Organ donation matters

I will be off to Port Dickson later this afternoon to attend a three-day workshop organised by the National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC). I was recently appointed as a member of the technical committee to update the National Organ Donation Promotional Kit 2012 by NTRC. This is a huge responsibility for me as well as a national duty in assisting NTRC in their task. May Allah SWT provide us with guidance and ease in tackling this task.

A few months ago, I was part of a team who prepared two booklets and a pamphlet for the Ministry of Health on organ donation. The booklets are Pemindahan Organ dari Perspektif Islam and its English version Organ Transplantation from the Islamic Perspective, while the pamphlet is Soalan-soalan Lazim Mengenai Islam & Pemindahan Organ. It is hoped that these materials will assist NTRC in promoting organ donation in particular among Muslims.

In mid-May, I will be off to Kuching to deliver a talk during the Malaysian Society of Transplantation's Scientific Meeting 2012, again on organ donation. Again the topic is on the FAQs regarding organ donation and Islam.

As I have said many times before, I look at organ donation as a crusade on my part. I will do whatever I can to help in discussing and promoting organ donation.

Talk on al-Idrisi

After Isyak tonight, insha-Allah, I will give a talk on al-Idrisi who drew one of the most elaborate and accurate maps of the Middle Ages. The talk, which is the third in the series of "Jejak Kesarjanaan Ilmuwan Islam" will be at Masjid ar-Rahman.

Equatorial equinox

Those living in temperate regions would notice the importance of equinoxes and solstices. Equinoxes mark the beginning of spring and autumn, while solstices mark the start of summer and winter. In Europe many centuries ago, the equinox events were often celebrated as part of pagan rituals. In some countries today, Japan for example, today is designated as a national holiday, as the first day of spring is the day to visit family graves and hold family reunions. This day is known in Japan as "Shunbun no hi".

Those in the equatorial region would probably not notice the significance of these phenomena. I would not be surprised if most of us are even unaware of the significant difference in the skies during the equinox phenomenon.

In any case, today (20th. March) is the vernal (spring) equinox or typically known today as simply the March equinox (to avoid any hemispherical bias). Though it will not mark the beginning of spring for Malaysia (since Malaysia does not have four seasons), this date is still significant for those who are observant enough to notice that the sky was already bright shortly after Subuh started today (at 6:02 a.m. in Kuala Lumpur), and that the sky will still be bright even after Maghrib today (at 7:26 p.m. in Kuala Lumpur).

Astronomy enthusiasts will be able to explain this better. I will try to explain this in simple terms. Essentially the phenomenon called equinox is when the sun is directly on the equator, resulting in the "earlier" sunrise and "delayed" sunset. This does not mean that the sun rises early and sets later, rather the sun rays are seen and dispersed in the horizon way before the actual sunrise and remains to be visible even after the actual sunset. Therefore, there is no change to the prayer times.

As such, do not panic. This is actually a common occurrence every year, and is simply an astronomical and physical phenomenon that the earth encounters.

For more reading: Fenomena Ekuinoks 20 Mac 2012.

SoLoMo

Apparently, that is one of the most popular "words" of the Internet world. "SoLoMo" as in "social, local, mobile".

It makes for an interesting Facebook status, I think. Just imagine: Relationship status - SoLoMo.

What does SoLoMo imply anyway? A sociable person who is local and mobile?

Which could either mean someone who likes to socialise locally but at the same time, be extremely mobile by going to wherever the events may be; or, even more likely, someone who likes to use social networking accessed using a mobile device by staying at home.

For more reading on SoLoMo, read this article: The Truth about SoLoMo.

Talk on Jabir ibn Hayyan

After Isyak today, insha-Allah, I will give a talk on Jabir ibn Hayyan, the Father of Chemistry at Masjid ar-Rahman.

Jejak Ilmuwan Islam

Some time last month, I was approached by Persatuan Mahasiswa Selangor (PERMAS) of University of Malaya to deliver a series of talks on past Muslim scholars and scientists. The series is called "Jejak Ilmuwan Islam". There are four talks in total, held at Masjid ar-Rahman in Kuala Lumpur beginning last Friday evening. The first was on Abu Kamil Shuja' ibn Aslam, an Egyptian mathematician born in the 9th century who was dubbed al-Hasib al-Misri (the Calculator of Egypt).

This coming Friday, I will talk on one of my personal favourites, Jabir ibn Hayyan, globally acknowledged as the Father of Chemistry. The talk will begin after Isyak prayer at Masjid ar-Rahman.

The short break that became too long

Guilty, as charged!

My last blog posting was dated 28th August 2011. That was over six months ago. I find myself, interestingly, detoxed for staying away from blogging.

That, and..., Facebook.

Of course, that was not the only reason that I shied away. I just did not feel like blogging during that period. My time was focused on finishing up my PhD thesis, which is currently awaiting examination.

I managed to also finish my third novel, which I hope will see the light of day some time in April or March (and no, it is NOT the sequel to Transgenesis: Bisikan Rimba). What is it called? Who will publish it? Let's just wait for the proper announcement by the publisher, shall we? As for the sequel, yes, it is in the works. I hope to have it published in the second half of 2012.

I have also been keeping busy with my lecturing at the university. Something - which I never thought I would admit - that I really enjoy despite the commitment that lecturing requires. I find lecturing really satisfying.

And last but not least, my family also comes into the picture. With two school-going boys, much attention has to be given (as it should) to them.

So, at the end of the day, blogging comes towards the end of the priority list, which is the reason why the short break became a long one. I wish I was on a long holiday though...