Science writer Rita Carter tells the story of how modern neuroscience has revealed that reading, something most of us take for granted, unlocks remarkable powers.
Carter explains how the classic novel Wuthering Heights allows us to step inside other minds and understand the world from different points of view, and she wonders whether the new digital revolution could threaten the values of classic reading.
Reading is an important skill that needs to be developed in children. Not only is it necessary for survival in the world of schools and (later on) universities, but in adult life as well.
The ability to learn about new subjects and find helpful information on anything from health problems and consumer protection to more academic research into science or the arts depends on the ability to read.

Most people believed in Dragons.  Well, today, most people believe in some sort of dragon. Most people fully accept paranormal and pseudoscientific claims without critique as they are promoted by the mass media or by religious authorities.

Conspiracy theory in the middle east is prominent and sometimes almost paranormal and ridiculous, but widely accepted.  Also, we have a lot of religious concepts that are pseudoscientific, and they don’t even have a strong religious root.  For example, the medication through the Turba AlHussaineya, or the belief in sending letters or talking to “Imam Mahdi”.  You will see some Muslims wiping their bodies against holy places like Kabaa or scholars’ graves believing in their super healing powers.

Here Be Dragons is a documentary that offers a toolbox for recognizing and understanding the dangers of pseudoscience, and appreciation for the reality-based benefits offered by real science.

Here Be Dragons is written and presented by Brian Dunning, host and producer of the Skeptoid podcast, author of Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena, and Executive Producer of The Skeptologists.

Wissam Charafeddine

Imam Taqy Abdallah from Tokyo, Japan is a 1 out of a 32.5 million.

Tokyo is known among the world as being the biggest and most populous city.  Its population is estimated at 32.5 million people. That’s about the size of a New York City and a half. Not a single person out of the 32.5 million people inside Tokyo can make the claim that they are the only one person in that city who is just the one. Abdallah Taqy is the only native Japanese living in Tokyo who is an Islamic Imam. Keeping his day job as a body piercer and a tatoo artist Imam Taqy has managed to break both the Japanese and Islamic “Cookie Cutter” template by becoming possibly the only Islamic Imam who’s career is in that artistic field.

Being the friendly, calm, and soft-spoken individual that Imam Taqy is, a person must really tone down and give their full attention to Imam Taqy as he speaks his few, but very carefully chosen, wise words.

“From when I was born, I was just walking, but there was no road, it was like a desert. Increasingly I thought about it and I can see a road, like wide, made narrow and straight. I was sleeping. Everybody is the same. But then, I woke up. I don’t want to categorize any religion. I think they are are real.  But people distort them.”

He continues saying:

“Everybody has a name for God. Some say Allah.  I say the name isn’t important.”

Any man who chooses to work for the sake of helping humanity, but doesn’t attempt to make any worldly gains from it has my respect. The fact that Imam Taqy kept his day job is a reminder to all the other present day “men of God” on how Muhammed son of Abdallah, Jesus son of Mary, and Moses son of Imran (Peace and Blessing on them all), all kept their day jobs and used its income to feed their families.

Stone is shown above wearing jewelry that shows his new identity.

This past February the world was shocked, surprised, and was in awe when Sean Stone, the son of the legendary Hollywood director Oliver Stone, announced that he has officially converted to the Religion of Islam. What shocked the world even more was the fact that Stone converted  while on a work related visitation to The Islamic Republic of Iran. Since then Stone has made many appearances on different American and International television networks, like CNN, defending Iran’s peaceful nuclear enrichment research program, and defending Iran’s democratically elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s position on international affairs in the Middle East and with Occupied Palestine.

Hollywood producer Oliver Stone is of Jewish faith, while Sean’s mother Elizabeth Burkit Cox, is of Christian faith.  In the past Sean has always claimed that he was both Jewish and Christian. Today Sean has adopted the new name of “Ali”, and is claiming that he is doing nothing but uniting the world’s three main monotheistic’s religion into one great united peaceful society.  When asked by Piers Morgan (CNN) how did Oliver Stone, being a “Legendary Jewish Hollywood Director”, take the news of his oldest son’s new announcement to the world on his choice of new faith,  Sean “Ali” Stone stated that he explained to his father:

“I’m trying to create a dialogue by ending this clash of civilizations nonsense and ending the misconception that Jews, Christians, and Muslims cannot live together in harmony. I want to end that rhetoric and say that I’m a Jewish Christian Muslim. I want to be able to understand all three religions and have a dialogue with people all across the board and say we don’t need to fight each other based on the book.”

Well Sean, I want to tell you that I highly respect your decision and support you 100% in your new identity as the 21st century’s first Jewish Christian Muslim Man. I also highly respect and support your efforts in attempting to unite the world’s great three monotheistic religions of the book. Its a shamefully reality that millions and millions of humans have been killed and brutally murdered all in the name of the one Creator by followers of ALL three of these faiths yet not a single holy book teaches to do so. All three religions were brought down with peaceful fundamental principles that were intended to teach mankind to live together in peace and harmony.  These great principles also teach us to accept whoever is different from us, and love them as equal brothers of humanity.

I have attached the full interview of Sean “Ali” Stone with Piers Morgan below.

In a time where there isn't much to smile about in Iraq, its citizens are finding the success of the National Soccer Team a great reason to smile.

Many countries throughout the Middle East are going through many political stifles and re-arrangements of government types. The Arab Spring hasn’t left a single country to sit and watch as a spectator. Every single day in the news all that is heard from the Middle East is news regarding peaceful protestors of different parts of the different countries each supporting its own religious and ethnic interests. In a time where unity seems to be the most valuable asset to any Middle Eastern country, the vast majority of its citizens seem to fall for their political leader’s traps and fall  divided.

In 2007, when Iraq was going through its most difficult time of its so called sectarian and ethnic divisions, a phenomena occurred that united the country behind a group of men who are less then a dozen in number. The success of the Iraqi National Football (Soccer) Team in winning the Asian Cup tournament had the whole country laughing, clapping, and cheering as one whole united body. The team itself seemed to be composed perfectly to show how diverse the Iraqi population is. There are Sunni, Shiites, Kurds, and Christians on the team. Four years down the line artists are still composing songs, photos, and videos uniting the country behind its one team.

Today, for the first time in history, Lebanon’s National Team also qualified for the first round of the World Cup Tournament.  Lebanon, a country that’s very divided behind its different factions, is also falling the same phenomena. The whole country is laughing  and cheering together as one united entity again. Who ever thought that the solution to the sectarian divisions in the Middle East is nothing more than a successful soccer campaign? If I was in the position of the political leaders in the Middle East, I would invest more time and money into its Football/Soccer Programs so more success can be attained.

Congratulations to all of Iraq’s citizens, and Lebanon’s citizens today for the advancement of both of their national teams into the first round of the World Cup Tournament.   Make us proud Boys!

Cheers

Lebanese of all factions are standing side by side cheering on the home team.

Tuesday February 28th, 2012. For many its just another regular day nearing the end of a Leap Year February. For a small community living in Dearborn, Michigan its a bit more than that. Today marks the six month anniversary of the date that our Iraqi Community in Dearborn, MI lost Hussain Asaad Alwaily in a homicide murder in Detroit. What makes today even more harsh to our community is waking up to the news that Ibrahim Abbas Alkoubaissi, 25, was also murdered yesterday.  The killers for both cases are still at large. Both Hussain, and Ibrahim are very well known among the youth of our community, and had the type of personality that always cared about making everyone feel better and ultimately putting a smile on their face. My sincerest of condolences go out to Ibrahim’s mother, who recently came back from a visit from Iraq. My condolences also go out to Ibrahim’s Father, his siblings, his family, and all of his many friends.

In a time like this one cannot help but ponder about our temporary stay on this planet. Living to an old age and getting buried by one’s own children and grandchildren seems to be more of a luxury then a guarantee.  We must honestly ask ourselves, are we ready to depart from this world?  The infamous tradition by Ali ibn Abi Talib teaches us to plan for this life as if we are going to live forever, but to plan for the afterlife as if we are going to depart tomorrow. Although its read very easily, but when one thinks about the lesson behind that quote one’s mind starts to comprehend how deep of an expression it actually is. Ultimately its all about the balance of our deeds and actions, knowing that it might be the last time we are put in that position. What I’m trying to say is that if you’re angry one day and you’re leaving home angry, make sure that you know that it might be the last time and opportunity for you to give your mom a good-bye hug and kiss.

I ask of all to pray that the creator has mercy on soul of  both Ibrahim Abbas Alkoubaissi, and Hussain Asaad Alwaily. May all there families be granted patience during these troubling and testing times.