Poetry

محبت روٹھ جائے تو
اُسے باہوں میں لے لینابہت ہی پاس کر کے تم
اُسے جانے نہیں دینا
وہ دامن بھی چرائے تو
اُسے تم قسم دے دینا
دلوں کے معاملے میں
تو خطائیں ہو ہی جاتی ہیں
تم اِن خطاؤں کو
بہانہ مت بنا لینا
محبت روٹھ جائے تو
اُسے جلدی منا لینا

 

www.inhousetoday.com

Safety tips for Women

Here are some safety tips for sisters:

1. Always be aware of your surroundings
This applies whether you are traveling alone or in groups. Don’t just focus inwardly on your thoughts if you are alone or your friends if you are together. Keep one eye out for your environment, looking out for suspicious characters, possible danger, etc.

Also, don’t assume that because your area has been "safe" thus far, that it will continue to be so.

2. Travel in groups
"There is safety in numbers" is not just a cliché. It’s true. Make a point of traveling together with other sisters, whether it’s on public transportation, on campus, in cars, etc.

3. Change the route you normally travel by
If you’ve taken the same bus, train or highway to get to work or school, change your route. Even if it takes you a little longer, your safety is more important. By changing your route, you can avert possible attacks or harassment from those who know your schedule, method and route of travel well. Please note though that you should avoid short cuts that take you through unfamiliar or unsafe areas.

4. Look confident
Walk with a straight posture and your arms swinging by your sides. Avoid slouching or walking like a victim. This makes you an easy target for attackers.

5. When riding by public transportation choose the right seat
If you are riding by bus or train, do not sit on the window seat as you may be "blocked in" by a potential assailant. Always select the seat next to the aisle so that you can quickly leave if necessary.

If you are taking public transportation alone after peak hours, sit as close to the driver as possible and/or choose the section of the bus/train that is most crowded. Try to get a seat near the exit as well.

6. If you are driving alone

Don’t think that if you are in a car, your safe. Windows should be up and doors locked even when driving to avoid unwanted passengers at intersections. When you are walking to your car, always have your keys ready, so that you can quickly get into your car.

But don’t just get in right away. Always check your car before entering, especially the back, for any intruders.

7. Never leave your car door unlocked
Even if it means for one minute to drop something off in the mailbox that a few feet away. Attackers have been known to lie in wait for such an opportunity.

8. Be careful in parking lots
Always be alert in parking lots, especially when it's dark. Ask someone to escort you to your car. Between cars and inside cars, it's easy for someone to hide and wait until an unalert person comes along.

9. If you are traveling by taxi Always check the identification of the driver (usually located near the visor) and ensure that it matches the driver. Once inside, don't sit behind the driver as it may be easy for the driver to lock the rear passenger door. Always choose the adjacent seat .

In addition, avoid flagging taxis. Always order taxis so the driver can be traced if something happens.

10. Don’t use the walkman
If your used to listening to your walkman while outside, drop this habit, especially in isolated areas. With your walkman on, you cannot hear the approach of a possible attacker.

11. Note "safe houses" along your route
Mentally note houses at intervals on each route you take that can be used as "safe houses" if you are attacked, such as shops or houses that you know to be occupied by a friend or acquaintance.

12. When you make a call from a phone booth
After dialing the number you wish to call always turn around so that you have your back to the phone and may see who or what is coming your way. You will then be able to tell the person to whom you are speaking that you may be in trouble and you may be able to use the weight of the phone as a weapon. The door of a telephone box could be used to wedge in the limbs of the attacker.

13. Do not open the door of your home without checking
DO NOT open the door to your home without first checking from a window, peephole or by asking and verifying who it is. Instruct children to do the same.

14. Report any suspicious activity around your home
If you see people loitering on the streets near your house, call the police on a non emergency number and report it.

15. Invest in a cell phone
This is an invaluable safety device. Keep it with you at all times and keep emergency numbers on it. Also, keep it next to your bed before you go to bed at night. Cell phones were first popularized by women as a security device, business people came later.

16. Parking tips
Avoid parking in areas that are not well lit. Where possible, park close to a school or work entrance or in a parking garage that has an attendant.

If you see a suspicious person approaching or hanging around near your parked car, turn around and go back to an area where there are other people. Try to get an escort to your car through the campus or job security or local police.

17. Tell others about your whereabouts
Parents, spouses and friends should know where you are going and when you will be back, so that your absence will be noticed. Arrange a call in system with a friend if you live alone, whereby you call when you arrive home.

18. Trust your instincts
If you are walking somewhere and feel strange or scared, don’t ignore this feeling. Take extra precautions by walking a little faster to get to a more populated or well-lit area or change the route you’ve been driving on.

19. If you think you are being followed, change your route and activity. You can cross the street, change directions, or enter a populated building or store. Do whatever is necessary to avoid being alone with the person who is following you. Inform a police officer or security official about the follower.

20. Attract attention if you are in a dangerous situation. Get others to pay attention to what's happening to you if you are under attack or being harassed. You can alert others by honking a car horn or loudly describing what is happening.

21. NEVER admit that you are alone
if someone calls your home and asks if you are alone, NEVER admit it. Ask who the caller is. If they refuse to identify themselves, calmly hang-up. Keep the radio on in the house so that callers will get the impression that others are in the home too. Instruct children to do the same when they pick up the phone.

22. Obscene phone calls If you receive an obscene call or a crank call, do not talk to the caller. Hang up if the caller doesn’t say anything, or as soon as s/he shouts obscenities. Hang up the phone calmly and do not slam it down. Note down the date and time of the calls. If they are persistent, inform local police.

23. If you are a student Avoid studying in isolated classrooms in parts of the college campus that are not regularly patrolled by the schools security officers.

24. In large buildings take the elevator, not the stairwell
Stairwells are usually quiet and dark. Most people take the elevator. But if someone creepy gets on, don’t hesitate to get off at the same time. Or, if someone is already on the elevator who you feel strange about, do not get on and wait for the next elevator.

Top 10 Professions in Pakistan and salary packages

A vast information gap exists in the HR Industry. Neither employers nor jobseekers know exactly what compensation decisions to make with limited industry-wide data to rely on. As the leading jobsite in Pakistan, ROZEE.PK made some interesting discoveries in two salary surveys where 2,000 professionals and 1,000 employers were asked about their compensation policies and perceptions. The results and analysis can serve to outline general career trends. Each of the top positions illustrates the median salary range after 5 years of experience as well as the percentage growth from 1-5 years. All salaries are denoted PKR per month.

10. Creative Designing

Entry Level: 12,000 - 18,000*
5 Years: 49,560 - 74,340*
Growth Rate: 313%**
Job Satisfaction: Satisfied
Popular Institutions: NCA, Indus Valley School of Arts & Fatima Jinnah Women University

A rather new entrant in the careers race, Creative Designing is catching up as a popular profession. With businesses investing massively in corporate websites and online presence as well as the booming print media, creative and graphic designers are in high demand. The fact that there is no degree level restriction also adds to its popularity. The scarcity of highly experienced creative designers contributes to the high salary growth rate for this profession.

Interestingly, there are quite a few HEC accredited institutions that are now offering degrees in Creative and Graphic Designing adding to the quality of the talent pool. This profession sees the lowest retention rates, most likely because of high turnover in short term projects.

9. Software Engineering

Entry Level: 15,000 - 30,000*
5 Years: 43,215 - 82,600*
Growth Rate: 180%**
Job Satisfaction: Very Satisfied
Popular Institutions: GIKI, NUST, UET, FAST & NED

Software Engineering is the most popular engineering discipline in Pakistan and it is no surprise that its professionals are among the top 10. Although the salary bracket for the entrants is not amongst the highest, the growth rate is reasonable, as a result of which there is a strong incremental increase in compensation. One reason for this is the booming IT sector which is also the biggest recruiter of these experts in the country. There has been resurgence in the IT sector and university students are lagging behind in picking up on this hot career choice. The Software Engineering programs being offered at higher education institutions are compatible worldwide. It is no surprise then that software giants like IBM, Google and Microsoft hire regularly from these engineering universities. Most Software Engineering graduates prefer to pursue a master’s degree which significantly increases their market worth. Job hopping trends in this field offer no conclusive patterns and vary from industry to industry.

8. Finance & Accounting

Entry Level: 10,000 - 25,000*
5 Years: 36,100 - 90,250*
Growth Rate: 261%**
Job Satisfaction: Satisfied
Popular Institutions: LUMS, IBA, NUST, UCP & ICMAP

As a professional in Finance, one thing is for sure, one can calculate one’s own worth by checking the value you bring into the company. As a savvy part of the company, one is better placed to make it to the top if one possesses merit, a superior experience and a bit of clever
industry study. Growth in this field is not particularly great for midlevel professionals despite passing the test of heightened competition and high volume of the first few years. Chartered Accountants and ACCA’s significantly contribute to this career’s entry in the top salary bracket since the demand for them far outstrips non-accredited accounting professionals.

7. Telecom Engineering

Entry Level: 18,000 - 38,000*
5 Years: 59,940 - 99,000*
Growth Rate: 184%**
Job Satisfaction: Somewhat Satisfied
Popular Institutions: NUST, UET, NED & FAST

With the explosive growth of Pakistan’s Telecom Sector, these technical recruits are in huge demand at every level. From vendors to operators, they are the backbone of the entire telecom industry. Previously Electrical or Electronics Engineers majoring in Communications were being hired at the entry level and trained as telecom engineers. But now leading engineering institutions are offering “Telecom Engineering” as a separate degree. Even though it is an extremely popular career choice, the growth rate is not exceptionally high. We’ve also observed one of the highest job hopping trends in this profession.

6. HR Management

Entry Level: 18,000 - 30,000*
5 Years: 68,800 - 103,200*
Growth Rate: 258%**
Job Satisfaction: Very Satisfied
Popular Institutions: IBA, NUST, LSE, LUMS, Quaid-e-Azam University & UCP

HR Management is the “Next IT” in terms of booming careers to opt for. Senior Managers can gross surprisingly well particularly in Telecom, Banking and FMCG sectors. In this case, HEC accredited institutions have stepped up to the plate and offered cutting edge education to match the growing industry demand. As the current HR criteria stands it is no longer enough to simply have an HR degree but to also preferably combine it with a specialization such as IT or Supply Chain, depending on the target industry one wishes to join. Pakistan’s corporate sector has finally begun to recognize the value human resource departments bring to enabling productive workforces, putting this field in hot demand.

5. Mechanical Eng.

Entry Level: 25,000 - 48,000*
5 Years: 69,112 - 115,218*
Growth Rate: 153%**
Job Satisfaction: Somewhat Satisfied
Popular Institutions: GIKI, UET,NUST & NED

This is one of the most meritorious engineering disciplines. The FMCG and the Oil & Gas Sector are the biggest recruiters of Mechanical Engineers, followed by the Construction industry. A large batch of these graduates seeks employment outside Pakistan, especially in the Gulf States. Mechanical Engineers are one of the highest paid amongst their engineering peers. Job hopping trends are also prevalent in this field of work perhaps because few companies invest in training their staff and others simply “fetch” from the ones that do train. Interestingly, in the last 10 years this field has seen an incremental increase in women recruits who not only do well academically but are also doing exceptionally well in the field.

4. Sales & Business Development

Entry Level: 15,000 - 35,000*
5 Years: 63,750 -126,250*
Growth Rate: 280%**
Job Satisfaction: Somewhat Satisfied
Popular Institutions: LUMS, IBA, LSE & Quaid-e-Azam University

Sales and Business Development is a highly lucrative line of work based on a commission and incentive structures, varying on company policy. There is a growing trend amongst young business professionals to opt for Business Development as it not only gives them heightened exposure to whois- who of industry but also offers impressive rewards. Most popularly known as the ‘bread winners’ of the company, these professionals have a comfortable career growth rate, as indicated by our survey. This field does not require a mandatory qualification and base salary increments are usually proportional to the experience level and the business connections the sales person has. However, as in most cases an MBA with the relevant specialization is preferred. BD professionals are doing best in FMCG and Banking sector, followed by the Insurance and telecom. The lower job satisfaction rating points to perhaps a high level of stress management that professionals have to incorporate while meeting their sales targets.

3. Program & Project Management

Entry Level: 20,000 - 35,000*
5 Years: 74,100 - 142,240*
Growth Rate: 293%**
Job Satisfaction: Very Satisfied
Popular Institutions: LUMS, IBA & NUST

In the West particularly this field is one of the emerging disciplines with only few certified agencies providing trainings on Project/ Program management as it becomes a huge challenge to find candidates that have a holistic view of the company and can also incorporate knowledge of different departments in an organization to complete tasks. Here in Pakistan, the degree specifications depend mostly on the nature of the project and thus far, there is a scarcity of a large qualified candidate pool in the industry. The relatively high growth rate for this profession is due to the fact that Project Managers become much more effective with experience under their belts.

2. Procurement & Supply Chain

Entry Level: 15,000 - 25,000*
5 Years: 76,219 - 150,412*
Growth Rate: 467%**
Job Satisfaction: Satisfied
Popular Institutions: LUMS, GC& LSE

Although Procurement and Supply Chain is not the first career choice for most professionals, it is nonetheless carving out a niche for itself in the
market. It came in as no surprise because there is an increasing number of HR Managers who have to comply with international standards by many businesses that require an established Procurement Department. Supply Chain is mostly taught as a specialization after an accredited MBA and is only sought after for many leading wholesalers who are now even more brand conscious and want to establish their purchase and supply channels in the most cost-effective way.

1. Marketing & Brand Management

Entry Level: 20,000 - 52,000*
5 Years: 83,916 - 165,371*
Growth Rate: 246%**
Job Satisfaction: Somewhat Satisfied
Popular Institutions: IBA, NUST, LUMS, Quaid-e-Azam University & UCP

Ranked the top profession in by our survey, Marketing professionals are amongst the highest grossing in the country. With the emergence of
multinational giants on Pakistan’s economic front, Marketing and Brand Management is serious business, with millions rolling in to change perceptions of a product with color, figures and images as the only tools. With only a handful of quality business education institutions providing the necessary talent pool, there is a high degree of variance in compensation. The disparity in supply and demand has given rise to salary inflation all over the industry which encourages both job hopping and low job satisfaction ratings. However, the job growth in this department is high as a result of which it is a natural career choice for many. The Telecom, Banking and FMCG Sector have the highest compensation packages for
marketing professionals and they are considerably higher than what is offered by most other sectors. This again explains the high degree of
variance in compensation packages.

* Salaries for Entry Level and Mid Level after 5 years are denoted in Pakistani Rupees per month.
** Growth Rate Scenario: If your entry level salary is Rs.10,000 and after 5 years it increases to Rs.90,000 your growth rate is 800%.

Virk
According to the Patanjali Bhashya (4.6-114), Ashtadhyayi (l-6-155), Mahabhasya( 4-2-154) and Kashikavarti (1-1-175), Raja Virk Vardhan built forts in:
Kasrud (present-day Mandsor) in central India
Shakil (Sialkot)
Sosaph
Dathaaprastha
Naudipur
Koak
Kandewa
Mula
Pava Datt
Karkar
Virkgary.
According to Thakur Yugendrapal, the Virks are the Vahilkas (they are believed to be the founders of Bahawalpur) who are mentioned in the Mahabharata and who took one-sixth of the income of the King Shalya, who was the king of the Madras and ruled over Madradesa (modern-day Sialkot). In the 4th century AD, they had a powerful kingdom. They were the contemporaries of the Gupta rulers. According to Brij Indra Bhaskar, in 428 AD, the Virk rulers performed a big Yagya near Bayana and constructed a pillar, on which they mentioned themselves as Virks. Rock inscriptions of Yasodharman have been found in Mandsor. Their reign in Malwa came to an end in 462 AD.

Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) Said:
1) Four things that make your body sick:-
a) Excessive talking b) Excessive sleeping c) Excessive eating and d) Excessive meeting/outing with people
2) Four things that destroy the body:-
a) Worrying b) Sorrow (Sadness/Grief) c) Hunger
d) Sleeping late at night
3) Four things that make the face looking dull and haggard:-
a) Lying b) Being disrespectful/ impudent (knowingly) c) Baseless arguements d) Excessive immorality (committing sins without fear) 4) Four things that make the face glow and shine:- a) Piety b) Loyalty c) Generosity and kindness d)Helpful to others without being asked 5) Four things make the Rizqi (Sustenance) stop:- a) Sleeping till late in the morning (from Fajr to sunrise) b) Not Performing Fardhu or Irregular in Prayers c) Laziness/Idleness d) Treachery/Dishonest y 6) Four things that bring/increase the Rizqi:-
a) Staying up in the night in prayers b) Excessive Repentance c) Regular Charity d) Zikr (Remembrance of Allah)

How to Prevent Identity Theft
Internet banking is a piece of cake for all those who know how to handle it. Free online bill-payment, the 'next day’ bank to bank funds transfer and much more, are some of its features that make your life so much easier. But, with this bliss you may also invite a serious trouble. One of the worst things that could happen to you is someone using your identity to borrow money from creditors and stealing money from your bank accounts. This is called Identity theft. One would only need two pieces of your personal information to impersonate you: your date of birth (DOB) and your Social Security Number (SSN). Technically, these are the keys to your bank accounts, credit files, credit cards, health information and everything. No matter how fool proof banking might be these days you are ALWAYS at a risk of being a victim of Identity theft. Please follow the simple steps below to prevent your Identity Theft:
Instructions
Step1 Avoid writing personal checks to people you don’t know. Give a money order, a bank draft or cash instead. Nowadays it is very easy to pull funds from anyone's bank account via online rout. Even if you never signed up for an online banking, anybody can pull funds from your account through the internet. All one needs is your bank account number and the bank routing number plus your name; all this information is written on the personal checks that you write.
Step2 Before dumping your bank statements to garbage know this: hackers don’t have access to your office or bed rooms, they search your trash cans for vital information and many times they are successful. So buy a shredder. Destroy fully your statements before putting them in a trash cans.
Step3 Sign up for 'online statements only'. Most of banks mail bank statements via a regular mail. There is no guarantee it would not be opened by another person. it has most of your banking information.
Step4 We often receive credit card promotional checks in mail. These are the easiest checks to cash. They don’t even need your signatures. Remember, unlike checking accounts, majority of the creditors do not have your signature on files for comparison. Call your creditors to stop sending such checks to you.
Step5 Destroy your 'expired' credit and debit cards. Know that the creditors do not change the number on your credit cards when they mail out the new ones. The only thing that changes is the expiration date. No doubt an expired card cannot complete the transaction if swiped, but, to make an online purchase all you need is the card number and the name of the card holder. Many sites neither ask for the CV code (found at the back of the card) nor are they very particular about the accuracy of the expiration date. Therefore, all the information required to make an online purchase is present on your expired cards.
Step6 Be sure to sign the back of your credit or debit cards. It's a good idea to put a piece of transparent tape over the signature so that it cannot be tampered. A store cashier sometimes compares the signature of the holder with the one present on the signature panel of the card, especially when a big purchase is made. If you have not signed the back of your card you are risking an unauthorized use. Anyone who possesses your card can misuse it because there is no signature to compare.
Step7 Pre-approved credit offer letters are as dangerous as the bank and credit card statements. Its easy for an identity thief to draw credit in your name using those pre-approved offers. Such offer letters should be handled in the same way as your other financial statements. Also, I recommend to call the toll free number printed on such offer letters to opt out of receiving them in future.
Step8 Avoid using public computers, such as in public libraries, work places, ‘hotspots’, for accessing your bank accounts, credit cards, applying for credit cards online. User IDs and pass words are stored in computers as cookies. They are easily accessible to hackers. Even if you do use public computers make sure you clear the stored cookies after you logout. Here is how you can do it: go to ‘tools’ tab. click on ‘internet options’ then from the window that will open up click 'delete cookies', then, 'delete files’ (make sure you check 'delete all off-line content' in the prompt window) and finally 'delete history'. However, many public computers have disabled access to ‘internet options’ unless you are logged in as administrator. So it is advisable to check if you would be able to access internet options in tools menu prior to logging in to your bank accounts at public computers.
Step9 Shut of your home computer when not in use. At least put it to 'sleep' mode. Open connected computer is an open book for hackers in cyber space to access. They can retrieve all your cookies (pass words, user ids etc). Many times while surfing internet small windows pop up prompting you to either cancel or OK an action. Many times even if you click 'cancel' some small software gets installed into your computer that hooks a hacker sitting elsewhere to your computer. He gets instant access to your files, pass words etc. Check your computer frequently for such installed programs. Here is how to do it: go to ‘control panel’. Click on 'install-uninstall programs' from the window that opens up you will be able to see list of all the programs that are installed in your computer. If you do not recognize any program it is safe to uninstall it by clicking on the program once and then clicking on the 'uninstall' tab.

10 tips for increasing your professional visibility and exposure
Being recognized in your field can make you more valuable in your current job and more marketable if you decide to change jobs. The tips below can help you gain that visibility and exposure. The first four are aimed primarily at the employee of a company, while the rest apply either to the employee or to the independent consultant.
#1: Develop your elevator talk
The elevator talk is the 15- to 30-second talk you would give to a senior executive while both of you are in an elevator. It’s your chance to impress that person, so make the most of it. Important parts of the elevator talk include:
Who you are?
What project you’re working on ?
A significant accomplishment you’ve made
#2: Talk to bosses during office social events
During an office social event (for example, the holiday or Christmas party), it’s generally easier to approach your boss and his or her boss to say hello. At those times, it’s important to have your elevator talk prepared. Business talk is good, as long as you stay away from salary, benefits, and other personnel questions. Try to make your approach, if you can, out of the sight and earshot of your peers, so they don’t think that you’re being fawning toward your bosses.
#3: Introduce yourself when in another location of your company
Your job may take you to another part of the country, where you might be working with another part of your company — for example, with a different branch office. In that case, make an effort to introduce yourself to the head of that office. You really don’t need a formal appointment. Simply introduce yourself to that person’s assistant and find out whether you can just “stick your head in the door” to say hello. Tell that person who you are and what you’re doing for that person’s office or staff.
#4: Volunteer for company events
United Way drive… company picnic…holiday party. All of these events need company employees to run them. They take time, but helping with them can bring you recognition, especially if you’re working side by side with upper-level people who one day could be your boss.
#5: Speak to outside groups
Speaking to groups can give you credibility and increase your professional contacts. It also builds your own knowledge of your topic, because in researching and creating your talk, you inevitably will learn more about it.
Look for a topic you’re familiar with and which would interest an audience. Focus on how your information can benefit audience members.Avoid simply repeating facts. Share any analysis you have done, offering insights for the audience. When looking for groups can speak to, consider industry and professional associations, local chambers of commerce, and service organizations, such as Rotary. Your initial talks probably will need to be given free of charge. However, as your reputation expands, you might be able to charge a fee for them.
One variant of speaking is to teach, perhaps at a local community college. Be aware, however, that such an obligation can involve significant preparation time and little pay.
6. Write for professional publications
Nothing beats seeing one’s name in print, with a byline following the title. The same approach applies to writing as with speaking to groups: Pick a topic you know well and which would appeal to the readers of a publication. That means, of course, that you have to know the types of readers a publication has. Most publications will ask for a query letter or e-mail first. In it, you outline your proposed article and possibly submit samples of your previous work. On the other hand, I have gotten articles published simply by sending them in.
The publication Writer’s Market has been tremendously helpful to me in this regard.
#7: Serve as a source for news media
Reporters like to quote authorities when writing a story. If they quote you in print or on the air, your reputation is enhanced. Once you identify a reporter, introduce yourself by phone or e-mail. If you call, and the person answers, ask first whether the person is on deadline. If he or she is, offer to call back. Such a question indicates that you’re sensitive to the reporter’s time. If you’re sending e-mail, include a biographical statement or resume if possible and stress why your knowledge is important to the reporter’s readers, viewers, or listeners. If you work for a company, be careful about mentioning the company by name. Your employer might be upset if you appear to be speaking for the company rather than yourself.
#8: Mentor or advise a student group or club
I’ve never done it, but advising a student group, such as a student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), is another way of gaining exposure and contacts.
#9: Moderate a panel discussion
Even if you aren’t able to give a presentation at a conference, you still might be able to participate by moderating a panel discussion. The responsibilities will vary depending on the conference and the conference organizer. However, most moderators are responsible for making sure the discussion starts and ends on time and that all participants have a chance to speak. You might want to have some questions prepared beforehand that you can ask the panel to answer.
When taking questions from the audience, always repeat the question so that the entire room (panelists and audience) can hear it.
#10: Serve as board member or officer of a professional association
It’s pretty easy to serve in either of these capacities because generally, no one wants to do it. If you’re the treasurer, you’ll be responsible for keeping track of money for the association, such as registration fees received for any conferences, and expenses incurred for speakers, facilities, and other reasons. The other officer and board positions generally are concerned with maintaining and increasing membership, for planning and finding speakers for meetings, and various administrative tasks. If you’re willing to put in the time, having such an accomplishment would look good on a resume.

Source: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=231

ISLAMIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Background In the century after the death (AD 632) of the prophet Muhammad(PBUH), his Arab followers spread his teachings through Egypt and N Africa, as far west as Spain, and as far east as Sassanid Persia. Because of their rapid expansion and the paucity of the earlier artistic heritage of the Arabian Peninsula, the Muslims derived their unique style from synthesizing the arts of the Byzantines, the Copts, the Romans, and the Sassanids. The great strength of Islamic art as a whole lies in its ability to synthesize native design elements with imported ones .
ISLAMIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
The few and relatively simple rituals of the Islamic faith gave rise to a unique religious architecture, comprising the mosque (masjid), a place of community gathering and prayer, and the madresah, or religious school. Important among the various characteristic forms of Islamic secular architecture are palaces, caravansaries, and cities, the elaborate planning of which shows concern for the all-important access to water and for provision of shelter from heat. A third type of building important in the Islamic world is the mausoleum, serving both as an actual tomb for a ruler or holy man and as a symbol of political power. All these structures, religious and secular, share many organic and decorative features.
Mosques.
Muslims call the direction in which they pray the qibla, and for his first two years at Medina, the Prophet prayed facing toward Jerusalem. He then received a revelation that the true qibla lay in Mecca, and this has been the qibla for prayer ever since, determining the orientation and spatial organization of all mosques throughout the world. The qibla is marked by a decorative mihrab, or niche, within the mosque.
Mihrab.
When the Muslims conquered Syria in 636, they took over for use as mosques many of the basilican churches that abounded there. These basilicas were long, triple-arched buildings with pitched roofs and with the altar at the eastern end (see BASILICA,). The new worshipers placed the mihrab on the southern wall and made new entrances in the northern wall. Thus, the congregation prayed across the aisles.
Courtyard.
When such an adapted basilica was combined with an enclosed courtyard having arcades at the side, it contained all the basic features of the Prophet’s house at Medina. The first Mosque of al-Aqsa at Jerusalem (before 670) was adapted in this way from the Royal Stoa of Herod, a ruined basilica. In later examples, more long aisles were added to the end of the courtyard—as in the great 8th- to 10th-century Mosque of Córdoba, Spain—and any resemblance to churches with their focus at the narrow end disappeared. Such additions were made in response to population growth, but the process of adding on is analogous to a feature characteristic of all Islamic art: the infinite repetition of patterns.
Minaret.
During the lifetime of the Prophet, the call to prayer at Medina was made from a rooftop, in imitation of the Jewish practice of blowing the shofar (ram’s horn) or the early Christian use of a clapper to summon worshipers. It seems likely that a Syrian tradition of marking the corners of a building by four short towers was the origin of the minaret—a tower at the corner of the mosque courtyard (or, as at Samarra, Iraq, freestanding)—from which, after Muhammad’s lifetime, the call to prayer was customarily sounded. The Umayyad Mosque, or Great Mosque, at Damascus (705–15), built around an earlier basilican church, is the best-preserved example of an early courtyard mosque with a minaret. A dome, of later construction, in the sanctuary, or prayer hall, marks the main one of the four mihrabs on the qibla wall.
Dome.
Domes, a great feature of all Islamic architecture, developed both from Sassanian and Early Christian architectural sources. The earliest surviving mosque is the Dome of the Rock (late 7th cent.) at Jerusalem, one of the great religious structures of the world; it marks the spot where, according to tradition, Muhammad ascended to heaven. This mosque has a dome set on a high drum and a centralized or annular (ringlike) plan with two ambulatories or corridors; the design is derived from Roman architecture, possibly in emulation of the 4th-century Church of the Holy Sepulcher, also in Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock, therefore, does not conform to the basic mosque plan. Its dome is gilded, and all its other surfaces are covered inside and out by colorful tile mosaic.
Influences from Turkic peoples were increasingly felt as Islam spread and developed. Thus, the mausoleum built at the beginning of the 10th century for the ruler of Bukhara, in Central Asia (the place of origin of the Seljuk dynasty), was of great architectural significance. This square brick building had a dome resting on squinches (small arches that span the corners of the square) instead of on pendentives (spherical triangles, or rounded triangular sections of vaults) as used in the Byzantine world. Squinches ultimately were derived from Sassanian Iran; they are more easily built than pendentives, and the device thus led to the spread of domed mosques, mausoleums, and other types of buildings throughout the Islamic world.
Under the Ottomans, mosques were built reflecting the Byzantine heritage of Turkey. Thus, the magnificent Selimiye Mosque (1568–74) built by the great Turkish architect Sinan at Edirne, Turkey, has a colossal dome ringed with smaller ones and with half domes, the same arrangement as HAGIA SOPHIA, (q.v.) in İstanbul, Turkey—a Byzantine church later converted to a mosque. Although also similar to Hagia Sophia in breadth, the Edirne mosque has many windows, providing much more light. This form—which Sinan also employed in two famous İstanbul mosques—influenced the design of mosques throughout Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Arabia, and North Africa.
Eyvan.
In the Abbasid mosques of Iraq, an eyvan, an open, vaulted, two-story passageway or hall, was introduced into each side of the arcades surrounding the mosque courtyard. The eyvan had its roots in the architecture of Sassanian Iran.
Pointed arch.
Although the horseshoe arch is more typical of Islamic architecture, especially earlier examples, the pointed arch was also known. Probably of Syrian origin, adapted by the Umayyads, it was also characteristic of Abbasid mosques, and from Iraq it was carried to Egypt in the 9th and 10th centuries. In later Egyptian mosques, built under the Mamelukes (from the 13th cent.), the pointed arches have a Gothic profile, showing the influence of European architectural motifs transported by the Crusaders.
Mimbar and maqqsura.
The first known use of a mimbar, or pulpit, was in the mosque of Medina; originally used as a seat, it soon became a true pulpit for preaching. Another structural detail typical of some but not all mosques is the maqqsura, a screen or enclosure placed around the mihrab to protect the leaders of the community during services; this structure was developed after three early caliphs were murdered.
Madresahs.
Under the Abbasids, in the middle period, a new kind of religious building, the madresah, or religious seminary, was introduced in eastern Iran. Its form, based on Sassanian architecture, was taken over into a new kind of mosque that soon spread to many countries. The madresah and madresah-mosque have eyvans on four sides (with a larger one in front of the qibla), connected by two-story arcades. In the madresah these arcades lead to dormitories; in the mosque they are simply niches. In some late madresahs the courtyard is covered by a dome. The 11th-century Friday Mosque (the generic term for a mosque accommodating large congregations of worshipers) at Esfahan, Iran, is an early, great example of a madresah-mosque. In this building, as in tombs of the period, the muqarna motif, the stalactitelike ornamentation of vaulted roofs, was developed; a typically Islamic style of decoration, it consists of a hone ycomb of niches with small projections, set into a vaulted roof or dome.
Later examples of madresah-mosques, both in Esfahan and both of the 17th century, are the Masjid-i-Shah with its high, pointed, tiled dome behind the main eyvan, and its interior surfaces and stalactites covered with tile; and the Masjid-i-Shaikh Lutfullah, with an even more extravagantly tiled dome.

How to Make Expensive Looking Pillows

To me, toss pillows are like shoes. A girl can never have too many. And there are always reasons to have different colors, sizes and shapes--but even more importantly--they really change up the room, or outfit that is! Toss pillows are a great way to put a bit of your personality into a room, as well as add a new pop of color to a dull sofa or a boring bedspread. However, they can be quite expensive, so instead of buying new ones--here is a way you can make expensive-looking pillows for a fraction of the cost.

Instructions

Step1 Go to a vintage shop or department store to hunt out some silk scarves (or you may have some lying around in your closet that have not been worn in years). Pull those out and decide on one that would be a nice punch of color in the area you are looking to redo, for instance, the sofa, your bed or a side chair in the office.
Step2 Don't worry if a piece is too large or has a damaged edge. The solution is simply to cut the piece to size or trim the flawed side. This is a great way to repurpose a favorite piece of any fabric, for that matter.
Step3 Measure the scarf to decide on what pillow insert to use--you can use an existing pillow or buy an insert from a fabric store. They come in a variety of sizes from 12-by-12 inch (small) to 22-by-22 inch.
Step4 Since very few scarves are large enough to do both sides of a pillow, you'll need to choose a backing. I suggest a silk, which you can pick up at any fabric store for usually around $10/yard, or a linen works nicely as well.
Step5 Cut a piece of the backing fabric 1/4 inch larger than the scarf all around. Center the scarf on it, right-side-up, then pin and stitch to backing 1/8 inch from scarf edge.
Step6 Make a back with an envelope-style closure (two flaps that overlap) for inserting the pillow. To do this, you need to cut two pieces of fabric, each three-quarters as long as the muslin and the same width.
Step7 Stitch a 1 1/2-inch hem on one end of each. Make sure the scarf is right side up, lay one piece of fabric at each end of the scarf, right sides down, hems pointing toward center. Pin, and stitch to scarf just inside previously created 1/8-inch seam.
Step8 Turn and press out the corners with a knitting needle.
Step9 Iron and then slip the insert inside.

How to Make Your Home Office Green
By Murray Anderson, eHow Expert in Home Repair
Whether your home office is a separate room with a desk, door and lots of equipment--or merely an area in your bedroom or kitchen--it can be eat up lots more energy and resources than any other place in your home. If you want to cut back on your home office's environmental footprint--here are some ways you can accomplish this.

Step1 Keep a separate basket for recyclable paper. It's amazing how much other "garbage" you can accumulate in a home office, and if you only have one waste paper basket, it will become the place where any garbage, old batteries, plastic wrap as well as paper will end up before going to the landfill. Batteries should be recycled at the appropriate locations, not thrown in the garbage and paper and post-it notes can easily be recycled if kept separate.
Step2 Cut down on the amount of paper you use in your office by minimizing the amount of printing you do. Consider if you really need to print out emails or draft versions of documents you are working on.
Step3 Use the duplex printing option on your printer to use both sides of a sheet of paper. Today, even low-cost ink jet printers can print on both sides of a sheet of paper.
Step4 Keep documents and paper mail you receive and use the back side as quick note pads or scratch paper. Even envelopes can be used to jot down a quick note to yourself.
Step5 Buy eco-friendly supplies. Large office supply stores are quite eco-conscious and have all kinds of basic supplies made from recycled materials. Recycled printer paper, file folders, ink cartridges and even paper clips are all readily available.
Step6 Think about how you use the equipment in your office. Computers, modems and printers don't need to be left on 24 hours a day. Turn them off at the end of your workday and you'll save all kinds of energy over the course of a month.
Step7 Pondering a new computer? Consider getting a laptop rather than a desktop. You'll benefit from the extra convenience of being able to move it from place to place, and a laptop will use much less energy than a desktop model (some estimates indicate a laptop will actually use only about one-fourth the energy a desktop consumes). If you don't want to give up your large screen monitor, most new laptops can connect directly to an LCD monitor.
Step8 Educate yourself about electronic waste (e-waste). Anytime you change or upgrade a piece of office electronics, recycle it in a responsible way. Many of the components (particularly in older electronics) contain hazardous materials and shouldn't just be thrown into the trash. Many cities have electronic recycling locations where you can take your e-waste for responsible recycling