able to read

The avid reader of my blog should have noticed the addition of several new columns. Since high school, I have not read many novels. In-fact, I am not alone, most youth growing up today rather use the Internet, play video games, and watch television rather than read a book.

In my elementary schools days, I was an avid reader. In school, we had a program called book-it that rewarded kids who attained their reading goals. In high school, I worked part-time at Chapters and was allowed to borrow books from the store. During university, the only books I ever read were on Calculus, Economics, and Java. Hopefully, I can rejuvenate this reading passion with my current novel.

It has been a while since I have related a blog post to Seinfeld, so I shall leave this post with a quote from the Seinfeld episode where Jerry is fined for a book he has not returned since high school and George revisits his embarrassing atomic wedgie.

Jerry: What's amazing to me about the library is it's a place where you go in and take out any book you want. They just give it to you and say bring it back when you're done. It reminds me of like this pathetic friend that everbody had when they were a little kid who would let you borrow any of his stuff if you would just be his friend. That's what the library is. A government funded pathetic friend. And that's why everybody kind of bullies the library. I'll bring it back on time ... I'll bring it back late .... Oh, what are you going to do? Charge me a nickel?

*Nerd Alert* You got too much mail

It has been a while since I have “geeked” up this blog with a techie entry. It is a challenge to make technology sound interesting. I remember growing up watching a science show by Bill Nye the Science Guy. He tried to make science “cool” and fascinating with his over the top enthusiasm. At the other end of the spectrum you have that nerdy guy from the Simpsons, who is funny only because his geekdom is out of control. Hopefully, my techie entry will be somewhat in the middle.

Today, I will talk about E-mail spam. It is estimated that almost 80-85% of all emails sent in a day are spam. It is a common nuisance that bothers anyone who uses email. All email servers use spam filters, which block the majority of spam from entering into your inbox. Recently, I have been receiving more spam email, which the spam filters have been unable to block. All these emails center on a common theme of advertising “penny stocks”. The Penny stock emails bypass spam filters because information is contained within an image and most spam filters look for common key words in text.

The spammers goal is to use a fraudalant scheme called "pump and dump". They advertise these penny stocks in hope they will get people to purchase these stocks. The artificial demand drives the stock price up. Once the spammers see this rise, they will sell the stock and profit and when the market corrects itself on the true value of the stock, the penny stock investors will lose out.

Hopefully, no one has been coerced into purchasing a penny stock. As the old adage goes, if it is too good to be true, than it probably is.

Belated Eid Mubarak

A belated Eid Mubarak to everyone.

I am still accepting Eid ul-Fitr hugs up until Eid ul-Adha, but please no Eid hugs in public places. People unaware of the "triple-hug and handshake" dance step will likely raise an eye brow.

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4. Shaking Hands

Ramadan Happenings

Tis the season of Ramadan and I have been collecting my thoughts for this month.

This Ramadan, Suhoor is later in the morning than past years, and I rarely get enough sleep because Tarawih ends late at night. There are always eventful happening at Tarawih as documented by Ali’s antics. Last week, after prayers finished, a man asked me where I went to groom my beard. After realizing the seriousness of the question, I responded that I shave and trim my beard myself. The man left and so did the awkwardness. However, I did feel flattered by the question. I work hard at grooming my beard and finally someone has noticed :)

Last week, I was in Dallas, Texas, where I went to Irving Mosque for Iftar and Tarawih. Irving Mosque is the largest mosque that I have seen in North America. The nicest perk about Tarawih at Irving mosque was the 4-rakaat tea break. People take a break for 10 minutes to get tea and rest. This idea is great; in-fact it should be extended to include more options such as: coffee, donuts, leftover iftar; the potential is endless.

Finally, I would like to end this post with a complaint. When praying you must stand shoulder to shoulder, when a spot opens up, a person must fill that spot. However, there are situations when there is no room and people are forcing themselves into a spot where they should not go. I always get volunteered to fit into a small spot and have to maneuver for positioning. It takes a prayer to re-establish my space, but then the "musical fill the spots" begin. Yes, I will fill the spots, but only if you give me acceptable space. Thank you.