[Mengopi Senangnye] SCIENCE - SCHOOL PROJECTS

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Dry Ice is frozen carbon dioxide, a normal part of our earth's atmosphere. It is the gas that we exhale during breathing and the gas that plants use in photosynthesis. It is also the same gas added to water to make soda water. Dry Ice is particularly useful for freezing, and keeping things frozen because of its very cold temperature: -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Dry Ice is widely used because it is simple to freeze and easy to handle using insulated gloves. Dry Ice changes directly from a solid to a gas -sublimating - in normal atmospheric conditions without going through a wet liquid stage. For more information on carbon dioxide see: http://www.co2info.com/

HOW DRY ICE IS MADEThe first step in making dry ice is to compress carbon dioxide gas until it liquefies, at the same time removing the excess heat. The C02gas will liquefy at a pressure of approximately 870 pounds per square inch at room temperature. Next, the pressure is reduced over the liquid carbon dioxide by sending it through an expansion valve into an empty chamber. The liquid will flash, with some turning into gas causing the remainder to cool. As the temperature drops to -109.3°F, the temperature of frozen CO2, some of it will freeze into snow. This dry ice snow is then compressed together under a large press to form blocks or extruded into various sized pellets. Dry Ice is much heavier than traditional ice, weighing about double.

DRY ICE MAKERSDry Ice machines are available in all sizes and use liquid CO2. Hand held ones make soft Dry Ice that dissipates quicker. Large commercial machines use hydraulic presses to compress the Dry Ice snow with up to 60 Tons of pressure. It can produce a 55 pound block in under 60 seconds.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Critical Density	28.9855 LB/FT³
Critical Pressure	1066.3 PSIA
Critical Temperature	87.8°F
Density Gas	0.1234 LB/FT³@32°F
Density Liquid	63.69 LB/FT³@0°F
Latent Heat of Vaporization	241 BTU/LB 0°F
Molecular Weight	44.004
Sublimation Temperature	-109.3°F or -78.5°C
Solubility in H20	79FT³ CO2 GAS/FT³ ( when H2O is at 32°F )
Triple Point	-69°F 75.1 PSIA
Viscosity Gas	0.015 Centipoises @32°F
Viscosity Liquid	0.14 Centipoises @0°F
Chemical Formula	CO2
Chemical Family	Inorganic
Sublimation	A pound of Dry Ice will sublimate into 8.3 cubic feet of carbon dioxide gas.
DOT Shipping Class:	ORM-A UN-1845 Pkg. Group III Class Nonflammable Gas UN2187

SCHOOL PROJECTS

VOLCANODry Ice can add the right touch to the typical school volcano. The "smoke" will come out the top and flow down the sides for several minutes. Inside the volcano must be a container to hold hot water. If hot water is not immediately available use a thermos to store it. The hotter the water is (nearly boiling if under adult supervision) the better. The bottom must be sealed tightly. Otherwise Dry Ice fog will leak out the bottom. Use putty or some other sealant. At the time of eruption, use gloves and put small pieces of Dry Ice into the hot water. The volcano will bubble and "smoke" for several minutes.

CLOUD CHAMBERAn easy to make cloud chamber can be used to observe Alpha or Beta particles. Use a clear Pyrex or Corning shallow glass container that will not break in a freezer. Cover the bottom inside of the dish with black felt or black paper. Cut a piece of cardboard larger than the top of the dish. Pour alcohol on one side of the cardboard. Place the cardboard on the dish with the wet side down. Heat the top cardboard with your hand or something else warm such as an iron. Place the dish on a slab of Dry Ice. The alcohol will form a cloud. Shine a light through the side of the dish to observe vapor trails. Some natural vapor trails can be seen in time although you may have to put alcohol on the cardboard several times. Place an alpha ray source such as an old fashion illuminated watch dial or a Coleman lantern mantel inside to see more ion trails in the cloud chamber. Use a light source such as a bright flashlight to see the cloud tracks better.

BAKING SODASodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3), also called Sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, and baking soda, is an important chemical. Hundred of thousands of tons are produced each year for use in baking and in producing other chemicals. One way to make this compound at home or in the school chemistry laboratory is to use Dry Ice, salt, ammonium carbonate, and vinegar.

COMETYou can make a miniature comet and watch as it sublimates--just like a real comet being heated by the Sun! Make sure you have adult supervision. The materials you will need are Dry Ice (solid carbon dioxide), a large bowl, a garbage bag, several smaller plastic bags, gloves, a hammer, water, sand, and a few drops of ammonia. Buy about 3 pounds of Dry Ice. Be very careful in handling Dry Ice, and always wear gloves. Solid carbon dioxide is much colder than ice, and if it touches your skin it will hurt as if you had been burned by fire. Use a plastic garbage bag to line a bowl big enough to hold a quart of water. Put two cups of water into the lined bowl. Add a couple spoonfuls of sand. Sprinkle in a few drops of ammonia and stir the mixture well. Wearing gloves, wrap the dry ice in several plastic bags. Use a hammer to pound the dry ice into small pieces. When the dry ice is crushed add about two cups of it while stirring your comet "soup". Keep stirring while the dry ice freezes the water. When the mixture is almost completely frozen, lift it up using the plastic liner of your bowl and shape the wrapped mixture into a ball. When the "comet" is frozen and can hold its shape on its own, unwrap it and set it somewhere you can watch it. The dry ice will sublimate into a gas. You may see jets of carbon dioxide shoot from your comet. After a while, your comet will shrink and become pitted, like a comet that has been eroded by the Sun. (Based on a Recipe by Dennis Schatz, Pacific Science Center, Seattle, WA.)

Another COMET project developed by UC Berkeley is called "Make a Comet in the Classroom"
http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/comod/mmcom.html

"DRY ICE INVESTIGATIONS" **    A Teachers Guide

"This unit revolves around the intriguing nature of dry ice and the incessant curiosity it provokes in all those who have the opportunity to interact with it. Whenever science (especially chemistry) is depicted on film or television, you can almost guarantee that you'll see dry ice bubbling away in a colorful liquid. Music videos, scary movies, theatrical plays, and Halloween frequently feature its eerie heavy fog slowly and silently creeping across a surface. Although it is perhaps the ultimate symbol of "fun science," students rarely have the opportunity to explore it themselves in science class, most likely because many teachers often don't know where to get it, don't know what to do with it, and are intimidated by safety issues. This guide hopes to deal thoroughly with all these issues, and to build on the wondrous appeal of dry ice to provide a highly memorable and powerful science learning experience."

**One of the best science books for grades 6-8 is called "Dry Ice Investigations" from LHS Gems, UC Berkeley, (ISBN: 0-924886-15-3) available through Amazon.com and other suppliers.
http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/GEMS/GEMDryIce.html

OTHER SITES FOR COOL PROJECTS

Anthony Cody has developed "Cody's Science Education Zone" featuring "Dry Ice: Simply Sublime". This includes teacher lesson plans and projects for Grades 4-10. http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/Dry_Ice.html

Brian Rich's "The Saturday Scientist" has lots of fun projects including a singing spoon and popping film cans.
http://http://www.west.net/~science/co2.htm

The San Francisco Exploratorium has a on line list of over 100 science experiments. One of them: "Bubble Suspension" uses dry ice to form a cold thick atmosphere of CO2 for soap bubbles to float on. Eventually the CO2 will diffuse into the soap bubble by osmosis and the bubble will land on the dry ice. Some bubbles actually freeze and turn opaque.
Exploratorium: Science Snacks

Jane Hoffman's Backyard Scientist series is recognized by the National Science Foundation as a unique teaching resource. Her books and kits include dry ice and are used by home, private and public schools as a curriculum resource. All The Backyard Scientist books have received the Award of Merit from "Curriculum Product News" magazine (now Curriculum Administrator).
The Backyard Scientist: Science for Kids

[Mengopi Senangnye] Dry Ice.

Dry Ice Day

Dry Ice is compressed and frozen carbon dioxide. Dry Ice is liquid if stored at 300psi pressure. From there it gets fired into a container where it instantly turns into something resembling snow. The "snow" is then squished down and pressed together forming solid pallets of dry ice. Thanks Air Liquide!

At normal pressure Dry Ice sublimes at -78°C
At that temperature it turns from a solid directly into a gas without going through any liquid state.
This is very useful if you want to keep your picnic lunch cold without also having everything saturated with the water left over from normal ice. When you pick the Dry Ice up from the store, make sure you wind the window in your car down. CO2 gas from Dry Ice does not support breathing ;)

14 Fun Experiments with Dry Ice

Metal Scream
Hold anything metal down on a piece of Dry Ice and listen to the metal scream. I think what's happening is the metal is evapourating a thin layer of gas which pushes the metal up briefly. The resulting vibration results in the noise.

Balloon Popping
Place some pieces inside a balloon and hang it from the ceiling with string. An alternative is to put the balloon in a large container of water - it blows up faster.

Sound Lens?
Apparently if you hold a balloon about a foot from your ear then quiet sounds will be amplified. I'm not sure if this really is the case or if it's just sound bouncing off the outside of the balloon. Experiment with two balloons filled with CO2 and normal air. Careful not to have it explode by your ear.

Film Canister Popping
Place a piece of ice in a film canister on put the cap on. Point the canister away from people.

Film Canister Engine
Push two holes in the bottom of the canister. Push the holes in at an angle so they are pointing out like a pinwheel firework. Add the ice and warm water and hold the canister in the air by trapping a thread under the lid.

Bung Guns
Put some Dry Ice inside a PET (pepsi/coke) bottle with water. Stop it up with a RUBBER BUNG. Then you can either fire the bung into the air or find some way of holding the bottle upside down and the bottle should fly into the air. I definately advise againstholding the bottle while firing rubber bungs around.

Magic Water
Mixture of water, a squeze of ammonia, and some universal indicator. It will be a nice blue. Add a small piece of dry ice. Adding more ammonia can make it turn blue again.

Fog
Add lots of Dry Ice to a large beaker half full of boiling water still receiving heat. It makes lots of fog that you can shine lasers through. You could try sniffing the stuff and note that it does note support breathing.

Jet Power
Add Dry Ice to a water bottle with pop-up drinking nozzle (make sure the nozzle is OPEN at all times!!!). The water/CO2 vapour will be firing away nicely but then upend the bottle and see what happens to the water inside the bottle.

Fire Extinguisher
Set something on fire then hold it in a stream of carbon dioxide vapour.

Super Freeze
Add Dry Ice to a beaker of methylated spirits (denatured alcohol). The alcohol does not freeze like water would do so the whole thing becomes a super cooling liquid. Flowers and green leaves will freeze in just a few seconds and can then be broken and snapped apart.

Super Bubbles
Add Dry Ice to a beaker of water and detergent...

Icky Milk Bubbles
Add some Dry Ice to a beaker of milk. If there is any left afterwards, well done. Try tasting it...

Bubble PowerPut some dry ice in a large container. Blow detergent bubbles into the box and watch them float in mid air.

[Mengopi Senangnye] Say "Oktengsbai Jahiliyyah"!

[Credit]

I used to have a girlfriend. Oh man, only God knew how much I loved and cared for her. We even promised each other that we would get married and happily live ever after. Not just here in this world, also in the hereafter. Because of that, we did things that we were not supposed to do, because we were so confident that we would eventually be together. We were so in love that our hearts became blind. We thought we owned this world. We thought nothing could stop and separate us. 

At the end, things didn't turn out to be like what we wanted and expected. Looking back, how I wish I never stepped into that dark alley of jahiliyyah. But I did. And it changed the course of my life forever. Ever. Now that it has been my past, I can appreciate how stupid and naive I was. And it also gives me the chance to taste the sweetness of hidayah.

For that, "Oktengsbai jahiliyyah!"

I used to smoke. A lot. Just name me all the brands that you can think of. Dunhill? Marlboro? Salem? Gudang Garam? I've tried them all. I was even the hero amongst my peers. They themselves couldn't believe their eyes, seeing me smoking like crazy. It was as if, my mouth just couldn't stop producing smokes. In the morning, after breakfast, brunch, before lunch, after lunch, tea-break, before dinner, after dinner, supper. You name it. All day long. I could afford not to have any meal for the day, but I'd die if I didn't smoke a single butt. 

Until one day, a doctor told me, that if I'd continue with my current life-style, I'd live just long enough to see my eldest child (if I have any) graduating from his/her primary school. He even jokingly told me that smokers will never get old, because they can't live long enough to be old! That made me think. Deep. What's the purpose of my life in this world? To be wasted just like that? Nah, I must change. My life ain't going into the drain like dirty, murky water. It is meant for something greater. 

And that's when I said, "Oktengsbai jahiliyyah!"  

I used to shop like there's no tomorrow. If you've watched 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' yeah, I think I was triple worse than that. No, make it quadruple. Anything, and I really mean anything and everything, that caught my eyes, would be certainly mine in the next few seconds. I didn't even bother to look at the price tag. If I liked it, I grabbed it, paid for it and tadaaaa! It'd be officially mine. Money was never an issue. I had a credit card that practically had no limit at all, because it was my dad's. Haha. The best part is, I didn't even consume or use whatever I bought! It was the thrill of buying new stuff that dragged me so far. It gave me this, inexplicable satisfaction; it was almost like a drug.

Then I got to know about Palestine. About Somalia. About Kashmir. And suddenly I felt so cruel and naive at the same time. I just couldn't believe that shopping was like my daily routine, when my brothers and sisters out there were struggling to have even a glass of clean water. I felt like banging my head to the wall; they couldn't even eat or sleep or study at peace, not until somebody shot their father or their house was bombed or someone they knew were butchered. And me? Happily surrounded by my Anya's handbags and Prada's shoes and Marc Jacobs' shades. Eerrrgghhhh!

I, thus, decided, "Oktengsbai jahiliyyah!"

Movies and games, those two things were inseparable from me. During my free time, you could easily find me at only two possible places; either in front of my flat screen TV playing the latest games with my Playstation or at the nearest cinema watching any newly released movies. I loved Ramadhan. Why? After terawih, while waiting for sahur, I would do a marathon on movies or series. I didn't even mind watching the same movies all over again. If others would khatam their Quran during the holy month, I usually khatam-ed my collection of movies. And games. Sweats. If my friends wanted to watch a movie, they'd ask for my review first. If I said don't watch it, they won't. I was practically the celebrated pro in the field. 

Until a friend managed to persuade me to attend this talk. Or brainwashing session I'd say. And to think about it, it must have been His plan after all. I was supposed to go out with another friend to watch this new installment of X-Men, when at the last minute he couldn't make it. As angry as Wolverine I was, I accepted the invitation to attend the talk, as I had nothing else to do. At first, I was rather skeptical. Then, it opened my eyes. And heart. I could see the ummah was suffering. Hard. It struck me that there were still a lot of works to do, to revive the deen, to build the foundation of the ummah, and yet, what had I done so far? Nothing. Besides watching movies and playing games. Pppffffttt.

It wasn't that difficult for me to declare, "Oktengsbai jahiliyyah!" 

I was already joining tarbiyah dan dakwah, or 'the' coach if you like. But something was not right. Somehow I felt big. I was proud. I thought I was the best among all. When I was invited to give a talk, I thought people liked me very much, for my eloquence, for my jokes, for my ability to 'psycho' others. In my circle, I was very sure my mad'us loved me greatly as I was good at conducting it. And I thought other hadek-hadeks were envious for not having somebody like myself as their murabbi. It was very hard for me to accept criticism. Yet, I was always eager to criticize others. I thought I was always right. I was so confident of myself.

Until one day, a dear al-akh of mine, came to have a pillow talk with me. Initially, I didn't suspect anything fishy. Then at one point, he looked at me, his eyes were all watery, he smiled guiltily and suddenly started it off with "Akhi.." Then I knew what was coming. I was defensive. I didn't want to listen. I thought he was being unfair and irrational. Then it hit me. He said, "Akhi, I won't stop this, until I'm damn sure that we will enter paradise together. He, SAW, once taught us, 'He who as in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise…' And what was he meant by 'pride' akhi? That is, when you think you are better than others and you look down upon them. That is pride. And for that, you won't be allowed to enter jannah! And I...I won't let that happen! Ever!" I hugged him. I cried my heart out.

That was when, deep in my heart, I knew it, "Oktengsbai jahiliyyah!"

To change, is never easy, my friend. But it is a must. There is nothing to be worried or feared about, but yourself. Do it, slowly but surely. The choice is yours. The decision is in your hand.

Let go of your past. However dark it is, a brighter future awaits you. However dirty and murky it might be, it will always remain a past. Live for today, and plan well for your future.

Take the risks, and conquer your fears. Your unknown fears. And He, the Almighty, the Most Loving of all, should guide you until you can smell the sweet scent of jannah. He, the Most Forgiving, shall await you at the door of the eternal paradise.

Change today. Change now. Say, "Oktengsbai jahiliyyah!" 

"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided."

[ali-Imraan, 3:103]

Chopping onions, with smiles. 

-gabbana- 

Will be leaving for Penang to attend a walimah tomorrow. Certainly not my own. Ehem.

Pray for my safe journey. God-willing, we shall meet again. If not in this virtual world, let's us hope to see each other in jannah. Biidznillah...

[Mengopi Senangnye] Amanat Shaeikh Muhammad Ali as-Sobuni kepada rakyat Malaysia!

Amanat Shaikh Muhammad Ali as-Sobuni kepada rakyat Malaysia!

Syeikh Ali As Sobuni di Kelantan

Isu sebenar yg berlaku di Syiria.. 
kedatangan Ulama' (Sheikh Muhammad Ali al-Sabuni Syiria) di UKM, menerangkn keadaan saudara kita di sana.. 

BESARNYE FITNAH SYIAH LAKNATULLAH!!

Syeikh mengatakan ada 3 sebab negara Syiria lebih DIUTAMAKAN dari Palestine untuk jihad:

1)Beliau mengatakan keadaan di Syiria lebih teruk dari Palestine.. Umat Islam telah ramai dibunuh dgn kejam.. Banding dgn Palestine, walau bertahun2 telah dijajah dizalimi, IBARAT kematian rakyat palastine 60 ribu org pad tempoh 60 tahun..

Tapi di Syiria.. 60 ribu yg telah TERKORBAN dgn HANYATEMPOH 2 TAHUN kekejaman berlaku.. tapi itu baru yang diwar2kn.. yg ditulis.. tapi disebaliknya ada lagi kematian yg tidak direkod berpuluh2 ribu lg kematian..

2) Sebab telah keluarnya fatwa dari ulama-ulama seluruh dunia, mereka bdasarkn Quran dan Sunnah melihat keutamaan negara Syiria tu yg istimewa.. dimana bumi Syiria adalah bumi Dimasyh: tempat Nabi Isa akan turun nanti, Syam Syiria.. dan Imam Mahdi mengikut dalil al-Quran..

3) Jadi jihad di negara Syiria kerana bantu syiria ibarat bantu Palestine.. tapi isu di Syiria ramai org tak tahu brbanding dgn Palestine.. di Syiria tidak dibenarkan diwar2kan sgala mklumat, tiada media..tidak benarkan bantuan masuk pun.

kata sheikh, "tiada satu pun masjid di syiria yg tidak dibom!", masjid di hina..org Syiah mencabuli wanita ahli sunnah dlm masjid.

di Syiria tiada Hospital untuk bantu org Sunnah.. jika mereka dibom,mereka dibiarkn macam tu je..kesakitan hingga mati. si emak tak boleh tolong dan akan rahsiakn kematian ahli keluarganya, jika tidak akn ditangkap dn dibunuh juga..

SYIAH buat kekejaman sbb dia brpegang bahawa halal darah ahli sunnah wal jamaah.. mereka percaya jika dpt sembelih ahli sunnah, darahnya di bumi ni..akan dpt bangkitkn ketua mereka nanti iaitu: al Masih ad Dajal laknatullah!!!

Dan kemudian bangkit seorang PALESTIN..benarkah demikian itu..bukankah palestin lebih teruk..

Syeikh kemudian senyap seketika..lalu ALLAH datangkan hambaNYA yang berasal dari PALESTIN juga..

Beliau mengatakan "Aku pernah berjihad di Gaza sebanyak dua kali..dan aku pasti sesungguhnya tentera Zionis itu tidak berbahaya sepertimana tentera Basyar laknatullah.."

AYUH!! SAHABAT2!! KITA PANJANGKAN DOA UNTUK SEDARA SEAGAMA KITA DI SYRIA!!

source : http://pondoktauhid.blogspot.com/2012/12/syeikh-ali-as-sobuni-di-kelantan.html
             http://ilmuanmuda.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/syria-maklumat-dari-syeikh-ali-as-sobuni/

p/s : Kalau salah. Jangan salahkan saya. Baca lagi ya? Maaflah

[Mengopi Senangnye] Bumi bergelap 3 hari - Satu penjelasan ilmiah

Written by shahgazer Tag: hoax, blog 

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Saya berasa amat berat untuk menulis artikel ini, kerana secara asasnya memang tidak perlu susah payah pun. Ia hanya satu daripada berpuluh-puluh artikel 'hentam kromo' yang ditulis di internet dan disebar menerusi laman sosial samada secara sengaja atau tidak sengaja.

(Atas: gambar hiasan)

Namun, ramai juga yang bertanya mengenainya, dan soalan-soalan yang ditanya adalah hampir sama. Saya ada menjawabnya, mungkin kadang-kadang dalam keadaan yang agak 'emosi', terutama menerusi wall facebook saya beberapa hari lepas. Jika ada yang terasa hati, saya mohon maaf.

Oleh itu, bagi memberi sedikit pencerahan terhadap 'isu' ini, saya sediakan sebuah penerangan yang ringkas beserta dengan sumber dan nota kaki yang berkaitan. Jika ada yang tidak bersetuju, tidak mengapa kerana mungkin ada kesilapan dan datang dari kelemahan saya. Cuma saya harapkan respon atau teguran itu dibuat secara ilmiah dan dibawa berbincang secara matang, InsyaAllah.

Baiklah, isu ini semuanya bermula dengan artikel yang saya terima di facebook seperti di bawah:

Teks #1

Pihak NASA menjangkakan akan berlaku fenomena bumi akan gelap selama 3 hari iaitu bermula pada 23, 24 dan 25 Disember 2012. Apakah ini satu bencana atau anugerah? Entah benar atau ke tidak hanyalah jangkaan manusia sahaja. Para Saintis NASA menjangkakan perubahan alam semesta dengan kegelapan penuh pada bumi selama 3 hari bermula pada 23 Disember 2012 bukanlah akan berakhirnya usia dunia, tapi ini adalah “Penyejajaran Alam Semesta“, di mana matahari dan bumi akan berada pada satu garis lurus untuk pertama kalinya. Bumi akan bertukar tempat dari dimensi ke 3 ke dimensi 0, lalu bertukar lagi ke dimensi ke 4. Semasa proses pertukaran ini, seluruh alam akan menghadapi perubahan besar, dan kita akan melihat dunia yang baru (Dark of the Earth). Dunia gelap tanpa sinar, tanpa cahaya matahari. Semasa kejadian ini berlaku, bersedialah, ketenangan amatlah diperlukan, saling berhubung antara satu sama lain, berdoa, dan terus berdoa. Beristirehatlah di rumah selama 3 hari tu Banyak perbahasan tentang apa yang akan terjadi 3 hari tersebut tapi ramai yang tidak percaya. Gini je lah!, kita tunggu dan lihat je lah nanti pada 23, 24 dan 24 Disember 2012 tu, ni hanyalah jangkaan atau ramalan manusia je, tak pasti. Tapi kalau benar-benar terjadi, sekurang-kurang kita dah tahu dan bersedia menghadapi dunia baru selama 3 hari tu nanti. Hanya Allah yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya, wallahu ‘alam.

Secara amnya, bagi mereka yang tahu menahu atau tidak mempunyai latar belakang pengetahuan tentang ilmu astronomi, pasti akan terkedu apabila membaca statement di atas. Malah, ada yang mula mengaitkannya dengan isu 'Kiamat 2012' (1)! 

Pengolahan serta perincian 'kejadian' itu begitu spesifik hingga 'tidak mungkin atau mustahil ia tidak akan berlaku'! 

Ramai yang bertanya, betul atau tidak. Jawapan ringkas yang sering saya jawab ialah "nope". 4 buah huruf itu akan diungkaikan panjang lebar seperti di bawah. Bagi memudahkan pemahaman, saya akan menjawab berdasarkan perenggan-perenggan dari artikel asal di atas.

Sebelum itu, suka saya menyalin artikel yang serupa, yang turut muncul di internet di dalam bahasa inggeris. (2)

Teks #2

As posted on Facebook, Aug. 4, 2012:

NASA predicts total blackout on 23-25 Dec 2012 during alignment of Universe.

US scientists predict Universe change, total blackout of planet for 3 days from Dec 23 2012.

It is not the end of the world, it is an alignment of the Universe, where the Sun and the earth will align for the first time. The earth will shift from the current third dimension to zero dimension, then shift to the forth dimension. During this transition, the entire Universe will face a big change, and we will see a entire brand new world.

The 3 days blackout is predicted to happen on Dec 23, 24, 25....during this time, staying calm is most important, hug each other, pray pray pray, sleep for 3 nights...and those who survive will face a brand new world....for those not prepared, many will die because of fear. Be happy, enjoy every moment now. Don't worry, pray to God everyday. There is a lot of talk about what will happen in 2012, but many people don't believe it, and don't want to talk about it for fear of creating fear and panic.

We don't know what will happen, but it is worth listening to USA's NASA talkabout preparation. Whether it's true or not, better be prepared. No panic, stay calm, just prays. Remember to smile more, love more and forgive more...every day. Better avoid traveling during December.

Teks #3

As posted on Facebook, Sep. 14, 2012:

NASA America predicts total blackout on Earth from 22-25 Dec 2012 during alignment of Universe.

If possible, please avoid traveling during the third week of December 2012 as all modes of communication may fail.

US scientists predict total darkness on planet earth for 3 days from Dec 22 2012. It is NOT the end of the world, it is just an alignment of the Universe, where the Sun and the earth will align for the first time. All planets are expected to align in a straight line as a result of which there could be some natural calamities on Earth. The earth will shift from the current third dimension to zero dimension, then shift to the 4th dimension. During this transition, the entire Universe will face a big change, and we will see an entire brand new world. The 3 days blackout is predicted to happen on Dec 22, 23, 24, 2012.... So do good be good live for the present enjoy life.

Analisis

Merujuk kembali ke Teks #1.

              Pihak NASA menjangkakan akan berlaku fenomena bumi akan gelap selama 3 hari iaitu bermula pada 23, 24 dan 25 Disember 2012. Apakah ini satu bencana atau anugerah? Entah benar atau ke tidak hanyalah jangkaan manusia sahaja.

Perenggan di atas menyatakan pihak NASA yang mengeluarkan kenyataan tersebut. Jika kita menggunakan sebuah utiliti di internet yang dipanggil sebagai Google, dan cuba buat carian, kita akan dapati rupa-rupanya isu '3 days of darkness' (apabila diterjemah ke bahasa inggeris)  ini dikaitkan dengan sebuah komet bernama Komet Elenin yang dijangka berlaku pada TAHUN LEPAS…. LAST YEAR…. bukan 2012. 

Sila rujuk informasi berkenaan dengan Komet Elenin di sini

http://www.space.com/12653-comet-elenin-earth-threat-nasa-answers.html

Maknanya, isu ini pernah pun muncul di internet pada tahun 2011 lepas, tetapi dikaitkan dengan kemuncul Komet Elenin.

(Foto yang dirakam oleh astronomer amatur, Michael Mattiazzo dari Castlemaine, Australia yang menunjukkan 2 keadaan Komet Elenin (19 Ogos dan 6 Sep, 2011), yang jelas menunjukkan kesan-kesan ia sedang menghancur. CREDIT: Michael Mattiazzo)

Oleh itu, saya sendiri kurang pasti, hujan tak ada ribut tak ada, tiba-tiba datang pula tarikh 23,24 dan 25 Disember tahun DUA RIBU DUA BELAS (2012) itu muncul! Apa yang pasti, kebanyakkan artikel di internet ni, ikut suka dia nak tukar-tukar tahun atau tarikh. Bila sesuatu 'tarikh keramat' tu dah berlalu tanpa apa-apa berlaku, tiba-tiba tahun depan keluar lagi cerita yang sama, tapi tahun yang baru. Contoh terbaik isu Marikh dan Retrograde yang PERNAH SAYA BINCANG PADA TAHUN 2005 dulu . Sila rujuk sini http://www.falak-online.net/komuniti/index.php?topic=99.0

Mungkin ramai yang akan mengatakan, NASA 'sengaja' menyembunyikan cerita ini, atau jangan percaya dengan apa yang dikatakan oleh NASA kerana mereka orang barat yang tidak boleh dipercayai.

Ok, kalau tak percaya NASA tak mengapa, tetapi saya persilakan untuk menguatkan hujah yang 'counter' balik keterangan NASA itu, menerusi kajian sains atau pemerhatian (observation) dan disokong dengan data-data yang kukuh dan boleh di-verify kembali oleh komuniti sains sedunia.  

Kalau setakat kata NASA menipu, kemudian tak ada hujah yang konkrit untuk menyokongnya, saya anggap statement itu hanya 'dengar-dengar' saja,cerita kedai kopi.

Kembali ke Teks #1, perenggan kedua.

Para Saintis NASA menjangkakan perubahan alam semesta dengan kegelapan penuh pada bumi selama 3 hari bermula pada 23 Disember 2012 bukanlah akan berakhirnya usia dunia, tapi ini adalah “Penyejajaran Alam Semesta“, di mana matahari dan bumi akan berada pada satu garis lurus untuk pertama kalinya. Bumi akan bertukar tempat dari dimensi ke 3 ke dimensi 0, lalu bertukar lagi ke dimensi ke 4.

Saya boleh pecahkan ayat di atas mengikut beberapa buah rentetan 'fenomena langit' yang 'akan berlaku', kepada turutan berikut:

i. Bumi dalam kegelapan sepenuhnya

ii. Selama 3 hari bermula 23 Disember 2012

iii. Penyejajaran Alam Semesta, Matahari dan Bumi dalam satu garis lurus buat kali pertama

iv. Bumi bertukar dimensi (dari dimensi ke-3 pergi ke-0, kemudian ke-4)

Mari kita lihat satu per satu statement di atas:

i. Bumi dalam kegelapan sepenuhnya

Bumi merupakan sebuah planet yang berbentuk 'hampir' bulat dan berputar di atas paksinya selama 23 jam 56m 4s, atau dalam bahasa yang lebih senang, 24 jam.

Cahaya yang diterima adalah daripada sebuah sumber cahaya yang paling dominan sekali, iaitu matahari. Hanya cahaya matahari sahajalah yang akan menghasilkan siang dan malam. 

(Video di bawah menunjukkan keadaan siang dan malam Bumi, apabila dilihat dari ISS. Jika vide tak muncul, sila refresh kembali page ini)

Perkara ini, kanak-kanak sekolah rendah pun boleh memahaminya.

Jadi adalah mustahil Bumi boleh berada dalam kegelapan sepenuhnya, kerana sudah pasti separuh berada di dalam suasana terang benderang, dan separuh lagi di dalam suasana gelap (malam).

Mungkin ramai yang akan bertanya "Tak mustahil matahari akan padam tiba-tiba". Di sini suka saya nyatakan bahawa jawapan saya di atas itu adalah berdasarkan ayat yang diambil dari Teks #1 yang tersebar di internet. Ayat-ayat dalam Teks #1 itu pun tidak spesifik menyatakan sebab mengapa bumi bergelap. Oleh itu, saya tidak akan membuat andaian demikian.

ii. Selama 3 hari bermula 23 Disember 2012

Kenapa 3 hari? dan kenapa bermula 23 Disember 2012? Apakah fenomena atau susun atur objek-objek di langit yang boleh menyebabkan 3 hari itu Bumi akan bergelap? 

Jika kita merujuk kiraan objek-objek samawi menerusi perisian-perisian astronomi seperti Skymap, CalSky, SkySafari, SkyChart, Starry Night, Celestia, Cosmographia, Google Sky dan pelbagai lagi perisian dan utiliti di internet, tidak ada satu pun yang akan menunjukkan perubahan yang drastik kepada pergerakan bumi atau matahari yang boleh menyebabkan 'Bumi bergelap selama 3 hari'.

"Tapi, itu semua perisian dari NASA, kita mana boleh percaya NASA!"

Ok. Jika ada yang masih tidak mempercayai kiraan yang dibuat oleh perisian itu, boleh guna formula yang digunapakai oleh ilmuwan falak tanahair yang menentukan waktu solat dan arah kiblat, seperti buku-buku tulisan Dr. Baharuddin Zainal dari UniSZA. Sila guna formula yang ada di dalam buku tersebut dan buktikan akan berlaku fenomena luar biasa pada tarikh-tarikh 23,24,25 Disember 2012 ini nanti. Jika ada, saya alu-alukan untuk sama-sama dikongsi bersama-sama.

Lagipun bukan NASA yang buat perisian-perisan di atas itu pun. Oleh itu jangan paranoid sangat. Tenangkan hati dan kemukakan hujah secara sistematik dan jelas.

iii. Penyejajaran Alam Semesta, Matahari dan Bumi dalam satu garis lurus buat kali pertama

Kalau dirujuk kepada artikel di dalam bahasa inggeris, ia menyatakan 'the alignment of the universe'.

Alignment atau align, jika dirujuk http://www.thefreedictionary.com/alignment akan membawa maksud

1. arrangement in a straight line
2. the line or lines formed in this manner

Oleh itu, jika kita baca ayat di atas, seolah-olah membawa maksud matahari dan bumi SEBELUM INI TIDAK BERADA DI DALAM GARIS LURUS ! . 

Ok, cuba terangkan, kita buat 2 titik, Titik A merujuk kepada Bumi, Titik B merujuk kepada matahari. Agak-agak boleh ke apabila kita buat garisan antara kedua itu, ia TIDAK BERADA DALAM SATU GARIS LURUS?

(Rajah di atas menunjukkan Bumi di dalam orbit mengelilingi matahari. Jika dibuat garisan Bumi-Matahari, akan tetap dalam satu garis lurus)

Tak tau lah kalau penulis Teks #1 itu merujuk kepada lukisan atau gambarajah Bumi dan Matahari yang dilukis garisan tanpa menggunakan pembaris. Jika itulah yang dimaksudkan, saya hanya mampu menggaru kepala sahaja. Adalah TIDAK LOGIK untuk membayangkan bagaimana Bumi dan Matahari, yang digambarkan sebagai titik-titik tadi, TIDAK BERADA DALAM SATU GARIS LURUS.

"Tapi ia mungkin merujuk kepada kedudukan matahari, bumi dan galactic centre yang akan sejajar pada tarikh tersebut."

Seperti dalam ulasan untuk poin nombor iii di atas, saya tidak mahu membuat sebarang andaian, kerana ayat asal artikel itu tidak menyebut langsung berkenaan dengan galactic center itu. Oleh itu, lebih baik jangan kaitkannya, kerana isu ini tidak ada kaitan dengan isu Penjajaran Matahari dengan Pusat Galaksi (3).

iv. Bumi bertukar dimensi (dari dimensi ke-3 pergi ke-0, kemudian ke-4)

Ayat ini langsung tidak masuk akal kerana, saya boleh bertanya kembali, "Apa beza dimensi ke-3 dengan dimensi 0 tu". "Apa maksud dimensi tu?", "Apa yang dimaksudkan Bumi bertukar dimensi?"

Saya cuba rujuk ayat dalam bahasa Inggeris seperti di bawah:

The earth will shift from the current third dimension to zero dimension, then shift to the forth dimension.

Itupun tidak masuk akal, malah saya yakin artikel bahasa melayu itu mencedok dan menterjemah bulat-bulat daripada artikel bahasa Inggeris, dan penulisnya tak faham 'satu habuk' pun apa yang dimaksudkan di atas. 

Teks #1 Perenggan ke-3

Semasa proses pertukaran ini, seluruh alam akan menghadapi perubahan besar, dan kita akan melihat dunia yang baru (Dark of the Earth). Dunia gelap tanpa sinar, tanpa cahaya matahari.

Kalau nak tau maksud "Dark of the Earth" tu, rajin-rajin lah guna Google. Tidak ada satu pautan web pun yang menerangkan dengan jelas maksud tu. Majoritinya hanya mengulang-ulang sahaja perkataan itu. Malah ia tiada kaitan langsung dengan apa-apa fenomena cakerawala. Oleh itu, gunalah mata hati dan bijak menilai sesuatu perkara yang mana, sekali imbas pun, kita sudah boleh agak kesahihannya.

Teks #1 Perenggan ke-4

               Semasa kejadian ini berlaku, bersedialah, ketenangan amatlah diperlukan, saling berhubung antara satu sama lain, berdoa, dan terus berdoa. Beristirehatlah di rumah selama 3 hari tu.

Untuk perenggan,  memang ada kebenaran untuk ayat yang terakhir tu "Beristirehatlah di rumah selama 3 hari tu" . Ini adalah kerana tarikh 23,24 dan 25 Disember itu memang ramai yang akan berehat di rumah kerana CUTI UMUM! 

:-D

Teks #1 Perenggan ke-5 dan 6

Banyak perbahasan tentang apa yang akan terjadi 3 hari tersebut tapi ramai yang tidak percaya. Gini je lah!, kita tunggu dan lihat je lah nanti pada 23, 24 dan 24 Disember 2012 tu, ni hanyalah jangkaan atau ramalan manusia je, tak pasti. Tapi kalau benar-benar terjadi, sekurang-kurang kita dah tahu dan bersedia menghadapi dunia baru selama 3 hari tu nanti.

Hanya Allah yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya, wallahu ‘alam.

Jika kita sendiri tidak tahu sejauh mana kebenaran 'cerita' ini, maka kenapa perlu menghebahkannya? Mengapa perlu menyemai ketakutan yang tidak bertempat berasaskan cerita yang tiada asas? 

Kisah ini merupakan salah satu daripada puluhan cerita-cerita 'dongeng' yang kerap berlegar di internet sekarang. Malah, saya dapat rasakan, akan ada banyak lagi kisah-kisah yang tidak berasaskan fakta dan sekadar cerita kedai kopi, akan tersebar menjelang hujung tahun 2012 ini nanti.

Saya menyeru agar pemilik-pemilik blog yang menyalin dan menyebarkannya kembali agar memadam sahaja cerita yang amat mengelirukan ini. Malah jika tidak berjaga-jaga, ia akan menyebabkan kekecohan yang serius di kalangan masyarakat. Statement "kita tunggu dan lihat je lah nanti "  merupakan ayat 'lepas tangan' seolah-olah tidah mahu bertanggungjawab terhadap kesan yang berlaku akibat cerita ini.

Renungilah ayat ini.

Surah Yasin, ayat 37-40 yang bermaksud :

(37)- dan suatu tanda kebesaran Allah bagi mereka ialah malam ; kami tanggalkan siang dari malam itu, maka seketika itu mereka dalam kegelapan.

(38)-dan matahari berjalan dari tempat peredarannya. Demikianlah ketetapan Allah yang Maha Perkasa, Maha Mengetahui.

(39)-dan telah kami tetapkan tempat peredaran bagi bulan setelah sampai ke peredaran terakhir, kembalilah ia seperti bentuk tandan yang tua.

(40) tidaklah mungkin bagi matahari mengejar bulan dan malam pun tidak mendahului siang. Masing-masing beredar pada garis edarnya.

Saya berpendapat, ayat itu jelas menunjukkan peredaran dan pergerakan matahari, bumi, bulan itu semuanya konsisten dan terkawal di dalam undang-undang yang telah ditetapkan oleh Allah SWT. Sunnatullah. Maka, apa perlu yang ditakut-takutkan dengan 'fenomena' alam semesta di dalam artikel di atas? Yang jelas tidak logik dan tidak mengikut undang-undang alam yang Allah SWT telah sediakan untuk kita di Bumi?

Mungkin juga ada yang akan menyatakan, "tidak mustahil ia akan berlaku kerana Allah SWT Maha berkuasa." 

Memang betul lah statement itu, tetapi jika ia digunakan untuk setiap perkara, wa-aima yang jelas karutnya, maka tidak perlulah kita bersusah payah mengkaji dan memerhati alam semesta kerana 'apa-apa pun boleh berlaku'. Maka, bagaimana pula dengan ayat dalam surah Al-Imran (190-191), 

(190) Sesungguh pada kejadian langit dan bumi dan pada pertukaran malam dan siang, ada tanda-tanda (kekuasaan, kebijaksanaan dan keluasan rahmat Allah) bagi orang-orang yang berakal.

(191) (Iaitu) orang-orang yang menyebut dan mengingati Allah semasa mereka berdiri dan duduk dan semasa mereka berbaring mengiring dan mereka pula memikirkan tentang kejadian langit dan bumi (sambil berkata): Wahai Tuhan kami! Tidaklah Engkau menjadikan benda-benda ini dengan sia-sia, Maha Suci Engkau, maka peliharalah kami dari azab Neraka

Ayat yang jelas menyuruh manusia memerhatikan kejadian cakerawala dengan berfikir, menilai dan mempelajarinya menggunakan AKAL.

Wallahualam.

(1) Isu dan perbincangan 'Kiamat 2012' akan menyusul menerusi artikel-artikel akan datang

(2) http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/errata/ss/Nasa-Predicts-Total-Blackout-Dec-2012.htm

(3) Ini merupakan rentetan isu-isu buatan yang berkaitan dengan isu 'Kiamat 2012'. Akan dibincang dalam artikel-artikel akan datang.

[Mengopi Senangnye] 20 Good Habits to Start in Your 20s

20 Good Habits to Start in Your 20s

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Now well into my 30s, there are several good habits I’m thankful I started in my 20s, and several more I wish I had started a decade ago.  If you’re still in your 20s, or even if you’re not, I challenge you to implement the habits below into your daily routine, one at a time, starting today.  A year from now, I guarantee you’ll appreciate the results.

1. Focus on the activities and people that make you happy. – Sometimes we make things complicated when they are really quite simple:  Find what it is that makes you happy and spend more time doing it.  Find who it is that makes you smile and spend more time with them.  Living your dream is really just a state of mind.  It’s feeling comfortable in your own skin, and realizing that where you are at any given moment is exactly where you want to be.  Thus, happiness and success in life is simply the gratifying combination liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking who you do it with.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
2. Trust your instincts on new opportunities. – Life is too short to wait.  Every new day is another chance to change your life.  Every great accomplishment starts with the decision to try.  Trust that little voice inside your head that says, “What if…” and then GO DO IT.  You would besurprised how often “what if” works.  And no, you’re not obligated to win every time.  You’re obligated to keep trying – to do the best you can do every day – to be better than you were yesterday.
3. Build the courage to face your fears. – Everything you want is on the other side of fear.  Don’t ever hesitate to give yourself a chance to be everything you are capable of being.  It’s better to cross the line and suffer the consequences of a lesson learned, than to just stare at that line for the rest of your life and always wonder.  And remember, courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid; courage means you don’t let your fear stop you.
4. Focus on the resources you do have access to. – It all begins and ends in your mind.  What you give power to has power over you, if you allow it.  Too many of us are hung up on what we don’t have, can’t have, or won’t ever have.  We spend too much energy being down, when we could use that same energy – if not less of it – doing, or at least trying to do, some of the things we really want to do.  So focus on the opportunities you DO have, and exploit the resources you DO have access to.
5. Be less busy, and more productive. – Incessant busyness is often a sign of ineffectiveness and laziness.  Because it’s easy to be busy – just partake in a bunch of random activities that drains all your time.  Doing so justifies never having enough time to clean, cook for yourself, go out with friends, meet new people, etc.  Right?  Wrong.  Don’t just get things done; get the right things done.  Results are always more important than the time it takes to achieve them.  Read Getting Things Done.
6. Make your goals a priority. – Never put off or give up on a goal that’s important to you.  Not because you still have tomorrow to start or try again, but because you may not have tomorrow at all.  Life is shorter than it sometimes seems.  Make today count.
7. Accept your humanness. – You can stop pretending.  It feels good to own up to stuff… to admit that you’re human – a work in progress – a beautiful mess.  You’re fine.  Having a little anxiety is fine.  Being a little fearful is fine.  Your secrets are fine.  You’re a good person.  You’re intelligent.  You’re blowing things out of proportion.  You’re fine just the way you are.
8. Seek less approval from others. – Your ideas and choices don’t have to be on everyone’s ‘approved’ list.  Regardless of the opinions of others, at the end of the day the only reflection staring back at you in the mirror is your own.  Make sure you’re proud of who that person is.  Approach others with the belief that you’re a good person, whether they respond positively or not.  It’s normal to want the people around you to like you, but it becomes a self-imposed burden when too much of your behavior is explicitly designed to constantly reassure you of their approval.
9. Ignore society’s comparisons. – Constantly checking your life against one of society’s prewritten stories of how things ‘should’ be is a phony way of living.  It’s sort of like renting your identity.  Just be you.  You are far more nuanced than anyone else’s narrative you try to fit yourself into, and more complex than society’s story of what ‘should’ be happening.
10. Believe in your ability to succeed. – You control the ultimate result of where you will end up, what you may become, and how successful you can be.  No matter what your current circumstances are, always maintain a strong belief in your ability to succeed, and then put your beliefs to work.  Do so, and in time you will amaze yourself.
11. Manage your money before it starts to manage you. – Too many people buy things they don’t need with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t know.  Don’t be one of them.  Bottom line:  It’s easier to find long-term wealth by needing and spending less, instead of making more.  So spend less than you earn, and always go without until you have the cash in hand.  Keep six months of your salary in an emergency savings account just in case you lose your job or have an emergency that prevents you from working for a prolonged period of time.  And keep a few extra hundred dollars on hand for unexpected expenses, such as car and home repair.  Read I Will Teach You To Be Rich.
12. Let the wrong people go. – You can try your hardest, you can do everything and say everything, but sometimes people just aren’t worth trying over anymore, and they aren’t worth worrying about.  It’s important to know when to let go of someone who only brings you down.  The moment someone tells you that you’re not good enough is the moment you know you’re better off than they are, and better off without them.
13. Appreciate your true friends, and return the favor. – A friend who understands your tears and troubles is far more valuable than a hundred friends who only show up for your smiles and joys.  Because a true friend accepts who you truly are, and also helps you become who you are capable of being.  Friendships like this require more than just finding the right person, they also require you to be the right person.  When someone believes in you enough to lift you up, try not to let them down.  True friendship is a sweet responsibility to be nurtured, not an opportunity to be exploited.
14. Do everything with a touch of kindness. – Whatever can be done, can be done more effectively when you add kindness.  Whatever words are spoken, will always be more compelling when expressed with kindness.  The kind deeds you exert in just one moment can have a positive impact that lasts a lifetime.  Your days will be brighter and your years fuller when you add kindness to your purpose.  Choose to be kind every day, and you’re truly choosing to live in a better world.
15. Choose happiness. – If you can find joy in doing nothing, you can find it in everything.  Learn to experience happiness without a reason and you can create happiness for any reason.  Realize that happiness and joy are not always the result of good things, oftentimes they are the cause of good things.  There is nothing you need in order to be happy other than the choice to be.  So let go of the worries you have for what may or may not come your way.  Focus instead on the good things that you can give, create, inspire and choose to experience, right here, right now.  Don’t allow the world to pull you down with its negativity.  Choose to transform the world around you with your own positivity.
16. Learn to cope with anger effectively. – When you’re infuriated with someone else, take a few deep breaths, sit quietly, and think for a moment.  Acknowledge the true source of your anger.  Anger bleeds from the inside out.  Remember that we need to fix ourselves first before we attempt to fix or influence others.  Trying to change others is a common recipe for prolonging the suffering.  Taking responsibility for changing yourself, and how you deal with the actions of others, is a recipe for growth, freedom, and happiness.
17. Accept some responsibility for the way others treat you. – Yes, on occasion you will run into someone who is downright wicked, but for the most part, others will look to you for direction on how you want to be treated.  They will test you to see what is acceptable, and then treat you the way you let them treat you.  Remember, you can’t control them, but you can control what you tolerate.
18. Work on your inner beauty too. – Our outward acts are a manifestation of who we are on the inside.  Let’s remind ourselves to love who we are from the inside out – to be pretty happy, handsomely kind, pretty smart, handsomely unique, pretty loving, handsomely lovable, pretty quirky, handsomely funny, pretty cool – and not just pretty and handsome.  Read A New Earth.
19. Introduce a little variety into your routine. – Remember that the way you’ve always done it isn’t the only way.  It’s unlikely that one of the things you’ll regret when you’re 70 is not having consumed enough beer in your 20s, or not having bought enough $6 lattes from Starbucks, or not having frequented the same night club for years.  But the regret of missing out on opportunities is a real, toxic feeling.  You’ve figured out drinking and going out.  You’ve had enough lattes.  It’s time to figure something else out.  Every corner you turn or street you walk down has a new experience waiting for you.  You just have to see the opportunity and be adventurous enough to run with it.
20. Always keep in mind that life is somewhat unpredictable. – Some of the great moments in your life won’t necessarily be the things you do; they’ll be things that happen to you.  That doesn’t mean you can’t take action to affect the outcome of your life.  You have to take action, and you will.  But don’t forget that on any day, you can step out the front door and your whole life can change in an instant – for better or worse.  To an extent, the universe has a plan that’s always in motion.  A butterfly flaps its wings and it starts to rain – it’s a scary thought, but it’s part of life’s cycle.  All these little parts of the machine, constantly working – sometimes forcing you to struggle, and sometimes making sure you end up exactly in the right place at the right time.