Lebron James announced in a one hour TV special which team he would be signing on with. A basketball player that started out in the NBA playing for his home team the Cleveland Cavaliers and became known there as “The King”. He had many fans in his city and played his heart and soul for the team. But, when his contract expired and his chances of winning the championship in the NBA seem best fitted with another team he went for it.

Here’s what his former boss Dan Gilbert had to say about his decision:
 

  Грибы , (pronounced greeb-i) or mushrooms, are a popular food worldwide. Some like them in salad, some in pasta. I personally love them on pizza. But in Russia, these neat little fungi really are fun guys; in Russia, mushroom hunting is a common recreational activity and pastime! In fact, many cities have entire trains that run specifically for mushroom hunters to be taken to various hunting grounds early in the morning. In the late summer-fall season, when mushrooms first arrive, some organizations plan bus trips to the best of these grounds to collect for trading purposes. Hunters are provided with a knife and a basket and set off to do their thing.

As a result of this activity being so widespread, it is said that the average Russian can identify more mushrooms than an actual mushroom-hunting hobbyist from the States. There are around 250 varieties of mushroom that grow in Russia and of them, most Russians can recognize at least a quarter.  Anything they can’t recognize or that might be poisonous is flagged поганка (paganka), or the “foul”/ “filthy” one. Some of the extremely poisonous ones have unique names, like мухомор (mukhamor) or “fly killer”, which usually refers to something the likes of the mushrooms from Mario.

There are wild mushrooms available at public marketplaces for non-hunting folk but buying these is not recommended because you can’t verify how carefully they were selected. Also interesting to note is the ways these mushrooms are consumed. They are usually dried сушёные (sushyoniye), marinated маринованные (mareenovanniye), or salted солёные (salyoniye). How it’s prepared is decided based on what sort of mushroom it is. Whatever you do, don’t eat ‘em raw, and do not put them in dessert.

 While not every Russian person does hunt mushrooms, there is a general consensus with regards to which are best. Actually, there’s a kind of cast system for mushrooms discerning which are most desirable, the most common of which I’ve listed below.


1.белый гриб, боровик (byeliye greeb, baraveek) –Sometimes eaten fresh, though it’s said to taste better dry. "If you're gonna learn one name, learn this one!" - Russian textbook

2. груздь (gruzd) – Requires presoaking; eaten salted only.

3. рыжик (rijheek) – Eaten marinated, salted or fried.

4. подберёзовик (padbyeryozaveek) – Mostly eaten fresh or dried; can be marinated.

5. подосиновик (padaseenaveek  )- Prepared all ways!

6. маслёнок (maslyonak) –Slimy cap needs to be removed before preparing. Eaten all ways but best are young, marinated ones.

7. опёнок (apyonak) – Eaten fresh, marinated and salted.

8. сыроежка (sirayeshka) – You can eat these guys raw without dying! It’s best to boil all mushrooms before eating, though.

9. лисичка (leeseechka) – Called the “humble” mushroom; pick if you can’t find anything else

10. моховик (makhaveek) – Eaten fresh, dried, marinated or salted but if it’s worse than the humble mushroom, maybe these should be avoided

My last “Culture and Life” article was about reading, which may seem like a fairly solitary activity. With that said, I’ve decided to switch up the message for this week and encourage everyone to get out of the house and EXPLORE YOUR CITY. 

Toronto is not called Canada’s culture capital for nothing. Though the phrases “bustling metropolis” and “cosmopolitan hotbed” might as well be spelled f-i-t-n-a, there are a ton of things young Muslims can do around town to really feel engaged with their city. 

In keeping with my standard hokey theme formula, I’ve decided to offer readers what I call the “three E’s” – Eating, Education, and Entertainment. 

Eating: Do NOT even think about trying something you’re used to. Be  adventurous. Next time your friend says “I know a great little place…” GO!  Toronto is never short on Halal restaurants, nor is it short on people that “know a  great little place.” 

Education: Summer isn’t to be thought of as a time to let your brain be dormant.  An empty mind, as they say, is the devil’s playground. Alhamdullilah, we live in a  city that is full of intellectually engaging activities. The King Tut exhibit at the  AGO, the Toronto Public Library’s book talk series, and regular lectures at U of  T’s own Munk Centre are all worth attending. 

Entertainment: Seeing a play, a poetry reading, or going to one of Toronto’s  numerous cultural festivals can never be a bad idea. Unless, of course, you’ve  completely internalized my last article and want to stay at home reading all day.  In that case, don’t let me dissuade you. 

With the advancement of technology and the vast methods of communication introduced in the past centuries, it is not difficult to say “it’s a small world after all.” Flying south of the border last week got me reflecting on the greatness of Allah swt. A simple action like looking down from the airplane window does not seem like a huge deal when one thinks about it, yet when you look at it from the perspective of being the creation of the Lord who created the rest of this earth, and the heavens above, you cannot help but praise Allah swt. Looking down thousands of feet and seeing how small homes and buildings look, let alone the invisibility of human beings, it makes you realize how insignificant we are on the scale of the physical world.

What forces me to further think about Allah’s creations is the fact that there are billions of people in this world, and trillions of animal and plant species, all of which are the creation of Allah swt. All the places in this world that we travel to, from East to West and North to South, different kinds of people, the various species of animals and nature’s secrets are all the creation of the Almighty. This world is a treasure that Allah swt has given to us to live in, discover and learn from. Races are broken down into various cultures and within cultures there are many sects, but what unites us all is that we are Allah’s creation. The poor, the rich, the proud and the humble are all innately the same creation to the creator.

Allah swt has blessed us with endless resources and a world of treasures to utilize and discover, and above all, appreciate. It is difficult to comprehend how anyone could deny the existence of the Almighty, let alone not praise Him endlessly. My heart could not fail to say SubhanAllah whenever I looked down from the plane and around my new surroundings.

To end off, I’ll quote an aaya from the Quran, Sura Ar-Rahman, which summarizes my feelings beautifully, “Then which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?” (55:13). This reiterate s how much we have to be grateful for, and reminds us of the greatness of Allah swt.

One of the most feared acts is the act of public speaking. The uneasyiness, butterflies, stuttering and even trembling that takes over our mind and body just standing in front of an audience happens almost nowhere else. What makes this event so feared, so hard to pull off with confidence?

There could be many things most of it has to do with either unpreparedness or a lack of confidence due to inexperience.  Being unprepared is the fault of the presenter there is no other advice to give here besides be prepared! Being prepared and having rehearsed is the ultimate tool to pulling off a successful presentation.

But, what about those who just lack confidence? Here it gets complicated… Even being prepared the faces staring you down, looking into your soul makes you think; what are you doing here? Then there are those members of the crowd who keep talking, who keep making remarks while you are trying to present. You feel as if the oxygen around you is thinning, your lips become dry and what was the next line?

Let those thoughts go. Live in the moment. Don’t do anything differently whether you’re presenting to 500 people or 5. You know your stuff. And if you forget your next line just make it up on the spot. They don’t know what you were going to say. Be conscious of your pitch and tone. And have water with you… Ever feel your throat drying up then take a break and have a sip of water.

Listen, they want to hear what you have to say. Don’t rush through it. Slow down everything; let your mind relax, look at the crowd they are looking at you they don’t want you to fail. So, relax. Say what you have to say, how you want to say it and take your time.

And remember you are not alone there are many who have the fear of public speaking. And with practice one step at a time you will get better. Don’t let one experience dictate your future.

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-raheem, Asalamulikum, my name is Anas and today we will be talking about…

School’s out, exams over and you have all the time in the world. But, what is this feeling of void? It can’t be you are actually missing school???? Sitting at home staring at your Facebook feed having nothing to do can be a strange feeling. A feeling worse than going insane over assignments and exams! Life demands a purpose and for most students it starts and ends at school.

Always wanting what we don’t have. Snap out of it my friend. Figure out the time you have and utilize it and enjoy it.  Before you know it you will be back in school.

Here is how to make the most of your summer!

1)     Create a to-do list

2)     Learn more about Islam

3)     Reconnect with family & friends

4)     Find a job

5)     Learn – If you don’t use it you lose it

6)     Go outside

7)     Read books – Books you actually want to read

8)     Continue visiting keepingithalal.com

They are two different things; culture is not life and life is not culture. Often times, at least in my case, we tend to mix together the two very distinct concepts. Life is the biological process of growth and reproduction. Culture, however, is a set of spoken or unspoken rules and ethics followed by a group of people.

Problems arise when people start to focus too much on either one; we need to strike a balance between the two. On one hand, culture adds a unique taste to someone’s life; it gives person a chance to express themselves. But it is important not to indulge yourself in culture and forget about the environment you live in. In our North American society, there’s a wide range of cultures that can be seen. If we stay too attached to our culture and forget about adjusting to the environment, we create friction between us and people who are different then us. On the other hand, one should not forget culture and just focus too much on living a very shallow and basic life. Without culture, you miss out on the diversity and the beautiful aspects of various cultures.

Therefore, one needs to strike a very delicate balance between culture and life. There are various aspects within these very broad topics, but they are very subjective and emotionally powered. It’s essential to find out your own balance because there is no formula for it and no one else can find it for you.

Until next time, take care and enjoy

Yup, it’s that time of year again. Most university students are just finishing exams and starting their summer and high schoolers will be done in a few months. It’s at this time of year that a lot of students look forward to working, whether full time or part time, and earning some money. However, when one actual starts the process of job hunting, the person may find what seems to be a brick wall and the excitement quickly fades.

Why is it that door-to-door knife selling enterprises are so abundant while solid opportunities are so few? I’d say it’s a recession,  but that’s been done. Instead, here are a few tips on effective job-hunting from the professionals.

With determination (because the search can get disheartening) and the right intention, your search will lead you to find a good job, earning halal income, insha‘Allah.

____________________________________________________________________________________
UPDATE: good job search resources are

YES Employment Services
Jobbank

A recent Toronto Star article asked Lauren Friese, the founder of TalentEgg.com--a student and recent graduate job site--to explain the Dos and Donts of a student job search:

Do's
• Cast a wide net! Job boards, career centres and job-finding agencies are a great place to start, said Friese. But students should take advantage of their personal networks, though tools such as Twitter and Facebook. It only takes one or two really well-connected friends to get the word out to hundreds of people that you are looking for a job.
• Blow your own horn! Friese said many students let companies know they are available and stop there. They need to use the web to boost their personal profile and include that in their application package.

• Go to them first! Even if companies do not appear to be hiring, it doesn’t hurt to pitch your skills and interest, said Friese. That way, if something comes up, or their budget allows for an internship or summer hire, you will be on their radar.

• Search outside the lines! Don’t think that your summer job has to fall exactly in line with your future plans. Just because you want to be in finance doesn’t mean you have to work at a bank. The chance of you getting your summer job at one of the Big Five Banks is actually very, very small, so you need to seek out jobs that will give you marketable skills outside that area, she said. At the very least it adds depth to your resumé.

Don’ts
• Don’t overlook retail! One of Friese’s early jobs was at the Gap: “I didn’t understand how useful that could be. Now, from the employer’ side, I am seeing how valuable those skills are.” Being able to work successfully in retail demonstrates responsibility and an ability to be persuasive, she said. “Sales skills are extremely valuable for entry-level positions,” said Friese. “It shows you have an ability to organize.”

• Do not get the company’s name wrong! Friese said she is amazed when this happens, but it does. TalentEgg recently received a job application from someone who applied to the company, but submitted a letter with the quotation, “I am interested in a position with your company, Town Shoes.”

• Don’t cut-and-paste! Generic cover letters are obvious and demonstrate a lack of genuine interest, said Friese. Take a minute to find the right person to address it to within the company and have a line or two that shows how your skill-sets align with the organization’s mandate or goals.

• Don’t pad your resumé! “Not only is it obvious, but it’s unproductive,” said Friese. One thing that makes students interesting is their youth and willingness to be moulded to whatever work is available.

• Do not leave it to the last minute! Larger corporations will start posting jobs in January, said Friese. So don’t wait until all the good positions are gone. Small and medium-sized businesses are more flexible and tend to post opportunities as they arise, she said.

For centuries, human beings have been squeezing the life out of several things.
Fruits and vegetables are no exception.

Over the years, juicing has been viewed as a convenient method of obtaining the essential ingredients that fruits and vegetables compose of, and their positive benefits, in a short amount of time.

Research has shown that the phytochemicals present in fruits and vegetables such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, enzymes, and proteins, when taken in moderation, act cohesively to prevent a variety of diseases, by strengthening the body and its immune system. Statistics have also shown that populations with a higher consumption rate of fruits and vegetables have been known to have a lower incidence rate of cancer.

Although juicing allows for a wider variety of fruit/ vegetable intake, and requires less energy to be digested, it does have its drawbacks. Juicing can prove to be time consuming, messier, and when examined at an infinitesimal level, more expensive.

If you’ve caught on to the juicing craze, and have found yourself doing the Juice Jive, here are a couple of suggestions that may make you want to jiggy your way to the fruits and vegetables aisle at your local supermarket.

Healthy and tasty fruit suggestions include:

Peaches 
Peaches are a good source of lycopene and lutein, both of which have been known to be strong defences against macular degeneration, and heart disease.
Peaches are also rich in potassium, and have been known to possess a mild laxative action.
In other words: they keep you regular.

Cranberries 
Cranberries have been infamous for the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections, bladder infections, and kidney stones due to their proanthocyanidin and quinic acid levels.

Apples
Apples, due to their levels of flavonoids, insoluble fiber and pectin, have been known to prevent asthma, lower cholesterol levels, and promote bowel regularity respectively.

Grapes
Grapes are an excellent source of powerful antioxidants that have been known to reverse atherosclerosis, treat venous disorders, and lower the risk of heart disease. Keep in mind that the darker the colour of the grape, the higher the level of health promoting antioxidants.

Bananas
Bananas, due to their high potassium levels, have been known to regulate heart function, balance bodily fluid, and lower blood pressure.

Healthy and possibly tasty vegetable suggestions include:

Beets
Beets can do wonders for those with iron-deficiency anaemia due to the high levels of iron and potassium that they contain.

Avocados
Avocados, due to their vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acid content, have been renowned for their ability to improve skin texture and elasticity, and repair and reform damaged hair.

Carrots
Carrots have been known to promote good vision, protect the body against cardiovascular diseases, and decrease the likelihood of several types of cancer due to their antioxidant compounds.

Ginger
Ginger has been known to prevent and treat different forms of gastrointestinal distress such as nausea and vomiting, and is especially helpful to those with a case of food poisoning in the form of ginger ale.

Cucumbers
Cucumbers, as a result of their silica content, have been known to strengthen connective tissue within the body, and their acid levels have been known to prevent water retention. They prove to be quite useful for swelling underneath the eyes, burns, and dermatitis.

Fruits and vegetables, whether juiced or eaten as is, are an essential part of our diet. So what are you waiting for? Pull out that dusty juicer that’s been sitting in the kitchen cabinet for months, and give it a try!

Don’t forget to wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and then maybe you can decide…

A squeeze or a bite? What’s your style?