Spectroscopic Binary

Śri Sathya Sai Baba (Telugu: సత్య సాయిబాబా born as Sathyanarayana Raju (23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011) was an Indian guru, spiritual figure, mystic, philanthropist and educator. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, considered a spiritual saint and a reputed miracle worker, who died in 1918 and whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and Muslim beliefs. The materializations of vibhuti (holy ash) and other small objects such as rings, necklaces and watches by Sathya Sai Baba were a source of both fame and controversy; devotees considered them signs of divinity, while skeptics viewed them as simple conjuring tricks. Photos of him are displayed in millions of homes and on the dashboards of cars, and lockets bearing his photo are worn by many as a symbol of good fortune.

According to their official website, the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba made up of five human values in which his followers used to call it the “Panca Pilar”, among others:

• Charity: caring, compassion, forgiveness, enthusiasm, devotion.

• Peace: contentment, humility, patience, confidence, self-respect.

• Truth: honesty, integrity, optimism.

• Without Violence: gentleness, consideration, cooperation, equality between people, respect the culture.

• True behavior: gratitude, perseverance, determination, responsibility, sacrifice, courage, duty, and ethics.

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They also emphasize the teachings of the brotherhood of mankind and the Unity of God. In the book Sathya Sai Speaks, Sathya Sai Baba said:

“There is only one God, He who is everywhere

There is only one Religion, Religion of Love

There is only one Caste, Caste Humanity

There is only one language, Heart Language”

In the opinion of Prof. Zeba Bashiruddin that examines the development of Sathya Sai Baba teachings in India and wrote a thesis entitled “Sai Baba and Sufism”, in his thesis he wrote:

“ “They loved Him and He loved them” says a line in the Qur’an. This is essence of Sufism. There are many similarities between what Baba has expounded and Sufism teaches…….. In Indian tradition it is called Bhakti Marga. “Baba has also proclaimed that “offering of total love is Bhakti.” (Discourse-11.10.1998.) In Islam it is known as Sufism.

World Book Day is celebrated every April 23, that date is the date of death of the author of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, namely in 1616. April 23, as well as the birth date of William Shakespeare in 1564. UNESCO set that date as World Book Day as a form of homage to two men who were categorized as writers who contributed to the art world.

Human history is written into the book, and it’s very useful for us, it is a useful lesson about life in the present. Written history can be a godsend for us, that is a good event in history we must follow, otherwise adverse events that we must avoid. Therefore we will be damned if I do ya damned if I don’t they don’t understand that there are signs in the course of history to serve as a lesson in today.

The best written works of the world, we can enjoy through the book and we get enlightenment because it is quality. Materials sacred books that had any form of sheets of purified palm leaves scattered on the end can we read in book form.

In the era of advanced technology, the book is packaged in a file that can be read through screen monitor or a special tool for digital books. Digital books known as e-Book can be purchased via the internet or read through a variety of sites. Digital books can be read via the internet has become the modern human lifestyle, this lifestyle will be able to replace books printed on paper.

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I just wanted to take a moment and celebrate World Book Day with readers and writers and book lovers everywhere! I confess some of people hadn’t heard of “World Book Day” before (which I feel slightly embarrassed about considering it). But for me and for my closest friends since I was in elementary school until this senior high periods, books are our best-friends.

I myself had read seven books on April, (and 13 April was the lauching of Supernova #4, Partikel) apparently these books are: Dee Lestari’s Kesatria, Putri, dan Bintang Jatuh (Supernova #1), Akar (#2), Petir (#3), Partikel (#4), Paulo Coelho’s Like The Flowing River, Indi’s Waktu Aku Sama Mika (30-minutes read!), and Dee Lestari’s (again) Perahu Kertas. I let you ask did it disturb my study. No, not at all. I always read books, books are one of the main things I ever have in this life. I can spend loads of time reading but I know the time when I have to study and when I’m able to read some books. (PS. I currently am reading The Bourne Identity.)

Anyway, last April I read Perahu Kertas by Dee again (NAH I’ll review it on the other post), it was the 3rd time and this May I read it again anddd you know what, as a lover of Dewi Lestari and I always give my time to read her books or know at least what has been going about her writing stories, on April 22 Dee announced that the teaser of Perahu Kertas movie is finally out of the box, PERAHU KERTAS Movie teaser by Hanung Bramantyo. Kugy will be played by Maudy Ayunda and Keenan will be played by Adipati Dolken. Duh I am SO excited about this movie, the casts (for me) are all good - I know that Maudy and Adi have been together on a movie called Malaikat Tanpa Sayap (which the soundtrack is by Dee’s song, Malaikat Juga Tahu!), so I’ve had an appointment with two of my friends, Anin and Faricha, that next August (Lebaran!) we will be watching the movie together on the cinema. Amen.

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The public library is a phenomena that to this day I still can’t get over. Free knowledge, for anyone. Literally, anyone. I can’t think of an equivalent other than going to a clothing store, “checking out” an outfit, wearing the outfit and returning it in four weeks, free of charge.

Except books are so much better than clothes.

Recently I’ve been on a huge reading kick, checking out anything I can get my hands on in the library, or via internet.

I’ve found that no matter what I read, the act of reading every day has helped me in nearly every aspect of my life. Here are a few of my favorite ways that reading has improved my quality of life, and will definitely improve yours.

1. Enhanced Smarts

Wow, this may be the most obvious statement of the post, right? Well, it turns out that reading helps in almost every area of smarts. Those that read have higher GPA’s, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those that don’t. In Anne E. Cunningham’s paper What Reading Does for the Mind (pdf version), she found that reading, in general, makes you smarter, and it keeps you sharp as you age.

No matter what you’re wanting to do or become, you can’t do it without more knowledge. Reading is an excellent way to get where you’re wanting to go.

2. Reading reduces stress

When I’m reading a book, my mind shifts gears. Where I might have a had a stressful day, a book can easily distract me. Fiction is fantastic for this. Reading an awesome fiction book is perfect right before bed time. Though sometimes it’s hard to put the book down if it’s really good. Still, you’ll be relaxed ;)

3. Greater tranquility

Reading can soothe like no other. Given that I’m a pretty high-energy person, reading forces me to sit and be still. This daily act of making myself be quiet and still has been nothing short of miraculous for my anxiety and my “fidgety factor”.

4. Improved analytical thinking

That’s right, ladies and germs. Cunningham’s studies have found that analytical thinking is boosted by reading. Readers improve their general knowledge, and more importantly are able to spot patterns quicker. If you can spot patterns quicker, your analytical skills receive a boost.

5. Increased vocabulary

It’s no secret that reading increases your vocabulary and improves your spelling, but did you know that reading increases your vocabulary more than talking or direct teaching? Reading forces us to look at words that we might not have seen or heard recently at the pub. In fact, language in children’s books are likely to be more sophisticated than your average conversation.

Increased vocabulary is especially crucial for bloggers or writers. All successful writers will tell you that in order to write well, you need to read. Every day. You’ll be surprised at the words you start incorporating into your writing.

A beefier vocabulary isn’t just for writers though. Knowing what other people are saying and using the perfect words to convey your feelings is a critical part of being a better human. Better listeners are more successful in life.

(Side note: If you’re concerned with your well-being at previously mentioned pub, you might lay off the more obnoxious terms you’ve picked up.)

6. Improved memory

I have an awful memory. Just ask my fiancee. I usually can’t remember what I’ve eaten for breakfast, let alone things like names and addresss. Yet I’ve been finding that I can remember stuff much easier when I’ve been reading consistently. Do I have any scientific data to match this up? Not really. But I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that reading has somehow given me memory mojo.

7. Improved writing skills

This isn’t much of a stretch, considering that reading improves vocabulary and critical thinking. I feel like a better writer, as I’m constantly surrounding myself with works from people who are better than me. That’s why English classes in High School make you read “the classics”. That’s why art students learn to copy masterpieces, so they know what creating something incredible should feel like.

The more you read, the better of a writer you’ll become.

8. Helps prioritize goals

Many times we’re certain we know what we “really want” in life. Yet I’ve found that activities like reading show me things I didn’t know about myself. My mind will drift to things that I’d really like to do, and it isn’t long that these little lapses in reading start to cycle. The same sort of goals keep popping into my head, allowing me to see what I really want to do.

For example, I’ve been playing music on a consistent basis, but I’ve always wanted to produce and distribute my own music. As I’ve been reading, I’ve found that song ideas and other general thoughts on music keep popping into my head. It’s my times reading that have really pushed me into giving music a serious go.

When you remove yourself from your work environment, you’ll start to see things that you might really want to do, that you’re not doing yet. Reading gives you a chance for your to wander.

No time? No money?

If you think that you don’t have enough time to start reading, you’re wrong. How do I know? Because we make time for the things that are important to us. How much TV do you watch? How much time do you spend trawling the web? You could easily replace reading with those activities.

If you’re worried about the cost of books, check ‘em out at the local library. Most libraries take advantage of the interlibrary loan system, so you can check out nearly any book on the planet. I also use Worldcat to find libraries in the area that might have my book.

There’s really no excuse to start reading on a regular basis. The benefits far outweigh the costs, and more knowledge never hurt anybody.

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Talking about books, and reading, it actually leads us to know more about writing. Because writing is what leads to make a reading-material, then be a book, then to be read. It’s all about writing.

See point 7 above; The more you read, the better of a writer you’ll become.

We can start writing by write essays, it can lead our brain to learn more about writing stories and even novel. Keep practicing and evaluate, ask others, let our realiable friends or parents read what we’ve written.

Below are brief summaries of each of the ten steps to writing an essay. As if going through ten sequential steps in an essay writing process, can be explored by individual topic.

1. Research: Begin the essay writing process by researching your topic, making yourself an expert. Utilize the internet, the academic databases, and the library. Take notes and immerse yourself in the words of great thinkers.

2. Analysis: Now that you have a good knowledge base, start analyzing the arguments of the essays you’re reading. Clearly define the claims, write out the reasons, the evidence. Look for weaknesses of logic, and also strengths. Learning how to write an essay begins by learning how to analyze essays written by others.

3. Brainstorming: Your essay will require insight of your own, genuine essay-writing brilliance. Ask yourself a dozen questions and answer them. Meditate with a pen in your hand. Take walks and think and think until you come up with original insights to write about.

4. Thesis: Pick your best idea and pin it down in a clear assertion that you can write your entire essay around. Your thesis is your main point, summed up in a concise sentence that lets the reader know where you’re going, and why. It’s practically impossible to write a good essay without a clear thesis.

5. Outline: Sketch out your essay before straightway writing it out. Use one-line sentences to describe paragraphs, and bullet points to describe what each paragraph will contain. Play with the essay’s order. Map out the structure of your argument, and make sure each paragraph is unified.

6. Introduction: Now sit down and write the essay. The introduction should grab the reader’s attention, set up the issue, and lead in to your thesis. Your intro is merely a buildup of the issue, a stage of bringing your reader into the essay’s argument.

(Note: The title and first paragraph are probably the most important elements in your essay. This is an essay-writing point that doesn’t always sink in within the context of the classroom. In the first paragraph you either hook the reader’s interest or lose it. Of course your teacher, who’s getting paid to teach you how to write an essay, will read the essay you’ve written regardless, but in the real world, readers make up their minds about whether or not to read your essay by glancing at the title alone.)

7. Paragraphs: Each individual paragraph should be focused on a single idea that supports your thesis. Begin paragraphs with topic sentences, support assertions with evidence, and expound your ideas in the clearest, most sensible way you can. Speak to your reader as if he or she were sitting in front of you. In other words, instead of writing the essay, try talking the essay.

8. Conclusion: Gracefully exit your essay by making a quick wrap-up sentence, and then end on some memorable thought, perhaps a quotation, or an interesting twist of logic, or some call to action. Is there something you want the reader to walk away and do? Let him or her know exactly what.

9. MLA Style: Format your essay according to the correct guidelines for citation. All borrowed ideas and quotations should be correctly cited in the body of your text, followed up with a Works Cited (references) page listing the details of your sources.

10. Language: You’re not done writing your essay until you’ve polished your language by correcting the grammar, making sentences flow, incoporating rhythm, emphasis, adjusting the formality, giving it a level-headed tone, and making other intuitive edits. Proofread until it reads just how you want it to sound. Writing an essay can be tedious, but you don’t want to bungle the hours of conceptual work you’ve put into writing your essay by leaving a few slippy misppallings and pourly wordedd phrazies.

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So, today, celebrate books. Celebrate the birth of the printed word. The practice and the ancient art of telling stories. Celebrate the dog-eared pages. The water drenched favorites that you carry around. The ones read over so many times that you find yourself reading the next word from memory. The books that crowd your shelves. The books you keep in your purse. The books that loaned and never returned. The books that you have late fines over. The fresh, brand new ones that you open up and smell the binding of. The stories that make you laugh. Make you cry. Think. Shudder with fear. Get inspired by. Learn from. Get confused over. The books that you read until 2 am because you just can’t put it down.

A book must be an ice-axe to break the seas frozen inside our soul.

Cheers to readers everywhere. Cheers to the writers. Cheers to the librarians, bookstore workers, owners, and everyone else that shares this love we all have. Cheers to the good ole fashioned printed books. Cheers to the e-books that are ushering in a new day and age. Cheers to the independent publishers, self-publishers, standard publishers.

Cheers to everyone who shares the love and keeps it alive.

Happy World Book Day Everyone!

Best regards, with good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

An-Nisa Nur’aini

Internationally, Earth Day is celebrated every April 22. Earth Day is designed to increase awareness and appreciation of humans inhabited this planet Earth. Proclaimed by the United States Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, a teacher of the environment. This date coincides in the spring in the Northern Hemisphere (Northern Hemisphere) and autumn in the southern hemisphere, according to history in that year.

While the United Nations celebrates Earth Day on March 20 a tradition launched by peace activist John McConnell in 1969, is the day when the sun is directly above the equator, often called the March equinox. In 1990, Earth Day began to expand globally. About 200 million people from 141 countries around the world moved to raise the issue of the environment on a global scale. Earth Day in 1990 became the starting point of the implementation of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. At present, Earth Day was greatly assisted by various parties with increasingly advanced technology making it easier for activists around the world for Earth Day campaign is in many ways the media.

Earth Day 2000’s to the present, loudly and clearly called for a message that the world population who want a quick and decisive action to use clean energy, environment friendly, natural environment, protection and rescue of protected wildlife.

The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.

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Of the few references that discuss Earth Day (Earth Day) is known that the purpose is to commemorate Earth Day increasing awareness and appreciation of the planet we live on this earth. We as human beings not just as a connoisseur and occupy, but also given the responsibility to maintain and preserve the earth. Maintain the natural environment in order to remain unexploited, reduce pollution that could result in damage to the ozone of the earth and so forth. That part of the expected appreciation of the human inhabitants in the memorial Earth Day (Commemorates Earth Day) 22 April 2012.

As usual, Google Doodle always remind us of the users at every international event. And for Earth Day (In commemoration of Earth Day) 22 April 2012 as well, google doodle re-display the logo for Earth Day 2012 posted on the front.

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Hopefully with Earth Day (Commemorates Earth Day) 22 April 2012 we‘ll be more sensitive to nature and our environment. Maintain and preserve it so it can be enjoyed by future generations. Happy Earth Day.

Treat the earth well; it wasn’t given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.

An-Nisa Nur’aini

Happy Kartini day for all Indonesian women!

(Apologies for posting so looooong after the exact Kartini day which the post actually had to be post on April 21st, due to April daily-business that had me to post no-post in tumblr, well my recent posts were kind of random because my “daily-business” required me to give no time for stuffs like tumblr so I just reblogged things, apologies part two.)

With the grace of God, which carries the Kartini struggle for the emancipation of women led to a great success. While now most of women can take part of any work, the kind of profession that once dominated by men are now beginning to be taken by women. If a driver had acted only to men; now there are also women. If once most of soldiers and polices were men, now women start to compensate. Even now a police-woman be a “weapon” of Polri in purpose to be dealing with protesters. In fact there are many jobs and professions that women held more snugly than men. Kartini at this point managed to encourage women to be equal with men.

Kartini died when she was young, but her history beyond the age of her biological age, and that’s the hallmark of a hero, true hero. She may be dead, but her struggle can still be felt. A collection of her letters to Mrs. Abendanon in the Netherlands now we can be read clearly. That’s what Kartini’s vision goes, beyond her time. The idea was to get Agus Salim a scholarship from the Dutch East Indies Government and also the evidence that women were thought so bad in those days. The time when women were imprisoned, she would take the fight though she didn’t lose her nature being a Java woman.

Kartini was charming. She was like being in two different poles, against the tyranny of her day seclusion as well as obedient and “forced” to marry as proof of devotion to the old system which confined women. What interesting is that such a broad horizon of Kartini’s thinking. And the birth of her correspondence with some of the activities of women on European soil.

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There is a desire to do something big in the ideas expressed in the book of Kartini’s letters. Kartini, isn’t just a nonsense, she was an intellectual who had a radical way of expressing anxiety the hearts and minds. And, until recently, in my opinion still worth contextualised as an analysis of contemporary social problems.

Last few months I saw in Kompasiana there’re articles that were discussed by Kompasianers that write a pursue-payment-post(s), write 3 times a day such as taking medication, any criticism of authors who diligently wrote all day and all day to post his/her writings.

There is also a talk about what the benefits of writing in the media that are not paid, such a waste of time and not productive. That’s roughly what they claimed in their article, so to ask “HAHA How much you are paid?” They really asked about it, then elsewhere there is also asking why we have to share skills and abilities while we are not getting good treatment from the people we share?

If only they would see little of the nature of “sharing” or “share” then they will no longer talk about this, it is they who run out of time and no work at all concerned about other people who posted their writings up to 3 times a day. The essence of writing is to share and that share is never the slightest loss, like any type of literature, like is it translated, will get discussed again in different perspectives, is it to be continued, is it a short-article? Too lebay if just making an issue as small as this, why don’t we do the same thing, to keep writing and writing so that many people get benefits from our presence in this world.

Among the readers may have heard the story of a farmer who planted corn seed and he is often rewarded. Until one day a reporter came to him for interviewing him. One habit of the farmer to share the seed corn is superior to its neighbors.

“How can you share the seed corn with your neighbors, and then compete with it in the same competition every year?” Asked the reporter, with a sense of wonder and awe.

“Don’t you know that the wind blow pollen from corn that will be fruitful and take it from one field to another field? If my neighbors grow corn is bad, then the quality of my corn will decrease when the powder cross. If I want to produce superior quality corn, I must help my neighbors grow corn good for all, “replied the farmer. Subhanallah…

These farmers are well aware of the law of connectedness in life. He can not improve the quality of the corn, if he is not helping his neighbors to do the same.

In life, those who want to enjoy the good, must begin by showing kindness to those around him. If you want to be happy, you have to sow happiness to others. If you want to live in prosperity, then you should try to improve the standard of living of the people around you.

Even when you write then you will not be a qualified writer with no writing, the quality would not exist without quantity, write as much as possible and then the longer you will find quality-thinking, the analysis is increasing from time to time. Distribute the assessment that you can afford, so many people get a truly enlightening enlightenment.

Then at work, you also will not likely be a great leader, if you do not successfully upgrade each member of your team because your quality is determined by the people around you.

Intelligent people are the true people who educate others, as well as a good person is one who would make others better, so Bung Tomo had also said “A Leader can not be called a Leader if he’s unable to deliver the New Leader.”

So, whatever you do write, cook, trained, work is essentially SHARE, SHARE WILL NEVER LOSS. Insha Allah. So, Keep writing so that you find your quality. Even the quality of RA Kartini was a write down as many ideas and thoughts without having to think about the responses of others from what she wrote. Once again, Keep on writing friend, books such as “Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang” is a collection of private letters, even if studied her writings inspired by the Quran or any other language written language of the Qur’an in the language of RA Kartini, so no wrong with the rewrite isn’t it? So, hold on to write without care about the stigma of anyone.

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Anyway, let me mention three women after my Mom, my Mom’s twin, my Grandmother, whom I call the great 2012 version of Kartini:

1) Dewi ‘Dee’ Lestari

2) Andhyta Firselly Utami

3) Dhini Hidayati

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You write your own story and no one can hold the pen, but you.

An-Nisa Nur’aini