Fire Fighting

We recently had an advanced fire fighting course done. Believe me. Theres a HUGE difference from what we see in movies and the real thing. There was a replica of a part of a ship with three compartments and a tunnel. The whole purpose of the course was to train us to be a scene leader and incharge of such an operation and exposure to different scenarios. So each time, four guys would be allocated to be the fire teams(two in each team), who would go prep up for entry by putting on all the protective wear and breathing apparatus. The others would be helping with the boundary cooling(spraying of water from the outside to bring about a cooling effect and also used to find the locations of the burning fires inside).

When the first team had gotten ready, their air cylinder pressures would be taken to calculate an estimated amount of time they would be able to be inside before their air ran out. At first I thought it would be simple. I mean afterall, you go in there with the hose and just put out the fire right? And then you look around for the missing persons(dummys) and just carry them out one by one. How hard can it be right?

Well, one guy’s holding the fire hose and a torch while the other guy is helping him with the hose and maintaining communication with the outside. But the minute you go in there with this rather heavy gas cylinder on your back with a tight gas mask on your face, helmet, fire jacket and gloves on, its obviously really difficult to move about as you would without them. Its dark as hell in there. Not to mention the heat that can be felt despite the jacket and protective gear. Even when you shine the torch, its light reaches only about one and a half feet away from the torch due to all the smoke that’s continuously being released from the blazing fire. And you haven’t even located the fire yet. So you’re moving step by step dragging all these stuff along with you, feeling around with your feet and hands trying to find casualties in there(who are supposedly unconscious as they are dummies ofcourse). Your heartbeat is racing. You’re feeling claustrophobic and its hot as hell. By now you’re basically panting meaning that you’re using up more and more air.

So once you’ve finally located the fire you put on the hose and actually have to go at it till the fire is completely extinguished as its really easy for the fire to burn up again after a couple of seconds if you don’t. Once your air is almost replenished, you make your way back step by step trying not to hit urself against a pipe or trip over. When you’re out, the next team goes in and you’re supposed to change the cylinders with new ones and prepare the sets after doing all the necessary checks and make ready to go back in as soon as the other team comes out. It was excruciating. But by the end of the next day we had gotten pretty used to it and found easier ways to deal with the problems we face while in there. So overall I guess it was a really exciting course.

And to think that these were controlled fires that couldn’t spread more than a certain area. Not to mention the fact that by the time you go in there a few times, you’re familiar with the place and more aware of where to search and the layout of the spaces and floors. But still it was a huge challenge. Now I think of all those real fires which are ALOT bigger in size, temperature and magnitude that are occurring. The firefighters are going into places they have never seen before in their entire life with ALOT more smoke having the fear that the roof or floor might cave in at any given time. Not to mention how rapidly fires can spread and grow. So my hats off to all the brave firefighters who actually risk their own lives DAILY, jes so that they could rescue complete strangers. Good luck to all the guys who did the course. Great job out there. Hope the crew I have to work with are as competent and reliable as you guys. 

To tell or not to tell

Im sure uve been in a situation where someone has come asking for your advice regarding his relationship. You had reliable information that he was being cheated on which you felt he should know about. The first time round you tell him honestly what you know and how you know and give your opinion about it. You could care less about the other person in the relationship. Lets say your friend listens to you, makes up his decision and goes off. But in the end he goes and does the complete opposite of it even when he found out you were telling the truth. Furthermore he rats you out saying you were the one who told him what had been hidden to him and had adviced him to do this and this, BUT how he overcame it and chose to do the opposite all for love. You jes let it slide saying he was weak and that he'd regret it later which he does. Because like we say "effulhah mathin fummaali bakari aneh fulhah mathinves fummaalaane". And that ccomes to bite your friend in the arse after things had messed up alot.

Later on the same kind of problem happens with another friend. This cycle continues and after a couple of rather disappointing scenarios you look back. And you see that for example only two person from the six ppl that came for that advice actually took it. the others all regretted it later but in the process burnt ur arse and made you turn out to be the bad guy. But the only two friends who actually took the advice were ever so thankful.

But then you start thinking about the whole thing. Whether if its really worth it all. You ask yourself why in the world you're getting involved. Would it have been better if you had jes kept out of it? Or jes pretended you didnt know anything? You start changing your views about it. Because as for the last one who came, you told him that you've encountered this problem before. That this and this had happened. That you didnt want to get involved in it....telling him the scenarios one of which was bound to happen, all in which you would turn out to be the bad guy. But you also feel that since he is your friend you have a right to tell him the truth and let him decide for himself what to do from thereforth no matter how messy it might get. so due to his persistence you tell him what you know and it turned out you were right again. One of the scenarios you explained came to be afterall. So then you start thinking. Screw it! You could care less about what happened. Its not your life, its not your problem. They've got a brain, they can think up a way and act on their own.

Then suddenly out of nowhere and more than a year after the incident one of those friends who had listened to you and was grateful for it sends you an sms. Thanking you for what you did back then. That he was grateful for it saying that now he realises jes how tough it wouldve been for you back then. All the doubts in your mind when you push yourself to come to that decision without simply brushing it off. As he had now faced that same situation with a friend of his.

So think about it all a bit. Was it really worth it all for those two that emerged despite the other four that didnt? Do you think you shouldnt have told any of them?It surely wouldve been easier and less complicated for you that way. Think deep about it all before you come to that decision. :)

Lying and Cheating in a Marriage(2 of 2)

By now she is complaining to her friends as well that this and that is happening to her life and marriage seeking comfort from them on what to do and how to proceed. Complaining what an asshole her husband is and how could he be doing this to her and their child. They all give her the advice she needs. She listens to it all and assures them that she would stand her ground. But everytime at the very end she turns tail and runs off being subdued by the husband. And ends up saying that she doesn’t have proof that she is being cheated on, and that she has to think about her child and whats to become of him if she were to get a divorce. She starts having doubts if anyone would accept her as after the divorce she would come in a package. She is afraid of a lot of things which are quite understandable.

Now I come to the point of all this. Look ppl. If u wanna get a divorce and don’t want to live in a life filled with lies and cheating anymore, quit your whining and do something about it. Make a stand and actually walk the walk. But if ur too weak or decide to say “im doing this for my child and I still don’t have solid proof”, then quit whining about your husbands. We’d agree that you aren’t being cheated on and that everythin would be great if that’s what you really wanna hear. So go back to living that life in denial with that voice in the back of ur mind telling you over and over again that ur being lied to and that ur being cheated on. Im sure even if u saw ur husband butt naked with another woman you would find some way to convince yourself otherwise. Women all over the world are being oppressed and taken advantage of by men. Why? Don’t blame it on the men. You let yourselves be in that situation. No one can change that life for you until you make a stand for it. So don’t go around blaming men for your mistakes.

Now id like to direct you to something “dhondhooni” wrote on her blog
“there's this couple. they had been married atleast for more than 8 years. they have four kids too. what happened is that, recently this lady had a miscarriage during the fourth month of her pregnancy and apparently she had some bleeding problem for quite a number of days. [during which apparently they wouldn't be doing THE sexual stuff].

here comes the best part. apparently, this lady got so depressed about not being able to satisfy his man sexually, she actually went [at noon] and brought some girl FOR her husband to satisfy him! yes, this is true!” –dhondhooni.blogspot.com-
P.S- to all those ppl who had experienced such a thing happening to a friend of yours. Don’t butt in. Give them your advice as a friend and let things be from that part on. Don’t try to be a saint or convince her over and over again. There’s no use trying to fill water into a tank with a hole in it if she isn’t willing to put the plug on that hole. Mind your own business and step aside before u get hit with “you cant possibly understand my situation. I have a child and im married”. It’s the same if it’s the other way around and that it’s the wife who is doing the cheating. Unfortunately I met a guy with 2 kids whose wife was shagging the young man who was brought to their place to help with the house chores. He would sometimes come home to hear her shagging him on his bed. He would sit down and wait in the sitting room until they finish. All for the sake of his two kids. She would actually know her husband is outside but would finish up before coming out. Sad and pathetic.

Lying and Cheating in a Marriage(1 of 2)

First off, I would like to say that this post isn’t about a specific couple in particular. But feel free to think its about you if you really want to. :P

Guy meets girl. They fall in love. Make out and have sex. Leads to a lovely marriage with a wonderful wedding. Lots of shagging at first. Seems like both of them cant get enough of each other. Doing it on the bed, table, chair, roof, elevator, staircase, in the ocean. You name it. Full of ‘love’. Pretty soon most of them give birth to a beautiful baby. So cute and adorable. They’ve created life from their love for each other. A family of their own. But somewhere along this beautiful and wonderful journey something happens which leads to something totally unexpected. The sex has greatly decreased. Upto the point where you feel like you have to actually ask for it or even beg for it. When you have to actually persuade your husband into it. This is usually experienced by the wife in particular.

Pretty soon you notice that he takes longer at work, goes to more coffees and spends more time outside. Why no sex? “im tired honey”. “don’t feel like it tonight”. His phone bill starts rising(that’s if by then the wife is allowed to see the bills). He suddenly puts a password on his phone and grows more distant from her. No more “I love you” or any of those romantic stuff that he used to do. She starts worrying. She knows that she doesn’t look the same after giving birth. She starts feeling insecure and in the back of her mind she hears a soft voice say that her beloved is cheating on her. But how can that be? SHE is the love of his life. Not to mention their baby who seems to be growing up so fast. No way. That’s jes being silly and stupid!

One day she starts noticing the weird actions of the ppl she know. Her friends and relatives act all weird around her. One day one of them bears the strength to come up to her and tell her that her husband has been seen with a particular girl all over the place. At restaurants, coffees, cycle rides etc. She is confused and gets mad at her friend yelling at her as she cant bring herself to believe it to be true. But she knows deep inside that so many ppl wont be thinking it and saying it if there weren’t some truth to it.

When her husband comes back home she tells him that these certain ppl (including names) have said this and that about him. So whats the truth? He smiles and tells her not to listen to them. That they are trying to come inbetween them, reassures her how much he loves her and their child. That night she has wonderful sex with her husband after a long time and by the next morning she has a huge smile on her face and she has dismissed everythin she had heard against him. But in time small things start revealing themselves. Like seeing an sms he had received from a girl and one he had sent, an email he received/sent, him speaking to some girl late at night while she was asleep, her friends seeing her husband taking a girl to a guesthouse,etc. Everything leads to an argument which ends in him justifying his actions with some lame excuse that doesn’t even make sense, a bunch of lies which later is found out followed by the previous reassurance and sex and this time it comes with apologies and asking for second chances as this time he had been caught lying to her.

The Origin of Man:Evolution or Intelligent Design.

The question of evolution or intelligent design is a controversial topic around the world. Creationists are certain that there was a creator who designed everything, while Evolutionists believe that evolution on its own brought us into existence. It was Charles Darwin in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species who introduced the theories of Natural Selection and Common Descent which gave rise to this heated debate. In 1871 in his second large book on evolution The Descent of Man, Darwin applied his two theories to human evolution. In the Muslim world human evolution was completely rejected without any consideration. The Muslim religious scholars at the time of Darwin were not fluent in English, nor were they well educated in science, so none of them had the skills needed to investigate the Quran in light of scientific findings. Once they declared “evolution is wrong,” it just stayed that way.

This slide show is too long so ill keep it simple and leave the link below. It talks about the fossils that were found which were somewhat similar to us. And by using verses from the Quran explains where it all fits. Verses which actually agree to it being true. that these beings had once roamed the earth before man did. They link the verses from the Quran to the modern day science and findings about these fossils. And actually suggests that we too could be replaced. Have a read.

Heres the link: Origin of Man

We will be removed. Its not a matter of IF but WHEN!

Ok ok, bear with me. i recently came across this lecture which explains a very interesting religious view about evolution which was really different from the ones we usually hear. All we hear is "God created man and sent Adam as the first human being. so evolution is false" and we stop it right there. Anyone who says anythin against it......well, u know how the stories go. So ive summed up the slides and decided to put it up. The one below is one which was presented before the actual one which relates to it. so i figured i'd put it up as well. So have a read through this one and ill post the following one(longer than this im afraid:The origin of man, Evolution or Intelligent Design) after this. And at the bottom ive put up the link which would take you to the actual slides. i reckon that would be better(its got pictures and better to read as well ;).hehe



فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ نَفْخَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ وَحُمِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَيَوْمَئِذٍ وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ
And when the Horn is blown one blow. And the earth and the mountains are carried and then pounded one pound. Then on that day The Event (Extinction Level Event) has occurred.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 69, verses 13-15 (610 AD)Early Muslim scholars1,2 stated that the companions of Prophet Muhammad indicated that these verses of chapter 69 entitled “Al-Haaqah” “The Inevitable” are related to the first blow of the Horn, an event which will mark the end of the human race as we know it. The phrase “فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةً وَاحِدَةً” translated as “pounded one pound” accurately describes the effect of the impact of a massive object with the Earth. The Quran calls this inevitable Extinction Level Event Al-Waqia, The Event, and describes it in more detail in chapter 56 entitled “Al-Waqia” “The Event” verses 1-6

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ
When The Event (Extinction Level Event) occurs.
For its occurrence there is no denier.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 56, verses 1-2 (610 AD)
These are the first two verses of chapter “Al-Waqia” “The Event.” Modern science confirms that it is only a matter of time before a massive space object hits Earth again. People at ground-zero will not know what hit them. This inevitable event will cause destruction of global proportion. No one will deny its occurrence, for every person on Earth will experience the effects of this Extinction Level Event.

خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ
Lowering down, raising up.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 56, verse 3 (610 AD)
The impact of this massive object will create a huge deep crater 10-15 times larger than the object itself, ejecting an enormous amount of material into the upper atmosphere. The aftershock of this impact will also create a wave of earth that will travel around the globe in all directions wiping out everything in its path. The Arabic words “خَافِضَةٌ” “khafidah” (lowering down) and “رَّافِعَةٌ” “raffiah” (raising up) accurately describe the sequence and effect of the impact of this massive object and the giant wave of earth that results from this event.

إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا
When the Earth is shaken a great shacking.
The Glorious Quran chapter: 56, verse 4 (610 AD)The massive object that brings about an Extinction Level Event will hit Earth with such force that it will shake the entire planet. The impact will cause every major fault line to fail. Immense earthquakes will occur in all parts of the globe causing unimaginable destruction.

وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا
And the mountains are shattered to pieces.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 56, verse 5 (610 AD)
Recent research on “How Asteroids Trigger Volcanoes”1 has shown that an impact of a large asteroid and the resulting earthquakes and surface tremors will trigger volcanic eruptions around the globe. The larger the object the larger the earthquakes causing larger cracks in the Earth’s crust that allow for an increased magma flow, resulting in more violent eruptions.

فَكَانَتْ هَبَاء مُّنبَثًّا
So they become scattered dust.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 56, verse 6 (610 AD) The very fine (like flour) particles from the numerous volcanic eruptions will be carried for many miles, settling out as a dust-like layer across the landscape. This is known as an ashfall.

إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
When the sun is shaped like a ball.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 81, verses 1 (610 AD)Early Muslim scholars1,2 stated that the companions of Prophet Muhammad indicated that verses 1-6 of this chapter “Al-Takwir” are also describing events related to the first blow of the Horn. The dust in the air from the impact and from volcanic ash will block the sunlight reducing its visibility making it look like a ball. The dramatic decrease of sunlight reaching the surface will also produces a drastic short-term global reduction in temperature, called impact winter. Plant photosynthesis stops and the food chain collapses.

وَإِذَا النُّجُومُ انكَدَرَتْ
And when the stars are obscured.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 81, verses 2 (610 AD)At night the volcanic ash and smoke in the atmosphere will obscure the starlight.

وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ
And when the mountains are moved.
The Glorious Quran chapter: 81, verse 3 (610 AD)The uncountable violent volcanic eruptions will create massive mountains of flowing lava

وَإِذَا الْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ
And when the she-camels, ten months with young, are abandoned.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 81, verse 4 (610 AD)
A camel in her tenth month of pregnancy is extremely precious to her owner because she is just about to deliver her baby. However, due to the horrible events of this day of destruction, even the most precious of property will be abandoned.

وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ
And when the wild beasts are gathered together.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 81, verse 5 (610 AD)
Out of fear, all kinds of wild animals will run together seeking areas of relative safety.

وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ
And when the oceans are set alight.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 81, verse 6 (610 AD)
The Volcanic eruptions in the seas and the lava purring into them from the land will raise their level and temperature and make them appear on fire.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَى وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَى وَلَكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
O mankind fear your Lord. Certainly The Earthquake of The Hour is a tremendous thing. The day you see it, every nursing one will forget her nursling and every pregnant one will deliver her burden, and you see mankind drunken, and they are not drunken, but the punishment of Allah is severe.
The Glorious Quran: chapter 22, verses 1-2 (610 AD)
According to Islamic beliefs, these events will bring about the removal of mankind, as we know it, from Earth. These events will not happen until after the second coming of Jesus, which will unite all believers in Allah (God). After his second coming a good wind will take the souls of all believers, so only those who denied Allah will experience the horrors of this day1.

Here's the link:
Evolution

Oman

Some really different but interesting things about Oman and its people. As ive mentioned previously in my last post, i had the pleasure of hanging out with some of them recently and the blabber mouth that i am, couldnt resist but having a long conversation with them about their country and people. Im jes going to mention everything as they come to mind so excuse my writing :p

It seems its casual for them to wear "dishdasha"(that robe one we see arabs wearing so often) in their daily lives. Just like we see wearing tucked in shirt, trousers with tie as an official outfit to go for offices and the same without the tie to go to school, they wear the white dishdasha for school and work. even if they're going to ceremonies as well. usually the difference would be just the colour. this shocked me as the only time ive seen them wear it here is when they go to friday prayers....but then again winter jes passed. so it was a bit hard to actually picture them wearing dishdasha almost all the time back at home.

it seems this life we know about having gfs/bfs is a big noooo to them. but they dont go "its haram in islam" or any of that sort. they jes dont see it as an appealing way so as to speak. maybe theyve gotten too used to it being that way for generations that it seems odd to even hang out with one of the opposite sex even as friends. seems if u come across a girl you like, you'd go and tell ur parents about her and they'd contact her parents and see their background. then they'd meet you two up and she gets to decide if she wants to take it further. but even then you dont get to meet her and stuff. you can call her and talk but you cant take her out on dates or anything. and guys dont even hang out with girls even as friends. if people were to see you with a girl, it would be an embarrasing thing to you, something which could ruin yours and your parents reputation. so they jes dont do it.

But ofcourse there would be ppl who'd go out of their ways and sometimes the police would catch a couple together behind a bush or so *whistle*. but what they do is, ask the girl if the guy is with her doing whatever he is with or without her consent. i guess politely asking if ur being raped.heheh. and even if they were having sex, the worst that could happen is being kept at the police station and ur parents being called up. they'd also try to lecture both of them on it and would try to get them to get married soon. Because what they believe is that its not the job of the police to go around finding adulterers and dealing with them.

One crime that is treated harshly is drug trafficking. a crime punishable by death. only to those who are involved with the selling of the drugs and not the victims. the victims are sent to rehabilitation centres. seems the convicted seller has his face covered and knelt down infront of 7 shooters. but there will only be a single bullet and even the shooters wont know whose gun has the bullet even after firing. A tactic used so that the executioner wont be known. not to mention helping in overcoming any guilt the shooters might have allowing them to tell themselves that they might not have been the actual executioner.

One of them was telling me recently how the weddings are with them. As we assumed its a wedding where men and women are separated. it seems usually the weddings are held at two houses. the house of the groom and bride where all the guys will be going to the groom's house and all the ladies to the brides house. So if i was married i would be first going to the bride's house, drop my wife there and then go over to the groom's house. and after finishing id pick my wife up. And once the whole party is over, the groom would go and pick up his newly wedded wife and the couple would go to the house they'd be residing in to get laid *whistle*. And there are weddings where halls or such are rented like we do in the Maldives. even then the ladies usually go inside and all the gents stay in the garden or so to speak. and when the majority of the guests leave, the two families and relatives eat together and then take pictures.

This has already been too long.....as always.hehe

Next Post: An interesting religious view on Evolution.