Friday, September 29, 2006

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Ramadan


As many of you may know the Islamic month of Ramadan started on Saturday. I know that a number of people wonder what it is all about so I have decided to post some of the basic facts and information about Ramadan on this blog. However if anyone has any specific questions which are not answered below please do not hesitate to email me or to post the question or comment or remark in the comment box. I'll try get back to you as soon as possibble.


Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn till dusk abstaining from food and drink.


Muslims believe that while fasting is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. Muslims believe that when an individual abstains from the worldly comforts such as food and drink he/she gains true sympathy with those who go hungry while growing in his his/her spiritual life.


During the month of Ramadan Muslims are encouraged to perform tarawih which is a prayer service read every night in the mosque during which the Quran is recited. Over the twenty nine or thirty nights of Ramadan the entire Quran will be recited at least once. Muslims are also asked to be more charitable during the month of Ramadan, Muslims believe that there are great rewards in offering some food or drink to help others to break their fasts. Muslims also spend a greater amount of time reciting the Quran on a personal basis.

Monday, September 25, 2006

If you're into music, Oxjam want to know what you think


In return for your words of wisdom, you could win t-shirts signed by Kasabian, Hard Fi and Art Brut, and top music DVDs from Universal Music.


Oxjam want to know what you think about live music. Do you go to gigs? Are you in a band? Would you like to be? Click the link below to fill in the quick two-minute survey.


http://updates.oxfam.org.uk/apps/redir.aspx?type=2&l=UcbebI&t=f64-8b-8b-a4a-25bb8e&U=http%3a%2f%2fqnr.surveyshack.com%2fs%2fNGmsP6XosvrSfXjbiFh9

Sunday, September 24, 2006

STOP PRESS - last chance to renew your passport before price hike


There's still time to renew your passport without getting onto the National Identity Register - the massive database at the heart of the ID card scheme - but the government is hiking the cost of 10 years' freedom to £66 from October 5th. You can expect further rises so if you have just a few years left to run on your passport, now's the time to renew.


As a part of 'Renew for Freedom' campaign, NO2ID would particularly like to hear from anyone who gets a NON-chipped passport after Oct 1st.


For more information and our factsheet, see http://www.renewforfreedom.org/.
If you do renew and receive an old style passport after 1/10/06, please send an e-mail to renewforfreedom@no2id.net

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The West Wing - Complete Season 7


The West Wing Season 7 was released on DVD yesterday and being a massive fan of the programme I spent my lunch break yesterday going through HMV looking for a copy. Luckily just as I was about to give up a shop assistant came over and asked if I needed any help and directed to me to where he thought they were. When I got there I happen to pick out the only one left.


So upon getting home at the end of the evening I spent my evening watching The Ticket, The Mommy Problem, Message of the Week, Mr. Frost, Here Today, The Al Smith Dinner and The Debate.


So far in the series they have managed to give us a good mix of the national security leak and the presidential campaign. Plus there was also the news involving the Bartlet’s daughter Ellie (Eleanor).

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Liberal Democrat Voice


Rob Fenwick a Liberal Democrat activist and supporter who was the Liberal Democrat’s Internet Campaigns Officer during the last general election has set up Liberal Democrat Voice as place for Liberal Democrat activists and members to talk and discuss


Anyone can submit a piece to appear on the blog, and entries are actively welcomed.


There is also a private conversation space on the forum. The forum is intended for Liberal Democrat party members only, and you set the agenda. The forum is not edited, though moderators will be on hand to mediate in any difficulties.


Liberal Democrat Voice is not an “official” blog so I imagine that from time to time there maybe things on Liberal Democrat Voice which party officials rather you didn’t see or read.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Taking Power


Today, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Liberal Democrat Peer Lord (Paul) Tyler, launched Taking Power, an online conference to look at the way in which Britain is run.


The project aims to re-engage people with the political process, the conference takes forward the work of the Power Inquiry which reported earlier this year and came down in favour of a fundamental change in the way that Britain is governed.


The Taking Power conference is being led by Liberal Democrat Peer Lord (Paul) Tyler and is a cross party event with former government ministers Michael Meacher MP and George Young MP also involved.


The conference is not only aimed at those who over the coming month will be enjoying the highlights of the political conference season in Brighton, Manchester and Bournemouth, but at the many people who have an interest in how this country is run and feel that this needs to change.


I would urge all readers to go to the Taking Power website and have a look at the issues that are being discussed. There will be a great number of topics that will be discussed


You can find the Taking Power website at www.takingpower.org