kiwipete

Dead, stiff and alone in his bed for seven years...

A man's corpse has been found in his bed...after nearly seven years, police in Essen, Germany, said recently.

The unemployed man, aged 59 years, had probably died of natural causes on November 30,2000, according to the date of a letter from the Welfare office found in his flat.

Next to his bed were cigarettes, an open television guide and Deutschemark coins, withdrawn from circulation after the introduction of Euros in 2002.

His flat was in an building with many offices and units, many of which were now empty.

"No missing person report was ever filed." police said.

Dead, forgotten by his family, if he had one. But who paid the rent? Would the owners of the building not investigate the fact that his rent wasn't paid? Another extraordinary story of death not reported.

How could the owners or their agents not know the rent had been unpaid for all these years? Can you think of anything so sad for a man in his latter years dying so alone and not missed?

http://kiwiriverman.blogspot.com

The front page of an interesting website named Muslim Bridge:

MB Your first time? See First Bridge MB Muslim visitors, join NOW our campaign - Share Islam with Family and Friends MB Christian Visitors, see Christian Bridge, and the Weekly Bridge Publication. You will discover we have more in common than you think MB Would you like to watch live Presentation about Islam at your Church or School? Now you can MB Have you listened to our 24/7 live Quran Radio Channel? MB Say No to Islamophobia & Racism, see campagin and take Actions MB Read from our 650 articles and books, 50 more added Monthly MB Read about Jimmy Carter Palestine, Peace not Apartheid MB Free Registeration and get "Palestine" Book FREE & Live Broadcast & Video on Demand & The Weekly Review FREE Thursday, 21 June 2007
Home About Us Press Site Map Learning Bridge Youth Af. Americans Latinos Contact Us Get Involved Login-register Choosing Friends
Human beings are by nature social beings who interact, are interdependent, and thus, in need of friends and companions. Much of our lives are spent in such social associations, and friendship is indeed an essential component in human relationships. Since early childhood, friends help us through changes we may face as we go through the different stages in life. Through friends we share our ultimate fears, sorrows, happiness, and goals. Such friends can help heal certain wounds and memories of the past and help us meet the challenges of the future.

For Muslims in all conditions; and specifically when living in a society where we are clearly a minority, the issue of choosing good friends is essential for preserving our beliefs and life-style.

Influence of Friends

Prophet Muhammad advised that a person is influenced by the lifestyle of friends; so, be cautious whom you befriend. If one is negatively influenced by those we associate, with then the consequence could be disastrous. [Qur'an 43:67] Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk compared to the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows. As for the seller of musk; either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from his perfumes. As for the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows; either your clothes could burn or you will get an offensive smell from the smoke of his fire."

Friends & Friendship

Friends are people, who spontaneously seek the company of one another; who like and wish to do well for the other, believing that the other party reciprocates these feelings with good intentions.

Friendship is a voluntary, informal, reciprocal and interpersonal relationship that is mutually productive and characterized by mutual positive regard. Friendship is intended to facilitate social-emotional goals of the participants, and may involve varying types and degrees of companionship, closeness, affection, and mutual assistance. Friendship is manifested through honesty, sincerity; trust; openness; loyalty; reliability and the durability of the relationship over time.

In Islamic literature, the root meaning of the terms used for friend indicate some of the essential qualities necessary for friendship ... Siddiq (truthful/honest), Khalil (associate/link), Wali (protector/overseer), Rafiq (kind/caring).
"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be." [Author, Douglas Pagels]

Who do You Choose as Friends & Why?

Researchers conclude that an individual's opportunity to make and maintain friends over their life course is influenced by various factors such as age, gender, physical status, ability/disability level, living environment, cultural/religious background, socio-economic status and psychological characteristics [Johnson and Troll, 1994].

When you choose your friends, which qualities are most important ...

Social status / Popularity
Income level / Wealth
Looks / Appearance
Race/Ethnicity
Faith and/or Character
Political Affiliation
Intelligence / Education
Interest / Hobbies / Skills
Compassion / Care
Loyalty / Reliability
Different Kinds of Friendship :

for pleasure {could be positive or negative}
for usefulness/utility {could be positive or negative}
for virtue = friendship of character. {must be positive}
natural friendships = between father/son, siblings ... {ought to be positive}
Sayedna 'Ali advised:
"Befriend the righteous, flee from the transgressors, avoid the hypocrites and do not associate with deceivers."
To form a healthy and long-lasting friendship, people must be productive in that relationship, and they cannot be causing harm to themselves or the other person involved. "Once destructiveness enters into a relationship, it can no longer be characterized as a friendship." [Joseph A. Devito: The Interpersonal Communication Book.] This is not only true in friendship relationships but also in marriage relationships and parent-to-child relationships.

Best of Friends

Wise ones have said ...

"The best friend; according to the estimation of Allah, is the one best to his/her friend." [Prophet Muhammad]
Best friends aren't born, they're made, one great memory at a time
"Complete friendship is the friendship of good people similar in virtue; for they wish good in the same way to each other in so far as they are good, and they are good themselves. Such friendships last as long as they are good; and virtue is enduring." [Aristotle]
Many people will walk in and out of your life; but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

http://www.muslimbridges.org

Russia has commenced an enquiry into the murder of the dissident FSB agent, Alexander Litvinenko, in a move to heighten tensions with Britain.

The FDS, the Federal Security Service, said it had opened an espianage investigation as a result of claims made by Andrel Lugovoy, the man Britain wants to extradite on a murder charge.

Lugovoy maintains his innocence and accuses the British Secret Service, MI6, of involvement in Litvinenko's killing.

Lugovoy, a former KGB bodyguard in the Kremlin,also alleged that MI6 tried to recruit him to gather compromising material on President Vladimir Putin. He claimed that Litvinenko and his patron, the exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky, were employed by MI6.

The intrigue between Britain and Russia continues.

Tuataras the last of their kind - Sphenodon - part of ancient New Zealand...

Experiencing New Zealand the way it used to be - 200 million years ago before humankind evolved.

A species of tuatara the survivors of the reptilian order of Sphenodontia were in danger of extinction until the Victoria University of Wellington led surveys in the early 1990'S on the 300 hectares island of Hautura in the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand's North Island.

Eight adult tuatara were found and kept in captivity on the island to protect them from Pacific rats also living there.

Since 1994 staff in the biological sciences of the university have been incubating and hatching eggs laid by these tuatara and sending them back to Hautura, also known as Little Barrier Island.

Back there they have been raised by Conservation Department staff in safe tuatariums awaiting rat eradication which would enable their release.

So far the eight founder tuatara have produced 100 offspring. Those released are both male and female, and aged from eight to twelve years old. A further 40 remain in captivity and will be released when they are large enough to better defend themselves.

In 2004 a rat eradication program began and by June last year the island was declared rat free!

Her life was worth only NZ$168.40 - an indictment of market economics and Thatcherism down under...

New Zealand family's power turned off by contractor - mother dead three hours later.

The following story is all the news here, and maybe in other parts of the world too.

A Pacific Island woman had her power cut off by a contractor working for an Auckland power company - three hours later she was tragically dead. She relied on the power to operate her oxygen breathing machine.

Mother of four Folole Muliaga, aged 44 years, died last Tuesday , three hours after a Mercury Energy contractor cut power to her home in
Mangere, South Auckland - and her electrically operated oxygen machine - because she was late paying a NZ$168.40 bill.

The family of the Samoan pre-school teacher allegedly pleaded with the contractor not to turn off the power because it was necessary to operate the oxygen machine.

The family is so angry they have already sought legal advice. However, others say to give the bereaved family space to grieve and bury their wife, mother, and aunt.

There have also been anomalies in the stories the media have received from both parties to the tragedy.

Because the power company involved is a state owned enterprise the prime minister, Helen Clark, has become involved, and is demanding answers. The Minister of Energy has been in contact with the power company and their contractor.

The police have been investigating the matter from the beginning, and their report will be forthcoming and will decide the legalities of the situation.

There have already been protests outside the energy company's building. There have even been questions raised about the family's slow response to ring an ambulance; but everything is pure speculation until the facts are made available.

An indictment of market economics - the human side of Thatcherism down under!