Prolapsed disc

Understanding the back

The spine is made up of many bones called vertebrae. These are roughly circular and between each vertebra is a 'disc'. The discs are made of strong 'rubber-like' tissue which allows the spine to be fairly flexible. A disc has a stronger fibrous outer part, and a softer jelly-like middle part called the nucleus pulposus.

The spinal cord, which contains the nerves that come from the brain, is protected by the spine. Nerves from the spinal cord come out from between the vertebrae to take and receive messages to various parts of the body.

Strong ligaments attach to the vertebrae. These give extra support and strength to the spine. Various muscles also surround, and are attached to, various parts of the spine. (The muscles and ligaments are not shown in the diagram below for clarity.)

What is a prolapsed disc?

When you have a prolapsed disc (commonly called a 'slipped disc'), a disc does not actually 'slip'. What happens is that part of the inner softer part of the disc (the nucleus pulposus) bulges out (herniates) through a weakness in the outer part of the disc. A prolapsed disc is sometimes called a herniated disc. The bulging disc may press on nearby structures such as a nerve coming from the spinal cord. Some inflammation also develops around the prolapsed part of the disc.

Any disc in the spine can prolapse. However, most prolapsed discs occur in the lumbar part of the spine (lower back). The size of the prolapse can vary. As a rule, the larger the prolapse, the more severe the symptoms are likely to be.

Who gets a prolapsed disc?

Bouts of back pain are very common. However, less than 1 in 20 cases of acute (sudden onset) back pain are due to a prolapsed disc. (Most cases on back pain are classed as 'simple low back pain'. This is thought to be caused by a minor problem to a muscle, ligament, or other structure in the back. For example, a strained muscle. See separate leaflet called 'Low back Pain in Adults' for a general overview of the different types of back pain.)

The commonest age to develop a prolapsed disc is between 30 and 50 years. Twice as many men as women are affected.

What causes a prolapsed disc?

NEW YORK, Oct 6: Apple co-founder and innovator Steve Jobs died after a battle with cancer. Here are some of his most memorable quotes on work and life.

Gizmodo

On Apple:

"We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas."
—PBS Documentary, Triumph of the Nerds, 1996

"It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them."
—BusinessWeek, 1998

"If I were running Apple, I would milk the Macintosh for all it's worth — and get busy on the next great thing. The PC wars are over. Done. Microsoft won a long time ago."
—Fortune, 1996

"The products suck! There's no sex in them anymore!"
—BusinessWeek, 1997

"Nobody has tried to swallow us since I've been here. I think they are afraid how we would taste."
—Shareholder meeting, 1998

"Pretty much, Apple and Dell are the only ones in this industry making money. They make it by being Wal-Mart. We make it by innovation."

Apple's market share is bigger than BMW's or Mercedes's or Porsche's in the automotive market. What's wrong with being BMW or Mercedes?
—Macworld, 2004

"And boy, have we patented it!"
—Macworld, 2007 (iPhone introduction)

On Bill Gates:

Home as the Place of Delight

Islam perceives the house as a place of matchless delight. It is a ground for taking pleasure in the most and best gifts (al-tayyibat) that Allah has made permissible to man. The term "maskan", which also means the house, is derived from an Arabic verb "sakana" which means to calm down, to repose, to rest, to become quiet and tranquil, to feel at ease with. Hence, the words "sukun" and "sakinah" mean calmness, tranquility, peacefulness, serenity, peace of mind, etc.

The house is called "maskan" or "maskin" because it offers its inhabitants a chance to take a break from the demands and pressure of the outside world and concentrate on physical, mental and even spiritual recuperation. The house in Islam is a retreat, sanctuary, and one's source of rest and leisure. Thus, those who live in such houses do not need to impatiently look forward to breaking away frequently from the strains of work and everyday life and go for splendid holidays.

The people residing in a house are the only authors of a house ambiance and, as such, of their own emotions and overall conditions. For these reasons is there a maxim in many cultures across the world to the effect that "my house is my paradise". Everyone also is fond of saying that "there's no place like home", that is to say, one's home is the best place to be.

In the presence of one's closest family members in it, and due to the ways its spaces are designed, planned and utilized, the house in Islam is a perfect avenue for its users to disengage from the fetters of the outside life. One's house provides the environment to focus on the family institution and its development. To its users, the house in Islam is a "fortified" private "paradise" on earth. It has been granted by Allah, the Creator and Master of all things, as one of the best and most valuable earthly gifts so that within its realm the foremost joys and pleasures of this life could be appreciated and enjoyed. As such, no one could ever claim a right to deny, manipulate, or misuse this divinely given entitlement to man. On this, Allah proclaims in the Qur'an: "It is Allah Who made your habitations (houses) homes of rest and quiet for you" (al-Nahl, 80).

"Say: Who has prohibited the beautiful (gifts) of Allah which He has brought forth for His servants and the good provisions? Say: These are for the believers in the life of this world, purely (theirs) on the resurrection day; thus do We make the communications clear for a people who know." (al-A'raf 32).

Makkah Al Haram expansion plan

Makkah-Al-Mukkarrmah after 12 Years

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will lay the foundation stone to the Makkah Haram expansion works in a few days. The project is called the King Abdullah Expansion of the Makkah Haram.

The king will also open a number of other development projects that aim to improve the safety and comfort of pilgrims at the two holy mosques and holy sites.

The projects currently underway at the Haram include the expansion of the northern courtyard of the Grand Mosque, the Masaa (the running course between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah,) the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project, the King Abdul Aziz Road, the Mashair Railway connecting Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, the Haramain Railway to link the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the Central Zone Development project and new circular roads in addition to flood drainage projects in the holy sites and the Al-Jamarat complex, Al-Riyadh daily reported on Thursday.

Madinah Haram Mosque After Four Years

The expansion works at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah include the expansion of the courtyards around the mosque in all directions so that its capacity climbs to 350,000 people.


Jamarat Project in Mina Makkah Al Mukkarrma
after Completion



The huge projects implemented at the orders of the king include the development of the Al-Jamarat Bridge with the aim of increasing its capacity to 5 million pilgrims and the Mashair Railway that is scheduled to become fully operational before the beginning of the upcoming Haj in November. The metro service will operate 17 trains with 12 coaches in each train. A train will carry 3,000 pilgrims.



A big housing project started near the Holy Haram



The development of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment project comprises six residential towers and a five-star hotel. The frontal towers of the towers are 28 stories high while the rear towers are 35 stories. Its side towers are 45 stories high while the hotel tower is 60 stories. The entire complex with 11,000 rooms and suites will accommodate 35,000 pilgrims.

The water management project in the holy sites includes construction of several feeder canals to gather floodwater from nearby mountains and a number of check dams and subterranean ducts.

The canals will start from the foot of the Eastern Ras Al-Shoayb mountain and will extend to the border of Mina at the King Fahd Tunnel.

The project also includes three concrete check dams on the basin of the flood course to the north of Mina and at the western side of the Al-Shoayb mountain and at the north of the King Khaled Road near the Square 28 and the Magar Kabsh area.

Another tunnel will be built to channel the floodwater collected on the other side of the Magar Kabsh dam to the western side of the Al-Shoayb mountain. Tunnels will also be built to carry the water to Al-Moaysim side

More Future Pictures of Makkah and Madinah 2010, Beautiful Makkah Pictures & Makkah Images.

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Aug 12, 2011

Blessing of Ramadhan Al Mubarak

Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. The word "Sawm " (meaning to stop or abstain) is used in Arabic for fasting. A fast then means that one refrains from eating, drinking and other physical things (all those things that are otherwise allowed) from dawn to sunset. This month comes every year to spread the blessings and mercy of Allah. We are thankful to Allah for providing physical forms of divine worship such as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage to improve our moral and spiritual condition.

Welcoming the Month of Ramadhan: The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said: "The month of Ramadhan comes to you. This is a blessed month" (Kitab-ul-Saum). The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has declared this month as the "month of Allah" because one abandons all otherwise "lawful" things in the way of Allah. He has also declared this month as the "Chief of the months." Worship during this month gains more blessings so one should fast with sincere intentions and worship should be performed to win Allah's pleasure.

Ramadhan - Anniversary of the Holy Quran: Ramadhan is that blessed month in which the Holy Quran was first revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). In this regard this month celebrates the birthday of the Holy Quran. To render our dues we should recite the Holy Quran as much as possible. During this month, at night, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) use to recite the Holy Quran in its entirety with the Angel Gabriel (Jibraeel).
Opening the doors to heaven: Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When the month of Ramadhan starts, the doors of heaven are opened, the doors of the hell are closed, and Satan is put into chains" (Sahih Muslim Kitab-ulSaum). In this saying the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has promised a high place in heaven for one who observess the fast because a believer is enjoined to perform such deeds that please Allah and stay away from bad things.

Ramadhan menjelma lagi

KUALA LUMPUR - Sighting of the new moon to determine the start of the fasting month for Muslims in Malaysia will be conducted in the evening, this Sunday or 29th Syaaban 1432 Hijrah of the Islamic calendar.


A statement from the office of the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal said that among the sites for the sighting of the new moon are Pontian Kecil in Johor, Falak Al-Khawarizmi Complex in Tanjung Bidara (Melaka), Teluk Kemang (Negeri Sembilan), Bukit Melawati, Pulau Angsa, Bukit Jugra and Balai Cerap Selangor in Sabak Bernam (Selangor), Pasir Panjang beach (Perak), Pusat Falak Sheikh Tahir in Pantai Aceh (Penang), Kampung Pulau Sayak in Kuala Muda, Pemandangan Indah in Pulau Langkawi and Alor Setar Tower (Kedah), and Kuala Sungai Baru in Simpang Empat (Perlis).

The other sites in the peninsula are Bukit Besar in Kuala Terengganu, Bukit Kemuning in Kemaman, Pulau Perhentian, Balai Cerap KUSZA in Setiu (Terengganu), Bukit Peraksi in Pasir Puteh, Bukit Kampong Tembeling in Kuala Krai and SEDC tower block in Kota Baharu (Kelantan), Bukit Tanjong Batu in Nenasi, Gunung Brinchang in Cameron Highlands and Bukit Pelindong in Kuantan (Pahang), Kuala Lumpur Tower and Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

In East Malaysia, the sighting will be from Tanjong Lubang in Miri, Teluk Bandung in Kuching, Tanjung Batu in Bintulu (Sarawak), and Balai Cerap Al-Biruni in Putatan (Sabah) and Menara Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Labuan).

The Conference of Rulers agreed that the start of the fasting month would be determined by Rukyah (sighting of the new moon) and Hisab (astronomical calculations, and the announcement of the date to be made by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal over radio and television on Sunday night, according to the statement.

-Bernama-

Warkah untuk polis

Assalamualaikum warahmatuAllahi wabarakatuh,

Terlebih dahulu, pohon kemaafan jika warkah ini terbuka. Saya harap ia dapat dibaca oleh semua. Jika ada kebaikan, ambillah darinya. Jika tidak, campaklah ia ke tepi dan lupakan sahaja.

Ia hanya satu coretan dari seorang rakyat bawahan. Tanda cinta dan kasih kepada saudara yang saya lihat tercegat di segala penjuru negara atas tanggungjawab menjaga keamanan kita semua. Mata memandang, hati merintih dan berdoa agar tugasan saudara benar-benar diberikan pahala di sisi Tuhan dan diiktiraf di sisi rakyat.

Saudaraku anggota polis,

Kerja polis adalah satu kerja yang mulia kerana menjaga keamanan dalam negara. Penat lelah anggota polis dalam memastikan negara kita aman dan adil adalah pahala yang amat besar di sisi Allah jika pengamalnya jujur dan ikhlas.

Sepatutnya, tiada seorang pun rakyat yang cintakan keadilan dan keamanan akan membenci polis. Sebaliknya, perasaan fitrah; sayang dan menghargai akan tertanam dan mekar sebaik sahaja mendengar nama polis, melihat anggota atau apa sahaja perlambangan polis. Itulah perkara sewajarnya berlaku.

Cegah kemungkaran

Saudaraku anggota polis,

Tugas seorang anggota polis - sebelum tugasan kenegaraan- sebenarnya adalah tugasan yang diperintahkan oleh Allah dan RasulNya iaitu 'Menyuruh Kebaikan, Mencegah Kemungkaran'.

Itu moto asal pasukan polis. Sekalipun, tumpuan terbanyaknya kepada bahagian kedua iaitu 'Mencegah Kemungkaran'. Hakikatnya, polis berperanan menyelamatkan masyarakat dari kemurkaan Allah dengan dipastikan setiap penzalim akan dihalang, dicegah dan dihukum.

Jika itu tidak berlaku, masyarakat akan porak peranda dan menerima hukuman dari Allah. Allah berfirman: (maksudnya): “Telah dilaknat mereka yang kufur daripada Bani Israil melalui lidah Daud dan Isa bin Maryam. Yang demikian itu disebabkan mereka menderhaka dan selalu menceroboh. Mereka sentiasa tidak berlarang (sesama sendiri) perbuatan mungkar yang mereka kerjakan. Demi sesungguhnya amatlah buruknya apa yang mereka telah lakukan. (Surah al-Maidah, ayat 78-79).

Nabi s.a.w pula bersabda: “Sesungguhnya manusia apabila melihat orang zalim, namun tidak menghalang tangannya, hampir Allah akan meliputi mereka dengan hukumanNya” (Riwayat Abu Daud, al-Tirmizi dan al-Nasai dengan sanad yang sahih).

Kami sebagai rakyat mengucapkan jutaan terima kasih kepada pihak polis yang telah menyelamatkan masyarakat dari kemurkaan Allah, kezaliman dan kerosakan.

Bahaya kuasa

Hantu di NSTP

Things must be getting pretty bad at Balai Berita. Ghosts and ghostbusters have been seen at the newspaper offices. Yes, really, said an NST insider.

Production of the first edition of this week’s New Sunday Times was disrupted for half an hour on Saturday night as a group of bomohs carried out exorcism rites throughout Balai Berita, including the 14-storey car park.

An NST insider said the team of bomohs went through each of the three wings of Balai Berita, floor by floor.

NST editorial staff on the second floor of the new wing were cleared out at 9.20pm — rush-hour for the sub-editing desk, with just an hour before the first edition pages are closed. Everyone was asked to leave their work, go downstairs and wait outside while the bomohs carried out their rites.

Read more at: http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/ghosts-balai-berita-nst-bomoh
Ghosts or ghostly apparitions have reportedly been sighted in the building, most often at the multi-story car park from level 12 upwards, late at night. Sightings were reported at midnight, and one sighting at 2am.

(Editorial staff of NSTP Group newspapers work until 2am, to produce the final editions of NST, Berita Harian and Harian Metro for the Klang Valley. Most of those working late are sub-editors, the people in charge of editing news reports and producing news pages, graphic artists, and production staff.)

The “ghosts” were apparently seen perched on the ledges of the open wall car park floors.

One news reporter who is said to have sighted a ghost has been on sick leave (but this could not be confirmed).

Now that the bomohs have done their job and cleaned up Balai Berita, thousands of readers will now be hoping that they, too, will not be haunted by the kind of news coverage that has characterised NSTP Group newspapers of late.
 
Read more at: http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/ghosts-balai-berita-nst-bomoh

Paper NSTP tak laku

Relax la sikit org kat NSTP. Circulation semakin merudum..

• NST sells only 73,000 on the street
• Berita Minggu loses 90,000 copies over three years

These charts are based on figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation report for July-December 2010 newspaper sales. An image of an advance report to publishers was emailed anonymously to this blog. I have not seen the full report myself, but the image looks genuine enough — and the report will be out soon anyway. (ABC compiles and audits newspaper circulation figures.)

Sales of all four traditional titles are in decline:

• Berita Minggu dropped 30% drop since 2007;
• New Straits Times lost 26%
• Berita Harian and New Sunday Times both fell by 22%

Read more at: http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/nst-sales-drop-2010-circulation-report/

Utusan sesat

Persatuan Ulama Malaysia (PUM) mencadangkan pelukis kartun bertajuk 'Kekeliruan Kes Rogol' yang disiarkan di Utusan Malaysia hari ini diheret ke mahkamah kerana menghina Islam.

“Kita syorkan supaya pelukis dan penerbit kartun ini didakwa atas penghinaan ke atas Islam," kata Yang Dipertua PUM, Datuk Sheikh Abdul Halim Abd Kadir dalam satu kenyataan lewat petang tadi.

Dr MAZA berpendapat "Saya tidak pasti, apakah kartunis Utusan itu hendak menghina Islam atau hendak menghina pihak tertentu. Jika dia bertujuan menghina Islam, dilakukan pula dalam keadaan yang sedar akal fikirannya, maka dia terkeluar daripada Islam.

Namun, jika dia bertujuan mengkritik salah faham sesetengah pihak mengenai perbezaan hukum zina dan rogol, maka itu tidak merosakkan imannya, bahkan satu sumbangan membetulkan fahaman yang salah.
Adapun jika dia bertujuan membohongi fakta yang dimaksudkan oleh seseorang, sehingga menimbulkan salah sangka, maka dia berdosa besar".

Kek pisang

imej dari myresepi.com

Usia ayah menjangkau 70 tahun, namun tubuhnya masih kuat. Dia mampu menunggang basikal ke kedai yang jauhnya lebih kurang 2 kilometer bagi membeli keperluan harian. Sejak kematian ibu 6 tahun lalu, ayah bersendirian di kampung. Lantaran itu, kami adik-beradik - 5 orang semuanya-bergilir-gilir menjenguknya.

Kami semua sudah berkeluarga, tinggal pula jauh dari kampung halaman di Teluk Intan. Sebagai anak lelaki sulung, saya mengambil tanggungjawab yang lebih. Selain itu, kami adik-beradik sering menelefon ayah bertanya khabar dan sebagainya. Setiap kali saya menjenguknya, setiap kali itulah isteri saya mempelawa dia tinggal bersama kami di Kuala Lumpur.

"Tak apalah, lain kali aja...!" jawab ayah. Puas 2 anak saya merayu-rayu, ayah tetap bertegas. Itu jugalah jawapan ayah kalau Kak Long mempelawanya, Kak Ngah mendesak ataupun adik-beradik saya yang lain merayunya. Bagaimanapun sesekali ayah mengalah. Namun sehari 2 berada di rumah anak-anaknya, dia minta dihantar balik. Ada-ada saja alasannya.

Suatu hari Januari lalu, ayah mengikut saya ke Kuala Lumpur. Kebetulan sekolah masih bercuti, seronoklah anak-anak saya bermain dan bergurau senda dengan atuk mereka. Masuk hari ketiga, dia merayu nak balik kampung. Seperti biasalah, ada-ada saja alasan tak logik yang diberikannya. "Saya sibuk ayah,tak boleh nak ambil cuti. Tunggulah sikit lagi, ataupun hujung minggu ni saya hantar ayah," balas saya. Anak-anak saya turut memujuk atuk mereka.

"Tak apalah kalau kamu sibuk sangat, belikan ayah tiket di Puduraya, biar ayah naik bas," katanya membuat saya bertambah kecewa. Memang ayah pernah berkali-kali naik bas pulang ke kampung sendirian.

"Tak usahlah..." kata saya memujuk dan merayu selepas makan malam itu. Ayah diam terus masuk ke bilik bersama cucu-cucunya. Bagaimanapun esok paginya ketika saya bersiap untuk ke pejabat, ayah sekali lagi berpesan minta saya belikan tiket bas di Puduraya. "Ayah ni, tak faham ke, saya ni sibuk, sibuuuukkkk!!!" balas saya terus keluar menghidupkan enjin kereta.

Saya tinggalkan ayah terkontang-kanting di muka pintu. Sedih saya tengok mukanya. Di dalam kereta, isteri saya memujuk. "Buat apa kasar sangat dengan ayah? Cakaplah elok-elok! Kesian dia...!" Saya terus membisu.

Sebelum isteri saya turun kereta sebaik tiba di pejabatnya, dia berpesan agar saya penuhi permintaan ayah. "Jangan lupa bang, belikanlah tiket ayah," katanya ringkas. Di pejabat saya termenung panjang. Lalu saya meminta cuti kecemasan, terus ke Puduraya membeli tiket Transnasional ke Teluk Intan. Pukul 11.00 pagi saya sampai ke rumah, terus beritahu ayah supaya bersiap."Bas bergerak pukul 2.00," kata saya ringkas. Saya mengaku bersikap agak kasar ketika itu kerana didorong rasa marah dengan sikap degil ayah.

Ayah tanpa banyak kerenah bersiap.Dia masukkan baju dan kain ke dalam beg sandang. Lebih kurang pukul 12.30 saya bergerak ke Puduraya. Dalam perjalanan lebih kurang 1 jam itu, sepatah pun saya tidak bersuara. Selalunya saya dan ayah akan bersembang panjang setiap kali naik kereta bersama. Ada-ada saja yang kami bualkan.

Hari tu ayah tahu saya marahkannya. Dia pun enggan menyapa saya. Tiba di Puduraya, saya terus menghantar ayah ke tingkat bawah stesen bas itu. Selalunya saya akan membimbing lengan ayah tapi hari itu saya biarkan ayah turun sendiri,cuma saya perhatikan agar langkahnya tidak terganggu.

Setelah saya pastikan nombor tempat duduk ayah, saya bersalam dan terus turun dari bas. Ayah langsung tidak memandang saya sebaliknya dia memandang ke luar tingkap. Ayah merenung jauh. Tepat pukul 2.00 bas bergerak. Saya pandang ayah tapi dia masih melemparkan pandangan ke luar tingkap mengelak daripada memandang saya. Setelah bas bergerak jauh, saya menaiki tangga menuju ke kereta. Semasa melalui gerai-gerai di hentian paling sesak itu, saya terpandang susunan kek pisang di atas meja. Langkah saya terhenti.