I'm hoping Kim Kyong-hui, Jong Il's little sister, who tends to be described by the Western press as a "cantankerous alcoholic," will add some festive color to this otherwise dreary holiday season.

Even when she's in a good mood and laying off the sauce, Kyong-hui is reportedly rather "unpredictable" and not all that easy to get along with. (Her own daughter chose to kill herself in Paris rather than return to Pyongyang. Which is something that cruel and cynical people might interpret as a comment on Kyong-hui's parenting skills.)

Since she and Jong Il were supposedly very, very close, or as very, very close as two homicidal psychopath siblings can be very, very close, I'm guessing that Kyong-hui's probably drowning her sorrows right now, along with a few randomly chosen political rivals.

I'm certain that a loving, devoted sister such as Kyong-hui couldn't possibly have played any role whatsoever in her brother's death. Other than limitless power over millions of starving, servile people, and instant access to untold wealth, what would Kyong-hui have gained from fratricide?

Very few seem to realize the drastic changes that the new decade has brought in. The political landscape in 2011 has been quite overwhelming, if not surprising to say the least. In terms of political shock, I don't quite recall there being a year that compares to the one we are currently presiding in. Within the small time frame of 365 days, we have witnessed three colossal deaths: Bin Laden, Qaddafi, and the recent passing of Kim Jong II. For the Western society, the passing of those three global figures is the best Christmas gift they could have hoped to receive. While most of the western youth is focused on the latest trendy fashion, such as shamballa bracelets , the rest of the world is anxiously waiting for the present turmoil to unravel and bring forth the unpredictable. We may find asking ourselves: is our present and future truly so unpredictable, or are we just not paying enough attention to those responsible for these events?

Why people at North Korean must be follow crazy guy like Kim Jong il.His face like pig face. I hope North Korean have freedom after he died.

Qingming festival, also known as the Tomb Sweeping Day or ancestor day, which falls annually on April 5, is a day when Chinese around the world remember their dearly departed and take time off to clean up the tombs and place flowers and offerings. Chinese flock to cemeteries during Qingming Festival and honour their dead.

I truly feel like I am in good company now as I wrote about the same odd news story on Wednesday! Only in America would we uproot our dearly departed.

It is a bad news but who can stop death. although he was great.

There is no doubt that the ancients had some though elementary knowledge of metals. With regard to Greek scientists, Aristotle (384-322 BC) divided the world into two main parts; the Earth, consisting of four elements (water, fire, air and dust) and the sky, consisting of ether. Aristotle's views remained dominated until Islam came and put an end to superstitions and charactering mythology[1].

Achievements of Muslim scientists in Geology

Muslim scientists tended to use scientific methods contemplation, deduction and searching for the truth. They made great successes in explaining natural phenomena and studying rocks, metals and mountains. Muslim scientists were able to explain many geological phenomena, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, the tide and the formation of mountains and valleys. Muslim scientists also tried to explain torrents, rivers and creeks.

The first record of geology by Muslims may be formed in the vocabulary contained in dictionaries and language books abounding in that discipline terminology, for example, Al-Sehah by Al-Gawharei, Al-Qamous (the dictionary) by Al-Fayrouzabady[2], Al-Mokhasas (the specialized) by Ibn Seida[3], Travels and Countries books, in addition to the books that studied Al-Gawaher (Gems) such as (description of Jazirat Al-Arab, or Arabian Peninsula) by Al-Hamadany.

The parameters of that science are evident in the works of Muslim scientists such as Al-Kanadi, Al-Razi, Al-Farabi, Al-Masudi, Ekhwan Al-Safa, Al-Maqdisi[4], Al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, Al-Edrisi, Yaqout Al-Hamawi, Al-Qazwini[5] and many others.

Those scientists have developed several theories about earthquakes and their causes and about metals and rocks. They expatiated in defining sedimentary rocks and their fossilization as well as their dimensional changes. Muslim scientists also wrote about meteors, knew their nature and origin and divided them into two types: rocky and iron meteors. They also described their shapes, especially comets (granulated). Muslim scientists, moreover, talked about the high temperature inside the earth. They were the first to produce the theory of refractive and curved mountains formation, in addition to the effects of wreathing conditions on mountains and rivers.

Muslim scientists also offered valuable studies on natural and historical geology and made many achievements in that domain. Water was described best in Muslim scientists' works. They also had pure scientific views in how rivers were formed. This would clearly appear in the Rasa’el (treaties) of Ekhwan Al-Safa, in Al-Nagat, (the salvation) book by Ibn Sina and Aga’eb Al-Makholqat (wonders of creatures) by Al-Qazwini. Added to that, crystallography was originated by Al-Biruni in his book Al-Gamaher fi Mareat Al-jawaher (the Gems) and was then developed by Al-Qazwini in his book Al-Agaeb (wonders). Muslim scientists were thus pioneers in their accurate observations included in those two books.

Muslim scientists dealt also with what we could name (the science of the earth’s oil), which is a branch of applied geology. They distinguished between two kinds of oil and used them. They also talked about prospecting oil and offered models of indirect prospecting.

A few ancient Muslim scientists were interested in studying the shape of the earth, the distribution of water and land, describing relieves of the earth’s surface and the external factors behind forming them, such as rivers, seas, winds and sea storms. Muslim scientists also studied the factors that affect the crust of earth, such as volcanoes, earthquakes and land slides, they also tackled the exchange of places between the water and land and the period of time that it takes, in addition to the development of rivers from youth to old age then death.

It is worth mentioning that geology for Muslims was connected with many other sciences contributed to its development. This was what scientists used to do at that time. There was no specialization in the exact sense of the word, yet there was a sort of comprehensive encyclopedic knowledge. Therefore, Muslim scientists contribute to geology domain came in a variety of volumes under different names. For example, Ibn Sina tackled metals and meteorology[6] in the treatise on metals and higher effects in his book Al-Shefaa (The recovery), Shihab-Eldin Al-Nuwayri[7] tackled geology and meteorology[8] in his book Nehaiat Al-Areb fi fenon al-adab (The purposes of the arts of literature), Al-Masoudi dealt with geological issues side by side with geographical[9] issues in his book “Morog Al-zahab, or (The meadows of Gold).

Earthquakes

EarthquakesThe nature of earthquakes has attracted attention. Some ancient Greek philosophers ascribed earthquakes to underground winds, while others ascribed earthquakes to fire in the depth of the earth.

However, Muslim scientists were the first to scientifically describe the causes of earthquakes in the fourth Hijri century (The Tenth Century AD). Muslim scientists were interested in studying earthquakes, recording their dates and locations, their types, their degrees, the movements of rocks resulting from them, in addition to their advantages and disadvantages and the destruction they cause. Some Muslim scientists attempted to understate earthquakes dangers.

Ibn Sina, for instance, was one of the Muslim scientists who tackled earthquakes in his encyclopedia (Al-Shifa’a) or [the recovery] in the section on metallurgy and upper effects, Ikhwan Al-Safa in Al-Rasael (the treaties) and Al-Qazwini in his book Aja’eb Al-Makhloqat & Ghara’eb Al-Mawjodat, or (wonders of creatures and curiosities of things). Everyone of them had his clear opinion in that domain.

Ibn Sina, for example, said in describing earthquakes, their kinds and causes “As for earthquakes, they are sudden movements for certain parts of land because of what happens beneath it. Certainly, something moves inside the earth, which leads to the movement of the overlying part. That part inside the earth might be a vapory or smoky body which rushes as violently as a wind or a liquid body or an aerial body or an igneous body or an earthy body. The latter body moves only if it was subjected to a movement similar to the body beneath was subjected to. The windy body, on the other hand, be it igneous of non igneous, will probably be the underlying cause of the earthquake." [10].

Ikhwan Al-Safa, for their turn, ascribes earthquakes to gases resulting from high temperature inside the earth. Those gases burst from outlets in soft locations, when the earth is rifted, those gases burst out, the place subsides, with a loud noise with a shock would be heard[11].
Metals and Rocks

Metals and RocksMuslims knew about metals and precious stones as well as their physical and chemical characteristics. They classified precious stones and gave them accurate scientific descriptions. Muslim scientists also knew the place where each type of precious stones could be found and they were interested in distinguishing good gems from bad ones.

Muslim scientists also tackled the formation of sedimentary rocks and their surfaces; they also studied valleys deposits and the relation between the sea and the land and vice versa and the results of this relation in the form of rocky formations and weathering conditions.
Atared Ibn Mohamed Al-Haseb[12] was perhaps the first to write a book about gems in Arabic, Manafe’e Al-Ahgar, (Benefits of stones), in which he wrote about types of jewels and gems and studied the characteristics of each type[13].
Al-Razi also touched upon that book in his book Al-Hawi (The comprehensive). Muslims had known some 88 jewels extracted from the earth till the era of Al-Biruni. Moreover, Ibn Sina referred in his book “Al-Shifa’a” (The recovery) that stones are formed either from mud by desiccation, or from water by evaporation or deposition.
He also divided metal substances into rocks, sulfates, salts and solubles. He discussed minerals and how they are formed and mentioned a good number of metals and the characteristics of each type and how far they could preserve their physical characteristics. He also pointed out that each type has its special structure which can not be changed by using the converted ways of transformation. Change, however, may only take place in the form and shape of the mineral[14].
Muslim scientists also talked about physical forms of metals and the physical changes that may occur by their characteristics as a result of external factors. Muslim scientists said that some metals take their own physical shapes without any interference by man in forming them. This may be considered to be augurs what we call now “crystallography”, as Al-Biruni described some of them and talked about the symmetrical surfaces and geometrical shapes.
He went on to say that the forms of diamonds are spontaneous, conical polygonal and some of them are triangular like igneous forms, with adjacent bases and some of them take the double pyramid form.
As for rocks, Muslim scientists talked about their origin and how they were formed from water (sedimentary rocks) or fire (igneous rocks), they also found the accurate specific weights for a big number of rocks and minerals.
Muslim scientists also focused, in the field of geology, on terrain, the nature of the earth, water geology, paleontology, meteorology, which is the scientific relation between geology and climatology[15].

Seas and Tides

Seas and TidesMuslim scientists dealt mainly with seas and rivers geology in their geographical works. They allocated them full sections in their books and mentioned seas names, locations and the countries which overlooked them. They also talked about locations which had once been seas and rivers and other places which are now submerged under the sea and had once been populated in the past.
Muslim scientists also wrote many books on navigation science and the phenomenon of the tide which ships captains used in their sea and river voyages. Some Muslim scientists had unique points of view in that domain, such as Al-Kindi, Al-Masoudi, Al-Biruni, Al-Edrisi, Al-Maqdisi and others.
Almost all books which dealt with countries or regions have mentioned seas and rivers. Al-Masoudi, for example, in his book Akhbar Al-Zaman (The history of the time) talks in detail about the formation of seas, and the opinions of scientists who preceded him in seas. He also mentioned on his book Morog Al-zahab (Meadows of Gold) a number of geological discussions about seas, rivers and tide.
Al-Masoudi devoted a whole chapter in his book to seas and named it; zekr Al-akhbar an entiqal Al-behar[16], (About seas movements). Al-Maqdisi, for his turn, mentioned the dimensions of those seas and the main islands in them, and dangerous places. He also touched on the tide phenomenon and tried to explain it[17].
Muslim scientists knew how wide water surfaces are and their immense sizes compared to land. They also knew that the different terrain combinations prevent water from flooding the surface of the land. Yaqut Al Hamawi says in that regard, “But for that terrain, water would have surrounded it[18] from all sides and flooded it till nothing from it is seen”.
As for the rate of land to water, it was clear in Abul Fedaa’s book Taqwiem Al Boldan, (surveying of countries) that water covers some 75% of the earth, i.e. the land accounts for are fourth of the earth and the other part is submerged under seas[19].

Topography

Muslim scientists gave great attention to studying geomorphology with its two sides; the theoretical and practical. In that domain, they reached facts that comply with modern science, such as the effect of time factor in the geomorphology processes and the effect of the two circulations: the rocky and the astronomical, on exchanging land and water, in addition to the effect of water, wind and climate, in general, on erosion processes.

Al-Biruni was the best among those who dealt with topography. This would be clearly noticed in his explanation of how certain plain in India was formed. He said “There had been a sea basin in the place of that plain, then it was filled with deposits until it turned into a plain”. He also noticed that river deposits become bigger near the riverhead, then they get smaller and softer near the mouth. Large rocks are found near mountains and fast-flowing streams of water and smaller as they get farther and the water gets slower, then they turn into sand near the mouth of the river and near the sea. The land of those plains, he went on to say, was once a sea in the ancient times, and then it was compressed[20] with the loads of floods[21].

Ibn Sina’s points of view in geomorphology were the nearest to modern theories in that domain. For example, he attributed the formation of some mountains to two reasons; spontaneous (direct) and accidental (indirect), the spontaneous one takes place when strong earthquakes push some areas of the earth forming mounds or hills, while the accidental reason happens when the gale-force winds or fast-flowing water erodes parts of the land and leaves other parts, those parts which were not eroded get higher than the eroded ones, and floods extremely deepen their watercourses, while the neighboring parts remain of tremendous height[22].

Meteorology

MeteorologyMuslim scientists knew important facts about that science which they called (the science of higher effects on the weather conditions). This science carefully studies the earth’s atmosphere and focuses on the weather and its phenomena, temperature, density, winds and clouds, and is known as “Meteorology”.

Linguists preceded scientists in mentioning a lot of terminology about that science. For example, they divided low temperature into: cold, hot, cool, frost, freeze, server frost and sever cold. They also divided high temperature to; hot, genial, swelter, midday heat and sever heat. As for the winds, they divided them according to their properties or the places which they blow from, for instance, northern, northern south, southern, and eastern winds (the sirocco), the west wind (zephyr) which blows from behind the Holy Kaba, the northeast winds, the southeast winds, the southwest and the northwest winds. Muslim scientists named hot winds (simoom), cold winds (gale) rainy winds (Clouds) and the non-rainy winds (the devastating Winds).

They also gave names to clouds which refer to their parts and the stages of their formation, for example, G hamam (black rainy clouds), nimbi, (white rainy clouds) clouds, rainy cloud, Dima (not rainy cloud) Rabab (white cloud). As for the parts of clouds, they gave names such as; Hidab (the bottom of the cloud) Al-Kfaf (the upper part of the cloud), Al-Raha (the middle of the cloud), Al-Khanzeiz (the far part of the cloud), Al-Bawaseq (the top of the cloud). They also gave water, which comes down from the sky and gather in one place due to low temperature, names such as, dewdrop, moisture, dew, fog, rain, humidity, downpour, flowing rain and torrential rain. All those subjects were carefully studied by Ibn Sina and Ikhwan Al-Safa[2

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Dumb article, annoyingly written...