Child Sexual Abuse

Susan Clancy's important book "The Trauma Myth" (New York, Basic Books, 2009) is drawing the critical fire of a number of people who have not given it the careful reading it deserves. Some of these critics have claimed that Clancy argues against any deleterious effects of sexual molestation in childhood--- that she defends pedophiles, and even that she is a pedophile herself or that she blames child victims for the behavior of sexually-exploitative adults.

These statements are nonsense, and I am going to attempt to counter them by devoting today's post to a summary and comments on Clancy's argument in "The Trauma Myth".

"The Trauma Myth" emphasizes repeatedly the clear evidence that childhood experiences of sexual exploitation by adults are associated with a long list of later problems, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, relationship and sexual problems, eating disorders, self-mutilation, and so on. Because one in five children is reported to have experienced sexual abuse (and probably there are more, unreported, cases), such abuse is responsible for significant numbers of mental health problems. It's important that we learn how to prevent it and to treat its results, not only for the sake of individuals but for the mental health of the whole population. To prevent child sexual abuse and treat problems that result from it, we need to have a real understanding of how these experiences cause bad outcomes. However, much work in this area is based on the assumption that trauma theory, which attributes many mental health problems to the past experience of severe pain and fear, and trauma theory may not provide a good framework for understanding the impact of sexual molestation in childhood.

Clancy is not the first to point out that children's sexual experiences with adults are not necessarily experienced as traumatic (severely painful or terrifying) at the time when they occur. But her interview research with adults who had been molested as children clearly showed a continuum of child experiences, ranging from terror and pain at one end, through puzzlement without distress in the middle, to physical and emotional gratification at the opposite end. In fact, most of her interviewees reported that in childhood, at the time of the event, they were not frightened or in pain. The abuser's actions did not involve force or even penetration of any kind, but were generally limited to rubbing, kissing,or fondling of genitals, nor did most of the abusers threaten the children in any way. Nevertheless, those adults, as well as the ones who had experienced trauma, reported symptoms related to their experiences, and now felt that the sexual event had had a deplorable effect on them.
The question Clancy raises is this: if the abused children did not at the time experience the event as traumatic, how can we explain the connection to their present symptoms? We can't do this in any simple way by means of applying trauma theory. To make trauma theory work in this context, we would have to add to it the concept of repressed memories-- to say, for example, that the adults Clancy interviewed were really terrified and hurt, that they have repressed and can't report that part of the experience, but that in its repressed form the memory still affects their mental health. Taking that approach, however, we would come up against an even more complicated issue: why is it that people who were actually hurt and terrified (according to independent evidence) don't repress what must be a hideous memory? Using the repressed memory concept, then, we find ourselves having to explain why a really terrible experience is remembered with all the emotional factors intact, but a less painful and frightening situation leads to repression of memories of emotion. Although U-shaped functions of this kind are not unknown in psychology, this one does not seem to make much sense.
Clancy concludes from this line of reasoning that trauma theory and the concept of repression are not good ways to explain the most common situations involving childhood sexual abuse and its aftermath in adulthood. Because they are not good ways, they have not done much to help us either prevent or treat the effects of child sexual abuse. We need to explore these matters much more carefully, and, Clancy says we need to make sure that our explanation involves the child's point of view, which has generally been ignored. To understand that children's group and individual characteristics affect the sex abuse situation is a far cry from "blaming" the child.
Clancy makes several points about children's understanding of the world and the ways it can make the child's view of non-painful sexual abuse rather different from an adult's. She stresses the ignorance of children about sexuality and their failure to comprehend what an adult wants or what he or she is doing. Why heavy breathing and a red face, for instance? A child has probably observed these things before, but in quite different contexts. The puzzled conclusion may simply be that this is strange and perhaps it's one of those embarrassing things that you get in trouble for talking about, so best to just keep it to yourself.
Importantly, Clancy also emphasize that there are characteristics of individual children that may make them more likely to be the victims of repeated abuse which they do not report. No, she does not say these children are "seductive"; what she does say is that they are lonely, unsupervised, and grateful for adult attention. They respond to the fascinated attentiveness of the potential abuser as a delightful experience, in sharp contrast with the indifference their caregivers may show. Without experiences of pain or fear, why should they reveal what seems to them like a romance to familiar adults who will probably cause some trouble?
Finally, Clancy says something that is for many readers the unspeakable: that given a kind, careful adult who treats them well, children may enjoy sexual experiences (we are not talking about penetration here, of course). I was reminded of a story I heard from a friend some years ago. She had left her 3-year-old boy with a 13-year-old boy babysitter, and when she came home she became aware that some sort of sex play must have been going on. All she could think of was to give the 3-year-old the old bromide, "if someone touches you and you don't like, just tell them to stop"--- to which the 3-year-old replied enthusiastically, "I liked it! When can he babysit me again?" And there you have it in a nutshell; sexual activity of the right kind is pleasurable for everybody at every age. Sexual predators know that very well, and if we want to stop their exploitation of children, we need to be honest about it too, and not to expect children to "tell on" someone who gives them pleasure.
"The Trauma Myth" is a serious effort to deal with child sexual abuse and its aftermath. I've had space here to give only the highlights of Clancy's argument, but the book contains much more of interest, including a discussion of abuse prevention programs as they now exist. I hope readers will give "The Trauma Myth" the careful attention it deserves.

http://www.psychologytoday.com

Nico Rosberg's Career

As a karting champion in France when only twelve and then youngest man to ever drive a Formula One car, aged just 17 in December 2002, Nico Rosberg's racing career has always been running in the fast lane.

Of course, being the son of the 1982 world champion Keke, who shrewdly guides his career, has certainly opened doors for the cool and assured Rosberg, who has thus far passed all the hurdles in the junior formula with ever increasing assuredness.

With his parents domiciled in Monaco, the young Nico, was a very promising tennis player but opted to take up karting as it dovetailed neatly with his education. The youngster spent five seasons in the discipline before moving up to cars in 2002 to contest the BMW Formula series in Germany. The ease with which nine race wins and the title came as some surprise to the rookie, but it opened the door for an immediate graduation into the Formula 3 Euroseries with his father's Team Rosberg for 2003.

In strong field, Nico driving an Opel powered Dallara took a win at Le Mans and placed eighth overall in his debut year, finishing second to Christian Klien in the Rookie Cup. Much was expected for the following season and a pair of wins in the opening round at Hockenheim seemed to signal a championship bid, but thereafter Rosberg's challenge stuttered, and despite a win at the Nurburgring, the German passport holder, ended up somewhat a disappointed fourth in the standings.

It was the 2005 season in which Rosberg really came of age. Away from the familiar surroundings of his father's team, Nico eventually decided to join Formula 3 graduates ASM, renamed ART, for the newly introduced GP2 series. He immediately gelled with his new team, and after a hesitant start by all concerned, the young Rosberg finally delivered a win at Magny Cours in July. This was followed by another victory following race at Silverstone and suddenly Rosberg was looking a championship contender. He eventually edged out the talented Finn Heikki Kovalainen with the pair Formula 1 aspirants well clear of the rest of the opposition.

Having already hugely impressed in his 2005 test role for Williams, it came as no surprise when young Nico was chosen to partner Mark Webber in the team for 2006. Such is Sir Frank's belief in his young charge that he has signed up the youngster to a long-term contract confident that he has true world championship potential.

His debut season in F1 though was not easy, especially given that the Williams package was far from competitive. Indeed while he had a dream start, and finished seventh on his first outing in Bahrain to score two points and set the fastest lap, he would manage only one other points' finish during the year.

Furthermore while he was hyped as the next big thing in the early part of the year, as the season progressed, his inexperience began to tell and ultimately his next best results - after seventh in Bahrain and seventh at the Nurburgring - were two ninth places finishes in Britain and America. Nico eventually ended 2006 having scored 4 points in total and was classified 17th in the drivers' championship.

Rosberg remained with Williams for 2007, where he was joined by veteran Alex Wurz, promoted from the role of test driver. Eager to bounce back from a less-than-spectacular end to his first season in F1, the German opened his account with seventh in round one and benefited from improved reliability and Toyota power in the Williams camp to get miles under his belt. However, more often than not in the first half of the season, his results did not match up to either his or the FW29's potential, with only a solitary sixth to add to his tally before the mid-point at Silverstone.

Thereafter, things looked up, with successive scores sandwiched between DNFs in the European and Japanese GPs, and a season-high of fourth at the Brazilian finale to secure ninth in the standings.

Rosberg's combative displays made his a target for rival teams, notably McLaren and Toyota, but Williams moved swiftly to quell the rumours by confirming his services were required for 2008, and then announcing a contract extension to cover 2009 as well. Whether this was a shrewd move to bump up the release fee required of any hard-to-dissuade suitor remains to be seen, but the combination believes that it can go places in the next couple of years.

Indeed, following all the promise of his first two seasons in Formula 1, 2008 was supposed to be the year in which Rosberg finally broke through – and in the opening race in Australia, it looked as if it might just live up to that promise, and launch the inaugural GP2 Series Champion on the path to superstardom that he had been threatening to tread for the entirety of his junior formulae career.

A maiden podium finish in Melbourne was the reward for a superb and mature drive from seventh on the grid, but the young German would be brought back down to earth again with a bang in round two in Malaysia just a week later, as he barely scraped through to the second part of qualifying – and race day would prove to be barely any more encouraging. Suddenly, Nico’s spectacular performance Down Under was little more than a memory, and Williams would never again regain the momentum it had displayed on that spring day in New South Wales.

There would, at least, be another rostrum along the way to highlight the gloom, with a brilliant – and entirely merited – run to the runner-up position behind Renault’s Fernando Alonso in the sport’s first-ever night race in Singapore towards the end of the campaign, which marked Rosberg’s best result in the top flight to-date.

That aside, though, there were no finishes any higher than eighth, despite no fewer than seven top ten qualifying appearances, as the son of 1982 F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg invariably out-performed the limitations of the machinery at his disposal. Third row starting spots in Monaco, Canada and Italy were magnificent cameos, but that none of them resulted in points was somewhat symptomatic of Nico’s season – one during which he gave 110 per cent week-in, week-out, only to be stymied by a car that just wasn’t up to the task, and the team knew it.

Having fought tooth-and-nail to keep hold of their star turn over the previous couple of years, Williams knew that they had to be considerably closer to the pace in 2009. The change in regulations, and the team's recognition of the double diffuser 'loophole' appeared to have given Rosberg an early leg-up but, once again, the season ultimately failed to deliver the desired reward.

Points finishes were regular, but failed to produce a podium, with fourth places in Germany and Hungary the high points. Although Rosberg finished the season seventh overall, it was clear that he remained restless and it was no surprise when overtures from elsewhere led to his departure from Grove.

Rumoured to be a target for champions Brawn GP from the middle of 2009, Rosberg duly made the move to Brackley, where he found himself the first signing for the new Mercedes works team. Any hope that he may be cast as Jenson Button's successor as championship contender, however, was tempered by the subsequent arrival of Michael Schumacher as his team-mate, the German veteran having been lured out of retirement after three years away.

Exactly what 2010 holds for Rosberg now appeared clouded. The move to Mercedes was undoubtedly a step up from Williams, but seemed unlikely to yield the chance he craved to establish himself as a winner, especially when the WO1 proved to be less formidable than its predecessor, a result of Brawn's title challenge going to the wire.

Undaunted, however, Rosberg set about his task with gusto, reeling off two fifths and two thirds in the opening four flyaway rounds. There were no wins but, the odd blip aside, Rosberg proved to be a regular pointscorer - and, crucially, overshadowed Schumacher throughout the season. He eventually finished seventh overall, best of the rest behind the Red Buill, Ferrari and McLaren duos, having added another podium at Silverstone.

Mercedes wound down development of its 2010 car midway through the season, in the hope that renewed focus on 2011 would allow both drivers to take a step forward in competitivity and, perhaps, finally elevate Rosberg to the role of racewinner. 

 

http://www.crash.ne

Coco Chanel Biography

From her first millinery shop, opened in 1912, to the 1920s, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel rose to become one of the premier fashion designers in Paris, France. Replacing the corset with comfort and casual elegance, her fashion themes included simple suits and dresses, women's trousers, costume jewelry, perfume and textiles.

Coco Chanel claimed a birthdate of 1893 and a birthplace of Auvergne; she was actually born in 1883 in Saumur. According to her version of her life story, her mother worked in the poorhouse where Gabrielle was born, and died when Gabrielle was only six, leaving her father with five children whom he promptly abandoned to the care of relatives.

She adopted the name Coco during a brief career as a cafe and concert singer 1905-1908. First a mistress of a wealthy military officer then of an English industrialist, Coco Chanel drew on the resources of these patrons in setting up a millinery shop in Paris in 1910, expanding to Deauville and Biarritz. The two men also helped her find customers among women of society, and her simple hats became popular.

Soon "Coco" was expanding to couture, working in jersey, a first in the French fashion world. By the 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably, and her chemise set a fashion trend with its "little boy" look. Her relaxed fashions, short skirts, and casual look were in sharp contrast to the corset fashions popular in the previous decades. Chanel herself dressed in mannish clothes, and adapted these more comfortable fashions which other women also found liberating.

In 1922 Coco Chanel introduced a perfume, Chanel No. 5, which became and remained popular, and remains a profitable product of Chanel's company. Pierre Wertheimer became her partner in the perfume business in 1924, and perhaps also her lover. Wertheimer owned 70% of the company; Chanel received 10% and her friend Bader 20%. The Wertheimers continue to control the perfume company today.

Coco Chanel introduced her signature cardigan jacket in 1925 and signature "little black dress" in 1926. Most of her fashions had a staying power, and didn't change much from year to year -- or even generation to generation.

She briefly served as a nurse in World War II. Nazi occupation meant the fashion business in Paris was cut off for some years; Chanel's affair during World War II with a Nazi officer also resulted in some years of diminished popularity and an exile of sorts to Switzerland. In 1954 her comeback restored her to the first ranks of haute couture. Her natural, casual clothing including the Chanel suit once again caught the eye -- and purses -- of women. She introduced pea jackets and bell bottom pants for women. She was still working in 1971 when she died. Karl Lagerfeld has been chief designer of Chanel's fashion house since 1983.

In addition to her work with high fashion, Chanel also designed stage costumes for such plays as Cocteau's Antigone (1923) and Oedipus Rex (1937) and film costumes for several movies, including Renoir's La Regle de Jeu. Katharine Hepburn starred in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco based on the life of Coco Chanel.

http://womenshistory.about.com

About Scream 4

Scream 4 (ditulis sebagai 'SCRE4M) adalah film horor/slasher yang akan rilis dan film keempat dalam serial Scream. Film ini masih akan dibuat dari pembuat aslinya, yakni sutradara Wes Craven dan penulis Kevin Williamson. Saat pertama, serial installment ini hanya dibuat sebagai trilogi, sepuluh tahun kemudian sejak film ketiganya, sang produser berkeinginan untuk membuat filmnya.^[1] Dan film ini akan dijadikan sebagai trilogi baru, memisahkan diri secara tidak langsung dengan ketiga pendahulunya. Film ini dijadwalkan akan rilis pada 15 April 2011.

Pengembangan

Film keempat ini pertama kali diumumkan The Weinstein Company pada Juli 2008,^[5] dengan Wes Craven yang berkata dia tidak keberatan akan menyutradarainya jika skenarionya sebagus Scream.^[6] Pada Maret 2010 Craven mengkonfirmasikan bahwa dia akan menjadi sutradaranya ^[7] dan menyatakan bahwa "I am delighted to accept Bob Weinstein's offer to take the reins on a whole new chapter in 'Scream' history. Working with Courteney, David and Neve was a blast ten years ago and I'm sure it will be again. And I can't wait to find the talent that will bring new blood to the screen as well. Kevin is right on his game with the new script - the characters and story crackle with energy and originality - to say nothing of some of the most hair-raising scares I've seen in a script since... well, since the original 'Scream' series. Let me at it".

Casting

Jamie Kennedy mengatakan kepada iFMagazine ditahun 2008 bahwa dia dalam perbincangan untuk kembali memerankan Randy Meeks. Mengesampingan fakta bahwa karakternya sudah meninggal di Scream 2, Kennedy berkata "I actually had a conversation with somebody very big in the organization, and there's a way. I don't know what's going to happen, but they have plans for a lot of things. You can see new faces you wouldn't expect and you can see old faces that you wouldn't believe. There's a way to bring a lot of things around."^[9] Williamson melanjutkan dengan membantah banyak rumor yang beredar sejak ide kembalinya Randy (Meeks.red), dengan berkata bahwa Randy sudah meninggal dan tidak bisa dihidupkan lagi. Dalam ajang penerimaan Golden Globe Awards, pasangan Arquette memberikan kemungkinan kembalinya mereka dalam Scream 4 dan juga Neve Campbell.^[10]
Pada sebuah wawancara pada 23 April 2010 dengan FEARnet, WIlliamson mengkonfirmasikan bahwa tiga pemain inti (Arquette,Campbell, dan Cox) akan kembali dan membantah bahwa Kennedy akan kembali dan berkata "I would love nothing more than to have Jamie Kennedy in the film. However to have Randy in the film, it sort of just takes it… I mean Scream 2 was a lie, you know? It's a false move. So I just won't do it. I can't do that. I just won't do it".^[11]
Saat konferensi pers digelar untuk Repo Men, Liev Schreiber-pemain yang memerankan Cotton Weary mengatakan tidak punya rencana untuk kembali memerankan Weary. Pada bulan april, lebih dari 12 casting dimulai untuk merebut perhatian penonton kepada filmnya.ref name="Showfax"/> Bulan selanjutnya, pemain-pemain utama baru ditawarkan kepada tiga orang yakni, Ashley Greene, Hayden Panettiere, dan Rory Culkin. Jika diterima, Greene akan memerankan Jill, sepupu Sidney; Panettiere akan memerankan Kirby; teman baik Jill; sementara Culkin akan menjadi Charlie, seorang pasangan main Jill. Lake Bell masih dalam negosiasi menjadi seorang deputi sekolah yang mengetahui Sidney sejak SMU.^[3] Namun, akhirnya Emma Robertslah yang menjadi Jill Kessler.
Dalam twitternya, Kevin Williamson memberitahu bahwa Patrick Dempsey tidak akan kembali memerankan Detektif Kinkaid.
Pada syuting yang akan dilakukan pada pergantian Juni ke Juli, beberapa nama telah dilansir akan bermain pada film ini. Diantaranya Adam Brody, Erik Knudsen, dan Marley Shelton. ^[12]

 

Scream 4 (stylized as SCRE4M) is a 2011 American slasher horror film and the fourth installment in the Scream film series. Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and Scream 2, the film stars an ensemble cast which includes David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, and Hayden Panettiere.
The plot involves Sidney Prescott returning to Woodsboro after ten years as part of her book tour. As soon as she arrives, Ghostface once again begins killing students from Woodsboro High, including her younger cousin's friends. Prescott, Gale Weathers-Riley, and Dewey Riley once again team up to stop the murders, but not before having to learn from a new generation the "new rules" of surviving horror films.
Originally, the series was intended to be a trilogy, but after ten years, Bob Weinstein thought it was the right time for another film. Depending on the box office, Scream 4 is intended to be the first of a new trilogy. Williamson had to leave production early due to contractual obligations and Ehren Kruger (Scream 3) was brought in for re-writes. Campbell, Arquette and Cox are the only returning cast members from the previous films and were the first to sign on to the film in September 2009. Panettiere and Rory Culkin were the first of the new cast to sign on in May 2010. Ashley Greene was initially the choice of the lead character, Jill, but the role eventually went to Roberts. Filming took place in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan in June 2010 to September 2010, with re-shoots in early 2011.

Plot

On the fifteenth anniversary of the original Woodsboro murders, high school students Jenny Randall (Aimee Teegarden) and Marnie Cooper (Brittany Robertson) are attacked and brutally killed by a new Ghostface.
The following day, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returns to Woodsboro to promote her new book with her publicist Rebecca Walters (Alison Brie). Sidney becomes a suspect in the murders after evidence is found in her rental car, and she must stay in town until the murders are solved. Her cousin, Jill (Emma Roberts), who is dealing with the betrayal of her ex-boyfriend, Trevor Sheldon (Nico Tortorella) gets a threatening phone call from Ghostface, as does her friend Olivia Morris (Marielle Jaffe). Jill and Olivia, alongside their friend Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere), are questioned about their calls by Dewey Riley (David Arquette), who is now the sheriff of the town, and one of his deputies, Judy Hicks (Marley Shelton). Meanwhile, Dewey's now-wife, Gale Weathers-Riley (Courteney Cox), is struggling with writer's block.
Sidney stays with her aunt Kate Roberts (Mary McDonnell). Later that night, Olivia, who lives next door to Jill, is attacked and murdered by Ghostface as Jill and Kirby watch in horror while Sidney was interrupted by a scream while reading her book. Sidney and Jill were injured in their attempt to save Olivia, and are taken to the hospital, where her publicist Rebecca is murdered in the parking garage. Gale, trying to solve the murders, enlists the help of two high school movie geeks, Charlie Walker (Rory Culkin) and Robbie Mercer (Erik Knudsen), who explain that the killer is using the rules of movie remakes to murder. Charlie concludes that the killer will probably strike at a party being held that night.
Gale goes to the party to investigate, but is attacked and injured by Ghostface, who flees as Dewey arrives. He has her taken to the hospital. Shortly afterwards, at Jill's house, policemen Anthony Perkins (Anthony Anderson) and Ross Hoss (Adam Brody) are killed. Sidney discovers that Jill has left and gone to Kirby's house, and goes down to tell Kate, but the killer arrives and chases them. Kate is killed. After Deputy Judy Hicks arrives, Sidney rushes to Kirby's house to save Jill on her own.
Jill, Kirby, Charlie, Robbie and Trevor are at Kirby's house when Ghostface appears and murders a drunken Robbie. Sidney arrives at the house. Kirby is forced to answer horror movie trivia to save Charlie, who is tied up outside. Sidney goes upstairs to find Jill, promising to return to Kirby. Believing she has won Ghostface's game, Kirby goes outside to untie Charlie, but he stabs her in the stomach and reveals himself as Ghostface. Charlie and his accomplice attack Sidney, the accomplice is revealed to be Jill. She explains that she wants the attention Sidney got, and that the two want to become famous for being the survivors of the murders and framing Trevor for it; she then pulls him out of a closet and executes him with a shot to the head. Jill kills Charlie too, to pin him as Trevor's accomplice, making her the sole survivor. Jill stabs Sidney in the stomach and mutilates herself to make it seem as if Trevor attacked her, while Dewey, Judy, and the rest of the police stumble in on the carnage.
Jill is then taken to the hospital but after discovering that Sidney had survived, she then attempts to murder Sidney. Just in time, Dewey, Gale, and Judy arrives to help her. Jill subdues Sidney's rescuers, giving Sidney the chance to attack Jill with a defibrillator and then shoot her in the chest, killing her. Dewey calls in all police units as media reporters outside confirm Jill as the "sole-surviving hero".

 

CAST

• David Arquette as Sheriff Dewey Riley
• Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott
• Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers-Riley
• Emma Roberts as Jill Roberts
• Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed
• Anthony Anderson as Deputy Anthony Perkins
• Alison Brie as Rebecca Walters
• Adam Brody as Deputy Ross Hoss
• Rory Culkin as Charlie Walker
• Marielle Jaffe as Olivia Morris
• Erik Knudsen as Robbie Mercer
• Mary McDonnell as Kate Roberts
• Marley Shelton as Deputy Judy Hicks
• Nico Tortorella as Trevor Sheldon
• Anna Paquin as Rachel
• Kristen Bell as Chloe
• Lucy Hale as Sherrie
• Shenae Grimes as Trudie
• Britt Robertson as Marnie Cooper
• Aimee Teegarden as Jenny Randall
• Roger L. Jackson as the voice of Ghostface

http://en.wikipedia.org

April Mop yang Berdarah

Oleh: Busyrol Karim

Tiap tanggal 1 April, ada saja orang—terutama anak-anak muda—yang merayakan hari tersebut dengan membuat aneka kejutan atau sesuatu keisengan. April Fools Day, demikian orang Barat menyebut hari tanggal 1 April atau lebih popular disebut sebagai ‘April Mop’. Namun tahukah Anda jika perayaan tersebut sesungguhnya berasal dari sejarah pembantaian tentara Salib terhadap Muslim Spanyol yang memang didahului dengan upaya penipuan? Inilah sejarahnya yang disalin kembali sebagiannya dari buku “Valentine Day, Natal, Happy New Year, April Mop, halloween: So What?”

Sejarah April Mop

Perayaan April Mop yang selalu diakhiri dengan kegembiraan dan kepuasan itu sesungguhnya berawal dari satu tragedi besar yang sangat menyedihkan dan memilukan. April Mop atau The April’s Fool Day berawal dari satu episode sejarah muslim Spanyol di tahun 1487 atau bertepatan dengan 892 H. Sebelum sampai pada tragedi tersebut, ada baiknya menengok sejarah Spanyol dahulu ketika masih di bawah kekuasaan Islam.

Sejak dibebaskan Islam pada abad ke-8 M oleh Panglima Thariq bin Ziyad, Spanyol berangsur-angsur tumbuh menjadi satu negeri yang makmur. Pasukan Islam tidak saja berhenti di Spanyol, namun terus melakukan pembebasan di negeri-negeri sekitar menuju Perancis. Perancis Selatan dengan mudah bisa dibebaskan. Kota Carcassone, Nimes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Poitou, Tours, dan sebagainya jatuh. Walau sangat kuat, pasukan Islam masih memberikan toleransi kepada suku Goth dan Navaro di daerah sebelah Barat yang berupa pegunungan.

Islam telah menerangi Spanyol. Karena sikap para penguasa Islam begitu baik dan rendah hati, maka banyak orang-orang Spanyol yang kemudian dengan tulus dan ikhlas memeluk Islam. Muslim Spanyol bukan hanya beragama Islam, namun mereka sungguh-sungguh mempraktekkan kehidupan secara Islami. Mereka tidak hanya membaca Al-Qur'an tapi juga bertingkah laku berdasarkan Al-Qur'an. Mereka selalu berkata tidak untuk musik, bir, pergaulan bebas, dan segala hal yang dilarang Islam. Keadaan tenteram seperti itu berlangsung hampir enam abad lamanya.

selama itu pula kaum kafir yang masih ada di sekeliling Spanyol tanpa kenal lelah terus berupaya membersihkan Islam dari Spanyol, namun mereka selalu gagal. telah beberapa kali dicoba tapi selalu tidak berhasil. Dikirimlah sejumlah mata-mata untuk mempelajari kelemahan umat Islam di Spanyol. Akhirnya mata-mata itu menemukan cara untuk menaklukkan Islam di Spanyol, yakni pertama-tama harus melemahkan iman mereka dulu dengan jalan serangan pemikiran dan budaya.

Maka mulailah secara diam-diam mereka mengirim alkohol dan rokok secara gratis ke dalam wilayah Spanyol. Musik diperdengarkan untuk membujuk kaum mudanya agar lebih suka bernyanyi dan menari ketimbang baca Qur’an. Mereka juga mengirim sejumlah ulama palsu yang kerjanya meniup-niupkan perpecahan di dalam tubuh umat Islam Spanyol. Lama-kelamaan upaya ini membuahkan hasil.

Akhirnya Spanyol jatuh dan bisa dikuasai pasukan Salib. Penyerangan oleh pasukan salib benar-benar dilakukan dengan kejam tanpa mengenal peri kemanusiaan. Tidak hanya pasukan Islam yang idbantai, juga penduduk sipil, wanita, anak-anak kecil, orang-orang tua, semuanya dihabisi dengan sadis.

Satu persatu daerah di Spanyol jatuh, Granada adalah daerah terakhir yang ditaklukkan. Penduduk-penduduk Islam di Spanyol (juga disebut orang Moor) terpaksa berlindung di dalam rumah untuk menyelamatkan diri. Tentara-tentara Kristen terus mengejar mereka.

ketika jalan-jalan sudah sepi, tinggal menyisakan ribuan mayat yang bergelimpangan bermandikan genangan darah, tentara Salib mengetahui bahwa banyak Muslim Granada yang masih bersembunyi di rumah-rumah. Dengan lantang tentara Salib itu meneriakkan pengumuman, bahwa para Muslim Granada bisa keluar dari rumah dengan aman dan diperbolehkan berlayar keluar dari Spanyol dengan membawa barang-barang keperluan mereka. “Kapal-kapal yang akan membawa kalian keluar dari Spanyol sudah kami persiapkan di pelabuhan. Kami menjamin keselamatan kalian jika ingin keluar dari Spanyol, setelah ini maka kami tidak lagi memberikan jaminan!” demikian bujuk tentara Salib.

Orang-orang Islam masih curiga dengan tawaran ini. Beberapa dari orang Islam diperbolehkan melihat sendiri kapal-kapal penumpang yang sudah dipersiapkan di pelabuhan. Setelah benar-benar melihat ada kapal yang sudah dipersiapkan, maka Mereka segera bersiap untuk meninggalkan Granada bersama-sama menuju ke kapal-kapal tersebut. Mereka pun bersiap untuk berlayar.

Keesokan harinya, ribuan penduduk Muslim Granada yang keluar dari rumah-rumahnya dengan membawa seluruh barang-barang keperluannya beriringan jalan menuju pelabuhan. Beberapa orang Islam yang tidak mempercayai tentara Salib bertahan dan terus bersembunyi di rumah-rumahnya. Setelah ribuan umat Islam Spanyol berkumpul di pelabuhan, dengan cepat tentara Salib menggeledah rumah-rumah yang Telah ditinggalkan penghuninya. Lidah api terlihat menjilat-jilat angkasa ketika para tentara Salib itu membakari rumah-rumah tersebut bersama orang-orang Islam yang masih bertahan di dalamnya.

Sedang ribuan umat Islam yang tertahan di pelabuhan hanya bisa terpana ketika tentara Salib juga membakari kapal-kapal yang dikatakan akan mengangkut mereka keluar dari Spanyol. Kapal-kapal itu dengan cepat tenggelam. Ribuan umat Islam tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa karena sama sekali tidak bersenjata. Mereka juga kebanyakan terdiri dari para perempuan dan anak-anaknya yang masih kecil-kecil. sedang tentara Salib itu telah mengepung mereka dengan pedang terhunus.

Dengan satu teriakan dari pemimpinnya, ribuan tentara Salib itu segera membantai dan menghabisi umat Islam Spanyol tanpa perasaan belas kasihan. Jerit tangis dan takbir membahana. Dengan buas tentara Salib terus membunuhi warga sipil yang sama sekali tidak berdaya.

seluruh Muslim Spanyol di pelabuhan itu habis dibunuh dengan kejam. Darah menggenang di mana-mana. Laut yang biru telah berubah menjadi merah kehitam-hitaman. tragedi ini bertepatan dengan tanggal 1 April. Inilah yang kemudian diperingati oleh dunia Kristen setiap tanggal 1 April sebagai April Mop (The Aprils Fool Day).

Bagi umat Islam April Mop tentu merupakan tragedi yang sangat menyedihkan. Hari di mana ribuan saudara-saudaranya seiman disembelih dan dibantai oleh tentara Salib di Granada, Spanyol. Sebab itu, adalah sangat tidak pantas jika ada orang Islam yang ikut-ikutan merayakan tradisi ini. Sebab dengan ikut merayakan April Mop, sesungguhnya orang-orang Islam itu ikut bergembira dan tertawa atas tragedi tersebut. Siapa pun orang Islam yang turut merayakan April Mop, maka ia sesungguhnya tengah merayakan ulang tahun pembunuhan massal ribuan saudara-saudaranya di Granada, Spanyol, beberapa abad silam.

Sumber: moslemyouth.multiply.com dan buntetpesantren.org

Sejarah Borobudur

Sejarah mencatat Borobudur adalah candi terbesar yang pernah dibangun untuk penghormatan terhadap sang Budha. Bayangkan saja bangunannya mencapai 14.000m persegi dengan ketinggian hingga 35,29m. Sebuah prasasti Cri Kahuluan yang berasal dari abad IX (824 Masehi) yang diteliti oleh Prof Dr J.G. Casparis, mengungkap silsilah tiga Wangsa Syailendra yang berturut-turut berkuasa pada masa itu, yakni Raja Indra, Putranya Samaratungga. Kemudian, putrinya yang bernama Samaratungga Pramodawardhani.

Pada masa Raja Samaratungga inilah mulainya dibangun candi yang bernama: Bhumisan-Bharabudhara, yang diduga berarti timbunan tanah, bukit atau tingkat-tingkat bangunan yang diidentikan dengan sebutan vihara kamulan Bhumisambharabudhara, yang mempunyai arti sebuah vihara nenek moyang dan Dinasti Syailendra di daerah perbukitan.

Letak candi ini memang diatas perbukitan yang terletak di Desa Borobudur, Mungkid, Magelang atau 42 km sebelah laut kota Yogyakarta. Dikelilingi Bukit Manoreh yang membujur dari arah timur ke barat. Sementara di sebelah timur terdapat Gunung Merapi dan Merbau, serta disebelah barat ada Gunumg Sindoro dan Gunung Sumbing.

Dibutuhkan tak kurang dari 2 juta balok batu andesit atau setara dengan 50.000m persegi untuk membangun Candi Borobudur ini. Berat keseluruhan candi mencapai 3,5 juta ton. Seperti umumnya bangunan candi, Bororbudur memiliki 3 bagian bangunan, yaitu kaki, badan dan atas. Bangunan kaki disebut Kamadhatu, yang menceritakan tentang kesadaran yang dipenuhi dengan hawa nafsu dan sifat-sifat kebinatangan. Kemudian Ruphadatu, yang bermakna sebuah tingkatan kesadaran manusia yang masih terikat hawa nafsu, materi dan bentuk. Sedangkan Aruphadatu yang tak lagi terikat hawa nafsu, materi dan bentuk digambarkan dalam bentuk stupa induk yang kosong. Hal ini hanya dapat dicapai dengan keinginan dan kekosongan.

Sumber: http://id.shvoong.com/humanities/history/

AcTing career of Matt Lanter

Matthew Mackendree "Matt" Lanter (born April 1, 1983) is an American actor, former reality TV star and model, perhaps best known for his roles in Commander in Chief, 90210, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Disaster Movie, Sorority Row and Vampires Suck.

 Lanter was born in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio, the son of Joseph "Joe" Lanter and Jana Burson.^[1] He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1991 at age 8 and graduated from Collins Hill High School in 2001. He played baseball, football, basketball, gymnastics and golf and was a batboy for the Atlanta Braves. He attended University of Georgia, majoring in Sports Business. But an interest in the film and television industry created a strong desire to pursue acting instead.
In 2004, Lanter was a contestant on Bravo's reality show Manhunt: The Search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model. He did not win the series.

Within a few weeks of moving to Los Angeles, California, Lanter successfully auditioned for the role of Nick on the Supernatural Teen-Drama Fox series Point Pleasant. He had a major recurring role throughout the series first and only season. He has since then appeared in television shows such as Grey's Anatomy, 8 Simple Rules, Big Love and Heroes.

In April 2005, he signed on to become a series regular portraying the role of Horace Calloway on ABC's Political Drama series Commander in Chief opposite Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland. The series premiered on September 27, 2005 and had a high series debut but was cancelled on June 14, 2006.





In December 2006, he was announced to play the role of Anakin Skywalker for Warner Bros CGI Animated Science Fiction/Action film Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The film which was released on August 15, 2008 received generally negative reviews from critics. The film had box office success earning worldwide $69,182,844. He was announced to reprise the role of Anakin in a Spin-Off Animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars which premiered on October 3, 2008 on the Cartoon Network. He has also reprised his role in various Video Games based on the franchise. The series third season premiered in October, 2010.
In 2008, he took on the lead role as Zach Conroy in The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream, with Francia Raisa.
In February 2008, he was announced to portray the central character Will, in Lionsgate's Parody/Comedy film Disaster Movie. The film is written and directed by directing and screenwriting duo Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer who have previously worked on other Parody films such as Meet The Spartans and Epic Movie. The film spoofs recent disaster films such as Cloverfield. He stars with Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Minnillo and Carmen Electra. The film, which was released on August 29, 2008, was a critical bomb. The film grossed over $34 million worldwide and received extremely negative reviews from critics, as well as six nominations at the 29th Golden Raspberry Awards.

 In October 2008, he was announced to star in Summit Entertainment's remake of the cult 1983 Slasher film The House on Sorority Row. The film stars Briana Evigan, Audrina Patridge and Rumer Willis. Sorority Row was released on September 11, 2009 and received negative reviews.

In 2009, he began a major recurring role on The CW's 90210 portraying the role of Liam Court. In September 2009, he was announced as a series regular for the second series. The series is a modern day remake of the '90s Teen Drama series Beverly Hills, 90210. In March 2010, he signed on for another parody project with Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, 20th Century Fox's Vampires Suck. He played Edward Sullen, a spoof of Edward Cullen from The Twilight Saga. The film was released on August 18, 2010.

In May 2009, it was announced he had signed on for the role of Jason Webber in Screen Gems' horror film The Roommate. Starring with Minka Kelly and Leighton Meester, filming took place in 2009. The film originally was scheduled for an October 2010 release but was pushed forward to September 17, 2010. However, Screen Gems pushed it to February 4, 2011. He has also signed on to voice the role of Sled in Tinker Bell: A Winter Story which will be released Straight-to-DVD in 2011.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Lanter

Discovering Facebook Pages

You probably have a Facebook profile, but does your band, business or client have a Facebook Page? Pages are a great way to connect with fans and consumers, and we're going to show you how to customize and maximize your FB Page.

 Social networking king Facebook is one of the most visited websites in the world. It has over 500 million active users with 50% logging in daily, and users spend over 700 billion minutes per month using the service. While you and most of your friends and family have a Facebook profile, Facebook Pages - whether for a business, organization, band, group, cause, or celebrity – are something entirely different. Pages can help in marketing and awareness, as well as customer and fan communication.
Your Facebook Page can serve as a website where you can display your business or organization details and keep customers or fans up-to-date with happenings, new products, and other news. When Facebook users “Like” your Page, they’ll see your posts in their News Feed, plus their friends will be notified in their News Feed that you “Like” a specific Page. Given that the average user has 130 friends, the potential exposure and buzz is something to be desired, for sure.

Since Facebook Pages are visible to the public even without a Facebook account and are indexed in search engines, you might even consider creating a Facebook Page over making a traditional website if you don’t already have one.
If you haven’t created a Facebook Page yet, visit www.Facebook.com and click the “Create a Page” link. You’ll need to link it to a personal Facebook Profile. If you don’t have one yet, it will let you create one. Then in the future to make edits to your Page, you first login to your personal Facebook Profile. Then you can click the Account menu and select Use Facebook as Page. You can also assign others as administrators of the Page, which would similarly link it to their personal profile.
Customizing your Facebook Page can help enhance the user experience and improve marketing. First, you should fill in your Basic Information which is shown to users on your Info tab.

Then we’ll start by customizing your website address (URL) and adding photos. Then we’ll discover some applications (apps) that can help you add custom content.
We’ll also see how to add custom tabs to your Page from scratch, so you can display generic HTML and other web content. This used to be made possible by using Static FBML apps, but that method was removed in March 2011 and replaced by using iFrames.

www.tomsguide.com

Manny Pacquiao's 10 Greatest Achievements

Boxer, actor, musician and politician Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest and most accomplished people to come out of the Philippines. He is also one of the most influential and he continues to inspire the citizens of his country and other people all around the world.
His accomplishments inside and outside the ring surpass that of anyone else in sports right now. His ability to destroy opponents with a single punch in contrast to his easy-going personality is that of a true champion who loves to give the fans what they want while being successful in every meaning of the word.
When he takes on Shane Mosley this weekend, he will be looking to beat another superstar of his time, but it will only be another add-on to his already incredible amount of achievements if he emerges victorious.

Based on how the first two fights went between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO) and Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO), it's almost impossible to predict what's in store for their third bout on Nov. 12th.

A victory for either fighter will be as if they won all three fights, and that makes this one the most important fight of both boxers' extensive careers.
They first met in 2004 for the featherweight championship. After being knocked down three times in the first round, Marquez fought back to be awarded a controversial draw.
Their rematch occurred in 2008, and Marquez found himself fighting to get off the canvas again to lose a split decision after 12 rounds.
Without a decisive victory over his opponent, Pacquiao will take on the Mexican boxer and hope to put all the controversy to rest in their rubber match, which will go down on HBO PPV.
Here are 10 bold predictions for the megafight.

/bleacherreport.com/articles

The history of krakatau

The most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history occurs on Krakatau (also called Krakatoa), a small, uninhabited volcanic island located west of Sumatra in Indonesia, on this day in 1883. Heard 3,000 miles away, the explosions threw five cubic miles of earth 50 miles into the air, created 120-foot tsunamis and killed 36,000 people.
Krakatau exhibited its first stirrings in more than 200 years on May 20, 1883. A German warship passing by reported a seven-mile high cloud of ash and dust over Krakatau. For the next two months, similar explosions would be witnessed by commercial liners and natives on nearby Java and Sumatra. With little to no idea of the impending catastrophe, the local inhabitants greeted the volcanic activity with festive excitement.
On August 26 and August 27, excitement turned to horror as Krakatau literally blew itself apart, setting off a chain of natural disasters that would be felt around the world for years to come. An enormous blast on the afternoon of August 26 destroyed the northern two-thirds of the island; as it plunged into the Sunda Strait, between the Java Sea and Indian Ocean, the gushing mountain generated a series of pyroclastic flows (fast-moving fluid bodies of molten gas, ash and rock) and monstrous tsunamis that swept over nearby coastlines. Four more eruptions beginning at 5:30 a.m. the following day proved cataclysmic. The explosions could be heard as far as 3,000 miles away, and ash was propelled to a height of 50 miles. Fine dust from the explosion drifted around the earth, causing spectacular sunsets and forming an atmospheric veil that lowered temperatures worldwide by several degrees.
Of the estimated 36,000 deaths resulting from the eruption, at least 31,000 were caused by the tsunamis created when much of the island fell into the water. The greatest of these waves measured 120 feet high, and washed over nearby islands, stripping away vegetation and carrying people out to sea. Another 4,500 people were scorched to death from the pyroclastic flows that rolled over the sea, stretching as far as 40 miles, according to some sources.
In addition to Krakatau, which is still active, Indonesia has another 130 active volcanoes, the most of any country in the world.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/krakatau-explodes

Mutiara Hikmah Isra' Mi'raj

TIAP tanggal 27 Rajab umat Islam memperingati peristiwa Isra’ Mi’raj Nabi Muhammad SAW. Salah satu mukjizat Nabi SAW berupa perjalanan malam hari dari Masjid Haram Makkah) ke Masjid Aqsha (Palestina) dilanjutkan dengan “naik” ke Sidratul Muntaha menghadap Allah SWT. Dalam Alquran, peristiwa itu disebutkan dalam dua ayat.

Peristiwa Isra’ disebutkan dalam QS. Isra: 1, ‘‘Mahasuci Dzat yang telah menjalankan hamba-Nya (Muhammad) pada waktu sebagian dari malam hari dari masjid Al-Haram ke masjid Al-Aqsha yang telah Kami beri berkah sekelilingnya agar Kami dapat menunjukkan kepadanya sebagian dari tanda-tanda kebesaran Kami…”

Sedangkan peristiwa Mi’raj disebutkan dalam QS. An-Najm: 13-18: ”Dan sesungguhnya Muhammad telah melihat Jibril itu (dalam rupanya yang asli) pada waktu yang lain, (yaitu) di Sidratul Muhtaha. Di dekatnya ada surga tempat tinggal. (Muhammad melihat Jibril) ketika Sidratil Muntaha diliputi oleh sesuatu yang meliputinya. Penglihatannya (Muhammad) tidak berpaling dari yang dilihatnya itu dan tidak (pula) melampauinya. Sesungguhnya dia telah melihat sebagian tanda-tanda (kekuasaan) Tuhannya yang paling besar.’‘

Tujuan Isra Mi’raj adalah untuk memperlihatkan sebagian bukti atau tanda kekuasaan dan kebesaran Allah SWT (QS. 17:1) serta untuk menguji keimanan manusia (QS. 17:60).

Di kalangan ulama muncul pendapat, tujuan Isra’ Mi’raj adalah lit-tatsbit (untuk memantapkan atau mengukuhkan Nabi SAW dalam posisi kenabian dan kerasulannya), lit-takrim (untuk memuliakan Nabi SAW sebagai makhluk pilihan Allah SWT), dan listi’dalil quwah (untuk mempersiapkan keknatan jasmaniah, ruhaniah, dan aqliah Nabi SAW dalam menjalankan tugas-tugas kenabian dan kerasulannya).

Sebelum Isra’ Mi’raj, situasi dan kondisi Nabi SAW sangat memprihatinkan karena wafatnya paman beliau, Abu Thalib, dan istri beliau, Siti Khadijah. Padahal, keduanya merupakan pelindung dan pendukung utama Nabi SAW dalam mengemban risalah Islam. Dengan Isra’ Mi’raj, keimanan atau kekuatan mental beliau bertambah kuat. Keganasan, kebrutalan, dan kekerasan umat yang didakwahinya dihadapi dengan kesabaran yang luar biasa, karena yakin akan perlindungan Allah SWT dan kebenaran risalah yang dibawanya.

Petikan hikmah
Pertama, diriwayatkan, sebelum Isra Mi’raj, Nabi SAW “dibedah” oleh malaikat untuk membersihkan jiwanya dari sifat-sifat buruk. Itu menunjukkan, sebelum menghadap Allah SWT untuk menjalankan ibadah, kita harus membersihkan dulu jiwa-raga kita, niat-hati dan jasmani, dari segala kotoran atau najis, dari niat yang tidak ikhlas, dan dari pemahaman-pemahaman yang sesat. Ibadah akan mardud atau tidak sah bila niat kita tidak ikhlas, dinodai bid’ah atau tidak
didasari ilmu (QS. Al-Bayyinah: 5, Al-Hajj: 37, Al-Isra: 36 & 84, Al-Ma’un: 6).

Lebih luasnya, kebersihan jiwa-raga adalah suatu keharusan manakala kita menghadap Allah SWT di akhir kelak. Karena, al-Islaamu nazhifun, fatanazh zhafu fa innahu laa yadkhulul jannata illa nazhiif (Islam itu bersih, maka bersihkanlah jiwa-ragamu, karena sesungguhnya tidak akan masuk surga kecuali orang-orang yang bersih). Tentu saja, untuk kebersihan itu, “celupan”-nya (shibghah) adalah Islam.

Kedua, ketika Abu Thalib dan Siti Khadijah meninggal dunia, Nabi SAW merasa sedih luar biasa, sehingga tahun itu dinamakan Amul Hazn (Tahun Kesedihan). Itu menunjukkan, dalam berdakwah orang perlu pelindung, pendukung, atau pemacu semangat. Seorang dai perlu tema natau pendamping. Siti Khadijah merupakan simbol seorang istri atau wanita yang menunjang perjuangan suami dalam berdakwah.

Ketiga, dalam QS. 17: 1 Allah SWT menyatakan, Isra’ Mi’raj bertujuan antara lain untuk memperlihatkan sebagian ayat atau tanda (bukti) kekuasaan-Nya. Hal itu merupakan sinyal, kita pun harus memperhatikan ayat-Nya sehingga keimanan akan eksistensi dan kekuasaan Allah SWT tertanam kuat dalam diri. Ayat-ayat itu meliputi ayat qauliyah (firman Allah yang terhimpun dalam Alquran) dan ayat kauniyah (segala ciptaan Allah SWT).

Keempat, salah satu tempat yang terkait dengan Isra’ Mi’raj adalah Masjid Aqsha. Setidaknya, momentum peringatan Isra’ Mi’raj kali ini dapat dijadikan momentum bangkitnya kepedulian terhadap nasib Al-Aqsha dan Muslim Palestina. Apalagi ada sinyal kaum Zionis hendak meruntuhkan masjid tersebut dan melenyapkan simbol-simbol Islam di Jerusalem.

“Oleh-oleh” Utama
“Oleh-oleh” utama Isra’ Mi’raj adalah perintah shalat. Shalat adalah satu-satunya kewajiban dan menjadi kebutuhan umat Islam yang amar-nya diturunkan langsung oleh Allah SWT. Hal itu menunjukkan betapa tingginya posisi ibadah shalat. Wajar, kalau kemudian shalat, sebagaimana tersebut dalam sejumlah hadis Nabi SAW, merupakan “tiang agama”, akan runtuh keislaman seseorang jika meninggalkan atau tidak mendirikan shalat. Sebab, shalat merupakan penentu diterima-tidaknya amal saleh seseorang serta menjadi ibadah (ritual) paling utama dalam Islam. Shalat juga merupakan amal perbuatan yang pertama kali dihisab di akhirat dan menentukan baik-buruknya amal seseorang.

Shalat merupakan ibadah yang tidak boleh ditinggalkan, pembeda (criterium) antara umat Islam dan kafirin, penentu kebaikan dan keburukan amal seseorang (QS. 29: 45, 70: 19-23), dan merupakan manifestasi inti akidah Islam (tauhid).

Pada bulan Rajab, khususnya momentum peringatan Isra’ Mi’raj, seyogianya kita mengevaluasi shalat kita selama ini: sudahkah dilaksanakan sesuai sunnah Rasul? Sudah pahamkah kita akan makna bacaan dan gerakan shalat? Sudah khusyukah shalat kita selama ini? Berdampakkah shalat kita pada perilaku keseharian?

Selain itu, dalam Alquran setidaknya disebutkan tiga golongan mushali atau pelaku shalat. Yaitu, : khasyi’un, sahun, dan yuraun. Kita bisa melakukan introspeksi, termasuk kelompok manakah kita?

Golongan khasyi’un (adalah mereka yang mendirikan shalat dengan sungguh-sungguh (khusyu’), mengetahui ilmu shalat, ikhlas dalam mendirikannya, menjadikan shalat sebagai kebutuhan, serta merealisasikan apa yang diucapkannya dalam shalat dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Karenanya, shalat golongan ini berpengaruh terhadap perilakunya, yaitu dapat mencegah dari perbuatan keji dan munkar (QS. 29: 45).

Golongan sahun (QS. 107:5) adalah mereka yang melakukan shalat dengan lalai, sering (atau sengaja) lupa karena tidak merasakannya sebagai kebutuhan, dan menganggap shalat sebagai beban.

Sedangkan golongan yuraa’un (QS. 107: 6) adalah mereka yang melakukan shalat dengan niat yang tidak ikhlas, ibadah shalatnya ternodai perasaan atau keinginan dipuji atau dilihat orang lain, motivasi shalatnya bukan kesadaran. Wallahu a’lam bish-shawab. (ASM. Romli, Published @ Republika).*

http://pusdai.wordpress.com

Obat untuk BISUL

Bisul merupakan infeksi kulit yang paling umum disebabkan oleh bakteri Staphylococcus. Bisul biasanya muncul secara tiba-tiba sebagai benjolan merah muda atau merah yang menyakitkan, benjolan terisi dengan nanah dan kulit di sekitarnya juga dapat menjadi merah dan bengkak dalam waktu 24 jam.

Bisul bisa menjadi akut atau penyakit kulit kronis, tergantung pada berapa lama mereka bertahan. Dalam kasus yang jarang terjadi, bisul mungkin pertanda adanya masalah kekebalan yang mendasari penyakit lainnya. Orang dengan diabetes, kanker, alkoholisme atau HIV/AIDS dan orang-orang di kemoterapi sangat rentan terhadap untuk terkena bisul. Bisul kronis berlangsung lebih lama dan disebabkan oleh infeksi parah dan infeksi persisten dan membutuhkan obat dan waktu yang lama untuk menyembuhkan.

Bisul umumnya hasil dari infeksi lokal dan dapat diobati dengan aplikasi topikal sederhana. Mereka hanya bertahan selama beberapa minggu dan dapat diobati dengan menggunakan obat yang dapat Anda temukan di rumah Anda.

Tanaman herbal pada kenyataannya membantu dalam memulai proses penyembuhan kulit yang terinfeksi dengan cara alami dengan sedikit efek samping. Berikut ini cara mengobati bisul secara alami :

1. Bawang putih dan bawang putih
Bawang putih dan bawang merah telah terbukti paling efektif di antara beberapa obat herbal yang ditemukan bermanfaat dalam pengobatan bisul. Anda dapat menerapkan jus bawang putih atau bawang merah dalam rangka untuk mempercepat proses pematangan bisul sehingga memungkinkan nanah dari bisul mengalir keluar dan cepat mengering. Anda juga dapat menerapkan campuran yang mengandung jumlah yang sama dari bawang merah dan bawang putih pada permukaan bisul. Anda juga dapat menyertakan 2 atau 3 buah bawang putih dalam diet Anda untuk memastikan penyembuhan bisul.

2. Sayuran pare
Kita dapat menggunakan sayuran pare untuk bisul pengobatan. Pare yang biasanya mempunyai rasa pahit merupakan obat yang efektif untuk bisul. Secangkir jus segar dari sayuran ini, dicampur dengan satu sendok teh air jeruk nipis dapat diminum setiap hari secara teratur selama beberapa bulan untuk mengobati bisul.

3. Kunyit
Kita juga bisa menggunakan kunyit untuk pengobatan bisul. Menerapkan bubuk kunyit pada bisul dapat mempercepat proses penyembuhan bisul. Dalam kasus bisul yang baru tumbuh, anda dapat membakar beberapa akar kunyit, melarutkan abu dalam semangkok air dan kemudian menerapkan di atas area yang terkena. Solusi ini membantu bisul matang dan pecah.(sumber:nuryanti.info)

http://udechi.blogspot.com/2011/09/tanaman-obat-untuk-mengobati-bisul.html

Tuyul itu apa ya ?

Ribut-ribut soal penampakan tuyul yang terekam hape dan ditayangkan di televisi mengingatkan saya akan kuliah dulu. Nama mata kuliahnya Etnografi Kejahatan Di Indonesia, yang turut membahas soal tuyul itu (keren abies yah kuliahnya!).

Anyway, salah satu bahasannya adalah gambaran fenomena tuyul ini di tengah masyarakat Indonesia. Jadi menurut sejumlah penelitian ada hal-hal tertentu yang dipercayai oleh masyarakat. Diantaranya:

1.Fisik tuyul itu gak lucu.
Lupakan deh soal penampilan lucu Oni di tuyul dan mbak yul atau Ateng di film tuyulnya dulu. Karena untuk masyarakat paranormal yang benar-benar percaya tuyul yakin bahwa iblis kecil itu jauh dari gambaran film. Penampilannya pendek, berbulu hitam dan sedikit berlendir dengan gigi yang agak runcing (mirip sama simpanse yang ileran mungkin).

2. Tuyul itu menyusui
Mungkin saja tuyul ini berjenis mamalia jadi dia menyusui. Apa yang diminum? Jadi menurut kepercayaan setiap yang memelihara tuyul harus merelakan istrinya (atau dirinya kalau yang melihara cewek) untuk menyusui si tuyul tiap pagi. Buat para istri silahkan bayangkan menyusui sesuatu yang bergigi runcing.

3. Rumah pemelihara tuyul biasanya banyak warna.
Siap-siap mengganti warna rumah buat yang suka cat warna-warni. KArena katanya rumah pemelihara tuyul itu warnanya warna-warni. Tuyulnya gaul kali jadi seneng warna nge-jreng.

4. Pemelihara tuyul sering menaruh tangannya dibelakang ketika jalan.
Lupakan bergaya cool dengan menaruh tangan di punggung  sewaktu berjalan. Karena katanya ini cirri orang yang sedang mengajak tuyulnya berjalan-jalan (emangnya anjing peliharaan yah yang perlu diajak jalan?).

5. Tuyul itu paling jago menghilang
Okay, no wonder khan mereka suka dipakai mencuri. Karena konon katanya diantara kelompok dedemit dan kawan-kawannya dia ini paling jago ngilang. Beda dengan kuntil anak yang suka gelayutan di pohon sambil ketawa-ketiwi.Atau pocong yang suka loncat sana-sini. Tuyul ini jago menyamarkan diri dan sangat sulit dilihat. Jadi kalau sampai kerekam di hape dan tayang di televise sepertinya tuh tuyul udah dipecat dari peredaran.

6. Ada yang namanya pasar tuyul
Dimana cari tuyul? Apa musti bertapa? Puasa? Ternyata gak perlu, karena di sejumlah daerah di Indonesia sudah ada yang namanya pasar tuyul (jangan-jangan ada franchise-nya). Harga tuyulnya bervariasi sesuai dengan kemampuan mencurinya setiap hari.Kalo gak salah harganya sepuluh kali lipat kemampuan mencurinya setiap hari.

Jadi dari gambaran ini ajah sepertinya udah kelihatan yah penampakan tuyul di hape itu betulan atau tidak. Lagi pula masih banyak deh yang musti kita urusin selain tuyul ituh. Dan pertanyaan besarnya berapa harga tuyul yang katanya bisa nyolong Rp6,7 triliun?

update: di comment ada yang nanya soal pencegahaanya. Sebelum saya jawab, perlu di jelaskan bahwa saya bukan dukun, huehehe. Jadi keterangan di atas itu juga bukan mengiyakan keberadaan tuyul. Tapi hanya menggambarkan bagaimana masyarakat mempercayainya.

Nah kalau ada yang tanya, ada beberapa kepercayaan juga tentang pencegahan tuyul ini. Pertama, dengan menaruh yuyukangkang (sejenis kepiting) di dalam sebuah baskom. Karena katanya si tuyul akan memainkannya dan kemudian tanpa disadari akan dijepit sama si yuyu tadi. Kedua adalah dengan menaruh biji kacang hijau lebih dari sepuluh. Karena tuyul tidak bisa menghitung lebih dari sepuluh dan akhirnya dia akan kebingungan dan menghitungnya sampai pagi. Apa betul demikian? Wong keberadaan tuyul ajah saya masih ragu-ragu koq! Jadi terserah sama yang baca saja

http://anakkrim.info