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Today I read about io-Jacket.
Although all modern gadgets have the goal to combine good-looks with multifunctional technology and effectiveness, this is so much better then the others because it can be wear! It has all the cool stuff in it like a Bluetooth and built-in MP3 player or touch sensitive control pads. But the ability through which its promoted is its compatibility with GPSoverIP. It uses a hybrid GPS technology which enables the user to look for the person wearing the jacket even inside a building. The person who wears the io-Jacket can upload the information to a mobile phone or to the internet giving the watcher (probably a deranged parent) the opportunity of observing his/her every move. Londefrey, the company which produces it, has sold one for humanitarian causes carrying out an auction in the purpose of saving money for the “Humans for Humans” foundation. It seems though that none other have been made for commercial purposes so we just have to sit and wait.
Article taken from :http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2007&dt=1014&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Megabait&pg=me_02.htm
Hi all...
Today I want to share some information about the Indestructible Keyboard.
Engineered with silicon, this computer keyboard is resistant to spilled liquids and contact with other materials. Perfect for avid gamers and LAN parties! The keyboard is not only durable, but it is soft and comfortable to use, so comfortable that it can roll up into your pocket! It's true!I have tried one.....In comparison to other keyboards, this one will save you a significant amount of weight and space. Also, unlike traditional keyboards that make it hard to clean off dirt and oil, the Virtually Indestructible Keyboard can be unplugged and quickly and easily washed with water. Say goodbye to spills and hello to a constantly clean keyboard.
This computer gadget is specially crafted design to completely eliminates negative-angle wrist stress, an infamous nuisance that affected those working with manual typewriters a long time ago. For some unlucky folks, this condition can actually turn into carpal tunnel syndrome, requiring medical treatment. Having a keyboard that minimizes aches is important for gamers that play at a computer for hours or people whose jobs revolve around computer work. State of the art technology is coupled with a practical design layout that offers quick and silent reflexive typing that is noticeably more comfortable than traditional hard plastic keyboards. The Virtually Indestructible Keyboard is not only suitable for the nomadic computer gamer but also works well for home and office computers.
You can find out more about this keyboard at http://www.smarthome.com/9459.html
Do you like to drink coffee? Some say that it is a bad habit since it contains caffeine.But here is a different opinion.
WOMEN who drink a lot of coffee may have less risk of developing cancer of the uterus, a Japanese study said today.
The study led by Japan's health ministry monitored some 54,000 women aged 40 to 69 over about 15 years, during which time 117 women developed cancer in the womb, according to the medical team.
The researchers at Japan's National Cancer Center divided the women into four groups by the amount of coffee they drank.
They found the group of women who drank more than three cups of coffee every day were more than 60 per cent less likely to develop uterine cancer than those who had coffee fewer than two times a week, the study said.
"Coffee may have effects in lowering insulin levels, possibly curbing the risks of developing womb cancer," the study said.
The medical team also studied the effects of drinking green tea, but did not find any link to uterine cancer.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control, uterine cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women.
Article taken from http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24274470-36398,00.html
hyeee...
Today i want to share about food. Sounds like interesting right?. Everyone has their own favourite food right?. here i love to share some tips in how to prepared a healthy recipes. Unfotunately,this kind of fodd are mostly suitable for kids. besides,there's some tips in how to get breakfast on the table-fast. Firstly, plan breakfast the night before by measuring out cereals or ingredients. Secondly, don't be ashort-order cook - encourage everyone to eat the same thing. Thirdly, always keep fruit on hand for a fast sourse of vitamins, energy and fiber on hectic school days. Last but not list, make multigrain muffins or maple granola on the weekend and freeze extras for weekday mornings.
You can found more at http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/et_sl_back_to_school/text/0,1972,FOOD_9871_22359,00.html
Good morning everyone, today i read about X-rays.X-rays are used to detect any fracture in the human body, and also in the security checks to check for any weapons. The use of X-rays are limited as they are harmful to the human body causing disintegration of DNA and hence cancers may be precipitated. Terahertz rays or T-rays are considered harmless, that is, they do not predispose the human body to cancers and hence can be used freely. This benefit also applies at the security checks at any airports or public places where T-rays would reflect on any weapons and can be detected easily. For that matter, T-rays have an additional benefit of detecting even plastic objects which often go undetected in X-ray. Sciensists also claim that T-rays can tell the material of the item which is reflected, as it uses a technique called spectroscopy. In this new technology, every item would be reflected in a different color, so making out a particular item as harmful is easy.
T- rays are not required to be used close to the scanned item, as in the case of X-rays. It can be safely kept at a distance and scanning is done. A lot of research is going on to enhance the capacity of T-rays to use the spectroscopy at a distance.
The possibilities of T-rays are several. They can be used in the pharmacology industry to aid in detection of the contents of the medicines, used to detect tumors in a human body, aid in detecting any defect in the machines. These are just a few of the benefits.
so, to found out more about X-rays just log in tohttp://www.neat158.com/
Do you know most of us have no problem saying “I’m sorry” when we accidentally bump into someone or even when we are driving? Such expressions are also uttered in an argument, for turning up late for an appointment, breaking something unintentionally, and etcetera. In fact, such types of situation are so common to us that the ensuing apology has become an automatic response with natural timing. We are only human and everybody makes mistakes at some point of time in our life and it is noble to say sorry. The magic word sorry is free and the moment the word is expressed, your heart feels a lot lighter and it eases your tensed nerves.
Apologizing does not mean the individual is guilty but the word is so powerful that it can heal the situation where he or she have offended or otherwise hurt someone. From small, I have been taught to say “I’m sorry” and admitting any wrongdoing on my part because it is regarded as a respectful gesture. But for some people apologizing can be the hardest thing to do because they think it’s a sign of weakness and vulnerability.
Misunderstanding and differences in opinions are bound to happen in our daily living as no two persons are the same in any aspect. A friend of mine has not been talking to his sister for the past two years owing to a petty argument they had and till today he walks with a heavy heart and feels rotten when he talks about his family. When an individual does not say sorry willingly, he or she will have to carry a heavy baggage of unhappiness, anxiety and fear in their life. This is because the guilt feeling is so contagious that it can be harmful to the person’s health and they will also feel tied down.
Many people do not realize that when you admit you’re wrong, you clean your past and get to sleep better. Always remember that is it never too late to say sorry. The faster you utter the word the better the result would be. Apologizing means the individual is acting with integrity and being aware of how the person’s behavior affects people for the good or the bad. How someone receives an apology is up to them. All we can do is extend healing and hope for renewal through our courage of being accountable, apologizing, and not repeating the harmful behavior.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/9/14/sundaymetro/1995977&sec=SundayMetro
Published Date: 17 September 2008
Falls in the world price of oil have not been reflected at petrol pumps, the AA has said.
Average UK petrol prices have barely fallen in a month despite oil prices going back down under the 100 dollars a barrel mark, according to the latest AA fuel price report.
The AA said it anticipated a drop of 4p a litre for petrol and 6p for diesel in coming weeks.
Petrol prices across the UK fell by just one quarter of a penny over the past month, from 113.15p a litre in mid-August to 112.88p in mid-September.
The average price of diesel dropped 1.32p a litre, from 125.58p to 124.26p - closing the price gap between petrol and diesel to 11.38p
Across half the UK, including Scotland, northern England, Wales and south west England, the average price of petrol went down by a mere tenth of a penny in the period mid-July to mid-August.
Wide variations between regional prices remained, with petrol in London - the most expensive area - costing nearly 2p a litre more than in Yorkshire, Humberside and north west England.
AA president Edmund King said: "Hurricane Ike's failure to damage oil infrastructure in the US and falling demand for petrol has sent oil crashing under the 100-dollar mark.
"With US wholesale petrol prices also falling, we expect UK pump prices to fall sooner rather than later - and significantly.
"The country has already had a taste of falling wholesale prices not being passed on quickly enough to beleaguered UK consumers this summer. We hope that it is not just one supermarket playing it straight with car-owning customers this time."
http://www.thestar.co.uk/latest-national-news/Petrol-price-fall-expected-.4498306.jp
FA08020
Hi,guys.Have you ever heard that WORMS can help treat arthritis?Unbelievable right?But you have to believe this!!!!!!!!!!
A substance secreted by parasitic nematode worms may help provide a more effective treatment for inflammatory types of arthritis.
The molecule, ES-62, already circulates in the blood of millions of people infected with the worms in the Tropics.
It prevents the massive inflammatory response that the worms are otherwise capable of producing in conditions such as elephantiasis.
The Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde will carry out the project.Auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, tend to be rare in countries where parasitic worm infections are endemic, and the researchers believe ES-62 may be key.
They aim to produce a synthetic derivative of ES-62 which could be used to develop new drugs to combat rheumatoid arthritis.
They also hope the same approach could ultimately be fine-tuned to treat other types of auto-immune diseases, using cocktails of several ES-62 derived drugs.
ES-62 has no known adverse effect on general health, nor does it inhibit the ability of infected people to fight other infections.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7618568.stm
FA08020
I am sure that all of you know that water is very good for our health.But,here researchers found out that tea also playing the same roles as water.But how????
Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers.
The work in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition dispels the common belief that tea dehydrates.
Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers, UK nutritionists found.
Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promote health.These polyphenol antioxidants are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been shown to help prevent cell damage.Public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton, and colleagues at Kings College London, looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption.
They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack.
Some studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer, although this effect was less clear-cut.
Other health benefits seen included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening.
"Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid.
"Also, a cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth," she added.
There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health. However, research suggests that tea can impair the body's ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anaemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/bi/health/5281046.stm
YESTERDAY was the 45th anniversary of Malaysia Day. On Sept 16, 1963 the British colonies of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaya to form the new nation of Malaysia.However, there was opposition externally as well as internally. Indonesia launched an undeclared war. The Philippines laid an international law claim over Sabah.Within Malaya, the State of Kelantan vehemently opposed the transformation.
It went to court to challenge the impending Malaysia Day Agreement on the ground that under constitutional conventions its consent was needed for any significant amendment to the Merdeka Constitution. In a historic judgment, Government of Kelantan v Government of the Federation of Malaya (1963), the High Court ruled that Article 159 (the amendment clause of the Constitution) nowhere requires the consent of the states prior to the admission of a new province into the federation.As to the alleged convention, the court observed correctly that conventions are informal political practices not enforceable in a court of law. And so, from 11 regions, Malaya expanded to 14. A new name was emblazoned on the political firmament. Significant new rules were established to regulate the special relationship of the new entrants with the federal government.
In many respects the new federation embodied a pact among five unequal entities – the powerful federal government, the 11 peninsular states with limited autonomy and the specially privileged regions of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore with considerable freedom from federal control in designated areas.
Despite these special provisions, Kuala Lumpur’s relationship with the three special regions has not always worked well. In every federal system some tension between the central and a regional authority is unavoidable and even healthy. In every functioning democracy, disagreements are bound to exist. If federal-state relationships exhibit no discord, that itself is a symptom of other ills. Sometimes the absence of the problem is the problem!
Malaysia has done well to keep federal-state tensions from exploding into open conflict. The spirit of moderation and accommodation that animated the birth of Malaysia in 1963 must be continued as we gear for the challenges ahead.
Hai, did you know laughter will reduces your streess. It also improves memory and helps keep our hearts healthy. The ability to laugh is hard-wired into our system,and new research shows that it's not good for us,it's contagious. That's why, sitcom are funnier when we are in a group that when we see someone laugh, our brain seems to activate "mirror neurons" that send us into the same fit of laughter.
Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes increases your heart rate by 10 to 20 per cent, which means you can burn an extra 40 to 165KJ a day. I think it is so interesting that over a year we can add up around two kilograms in weight loss. Ease pain. In US study, experts discover that children tolerate pain better than usual when watching a funny tv programme. Lastly, stay healthy. Humour will increases the production and effectiveness of natural killer cells tha stomp out germs. Thank you.
http://www.readersdigest.com.my/rd/rdhtml/en/magazine
The preamble of the Internal Security Act is crystal clear in that it (ISA) was intended to be used for violent threats to the country.
ON June 21, 1960, in the Dewan Rakyat, then Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak said: “The Government has no desire whatsoever to hinder healthy democratic opposition in any way. This is a democratic country and the Government intends to maintain it as such. It is the enemies of democracy who will be detained.”
He said this during the debate on the Internal Security Bill and it is reported in the Hansard. The Bill of course went on to become our infamous Internal Security Act (ISA).It is a tough law but it must be remembered that as broad as the powers given to the Government are; the preamble of the Act has this to say:
“[This is] An Act to provide for the internal security of the Federation, preventive detention, the prevention of subversion, the suppression of organised violence against persons and property in specified areas of the Federation and for matters incidental thereto”.
The late Hugh Hickling, the drafter of the ISA, had said in interviews shortly before his death, that the preamble is crystal clear and that the ISA was intended to be used for violent threats to the country. The late former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr Ismail Hussein, when confronted with the draconian nature of the Act, admitted that it was so. However, he also pointed out that the normal workings of a democracy, such as a free press, would keep the Government in check and be a disincentive for them to abuse their powers.
What we have here is a forgotten little piece of history. The ISA was drafted to battle the violent communist insurgency, and, one presumes, other threats of the same ilk. As stated by the father of the current Deputy Prime Minister, it was not meant to stifle democracy. And furthermore, it is the very mechanisms of democracy, such as a free press, that will keep the use of the ISA in check.
In this light, we can see that the powers provided by the ISA have been severely abused over the decades.
Article taken from http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=bravenewworld&file=/2008/9/18/columnists/bravenewworld/2054353&sec=Brave%20New%20World
Men receiving hormone-deprivation therapy for advanced but localized prostate cancer can develop bone loss as a side effect of the treatment.
But a new study finds that bone-strengthening drugs such as Fosamax (generic name alendronate) can help prevent that damage.
Having earlier found that alendronate successfully prevents bone loss for patients on hormone-depletion therapy after just one year, the current follow-up reveals that two years of the drug affords men even greater protection.
"The population is aging rapidly, and with it comes the increased risk of age-related disease, one of the most common of which for men being prostate cancer," noted study co-author Dr. Neil M. Resnick, a professor of medicine in the department of geriatrics at the University of Pittsburgh.
Because testosterone is thought to spur prostate cancer, patients typically are placed on an androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). "The good news is that ADT therapy works," Resnick said.
"However, one of the predicaments doctors and patients have had to deal with is the side effect of osteoporosis resulting from the drug's blocking of the body's ability to generate androgens, the most common of which is testosterone," explained Resnick. "Blocking this suppresses tumor growth and helps the patient live longer, but bones require testosterone to remain strong, so depleting it can raise the risk for osteoporosis. And now, we have data to show that if doctors add this common medication -- alendronate -- early enough, and for two years, they can substantially decrease that risk."
The authors pointed out that ADT use has increased two- to fourfold over the past decade. Therapy-associated bone loss is greatest within the first year of treatment, and chronic long-term ADT has been linked to a doubling or quadrupling of men's fracture risk.
Resnick and his colleagues reported on their findings in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
According to Fosamax's maker, Merck & Co. Inc., the drug is designed to impede specific cell activities that contribute to bone loss, while increasing bone mass itself and decreasing the relatively speedy rate of loss associated with both menopause and corticosteroid medications. The drug also became available in a generic form earlier this year.
The new study involved 112 men under the age of 85, who were diagnosed with advanced but non-metastatic prostate cancer. They tracked the men's bone health for a total of two years.
In the first year, half of the men were randomly assigned to receive 70 milligrams of alendronate once a week, while the other half received a placebo. For the second year, half of those who had taken alendronate the first year were switched to a placebo, while the other half continued taking the medication. The initial placebo group was, in turn, switched to a regimen of alendronate.
The authors then conducted an analysis of bone mineral density, bone loss and bone gain among all the patients. In particular, they assessed what effect the discontinuation of alendronate therapy after a year had upon patients.
Men who took alendronate the full two years continued to add bone density in their spinal and hip regions, the researchers reported.
Those taken off the medication retained gains they'd achieved in those areas but lost some bone density in the forearm region.
Patients just beginning alendronate treatment for the first time in the second year of the study saw bone mass improvements in both the spinal and hip area but experienced less of a gain than those who had begun the treatment in the first year. Discontinuation of the treatment in the second year resulted in some bone loss and skeletal deterioration, the researchers reported.
Based on the findings, the team advised that alendronate treatment be prescribed for prostate cancer patients at the same time ADT is commenced.
Dr. Matthew Smith, director of genitourinary medical oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, said that while the current study is "beautiful work," more focused research is needed, given that fracture risk is an "underappreciated problem."
"There have already been a number of studies looking at drugs to increase bone density," Smith said. "So this is not a criticism of this study, but I have to say that, really, what we need now are large long-term studies that look at how to prevent fractures in men. We want high-level evidence for any intervention that we do, and we haven't had that so far."
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Taking calcium supplements during pregnancy reduces a woman's blood levels of lead, and thus the danger that her fetus will be exposed to the toxic metal, new research conducted in Mexico shows.
"You could actually see the more a person took, the more their blood levels went down," Dr. Adrienne S. Ettinger of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, who helped conduct the study, told Reuters Health.
During pregnancy, women need more calcium to help build fetal bones, and their bodies may boost reabsorption of their own bone tissue to get it. This in turn can cause any lead stored in the bones to enter the blood circulation, exposing the fetus to lead, which can impair neurological development and cause lasting damage to the brain.
There is evidence that calcium can help prevent the release of lead from the bones, Ettinger and her team note in their report in Environmental Health Perspectives. The researchers previously found that lactating women who took calcium supplements had significantly less lead in their blood and breast milk.
To investigate the effects of calcium supplementation during pregnancy, "the period of greater relevance for maternal-fetal transfer of lead," they randomly assigned 670 pregnant women to take 1,200 mg of calcium daily or a placebo. Thirty-five percent of the study participants said they used lead-glazed pottery to serve, store or prepare food.
Blood lead levels fell by 11 percent, on average, in women who took calcium. Women who consumed the most had the most benefit; those who took 75 percent or more of the recommended number of calcium pills had a 24-percent drop in blood lead.
Women who started out with the most lead in their blood had an average 17-percent reduction in blood lead levels. For women with high initial blood lead levels who also reported using lead-glazed pottery, calcium reduced lead levels by 31 percent.
The U.S. phased out leaded gasoline in the early 1970s, so the great majority of reproductive-age women in this country don't have significant amounts of lead in their bones, Ettinger said in an interview. But those working in battery manufacturing, mining or other occupations involving lead exposure are still at risk, she added.
"It's not a lot of women, but the women who are exposed occupationally could be very highly exposed," the researcher said. Women in many parts of the developing world, where leaded gas is still in use or was only recently phased out and occupational and household exposure to lead tends to be more common, are also at risk, according to Ettinger.
The reduction in blood lead levels she and her colleagues saw were relatively modest, the researcher noted. "We're not suggesting that people just take a pill and think everything is fine," she said. "In addition to decreasing exposure sources this may be an important preventive method."
Women in the U.S. are typically instructed to take prenatal vitamins, but their calcium content varies widely, she added. "I think it's important to be aware of how much you're getting with the supplement and figure out with your doctor if you have risk factors for lead, and if so maybe additional calcium would be necessary," Ettinger advised.
hai evryone!today i read about global warming.Apparently some people have not yet noticed that the temperature stopped significant increase in 1998. If it wasn’t for that 22 year period from 1976 to 1998 when the atmospheric carbon dioxide level and average global temperature happened to increase at the same time, the term ‘greenhouse gas’ would be virtually unknown and Kyoto and the rest of the Global Warming Mistake would never have happened. As the atmospheric carbon dioxide continues to increase and average earth temperature doesn’t, many people are going to look more and more foolish, the faulty predictions of the incomplete GCMs will continue to be exposed, and the main-stream media’s global warming hype will cease. Anyone that would like to see graphs constructed using government data of actual climate history should look at http://www.middlebury.net:80/op-ed/pangburn.html .
perwira said.....
The teenager, who took three years to memorise the Muslim holy book, received his prize at a separate ceremony a few days ago.
The overall winner of the Dihqa, which began early this month, was Yemeni Fares Al Aagam, followed by Libya’s Noor Al Deen Al Younsi and Khalid Al Ainati from Kuwait.
The first three winners of the Quran recitation competition received 250,000 dirham (RM235,000)
A total of 85 contestants took part in the competition.
Muhammad said he began memorising the Quran at seven.
“It was really tough in the beginning but it got easier along the way. And a keen interest in what I was doing also helped me greatly,” he said.
He counted his legal adviser father and mother, a dentist, as among his biggest supporters.
Asked what were his secrets of success, Muhammad said: “Hard work, doa (prayers) and perseverance.”
Besides Dubai, his talent had taken him to places like Austria where he was invited for a Quranic performance in 2006.
He often receives invitations to lead in prayers at mosques in Malaysia.
The teenager, who spent much of Ramadan in Dubai, said he was looking forward to returning home to be with his family for the remainder of the fasting month and Aidilfitri celebrations
DUBAI: Malaysian Muhammad Ahmad Zahid’s mesmerising recital of the Quran has helped him win the best recitation category at the 12th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (Dihqa).
And the 13-year-old hafiz (a person who knows the Quran by heart) was given the honour of reciting verses of the Quran at the prize-giving ceremony graced by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the end of the competition yesterday.
Looking smart in a baju Melayu and songkok, Muhammad, from Sekolah Darul Hikmah in Ampang, Selangor, was all smiles as he was congratulated by government officials, fellow contestants and others who were at the Cultural and Scientific Association Centre, the venue of Diqha, in Al Mamzar.
Women with major depression are more likely than men to achieve remission during treatment with citalopram, an antidepressant that belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), according to findings from the STAR*D (Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression) study.
Previous research on this topic has yielded contradictory results, Dr. Elizabeth A. Young and co-authors note in their report, published online by the Journal of Psychiatric Research. The STAR*D study, they say, is "the largest to address sex differences in depression treatment using a representative sample of treatment-seeking patients."
The current analysis included 2,876 outpatients between 18 and 75 years old, 64 percent of whom were female. Citalopram was initiated at 20 milligrams per day and adjusted up to a maximum dose of 60 milligrams per day. The patients were treated for major depression for up to 14 weeks.
At the beginning of the study, the women had more severe depressive symptoms and more additional illnesses than men did. Women were also more likely than men to have a personal history of a suicide attempt and a family history of depression or substance abuse.
According to Young, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and her associates, the female patients were significantly more likely to achieve remission, at 29.4 percent vs 24.1 percent, respectively. Remission was defined as a score of 7 or less on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.
Treatment response -- defined as a reduction of at least 50 percent from the beginning of trial on a self-reported 16-item inventory of depression symptoms -- also occurred more frequently among women than the men (48.5 percent vs 44.0 percent).
Side effects, maximum dose, and length of time on the drug, did not differ between the men and women, the authors report. "The elimination of these potential explanations for the sex differences found in this study increases the likelihood that the explanation is a differential biological response to citalopram in women."
The researchers suggest that the better treatment response among women is related to "the role of estrogen on serotonergic systems," as well as cognitive and psychological factors that differ between men and women
Assalamualaikum. Today I have read about celebrating Merdeka (Malaysian independence) in a European Capital of Culture…
Celebration of Merdeka (Malaysian independence) in Liverpool in 2004 was bound up with the very kinds of essentialist conceptions and practices for which multiculturalism has received so much criticism. This resulted not only from official modes of framing cultural difference but also from the colonially-inflected plural society imaginings of Malaysian student sojourners in the city. Nonetheless, examination of two Merdeka events reveals that they also provided an opportunity for people with diverse ethno-cultural identities, geographical origins and extra-national connections to come together as a momentary 'community'. The resultant intercultural moments suggest ways in which transnational histories and geographies can extend multiculturalism beyond national(ist) enframings. These possibilities are cast in the paper as a contribution to multiculturalism's regeneration (rather than just more academic critique of the concept and associated programmes) in the face of resurgent assimilationism in Britain and elsewhere.
A genetic marker for the vascular (blood vessel) cells associated with ovarian cancer tumor growth has been identified by U.S. researchers, who said their finding may help improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The team at the University of Pennsylvania Ovarian Cancer Research Center found that high levels of TEM1 are associated with decreased survival of ovarian cancer patients.
They also found that all 52 samples of ovarian cancer they examined tested positive for TEM1 in the vasculature, which suggests that TEM1 is a specific marker for ovarian cancer.
The findings were to be presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development meeting, in Philadelphia.
Researchers are working to develop drugs that target the vasculature that surround ovarian tumors in order to disrupt the blood supply that feeds tumor growth.
"This will have to be borne out in further studies, but if we can normalize the vasculature surrounding the tumor, we will have a better chance of eradicating the tumor," study author Chunsheng Li, a postdoctoral research fellow at the ovarian cancer research center, said in an American Association for Cancer Research news release.
Any breakthrough in the detection of ovarian cancer would be very significant because there are currently no reliable methods for detecting the disease at an early stage, when it is easiest to treat.
According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women, skin cancer aside. It ranks fifth as the cause of cancer death in women. The society estimates that there will be about 22,430 new cases of ovarian cancer in this country this year, and about 15,280 women will die this year because of the disease. Around two-thirds of women with ovarian cancer are 55 or older; it's slightly more common in white women that black women.
Hi everyone..today I have read about Effects of nicotine on hunger and eating in male and female smokers.For both males and females, nicotine had no effect on self-reported hunger, but cigarette craving was decreased. Rather than being decreased, caloric intake during the meal was unexpectedly increased following nicotine compared with placebo. Cigarette craving increased after the meal, and this increase was unaffected by nicotine dose. There were virtually no differences between males and females in any effects of nicotine. These results indicate that nicotine may not acutely suppress appetite in fasting smokers and suggest that other actions of nicotine or smoking may account for the lower body weights of smokers.
hai everyone...Today i want to talk about "laser in manufacturing".In manufacturing,laser been use in laser cutting, laser beam welding and laser bending of tubes.Laser cutting is uses a laser to cut materials by directing the output of a high power laser, by computer at the materials to be cut.Laser beam welding is a technique used to join multiple piece of metal through the used of a laser.speed of welding is proportional to the amount of power supplied but also depend on the type and thickness of workpiece.Lastly,laser bending of tubes is a process in which laser-induced thermal distortion is used tobend tubes without hard tooling or external forces.
It is not hard to believe that what we ingest can affect every organ in our body. So our diet affects are brain too, our mood in particular.
There are a lot of factors that can contribute to depression. Psychosocial and biological changes can change our mood. If food is a factor in your depression, the good news is that is something you can change.
Clinical depression has more significant symptoms then just feeling blue. Clinical depression is a medical disease which symptoms include: low energy, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, hyper or hyposomnia, eating too much or not eating enough and thoughts of death and suicide. If you have these symptoms for more than two weeks you should see a professional. You may need more than dietary changes to find your depression cure.
For some people being overweight can cause low self esteem and signs of depression. These people may try fad diets that promise to lose weight quickly. They are soon disappointed. The weight they lose on such diets is water wight and is regained when you resume your regular diet. This may leave people more depressed and desperate to lose wight, looking for another fad diet to try.
Fad diets why are they bad is because the calorie restriction of them can be dangerous. Fad dieting can cause a number of physical complications including fatigue, decreased immunity system, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, anemia and electrolyte imbalances.
Extreme dieting can leave the dieter with intense cravings for carbohydrates. Rigid dieting can cause depression and low energy. To what degree depends on how long the individual has been starving themself. Fad diets are only meant for short term use. They should not be used at all.
Fad diets why are they bad is because they can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are linked to depression such as; Vitamin B's, Vitamin C, Zinc and Tryptophan to name a few. Your diet can contribute to depression but is not has not been proven to be a singular cause. Changing your diet can help your depression but it may not be your depression cure.
Fad dieting can lead to depressed feelings. A person may feel down when they cannot keep the weight off. Then they try another quick weight loss diet and fail again. This is called yoyo dieting and contributes to poor nutrition. Fad diets why are the bad is because the can lead to yoyo dieting and poor nutrition and depression
When we treat our bodies right and feed them a healthy diet we feel better. Eating healthy includes integrating grains, fats, protein, dairy products, vegetables and fruits into your diet everyday.
Exercise is known to lift mood. During exercise the body releases chemicals called endorphins. This is why we feel so good after we exercise. You just have to find something you like or are able to do and stick with it.
A well balanced diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals needed for your body. A blood essay can show what your body lacks. It never hurts to take a multivitamin. Women may need extra calcium to keep their bones strong. You should not need any other supplements unless your doctor tests your blood and says you do.
A healthy diet and exercise plan may be all you need for your depression cure. You can adjust your caloric intake if you want to lose weight. If you still feel depressed after two weeks or more you may need to see a professional, you may be clinically depressed.
Poor diets can affect your mood with feelings of depression. Eating healthy and exercising may change that.
If this alone does not make you feel better you need to your physician and see if you are clinically depressed. If you have thoughts of death of suicide go to your nearest emergency room.
for further reading;
http://www.articlehealthandfitness.com
hello everyone...
today i read about how to eliminate anxiety and calm down...
i believe, many of us facing this problems...
A certain amount of irritability and agitation is normal. However, if you are continuously or chronically annoyed or irritable, you may have an undiagnosed anxiety or depressive disorder.
The good news is that you can reduce or overcome much of your agitation or grumpiness by learning and applying some proven coping skills. Scientifically proven relaxation techniques are the most helpful of these drug-free methods.
Deep breathing is one of the most well-known and effective relaxation methods. It causes you to reduce your level of tension by using paced breathing techniques to create a state of serenity and calm.
Some people with overwhelming amounts of tension, however, may report a harder time getting the significant results they desire from this method alone. If you have a difficult time as well, do progressive muscle relaxation before you begin your deep breathing exercises.
Progressive muscle relaxation is time-tested, drug-free and scientifically proven; it is both simple and effective. This technique involves tensing and then relaxing your muscle groups in some sort of a pre-planned order.
Relaxing a group of muscles after first tensing them, has been proven to reduce more tension than just relaxing them alone. The particular order you use is completely up to you; the following order is just one example to consider.
To start, sit comfortably in a chair in a serene setting, then gently close your eyes and start pacing your breathing. Next, make a taut fist by tensing all the muscles in your right hand, count to eight, then totally relax your hand.
Remember, when making the fist, do not strain. Simply tense the muscles to make them tight, but not cause pain. Straining painfully, as in an overdone workout, is ill-considered and is not conducive to your goal.
Next, comes your lower arm: Start tensing, then relaxing the muscles there, then move to your upper arm and continue the same exercises with your shoulder. Next, move on to your left hand, arm and shoulder and do the alternate tensing and relaxing with them as well.
Proceed to your head and facial area. You can tense and then relax these muscle groups individually by lowering or raising your eyebrows, smiling or frowning and opening and relaxing your jaw.
Move on to your neck and tense those muscles by gently moving your neck to one side, then the other, forward and back, completely relaxing after tensing each muscle group. Progress down your back, legs and feet until you have alternately tensed and relaxed all of your muscle groups.
After finishing these progressive relaxation exercises, your breathing will have calmed and deepened substantially and this is the perfect time to transition into your deep breathing exercises. Since you are starting them with your body being relaxed, the effectiveness of your deep breathing will be significantly enhanced.
Hope it will help us lots!
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The GPS uses a constellation of between 24 and 32 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, that enable GPS receivers to determine their location, speed, direction, and time. GPS was developed by the United States Department of Defense. Its official name is NAVSTAR-GPS. Although NAVSTAR-GPS is not an acronym[1], a few backronyms have been created for it[2]. The GPS satellite constellation is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing.
Similar satellite navigation systems include the Russian GLONASS (incomplete as of 2008), the upcoming European Galileo positioning system, the proposed COMPASS navigation system of China, and IRNSS of India.
Following the shooting down of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued a directive making the system available free for civilian use as a common good.[3] Since then, GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, scientific uses, and hobbies such as geocaching. GPS also provides a precise time reference used in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes, and synchronization of telecommunications networks.
Featured Historical Profiles and Perspectives
Yaws: A Second (and Maybe Last?) Chance for Eradication
Despite its visible effects, its amenability for eradication, and all the past efforts made to eliminate it, yaws is still a menace. Its history, however, has much to teach on how eradication campaigns should—and should not—be planned and conducted.
I’m sure we are still in the festive season celebrating Aidilfitri all week. In fact all of us, especially Muslims, have good reason to celebrate it.
To begin with, the Muslims completed fasting in the month of Ramadan; and most of them were united with their parents and families during Eid celebrations.
In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, a person who fulfils the obligation of fasting will get two rewards or will be doubly happy; happy during Eid celebrations, and happy in the Hereafter when he will get his just rewards for all his deeds.
During Eid celebrations, therefore, we are indeed encouraged to show our gratitude and happiness, and share it with the others.
Muslims are encouraged to wear their best clothes on Eid, and along with other Muslims, to congregate at the mosque to perform special Eid prayers.
We also need to give alms (zakat al-fitr) to the less fortunate members of society. In this manner the joy of Eid will spread to others, and inculcate the spirit of giving to society.
Let us take this blessed opportunity during Eid to foster stronger kinship. We should forgive, and seek forgiveness for our shortcomings.
Melamine: Taro biscuits withdrawn from market
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has ordered the Taro brand biscuit produced by Bairong to be withdrawn from the market with immediate effect after an analysis found it contained melamine above the permissible level.
The ministry’s food quality and safety division director Noraini Mohd Othman in a statement Thursday said the product contained more than the 75 ppm (parts per million) level of melamine that is permitted.
The statement added that 12 products analysed by the division found them to meet the ministry’s standard for melamine content,
They are Fruit Jelly Stick (Motion), Genuine Pearl Jelly (Tian Tian), Lobster Peanut Crisp (Cap Layang), 888 (Egg & Milk Filling) (Vigor 888), Rice Crackers (Wang Wang), Biscuit Sticks (Four Seas). Mini Poppers Chocolate Flavoured (Walls), White Coffee 3in1 (Dali Coffee Beverage), Apple Sandwich Biscuits (Bairong), Colourfull Party (Cherry & Apple Biscuits) (Bairong), Almond Cakes (Fu Die Lai) and Curtes Chocolate (Giff).
Consumers having any doubts about the melamine content of any product can contact the division at (603) 8883-3655, 8883-3503, 8883-3652 and 8883-3500 from 8am to 9pm including public holidays, or obtain more information at the division’s website here. -- Bernama
FA08020
As students we are going through a very hard phase of stress where we have to be up to date with all our projects and assignments!!What is stress actually????
Stress is a normal part of life. In small quantities, stress is good -- it can motivate you and help you be more productive. However, too much stress, or a strong response to stress, is harmful. It can set you up for general poor health as well as specific physical or psychological illnesses like infection, heart disease, or depression. Persistent and unrelenting stress often leads to anxiety and unhealthy behaviors like overeating and abuse of alcohol or drugs.
Emotional states like grief or depression and health conditions like an overactive thyroid, low blood sugar, or heart attack can also cause stress.
Anxiety is often accompanied
by physical symptoms.Anxiety disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that involve excessive anxiety. They include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia.
Certain drugs, both recreational and medicinal, can lead to symptoms of anxiety due to either side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Such drugs include caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cold remedies, decongestants, bronchodilators for asthma, tricyclic antidepressants, cocaine, amphetamines, diet pills, ADHD medications, and thyroid medications.
A poor diet -- for example, low levels of vitamin B12 -- can also contribute to stress or anxiety. Performance anxiety is related to specific situations, like taking a test or making a presentation in public. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after a traumatic event like war, physical or sexual assault, or a natural disaster. People with generalized anxiety disorder experience almost constant worry or anxiety about many things on more than half of all days for 6 months. Panic disorder or panic attacks involve sudden and unexplained fear, rapid breathing, and increased heartbeat.
In very rare cases, a tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma) may be the cause of anxiety. The symptoms are caused by an overproduction of hormones responsible for the feelings of anxiety.
The most effective solution is to find and address the source of your stress or anxiety. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. A first step is to take an inventory of what you think might be making you "stress out":
What do you worry about most? Is something constantly on your mind? Does anything in particular make you sad or depressed? Keep a diary of the experiences and thoughts that seem to be related to your anxiety. Are your thoughts adding to your anxiety in these situations? Then, find someone you trust (friend, family member, neighbor, clergy) who will listen to you. Often, just talking to a friend or loved one is all that is needed to relieve anxiety. Most communities also have support groups and hotlines that can help. Social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals may be needed for therapy and medication.
Also, find healthy ways to cope with stress. For example:
Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Don't overeat. Get enough sleep. Exercise regularly. Limit caffeine and alcohol. Don't use nicotine, cocaine, or other recreational drugs. Learn and practice relaxation techniques like guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Try biofeedback, using a certified professional to get you started. Take breaks from work. Make sure to balance fun activities with your responsibilities. Spend time with people you enjoy. Find self-help books at your local library or bookstore.
ID NUMBR:FA08020
Interested in getting natural white teeth???Want to be able to give out a glorious smile??Then,this might be attracting you over here!!
You’ll be surprised to know that you can whiten your teeth
naturally, without the use of artificial cleansers and
man-made chemicals.In fact, in the Elizabethan era, about 400 years ago,almost everyone took care of their teeth with natural
remedies.
Back then, they didn’t have access to tooth gels, tooth
pastes or dentists. Hence, each one was their own dentist
as they took good oral care through natural remedies.
If you were rich, then a mixture of honey, vinegar, and
wine was the ultimate tooth cleanser for you. Even now, you
can apply this regularly and see the difference for
yourself.
A few centuries ago, an old rag with salt and water was
also used to whiten teeth. You might be shocked to know
that in ancient times, human urine was used as a tooth
whitening product!
To avoid the need of whitening your teeth you can also take
preventive measures. It is seen that teeth become yellow
with age.
Your diet intake also plays a major role in determining
your teeth shades. Some of the things that you will want to
avoid include coffee, smoking, and tea.
Although you may not realize it, one of the worst things
for your teeth is chips and wafers. Sometimes yellowing of
your teeth may also be hereditary.
However, rinsing your mouth with a 75% lemon juice and 25%
salt solution is known to work wonders for teeth whitening.
Some of the best foods and drinks that will prevent
bacteria from forming include celery and straight cranberry
juice.
Believe it or not, dark chocolate also reduces the amount
of bacteria that can be found in one’s mouth. So next time
you see your teeth turning yellowish you need not shell out
those bucks for your teeth whitening appointment.
ID NUMBER;FA08020
http://landing.netmyne.com/index.jsp?mode=search&nlia=interesting articles
Now,let me provide some informations on "WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE?"
Your head hurts. Again. You rub your eyes, twist your neck around and listen to the cracking and snapping noises in your neck. Why do you have another headache?
Headaches can happen for many reasons. You may have eyestrain from spending too much time on your laptop, you could have an inflammation of your sinus cavities or it could be a life-threatening condition like a tumor, brain cancer, or encephalitis. You can also get a headache if you’re dehydrated or hungry.
More than likely it’s simply a tension headache.
Tension headaches are caused by tightening in the muscles in shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. I’ll bet you didn’t realize that you had muscles in your scalp, much less that they could contract. These are tension headaches. The contractions of these muscles are often due to stress, depression or anxiety. If you’re working too much, not getting enough rest, not eating properly or using alcohol or drugs you’re probably more prone to getting tension headaches. Migraines and cluster headaches appear to be related to swelling of blood vessels. The pain comes from the blood vessel walls, membrane coverings of the brain and the muscles in the scalp and neck. Your brain itself actually cannot feel pain. Inflammation of your sinuses is also a common cause of headaches.
In your quest to determine the cause of your headaches, it’s a good idea to keep a headache journal. Get a little notebook and write down every time every time you get a headache. What did you eat before it happened? What activities were you engaged in? Did your vision change? Did you become sensitive to light? You’ll be able to see patterns of what may bring on your pain, like stress, food triggers, medications, and menstrual cycles. Foods that have been found to trigger certain headaches are chocolate, cheese and MSG (monosodium glutamate). Your mileage may vary in what triggers your headaches.
Your tension headache can be caused by engaging in an activity that requires you to keep your head in the same position for an extended period of time—like using a computer or a microscope or any other repetitive action. It could also be caused by sleeping in an odd position, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth while asleep or sleeping in a cold room.
Once you know what causes your headaches, you’re more likely to be able to avoid them in the future.
ID NUMBER:FA08020
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/crime/coputer-forensic=experts,txt
Recently,I have read an article in the website shown above on how a group of computer forensic experts help a company to solve their problem in cyber world.Here,I would like to share more about the computer forensic experts.
Not most of us know computer forensics until cyber crimes became more apparent. Computers have become an integral part of our lives. They have changed the way we work. Due to this cyber crimes are steadily increasing. Criminals have become to realize that if they want to keep doing their dirty deeds they have to keep abreast with the times.
Fortunately there are computer forensics analysts who can help companies to pinpoint exactly what happened. However not all us thinks this way. I have my own IT department why would I need a computer forensic analyst?
Computer forensic analysts play a big role in solving your problem. Well meaning IT professionals can do their job but unless they have computer forensic training they will just make matters worse. Its advisable that outside be help be considered to address the problem.
Why we need experts
First off, a computer forensic analyst is not just trained to extract and collect data. Computer forensics has both a technical and legal aspect involved in it. Electronic data that will be extracted from the involved computer system is handled like any other evidence in a crime scene. Computer forensics handles and examines this data in a way that it complies to the standards of the evidence.
This is done carefully and properly so that it will admissible in the court of law. If there is any indication that the electronic evidence has been tampered or tainted it will not be accepted in court.
If your IT personnel are trained in computer forensics they can handle the problem. Unfortunately, in most cases not all of them are, unless the company has specified this as a requirement for employment. In- house employees can also raise issues regarding to authentication. Electronic data that has been tampered is time-consuming to recover.
Be reminded that computer forensic experts charge by the hour. Apart from that the internal costs of delegating your It personnel to do the job, it can also create issues within the workplace. Gossip spreads like wildfire.
Computer forensic analysts are not just able to collect data but also preserve it. This includes hidden, password protected, encrypted and deleted files, including tracks that were left behind by the perpetuator. They are also able to obtain evidence from the opposing party. They find out where, when, who and what happened by analyzing a computer system and its data. They follow protocols so that any evidence will be accepted in court.
The price of hiring a computer forensic analyst or company will depend on the nature of your case. The process usually involves three phases: acquiring the data, investigation (wherein the data and the computer system is examined thoroughly), and reporting. Acquisition and reporting usually takes 15 hours. The analysis usually costs around $4,500. Computer forensic experts charge by the hour usually fro $250 to $350.
Security breaches can happen even in the most secure networks. Most often the offenders come from the company who knows the company's network. Million of dollars are lost to fraud and sabotage. Well established banks are now hacked instead of being robbed.
Technology does aid in us in our everyday living but if it's used for the wrong purposes it can prove to be a formidable opponent. It's best to leave the problem to the experts.
ID NUMBER:FA08020
http://www.interestingarticlesite.co,/articles/yoga/anger-management-24,txt
Been yelling a lot lately? Even the calmest people have moments when it seems that nothing but yelling will do. You may yell at your children once in a while, or you may yell at your spouse for what seems like no reason, but this is often the result of too much stress or people simply not paying attention to your needs. However, when you find that you are yelling every single day and the tiniest things seem to set you off, you may be in need of some anger management.
You may automatically think that anger management is going to be a program that you have to go through, but that is not always the case. If you are not violent, and just loud, there may be things that you can do on your own to alleviate some of your stress. That may cut down on some of your feelings. This type of anger management can be done by learning relaxation techniques like yoga, or the breathing that comes with it, and even finding a way to vent problems and frustrations that might cut down on the tension. Journals can help, both online and paper.
You can also do some anger management by thinking about what it is that makes you angry. You may feel unappreciated, or you may just be in over your head with all that you do. That means you may have to ask someone to take some of the work off of your shoulders so that you don’t feel so overwhelmed all of the time. If people in your household are stressing you out above and beyond what you think is fair, you have to talk to them about it. This can be a hard part of anger management, but it will do you good in the end.
If you feel angry all of the time, and you are fighting the urge to hit someone or something, you may need more professional anger management. You can start by talking with your doctor about how you feel, and they can then recommend what you should do for anger management. Sometimes, the root of our anger is nothing that we can pinpoint, and we may need someone to talk to so we can discover what is really going on. Not only will this be a great gift to you, it will also be one to those that love you.
ID NUMBER:FA08020
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/yoga/Relieving-the-Stress-of-Quitting-Smoking.txt
Are you a smoker but trying to quit and feeling tensed up with it???Trying to figure out exactly how to reduce the stress that accompanies trying to quit smoking is never easy. There are plenty of factors that can all work together to stress you out badly and learning how to avoid these potential problems is absolutely critical to success. Unless you know what you are doing, you are going to find that it is very difficult to get the results that you need, without getting yourself into an even worse position. Learning how to relieve stress is often able to go hand in hand with reducing smoking all on its own, so it is only natural that it can complicate trying to quit.
If you really want to quit smoking for good, you will need to learn how to relax and reduce stress. Since your life is not likely to exist inside of a small bubble, you need to learn how to handle the stress. This can mean activities such as yoga, meditation and even a nice relaxing shower or bath. If you find that you are stressed at work, a small walk around the building or even a relaxing cup of tea may be in order. You have to learn ways to adapt to the stress, without crumbling. If you just try to ignore the stress in your life, you are going to find it much harder to quit smoking; ultimately, you will end up smoking even more than previously and damaging your health much more.
Look for a hobby that you can do to help you break free of the stresses of family and work. Most people can agree that their job causes stress at some point in time. Having a hobby to help you rid your life of stress even for a few moments at a time is very helpful. This will allow you to come back to your job with a clear mind ready to start fresh again. If you do not have a hobby, you need to look for one. Just be sure that you select something that you enjoy which is relaxing. This would make it a bad idea to look for a hobby that reminds you a lot of your job or other similar stressful situations.
Always look for time to relax by yourself. Everyone needs time alone, and when you are trying to quit smoking, it is even more important. You need these brief moments to yourself so that you can unplug from your life. These brief moments are very helpful to your entire desire to quit smoking. If you are always around people continuously, you will find that your patience levels start to decrease substantially. This can make it much easier to snap, which in turn raises your stress level. Even if you have to stay up an extra 10 minutes, or get up 10 minutes earlier, these precious moments to gather your thoughts will be treasured.
The fact that many people pick up smoking to help relieve stress is no secret. This means to quit smoking for good you have to come up with stress relief or you will just be a yoyo between cigarettes for a very long period of time. Working to conquer the desire to smoke is not easy, it involves a lot of work, and reducing the stress in your life is certainly a great place to start. If you cannot eliminate the stress like most people, your next best option is to just learn how to properly deal with the stress, and these suggestions can help you to cope without reaching for cigarettes.
Mississauga violence leaves 3 dead, 4 injured
Numerous victims from three separate incidents
Oct 12, 2008 08:02 AM
Jaspreet Tambar
Staff Reporter
Three people are dead and four are critically injured in separate incidents in Mississauga.
Police arrived at Pickfair Dr. and Redstone Rd., at 11:20 p.m. on Saturday night where they found one victim shot dead and two more victims with serious gunshot wounds.
In another incident, one person is dead and two others are in hospital after a stabbing. Officers were called to the Vanrose St. and Rathkeale Rd. area at 12:23 a.m. Sunday morning. The two surviving victims have life-threatening injuries and are currently at Sunnybrook Hospital.
A third incident transpired later at 3:46 a.m. when police responded to a shooting at 1455 Britannia Rd. East near Dixie Rd., in a Burger King parking lot. The victim was sent to Trillium Hospital where he later died.
No suspects have been apprehended in any of the cases.
Life is the most incredible gift we have, and can ever have. Most of the time we judge the quality of our lives by the circumstances of our current situation. Well, not all the time, things can go well.
I once heard someone say, “Yes, a lot of bad things can happen in our lives, but at the same time, a lot of good can happen too”. For e.g, did we invent the light bulb? The television? the airplane? Etc. But we are benefiting the blessings of what our forefathers have sown. True, we may have had bad experiences that may have affected our lives; life is not fair, but God is.
I believe life comes from God and he has purposed it to be at its fullest whatever the circumstances.
I have seen people with broken hearts mended, past hurts healed and relationships restored by just entering into the throne room of God in prayer.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
PUTRAJAYA, THURS:
SEVEN out of the 132 products randomly taken off shelves of supermarkets and shops nationwide by the Health Ministry have tested negative of melamine contamination.
Health director-general Tan Sri Ismail Merican revealed this at a press conference this evening in Putrajaya. The products (company brands in brackets) are:
1. Chocolate Coated Wafer (Passion)
2. Oreo White Chocolate Wafer Stick (Kraft)
3. Mini Cornetto Chocomint & Tiramisu Flavour (Wall's)
4. Moo Soft Cookie Sandwich (Wall's)
5. 123 Milk Powder Honey Flavoured (Dutch Lady)
6. Strawberry Flavoured Milk (Dutch Lady)
7. Baby Milk Powder (Frisolac)
The rest of the samples are being tested and test results will be released daily at the Health Ministry's Melamine Watch website
The public can also call 03 - 8883 3655 and 03 - 8883 3652 (Mon - Fri - 8am to 9pm) or 03 - 8883 3500 and 03 - 8883 3503 (daily from 8am to 5pm, including public holidays) to find out more.
Yesterday, the Health Ministry has took samples of 53 milk-related products produced in China for testing. These included household names including M&M's chocolates, Snickers chocolate bars and the White Rabbit creamy candy, which were among the 53 items tested for melamine contamination yesterday, will know their fate when the test results are released by the Health Ministry at 4pm today. The items, including chocolate, candy, yogurt and biscuits, have been sent to the Chemistry Department for tests on suspicion that they may contain milk tainted by the banned substance, melamine.
The ministry will also start seizing products off shelves if the test results show that they contain dangerous amounts of the substance.
"But, this is no cause for alarm at the moment. We are doing our best to check everything and we hope to get cooperation from the manufacturers, importers and retailers," Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday.
He also said other food products imported from China and suspected of containing melamine had been placed on Level 5 of the six-level Food Safety Information System of Malaysia, which requires that products be detained pending results of sample analysis.
Milk-related products from China have been placed at the Level 6 alert since Sept 13, which means an automatic rejection.
Liow confirmed that there were no dairy products (milk or milk powder) from China sold in Malaysia since last year.
"To sell milk here, you would need a special licence from the Veterinary Services Department. The department has said that none had been given to Chinese companies since last year."
Liow said it was normal for food items to contain a small amount of melamine as a result of using plastic wrappers. A directive from the European Commission said up to 30 parts per million (ppm) of the substance was still safe.
Powdered milk produced by China's largest dairy producer, Sanlu Group, was found to have a melamine content of up to 2,563ppm.
Liow urged doctors who come across kidney disorders suspected to be caused by tainted milk products to report the cases to the ministry.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Melamine Not The Only Problem With Milk
Thursday, 2 October 2008, 2:13 pm
Press Release: PETA
In Wake of Melamine-Tainted Milk Scandal, Peta Releases Top 10 Reasons Not To Drink Milk
Melamine Isn't the Only Thing That Milk-Drinkers Need to Worry About, Group Warns
Auckland — In light of the melamine-tainted milk scandal, which has killed at least four babies and sickened 53,000 others, PETA is reminding milk-drinkers that cow's milk is also loaded with cholesterol, fat and other contaminants – including cow's blood and pus, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics – which, over time, can be just as dangerous as ingesting melamine.
PETA points out that eating fat- and cholesterol-laden dairy products can lead to serious health problems – including heart disease, obesity and diabetes – which can send milk-drinkers to an early grave. And since more than 75 per cent of the world's population is lactose-intolerant, putting on a milk moustache can mean suffering painful abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea.
The following are PETA's top 10 reasons not to drink milk:
1) Cows are not milk machines. After years being kept constantly pregnant and being forced to produce about 10 times more milk than they naturally would, dairy cows are slaughtered.
2) "Moo" is not your first language. Human babies don't say "goo goo moo moo", so why treat them like calves? Humans are the only animals who drink breast milk after infancy and the only animals who drink milk from a different species. It makes as much sense for people to drink cow's milk as it would for dogs to drink giraffe's milk!
3) Cookies and cramps don't mix. Studies show that more than 75 per cent of the world's population is lactose-intolerant. Can you say "abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea"?
4) Dairy is punitively scary. There's more in that glass of milk than you think. Dairy products are commonly contaminated with blood, pus, pesticides and antibiotics.
5) There's veal in your cereal. Milk fuels the cruel veal industry. Considered by-products of the dairy industry, male calves are dragged away to veal crates when they are just hours old.
6) Milk is bad to the bone. Contrary to a popular milky myth, studies strongly implicate dairy foods in causing, rather than preventing, osteoporosis, because their high protein content leaches calcium from the body.
7) Milk does the planet bad. Bad for mother cows, milk production is also bad for Mother Earth. It's a major source of water pollution: just one dairy cow produces 120 pounds of waste every day – as much as two dozen people could produce – but with no toilets, sewers or treatment plants.
8) The white stuff isn't the right stuff. Milk is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of calves, which have four stomachs and gain an average of 115 kilograms in their first six months of life. It's mad for humans to chug moo-juice!
9) No grain means lots of pain. Every glass of milk takes a meal away from hungry people. Crops which could be used to feed the hungry are instead used to feed dairy cows. It takes a huge amount of grain cycled through cows to produce a very small amount of milk.
10) A milk moustache is a real heartbreaker. Devoid of fiber and complex carbohydrates but loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol, dairy products have been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and certain types of cancer.
"All cow's milk – whether it's poisoned with melamine or not – is an unhealthy mix of contaminants, cholesterol and fat", says PETA director Jason Baker. "The best bet for people who care about their health is to switch to healthy and humane soya, rice or almond milk and give dairy products the boot."
For more information, please visit PETAAsiaPacific.com.
HEALTH FOR ANYONE PLEASE READ IT....
Coffee, breast cancer link disproven
38,432 women followed several years in study
October 14, 2008
Comments on this story (0)
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
CHICAGO–A study of nearly 40,000 women has found no overall link between caffeine and breast cancer, though some women who have benign breast lumps might be at a higher risk, researchers said yesterday.
A few earlier studies had suggested caffeine could play a role in breast cancer among those who consume what is probably the world's most widely used drug, Dr. Ken Ishitani of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and Tokyo Women's Medical University and colleagues said.
But their look at 38,432 American women who were studied over several years starting in 1992 found "no overall association between caffeine consumption and breast cancer risk," they said in a report published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
However, in women with benign breast disease, (nonmalignant lumps or tumours), there was a significantly increased risk of breast cancer among those who drank four or more cups of coffee daily, the research team said. They said benign breast disease in general is considered a risk for breast cancer.
"These findings suggest high caffeine consumption may promote progression from pre-malignant breast lesions to breast cancers because most types of invasive breast cancer are thought to arise from certain pre-malignant lesions... ," they said.
But there was no association in that group among those who drank fewer than four cups of coffee daily.
The findings involving those with benign breast disease are borderline, could be due to chance and warrant more study, the researchers said.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
LATEST Lower petrol, diesel prices effective Oct 15
KUALA LUMPUR, Tues:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced today that effective Oct 15, the retail price of petrol RON97 will be reduced by 15 sen to RM2.30 a litre; petrol RON92 will go down 10 sen to RM2.20; and the price of diesel will be cut by 20 sen to RM2.20 per litre.
This followed a marked drop in world oil prices of late, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a statement today.
He said the government decided to expedite the reduction of petrol and diesel retail prices to enable the people to enjoy lower fuel prices immediately.
The government earlier adjusted fuel prices on Aug 23 and Sept 24.
Crude oil prices have dwindled from a record high of US$147 per barrel in July to US$82 currently.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Parenting, by itself, brings many new challenges and opportunities to learn. Parenting a child with a chronic illness brings even more. A chronic illness is one that persists for a long time, sometimes for life. Examples of chronic illnesses are diabetes, asthma, and cancer. The needs of child patients are as varied as the types of chronic illnesses. However, parents of children with a chronic illness many times ask the same questions. Questions such as "why my child?" and "how did this happen?" Although we may not have all the answers to questions such as these, we can find counsel and direction from those who have gone through this experience.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World states: "All human beings-male and female-are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny..." There is comfort in knowing that your child is a child of God, and that He knows you and your child, and everything you are going through. These difficult experiences are a part of the growing process of this life, and although they may be difficult, there are things that can be done to help you, your child, and your family to cope.
After the Diagnosis
It is hard to prepare for the feelings that come with your child's initial diagnosis. It is important to acknowledge these feelings and allow yourself to feel them without feeling guilty. There are some things you can do that will help ease the pain these feelings may cause.
• Keep a Positive Attitude
Learning about the diagnosis and dealing with the day to day responsibilities of the illness can bring feelings of fear, hurt, and confusion for you and your child. Keeping a positive attitude through it all will help you and will also help your child to cope more effectively (Patterson, 1991, p.495).
• Become Informed
Becoming informed can help alleviate fears and give you practical suggestions to do what you can to cope and better treat your child's illness at home. Physicians are a great place to start. They can give you information, and direct you to more. Another great source of information and support is parents and children who are going through the same thing.
• Find Other Parents and Children Going Through the Same Thing
Sometimes what helps most is knowing that you're not the only one going through this. There are many websites and organizations available to help provide you with information and support. Some of them are listed at the end of the article.
Helping Your Child
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is just the beginning of a long road for you and your child. Every child adjusts to their illness in their own way. Although each situation is unique, there are some things all parents can consider doing to help their child live as normal a life as possible.
• Communicate with Your Child
There is no better way to ease fears and to build trust with your child than to communicate openly and honestly-in an appropriate way for their age level-about their illness and any medical procedures they may have to go through. Giving your child choices in treating their illness when possible will help him or her to feel more responsible and in control of it.
• Give Your Child Choices
One of the primary purposes of growing up is learning to become independent and make choices. This is the same for children with a chronic illness. While some things are mandatory--such as certain medications--some are more flexible. Find out where you can be more flexible and let your child make the choice that is most appealing. This will help the child feel more responsible and in control of the illness. It will also give them a sense of accomplishment.
• Support their Friendships and Activities with Peers
Encouraging your child to enhance his or her talents aside from their illness can help facilitate friendships that otherwise may be hard to make. Friendships with peers give children a sense of belonging and support. These friendships can also help your child feel that he or she is normal and provide an identity separate from his or her illness.
• Coordinate with Your Child's School
Good communication with your child's school is essential when you have a child with special health needs. There are many things a school can do to help prepare for a child with special needs.
Helping your Family Cope
The chronic illness of a family member is a situation where all family members are asked to adapt. This can put a lot of strain on a family. The following are ideas to help your family cope and even become stronger in the face of a chronic illness.
• Stick to a Routine
A family is best able to cope with the needs of a chronic illness when the needs of that illness are integrated into a regular family routine. This routine includes the delegation of responsibilities and an organized schedule of appointments. It is important to remember the need of flexibility in your routine to ease the stress that accompanies too many obligations.
• Communicate
Open and honest communication with your family, and especially your spouse, can help ease fears, ease stress, and make caring for your child more a part of normal, every day life.
• Be Committed to and Seek Comfort from your Family
The most important trait in resilient families of children with special needs is commitment to each other as a family (Patterson, 1991, p. 495). This commitment can be shown by being optimistic, sharing responsibilities with each other, and doing activities together (Patterson, 1991, p. 496). By paying attention to your family as a whole, you emphasize the importance of each family member and let each of your children know how important and loved they are.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World states: "extended family should lend support when needed."(¶ 7) Many extended family members are ready and willing to lend a hand. Turn to them when you are in need of support and strength.
• Remember your Other Children
Once you as a parent have become informed about your child's chronic illness, be sure to also communicate with other members of your family, especially the child's siblings, about the child's diagnosis and the nature of the child's chronic condition. Be sure to provide information that is geared to the child's level of understanding.
Just as you and your child who has a chronic illness are experiencing different emotions, so are your other children. Your children may experience jealousy, anger and depression. Parents need to exercise care to provide time and energy to other children in the family and still meet the needs of the chronically ill sibling.
Taking Care of Yourself
When caring for your child and adjusting to this new challenge in your life, it is essential to remember the importance of caring for yourself. The following are things you can do to ensure that you are being taken care of as well as your child.
• Know Your Limits and Be Willing to Take a Timeout for Yourself
Make it a priority to do those things that are essential and reward yourself for doing those things. Don't be hard on yourself if you don't accomplish all you want to. Just as you are flexible and understanding with your child, be the same way with yourself.
When things are getting too hard to handle, sometimes it helps to take a timeout. Give yourself time to do something you enjoy. Many times exercising can help to clear your mind and release tension.
• Take Advantage of Offers to Help
Many friends and family members are looking for opportunities to help. Take advantage of these. They take some of the stress off you while strengthening the relationships you have.
• Make Use of Respite Care
Respite care is a valuable resource to those caring for a child with a chronic illness. It is short-term specialized childcare that allows parents to take a break from their sometimes overwhelming responsibilities.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World states: " Each (person) is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny" (¶ 2). Although the road may seem rough, there is comfort in knowing that your child is special and was sent specifically to you. You have the strength and the love only you could give and in the end that is what really matters.
Written by Melanie Churchill, Research Assistant, and edited by Stephen F. Duncan, Professor, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.
http://www.foreverfamilies.net/xml/articles/children_with_chronic_illness.aspx
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
It's spring and you've made an exciting discovery--a field covered with fully ripened wild strawberries! Though you try tiptoeing to avoid stepping on the berries, it's impossible. You're stepping on the fruits because you're standing in wall-to-wall berries. You pluck one off the plant--it's sweet and juicy, but so tiny.
You were drawn to the field blanketed with lush green leaves because an intense sweet fragrance perfumed the air and beckoned to you. You spend the next hour picking and enjoying the sweetest fruits you've ever tasted. This moment becomes an unforgettable experience. In 1600 William Butler wrote, "Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God ever did."
There are still fields of wild strawberries throughout the northern portions of North America, Europe, and South America, the countries where wild patches of strawberries developed into cultivated farms centuries ago.
Strawberries were cultivated and traded in South America in Chile and Peru long before the Spanish explorers arrived. When the English Colonists arrived in Massachusetts, strawberries were already being cultivated by the Native American Indians. In Europe, however, cultivation of this delectable fruit didn't catch on until centuries later.
Historical Facts
Prehistoric man had little value for the wild strawberry because of its inconvenience, though he certainly did consume his share. The plants were found in the woods, often covered by lush overgrowth. The season was brief, only a few weeks, and the berries were smaller than our wild strawberries today. Hardly worth the trouble, since early man did not know how to preserve and store foods. Yet, a few tiny strawberry seeds were discovered by archeologists in Mesolithic sites in Denmark, Neolithic sites in Switzerland, and Iron Age sites in England.
Though wild strawberries were certainly enjoyed in the ancient world, it is doubtful they were cultivated during that time. Pliny, Roman naturalist and writer, 23 to 79 CE, mentions the ground strawberry, Fraga, briefly and states it is different from the tree strawberry. Of the wild plants eaten during his time he lists strawberries, parsnips and hops but says no more about them. Ovid, the Roman poet, also distinguishes between the ground strawberry and tree strawberry but never mentions cultivation.
Other writers of ancient Rome, Cato, Varro, Columella, and Palladius, never write about strawberry cultivation. Rome's first cookbook author, Apicius, hasn't a single reference to the strawberry in his cookbook, either.
Roman poet Virgil, (70 to 19 BCE), author of the Aeneid, confirms that strawberries were not cultivated during his time when he writes only a warning to children picking wild strawberries to beware of serpents lurking in the grass.
Strawberries are not mentioned in the Bible, nor do they appear in any Egyptian or Greek art. This is probably because they grew only in cooler climates and possibly at locales like the mountainous foothills of Rome and France where they could not be easily picked,. The ancient Romans can at least be credited for preserving strawberries by pickling them.
Centuries passed without mention of the strawberry in any European literature.
In the 12th century an abbess named Saint Hildegard von Binger declared strawberries unfit for consumption because they grew along the ground where snakes and toads most likely crawled upon them. Her words had such an effect on the local political figures that they, too, made similar declarations, discouraging the population from eating the berries. Among Europeans, this belief held for several years.
Sporadic efforts of strawberry cultivation began in the 1300's with a few plantings of the wild fruits into home gardens. On a grander scale, King Charles V adorned his Parisian gardens at the Louvre with 1200 strawberry plants in 1368. A few years later, the Duke and Duchess of Burgundy had their gardener plant a four-block area of their property near Dijon with strawberries.
In the fifteenth century the strawberry was first illustrated in a German botanical volume called Herbarius Latinus Moguntiae, the Herbal of Mainz. Interestingly, this volume and the herbals that followed, describes the strawberry not as a food but speaks of it only as a medicine.
Strawberries captured the palates of many of history's explorers. In 1534 Jacques Cartier traveled to Quebec in Canada and wrote this description in his diary of what he had seen, "vast patches of strawberries along the great river (referring to the St. Lawrence) and in the woods."
Thomas Hariot, an English explorer who came to America, was impressed with the strawberries he had eaten in Virginia. His 1588 diary noted that he discovered strawberries "as good and great as those which we have in English gardens." and brought back plant specimens to his home in London. North America's native strawberries were larger and more flavorful than the European varieties he had encountered.
In 1560, Bruyerin-Champier, physician to King Henry IV, wrote that the English ladies enjoyed their strawberries and cream so much they began planting the strawberries in their own gardens. This hints that European cultivation of the wild strawberry had at last taken root. During this period, many books on horticulture provided information on cultivating the strawberry, noting that the berries grown in the home garden were larger than those gathered in the wild.
Tusser, who wrote Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry in 1557, made a recommendation that would create quite a stir today. He proposed growing strawberries as an appropriate part of the "employment of women," and composed the following poem:
Wife, into the garden and set me a plot
With strawberry roots, the best to be got.
Such growing abroad among thorns in the wood,
Well chosen and picked, prove excellent good.
Toward the end of the 1500's the cultivation trend reached Germany where they grew a variety of strawberries that produced two crops a year.
Roger Williams, a British born clergyman and founder of Rhode Island, remarked, "This berry is the wonder of all the fruits growing naturally in those parts. . . In some parts where the Indians have planted them, I have many times seen as many as would fill a good ship, within a few miles compass. The Indians bruise them in a Morter, and mixe them with meale and make strawberry bread."
It was the French who took up serious cultivation of this captivating fruit. Many a horticulturist owes homage to both King Louis XIV and one of his gardeners, Jean de la Quintinie, who tended the royal gardens at the Palace of Versailles. The King chose strawberries as his favorite fruit and even initiated a poetry contest on the merits of the strawberry. However, it was his gardener who kept the first detailed account in 1697 of how to develop larger berries, how to prepare the soil and deal with the insects' wont to share the strawberries.
One man, Karl von Linne, a Swedish botanist whose Latinized name was Carolus Linnaeus, defied the common thinking and ate a diet of only strawberries to prove them quite edible. This occurrence took place for a brief period sometime between 1707 and 1778.
Hybridizing of the strawberry first occurred early in the 18th century when a flavorful Virginia variety was crossed with a Chilean variety to produce a berry that was larger and firmer than most. Because of its distinctive flavor, this strawberry became known as the Pineapple strawberry.
It was a crafty French naval engineer named Amédée-Fran is Frézier who noticed the exceptionally large strawberries growing in Chile while he was mapping the locations of West Coast Spanish forts and colonies in 1712. As an amateur botanist, he took a special interest in these plants the natives called quelghen. He wrote that they were, "as big as a walnut and sometimes as large as a hen's egg."
He brought some of these plants back to France, and had two of them planted in the royal gardens. The other five were planted at Plougastel in Brittany, where the climate was similar to their homeland in Chile. The plants grew and grew but produced no berries, a circumstance that confounded everyone until thirty years later someone planted a Virginia strawberry next to them.
What Frézier didn't know was that the Chilean berries produced male and female flowers on separate plants. All his Chilean plants happened to be female and couldn't reproduce without pollen from male plants. A whole new variety developed from this marriage of a South American strawberry and a North American strawberry. Horticulturists named the new offspring Fragaria x ananassa. All cultivated strawberry varieties throughout the world can trace their history back to the joining of the Virginia and Chilean berries.
Louis XV was so enamored with strawberries that he ordered his gardener to plant every variety of the berry to be found in Europe. Despite the nearly 300 kinds of strawberries planted there, Alexandre Dumas, in his Grand Dictionaire de Cuisine written in the mid-1800's, only mentions five kinds. Strawberries were still not commonly eaten in European countries.
During the early 1800's, Americans were planting strawberries with enthusiasm in their home gardens, but because of the fruit's fragile nature, farmers did not ship them to markets far from home. In local markets they sold quickly.
The first "refrigerated" shipping of strawberries across the U.S. occurred in 1843 when some innovative Cinncinatti, Ohio growers spread ice on top of the strawberry boxes and sent them on their way. By the middle of the 1800's many regions of the United States were cultivating strawberries.
By 1831 strawberries finally became a fashionable fruit in the English marketplace. Londoners were gathering wild strawberries from the local fields. The English loved them so much that many of the wealthy as well as the commoners lovingly tended small strawberry patches in their home gardens.
The Naming of Strawberries
The name strawberry came about easily because straw was used freely to mulch the plants during the winter, a practice that discourages weeds and lifts the berries up from the soil. When it came time to harvest the berries, children would pick them and string them on a blade of straw. At the London market the children would sell "Straws of Berries."
Originally strawberries were called strewberries, a name descriptive of how they grew. The berries appeared to be strewn among the leaves, and the runners themselves appeared to be strewn among the plants. Until 1538, the Anglo Saxon spelling streoberie was used. The strawberry's name went through many evolutions including streowberige, strea berige, streaw berian wisan, streabergen, streberi leif, streberewyse, straberry, streberie, straibery, and straubery.
Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist, gave the strawberry its official species name of Fragaria. Each of the romance languages, French, Italian and Spanish, refer to the strawberry as Fraise which means fragrant. Those who shop at farmers' markets will confirm the Latin name an apropos description.
On the North American continent, the Naragansett Indians called it "wuttahimneash" which translated as heart-seed berry.
Strawberry Cultivation in California
The California strawberry boom took root in 1887 with a 9-year old boy named Charlie Loftus whose father moved to a ranch about 20 miles north of Redding, California, an area called Sweet Briar. In a small patch of strawberries inherited from the previous landowner was a singular plant that stood out from the rest. Little Charlie noticed that its berries, larger than the rest, were bright red, conical in shape, and smelled and tasted exceptionally sweet. That winter this special strawberry plant was carefully transplanted into a wooden keg and eventually produced one quarter of an acre of exquisite berries his family named Sweet Briar.
At a breakfast table in 1900 the Sweet Briar strawberries became the subject of a partnership involving Charlie's father, Thomas Loftus, of Shasta County and two growers from Pajaro Valley, Dick Driscoll and Joe Reitner. Together they decided to protect and propagate the Sweet Briar strawberries.
In 1912 the Pajaro Valley partners came up with a unique way to promote their special variety at the San Francisco markets. Each crate of strawberries was dressed up with a blue paper ribbon that had an attractive red strawberry printed on the banner. The innovation was so successful that the Sweet Briar strawberries became known as Banners, a name associated with superiority.
The business has been handed down through the Loftus line and today is in the hands of Roger and Tom Loftus, sons of Tim Loftus. Part of the farm is in Malin, Oregon while the other is in Susanville, California.
Today, 80 percent of commercially grown strawberries are from California's farms, where each acre produces about 21 tons of berries. Approximately one billion pounds of strawberries a year are grown in the state.
Growing
Strawberry plants are members of the Rosaceae family also known as the rose family, while all strawberries belong to the Fragaria virginia or Fragaria chiloensis genus. In the 1500's, when the wild strawberry was transplanted into home gardens, it was given the genus name of Fragaria vesca.
Strawberries initially grew best in northern countries where the colder winters kept the plants happier than in the warmer, southern regions. Strawberries require good irrigation and do not tolerate drought conditions. They are unique in their ability to adapt well to a broader range of climates than most other fruits and are not fussy about soil conditions that lean to acidic or alkaline.
Because of their adaptability, strawberries are grown in all 50 states of the United States and in all of Canada's provinces. Some varieties are everbearing, F. sylvestris semperflorens, producing berries beginning in the summer and continuing through the fall, some even fruiting until the frost.
Ideally, new plants are put into the ground in the spring. If the weather is too cold, fall plantings can be challenging; however if special care is given, plants can be successful.
Strawberries are unique in that their seeds are on the outside rather than contained inside. Their seeds do not serve to grow new plants. Strawberry plants multiply by sending out runners along the ground during the time that fruit is developing. These runners develop roots and form new plants. A whole new plantation can be started from these newly formed runner plants.
Because strawberries are so delicate and highly perishable they cannot be machine-harvested and are almost always picked by hand. Strawberries do not ripen after they are picked and, therefore, shouldn't be picked until they are fully ripened.
Birds have played an important role in the distribution of seeds that started many wild strawberry plants growing. When the birds eat ripe strawberries, the seeds pass through them in rather good condition. The seeds require only light to begin germinating and do not actually require soil to begin sprouting.
Ask a Nebraska Court
On January 4, 1996 the Nebraska Supreme Court handed down a decision that affects anyone buying strawberries in a store in that state. In an effort to avoid confusion, the state has created a law that could possibly result in more confusion. Many states across the country have adopted the Uniform Weights and Measures Act stating that small berries may be sold by weight or by volume. Nebraska State inspectors declared that a store could not sell strawberries by weight and by volume in the same store at the same time. If the store desired, they could sell the strawberries by weight one day, and by volume the next. The ruling was an effort to avoid confusing the consumer about which was the better value, a pint or a pound, but . . .you figure it out! Here are a few shopper's comparisons that may provide some help when purchasing strawberries:
1 1/2 pounds equal 2 pints or 1 quart
1 small basket equals 1 pint
1 pint equals 3 1/4 cups of whole berries
1 pint equals 2 1/4 cups sliced berries
1 pint equals 1 2/3 cup pureed berries
1 cup equals about 4 ounces
The sizes and weights of the strawberries will vary; therefore, all pints will not have the same weight.
Favorite Dishes
Strawberry Shortcake, an all-time favorite American dessert is a frequent star on the sweet table when strawberries are in season from early spring through summer. A sumptuous dessert, Strawberry Shortcake is composed of sponge cake, divided into two layers, filled with sliced, sweetened strawberries and whipped cream between the layers, and finished with a generous layer of sliced strawberries and whipped cream over the top. In present day California, different varieties of strawberries come into season at different times of the year and are shipped across the country, making this delectable dessert available year-round.
Strawberry Shortcake is not the creation or invention of any one person. The Native Americans Indians inspired the creation of Strawberry Shortcake by introducing the Colonists to their style of baked bread made simply of cornmeal and crushed strawberries. The Colonists then applied their English baking skills and created their own version, strawberry shortcake.
Strawberries and Cream, a tasty combination, has a rather long history. In 1542, an Englishman named Andrew Boorde expresses his appreciation for the comfort combo in this way:
"Rawe crayme undecocted, eaten with strawberyes or hurtes (whortleberry, billberry) is a rurall mannes blanket. I have knowen such blankettes hath put men in jeoperdy of theyr lyves."
In Eastern Europe, strawberries are paired with sour cream, while in France and Italy, strawberries are topped with wine and sugar.
Medicinal Uses
During the 13th century the French cultivated strawberries to use as a medicinal herb for numerous digestive discomforts.
The roots, leaves, and fruits of the Alpine Strawberry, Fragaria Vesca, were used as a digestive aid and skin tonic. The berry was prescribed for diarrhea and digestive upset, while the leaves and roots were supposed to relievie gout. The berry itself was rubbed on the skin to ease the pain of sunburn and to relieve blemishes. The juice of the strawberry has its own special prescription--it brightened discolored teeth.
The ancient Romans were staunch believers in the curative powers of the strawberry. They believed it relieved melancholy and masked bad breath. According to the ancients, strawberries could cure inflammations, fevers, throat infections, kidney stones, gout, fainting spells, and diseases of the blood, liver, and spleen.
John Gerard, a French herbalist, touted the value of boiled strawberry leaves as a poultice. Of the fruit, itself he says, "the ripe Strawberries quench thirst, and take away, if they be often used, the redness and heate of the face." Patients enjoyed the medicinal fruit treatment so much they began eating them as a food, accompanied with cream or wine.
Folklore and Fascinating Facts
Legends often tell about love rituals. Be careful with whom you share a double strawberry. It is destined that the two of you may fall in love.
Because of their bright red colors and heart shapes, strawberries were the symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love.
Henry VIII's second wife, Ann Boleyn, was thought to have been a witch because she had a strawberry shaped birthmark on her neck.
During medieval times, strawberries symbolized righteousness and perfection. Stone masons applied their carved strawberry signs onto altars and at the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals.
If you live in Bavaria, somewhere out in the country, you might be participating in an annual spring ritual that recognizes the importance of strawberries. The farm folk make an offering to the elves that they believe will help their cows produce healthy calves and a good supply of milk. The spring offerings of little baskets filled with wild strawberries are tied to the horns of their cattle to wait for the berry-loving elves to enjoy the berries and offer their good spirits to their hosts.
The United States honored the strawberry with a 33-cent stamp first issued on April 10, 1999. The stamp featured a cluster of bright red strawberries peeking out from their brilliant green leaves.
Strawberries just happen to be in season during the world-famous Wimbledon Tennis Matches, a time when tennis fanciers nibble on the berries as a snack while viewing the games. If you were British, you might easily think of the event as Wimbledon Strawberry season.
Ever consider bathing in the juice of fresh strawberries? Twenty-two pounds of crushed strawberries made up the bathwater that went into the tub when Madame Talien, one of the court figures of Emperor Napoleon, took her bath. This ritual did not occur often since people did not bathe regularly during Napoleon's time, mid 1700s into the early 1800s.
Many places in the world have been named for the strawberry. Here are a few you may have visited:
• Strawberry, Arizona
• Strawberry, California
• Strawberry Crater Wilderness in the Cocinino National Forest in Arizona
• The Virtual Strawberry Beds west of Dublin, Ireland, a beautiful area unaffected by urban development
• Strawberry Mountain in Malheur National Forest, Oregon
• Mansikkala, Finland translated as The Place of the Strawberry. Farms there grow strawberries that ripen 24 hours a day during the time of the midnight sun
• Horace Walpole, English novelist of the 1700's, named his villa Strawberry Hill. He grew Virginia strawberries on his estate.
A blond whose hair has a reddish tint is called a strawberry blonde.
In the family of finches there is one variety called the Strawberry Finch
Nutritional Information
One cup of fresh strawberries contains only 43 calories and an impressive nutritional profile. Looking at the figures, one cannot help notice that this fruit is not lacking in valuable nutrients, but is endowed with a healthy content of every vitamin and mineral except Vitamin B12.
Just 5 medium-sized strawberries will supply your minimum RDA of Vitamin A and includes the following nutritional benefits:
1 g. protein
.5 g fat
10 g. carbohydrates
3 g. fiber
.6 mg iron
1 mg sodium
20.2 mg calcium
30 mg phosphate
39 IU Vitamin A
.03 mg thiamine
.10 mg riboflavin
81.6 mg Vitamin C
239 mg potassium
.02 mg zinc
14.4 mg magnesium
.09 mg Vitamin B6
25.5 mcg folacin
Purchasing and Storing
Since strawberries do not ripen after they are picked, select only those with a fresh shiny look and bright red color. Check to see that the green stems, too, look fresh and not wilted. Refrigerate soon after purchasing the berries.
Do not wash the strawberries until shortly before ready to serve. Berries are highly perishable, and the extra water on them causes their cells to break down more quickly. Wash the berries and pat them dry before removing the stems. This method avoids excess water entering the berries from the stem end.
Wash and cut up only what you can consume that same day. If you've refrigerated any leftovers, you'll notice that they have lost their fresh appearance, much of their water content has oozed out, and they simply don't taste the same.
The best way to store strawberries, if you have the space in your refrigerator, is to arrange them in a single layer on top of paper towels. Use the berries within three or four days.
If you are picking fresh strawberries, use a shallow basket or bowl and don't pile them more than two layers high. Too many layers will crush the fragile berries on the bottom.
Freezing
To freeze strawberries, wash and dry them, remove the stems, and arrange them single layer on a baking sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer until the berries are solidly frozen. Then pack them into a zip-lock freezer bag and keep them frozen until ready to use.
Raw
Strawberries are so special just the as they are; they don't require any formal preparation. Simply wash 'em and eat 'em.
Coarsely mash them into a sauce, maintaining lots of their texture, and pour the sauce over a fruit salad. Sweeten if desired.
Slice them into a tossed green salad for a touch of spring color.
Serve them as dessert in combination with blackberries. Create a sauce by mashing a few of the strawberries to pour over the top.
Combine them with soaked grains and nuts for a hearty breakfast.
Create a unique salad dressing with strawberries. Whirl them in the blender with oil, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings to taste. See the Recipe Index.
Make a strawberry smoothie with strawberries, bananas, a splash of lime juice, and a little sweetening.
Make a savory strawberry sauce by adding crushed garlic and minced jalapeno to mashed strawberries.
Cooked
Bake a strawberry pie. A favorite among pie lovers is the combination of strawberry and rhubarb that is also in season.
Stir them into pancake or waffle batter. As an alternative, serve them on top of your breakfast favorites.
Cook up some strawberry jam to spread on your morning toast.
Make a strawberry cobbler.
Prepare a strawberry mousse with frozen strawberries, soft silken tofu, and a sweetener.
For an elegant finish to a meal, serve some strawberries dipped in dark chocolate and some in white chocolate. Leave the stems on for added color.
hello everyone...Today i want to talk about the 'watery eyes'. What accually the watery eyes? The watery eyes also call Epiphore;tearing.
Watery eyes occur when there is too much tear production or poor drainage of the tear duct.There are several causes of watery eyes such as allergy to mold,dander and dust,blepharitis,blockage of the tear duct,conjunctivitis,environment irritant such as smog or chemicals in the air, wind strong light and outward,and eyelid turning inward or outward.Forign body and abrasions,inflection,inward-growing eyelashes and irritation also the causes of watery eyes.
Oddly enough, one of the most common causes of excess tearing is dry eyes. Drying causes the eyes to become uncomfortable, which stimulates the body to produce too many tears. One of the main tests for tearing is to check whether the eyes are too dry.But sometime watery eyes are due to eyestrain,laughing,vomiting and yawning.
So,some home care should be take to deal with the watery eyes problem.First,consider the causes of the tearing.If the eyes feel dry and burn and then begin to tear, consider using artificial tears before tearing occurs. This prevents the reflex tearing.Then,if the eyes are itchy and uncomfortable, consider allergy as a cause. Over-the-counter antihistamines can be useful. A mucous discharge from the eyes or red eyes may indicate a blocked tear duct or eyelid problem.
Hi everyone,is me againt!!This time i want to talk about Jaundice-Yellow skin.So,how much you know about the problem of yellow skin? Is this problem can effects our dialy lifes?So,lets we see what is the Jaundice-yellow skin.
Jaundice is a yellow color in the skin, the mucous membranes, or the eyes. The yellow pigment is from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells.Mostly,the problem of yellow skin may occur in the first week of life in more than 1 in 10 breastfed infants. The cause is thought to be inadequate milk intake, leading to dehydration or low caloric intake. It is a type of physiologic or exaggerated physiologic jaundice.
Breast milk jaundice is far less common and occurs in about 1 in 200 babies. Here the jaundice isn’t usually visible until the baby is a week old. It often reaches its peak during the second or third week. Breast milk jaundice can be caused by substances in mom's milk that decrease the infant’s liver’s ability to deal with bilirubin. Breast milk jaundice rarely causes any problems, whether it is treated or not. It is usually not a reason to stop
The other causes for problem yellow skin in chidren are viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E),Hemolytic anemia,disorders present since birth that cause problems processing bilirubin (Gilbert's syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Rotor's syndrome, or Crigler-Najjar syndromes),Biliary atresia,Autiimmune hepatitis and malaria.
Causes in adults due to yellow skin disease are due to blocked bile ducts(by inflection,tumor or gallstones),Viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E),drug-induced cholestasis (bile pools in the gallbladder because of the effects of drugs,Drug-induced hepatitis (hepatitis triggered by erythromycin sulfa drugs, antidepressants, anti-cancer drugs, Aldomet, rifampin, steroids, chlorpropamide, tolbutamide, oral contraceptives, testosterone, propylthiouracil),alcoholic liver disease(alcoholic cirhosis) and Ischemic hepatocellular jaundice (jaundice caused by inadequate oxygen or inadequate blood flow to the liver).
So,some home care causes of jaundice must be determined before treatment can be given.
Hai everyone!. I have read about paralympics closing ceremony in magazine. The Beijing Paralympics wrapped up yesterday with yet another spectacular ceremony at the wonderful Bird’s Nest stadium giving delirious athletes a chance to say goodbye after an extremely successful Games. Sounds like a similar story to four weeks ago when the Olympics ended on a high - we were even treated to another show of gormless flag waving from an open-suited Mayor of London.
Unfortunately Bob has been awol for the last three weeks and has not been able to continue regular blogging throughout the Paralympics, and this is not an attempt to brush it under the carpet as ’similar to the Olympics’; reviews of the Paralympics will follow. Bob has been keeping up with the news from Beijing, but upon returning to work in London has suffered from excess of work and shortage of post-Beijing motivation, both of which have stifled blogging.
Hai everyone!. I have read about paralympics closing ceremony in magazine. The Beijing Paralympics wrapped up yesterday with yet another spectacular ceremony at the wonderful Bird’s Nest stadium giving delirious athletes a chance to say goodbye after an extremely successful Games. Sounds like a similar story to four weeks ago when the Olympics ended on a high - we were even treated to another show of gormless flag waving from an open-suited Mayor of London.
Unfortunately Bob has been awol for the last three weeks and has not been able to continue regular blogging throughout the Paralympics, and this is not an attempt to brush it under the carpet as ’similar to the Olympics’; reviews of the Paralympics will follow. Bob has been keeping up with the news from Beijing, but upon returning to work in London has suffered from excess of work and shortage of post-Beijing motivation, both of which have stifled blogging.
20 August 08,A 56-year-old kindergarten janitor tried in vain to escape with his marijuana tree after police raided his home in Johor Bahru.
The suspect pulled out the tree from its vase and ran during the police raid at about 6am in Layang-Layang, Kluang on Saturday.
However, several policemen managed to tackle the suspect before he escaped.Johor deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said that the suspect is believed to have grown the tree over the last six months.
“Being in possession, let alone growing this tree, is against the law.“We are not ruling out the possibility that the suspect has been selling ganja (marijuana) produced by the tree,” he said, adding that the case was classified under Section 6B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
FA08020
In your point of view,what do you think about the pregnancy and multivitamins?
I am certain that your brain waves should be reacting now!!!But before that let me share with you guys about PREGNANCY AND MULTIVITAMINS.
Researchers at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children have found that taking prenatal multivitamins fortified with folic acid may reduce the risk of three common childhood cancers:leukaemia,brain tumours,and neuoblastoma.
The study found that prenatal supplementation of this type of multivitamins is associated with a 47 per cent protective effect for neuroblastoma,39 per cent for leukaemia and 27 per cent for brain tumours.This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the use of prenatal multivitamins before and during early pregnancy and their protective effects for several types of paediatric cancer.
In North America,neuroblastoma,the most prevalent solid tumour that occurs outside of the brain in children under the age of five,affects one in every 6000 to 7000 children.Additional research is required to determine which components in prenatal multivitamins provide protective effects for paediatric cancrs and whether any of those effects can be attributed to folic acid.
ARTICLE TAKEN FROM READER’S DIGEST
(SEPTEMBER 2007)
FA08020
In your point of view,what do you think about the pregnancy and multivitamins?
I am certain that your brain waves should be reacting now!!!But before that let me share with you guys about PREGNANCY AND MULTIVITAMINS.
Researchers at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children have found that taking prenatal multivitamins fortified with folic acid may reduce the risk of three common childhood cancers:leukaemia,brain tumours,and neuoblastoma.
The study found that prenatal supplementation of this type of multivitamins is associated with a 47 per cent protective effect for neuroblastoma,39 per cent for leukaemia and 27 per cent for brain tumours.This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the use of prenatal multivitamins before and during early pregnancy and their protective effects for several types of paediatric cancer.
In North America,neuroblastoma,the most prevalent solid tumour that occurs outside of the brain in children under the age of five,affects one in every 6000 to 7000 children.Additional research is required to determine which components in prenatal multivitamins provide protective effects for paediatric cancrs and whether any of those effects can be attributed to folic acid.
ARTICLE TAKEN FROM READER’S DIGEST
(SEPTEMBER 2007)
FA08020
Do you guys ever feel curious about UFO!!!And what do you think about those saucers in the sky
It's 60 years since the term flying saucer was coined and the most celebrated "extraterrestrial" episode - Roswell. Alien believers are dismissed as cranks, but even the earthly explanations of objects in the sky are fascinating.
Sixty years ago Kenneth Arnold saw something which changed his own life and the lives of millions of others, and impacted on popular culture like a shockwave.
Flying his plane near Mount Rainier in the US state of Washington, he observed a line of strange objects either crescent-shaped or disc-like, flying with the motion of a saucer skimming on water.
Arnold's sighting, quickly picked up by the press, was followed a fortnight later by the revelation of perhaps the most notorious episode in the history of UFOs, at Roswell in New Mexico.
Having announced it had recovered a "flying disk", the Army airfield backtracked and referred only to a weather balloon.
What followed was perhaps one of the greatest conspiracy theories of all time, involving post-mortem examinations of swollen-bellied grey aliens, the cloning of sophisticated extraterrestrial technology and an epic cover-up. Or not, as the case may be.
In the 60 years since 1947's first major wave of sightings, thousands of ordinary people have claimed to have seen inexplicable objects in the sky.
When the Ministry of Defence released papers on its own investigations into the phenomenon in 2006, it was revealed more than 10,000 eyewitness accounts had been collected.
And for every sceptic who prefers explanations of weather balloons and freak atmospheric conditions there is someone who genuinely believes intelligent life is visiting the planet.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6268708.stm
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Ever heard of ALIENS???
wONDERING who are actually aliens??
A national newspaper survey in 1998 suggested 33% of men and 24% of women thought aliens had already visited the earth.
Such polls are testament to the powerful impact of six decades of media coverage, disputed science, heated mythology and Hollywood films. We have now completed six decades of projecting our hopes and fears onto the UFO phenomenon.
David Clarke, a lecturer in journalism, has spent 30 years studying UFOs and the sociology of the flying saucer sighting.
He is no believer in little extraterrestrial men, but believes mainstream scientists should recognise the rational explanations for sightings are themselves worthy of study.
"They wouldn't touch it," he says. "It's got such a bad press. Anything that people don't have an immediate explanation for - it must be little green men."
The "ufologists" who study the phenomenon comprise both sceptics and believers. They seek to "resolve" each incident, explaining away each aspect. And there is a wealth of explanations for most sightings that is as fascinating for sceptical enthusiasts as the notion of space visitors
http://bbc.com/co/uk/news/magazines
FA08020
Do you guys aware of the diseases caused by obesity???
Obesity and lack of fitness raise the risk of illness by impacting negatively on the body's internal chemistry, research suggests.
A US team found levels of white blood cells were highest in men who were unfit and overweight.
White blood cells are key to fighting infection, but high levels can be a sign of inflammation, which is linked to coronary heart disease.
The study appears in the British Journal of Sports MedicineA team from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center carried out tests on 452 healthy men who were taking part in a long-term study of fitness.
Blood tests were taken, and analysed for their content of various types of white blood cell.
After taking account of age, the researchers found that all groups of white blood cell were lowest in the men who were most physically fit.
The greater proportion of body fat a man had, the higher his white blood cell count was.
Total white cell count was highest in men who had a combination of higher body fat and lower levels of physical fitness.
Levels were also high among men with lower body weight but lower levels of fitness.
However, a high degree of physical fitness negated the effect of extra body fat.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7669966.stm
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We have lots of knowledge about our malaysian races'cultures,but do you have any ideas about Irish culture??
St. Patrick's Day is a traditional celebration that is now enjoyed around the world. The celebration started in Ireland centuries ago to commemorate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 AD. He was not Irish by heritage; however, he spent much of his life in Ireland. Dedicated to teaching Christianity, St. Patrick traveled throughout Ireland for 20 years teaching about God. He helped to establish many churches and monasteries. He is responsible for the religious beliefs in Ireland as well as many other things associated with Irish culture.
St. Patrick's Day was originally a religious holiday that was called the Christian Feast. Throughout the centuries, the holiday became less religious and more about Irish heritage instead. Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world as a day dedicated to the Irish.
The Shamrock is often used as a symbol of Irish heritage. The green Shamrock means good luck and those who carry the Shamrock will ward off ill fortune. The Shamrock grows wild in the fields of Ireland. It is the foliage of the white clover plant. St. Patrick was said to have used the Shamrock as a teaching tool in order to teach the Irish about the Trinity. The Trinity is the three aspects, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. The color green figures prominently in Irish heritage. Green is associated with Irish people and is worn prominently on St. Patrick's Day to show support for Ireland. Ireland itself is an island, being surrounded on all sides by water. The countryside is lush green and the rolling hills make the green stand out. Thus, Ireland came to be known as the Emerald Isle.
There are no venomous snakes in Ireland. A popularly held belief has it that St. Patrick drove the snakes away because they were thought to be evil. He sent them all into the sea, where they drowned.
Irish language, commonly called Irish Gaelic, was spoken in Ireland for many centuries. It is one of the oldest known languages. Many legends and epics were written in Irish. English began to used with Irish as a way to abbreviate speech. Eventually, English replaced Irish as the more common spoken and written language, however Irish is still spoken in some areas. The Irish brogue is the modern culmination of Irish and English together.
Song and dance make up a large part of Irish culture. Throughout the ages, traditional Irish dances were done in villages. Once strictly folk dances, these dances became popular ways for Irish people to gather. Each village had its own dance troupe. Through the years, Irish dancing is still popular in Ireland. Now it is more structured, with classes that teach and then perform. The dance troupes compete in national and even international contests. The dancers wear traditional outfits derived from the peasant dresses of years ago. Traditional Irish folk music uses the flute or the fiddle. Many Irish songs have been passed down through the generations.
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We normally hear a lot of disadvantages of plastic surgery,but plastic surgery also have their own benefits.......
Plastic surgery not only specializes in reconstructive surgery but in cosmetic or aesthetic surgery as well. Reconstructive surgery can help fix something that is not regular on the body such as a scar or a ripped earlobe.
If a person has melanoma on their nose, plastic surgery can reconstruct their nose. It's amazing what a doctor is able to do! Cosmetic surgery is able to improve one's image.
Hence, it is often called aesthetic surgery because it restores a sense of beauty to the body. Today plastic surgery has many uses. It benefits both the old and the young physically, psychologically and emotionally.
The perception of how people look can often control their life directly as well as indirectly. Plastic surgery is able to help people with their struggles about their image which will often monopolize their perception of the world.
The perception they have of themselves is reflected not only in their personality but it carries over into how they treat others. If someone is not happy with their appearance, they will project this either through negative body language or by some other means of communication. Plastic surgery can give the benefit of improving a person's psychological outlook.
Many adults suffered from emotional trauma as children, and there are many children today that suffer because of the teasing they receive from their peers. This is bound to lower a person's feeling of self-worth. In this case, when cosmetic surgery is performed it can greatly benefit a person's emotional state.
The benefits of both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery far outweigh the risks. Plastic surgery has physical, psychological and emotional benefits. It is an option that is able to benefit a person for an entire lifetime!
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i am sure that all of us are undergoing mental pressure due to the projects,assignments, presentation and our final exam which is just around the corner.But,maybe we can some differences about that with some tips to overcome mental pressure.
!)Recognizing Your Problem
Diagnosis of a mental illness may be tricky. If you have already been diagnosed with a particular mental illness you can usually trust that to be true. However, looking through the many symptoms of illnesses may be difficult for the layperson. To get the best diagnosis you should be able to make a list of your symptoms. Then you can try to match this list to various illnesses. Keep in mind that some symptoms overlap and some symptoms show up in some people but not in others. If there is any question as to your specific mental illness you should seek the help of a professional, at least for the diagnosis portion. Remember that only a true professional can properly diagnose mental illness.
2)Understanding Yourself
Once you know what your mental illness is you can work on treating it. To start with you may need to know what brought about your illness so that you can get to the root of the problem. This requires you to be able to delve deeply into your past for answers. If you have trouble doing this on your own a therapist or other specialist can help you. Ask yourself questions that require you to think deeply about yourself. Once you begin to understand you can move on to a treatment phase.
3)Making Changes
Treatment of your illness requires you to make changes in your behaviors and in the way you think. You will need to make a conscience effort to change. You will do well during this stage to get some support. One method of support is to seek books or articles about treating your mental illness. Choose books written by experts however be careful to pick books that are written for the average person to understand. Avoid textbooks as these will only provide clinical and scientific information and won't give you the support you are looking for. The best books will be those that offer information as well as a well laid out method of change that you can easily follow.
4)Continued Support
Making changes requires an ongoing commitment on your part. To help you stay focused you can join a group of others who are going through similar changes. These groups may be local or online. Local groups provide the support of human contact that makes it feel much more real and genuine. Online groups offer immediate support through chats and forums and can take the fear out of the situation. These online groups are available any time of the day or night and may have members from all over the world. You may want to combine these types of support groups.
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If u are a parent,should you let your child to use an internet chat room.I am sure that as teenagers we will be saying yes,but let us see from a parent's perception!!!!
When it comes to determining if your child is ready to use online chat rooms, it is best to examine the pros and cons of them. For starters, there are chat rooms out there that are designed for children and teenagers. By visiting these chat rooms, your child should be paired with their peers. They may also be able to make new online friends and communicate with their friends from school easily online.
Meeting new friends online and communicating with current friends over the internet, by way of internet chat rooms, is nice. It, however, is also important to remember that there are dangers to doing so as well. For starters, it is important to remember that anyone can get into a chat room. Just because a chat room that your child uses is designed for kids between the ages of 8 and 15, it doesn’t mean that everyone in that chat room falls into that age range.
As for why it is easy for an adult to get into a chat room and pretend to be a child it is because not all internet chat rooms are monitored. With that said, you should be able to find a number of chat rooms for children and teens that are monitored. This means that an adult will be there watching all conversations to make sure that they are appropriate. Remember though that an adult pretending to be a child may be able to slide under the radar.
As previously stated, an adult could easily pretend to be a child, enter a chat room for children, and target those in the room. This is easy for many internet predators to do because the internet makes it very simple for children to be targeted. A whole new, false identity can be created and you and your child may never know until it is too late.
Despite the fact that there are a number of cons or downsides to letting children and teenagers use internet chat rooms, many parents still let their children do so. If you want to be one of those parents, that is fine, but be sure that both you and your child know the dangers that lurk. Make sure they know not to give out personal information in a chat room because the person on the other end of the computer may not be who they say they are.
Also, for your child’s protection, find internet chat rooms for them to use. Even if your child knows that dangers lurk, they may still opt for the most popular chat rooms, even if they aren’t very safe. When searching for safe chat rooms for your child to use, start with a standard internet search. Next, look for those that have staffed monitors, as well as those that do not have private messaging features.
For added safety and security, have your computer in a well trafficked location. This is likely to reduce the amount of time that they spend in a chat room, as they may feel like they are being watched. You can also limit the use of chat rooms unless you are home or in the same room. Of course, you can ban your child from visiting online chat rooms if you wish, as you do have the right to do so.
As a reminder, be sure to talk to your child or teenager about the dangers of communicating with strangers on the internet. Having online friends are nice, but make sure your child knows that they should stay just that “online,” friends.
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Not only us,university students are busy with our daily routines but also children who are pushed too much due to the competing world.
People tend to assume that children are carefree and living in the best times of their lives. They have no worries, no reason to fret, nothing to be concerned about other than where to hang out after school. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in today’s modern world and cases of anxiety disorder in children are on the rise.
Children today have schedules. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday are hockey. Tuesdays the Math tutor comes over. Thursday is the day their science group meets to work on the year long project the teacher assigned. Then there are hours of homework (and those hours start at younger and younger grades), the older sibling that is out to get them to worry about, and the boyfriend to figure out how to keep. As they get older they have to think about getting into university and getting the right high school job that will give them valuable job experience in the future. Being a kid isn’t what it used to be. Anxiety disorder in children is no longer uncommon and parents don’t know how to help because they are often unfamiliar with it.
Parents can learn about the many ways to deal with anxiety disorder in children. It is treatable and there are many options to consider and choose from. Medication is probably the first thing that is thought of but there are many natural remedies for treating anxiety disorder in children that should be considered as well. Take the time to do some research and find out what your options are before settling into one kind of treatment.
For many, treating anxiety disorder in children is as simple as following the suggestions of their family doctor. However, it has been suggested that doctors are too quick to prescribe medication for conditions that can just as easily be treated with natural methods. You don’t have to be living in a commune to try out a natural remedy – they are becoming an increasingly more acceptable option among a wide variety of people. They can often be bought at a drugstore or may be as simple as changing the type of food that your child consumes. Natural remedies may include a balance of diet and exercise or the learning of tools that can be used to moderate anxiety disorder in children. Once children have tools to moderate their behavior and feelings, they can learn when to apply it to a specific situation.
Anxiety disorders in children are no longer uncommon and some fear that it they are being over-diagnosed. Learning about options for treatment, including both natural and medical remedies, can give you the assurance you need to deal with this disorder. Knowledge is power for children who have anxiety disorder and only helps them to function as well and any other child in our society – sometimes better.
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Do you guys evrer think that stress can be harmful to our body and brain??????
When the human body first experiences stress adrenaline takes over and causes a chain-reaction within the nervous system. The heart begins to beat faster, the sizes of the blood vessels are changed, and the body actually prepares itself for a frightening or emotional event. Even though the humans that are in existence today arent in constant physical danger from wild predators as our pre-historic ancestors were, we still experience this familiar fight-or-flight reaction due to a great deal of different types of stressors.
There are two main types of stress experienced by humans, either chronic or that which is emergency-induced. The chronic type of stress can be particularly harmful to the brain because of hormones and chemicals referred to as glucocorticoids or GCs. When the body experiences a rush of adrenaline which is accompanied by stress, a portion of our brain called the adrenal cortex begins to release these GCs which are useful for dealing with the emergency-type of stressors.
Chemicals such as cortisol, hydrocortisone, and corticosterone act together to increase the production of glucose, constrict blood vessels and essentially help our brains deal with or regulate stress. The GCs tell our brain either to calm down or to boost its levels of awareness and reaction in order to deal with the issue at hand. These glucocorticoids also affect memory functioning, especially in the hippocampus region of the brain.
While the GCs may help us remember frightening or stressful events so that we are better able to deal with them in the future, they can also be harmful to the delicate neurons of the brain. Prolonged periods of stress or depression may actually lead to the damage or even the death of certain neurons, especially those within the memory center of the brain.
It is important to remember that different people react differently to stressors; one person may be able to move on from a trying event while another may suffer from serious psychological effects from a similar event or situation. Learning if your stress is chronic or acute is critical for counteracting the negative affects it has on the brain. Those people who are prone to anger, anxiety, depression, and who suffer from low self-esteem are far more likely to experience damage to the brain than their calmer, more relaxed peers.
Most every one of us experiences bouts of depression or periods of the blues at some point in our lives, but a person who is constantly angry or depressed may require medical or professional assistance. While it may be possible to recover from depression through various means such as drug therapy or counseling, the long-term affects on the brain are still largely unknown. Doctors have recently reported that as many as fifty percent of patients who experienced periods of major depression also possessed high levels of cortisol, which as we know can have negative effects on the brain and cells.
A recent study conducted by The Washington University School of Medicine located in St. Louis, Missouri has shown conclusive evidence of damage to the brains neurons in people suffering from depression. Even those people who had been depressed years prior to the testing still showed signs of brain damage, as much as 12-15 percent cell atrophy in their hippocampus, resulting in the loss of an infinite number of memory cells.
Aerobic exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress and its negative effects on the brain. By engaging in some sort of physical activity the body is able to relax, relieve levels of tension and stress, and burn off nervous energy all at the same time. Endorphins, which are the feel good chemicals produced within the brain, are dramatically increased when we exercise which in turn makes both the body and the mind feel better. Not surprisingly, self-esteem can also even be lifted with regular exercise as well as an increased overall body image.
In his book Saving Your Brain, Dr. Jeff Victoroff theorizes that the cultural evolution and fast-pace of society today has essentially overwhelmed the capabilities of the brain. However, by simply relaxing, slowing ourselves down and learning how to better deal with the common stressors of every day life we can literally save ourselves from brain damage.
http://www.wellnessarticles.net/articles.zycfqszbwodnBaOLw
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You’ve heard about solar power and you want to learn more about it, but you’re not sure of the advantages and disadvantages of solar power. The thing about solar power is that the sun’s rays are free, they beat down naturally on earth, however, it costs a lot of money to actually set up the solar cells and other equipment on your home. However, there are other advantages and disadvantages of solar power so it’s best to research them all before you actually have the system installed on your home. If the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, then you’ll know that setting up your home for solar power is the right decision for you.
1)Talk To People Who Use It
The best way to learn firsthand the advantages and disadvantages of solar power is to talk to people who actually have solar cells set up on their homes. These people have nothing to gain by lying so you should get a very honest account of what it means to live off of solar power. You may hear things like, “It’s very expensive to set it up initially but otherwise it’s great,” or, “I’ve saved so much money from solar power it’s not even funny.” However, you may also hear things like, “If there’s no sun, you don’t get that much power. The reserves don’t last that long and I’m sick and tired of all this solar nonsense.” If you get mixed reviews from several people, make two columns and add the two up. Then, you should get a good idea how people feel about their solar power.
2)Solar Power Forums
Forums are another great tool to hear, or read, firsthand how people feel about their solar power setups. When people post things on a forum, they know it’s anonymous so you should also get a very honest representation of the advantages and disadvantages of solar power. Compare the list you get from the forums with the list you got from talking to people and then make your decision.
Once you have a good idea of the advantages and disadvantages of solar power, you’ll know whether it’s a good idea to start installing those solar panels on your home or not. You could end up saving yourself a lot of money in the long run and the best part is that you won’t ever have to send money to the electric company ever again.
FA08020
From an age where we were told what to do, and we did it, we have moved into an environment where we often have to assess for ourselves what needs to be done - and then we have to figure out what we are best at doing in order to make the contribution that needs to be made. This reality means that we have to take responsibility for ourselves and pay careful attention to compiling, and continuously revising, our personal business plan. No company will, today, plan your career – you have to do that for yourself!
This is where the true challenge lies, because to plan our lives, to formulate our business plan, we have to have clarity as to who we are - we have to understand ourselves. Sure, we all want to be happy, healthy, and loved, but our minds are so turbulent and our bodies under such stress as a result, that we fail to pay attention to that one part of our being that acts as the cement for everything else and helps us identify our purpose and direction in life – our soul.
The first step in understanding yourself is to understand the connectivity between the three aspects of who you are – your body, your mind, and your soul:
a)Your Body is the collection of molecules that enables you to experience the world. It includes the sensory equipment that connects you to your environment (hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling) and the motor system that enables you to act (your vocal apparatus, hands and feet). Each day your sensory experiences are influenced by the ever-changing chemistry and electricity of your nervous system, which in turn influences every cell and organ in your body. In this way, your experiences affect you biologically.
b)Your Mind is a field of thoughts, engaging in a continuous conversation about what has happened, what is happening and what might happen to you. In response to your perpetual experiences you form opinions, discriminations, evaluations and judgements, coloured by emotional reactions. Your thoughts, memories, desires and feelings are various expressions of your mind.
c)Your Soul is the silent witness to your mind and body. Your body is changing – look at a photograph of yourself from ten years ago and see how different it is to what you look like today. Your mind is changing – your beliefs about yourself and the world are different today compared to earlier times in your life. Quietly your soul observes all this, providing continuity to your identity and providing you with the stability you need to maintain balance.
When your observing soul, thought-generating mind and physical body are aligned, you are most likely to translate your intentions into choices that result in the outcome you desire. It is a decision from the soul that allows you to move through the door of change in such a way that you have absolutely no intention of retreating. This resolve we know as commitment - a commitment to ourselves!
FA08020
We always do complain that carrying a backpack is like a torture fot the shoulders.How far is that true?????
More than 92 percent of the children in the U.S. carry backpacks. Typically the backpacks are loaded with almost one-fourth of the child’s body weight (22 percent) and worn with only one strap. Last year, a team of physician researchers examined the effect heavy-loaded backpack straps can have on children. They found the straps can significantly increase pressure when the load is ten percent or more. They also found that strap pressures with loads as small as ten percent of bodyweight can obstruct localized blood flow and contribute to shoulder fatigue.
This year the team has examined pack straps and adults. In some professions, such as the military, firefighting and mountain rescue, the packs may equal as much as 60 percent of adult body weight. The findings of the most recent study indicate that even light loads of 26 pounds can decrease upper extremity blood flow, and may result in a loss of fine motor control and increased fatigue.
The studies were conducted by Timothy Neuschwander, Brandon Macias and Alan Hargens, all of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California–San Diego. Dr. Neuschwander will present the team’s findings, Backpack Straps Decrease Upper Extremity Blood Flow, at the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS; http://www.the-APS.org/press), part of the Experimental Biology 2008 scientific conference.
Backpack straps typically rest on an area of the body where they may compress the axillary vein which causes abnormally high blood pressure inside the veins and a subsequent decrease of blood flow in the shoulders and arms. The researchers speculated that blood flow of the large and small vessels of the upper extremity area would decrease in an individual while wearing a backpack.
To test their theory, they examined eight healthy volunteers, six men and two women between the ages of 18-30. The right brachial artery was measured using ultrasound and the index finger pulp microvascular flow was measured using the photoplethysmography method. Baseline flows were measured immediately before and ten minutes after donning a 26 pound backpack. A ten minute testing period was chosen because people typically wear a backpack for at least ten minutes. This amount of time is also sufficient to measure flood flow.
After wearing the pack for ten minutes, brachial artery blood flow decreased from 2.66± 0.36 to 1.52± 0.27 mL/s (p<0.05, paired T-test), and index finger microvascular flow decreased from 100 percent to 46±6 percent (p<0.05, paired test).
The researchers concluded that backpack loads of just 26 pounds decrease upper extremity macrovascular and microvascular blood flows, and may result in a loss of fine motor control and increased fatigue. According to Timothy Neuschwander, MD, the first author of the study and a physician, “We surmise that the mechanism of diminished blood flow is likely due to strap compression of the axillary vein. We think that backpack straps may benefit from a redesign that skirts the vein leading from the upper extremity to the heart.”
http://www.interactivedadmagazine.com.absolutenm/templates/?a=1706&=40
FA08020
Young children tend to think that other kids with glasses look smarter than kids who don't wear glasses, according to a new study.
Children between the ages of 6 and 10 who were surveyed for the study also thought that kids wearing glasses looked more honest than children who don't wear glasses.
Otherwise, the survey suggested that children don't tend to judge the attractiveness of their peers who wear glasses when asked about their appearance, potential as a playmate or likely athletic abilities.
The findings might give children some comfort when they are fitted with their first pair of eyeglasses, said lead study author Jeffrey Walline, assistant professor of optometry at Ohio State University.
"If the impression of looking smarter will appeal to a child, I would use that information and tell the child it is based on research," Walline said. "Most kids getting glasses for the first time are sensitive about how they're going to look. Some kids simply refuse to wear glasses because they think they'll look ugly."
The study is published in the May issue of the journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics.
Walline surveyed children in this age range because they are more likely to be prescribed eyeglasses than contact lenses. Generally, children with nearsightedness are diagnosed with myopia and receive their first corrective lenses at around age 8. Teen-agers were not surveyed because they are routinely fitted with contact lenses if they want them.
For the study, Walline and colleagues assembled a series of 24 pairs of pictures of children for comparison. The children in each pair differed by gender and ethnicity, and each pair included one child with glasses and one child without glasses.
Eighty young children – 42 girls and 38 boys – were surveyed. Of those, 30 kids (38 percent) wore glasses, 34 had at least one sibling with glasses and almost two-thirds had at least one parent who wore glasses.
The questionnaire featured six questions, many based on similar studies in adults. When presented with each pair of photos, the participants were asked which of the two children pictured: would you rather play with; looks smarter; looks better at playing sports; do you think is better looking; looks more shy; and looks more honest?
On average, two thirds of the participating children said they thought that kids wearing glasses looked smarter than kids not wearing glasses. And 57 percent of the participants said they thought kids with glasses appeared to be more honest. Both kids with and without glasses thought other kids wearing glasses looked smarter.
Walline said the findings suggest that media portrayals associating spectacles with intelligence may be reinforcing a stereotype that even young children accept.
In the case of the other four questions in the survey, the answers were not consistent enough to suggest that glasses made a difference in how the kids felt about the pictures they were examining.
Other trends emerged, however, that had nothing to do with whether the kids in the pictures were wearing glasses and which supported conventional wisdom about kids' opinions. Both boys and girls said they thought that boys appeared to be better at playing sports. Boys indicated they would rather play with boys, and girls said they would prefer playing with girls. Both boys and girls thought the opposite gender looked more shy. Girls also were more likely than boys to pick their own gender when asked which child looked more honest.
The fact that the question of attractiveness yielded no significantly different answers for children with or without glasses suggests that kids don't automatically consider kids with glasses to be unattractive, Walline said.
"The concern about attractiveness with glasses seems to be more internal to a particular child rather than an indicator of how they'll feel about other people who wear glasses," Walline said.
FA08020
Do you guys aware that a growing number of high school and college students are turning to stimulants like ADHD drugs and energy drinks to help them through their stress.
The performance pressures from end-of-semester exams and papers can take a toll on students, even leading them to turn to potentially harmful substances to keep them awake and alert.
Recent studies show that a growing number of high school and college students are turning to stimulants like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) drugs and energy drinks to help them through their stress — particularly during exam time, says Jennifer Christner, M.D., an adolescent medicine specialist at the University of Michigan Health System.
“Studies have shown that anywhere from 5 to 35 percent of college students are misusing stimulants around stressful times with academics. There is also some evidence that high school students — anywhere from 8 to 10 percent — can misuse stimulants during these times,” she says.
Approximately 25 percent of high school and grade school children have been approached by friends to use their medication, Christner notes. This causes children to be more susceptible to misusing medications that are not prescribed to them, a decision that can be damaging to their health.
“It is never a good idea to use anyone else’s medication, whether it is a prescribed medication or over-the-counter,” she says. “Of course, if you have ADHD, then use your stimulant on a regular basis and not just when you really need it at crunch-time.”
Misuse of stimulants can lead to depression, irritability, stomachaches and headaches. Serious misuse or abuse of these drugs can lead to very serious side effects, including hypertension and stroke.
The growing popularity of energy drinks can also be harmful to a child’s health, Christner adds.
“There is harm when someone is taking more than one or two of these drinks a day,” she says. “The caffeine can lead to jitteriness, anxiety, increased heart rate and the more serious side effects of high blood pressure, hyperthermia and stroke.”
While Christner notes that drinking one energy drink during a demanding time is usually acceptable, there are ways that a person can maintain energy levels and avoid stimulants altogether. To help ease academic anxiety, she recommends that students do their work steadily, as opposed to saving it all for the last minute. She also suggests keeping up with regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and getting proper rest.
Concerned parents can also take steps toward preventing their children from overusing stimulants, Christner says. Parents can role play with their children and ask them what they would say and do if they were offered medications from their friends. Parents can also be conscientious during the time of their college-aged children’s exams simply by calling and asking if their son or daughter is doing okay.
Christner also advises family members to look out depression, irritability and other warning signs of stimulant abuse.
http://www.kidshealth.org/research/stimulant_abuse.html
FA08020
Child Having Behavior Problems? Maybe It's a Nutrition Deficiency
Your child’s attention and behavior problems may be caused by nutritional deficit disorder (N.D.D.).
We love our children. We protect them from the dangers of drugs, strangers, illnesses – anything that may cause them harm – but what about protecting the development of their brains? Most children are not getting the required nutrients they need for proper cognitive growth. From my own experience, more than half of children I see with learning or behavioral problems have histories of poor nutrition.
I have seen first hand many children’s behavior and concentration problems show remarkable improvements with proper brain nutrition. So if your children are having these kinds of problems, your first step should be to examine their diet so that you can rule out what I call Nutritional Deficit Disorder (N.D.D.).
The brain, more than any other organ, is affected for better or worse by what we eat. If a child is a junk food addict, their brain is the first thing that will be affected. A growing body of research points to the impact of nutritional deficiencies – especially with essential fatty acids – on the brain’s ability to affect learning and behavior. Studies continue pouring out citing Omega-3 as the single most important nutrient in the cognitive development of children.
There are more than 10,000 medical studies showing the health benefits of Omega 3s. A recent one is the Oxford Durham study published in Pediatrics in 2005, which revealed that school children who were given omega-3 supplements showed improved reading and spelling scores. After the study was published, many teachers suggested that school-age children routinely be given omega-3 supplements.
Since the brain is 60 percent fat, it stands to reason that growing brains need high-quality fats. Smart fats make the brain grow and perform better. Smart fats are the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in especially high amounts in seafood. Researchers believe that the high levels of omega-3 fats in breast milk help to explain the differences in IQ between children who received human milk in infancy and those who did not.
Omega-3 is rich in DHA which naturally supports healthy brain development, focus and learning. To give your child’s brain the nutrition it requires, make these simple changes and watch the difference:
1)Feed a brainy breakfast
2)Raise a grazer
3)Feed fish or the next best thing
4)Feed smart carbs
5)Eat blue food
You should also keep a food/mood record for your child. Record everything they eat, and their resulting moods and activity levels. For example, when your child drinks several glasses of artificially-colored punch, does he have trouble sitting still for the rest of the day? Once a child with N.D.D. is given a healthier diet, parents and teachers usually noticed marked improvement in behavior and learning in about three weeks.
Fa08020
With a bit of planning, effort and common sense, many people can limit their suffering during allergy season – or perhaps even avoid it altogether.
There are a number of simple steps you can take to help relieve symptoms and minimize your suffering when allergy season kicks into high gear,” Dykewicz says. “That’s good news for many of the millions of Americans who traditionally suffer every year from seasonal allergies.”
For the most part, seasonal allergies are caused by airborne pollens – very fine powder released by trees, grasses and weeds as they pollinate and fertilize other plants of the same kind. Molds in outdoor air can also contribute to seasonal allergies.
Although there are warmer regions of the country where outdoor allergens can be present year-round, allergy season generally begins in late winter or early spring and runs through late summer or early fall, depending on a region’s particular climate. As the season progresses, different types of pollens are present to trigger allergic reactions, Dykewicz says.
Trees are generally the first to pollinate, in late winter and spring, although some varieties can pollinate later in the season, depending on the region. Trees tend to be followed by the pollination of various grasses in late spring and summer. Weeds can pollinate at different times of the growing season, though the notorious ragweed – prevalent in many areas east of the Rockies – pollinates in late summer and early fall.
Outdoor molds generally reach their highest levels in late summer or fall, though some regions such as Florida can have significant outdoor mold counts throughout the year.
Dykewicz says there are five important things you can do to prevent or relieve symptoms during allergy season when pollen or mold counts are peaking:
#1. Use over-the-counter antihistamines for relief. For some people, these drugs are very effective at reducing the classic symptoms of seasonal allergies, including sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and, occasionally, scratchy throat. Some of the older-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl, can cause sleepiness and the impairment of thinking and driving, which people often don’t sense. As a result, Dykewicz prefers to recommend more recent formulations that, in most people, cause no drowsiness (Claritin, for example) or less drowsiness (Zyrtec). These perform very well for many people, Dykewicz says.
#2. Keep your home’s doors and windows closed. You can’t completely seal off your home from the outside, but keeping doors and windows closed can help prevent pollens and outdoor molds from entering. When the weather turns nice in the spring and you’re tempted to open windows to let in “fresh” air, it may be better to keep them closed and turn on your air conditioner.
#3. Limit outdoor activity, particularly in the morning. Avoid being outdoors – especially to exercise – when pollen counts are high, or on windy days when pollen and molds are being blown about. In general, pollen counts are highest in the morning, usually from about 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
#4. When traveling by car, keep the windows up. Closing your car windows helps keep out pollens, dust and mold.
#5. Take a shower and change clothes. Pollen can collect on clothes and in your hair, Dykewicz says. So when you’ve been outside for any significant amount of time, shower and change into fresh clothes as soon as you get home.
And how do you know when it’s time to see a doctor for allergies? When you’ve followed those five steps and you’re still suffering, Dykewicz says.
“When you’ve done all you can on your own and you can’t find relief, then it’s time to see your doctor,” Dykewicz says.
According to Dykewicz, there are a variety of prescription medications that can help reduce or block seasonal allergy symptoms. These include other oral antihistamines; the drug Singulair; and several classes of nasal sprays. Nasal sprays tend to be the most effective at relieving symptoms by helping reduce inflammation and counteracting the allergic response.
And for harder-to-treat cases, Dykewicz says many patients benefit from allergy immunotherapy – a long-term series of shots to desensitize a patient from specific allergens.
“The good news is there’s a lot you and your doctor can do to help relieve or prevent suffering caused by allergies,” Dykewicz says.
Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious disease.
FA08020
Minnesota students might learn different things about the birds and the bees depending on where they go to school, but their parents appear to support openness about most sex-related topics.
A majority of 1,605 parents surveyed said that they wanted children to learn about contraceptives, sexual abuse and sexually transmitted diseases. Only about a third felt uncomfortable with discussions of sensitive subjects like sexual orientation and abortion.
Overall, “parental support for comprehensive sex ed is strong,” said lead study author Marla Eisenberg. “Parents want many different topics covered and think they should be addressed relatively early.”
It is not clear how many students in Minnesota receive comprehensive sex education, she said. However, anecdotally, “we know that many districts, schools and teachers are afraid to take on comprehensive sexuality education out of fear of controversy in the community,” said Eisenberg, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota.
Nationwide, some schools prefer to offer so-called abstinence-only education, which emphasizes the importance of avoiding sex until marriage and downplays the effectiveness of contraception.
The new telephone survey, the first of its kind in several years, took place in 2006 and 2007. Nearly two-thirds of 2,546 parents with school-age children responded when contacted by researchers. About 96 percent were white and about 73 percent were female.
The findings appear in the April issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Of those surveyed, 89.3 percent said they supported comprehensive sex education with instruction about the use of birth control; slightly less than 10 percent of parents supported abstinence-only education.
Almost all of those interviewed — 99 percent — supported instruction about sexual anatomy, and more than 90 percent agreed with instruction on topics like birth, sexually transmitted diseases, assertiveness skills and pregnancy. With the exception of abortion, most parents wanted the topics discussed before high school.
“The government continues to fund abstinence-only programs despite public opinion and scientific evidence that support more comprehensive sex education,” Bleakley said. “Parents and educators need to get more involved and more outspoken about their opinions so that their representatives in Washington take this issue more seriously.”
FA08020
Depression in teens -how to see the warning signs and what to do about it
Teenagers are most susceptible to stress and depression. Teenage generates a lot of peer pressure and there is always a competition to be the best. Almost 20 out of 100 teenagers experience slight mood fluctuations whereas about 4 out of 100 experience deeper depressions on an annual basis.
Put in simple words, depression leads to an alteration in the normal routine and well being of an individual. Speaking in clinical terms, it is a serious and troublesome illness that affects people of any age; teenagers in particular are more susceptible. Girls are about 50 pc more prone to depression than boys. Depression affects one's feelings, routine, ideology and general health too.
Most teens who get depressed tend to get problems with their grades, they will very likely create loose ends in their relations and with their friends, they dislike doing what they used to do as a routine or get into problems with alcohol, sex or drugs. Let's see some of these warning signs:
* You tend to get sad and annoyed at the all times.
* You feel like crying for no reason, it seems life is not worth it.
* Whatever you have been doing is of no good; you loose self-esteem.
* You are tired most of the times, feel giddiness and lack energy.
* You are mostly pessimistic about every event and thought.
* You cannot concentrate on things in hand. You forget important things.
* You don't feel like getting excited about anything. Your favorite daily stuff doesn't seem to drive you any longer.
* You wish to stay alone at all times. No friends, music, good food, shopping seem to work for you.
* You like to lie down lazily and not do anything. You are sleepy every time or there is no sleep at all.
* Life seems so useless and you tend to decipher its basic nature. You get philosophical ideas. Sometimes even about life and death.
* Small issues tend to raise your temper whereas you are not concerned about important things. You get annoyed easily.
* You tend to skip classes and there is hardly any interest in sports or co-curricular activities.
Depression is of primarily two types... The sad form of depression is of two types, called major depression that is severe but short lasting and dysthymia or reactive depression (long lasting but less severe). The second one has alternate mood swing and is called manic-depression.
Now the most important issue is how to get over it??
Depression can be handled by counseling or by medicines. It is important to give treatment to any teenager for depression. You can talk to your parents or your school counselor or a family friend or may be visit a professional psychologist. You need to discuss you state with someone who is more experienced and can charge you up as well.
In extreme cases of depression, treatment has to be done through medicines. Such medicines are usually anti-depressants. They do not cause addictive efforts but do stimulate positivism in you.
So whenever you feel you are suffering on low grades and have the above mentioned symptoms, do not get drained off. Go in for immediate counseling before the problem becomes too severe. Just be honest with yourself about the problem and seek for help.
Wedding Dress Sizes And Ideas
Firstly, there are different weights of satin. Go for something nice and lightweight. The simpler cuts do tend to be made from lighter fabrics to add to the simplicity, they also hang better without looking too stiff.
Mermaid (or fishtail) style would be perfect. Go for a 1 piece gown as a 2 piece or separates can cut a figure in half. Also, look at the fitting of the skirt.
For a petite frame, go for a skirt that flares out from mid thigh at the lowest. This will make you look taller and balance your figure. They're also easier to walk in! If you go for a flare which is lower, more towards the knee, this will make you look too 'rounded' and can look stunting.
I would stick to a light satin as they hold their shape better. As chiffon is so light, the cut tends to be more fitted and may not hang right on a petite lady. If you find the satin look is too much, go for something with a delicate lace overlay.
Try some princess line gowns as well. These scoop in at the waist and flare out just above the hip. A gown with a gentle rather than fuller a-line skirt can be very flattering whilst hiding any lumps and bumps.
It's great to hear that you want to show off your figure, I've seen many Brides hide behind big dresses and I think it's a shame.
It is unusual and rare but I have seen other colors and I am not talking about off white. The dresses were just like a typical one but dyed to various colors or else just plain made with color material. I have seen pink, black and dark blue. I think there was one or two more but that is about it. It also makes me think of the time when the bride and her mother had matching dresses except the mothers was white and the bride was pink.
I'd recommend going for a one-piece with a 'rushed' waist. Mori Lee have a lovely dress style 5507 - this has a lace-up back for a bit more freedom and the rushed waist brings the waist in and gives you shape.
Try a top and skirt or a separates look dress with a boned bodice. These hold you in all in the right places. Sincerity does a nice one - look on their website and you'll find a couple with the off-the-shoulder sleeves.
However, before you decide on a skirt and blouse(this may be a comfort thing with you), don't rule out a wedding dress. There are some companies out there that do make all kinds of wedding dress to fit almost any size all you would have to do is look. Also, many bridal shops will be having sample sales as well.
Consider an "A"line dress. There are many styles that look good on someone who is petite. I don't know what you consider "overweight", but look on the internet by Signature Plus. This will give you an idea of styles. Depending on at time your wedding is will also dictate what you wear. If it's early in the day, a skirt (long) and blouse would be okay, however, if it's later in the day and reception is after 5pm, you really need something more formal.
Look up a good seamstress. Ask your local fabric store for recommendations and visit with her. They will be able to help you select a style that will look beautiful on you and you'll feel comfortable wearing. You may also be able to spend less by having a dress made for you. If you haven't visited any bridal shops yet, do, if only to try on some dresses and see how the style looks.
http://www.articles.com.my/Article/Wedding-Dress-Sizes-And-Ideas/14597
Adventuring to Your Travel Destination
When you are booking an adventure trip at your travel destination, you want to make sure you have the best tour operator you can have. While there will be a number of people who offer adventure tours, the key to having a great outdoor vacation is making sure that the travel guide you have is experienced in working in the area where you will be traveling, and that they specialize in the kind of travel that you are interested in. You can find the best person for the tours you want, with a little research.
When you start your search for the best tour operators for an outdoor vacation, you can't just open the phone book and expect them to pop up in it. Adventure tours are a little more specialized and you will have to take a different route to find them. The internet is your best bet. There are a lot of travel resources out there, and you may well find adventure operators at your travel destination have a website where you can learn all about them.
Before you can properly search for an adventure tour operator, you need to know what you are looking for. What is your focus on the trip? Is it the activities like hiking and rock climbing? Or are you more interested in the culture or environment in the area you are going to visit? Depending on what your focus is, you may need to look for different tour operators. Most tour operators specialize in one area or another, so you need to ask around to find one with your focus.
Next, you need to make sure the person you are going to trust your trip to, knows what they are doing. You need to research your tour operators to make sure they have been in the business for a while and qualified to be conducting these kinds of trips. You don't want to end up out in the middle of nowhere without anyone to help you, and have an inept company leading the way. Once you start to find some of the adventure tour companies on the internet, you will need to look more into those companies and their backgrounds. See how long they have been around, and look for independent reviews of their services.
Next do some price and service checking. Call the companies who are offering adventure tours and ask them to solidify what the outdoor vacation includes and the cost so you know what you are going to get for your money. While a phone call is a good start, if you can, it's better to seal the deal with a face-to-face meeting. You may also want to take into consideration, the cost of flights if needed.
The best way to find out what is a great travel destination and adventure trip to take is by people who have been there. Talk to your family and friends and see if any of them have taken these kinds of trips and what experience they had. They may know of the perfect adventure tour operator to send you to.
http://www.articles.com.my/Article/Adventuring-to-Your-Travel-Destination/58324
What You Need To Know About Flat Stomach
To start with, countless persons desire to get rid of a few pounds. More over, countless persons who attempted have discovered that there is no rapid fix, magic pills or rapid stunts to having a flat belly. The same thing with every vital aspects of an individual’s life. There’re just no rapid fixes. We need to strategize and work our way to any authentic accomplishment we want, whether flat belly or monetary accomplishment.
There’re a lot of persons who pay for lots of pills due to the fact that they admit that it will grant them a stomach that is flat but lots of pills are not what they require; they need to find the best strategy to get flat belly that works.
You need to be aware of the basics as regards the performance of abs muscles as well as the way the body uses to burn fat, if you intend to thin your tummy successfully.
Sometimes, it is not enough to rely on facts from publications or the local gym; you will not be wrongful to confer with a specialist on personal fitness if you’re not satisfied with your condition. A serious flat belly exercise is lying on your back on the floor as well as raising your legs about a foot plus keeping them stiff for about 10 seconds; concentrate on your abs when doing this exercise and it will aid in tightening your butt and thighs.
You may well be dieting for the wrong reasons if your case isn’t that of a fat tummy but a bloated tummy; in such a case the sufferer will truly be wasting his|her time fighting the wrong battles. Ensure that you know the right condition of your big tummy before you commence dieting. A team sport like football or rugby is a serious technique that gets you to workout on account of the fact that you will never want to let your team down, so you’ll perpetually be encouraged to do your best.
Isometrics refers to a muscle’s contraction in the absence of any joint movement and this is a system which has been scientifically testified to build muscles in addition to strength.
To crown up, it is not unfeasible to get flat belly if you stick to the appropriate routine, eat well and rest properly; many persons have gone from huge tummy to flat tummy… if they could, you can as well.
http://www.articles.com.my/Article/What-You-Need-To-Know-About-Flat-Stomach/59235
Why Is Water4Gas So Popular?
When an employee isn't performing at their job effectively then they can expect they will no longer have that job soon. You may have noticed that except for local TV in New York, Rudy Giuliani (Julie Annie, Ghouliani, etc) is no longer in the public eye as a hero or a leading politician. Rudy performed so badly in the debates, made such a public spectacle of himself so many times (for instance dressing in drag) and upset so many folks that he ended up as a SNL parody of himself and ultimately had to drop out in disgrace.
Likewise, ingrained patterns of what is acceptable standards for success in a society start to fade out of fashion when people start to discover that these patterns don’ take them where they were told they would. The social system we all learned as kids which asserted that one goes to school, you go to college, get hired by a corporation and you retire in 40 years with a retirement plan and a gift watch from the company was an idea, an expectancy, a standard which went by the wayside as companies failed, as colleges failed to properly educate to the extent that quite a few graduates are functionally illiterate.
Another instance going by the boards is that parents would follow the recommendations of their children's teachers and counselors even to the extent of when their kids would get false labels (ADHD) and be put on powerful psychotropic drugs. But now that parents are finding out about the consequences of these poisons, including school shootings, more and more parents are refusing to follow the demands of psych operatives in the school system and we have a major change happening there.
When destructive programs are laid bare then they get replaced.
Until just a couple of years ago most Americans thought the Federal Reserve was helpful and that taxes were an unavoidable fact of existence.
Now go and ask someone about the Federal Reserve, especially if they have debt or property (the same thing) and see how their opinion has changed. Due to the expose by Aaron Russo and his movie America Freedom to Fascism and Ron Paul and his tremendous influence upon political discussion in America. Because of these patriots and others like Ed and Elaine Brown of New Hampshier and Wesley Snipes and others the Americans are discovering that the Federal Reserves is as Federal as Federal Express, that the federal income tax is unconstitutional and one of the worst scams in history and even the necon GOP candidates are calling for a review of the matter in their platforms.
As for scams, there is one more who's demise has come. One that you can decide to stop being a victim of right here and right now.
When Oil corporations start crumbling because thousands of more and more people every month find out that there are real alternatives to fuel in hydrogen burning systems based on water which save car owners $1000s, help clean the environment instead of destroying it and help their cars operate better... that is another example of a failed system or industry being replaced by a better one.
And one that well overdue.
A vehicle one hundred years ago attained 40% higher fuel efficiency than today. That is criminal incompetence and a huge scam and you no longer need to be the effect of it.
WATER4GAS is providing information for a nominal fee which consumers can use at home to create a small gizmo which infuses hydrogen into the fuel/air mixture that their automobile runs on.
What this does is make smaller particles out of the particles that the system burns as fuel. So the system is able to use a lot more of it.
With WATER4GAS you can minimumly expect to improve your fuel economy by 30-50% or significantly more. With WATER4GAS gasoline is made usable so you can improve your fuel economy.
It also helps make emissions substantially cleaner.
This package of info has been purchased by over NINE THOUSAND people already and happy members number about 99%! So how about you?
http://www.articles.com.my/Article/Why-Is-Water4Gas-So-Popular-/59021
Cheap International Flights and Travel
If you've been shopping for cheap flights online, you no doubt have occasionally found yourself in the "Twilight Zone" of international travel costs. I speaking of course about the difference in valuations of the various currencies used throughout the world. Unlike a national purchase where everything is dollar based, the international market uses a basket of currency or the local currency of the country where traveling. This can lead to some very unpleasant surprises if not careful.
So how can someone see the world without going bankrupt while trying to get to see it all? The answer is careful shopping. Last minute deals are available for those with a less than strict time schedule. This method of travel has been known as "stand by" air travel for years. Using this method of cheap travel, you go to the airport, buy a ticket and sign in to wait if you can get on the plane. Full fare customers come first, then if any seats are left, they are offered to stand by folks at the heavily discounted rate.
Of course, not all of us have the time or inclination to for leisure flight times. The next best alternative to full fare, expensive international air travel tickets is the consolidator. Here, a wholesaler, or consolidator purchases a block of tickets for a specified flight, day or time. These blocks of seats have been discounted to the wholesaler because the purchase was made as part of an ongoing agreement or simply due to the "buy in bulk" discount.
Care must be taken as travel agencies will sometimes use the services of consolation companies to gain low cost tickets to sell. The travel agency will then typically add service charges to cover their overhead and profit. This can sometimes be significant but may be the only way to get at least a somewhat discounted rate for some of the more popular travel destinations
A quick search on the web can deliver all types of potentially cost saving offers for cheap international tickets. Care must be taken because although many will claim the lowest prices, the fact is that additional charges, fees and costs may not all be included in each offer. Be sure to measure apples to apples when pricing tickets from a variety of consolidators. Some have been known to lower the price of the fare then charge extra high service fees to make it for the seemingly lower fare. Make certain when to find out the final, total cost for your international airfare ticket before making the commitment!
http://www.articles.com.my/Article/Cheap-International-Flights-and-Travel/9480
Thursday October 23, 2008
Don’t be stupid, Chong tells women
By EDDIE CHUA
KUALA LUMPUR: If women want to be sexually indulgent with their lovers, they must also beware that the acts captured on videos and cameras may one day end up on the Internet.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said there had been six reports of such cases in the past 10 months.
He said none of the women who complained to him was drugged or forced into sexual acts; they were all willing partners.
“Women should not be so stupid. There were also cases where the men had used these pictures and videos to blackmail the women.”
Chong was asked to comment about the case of two Malaysian women whose 200 intimate photographs with their boyfriend were posted on Oct 16 in one of the blogs that had exposed Hong Kong actor Edison Chen’s sex scandal.
Both the local women, said to be popular among the foosball fraternity, were students of a local private university in Cyberjaya when the pictures and videos were taken between 2004 and 2005.
Apart from posting the photographs of the threesome in compromising positions, the blog also provided links to download two videos featuring the women and their sexual encounters.
The identities of the women, their background and circle of friends were also exposed after more pictures emerged of them attending private parties and going on holiday trips.
The article was published on the blogsite after it received a tip-off from an Internet user identified only as “Zac Efron”.
Thursday October 23, 2008
Storm wreaks havoc in Penang
Reports by BERNARD SEE, SIRA HABIBU, CHRISTINA CHIN and YENG AI-CHUN Photos by K.T. GOH, MUSTAFA AHMAD and ASRI ABDUL GHANI
Strong waves hitting ships and boats off Pantai Bersih in Butterworth, Penang.
GEORGE TOWN: Stormy weather wreaked havoc in various parts of Penang, causing a landslide in Paya Terubong and rough seas along Pantai Bersih in Butterworth.
At Tingkat Paya Terubong 2, tonnes of earth came crashing down a hill onto the grounds of the Taman Terubong Jaya apartments where over 1,000 residents were staying.
The landslide, which occurred during heavy rain at about 2.45am yesterday, caused the retaining wall to collapse and turned the apartment car park into a muddy waterway.
At least two cars were buried under the earth while gushing water from the hill shifted at least four other cars from their parked position.
Engineer Teh Han Cheow, 34, could only watch in despair as firemen tried to salvage his two-year-old Honda City which was completely buried under earth.
Civil Defence Department officials ferrying a villager in a canoe to safety after his house in Kampung Alor Gunung in Alor Star was flooded.
“I just spent RM800 on Tuesday to replace the tyres. I thought parking my car behind the retaining wall would be the safest spot but it has turned out otherwise,” he said, adding that this was the third time a landslide had occurred in the vicinity.
In Seberang Prai, strong waves pounded Pantai Bersih in Bagan Ajam, damaging concrete pavements and causing cracks at a seafood restaurant.
Boats moored at sea escaped damage but giant waves of up to 2m high hit the porch of eight fishermen shacks and the restaurant.
State meteorological department director Loh Eng Kee said people living in the northern states should expect heavy rain in the late afternoon and at night for the next few days.
“We are still in the inter-monsoon period but rainfall this year has been at least 40% more than last year.
“The seas will be rough if you are coming from Langkawi to Penang, with waves as high as 1.5m to 2.5m.
Engineer Teh Han Cheow’s Honda City buried under tonnes of mud following a landslide in Paya Terubong, Penang.
“Those living in the Bagan Ajam coastal areas should be on alert,” he said.
Penang Drainage and Irrigation Department director Hanapi Mohamad Noor said the water levels near Sungai Muda, Pinang Tunggal and Ladang Victoria on the mainland were being monitored.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
The Importance of Play
by: Judy Hansen
For children, play is naturally enjoyable. And since it is their active engagement in things that interest them, play should be child-led, or at least child-inspired, for it to remain relevant and meaningful to them. Children at play are happily lost in themselves; they are in their own realm of wonder, exploration, and adventure, pulling parents in at times with a frequent “Let’s play, mom!” as an open invitation into that world.
As early as infancy, children immerse themselves in play activities with the purpose of making sense of the world around them. Play gives children the opportunity to learn and experience things themselves, which is vital for their development. Although peek-a-boo games seem pointless to adults, tots are awed by the surprise that awaits them as they see the suddenly emerging faces of people they love.
(Stages of Play)
During toddlerhood, children experience a motor-growth spurt that equips them to solitarily fiddle with anything they can get their hands on – be it a construction toy or the box from where it came.
Toddlers also love breaking into song, wiggling and jiggling to tunes, and imitating finger plays they are commonly exposed to.
Preschoolers begin extending their play to involve others, whether they bring others in at any stage of their game or they plan their game and its players’ way ahead. Their physical and motor skills allow them to widen their lay arena, from dramatic play to table games to outdoor pursuits.
School-age children start appreciating organized play – such as innovated songs and rhymes, games with rules, relays and other physical activities, sports and projects that they can accomplish over a certain time frame.
Play Perks:
Why the big fuss about playing? Play benefits the child in ways that might be a tad difficult for adults to imagine.
1. Play brings pure and utter joy.
A toddler who jumps into an empty box and runs around the house ‘driving a car’ shows the sheer happiness that play brings him or her. When children are asked what they did in school and they answer ‘play,’ it is a clear sign that these kids remember a feeling of genuine joy that is captured in this four-letter word.
2. Play fosters socio-emotional learning.
What does a ten-month-old baby who shrieks at the sight of her stuffed toy have in common with a ten-year-old boy who plays basketball with his friends? They both deal with their confidence as they choose to embark on their play activities. At the same time, they are displaying their independence in the decisions that they make. These two children are also internalizing social rules in their respective play situations: the baby waits patiently for her stuffed toy to appear, while the school-age child has to contend with an impending loss in a ball game.
3. Play hones physical and motor development.
Play often involves the use of the senses, the body, and the extremities. When children play, they exercise their bodies for physical strength, fluidity of movement, balance and coordination.
Perceptual-motor ability, or the capacity to coordinate what you perceive with how you move, is an essential skill that preschoolers need to develop. A three-year-old who is engrossed in digging, scooping, and pouring sand into a container must match his or her perception of the space in front of him or her with actual hand movements, so that he or she can successfully fulfill the motor activity.
4. Play facilitates cognitive learning.
Play is vital to the intellectual development of a child. We live in a symbolic world in which people need to decode words, actions, and numbers.
For young children, symbols do not naturally mean anything because they are just arbitrary representations of actual objects. The role of play is for the child to understand better cognitive concepts in ways that are enjoyable, real, concrete, and meaningful to them. For instance, through play, a child is able to comprehend that the equation 3 + 2 = 5 means ‘putting together’ his toy cars by lining them up in his makeshift parking lot. When he combines 2 triangles to make a square during block play, or writes down his score is a bowling game, the child is displaying what he knows about shapes and numbers.
Through play, the child is constructing his or her worldview by constantly working and reworking his understanding of concepts.
5. Play enhances language development.
Toddlers who are still grappling with words need to be immersed in oral language so they can imitate what they hear. They benefit from songs and rhymes that provide the basis for understanding how language works.
When these tots are playing with toys, adults model to them how language is used to label objects or describe an event. At play, preschoolers use language to interact, communicate ideas, and likewise learn from dialogues with more mature members of society.
6. Play encourages creativity.
Barney the dinosaur was right about using imagination to make things happen. A lump of Play-Doh suddenly turns into spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese; a small towel transforms into a cape that completes a superhero’s wardrobe; and a tin can serves as a drum that accompanies an aspiring rock artist. Play opens an entire avenue for children to express themselves, show what they know and how they feel, and to create their own masterpieces.
7. Play provides bonding opportunities.
Play is an important factor in child development. It provides for interaction, experimentation, and moral development. Here are some ways by which parents can encourage and support their children’s playtime.
- Let your child be the player-leader. Let children initiate their activity, set their own theme, choose the parameters where the play will take place. Play becomes a venue for children to express their feelings and be in control.
- Help them help themselves. When your 5-year-old asks for help, say, figuring out how to piece a puzzle together, stop yourself from coming to her rescue and first ask your child questions that allow him or her to help himself or herself. Say, “Where do you think this piece should go?” Afterward, commend his or her success.
- Play attention. Once you make a commitment to play with your child, watch for the following signals: Does he or she want you to actively play a part in the activity? Does he or she need encouragement? Is he or she tired or hungry? Does he or she need to take a break?
- Have a play plan. If you seem to have little time for playing with your child, consider using self-care chores to have fun with him or her. Also, get support from other people in your household, like older siblings, household help, or the child’s grandparents, so that they understand why play is important and how they should continue to encourage it.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2742.shtml
Thursday October 23, 2008
Malaysiakini can be hauled up over e-mail, says Shabery
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Commu- nications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) can act against Internet news portal Malaysiakini for uploading an e-mail supposedly linked to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s election manifesto for the Umno polls.
“It is only appropriate if the MCMC, which is under the Ministry of Energy, Water and Com- munications, takes action against Malaysiakini since it concerns an online news portal,” Infor- mation Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek told reporters.
The e-mail published by Malaysiakini, purportedly from a “Najib Support Group” contained a so-called Najib’s manifesto for Umno elections to be held in March next year.
Malaysiakini, without any verification from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, uploaded the content of the e-mail.
“This is one of the abuses of cyberspace where people just simply pick up things without checking and publishing it as the gospel truth. But the damage done is rather obvious.
“It was clearly done with the intention of tarnishing the image of a national leader. The action is very much regretted,” Shabery said.
He said that if the new media continued to publish articles without prior verification of facts, it will somehow tarnish their credibility in the near future.
Malaysiakini has apologised for its oversight while the reporter responsible has resigned over the mistake. €” Bernama.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Acne Fact and Fiction! Do Stress, Facials and Concealer's Help to Promote or Reduce Acne Breakouts?
by: Stephen M. Seabrook
What is Acne? People have differing opinions as to what acne really is. So, what exactly is acne? Do a couple of occasional but recurring zits qualify as a case of acne or do you have to have a lot of zits?
Believe it or not, the answer is that occasional pimples or zits do not constitute a true case of acne. Although zits do seem to have the ability to appear almost instantaneously and at the most inopportune times like picture day, prom night, spelling bees, sporting events, dates, and special award ceremonies, they are not a true acne outbreak.
The dictionary defines acne as "an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by comedones and pimples, especially on the face, back, chest, and, in severe cases, by cysts and nodules resulting in scarring."
The anatomical definition of sebaceous glands is: "small subcutaneous glands usually connected with hair follicles. The follicles secrete an oily semi-fluid matter, composed in great part of fat, which softens and lubricates the hair and skin."
Real acne outbreaks are actually a disease of the skin. However, the great news is that acne is treatable. Although it can be very embarrassing, cause great emotional distress, and lower your personal self-esteem for a period of time, acne is not fatal.
There are new and effective treatments being sought by researchers and great advances have been made in the treatment of acne in the last few years. Years ago, when a person had acne, they were pretty much stuck with the problem. There were very few treatments available and the medical profession didn't even consider acne a disease.
It was long thought that acne was the direct result of a diet that was too high in fat and/or sweets. That is no longer the case. Acne is most often associated with puberty and the onset of pre-teen and teenage years but it can and does develop in adults as well. When acne does finally heal, there can be permanent scars left (from picking and popping) that are unsightly and cause patients to suffer long term emotional distress and low self- esteem.
New and very effective skin resurfacing treatments have been developed over the last several years that have, if not completely removed acne scars, at least diminished their appearance and severity.
Acne Fact or Fiction:
You can hear a lot of tall tales about acne today, so let's take a look at the fact or fiction of acne. It is always better to be well armed with factual information so that you don't get fooled by the fictional facts that surround acne.
Fictional Fact #1: Acne is caused by a lack of sexual activity.
Factual Fact: Acne and sexual activity are two entirely separate issues. One has no bearing on the other. Hormones secreted during puberty and young adulthood does have a bearing on acne. They also have a bearing on sexual arousal and activity. However, acne has no bearing on sexual activity nor does sexual activity have any bearing on acne.
Fictional Fact #2: People have acne because they are dirty.
Factual Fact: Dirt has no part in acne. Dirt is dirt. Acne is acne. One has nothing to do with the other. Acne is a build up of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Dirt isn't involved. Keeping the face clean can and will help to prevent clogged pores but dirt does not cause acne.
Fictional Fact #3: Dermatologists can cure acne.
Factual Fact: Dermatologists can TREAT acne. They can help to alleviate the symptoms and help to clear up the pimples, black-heads, and white heads. They can prescribe antibiotics and topical ointments, lotions, and creams that will help but there is no cure at this time for acne.
Fictional Fact #4: Acne is simply a skin problem.
Factual Fact: It's true that acne affects the skin but it can also affect the way a person sees himself or herself. Acne and the scarring it can leave behind may cause a sufferer to become depressed and develop low self-esteem, both of which can lead to larger and more complex life socialization problems. Acne sufferers need the loving support and reassurance from their family and friends.
Acne and Stress:
Can stress actually cause acne? There is ample evidence available to suggest that stress can most assuredly cause an acne breakout or make an existing breakout worse. Our bodies are highly developed chemical laboratories that produce all sorts of stuff.
At puberty, our body begins to produce an abundance of male hormones and this happens in both boys and girls. This overproduction of male hormones can happen at other times in life besides puberty; for example, when a girl or woman starting or stops taking birth control pills.
These male hormones cause the bodies sebaceous glands to shift into overdrive and begin producing sebum. The sebum then travels up hair follicles, clogs the pores and begins the acne development cycle. However, male hormones are not the only cause for the sebaceous glands to begin producing an overabundance of sebum. When we become extremely stressed or overly emotional, our bodies react by causing the adrenal glands to produce a substance known as Cortisol, which is released directly into the bloodstream. Then the chemical chain reaction continues as the sebaceous glands release sebum, the sebum travels up the same hair follicles, clogs the pores and acne develops.
The physical changes in the body can cause exactly the same chemical chain reaction as the emotional changes in the mind. The mind/body connection is very real. Maybe some of it really IS in your head. If that's the case, there is help available to help people deal with the acne that is caused by stress. Reducing stress will just naturally reduce sebum production by the sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production will help to alleviate an acne breakout. Therefore, when you learn to reduce and control you stress levels, this part of the chemical chain reaction is minimized.
It really it isn't any different than restoring a hormonal balance to your body that reduces sebum production. So, in the final analysis, both factors that cause excessive sebum production should be addressed. Solving one problem might help; however, solving both problems could eliminate acne altogether.
Acne Facials:
If you are part of the 95 of the population who suffer from acne, you have more than likely seen TV or print media advertisements for acne facials. Have you ever wondered if there is anything to the claims that their manufacturers make?
In general, the answer is yes! Most acne facials are very effective, pretty much worth the price, and can be used in conjunction with your usual acne fighting regime. They won't necessarily replace any part of what you are already doing; but, rather enhance the overall effects.
You can find acne facials in most health stores, at many cosmetic counters, and online. As a matter of fact, you can probably complete a better comparison of available products online than you can anywhere else.
Most of these acne facial products provide for a three-step program. The first step is a complete facial cleansing. The next step is a steam massage. The final step is a facial mask. The first two steps are designed to prepare the face. The steam massage softens the black heads and the white heads to remove toxins from your skin. The facial mask serves to remove the dead skin cells from the face and to moisturize it as well. The overall effect of the acne facial is a very relaxing, calming, and cleansing experience. It just plain feels good. Anything that helps to calm and sooth your stress can't be bad because we all know that acne is aggravated by high stress levels. Acne facial masks can be used in addition to other parts of your acne prevention and treatment regime or you may find that the facial can, in fact, actually replace some things that you are currently doing.
Acne Concealer's:
One of Newton's laws of physics laws says that, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." That law of physics spills over into a lot of our life situations. For example: A young woman gets a zit and wants to cover it up. The cosmetics industry has a multitude of products designed to do just that. Okay, that's a little far out there but you get my point.
The acne pimples, whether they are white heads or black heads should never be picked at or popped. If they are popped or picked, it can and normally does result is a scar that is much harder to get rid of than the actual pimple, black head or white head. Popping a pimple is not going to make it go away. In fact, popping a pimple is only going to make the acne worse.
Still when you get a zit, you have to go out and face the world so you are looking for ways to make your skin look clear. You want to disguise the zit and make it as unnoticeable as possible. Here is where the cosmetic industry can help. There are a multitude of products designed to make a zit less noticeable. You don't want to use a product that just adds to the problem by adding additional oil to already oily skin. So, you do need to remember, that when you use a cover product to make the zit less noticeable, you need to totally clean the product from your skin immediately when you return home.
Some of the better known as well as more effective cosmetic concealer's on the market today are:
1. Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer: This product produces a smooth matte appearance and was designed specifically for covering acne blemishes as well as for covering Rosacea and dark circles under the eyes.
2. Flawless Skin by Prescriptives: This product will not aggravate acne but will supply a medium to full coverage and it contains SPF 25 for protection from the sun.
Don't let acne control you; but rather, become smart and learn how to control the negative influences in your life that create a positive situation for acne to develop!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7175.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
All About Pizza
by: Sean Lannin
The term pizza covers a lot of territory. If you want to learn all about pizzas, then you should have a bit of a background on pizzas: specifically the history of pizza, pizza origin, pizza facts, and even pizza trivia such as who invented pizza. The subject also delves into the different types and styles of pizzas. The varieties currently existing defy any attempts at enumeration. Thus, most people who attempt such a task stop at a broad categorization of pizza types according to certain attributes such as crust thickness, crust elasticity, crust baking and cooking procedures, toppings, etc. Aside from general, historical or trivial information, other things are of interest to the pizza lovers. For instance, homemade pizza enthusiasts would like to know certain tips and tricks for making pizza. This includes pizza making techniques, the best pizza crust recipes, pizza toppings, homemade pizza sauce, etc. Some other interesting topics will be frozen pizza dough and where best to attain them, what are the criteria for choosing the, what are the methods for preparing them, etc.
It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled "all about pizza." However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes.
Some pizza facts and trivia
Accounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the "mother of the pizza crust." However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans - the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won't be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito - a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings.
Now, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn't blurt these out just to anybody or you'll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you're talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits.
" Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies.
" Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States.
" The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York.
" The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year.
" New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza.
(New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.)
Pizza types and pizza styles
The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza?
Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens.
New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese - fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza.
The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world - generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings.
The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork.
You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant.
Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you've found.
Some pizza making tips and techniques
Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency - that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties.
If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen.
Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength.
Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/food_and_drink/article_1883.shtml
Thursday October 23, 2008
Ammonium bicarbonate for biscuit-making tainted with melamine
By TEH ENG HOCK
PUTRAJAYA: The import of ammonium bicarbonate from three manufacturers in China has been banned as the substance has been found to be tainted with melamine.
Ammonium bicarbonate from Broadtech Chemical Int. Co Ltd, Dalian Chemical Industries and Tianjin Red Triangle International Trading Co Ltd has been categorised under Level 6 which means automatic rejection.
Fruitful: Liow shaking hands with some of the biscuit manufacturers and their representatives after a meeting on the tainted products at his office yesterday.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said having pinpointed the contaminant source, the ban of ammonium bicarbonate made by other China manufacturers would be relaxed to a “hold and test” status.
Ammonium bicarbonate is a raising agent used in biscuit production and local biscuit makers get almost 95% of the ingredient from China.
Liow said the tainted ammonium bicarbonate was most likely due to cross contamination as some factories that produce food-grade ammonium bicarbonate also produce other chemicals such as urea and melamine. There is no benefit in using melamine in biscuit production.
Ammonium bicarbonate from other manufacturers in China has been placed under Level 5 (to be tested before release) and that from other countries has been placed under Level 4 (under surveillance).
Liow, who was not certain of the market share of the three companies, was speaking to reporters after meeting 50 representatives from biscuit manufacturers and ammonium bicarbonate suppliers.
Last week, Malaysia banned all import of ammonium bicarbonate from China after it was found to contain traces of melamine, leading to the recall of 18 types of biscuits from local makers Khong Guan and Khian Guan.
Malaysia Foodstuff and Toy Merchants Association president Yeow Kock Tiong appealed to the ministry to relax the ruling on milk-related products from China from Level 6 to Level 5.
“Many imported products are already in the market and they have been tested and cleared.
“It is the same product and the same brand. Why bar them at the entry point when there have been no problems with the products?” he said.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
William Stephenson, On Doing More In Life
by: William Stephenson
My name is William Stephenson; I grew up in Manasquan and have spent most of my life in New Jersey. I’d like to speak with you about achieving your best, about making the most of your assets and realizing your biggest dreams.
I was raised with the adage that my accomplishments were only limited to the heights I could imagine. This was a commonly used and inspirational line that many parents shared with their children. At the time, those words didn’t mean so much to me. Upon further reflection however, the spirit of those words was ever present in my blind sub-conscience.
When I was only 9 years of age, I had 2 paper routes on opposite ends of town. It was a morning paper, The Start Ledger; therefore both routes had to be completed by 7am. I pedaled fast to get back from the Manasquan Beach and change in time for school. The early riches that I enjoyed afforded many crucial lessons which would subsequently fuel my future achievements.
By learning the power of hard work and money at such an early age, an age where we’re all highly impressionable, it forever solidified the correlation between the two. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for supporting me in those early desires. The significance of this work should not be underscored; to me, it helped form one of my core values in life, responsibility.
By learning to do for myself and not waiting for someone else to take responsibility, I not only acquired things more speedily, but I had the good feeling of having earned them myself.
This early money was invested wisely, not an IRA, not a 401K, I used those funds for flight lessons at Allaire Airport. At age 13, I was speaking with an Uncle of mine. He was a war hero to me, who fought in Korea. He stated that he always regretted not learning how to fly. For some reason, his regret cautioned me enough not to follow his path. I clipped a 50% off coupon from an Entertainment Guide for an introductory flight lesson. Well, soaring above my home town and central New Jersey served two purposes. First, it sold me instantly on the joys of flight. Second, and more importantly, it extended my reach out into the world; it effectively reduced the size of it and led me to believe that it would be easier to conquer now. Again, I have to thank my parents for allowing me to circle their home at 1000 feet. They clearly hadn’t read all of the accident reports on that scenario.
About one year after that first flight lesson, I accomplished one of my most rewarding feats. I had officially been involved with Boy Scout Troop 59 of Manasquan for only 4 years when I had reached a pinnacle by attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. To this day, less than 2% of all scouts make it that far. To this day as well, I still don’t know why that percentage has remained so low. Even at age 14, my drive was surpassing my moments. Each Eagle Scout applicant must appear before a board of review to validate his award and confirm that he in fact extols the virtues befitting the milestone. At this board of review the applicant sits among and across from several elders in his troop as well as a representative from the council level, the governing body for many troops.
I perplexed them all that evening, not on purpose of course. All I had to do was answer a few questions and I would be an Eagle Scout. Later, I was told that the elders of my troop were kicking themselves underneath the table. They would have preferred that I had said less rather than more that evening.
I was questioned about my awareness of the high honor they would soon bestow upon me. My answers and my feelings in general about the rank of Eagle Scout at the time were slightly dismissive. Quite frankly, I saw the rank of Eagle as just another step along the scouting trail. In fact, as they pressed me about why I didn’t seem as excited about it as perhaps the elders were, I told them that every scout should follow the logical path that I had taken and achieve the rank as well. My unrefined point that evening was that I felt the very act of holding that rank up on a special pedestal was one of the impediments to most scouts attaining it. I believe that more scouts would enjoy the accolade if it were not placed so high above them. Of course, this could possibly dilute the experience at the same time.
After much back and forth, I acquiesced and agreed that it was indeed a tremendous accomplishment. I was now one of the younger Eagle Scouts in our troop’s storied history. My years in scouting provided far too many memories and tales to share with you this evening, however, the leadership skills that I cultivated during those early years would prove pivotal. They have played a key part in every major accomplishment and milestone after that. I believe the Boy Scouts to be a fine organization for our youth when accompanied by active parenting. Its affects are incalculable.
Psychologists say that the majority of our basic learning is acquired by the age of 16; if this in indeed true, the importance of our early decisions is paramount. The more healthy habits and useful ventures we take part in during this phase of life, the better.
Soon, I was off to college at the University of South Carolina. I worked almost continuously through those years and took my virtues to the job place. I found myself in a setting where the status quo ruled. It’s certainly easier in the short term to follow the lead; however, leading the pack at the workplace provides far greater returns in the long run. Standing out and shaking up the system takes courage or simply a set of convictions that disregards the consequences. This is why leading in life is critical. When you place yourself in the driver’s seat you are less beholden to peer-pressures which may lead people astray.
Throughout these years my love for flying never ceased. I worked to learn and that correlation always seemed to get me through the tougher days. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in an area unrelated to flying, I returned home and finished the flight ratings required in order to call myself a professional pilot. I was now getting paid to give sightseeing tours up the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. It was a tremendous feeling being right back where I started 10 years earlier yet so much further ahead. I was now getting paid for every one of those coveted flight hours necessary for advancement, how ironic, I felt?
Another crucial lesson learned during this phase of my life was how two steps back could lead oneself miles ahead. I left that wonderful job at Allaire Airport and gambled on a new venture at Teterboro Airport in North Jersey. I made less money and added one hour to my commute each way. Many thought I was crazy, but I was looking beyond tomorrow.
For the next 6½ years, I participated in a niche market in the business aviation world. I flew organ transplant teams around our country in Lear jets, King Airs, and Barons. It was hard work; we were often called into action at the last minute and it was typically midnight. Years later I would be rewarded for those efforts in a far greater way than just my pay. More on that treat soon.
The challenges that forced my cohorts and I in this last position codified that work ethic learned as a paper boy years earlier. One of the lessons there taught me that we are continually growing and every action or inaction we participate in affects our future. We mustn’t look at each day as just any day. Every morning we wake up is another opportunity to better ourselves. Rarely will anyone of us remain stagnant; we’re either moving a head or behind in life. We make these choices everyday and all day.
After just nine years in the aviation industry I had yet again reached a pinnacle. I have taken a job on a Challenger jet flying a Fortune 200 company and its proprietors around the globe. Those early paper route dollars that I invested in flight training have come full circle. Delivering The Star Ledger has broadened my horizons in the literal sense. My world had in fact shrunk that afternoon at age 13, when I took my first flight and my first flight lesson.
To help drive this point home, as to how each action we take today lends to our successes or failures tomorrow, let me tell you about my high school prom date. Edie was one of the more unique individuals attending Manasquan High School during my years there. I quickly noted something special about her. At the time of our senior prom, she had a boyfriend from another school. Because of those circumstances, I was certainly not looking short term when I asked her to be my date for that event. I was looking far into my future and recently that has paid off for me as well. On May 5th of this year Edie and I were married in Manahawkin, NJ; my high school sweetheart is now so much more and forever.
Now, as promised, the reward worth so much more than a paycheck. About a year ago I found myself at a wake for my friend’s grandmother. At this wake I was introduced to the parents of a 6 year old boy. I was expecting to meet these folks because I knew their son had been given a personal tour of Giant’s Stadium a couple of years prior, compliments of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. We had some mutual friends in that football organization. As I spoke with the boy’s parents, I was less interested in the NY Giants and more interested in what their child had endured to warrant the attention of the foundation. The Father told me that his son Stephen had received a heart transplant in early 2001. As they were asking me about the NY Giants, I persisted with the questions about his son’s heart. Well, as it turned out, at about midnight in early 2001, my copilot and I flew to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut and retrieved Stephen’s heart. Confirming the details of the missionafter the wake made me very emotional. This was the closest I had ever been to realizing the fruits of my labor. About two weeks later, we all gathered at little Stephen’s house and enjoyed the Super Bowl together. Stephen told me after a couple hours, “Thank you for my heart.”
Now, in conclusion, I’m no different than anyone else in this room. The only privilege I had growing up was my parents blessing on the myriad of desires I came home with each week. They thankfully had the courage themselves to let me take things to their conclusion. Well, I’m still reaching. When I fly along at 41,000 feet and I gaze out into the stars at night, they just don’t seem so far away. Each and every one of those stars seems to be inviting me towards it. I know there is something behind each one and the more stars that I can look behind, the more confident I grow. Harness each and every day you live and before you know it, you’ll be leading life, not simply living it.
Thank you all very much for allowing me to share some of the things I have learned about life in my first 34 years.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6379.shtml
Thursday October 23, 2008
Treat it as a business risk, petrol station dealers told
PUTRAJAYA: Petrol station dealers who lost when the Government reduced the price of fuel by 15 sen should accept this as a business risk, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.
“There is no business which has no risk. If the Government has decided to review the price each month, instead of fortnightly, the reduction will even be more drastic.
“During the last reduction on Oct 15, the global price of fuel has actually plummented.
“If the Government failed to reduce the price of fuel then, this would have meant we did not keep our promise on the fuel review mechanism and deliver its benefits to the people,” he told reporters after attending the ministry’s Hari Raya open house here yesterday.
Some dealers said they were losing an average of RM7,000 each time the Government reduced the price of fuel by 10 sen.
In another development, Shahrir said the ministry had started discussing with hypermarkets and shopping malls on the reduction in the prices of foodstuffs and other items, following the lower fuel cost.
“So far, one manufacturer has approached us to lower their goods and I hope others will follow suit,” he said, adding that he would propose to the Cabinet on ways to better enhance the distribution network of goods in rural areas.
“Enhancing the distribution network will ensure that goods in rural areas will not cost more than those in the urban centres,” he said, adding that the ministry was pleased with the results of a pilot project.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Recognizing, Preventing, And Handling Dog Aggression
by: Darrin Donaldson
A dog is an instinctively aggressive creature. In the wild, aggression came in very handy: dogs needed aggression to hunt, to defend themselves from other creatures, and to defend resources such as food, a place to sleep, and a mate. Selective breeding over the centuries has minimized and refined this trait significantly, but there’s just no getting around it: dogs are physically capable of inflicting serious harm (just look at those teeth!) because that’s how they’ve survived and evolved. And Mother Nature is pretty wily – it’s hard to counteract the power of instinct!
But that doesn’t mean that we, as dog lovers and owners, are entirely helpless when it comes to handling our dogs. There’s a lot that we can do to prevent aggression from rearing its ugly head in the first place – and even if prevention hasn’t been possible (for whatever reason), there are still steps that we can take to recognize and deal with it efficiently.
- Different aggression types -
There are several different types of canine aggression. The two most common ones are:
- Aggression towards strangers
- Aggression towards family members
You may be wondering why we’re bothering categorizing this stuff: after all, aggression is aggression, and we want to turf it out NOW, not waste time with the details – right?
Well … not quite. These two different types of aggression stem from very different causes, and require different types of treatment.
- Aggression towards strangers -
What is it?
It’s pretty easy to tell when a dog’s nervy around strange people. He’s jumpy and on the alert: either he can’t sit still and is constantly fidgeting, leaping at the smallest sound, and pacing around barking and whining; or he’s veerrrry still indeed, sitting rock-steady in one place, staring hard at the object of his suspicions (a visitor, the mailman, someone approaching him on the street while he’s tied up outside a store.)
Why does it happen?
There’s one major reason why a dog doesn’t like strange people: he’s never had the chance to get used to them. Remember, your dog relies 100% on you to broaden his horizons for him: without being taken on lots of outings to see the world and realize for himself, through consistent and positive experiences, that the unknown doesn’t necessarily equal bad news for him, how can he realistically be expected to relax in an unfamiliar situation?
What can I do about it?
The process of accustoming your dog to the world and all the strange people (and animals) that it contains is called socialization. This is an incredibly important aspect of your dog’s upbringing: in fact, it’s pretty hard to overemphasize just how important it is. Socializing your dog means exposing him from a young age (generally speaking, as soon as he’s had his vaccinations) to a wide variety of new experiences, new people, and new animals.
How does socialization prevent stranger aggression?
When you socialize your dog, you’re getting him to learn through experience that new sights and sounds are fun, not scary.
It’s not enough to expose an adult dog to a crowd of unfamiliar people and tell him to “Settle down, Roxy, it’s OK” – he has to learn that it’s OK for himself. And he needs to do it from puppyhood for the lesson to sink in.
The more types of people and animals he meets (babies, toddlers, teenagers, old people, men, women, people wearing uniforms, people wearing motorcycle helmets, people carrying umbrellas, etc) in a fun and relaxed context, the more at ease and happy – and safe around strangers - he’ll be in general.
How can I socialize my dog so that he doesn’t develop a fear of strangers?
Socializing your dog is pretty easy to do – it’s more of a general effort than a specific training regimen.
First of all, you should take him to puppy preschool. This is a generic term for a series of easy group-training classes for puppies (often performed at the vet clinic, which has the additional benefit of teaching your dog positive associations with the vet!).
In a puppy preschool class, about ten or so puppy owners get together with a qualified trainer (often there’ll be at least two trainers present – the more there are, the better, since it means you get more one-on-one time with a professional) and start teaching their puppies the basic obedience commands: sit, stay, and so on.
Even though the obedience work is very helpful and is a great way to start your puppy on the road to being a trustworthy adult dog, really the best part of puppy preschool is the play sessions: several times throughout the class, the puppies are encouraged to run around off-leash and play amongst themselves.
This is an ideal environment for them to learn good social skills: there’s a whole bunch of unfamiliar dogs present (which teaches them how to interact with strange dogs), there’s a whole bunch of unfamiliar people present (which teaches them that new faces are nothing to be afraid of), and the environment is safe and controlled (there’s at least one certified trainer present to make sure that things don’t get out of hand).
Socialization doesn’t just stop with puppy preschool, though. It’s an ongoing effort throughout the life of your puppy and dog: he needs to be taken to a whole bunch of new places and environments.
Remember not to overwhelm him: start off slow, and build up his tolerance gradually.
- Aggression towards family members -
There are two common reasons why a dog is aggressive towards members of his own human family:
- He’s trying to defend something he thinks of as his from a perceived threat (you).
This is known as resource guarding, and though it may sound innocuous, there’s actually a lot more going on here than your dog simply trying to keep his kibble to himself.
- He’s not comfortable with the treatment/handling he’s getting from you or other members of the family.
What’s resource guarding?
Resource guarding is pretty common among dogs. The term refers to overly-possessive behavior on behalf of your dog: for instance, snarling at you if you approach him when he’s eating, or giving you “the eye” (a flinty-eyed, direct stare) if you reach your hand out to take a toy away from him.
All dogs can be possessive from time to time – it’s in their natures. Sometimes they’re possessive over things with no conceivable value: inedible trash, balled up pieces of paper or tissue, old socks. More frequently, however, resource-guarding becomes an issue over items with a very real and understandable value: food and toys.
Why does it happen?
It all boils down to the issue of dominance. Let me take a moment to explain this concept: dogs are pack animals. This means that they’re used to a very structured environment: in a dog-pack, each individual animal is ranked in a hierarchy of position and power (or “dominance”) in relation to every other animal. Each animal is aware of the rank of every other animal, which means he knows specifically how to act in any given situation (whether to back down, whether to push the issue, whether to muscle in or not on somebody else’s turf, etc etc).
To your dog, the family environment is no different to the dog-pack environment. Your dog has ranked each member of the family, and has his own perception of where he ranks in that environment as well.
This is where it gets interesting: if your dog perceives himself as higher up on the social totem-pole than other family members, he’s going to get cheeky. If he’s really got an overinflated sense of his own importance, he’ll start to act aggressively.
Why? Because dominance and aggression are the exclusive rights of a superior-ranked animal. No underdog would ever show aggression or act dominantly to a higher-ranked animal (the consequences would be dire, and he knows it!)
Resource guarding is a classic example of dominant behavior: only a higher-ranked dog (a “dominant” dog) would act aggressively in defence of resources.
To put it plainly: if it was clear to your dog that he is not, in fact, the leader of the family, he’d never even dream of trying to prevent you from taking his food or toys – because a lower-ranking dog (him) will always go along with what the higher-ranking dogs (you and your family) say.
So what can I do about it? The best treatment for dominant, aggressive behavior is consistent, frequent obedience work, which will underline your authority over your dog. Just two fifteen-minute sessions a day will make it perfectly clear to your dog that you’re the boss, and that it pays to do what you say.
You can make this fact clear to him by rewarding him (with treats and lavish praise) for obeying a command, and isolating him (putting him in “time-out”, either outside the house or in a room by himself) for misbehaviour.
- If you’re not entirely confident doing this yourself, you may wish to consider enlisting the assistance of a qualified dog-trainer.
- Brush up on your understanding of canine psychology and communication, so that you understand what he’s trying to say – this will help you to nip any dominant behaviors in the bud, and to communicate your own authority more effectively
- Train regularly: keep obedience sessions short and productive (no more than fifteen minutes – maybe two or three of these per day).
Why doesn’t my dog like to be handled?
All dogs have different handling thresholds. Some dogs like lots of cuddles, and are perfectly content to be hugged, kissed, and have arms slung over their shoulders (this is the ultimate “I’m the boss” gesture to a dog, which is why a lot of them won’t tolerate it.) Others – usually the ones not accustomed to a great deal of physical contact from a very young age – aren’t comfortable with too much full-body contact and will get nervy and agitated if someone persists in trying to hug them.
Another common cause of handling-induced aggression is a bad grooming experience: nail-clipping and bathing are the two common culprits.
When you clip a dog’s nails, it’s very easy to “quick” him – that is, cut the blood vessel that runs inside the nail. This is extremely painful to a dog, and is a sure-fire way to cause a long-lasting aversion to those clippers.
Being washed is something that a great many dogs have difficulty dealing with – a lot of owners, when confronted with a wild-eyed, half-washed, upset dog, feel that in order to complete the wash they have to forcibly restrain him. This only adds to the dog’s sense of panic, and reinforces his impression of a wash as something to be avoided at all costs – if necessary, to defend himself from it with a display of teeth and hackles.
Can I “retrain” him to enjoy being handled and groomed?
In a word: yes. It’s a lot easier if you start from a young age – handle your puppy a lot, get him used to being touched and rubbed all over. Young dogs generally enjoy being handled – it’s only older ones who haven’t had a lot of physical contact throughout their lives that sometimes find physical affection difficult to accept.
Practice picking up his paws and touching them with the clipper; practice taking him into the bath (or outside, under the faucet – whatever works for you, but warm water is much more pleasant for a dog than a freezing spray of ice-water!), and augment the process throughout with lots of praise and the occasional small treat.
For an older dog that may already have had several unpleasant handling/grooming experiences, things are a little more difficult. You need to undo the damage already caused by those bad experiences, which you can do by taking things very slowly – with an emphasis on keeping your dog calm.
The instant he starts to show signs of stress, stop immediately and let him relax. Try to make the whole thing into a game: give him lots of praise, pats, and treats.
Take things slowly. Don’t push it too far: if you get nervous, stop.
Dogs show aggression for a reason: they’re warning you to back off, or else! If your dog just can’t seem to accept being groomed, no matter how much practice you put in, it’s best to hand the job over to the professionals.
Your vet will clip his nails for you (make sure you tell him first that he gets aggressive when the clippers come out, so your vet can take the necessary precautions!). As far as washing and brushing goes, the dog-grooming business is a flourishing industry: for a small fee, you can get your dog washed, clipped, brushed, and whatever else you require by experienced professionals (again, make sure you tell them about your dog’s reaction to the experience first!)
For more information on handling aggressive and dominant behaviors, as well as a great deal of detailed information on a host of other common dog behavior problems, check out SitStayFetch.
It’s a complete owner’s guide to owning, rearing, and training your dog, and it deals with all aspects of dog ownership.
To get the inside word on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors like aggression and dominance in your dog, SitStayFetch is well worth a look.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1575.shtml
Thursday October 23, 2008
‘Bring women’s issues to the fore’
BEIJING: Asean, China and other Asian countries should set up a network to collect and share data to prevent international crimes against women.
The network would also promote education and economic empowerment of women, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.
She said gender issues had to be put into mainstream national and international planning €“ not in sideline discussions.
Dr Ng said women’s issues had to be the mainstay of most international meetings between governments and not just at women-led forums.
“It is obvious that to initiate change on gender-related issues, there must be discussion and agreement among all related parties, particularly our male counterparts, if gender equality is to achieved,” she said.
On the Malaysian scene, Dr Ng said women here were still under-represented in Parliament and the private business sector €“ with the number not even touching 30%.
Women representatives accounted for only 26.7% in the Dewan Negara and only 10.8% in the Dewan Rakyat.
Dr Ng said there were only two women Cabinet ministers and six women Deputy Ministers. Women members on boards of directors had dropped from 9.9% in 2005 to 5.3% in 2007.
“Initiatives are being intensified to create awareness among political leaders, the legislative and judiciary and high-level management officials,” she said at the second China-Asean High Level Women’s Forum on Tuesday.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
I Think I Can. I Think I Can. Can I?
by: Michele Wahlder
I think I can. I think I can. Can I?
Your mental train ticket to self-empowerment
We all find ourselves at certain points in our lives holding first class tickets to negative mental trains of thought. Michele Wahlder (MS, LPC, PCC), a two-time cancer survivor and Dallas, Texas-based Certified Life Coach and Psychotherapist, has placed thousands of people on the right track to self-empowerment via a plan she calls the 5 C Process. The journey challenges individuals to:
One
Clarify Current View – Where are you now- honestly?
Conscious awareness of your current view is the first step in becoming the best you can be. Getting clear about how your life aligns with your values, talents and unique gifts is vital to your happiness. You need to know where you are in order to learn where you want to go.
You can clarify your current view by completing a review of eight life areas. Be honest with yourself about how happy are you with your profession, finances, health and overall well-being, primary relationships, personal development, spirituality, environment, hobbies, etc.
Two
Connect with Your Highest Vision – Where do you want to be?
Example: A client of mine, a yoga instructor, decided she was happy teaching but wanted to contribute to the world on a larger level. She wasn’t happy with the quality of the yoga clothing that was accessible to her and her fellow yogis. Her vision was to design and create fun, hip and timeless yoga clothes using eco-conscious fabrics.
You have to get really clear about what you want. It is crucial that you connect to your highest vision of yourself because you can’t create it unless you are clear about what it looks like. If you don’t have a vision of where you want to go or what you want to be, you will most likely NOT get there. To quote Henrietta Klauser, “If you have a connection to what you want, take the next step and write it down.” If you don’t have any idea about what you want, or how you want to be in life to bring about greater happiness, begin looking through magazines and create a Vision Board/Collage of what attracts you. You may also want to consider getting an outside perspective from a friend or a professional coach. I take my clients through a guided imagery that gives them a glimpse of what their future could look like. There are also books that can help guide you. Just get help assessing your talents, divine gifts and abilities and then determine how you want to use them more fully in the world. We can’t help others as fully, if we are not aware of how we can best serve. So instead of thinking of it as selfish to engage in knowing yourself better, I would suggest you consider it selfish to hold back and not be the best you can be. Only in this way, can we help the world and others.
Three
Create Inspiring Goals – How will you get there?
Example: My client created a tiered plan of what needed to happen step by step – outer goal. All of this was influenced by her inner goal of keeping a measured pace and a balanced life. Her goal was to enjoy the process.
You have to create a plan and take specific actions to get you from where you are now to where you want to be. When most people write goals, they just write a list of action steps, usually external actions. I believe it is more powerful to have inner and outer goals. An outer goal is what you want. For instance, you might think, “I want a new house”. An inner goal is more focused on the how. How will a new home benefit me and my family? Will it offer more common gathering areas, a larger kitchen so that we can cook together, etc.? How can I appreciate what I have now until I get this home? How can I make this a joyful experience rather than a stressful one? If you can not be grateful for what you have now, then when you get a new home, it will only create very short-term happiness for you. Then, you will be focused on the next external illusion of happiness. For 2008, I suggest taking at least three of the life areas I mentioned earlier and jot down how you couldbenefit from living your highest vision in each area. Next, add action steps toward your desired achievements along with completion dates.
Four
Clear Obstacles – How will you remove obstacles in your way?
We all have dreams and visions for our life, but frankly, there are many things that can get in the way. The two most common obstacles I see with my clients are:
The inability to say NO— In order to bridge the gap from your current view to your highest vision, you have to make room for what “Could Be”. If your life is full and you want to add more of the things that are truly important in your life, you should start the change process by making room first. You must say no to some things in your life, so you can say yes to what is most important. You have to give up the destructive habits, behaviors and activities to make room for new ones.
A metaphor would be a water hose watering a flowering plant. The water in the hose is your life force and the flowering plant is what you are trying to grow in your life. If the water hose has leaks, it will not have enough water or life force/energy to reach its desired outcome or vision (to grow the plant into full bloom). Examples of leaks might include toxic friendships, unrealistic expectations, watching too much television, eating sugar, overspending, negative relational patterns with your spouse or working on an outdated job.
Example: A client’s obstacle here was that her 8- year-old daughter needed caring for and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to be a good mother plus jumpstart a successful, new business. We remedied this issue by getting clear on the proper definition of a good mother. Also, practically speaking, she needed help picking up her daughter from school. So she got her husband to assist her in this area so she would have time to create this new business.
Negative self-talk—Research shows we have approximately 50,000 internal messages we say to ourselves daily. We are constantly walking around having conversations with ourselves. And it is what we say that makes all the difference in the overall quality of our lives.
Example: I was once in Starbucks, and I watched this woman spill her coffee while reaching for a sugar packet and I heard her say out loud, “I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I did that.”
Now, I just happen to hear her, but this is an example of something you might say internally as well. You might think, “No big deal. I say things like this to myself all the time.” Well, IT IS A BIG DEAL as our subconscious hears these messages and acts on them as if they were real. Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t want someone else saying to you.
Think of self-talk like mental fuel. Now, imagine filling your car with dirty water. We all know you wouldn’t get very far. Now, take that same car and fill it with high quality gasoline. You’ll most likely reach your destination. It is the same with people and the words we use. If the words are negative and toxic, we will sputter along with low energy and our performance suffers. If our words are positive and tender, we will feel confident, energized, encouraged and will most likely meet our goals faster and easier. Here are some key things to remember if you ever find yourself preparing to board the train of BAD self-talk:
B– stands for belittling self-talk. Stop telling yourself, “I am not good enough.” If your dream is to have a healthy self-confidence, which of the following examples is more likely to get your there:
A. “I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I did that.”
B. “Whoops, mistakes happen.”
Can you see how the Answer B is much kinder?
A – stands for awfulizing. Stop predicting a future filled with gloom and doom, and dwelling on scary thoughts. If you dream of obtaining a career you love, which of the following will move you closer to your vision:
A. “I did terribly on my interview, I’ll never find a job I like.”
B. “I will answer that question on past employment differently next time and I will ace it! I know I will one day have the job I love.”
Can you see how Answer B places you in the mindset of a successful job search?
D – stands for deceiving. This is when you deceive yourself into thinking you are a victim, and that other people are to blame for your circumstances. If we want a happy relationship which will of the below responses will aid in achieving this goal:
A. “If my spouse would only do more around the house, then I would be happy.”
B. “I can and will choose happiness today, no matter what my spouse does.”
Answer B is the right choice, wouldn’t you agree?
S – stands for shoulding – This is when you give yourself a lot of shoulds, musts, and ought tos, then beat yourself up for not living up to unrealistic standards. Say your dream is to be in top physical condition, which will further that:
A. “I should have eaten a salad for lunch instead of that big ol’ hamburger. I’m such a pig!”
B. “I could have eaten a salad, but I chose not to. Tomorrow I will make healthier choices.”
The second choice is so much more inspiring, don’t you think?
Five
Commit to Action – Are you willing to do what it takes?
The final step of the 5 C Process is to commit to action. How many times have we all made plans and never carried them out, or started off excited and lost motivation? No one ever does anything great alone. We all need encouragement and support from others including an accountability partner who is willing to help hold the vision of the person you want to be. In the previous example of my client, her biggest negative self-talk was how to be a good mom and a good business woman. Her thoughts were, “If I don’t pick up my child every day from school, I am a bad mother.” Instead, we replaced it with, “Picking up my child from school daily is not what makes me a good mother. I am, indeed, a fabulous mother.”
Here are the four action steps that have been proven to help you eliminate your negative self talk:
• Become aware of your negative messages –listen to voice in head
• Stop! You have to stop immediately if you find yourself dwelling on any negative thoughts
• Replace negative thoughts with a kinder alternatives
• Practice. It takes a commitment of time in order to turn a pattern of negative thinking into a more positive train of thought.
This interview was referenced by http://www.chinika.com. To learn more about Michele’s 5 C Process and her upcoming seminars, please call 214 -823-LIFE ( 5433), or visit her Web site at http://www.michelewahlder.com Once there, you will also be able to download a free workbook containing strategies on how to obtain a positive outlook on life.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6378.shtml
Thursday October 23, 2008
60 pupils ill after nasi lemak meal
JOHOR BARU: Sixty pupils from SK Taman Rinting 3 suffered food poisoning after eating nasi lemak at their school canteen.
The mostly Year 3 pupils became ill half an hour after eating the food at about 10.15am yesterday during recess.
Student Mohd Muhaizan Saifudin, 11, said he and two classmates had abdominal pains and vomited after eating the nasi lemak.
Mohd Farish Hariadin, 11, said he had eaten nasi lemak at the canteen before and had not fallen sick.
Johor health department director Dr Mohd Khairi Yakub said the students were sent to nearby clinics and hospitals for treatment and that none of them was warded.
The canteen has been closed to allow the department to conduct an inspection, he said.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
How To Make Many Friends Easily
by: Ivan Campuzano
How to make many friends easily..
With every goal you have in life, people will always be a critical part of it. How fast you reach your goals depends on how well you deal with people and the level of influence you have on them. In order to really influence people you must become a person who is likable. How do you become likable? You must have a sincere interest in other people. Every person on this earth wants to feel important, so you need to treat everyone with the up most importance, because they deserve it. Remember no one is better than you and you are not better than anyone, we are all human beings who deserve the same amount of respect.
Becoming Likable:
Setting the Stage
Your goal in meeting people should be to consciously be the first to initiate and set the stage for conversation. Most people are hesitant to be the first, don’t be like most people step out of your comfort zone. I know that if you are a shy person that this can be one of the hardest things for you to do, but the more you do it, the more you condition your self for it to become second nature. As a small kid I used to be really shy but I noticed that the kids that where outgoing tended to be the happier kids so I began to step out of my comfort zone and now I feel I can walk up to almost anyone. This is going to take time; things don’t happen over night but don’t let this discourage you. Many people feel that for you to become proficient in something takes around five years. Don’t waste anytime, start today and each day after that will get easier. Each different experience will later serve as a reference to remind you, that you can approach almost anyone. By being the first to initiate conversation you also automatically have a certain degree of control, you are able to draw people into your own rhythms. Have you ever noticed how persuasive people are able to seduce you to their ways, dictating your body language and basically synchronizing it to theirs? This is because people naturally imitate other people as a way of communicating with the other person. So if you are the first you get to decide what angle to approach. So if the person you are approaching appears sad, approach them with a big confident smile. Odds are they will slowly begin to smile; you will automatically change their mood. Now you will have a better chance of having a better conversation.
In setting the stage you will need to train your self to pick up any subtle signals that the person you are approaching is giving off. With time you will be able to sum up a person in a blink of an eye and from what your subconscious catches use it help you set the stage. This will require you to have an open mind and immerse your self in as many different worlds/cultures as possible. That’s why I never limit my self to one particular set of friends. I have friends from all sorts of backgrounds. I have friends who are skaters, basketball players, artists, musicians, writers, etc. By having so many friends with diverse interests I quickly learn about their worlds. By knowing what kind of stage to set up you will know how to get the other person to think very highly of you. For example by being observant you will catch the subtleties in the way a person appears to be (The way he is dressed, body language, tone of voice, language, etc.) which will help you to imagine placing your self in there shoes. By really imagining what being that person is like it will give you a good idea of how he/she is feeling. This in turn helps you get a better idea of what appproach to use when trying to communicate effectively with them. When I am able to pick up persons subtleties I will know what topics, questions, and general things that appeal to them which gives me information to work with in the process of winning that person as a friend. Like if know this person is really passionate about cars, I will ask a question with the minimum knowledge I have about something that he knows or thinks he knows a lot about.
Now you set the stage for Mike who will love to tell me exactly why the Mitsubishi EVO is better. When someone is knowledgeable about something it’s in their nature to tell you because it is one more opportunity for them to show how great or smart they are. You have to cater to their ego and never test or contradict their ideas, because their ego will not accept someone who is supposed to know less tell them they are possibly wrong. If I would have told him that I heard that the Subaru WRX is better, we would have just gotten in an argument that he would not have backed out of. But I didn’t and now they will love me for it, because I was taking interest into what he enjoys.
Body Language
Whenever you approach someone for the very first time your body language will do most of the talking and the other person will immediately have a first impression of you. So you must always be aware that whatever you say your body is also in agreement. If you say one thing and your body says the opposite you will come out as someone fake. We have all seen the girl that walks up to another girl and says “I’m so happy to see you…how you been?....you look so good…” but their body language is saying “what are you doing here….I’m not really listening to what your saying” this is easily seen and can be one of the rudest things you can do in trying to make new friends. Always approach someone with open gestures and a smile. If you approach someone with crossed arms, this will automatically make the other person defensive and question your motives. Approach them with open arms and a gentle smile, smiling is infectious if the other person has a stern look on their face the moment youapproach them with a smile you will gradually notice that they will smile too. This usually sets it up for a good conversation because both people are in good moods. Try this - if you’re in a neutral mood right now, put a big smile on your face for no reason if you pay attention you can feel your body changing and your mood immediately start to change. People who are in good moods will place a lot more importance to what you have to say.
Questions and Listening
Your next goal is to sincerely try to find out as much as you can about the person. Ask quality questions; find out what is important to the person, goals, beliefs, interests, etc. The key is to be sincere so the person feels comfortable and is more likely to open up. Try to have a calm demeanor refrain from being overly eager as this might scare the person. You must be able to match the mood of the person. If the person is excited to tell you a story you must become excited as well. If the person is telling you a sad story you must show sincere empathy. Be open minded and really listen to the person.
Listening: Try to listen at least twice as much as you talk. Listening requires more than just pretending to listen or simply hearing a person talk. Listening and hearing are two completely different things and the person can tell if you’re really listening to them, or simply hearing them speak. Being a good listener is a skill, you must become an active listener. Remember this is all about the other person, who cares if you don’t get to talk about your self. In the end the other person will love you for it. They will tell their friends
“Man I really enjoyed talking to that person”….why is that? Was he a very interesting person? “You know what…I really don’t know why…I really don’t know much about him”
This shouldn’t bother you because in the end you greatly benefited from the situation as well. If you’re an effective listener you will gain a better understanding of that person’s thoughts, perspectives, feelings and actions. You have to remember that most people would rather talk than listen, but most of the time this person is not very influential. Take this as an opportunity to become more persuasive and influential.
Sometimes the problem with most people is that listening to them doesn’t have much value. They feel that in order to get people to like them they must do a great deal of the talking. Think about that for a minute, how do you like it when another person is talking so much that when you try and say something they still keep talking. You eventually quit listening to that person because you got to annoyed. Now sometimes you don’t need to do most of the listening, you constantly need to evaluate the situation. Sometimes people really want to hear what you have to say. In this situation still try and get the other person involved and flip around the question that they just asked you.
People who talk too much
1. People always talk about them behind their backs
2. In group settings they feel they always need to say something just to feel like they are contributing.
3. Usually have very big egos
4. They ask questions that they already have the answers too
5. Because they are so focused on having something to say aren’t even listening to what someone is saying.
People Who Listen Effectively
1.Get the whole picture, than they can act accordingly.
2.Everyone loves a good listener so you will make tons of friends.
3.No one talks bad about you, who ever said “man that kid just loves to listen too much”
Good listening is going to really take effort. The reason is that people can think a lot faster than people can speak. What ends up happening is that you begin to think of other things as that person is speaking. Than you become consumed with those thoughts. Next thing you know the other person asks you “So than do you think I did the right thing”. You weren’t listening so you have no idea what to say. This is one of biggest turn offs in trying to become friends with that person.
Things to avoid when Listening
Don’t Interrupt
Because you have the upper hand by thinking faster than someone who is speaking, you will become tempted to interrupt. Don’t because the other person will get the feeling that you don’t care what they are saying and want to bring back the topic of conversation to you. The other person might also have great momentum going in telling you a story, but when you interrupt them their story doesn’t carry as much feeling when they go back to speaking. You also show that you are one of those people who enjoy speaking more than being a good listener. When you interrupt you are also making assumptions of what you think the other person is about to say. This might cause you to miss out completely different information. Because you interrupted them the other person might not even want to continue telling you about it.
Don’t Finish Other Peoples Sentences
Don't Offer Advice too Soon
Compliments + Appreciation
The way to make people feel important is through sincere compliments and appreciation. Most people go out their way to do something, to get other people to notice them, yet most people don’t. Get in the habit of noticing the little things about people. In the end the little things are what matter and what end up making a person unique so pay attention. Next time you see them, be the first to give them a sincere compliment on something even as simple as their hair cut. By making other people feel good about them selves you should also feel good for doing it, it’s a win win situation.
Many times people walk around with the mentality that other people owe them something, nobody owes you anything. Whenever anybody does anything for you show your appreciation and let them know you don’t take anything for granted. Be spontaneous get the person a small gift when they don’t expect it.
Encouragement
Once you find out what is truly important to someone you must provide encouragement. Everyone has dreams and aspirations. Be the one who encourages them to pursue their goals. Any insight or information that’s empowering will provide a boost to their confidence. Most people are so afraid of failure that they will not pursue their goals. They will give you all the reasons why their goals are out of reach. Your goal should be to switch their focus on the negative reasons to the ways how they can make it happen. You have to remember that whatever we focus on becomes our reality, so when you focus only on the negative aspects that’s all you will see. When they give you a reason why they can’t do it, ask them if that’s really a reason or a mere excuse. If they are excuses show them how destructive it is to be in this mental state. Make them realize that all their hopes and dreams are in danger all because of petty excuses. One of the best feelings you will get in dealing with people, is when you get another person excited about his goals or ideas. Now that the person is excited you need to point them in the right direction. Help them research the world they want to be in; find out as much relevant information. Help them create a plan and deadlines that will help them reach their goals. Start with small attainable goals, this will help them gain momentum and than move onto more challenging goals. By being active in the whole process you will build a deeper and more influential relationship with that person. He will not see you as a mere friend but as an ally in their journey to success.
Plan and Organize Social Events
One of the best ways to develop a meaningful experience with someone is through a social event. Whenever you participate in an event or trip your relationship with those people will become even greater. When I studied abroad in Prague I have never developed such strong relationships in such a short amount of time. I met people from all over the world and on the weekends we would take trips to other countries. On these trips I made incredible bonds, because everyone was on an adventure of experiencing new things together. Experiences are always magnified with more people involved. Just think about when you are watching a funny movie all by yourself you begin to laugh but than realize no one is there to enjoy the moment with you and your experience is quickly diminished .
I hope all these pointers will help everyone become more influential, take care and much success to everyone!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6376.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Laughter Is Truly The Best Medicine
by: Laurie J. Brenner
If there's one thing I have to admit about my mother is that she was always right about this: Laughter Is The Best Medicine.
If you can't laugh about yourself and the things that happen to you - you're headed for a heart attack or some other malady, it's the way the body works. Laughter lightens the moment and strips away the seriousness that many of us approach life with; it releases the pain and chases away your personal rainstorms leaving a bright sunshiny day.
Scientists have also discovered that laughter strengthens your immune system and increases your cardiovascular flexibility (your blood vessels exercise through dilation).
According to Dr. Goodheart, the laughter doctor, laughter convulses your diaphragm, which in turn massages your internal organs. Massaged internal organs are happy internal organs and they cooperate by staying plump and juicy.
She says that laughter also causes you to gulp in large portions of air, oxygenating your blood. When that air is expelled, it's been clocked at 70 miles an hour, providing the lungs with an excellent workout. By laughing, she says, you lose muscle control, which relaxes the skeletal system. According to Dr. Goodheart, four-year-olds laugh 500 times a day, while adults laugh a mere 15! She's convinced that if we laugh as much as a four-year old, we've have the heart rate and blood pressure of that same child.
On top of all that, she continues, laughter causes the brain to produce hormones called beta endorphins which reduce pain and causes our adrenal glands to manufacture cortisol, which is a natural anti-inflammatory that's wonderful for arthritis.
Laughter also provides a catharsis, which means to purify or purge, to the emotions. It also brings about a spiritual renewal or release from tension. You notice how sometimes you'll see a comedian on television, and while he may not be that funny, something just makes you laugh uproariously? Your body seems to know that it needs the chemicals that are released through laughter.
I've always felt better after a good belly laugh or two. For me that means some very large-sounding snorts and a few donkey brays thrown into the bargain. Some people won't even go to the movie with me because when I start laughing I cannot stop. My daughters always used to go, Mom! as they slunk down into their seats trying not to be seen.
When someone's laughing, others laugh along. It's contagious. You can't help it. Oftentimes in my movie-theater laughter excursions, I have motivated a whole theater-full of people laughing right along with me. All this during the credits! (John Belushi being escorted through the prison in the opening credit scenes of The Blues Brothers. If you notice very carefully, while walking he has his butt cheeks pressed ever so tightly together as he's leaving the prison. It was a subtle physical comment that kept me laughing. The more people turned and looked at me, the harder I laughed! Finally, they just gave up and joined me!).
The Difference between Laughter, Humor, Teasing and Tickling
However, there is a difference between laughter, humor, teasing or tickling. Humor is your way of looking at the world, it's an intellectual exercise. It's your idea of what's funny; it's not the actual act of laughing.
Teasing and tickling are really a way of ridiculing someone. Tickling is something beyond someone's control and is actually a physical invasion of sorts. Children laugh when you tickle them because the body works that way, but it's actually a form of emotional ridicule that can result in very unpleasant feelings.
Teasing usually has an edge to it. People say they're teasing, but essentially they are dead serious. I think teasing is a passive-aggressive way of hurting someone through the guise of humor. Teasing, according to Dr. Goodheart, "involves our having information about something that another person has very strong feelings about - usually painful feelings - and then bringing that information up without permission." She also says that as people become very good friends they might give each other permission unconsciously to push each other's buttons. Husbands, wives, lovers, and friends play with each other's pain with permission. "When you tease without permission in order to trigger laughter, it's very manipulative and controlling."
All in all, when you're feeling down and need a lift, try laughter. It may be hard at first, but just try laughing. Force yourself. Pretty soon, you'll find yourself laughing at your own laughter and the looks you get from your family members. They'll begin to wonder what's so funny and the corners of their mouths will crinkle up in the beginning of a smile. Now you're laughing because they give you these quizzical looks wondering what you're laughing about.
Pretty soon, your laugh is real, your belly aches, the tears flow from your eyes, and the world takes on a different hue.
As for me when I laugh like this, I need Depends. I laugh so hard sometimes I wet my pants and that has nothing to do with my age.
I can still hear my friend's mom yelling at me today nearly 38 years later (while grinning ear to ear) to get off her brocade couch whenever I started laughing.
She knew what would happen.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6372.shtml
Thursday October 23, 2008
Car thieves ram detective in escape bid
PETALING JAYA: In an effort to evade arrest, three suspected car thieves rammed and injured a police detective in Bukit Puchong here on Monday.
Sources revealed that the police had been tracking the group’s movements for a week before moving in on two vehicles driven by the suspects near a condominium.
When the detective got down from his vehicle and identified himself to the suspects who were still in their cars, one of them rammed his car into two police cars before escaping. The detective was injured in the process.
This prompted the police to fire two warning shots at the suspect’s vehicle while the other two suspects, aged 26 and 28, who were in the other car were arrested.
Sources revealed that the group had been involved in several car thefts and robberies in Petaling Jaya in recent months.
Police are on the lookout for a fourth suspect believed to be the mastermind.
Thursday October 23, 2008
Underage youths and three others charged with parang assault
JOHOR BARU: Three underage youths were among six people who claimed trial to assaulting a police informer with parang.
The youths, all 17, together with S. Vasanthan, 20, P. Murugan, 21, and K. Kunachitran, 19, are accused of slashing S. Davadren, 23, in Bandar Seri Alam Masai at 1am on Oct 16.
They were charged with possessing weapons at a riot under Section 148 of the Penal Code which carries a five-year jail term or fine, or both.
Davadren received multiple injuries to his arms and head and is still being warded at the Sultan Ismail Hospital.
Magistrate Nor Shahid Abd Malik set bail at RM1,000 each for the underage trio and RM1,500 each for the others.
He set Feb 4 for mention. At press time, none of the accused made bail.
In the same court, a 34-year-old woman was jailed four months for prostituting herself.
R. Audrey Sheila was charged with offering sexual services for RM60 in a room at a shophouse in Jalan Trus here.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
How to Pass an Interview!
by: Zohra Sarwari
Nine Steps to Interview Success
These days, the average person changes their career seven to ten times within their life span. This means that the average person is going to send out several hundred copies of their resumes in their lifetime…and yes, they’re going to have to go through several interviews in their lifetime.
Scary, huh?
If the interview process makes you nervous, well, you’re not alone. But right now, it’s time to stop worrying. You’re about to learn the nine vital steps for interview success…how to pass any interview you face!
Step 1: Research the Company that you are being interviewed for:
It’s a pretty obvious trick: research the company you’re interviewing for and be prepared to show off what you know about them. Way too many people show up for an interview without having the first idea about what the particular company stands for. The truth is that you should know at least something about the company’s mission, its general business process, and its particular needs. Know how long the company has been in business and whether they’re financially sound and profitable. Research the company with a view to determine what you can do to help them achieve their goals. Be prepared to say specifically how your personal goals and experience are going to be valuable to the company.
Step 2: Know your resume:
In virtually any interview situation, you’re interviewer is going to ask you questions about your resume, about your experiences and even about the quirky stuff you’ve listed to pad it out. You should read your resume over and over, and know the details of it because you never know when you’re going to be asked about your chess playing experience or your interest in literature. Make sure there’s nothing detailed on your resume that you’re uncomfortable talking about.
Step 3: Dress for Success:
Appearance can become nine-tenths of the law if you don’t pay attention to it. For every interview, make sure you wear garments that are professional and appropriate the position that you’re seeking. Your clothes should be comfortable, clean, and pressed. Don’t create a crisis for yourself on the morning of the interview when it comes to your clothes. Pick out your outfit and make sure it’s ready the night before your big interview.
Step 4: Make sure that you wake up early and are on time:
Just as you shouldn’t let your wardrobe run you down on the big day, you shouldn’t let traffic or public transport delays upset you either. It’s also crucial that you don’t get lost on the way so have directions –and confirm them if you have to – well before you set off. These days, with MapQuest, you have no excuses. Make sure you leave the house early, and plan to be at the interview at least ten minutes early.
Step 5: Review interview questions:
Interviews may be pretty scary but they’re also pretty predictable. It doesn’t take much to predict the basic questions you’re going to be asked. Here are some examples:
Tell me about yourself?
Tell me about a time you failed miserably in your career?
What is your greatest strength/weakness?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
What are your salary expectations for this position?
Why should we hire YOU?
Prepare sample answers to these questions. Memorize a couple of key responses. Remember that no matter who you’re interviewing for or with, if it’s a job interview, the basic focus is going to be on your experience, your goals, and your potential to contribute to the company. Be sure you can argue a case for yourself on these key points.
Step 6: Let the interviewer lead you:
The interviewer is the one running the interview but you can set the pace. Wait for the interviewer to ask the questions. Take your time to listen to the questions. Give your answers carefully; make sure they are considered. That said, each of your answers should be given with an energetic and enthusiastic voice. Above all, smile and enjoy the interview. Be courteous and always thank the interviewer at the end of the interview. Tell them that you’re well qualified for the job, and that you will prove it to them upon being hired. Don’t be afraid to be confident in yourself and your abilities.
Step 7: Ask for the next step:
The interviewer will ask most of the questions but you will have a chance to get a word in shortly. Find out what will happen next, and what you should expect after the interview. When should you be hearing from them about the job? When will the hiring decision be made?
Step 8: Send a thank you note:
Everything you do regarding your interview has consequences. Just as a good sales person follows up on a lead, after each interview you attend you should be sure to send a thank you note to the employer and the interviewer, thanking them for their time. Going the extra mile in this way will generally show that you’re qualified for the position, or at least that you’re a serious and diligent person.
Step 9: Follow-up:
Of course, sending a thank you note is something you do immediately after the interview. A reasonable period after, usually a week or two at least, you should take one further step to follow up. Call the company offices and ask if you can speak to the hiring manager who interviewed you. You can start the conversation by asking if they received your note. Then you can ask them if any decisions were made and, if not, approximately when you should call back or otherwise expect to hear from them. Don’t be pushy; above all, be polite and courteous, even if a response is not forthcoming.
WHEN YOU’RE HIRED…THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…
If you are hired, remember that you need to stand up to your promises. You should always be putting 110% effort. An unspoken trick to get comfortable in interviews and to always get the job you want: in every job you accept, make yourself shine. Regardless of how much you are paid or how much responsibility and work you’re given, take the initiative to do more. The more you’re prepared to do for your job, the future each of your jobs will take you. Don’t worry about being rewarded, just keep working hard, and it will pay off. I guarantee it.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6369.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
In Other Words?
by: Steven Gillman
People use the expression "in other words" because sometimes other words are necessary to better understand something. You probably use it yourself, but how often do you actually think about the words you are using, and the effect they may have? How often do you change the words you use in order to change your perspective or get a better result?
To Think In Other Words
That the words we choose affect how we see things, and even affect our physiology, isn't a new idea. It is easy to prove it to yourself. Just have a friend try to relax while you tell him, "make that tension jump right out of your muscles." Afterwards try it again with, "let the tension drain from your muscles and flow out of your body." Both instructions communicate the same basic idea, but the second is more effective at getting the desired result; relaxation.
In other words, words are used to accomplish something, so why not use the ones that are best suited for the job? It's an idea that makes sense for communicating with others, but it is perhaps even more so when communicating with oneself. Your own "self talk" can dramatically affect whether you get the results you want.
Suppose you repeatedly say something like, "I can't handle this," when in tough situations. You are programming your subconscious mind to believe that you are not capable of doing certain things, and with time this will become more true the more you repeat it. That may not be the result you are hoping for.
In reality, you're probably just tired and frustrated. You actually are "handling" the situation in some way, but you would like a better way to do it. So why not say that instead? When you are tempted to say "this is too much for me," or "I can't handle all this," say, "I'll find a better way to deal with this." This instruction to your subconscious mind is almost certain to be more productive.
Better Words
Below are a few examples of words or phrases that may not be getting you the results you want, followed by some possibly more productive alternatives. These are just to get you thinking. If they make sense for you, use them, but experiment with your own alternatives as well. Think in terms of the goal, and find the words that are most likely to help.
"I can't..." Replacements: "I can..." or "I'm choosing not to right now.."
"This always happens..." Replacement: "Sometimes this happens..."
"I always do the same thing... Replacement: "I make this mistake sometimes..."
"This is so overwhelming..." Replacement: "I'm busy with many goals..."
"I have to..." Replacement: "I choose to..."
This last one reminds you to accept responsibility for your actions. Phrase it this way, and you feel compelled to either reaffirm your choices or make new ones. This prevents you from thinking that others or the "situation" forces you to do things - a very negative and unproductive perspective.
"Never," and "always" commonly show up in phrases that are counter-productive. They are sometimes powerful de-motivators that drain your energy. "This never works for me," or "I always screw up," are not likely to help you get results that you want, are they? Avoid over-generalizing like this, unless it is more like, "I always find a way to get things done." In other words, start using better words.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6363.shtml
The king and the flowers
A king had a wonderful talent for growing flowers and was looking for someone to succeed him. He decided he would let the flowers decide so he gave everyone a little seed. The one who would produce the most beautiful flower from the seed would be the next king.
A girl called Serena was overwhelmed by the beauty and determined to grow the most beautiful flower. She planted it in a nice pot, took great care for it, but nothing would grow.
The next year she saw everyone gathering at the palace with pots full of beautiful flowers. She was disappointed but also went to the meeting with her empty pot. The king inspected all the flower pots and then stopped at hers. Why is your pot empty, he asked. Your highness, I did everything to make it grow, but I have failed, she answered.
No, you didn't, he replied. You see, the seeds I've given out were all roasted, so nothing could come out of them. I have no idea where all these flowers come from. But you have been honest and by being so, have deserved to be my heir. You will our queen.
Lesson: it pays to be honest
The Moth Who Fell in Love with A Star.
There once was a moth that fell in love with a star.
All his friends and relatives mocked him, told him he was being unrealistic, and urged him to focus his efforts on some local, possible, attainable goal: a streetlamp, a porchlight, a candle or a lantern. Even a chandelier, if he must.
But our Moth was in love with His Star, and he would not give up.
So while all his pals, his parents, his sisters and brothers and cousins and aunts, soon burned themselves out around the local, ready-made luminaries, and wound up as charred bits of ash on the sidewalks, the porches, the floors and tables of the town, our Moth enjoyed a long and happy and healthy life in endless pursuit of his limitless Star.
Lesson: to 'reach for the stars' - having an ambitious goal - can actually keep you safe and sane.
Angel sprinkles
Hi
I wanted to share this angel story with you.
I had put a package of the angel sprinkles (the small gold colored foil angels) in my purse after one of the Psychic Fairs. The package was opened and the angels fell out into my purse. When I discovered what had happened, I put the loose angels into my coin purse. (a little change purse - inside my purse.)
On the way home, I was at the store paying for something and change was required. I dug in, got the change, gave it to the sales person. I did not realize that there were also angels stuck in with the money!
Well she said: "Oh angels for me! Thank you! Come back and see me anytime!"
This happened to me several times that day, with almost the same reaction at different places, with different people. So now I keep the angels in there and always dispense them with the change.
This little practice has led to some interesting conversations - for instance, when I did go back to the same store that the lady received the first angels. She told me how much she treasured them and kept them by her bed. She said she gave one to her daughter too.
She then told me about her personal healing experience. She said: "I don't usually tell people this but, I was paralyzed as a child. I could not walk or talk. My grandparents were very devout and my grandfather told me that if I really believed in God and Holy Mother Mary that I would be healed. He said that God was inside me and if my faith was strong enough I would be well.
Well, I believed him, he was my grandfather.
I started praying, I really believed. Within a year I was totally healed!
I am so grateful to God for this healing!"
I then gave her some more angel sprinkles, and again she acted like I had given her a million dollars! She also told me that the first time she saw me that she thought that I was an angel! (blush.....) She said that she could feel the energy and it made her turn around and look at me. I told her that if she felt anything through me - that it was God; I was only the instrument.
What a lovely experience!
I plan on always keeping the little gold angels in my change purse and dispensing them everywhere. When I do, I don't say anything, I just give them with the change.
Lesson: always keep room for a little magic in your relationships
12. Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 pm, an older African-American woman was standing on the side of a Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her-generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove away. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant combination console color TV and stereo record player were delivered to his home. A special note was attached. The note read:
Dear Mr. James: Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
Lesson: Be good for everyone.
The obstacle on our path
In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.
Lesson: Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.
Giving blood
Many years ago, when I worked as a transfusion volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a disease and needed blood from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"
Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.
Lesson: True brother love exists.
Two wolves
A Cherokee elder sitting with his grandchildren told them, "In every
life there is a terrible fight - a fight between two wolves.
One is evil: he is fear, anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment,
and deceit.
The other is good: joy, serenity, humility, confidence,
generosity, truth, gentleness, and compassion."
A child asked,
"Grandfather, which wolf will win?" The elder looked him in the eye.
"The one you feed."
Lesson: Development of good character depends on everyday choices one makes.
The man who went to Heaven and who was able to compare
A man died and because he had been a good person, he went to Heaven, where Saint Peter greeted him at the door.
Welcome! he said. You can enter Heaven right away, but, because you lived such a good life, you can also go and check out Hell first, if you like.
The man was rather curious and said - well, why not - and he went down all the stairs to reach the door of Hell, which opened before him.
Behind the door, he saw many people sitting around tables with delicious food! But they were all very sad, and suffering, because instead of hands they had long knives and forks as arm extensions and they did not manage to put any of this great food in their mouths.
The man went back up to Heaven and said to Saint Peter: Wow, am I glad that I can go to Heaven. That is really some punishment.
Welcome to Heaven, Saint Peter said, as he let the man in.
What did he see there? He saw many people sitting around tables with delicious food, just like in Hell!
And just like in Hell, they also had these long fork and knive extensions on their arms!
But in Heaven, the people weren't crying or cursing, because they were sticking the food in each other's mouths! "Try this", they laughed. "And this!", and they had lots of fun in the process.
Lesson: Happiness comes from making other people happy. Don't be selfish but care for other people, and you will be taken care of as well.
The kind and the peace contest
There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried and submitted their work. The king looked at all the pictures. There were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake, perfectly mirroring the peaceful, towering mountains all around it. Overhead was blue sky with fluffy, white clouds. It was the favorite of all who saw it. Truly, they thought, it was the perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains, too, but these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of one mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. A less peaceful picture would be difficult to imagine. But when the king looked closely, he saw beside the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace.
Which picture would you have selected? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?
“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all these things and still be calm in your heart. This is the real meaning of peace.”
Lesson: real peace is in your heart
Poem of Roses
Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose.
And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows.
The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, "Be my Valentine," like all the years before.
Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year, than last year on this day."
"My love for you will always grow, with every passing year."
She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.
She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know, that he would pass away.
He always liked to do things early, way before the time.
Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.
She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there.
A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude, that had become her fate.
Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before,
The doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock.
Then, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him, if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her, causing her such pain?
"I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call, and you would want to know."
"The flowers you received today, were paid for in advance."
"Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."
"There is a standing order, that I have on file down here,
And he has paid, well in advance, you'll get them every year.
There also is another thing, that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago."
"Then, should ever, I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card...that should be sent, to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.
Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome."
"I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real.
For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life.
I loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife."
"You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses will be sent to you for years."
"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness,
That we had together, and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you and I know I always will.
But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still."
"Please...try to find happiness, while living out your days.
I know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year, and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered, when the florist stops to knock."
"He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt,
To take the roses to the place, where I've instructed him,
And place the roses where we are, together once again."
Recently, I read about an intereting fashion article. Its about 'Ethical fashion'.'Ethical fashion' is a subject that has been grabbing the headlines in fashion circuits in recent times. As awareness about the concept is rising, more and more brands are coming up with products that adhere to it, and more and more customers are adopting the same. The 'Ethical Fashion Show' that is being conducted every year since 2004 is a step in the same direction.
The concept of ethical fashion is simple. It refers to fashion that incorporates positive ethical practices such as environment conservation, fair trade and fair wages, healthy and safe working conditions for labourers, limited use of pesticides, use of recyclable material, ensuring no harm to flora and fauna, preservation of traditional skills, etc. The Ethical Fashion Show aims to promote the concept of ethical fashion and spread awareness about it.
Apart from ramp shows, the Ethical Fashion Show 2008 will also feature conferences and round table discussions among industry experts on the subject of ethical fashion. The exhibition this year is planned to be on the theme of 'Globe-trotting colour'. Danish fashion designer Leila Hafzi and Betty de Paris, a natural colorist, are scheduled to present their collections as a part of this event. This would be followed by a show by Takashiro Senko, indigo master from Japan, among displays by other experts.
Hugs for you!!
HUGS come in every shape and size and mean so many things,
Like the hug that says "I'm happy for the joy your friendship brings."
There are hugs for saying "I'm so proud of all the things you do,"
Hugs that say "There's no one else in all the world like you."
There are gentle hugs, and tender ones for feelings that are sad,
Hugs that say ""I'm sorry" when someone's feeling bad.
There are hugs for all occasions, and the reasons big and small,
Tiny hugs, and big bear hugs ~ short to extra tall!
But the nicest hug is one that says "I'm always thinking of you,"
The special kind this brings your way ~ The hug that says "I LOVE YOU!"
Women love to wear high heeled shoes.Need some information about it?let's check it out.The high-heeled shoe - the ultimate piece of fashionable footwear - has come a long way. This shoe, which has often been a matter of discussion and debate, has not always been what we know it as today. With the passage of time, it has considerably evolved. And that is what this article seeks to study - the journey of the high-heeled shoe till date.
The formal version of the high-heeled shoe is believed to have come into existence during after the year 1533. However, rougher, more informal versions have been known to exist since long back. Evidence has also been found to indicate that people in Ancient Greece and Rome wore heeled shoes called 'Kothorni' or 'Buskins'. These shoes would have heels made of wood, and would be worn mainly by actors. Another evidence of the wearing of high heels in the olden times comes from Ancient Rome, during the times when prostitution was considered illegal. During this period, sex workers would wear high heeled shoes for the purpose of identification.
Eating A Refreshing Vegetarian Diet
Many people start vegan and vegetarian diets without devoting an ample amount of time to nutritional analyze and meal planning. As a result, a considerable amount of people who start vegan diets do not last for more than 1-2 months.
Many dieters who fail to carefully study and plan complain that they lack energy - and often experience a significant loss in muscle mass. Others observe a lot of other more peripheral problems that come with a poorly-planned vegetarian diet.
The first group - the group that most failed dieters fall into--is actually experiencing a form of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). PEM emerges when a person fails to consume enough protein, leading to muscle loss - and thereafter feelings of weakness that are often
accompanied by head and muscle aches.
This issue can be circumvented by dietary alterations. A vegan who is experiencing PEM should either a) find out what foods contain what amino chains, so they can combine them to form proteins; or b) start consuming larger amounts and more diversified sources of protein, such as nuts, soy milk, and yogurt.
The first group is often iron-deficient also. Because vegans can only consume nonheme iron, which is more sensitive to iron inhibitors, they often do not consume enough to maintain healthy blood-iron levels. This can cause pervasive weakness and even anemia.
Most nutritionists suggest that vegan and vegetarian dieters consume roughly twice the recommended amount of iron while greatly reducing their consumption of iron inhibitors.
People in the second group--the smaller one--who suffer from a range of other peripheral, diet-related problems are often not consuming enough of the nutrients that they would normally take in unknowingly on a diet that includes meat and dairy products. These nutrients include, for case, zinc, calcium, vitamin b, and riboflavin.
Some recent studies have suggested that vegetarians also process certain types of foods with less efficiency because they consume different amounts and varieties of absorption inhibitors and enhancers.
Recent studies also suggest, however, that a vegetarian or vegetarian diet, when done right, is not only as health-enhancing as a non-vegetarian diet, but it is also much more heart-healthy - and usually contains higher amounts of antioxidants.
What does this all mean for you as a prospective vegan? It means that eating a health-enhancing vegetarian diet is not only a good alternative to your current diet, but it can also lower your chances of getting heart disease and cancer.
However, in order to eat a refreshing vegan diet, you must actually put in the time to study and plan; if you don't, you most indeed will end up in one of the two groups discussed above.
In the world of textile and garment, finishing plays a vital role for quality and value. In the abundance of various finishes, importance is given to antimicrobial finish since people take much care about health and hygiene. Hygiene has acquired more importance in recent years. Natural fibres are more susceptible to bacterial attack than synthetic fibres due to their porous and hydrophilic nature. The structure of natural fibers retains water and oxygen along with nutrients, thereby offering optimal enrichment culture for rapid multiplication of micro-organisms. On the other hand, direct contact with human body supplies warmth, humidity and nutrients, i.e., provides a perfect environment and optimal conditions for bacterial growth. The most troublesome organisms are fungi and bacteria. Under very moist conditions algae can also grow on textiles. Fungi creates multiple problems to textile including discoloration, stains and fiber damage, unpleasant odor and a slick, slimy feel. Besides, structure of the substrate and the chemical processes may induce growth of microbes. Humid and warm environment further aggravates the problem
Every day, there are nearly 1,800 new HIV infections in children under 15, mostly from mother-to-child transmission; some 1,400 children under 15 die of AIDS-related illness and more than 6,000 young people aged 15–24 are newly infected with HIV.
Millions of children, adolescents and young people in the path of the pandemic are at risk and in need of protection. AIDS is redefining the very meaning of childhood for millions, depriving children of many of their human rights – of the care, love and affection of their parents; of their teachers and other role models; of education and options for the future; of protection against exploitation and abuse.
We must act now to ensure that the next generation of children is AIDS-free.
FA08014
Taking Control of the English Language
How can I speak English better? How can I communicate better in English? How can I express myself better in English? How can I listen to and understand English better? How can I improve?
You speak English at an advanced level. You speak it fluently and you use it every day, yet you aren’t satisfied with your ability. You feel like you can’t express yourself the way you want to. When you can’t say what you want to say or need to say in the manner that you would like to, it might not leave you with the best feeling you could possibly have. There is only one thing to do about it. You must take control of the English language. What does taking control of the English language mean? It does not mean taking control of the entire language. It means taking control of the English language that is yours; the English language that you have. It means using the English that you already have to get more. It means taking responsibility for your own learning.
You might tell yourself that you want to have private instruction with an English language tutor. That’s a good idea. However, there is something you should know and be well aware of. What happens during the time that you meet with an English language tutor is very important, but what happens during the time between your meetings with an English language tutor is even more important. The proactive steps that you take in order to improve have a direct effect on what it is you get out of the time and money that you spend with an English language tutor. In order to receive the maximum benefit possible for the money you spend on a tutor, you must dedicate a sufficient amount of time to studying between each lesson. Of course, the amount of time that anyone is able to dedicate to studying will vary, but nevertheless, it must be done. Furthermore, there are a number of things you should do leading up to the time that you decide to pick up the phone and make that call. So you ask, what is it that I need to do? What can I do on my own?
You need to increase your vocabulary. You need to build your lexicon. You need to learn more idiomatic expressions. Does this mean studying vocabulary lists? No. Does that mean buying books that list idiomatic expressions in English and their meanings? That may or may not be helpful. Does it mean going to the Internet and studying idiomatic expressions that are listed at websites? Perhaps, but that wouldn’t be all. Does it mean learning the word of the day that is given by online dictionaries? No! You need to build a personal lexicon. You need to maintain a lexical notebook. You need to learn words and expressions that are interesting to you and will be useful to you. You need to learn words and expressions that are part of your environment. Where can you find these words and expressions? You can find them by listening to the radio, by listening to those that you speak with on a daily basis, and by even listening to those that you don’t speak with. You don’t have to converse with someone in order to listen to someone. Of course, you can find new words and expressions by choosing challenging reading material that is interesting to you: newspaper and magazine articles, books, short stories. In order to start building your new lexicon, I suggest starting by finding something to read.
Now that you have chosen something interesting to read, here is what you need to do. You need to write down the words and expressions that you don’t understand. Take note of the page number and paragraph that the words or expressions are on as you read. After you are done reading, go back to the words and expressions that you didn’t understand and write them in your lexical notebook. Leave space to write an explanation or a definition. From the context, see if you can figure out what the words or expressions mean. After you have done this, go to a dictionary. For idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs that you are unfamiliar with, I strongly recommend taking advantage of Cambridge Dictionaries Online. It is important that you practice these new words and expressions by writing your own sentences. This is helpful in incorporating them into your daily conversations and speaking habits. Don’t be overwhelmed by thinking you have to read a lot. Read what is good for you. If you come across too many words and expressions that you don’t recognize, it might be a good idea to find some less challenging reading material. What you read should be challenging, but it should not be so challenging that it might be discouraging.
Listen to the news on the radio. Listen to talk shows. Generally speaking, radio announcers that report the news speak clearly, use good vocabulary, and also use idiomatic expressions. If you have a computer, you can listen to news reports from National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Corporation (NPR and the BBC). You can usually find a RealPlayer link to listen to news stories from both of these resources. However, listening to the radio will suffice as well. If you can, it would be a good idea to record a ten to fifteen minute segment of a news show or any broadcast that might interest you. Take note of any words or expressions that sound unfamiliar to you. Write them down in your lexical notebook. If you were able to record what you listened to, listen to it again to see if you can figure out what the new words and expressions mean through the context that they are used in. If you are unable to figure out what something means, then by all means go to a dictionary. Once again, I suggest using Cambridge Dictionaries Online for a comprehensive overview of any single word. Cambridge Dictionaries Online is a very good resource in that it demonstrates how words are used in idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs. Cambridge Dictionaries also point out any important secondary definitions that a word might have.
Pay attention to what you hear wherever you go. If you are on a bus or a train, listen to what people say and how they say it. If you are in a supermarket, a shopping mall or any other public place where you can hear others speak, open your ears and try to listen. Take note of what you hear. Jot it down in a small pocket size notebook. Later, you can add it to your lexical notebook. If you pay attention, you are eventually bound to hear at least one word or one expression that is new to you. When you hear it, write it down. Find out what it means later. Learn it. Use it.
When learning new words and expressions, it is important to take note of whether these words and expressions are used in an informal context or a formal context. Many words and expressions are used both formally and informally. If you aren’t sure of exactly how to use a new word or expression, you can try them out with work colleagues and friends. Find people to converse with. They may not be instructive in any way, but you can try out new ways to express yourself. You should also listen as closely as possible when you converse. Listen for anything that sounds different, new, or unfamiliar. If the circumstance permits, don’t be afraid to take out your pocket notebook and write it down. If you say something that isn't quite right, the person you are speaking with might take note of it and let you know. If you aren’t sure of something you said or would like to say, then ask about it. If you hear something and you don’t know what it means, ask about that as well. Some, or even many people, may not view themselves as “teachers” per se, but most native speakers of English should be able to assist you in this manner. I believe most people would be glad to help. It is of the utmost importance to not be afraid to ask questions. That’s part of taking control of the English language. That’s part of making the English language your language. English is not your first language, but there is no reason why it cannot be your language. Get a notebook. Get something to read. Find something to listen to on the radio. Take control of the English language now.
Your scent should be a reflection of your personality. But with so many products on the market, how do you know which one to choose?
Floral
As the name suggests, floral perfumes have strong overtones of flowery fragrances. From roses to jasmine to lavender, floral perfumes have long been the most popular and wide-spread scents in the world, and are ideal for young and not-so-young alike. Anyone who wants to feel pretty and feminine without being overpowering should choose a floral perfume. Likewise, they're great as a safe perfume that's suitable for all ages and all occasions. Examples of floral fragrances are Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden, Calvin Klein Escape and Anais Anais by Cacharel.
Fruity
Fruity fragrances are generally spicy and fresh. They are quite youthful in their scent, and suitable for warm and cool weather alike. In winter, they invoke a sense of warm desserts and cider. In summer, they give an air of crispness. They are an excellent choice for women who like classic fragrances, but also want to add a little flair. If you're the type to be outside with friends on summer evenings, this is the perfume type for you. Examples of fruity fragrances are DKNY's Be Delicious, Champagne by Yves Saint Laurent and Cheap and Chic by Moschino.
Woody
Earthy tones are the feature of woody fragrances. These perfumes usually feature such scents as sandalwood, patchouli and cedar, to give a rich, natural fragrance. Woody perfumes are versatile and easy to wear, and are better suited to the mature woman who wants to smell fresh but retain an air of sophistication. These are an excellent choice for the cooler months and evenings. Examples of woody fragrances are Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker, Chanel No. 19 and Givenchy Organza.
Greens
Where woody perfumes capture the essence of forests and woodland, green perfumes have tones more reminiscent of cut grass and crisp spring growth. They possess some of the same scents as oriental perfumes, but are far lighter and suitable for casual wear as well as evening and business wear. They are generally funky and contemporary perfumes that are most suitable for younger and sportier people and can be worn on all occasions. Their neutral tones make them excellent for gifts. Examples of green fragrances are Charlie by Revlon, Versace Metal Jeans Women and Diorissimo by Christian Dior.
hi..today i would like to share with all of you one article about consumers to gain from lower global prices....
PUTRAJAYA: Consumers can expect a drop in prices of non-controlled items soon as manufacturers take heed of the steady decline in global prices of commodities and fuel.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad will announce tomorrow the list of items whose prices will be reduced.
He said one company, which manufactures various household goods, had already agreed to reduce its prices.
The ministry was in talks with several hypermarkets to do the same.
"As prices of raw materials are seeing a decrease, it is only right that they reduce prices of goods which are essential for households," Shahrir said at his ministry's Hari Raya gathering here.
The ministry is hopeful that other similar companies and hypermarkets will follow suit by tomorrow.
Shahrir also added that the public could expect another round of reduction of fuel prices at the end of the month as the dip in crude oil prices had continued to be significant.
Pump prices have been reduced three times since August with the last being on Oct 15. RON97 is now RM2.30 per litre and RON92 is RM2.20 per litre. Diesel now costs RM2.20.
Asked on complaints from petrol station owners whose 12 sen per litre profit margin was affected by three sen due to the old stock, Shahrir said it was a business risk they had to face.
He added that they had been reminded not to replenish supply two days before an announcement was made.
"We understand their situation but if we were to reduce prices at the end of the month and at a bigger difference, it would have been worse for them."
On another matter, Shahrir said his ministry was studying a better distribution system of essential goods for rural areas.
Your body can live off not eating food for several weeks, however it can only survive without water for a few days. Many people do not know how essential water is to our lives, and what an impact it can have on our body, skin, and daily activities. Did you know that the average teen body is 55 to 75% water? Every single day your body must replace 2 ½ quarts of water, which means that the water you drink literally becomes you! Studies show that drinking water can reduce the chance of those annoying zits and blemish breakouts. Water also helps unclog pores and makes your face glow, refreshed and clear. As an added bonus, drinking water helps to keep your teeth clean and white. Drinks like Coke and Dr. Pepper slowly turn teeth an ugly yellow and greatly increase the rate of decay.
Drinking large amounts of water throughout the day also speeds up your metabolism. Drinking several glasses of water before each meal creates the feeling of fullness. Most of the time when our bodies feel “hungry,” they are actually craving water. This is not a replacement for a balanced diet, but it is a valid way to cut off a few pounds and provide energy for other healthy essentials such as exercise. Lack of water or dehydration can lead to migraine headaches, loss of energy, dizziness, asthma and other diseases. When our bodies struggle to maintain themselves with insufficient water, you cannot expect them to perform up to par. By drinking water throughout each day, improvements in skin, body, and fitness are bound to occur. Plus, why not take advantage of Mother Nature’s precious gift?
Quench your thirst thoroughly with refreshing cool water or become dehydrated, living up to less than half of your potential.....it’s your decision.
FA08014
Air Pollution Raises Blood Pressure According to New Study
It seems like a healthy thing to do: getting outside. Maybe you like to go for walks or spend an hour gardening or riding your bike. Unfortunately, if you live where the air is polluted, you could be hurting your health by simply breathing the not-so-fresh air.
That’s the conclusion of a new Ohio State University Medical Center study –- the first ever to report a direct link between air pollution and high blood pressure, or hypertension. The results of the study are set to be published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, a journal published by the American Heart Association
The cardiovascular researchers exposed rats to levels of airborne pollutants inside chambers. The animals breathed particulate matter equivalent to what people inhale every day. In fact, the scientists noted the levels were actually far below pollution levels in some parts of the U.S. and in many developing countries such as China and India. Over a ten week period, the blood pressure of the test animals spiked upwards
"We now have even more compelling evidence of the strong relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular disease," Sanjay Rajagopalan, section director of vascular medicine at Ohio State's Medical Center and co-author of the study, stated in an announcement to the media. "Recent observational studies in humans suggest that within hours to days following exposure, blood pressure increases.”
Over three million premature deaths each year are caused by air pollution, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the most frequently found pollutants in the air are particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide –- mostly as a result of power plants, car exhaust, and industrial emissions. In the press statement, Rajagopalan said his team’s research could provide “guidance for the EPA to change pre-existing stringent standards in the effort to reduce air pollution.”
Another of the study’s researchers, Qinghua Sun, is continuing to study the link between air pollution and cardiovascular risk by documenting vascular function in people before and after they attend the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Fortunately, you can take some control over the air you breathe indoors by reducing sources of air pollution in your home. For example, avoid the use of chemical cleaners and air fresheners, use air filters if needed, and make sure heat and air conditioning filters are cleaned frequently.
In addition, specific vitamins may help protect your health from the effects of bad air. Previous research at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine found that vitamins A and C benefited people with asthma who were sensitive to air pollutants and a recent study by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health found the nutrients folate, vitamins B6 and B12 help guard the heart from the impact of particulate air pollution.
hi..
today i have read the article about 10 golden lessons from albert enstein...
so i want to share it with all of you...
enjoy it...
Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving - Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was an amazing physicist. He figured out so many universal principles and equations that he was way ahead of his fellow scientists at any point of time. But he is also remembered for another thing; a quality which made people call him a genius: his words. Prof. Einstein was a philosopher who clearly understood the laws of success and explained them like the way he did with his equations. Here is a list of 10 things out of the numerously wonderful things he had said; 10 golden lessons that you can put to use in your everyday life.
1. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
Most people don’t try new things because of their fear of failure. Failing is not something to be afraid of. It is often the losers who learn more about winning than the winners. Our mistakes always give us opportunities to learn and grow.
2. Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
30 years from now, you won’t possibly remember what chapters you had in your science book; you’d only remember what you learn on your way. Life lessons stay with you forever. Real education starts from within.
3. I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
When you reflect on how far we humans have come from the prehistoric caves to mind-blowing technological advancements, you would feel the power of imagination. What we have now was built from the imagination of our forefathers. What we will have in future will be built from our imagination.
4. The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.
Creativity and uniqueness often depends on how well you hide your sources. You can get inspired and influenced by other great people; but when you are on stage with the whole world watching, you must become a unique, individual force that learnt different values from different people.
5. The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.
If you think of all the top people in the world, they would have added something of value to the world. You must give in order to take. When your purpose is contributing or adding value to the world, you will be elevated to a higher level of living.
6. There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.
When nothing is a miracle, you gain the power of doing anything you want and you have no limits. And when everything is a miracle, you stop by to appreciate even the smallest of beautiful things in the world. Thinking both ways will give you a productive and happy life.
7. When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.
Dreaming about all the great things that you can achieve is the key to a life filled with positivity. Let your imagination run amuck and create the world that you would wish to be in.
8. In order to be an immaculate member of a flock of sheep, one must above all be a sheep oneself.
If you want to become a very successful entrepreneur, you must start a business right away. Wishing to become one, but fearing the consequences will not help. The same applies to everything - in order to win a game, one must above all play the game.
9. You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.
Learn the rules of your game and start playing it best. Keep competing like your life depended on it. And after a while you will have no one else but you to compete against. At that point, better your best.
10. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
Intelligent people ask. Keep questioning yourself and others to find solutions. This will help gain knowledge and analyze your growth in all walks of life.
Air Pollution Causes Blood Clots
Air pollution produced by the burning of fossil fuels can drastically increase people's risk of developing potentially fatal blood clots, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"We have known for some time that air pollution has been associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke," said Beverley Hunt, medical director of the nonprofit organization Lifeblood. "This study shows for the very first time that air pollution also increases the risk of clots in the veins and tells us why."
In a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots form in the legs. In certain cases, these clots have been known to become dislodged and then travel to the lungs, where they can fatally block the flow of blood. The risk of DVT is known to increase with long periods of immobility, such as on long-haul flights or from spending long hours at a desk without getting up.
Researchers compared levels of particulate air pollution around the dwelling places of 870 DVT patients and 1,210 people without the condition, all in the Lombardy region of Italy. They found that for every 10 microgram per square meter increase in particulate concentration, a person's risk of DVT increased by 70 percent.
The particulate matter in the study, only about one 40th the width of a human hair, is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, including in vehicle engines and power plants.
"Given the magnitude of the effects, our findings introduce a novel and common risk factor into the development of DVT," lead researcher Andrea Baccarelli said. "And, at the same time, they give further substance to the call for tighter standards and continued efforts aimed at reducing the impact of urban air pollutants on human health."
Most of us who are overweight would definitely like to lose weight and if possible to lose it quickly. We are not happy with our appearance and worried about the health effects of the excess poundage. We sooner or later come to the decision to do something about it.
Sometimes,particularly if a special occasion is coming up we want to lose weight fast. Maybe it is a high school reunion and we just don't want to appear there grossly overweight. Maybe it is summer vacation time and we want to look good on the beach in a swimsuit.
Whatever the reason we want to lose weight fast. Or as fast as we possibly can at any rate. We don't expect miracles but we surely could use one to show us how to lose weight fast.
Actually how much weight you can lose,and how fast you can lose it,depends a lot on how much overweight you are to begin with. If you are considerably overweight you can expect to lose about one pound per day on a good diet plan. Anything faster than that would involve serious fasting and food deprivation and could be dangerous to your health.
Don't pay any attention to diet ads which promise to take off 30 pounds in a week or something to that effect. It's just not true and can't be done. If a diet program can show you how to lose weight fast that is great. But not too fast please.
If you are say twenty pounds or so overweight,you should not expect to lose more than one pound per day on any reasonable diet. You could lose weight fast by fasting but you should to do that only under medical supervision by your doctor.
You should not fast completely with nothing to eat at all. A modified fast in which you eat only small quantities of solid food and plenty of liquids can be alright for many people. But once more anything this drastic should be attempted only after seeking advice from your doctor.
If you really want to know how to lose weight fast the simple answer is that you will be much better off to lose weight at a slower rate. A gradual weight loss needs much less change in your lifestyle and is definitely much simpler to achieve.
If you push yourself into a crash diet you may lose weight fast,but as soon as you come off the diet you will gain it all back again quite quickly and your efforts will have been in vain. Don't do this.It is simply not worthwhile.
The new generation of diets which are based on sound research are easy to stay on for the long term. You can choose the foods you want to eat instead of having to go on a menu of foods you may not like at all. You can lose many pounds and keep the weight off very easily bvy staying with the diet program.
Dealing With Stress During College
College can be a tremendously stressful time. Learning how to identify sources of stress and developing strategies for dealing with college-specific problems can make life a lot easier.
College Stress Statistics
* Stress often makes college students sick because it has a negative impact on immune systems. (Source: DrDrew.com)
* College stress can cause fatigue, acid reflux, hair loss, and a slew of other problems. (Source: The Princeton Review)
* 75 to 90 percent of the visits made to primary care physicians result from stress or stress related disorders. (Source: American Institute of Stress)
* The five biggest causes of college stress are: peer pressure, competition, separation from family, freedom, and choosing a major/career. (Source: University of Wisconsin-Platteville)
Everyone knows that college is stressful. The stress often begins as early as the admissions process when you have to fill out applications, write the perfect personal statement essay, and choose the right school.
Attending college introduces new stressors. You may work or be involved in extracurricular activities, forcing you to balance these activities with homework. You may also have problems with a roommate or exams. Whatever your situation, there are ways of dealing with the stress.
Identify and Combat the Source
You should first identify your source of stress. Identifying what's bothering you may help you come up with more effective solutions.
Once you've identified your problem, you should develop a plan for resolving it. Talking to a friend or counselor often helps tremendously. Some other strategies to deal with stress:
* Make a list of everything you need to do the next day each night before you go to bed. This may help you get a good night's rest, which will not only relieve stress, but also help you stay organized and eliminate that last minute frantic feeling.
* Put things on a list that you can accomplish. If your list is unreasonable it will end up making you less productive.
* Try spreading out assignments over a certain amount of time. This way you'll feel less overwhelmed when it's crunch time.
* Get some help if you're feeling stressed about a difficult assignment. Speaking to a professor, teacher's assistant, or tutor may give you a useful confidence boost.
* Set some time aside for yourself whether you need some 'alone' time or you want to be with your friends.
* Try deep breathing exercises to help you relax and clear your mind.
* Don't be so hard on yourself!
Other Tips for Coping with Stress
If your problem persists despite these efforts, you may want to consider speaking to a health professional on how to deal with your stress. Many campuses have health offices on-site that provide such assistance. You can contact your campus health office to see what kinds of services are available - these may include group or individual sessions. The most important task is finding the type of help that will be the most effective for you.
So much of what is written in nutrition today focuses on fat loss nutrition and diets but today I wanted to switch gears and talk about how you can use your diet to improve your health specifically your brain function. There are lots of supplements on the market that promise improved focus, energy, and brain output but these are all short term fixes that are chalk full of stimulants and B Vitamins (to be completely honest mega dosing regular B vitamins is NOT going to help your brain).
Today I'm not going to talk about the short term fix (even thought I do have what I call the 'Mind Mastery Stack' which is what I use on days that I have long and important test/exams). Instead, let's look at three things that I do everyday to improve the function of my brain over the long term so hopefully as time goes on I can hold onto my 'marbles' and delay losing them :)
1. Eat blueberries - This probably comes to no surprise as the brain boosting benefits of blueberries essentially started the super food revolution. The antioxidants in these dark brain boosting nuggets have been shown time and time again to improve cognition and memory. Despite the well publicized and documented benefits of blueberries I still find that most people aren't eating them on a regular basis (are you?). I'm talking about eating them everyday. You don't need to eat organic or fresh ones either. Frozen blueberries are convenient, more cost effective, and just as nutritious. Start making a habit of eating 1 cup of blueberries everyday.
2. Fish Oil - If you read my blog on a daily basis you know that I LOVE fish oil. I don't love the fishy taste - that's not what I mean. I do love the drug like effects that they have. Research aside I have seen first hand with family and clients noticeable improvements in the memory of people taking 2-3g of EPA/DHA each day in as little as one month. That is truly amazing. There is also a fascinating body of research that is starting to build showing the beneficial effects of high dose fish oil in people with Alzheimer's disease. Plus if you are pregnant and take fish oil you can boost your child's I.Q. by a couple points as well (I know a couple points isn't going to make your son/daughter the next Steve Jobs but every little bit helps right?)
How to Develop Lifelong Friendships While in College
Developing lifelong friendships may be one of the most rewarding aspects of college life. This article has a few suggestions how to develop these types of friendships.
Since many students who are in college may not have family or friends from high school nearby, they're looking for other people to study with and hang out. College friends are somewhat different than friends from high school because you bond in different ways. You may bond during late night study sessions, making dinner together, or during long drives home. In a way, they're somewhat like your family away from home. Some friends may make sure that you wake up in time for your midterm or make you soup when you're sick. During college there are a variety of ways to develop these friendships, which have the potential of becoming lifelong friendships.
Living with Roommates
Sometimes many students make lifelong friendships with their roommates. If you have a good experience with your roommate during your first year of college, you may want to continue living with that roommate. You may also decide to live with other people as well. Sharing a house or an apartment allows you to spend time with people and really get to know who they are. You may learn things that only their families know about them like how long they take in the shower or what kinds of odd things they like to eat. Living together also provides opportunities for a lot of inside jokes, which can create even stronger bonds. You may also become closer when one of you becomes sick, and the parental instinct kicks in.
Joining a Club
By joining a club, you may be able to find people who share similar interests. Usually college campuses offer a variety of clubs like those that are associated with academic majors, public interests, politics, music, or careers. There are also fraternities and sororities at different colleges. Clubs provide an opportunity to meet people outside of the classroom, and the opportunity for you to get involved with something that you're passionate about. Being involved in extracurricular activities may also alleviate some of your stress.
Making Friends for Life
Developing lifelong friendships does take some time. Don't be discouraged if the first couple of people you meet don't turn out to be the type of friends you were hoping for. You may need to keep on trying to meet new people. You may make friends with people who you wouldn't have considered being friends with before. If you feel uneasy about the friends you have made, try to remember what you liked about your friends from high school. Keep yourself surrounded by good people who share similar goals to help you stay on track.
Hot Yoga or Yoga in Heated Environment can be Dangerous !
Patanjali, the founder of yoga had designed the science of yoga about 2500 years ago. Since then this science is being taught in India and around the world. Patanjali has explained yoga in eight steps and Asana or Postures is one of those steps.
Patanjali defines the Asana as “Steady and comfortable posture or position”. So Asana is a position of body and mind which is steady and comfortable. Any body posture is comfortable when it is attained in natural environmental conditions.
This is achieved through relaxation; the word relaxation is a key to ideal Asana position. The perfect relaxation on physical and mental level is essentially responsible to attain the steadiness and comfort. This retains and increases the Pranic or bio energy in the body.
This relaxed position of body results in lowering of respiration rate, blood pressure, heart rate which in turn lowers the metabolic rate. This is also verified by various scientific experiments carried out in various research organizations all over the world and these great benefits of yoga are scientifically accepted.
So yoga is relaxation and not like stressful exercises. If the Asana is practiced in HOT ENVIRONMENT (temperatures about 105 degrees Fahrenheit) as it is done in some styles of Yoga, the heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure increases, though muscles expand and one can stretch the body more, this may harm the muscles. Ideally the Yoga should be practiced in normal environmental conditions.
This Hot Yoga, Bikram yoga or similar type is inappropriate and difficult to justify version of Indian ancient Science of Yoga. In fact it can not be called as Yoga as per Indian Science.
Many medical experts all over the world have raised concern over the excess strain exerted on muscles in Hot environment (temperatures about 105 deg. F). In this environment there is always a danger of muscle or ligament stretched beyond biological limit and may get Damaged.
Consider the Fever, it is a natural protective phenomenon as many bodily reactions are accelerated by heat. Thus in any infection, we get fever and it helps to clear that infection. It also dilates our blood vessels and makes the heart beat faster & stronger, it also causes excessive water loss from our body.
But there is another side of it! Our body has very little redundant energy to waste away. The energy demand in heated environment catalyzes certain bodily processes and slows down other processes. Our present medical science does not have a complete knowledge about it, but it is very logical that heated environment is not natural or normal condition for the body. Our body is meant to function at normal temperatures; Yoga should be practiced in optimum & comfortable conditions.
Imagine doing Yoga when you are suffering from Fever where your body temperature is 105 deg. Fahrenheit!
Life is very difficult in regions where temperatures are as high as 48 degrees celcius, so why create such difficult condition around and practice yoga there? Isn’t it a common sense not to create worse situations for body?
It is an individual choice to select the style of Yoga but one must ensure that the style is in line with the basic definition of Yoga
Little Girl in the Park
There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed but no one would stop.
The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot as she was yesterday, and still with the sad look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.
As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress was obscenely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to help. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different.
As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the obscene shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped-over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK, I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello.
The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi," after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said, "Because I'm different."
I immediately said, "That you are!" and smiled.
The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."
"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."
She looked at me and smiled. Slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"
"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all those people walking by."
She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that she spread her wings and said, "I am. I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye. I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done."
I got to my feet and said, "Wait. So why did no one stop to help an angel?"
She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone. And with that, my life was changed dramatically.
So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.
hai...everyone,today i want to talk about the Tarzan.I sure everyone have hear it before or watch the Tarzan movie...
Tarzan is the son of a British lord and Lady .When Tarzan was a year old, his mother died of natural causes, and his father was killed by Kerchak, leader of the ape tribe into which Tarzan was adopted. Kerchak’s tribe of apes is known as the Mangani, Great apes of a species unknown to science. Kala is his ape mother. Tarzan (White-skin) is his ape name. As a young adult, he meets a young American woman, Jane, who along with her father and others of their party is marooned at exactly the same spot on the African coast where Tarzan's parents were twenty years earlier. When she returns to America, he leaves the jungle in search of her, his one true love. In later books, Tarzan and Jane marry and he lives with her for a time in England. They have one son, Jack, who takes the ape name Korak the Killer. Tarzan is contemptuous of the hypocrisy of civilization, and he and Jane return to Africa, making their home on an extensive estate that becomes a base for Tarzan's later adventures.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Aim a Little Higher
by: Iain Legg
Are you struggling to stay motivated on your journey to success? Have your goals lost some of the shine they had when you first set them? If so, you might consider whether they are big enough to keep your interest.
You may have thought so at one time but if they’re not what you really want deep down inside, you’re probably trying to force yourself to settle for what you think you can get.
There’s an easy solution to this problem: Aim Higher!
Set a goal that’s so big and impressive that it gets your heart pumping and sweat popping out on your brow; a goal that seems almost impossible but would dramatically change your life if you were able to achieve it.
Does that get the fire burning in your heart and soul?
If so, take some time right now to clarify your new goal. Write it out in detail and sketch out a plan of action to go for it. List as many reasons as possible why you think you can accomplish this goal – and be specific! Think of any past accomplishments and what it took to achieve them. What kept you going? How badly did you want it, and what were you willing to do to achieve it?
Don’t allow fear or hesitation to seep into your mind!
You may be interested to know that it’s very common for people to underestimate their capabilities. You have a fixed perception of your limitations, and you’ve probably never thought much about raising the bar, right? If you’re like most people, you’ll be nodding in agreement to that question.
The truth is, you could probably blow your limitations sky high with only a teensy bit of effort and focus. This is especially true if you’re going after something that you want badly.
When you’ve chosen a larger goal and made it your mission to achieve it, you’ll have no shortage of motivation! You’ll be challenged beyond anything you’ve ever experienced before, and you’ll revel in the opportunity to prove yourself.
With each step you take toward a successful outcome, your determination and confidence will grow and you’ll wonder why you ever held yourself back.
Even better, once you accomplish this new goal, you will have set a higher standard of excellence for yourself and you’ll go on to achieve even greater goals later. You won’t be able to help it; you’ll be addicted to the thrill of victory!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6300.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
How Do I Use The Law of Attraction?
by: Gary Evans
You’ve heard about the Law of Attraction, but you’re still having a hard time getting it to work for you? Changing your thoughts can appear a daunting task, but it is one that you must undergo if you truly desire change.
Here’s a question you should begin to ponder … Is my goals and desires worth the effort required in order to bring about the manifestation?
Changing your thoughts to focus upon positive aspects most of the time is a time consuming challenge and will require persistence and a real determination to change. It will be a lot of work, but it will not be hard work.
Personally, I think that a lot of people perceive it to be “hard” work and so they give up and go back to their mediocre lifestyles. Let’s put this into perspective, if feeling good and imagining your desires as if they are already here is hard work, then something has gone horribly wrong in your deciphering of what it is that you want.
This stuff shouldn’t be hard work at all! It should be the most fun work you’ve ever had. Dreaming and visualizing about how you want your life to be is a wonderful experience.
There are three major factors we need to take into consideration when designing our lifestyles:
Thoughts – What you hold in your mind on a continuous basis is crucial to what you’re going to see in your future. It is your words that help define the thoughts you hold and it is your thoughts that help define what you will feel. Unfortunately a lot of us have got a lot of negative conditioning and we are so used to thinking in a certain way, that it does appear daunting when change is proposed.
Your thoughts are quite easy to change though - you just need to start feeding your mind with some positive thoughts and positive words on a continuous basis. Your feelings will soon change after you’ve been exposed to some positive “good feeling” thoughts.
Emotions – Pay attention to your feelings! If you feel bad, you’re certainly not on the right track and need to get out of that feeling as soon as possible. Feeling good is your dominant proclivity and it is your birth right. The only reason you can ever feel bad is if you hold thoughts that do not allow well being in. Good feelings are natural to you. When you hold no thought at all, you feel wonderful because you are more connected to your true source which always feels good.
As you become more focussed on thinking positive, abundant and prosperous thoughts you will begin seeing your world around you change to adapt to your new perceptions. I invite you to practice feeling great for 7 days straight … I promise you that you won’t want to go back to your old way of thinking.
Ability to Act – In most cases, our manifestations will come about in inspired actions. You will be inspired to do something, or you will receive inspired thoughts about what you should do next. This can be invigorating and when the conceptions are received it can be one of the joyous moments you can ever experience.
You must act on these inspirations with speed. That does not mean drop everything you were doing and act right away, but still jot down your inspired action and look into it later on.
Remember, there is no shortage of anything that the universe can yield to you, including opportunity. Do not beat yourself up if you feel you’ve missed an opportunity or if something fell through when you really wanted it to happen. If you are in harmony with the universe then an abundance of opportunity will present itself and will keep presenting itself until you do act.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6239.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
The Greatest Benefit of Success
by: Iain Legg
When you think of success, do you immediately picture monetary wealth, luxury homes, and fancy cars? Do you think of the respect and prestige you’ll receive when you’ve made your mark on the world? Or perhaps you imagine the sense of pride you’ll feel when you accomplish your objectives?
As great as those benefits can be, they cannot come close to matching the evolution of inner growth and personal mastery you experience along the way. While success is often viewed as an outer process of setting and achieving goals, it is much more a journey of inner development that changes you on a core level.
If you want to make sure you enjoy the greatest benefit on your journey to success, be sure to keep a strong focus on the following:
1) Continuously expand your vision of what is possible for your life. A successful person knows that they are capable of much more than they ever thought possible. While they may start with smaller objectives to get their feet wet, they have an idea that those goals will grow in magnitude as they shift their perception of limitations.
Be sure you’re always thinking about ways to expand your horizons, and be and do more than you previously thought you could. If you keep your focus on the point just beyond where your known capabilities end, you’ll keep setting your sights just a little bit higher.
2) Stretch beyond your comfort zones at every possible opportunity. In addition to believing you are capable of more, you should strive to prove it as often as you can. Don’t just dream big and plan big – act big! Take bigger risks and trust your heart to lead you to the most beneficial opportunities to show what you can do.
With every giant step forward you take, your confidence and self-mastery will grow in proportion.
3) Let your success show in the person you become, rather than your accomplishments. Rather than trying to impress others with what you can do (and have done) – let your character and demeanor convey your power in every interaction with others. You’ll find that people usually care less about what you’ve done than who you are.
A truly successful person never has to say a word about their accomplishments, because it’s written all over them.
The greatest thing about this inner journey to success is that it automatically causes the floodgates of prosperity to open and shower you with other benefits, like money and prestige. Of course, by then they’re just a nice bonus to the greatest benefit of success – who you’ve become along the way.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6301.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Envision a Better Future
by: Iain Legg
Visualization can be a powerful tool to help you improve your current circumstances, but it can also help you to be more purposeful about moving toward a brighter future. This can be especially effective if you often feel nervous, anxious or doubtful about your ability to improve your life.
To begin, find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed and take a few minutes to quiet your mind and relax your body. If you like, you can put on some soothing music or simply enjoy the silence.
Take a few slow, deep breaths and imagine that you are releasing all tension, stress and worry from your body. As you inhale, envision soft golden light flowing into your lungs and spreading throughout your body, warming and relaxing you. As you exhale, imagine that you’re purging feelings of fear, anxiety and disharmony from your body. Stay with this deep breathing technique for as long as it takes to feel fully relaxed and calm.
Then, call to mind an image of the type of future you’d like to have. Include as much detail as you can, and focus on all of the important aspects of your life such as your career, financial situation, family situation, and so on.
Imagine yourself living in this future time, waking up first thing in the morning and going through your daily experiences. Focus especially on how you look and feel in this better future. Do you appear happy, productive, inspired, purposeful, confident? Are you living the life you truly want to lead? How does it feel?
Take your time with this exercise, going through each experience and enjoying it as much as you can. By the time you finish, you should be feeling very inspired and positive about your life!
Not only does this exercise make you feel more hopeful and positive about your future, it can also inspire you to take the actions that will eventually usher in those future circumstances!
Even when you return to your normal activities, be sure to keep calling those positive mental images to mind as often as you can, and focus on being the person who was living in that better future. Rather than feeling pessimistic about your current circumstances, affirm that you are creating something better with your visualization exercises.
Since visualization works better if you’re consistent with it, try to make this a daily practice if you can. Even just 10 minutes a day of focusing on these positive images and experiencing the corresponding feelings they invoke can help you bring forth great changes in your life
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6260.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
Fa08063
The Birth, Life, Death Process
by: Richard Blackstone
Life is a process and your spiritual growth depends on your understanding of this foundational principle. There is spirituality information in this article that explores this process and illuminates small but often overlooked pieces of the life puzzle. Let us start with the premise that you are in the realm of the absolute and you once again choose to take on the form of a human body and play once again at this game called Life on Planet Earth.
As you set in motion this wonderful journey, you once again make an agreement with God to voluntarily forget who you really are. That does not stop you from being who you really are, it just allows you to forget it until you chose the experience of remembering it again, just as you are doing when you read this article and other articles like it.
You begin to create your life anew and you are entering a new phase of the eternal life process. The phenomenon we experienced, as the physical death of the human form previous to this, was nothing more than a transitional period that allowed us to review the life experiences of that previous form and then decide what we choose to experience next. The death creates the birth that creates the experiences that creates the death that creates the birth that creates the experiences that creates …………… Life is a process. Life is an eternal process.
You are born into this world and you begin the cognitive process that allows you to interpret this world and establish the beginnings of a belief system that will be the base line of your thinking until such time as you choose to change your basic beliefs.
You are back in the system. Once again you are God, Godding. You are Life, Living. You are Love, Loving. You are experiencing in the physical plane all that God knows in the absolute plane. That is your purpose for being. It's the best occupation you could ever have because everything is provided for you. You have the best working environment imaginable because your employer has placed you in paradise.
The finest of food, clothing and shelter is available to you and it is yours anytime you want by merely creating it into your life with the creative powers that you possess as you perform your chosen tasks. The body you are issued is a finely tuned machine that will run forever if you maintain it properly with the two simple concepts of diet and exercise.
You come to this world to play, so write the play that suits you best because not only are you the screenwriter and director of your play, but you are also the star of your play. And, of course, you have the best retirement package that has ever been invented. You may choose to retire to the realm of the absolute to recharge your batteries and make your next decision about what life experience you desire next.
In this job you are the boss, the employee and the product. It is up to you how you run your operation. It is up to you how you set the parameters of you employment. Do you have a schedule or do you just show up when the feeling hits you? It only matters to you how you choose to run the business of your life.
Remember, you are not only the boss and the employee but you are also the product. Are you cheap, shoddy and unreliable or are you cutting edge, top-of-the-line and totally dependable? Are you the product that everybody wants because it is the best quality with the most features? It is entirely up to you how you wish to show up in this game we call life.
You are setting the rules and parameters of your life. You are creating everything that is happening in your life. You are creating moment-to-moment, so if you are not happy or satisfied with certain aspects of the play that you are writing daily (actually moment-to-moment), then change the script. Nobody is making you stick to a script that is not in alignment with what you desire.
They are all writing their own scripts daily (moment-to-moment) just like you. If you don't want somebody in your play any more then just write him or her out of your script. Remember, you have total choice in all matters.
So do it now. Change your script to reflect the highest vision that you have of yourself. There is no time schedule about when you can or can't choose to create something in your life. You don't have to wait until next week to change something that you no longer desire. You just have to want the change more than you want the thing that you wish to change.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6310.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
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Change Means Action
by: John Cyr
"Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies." - Robert Kennedy
Change does have enemies and Robert Kennedy knew that truth and paid for it with his blood. Change can be dangerous. That is why our natural instinct is to stay the course; stay put; avoid trying something new; leaving well enough alone; being safe; and I could mention another twenty or so excuses. If you are the type that wants to stay in your comfort zone, you will never experience the immense joy that comes from living. In order to succeed we must take risks and that means we have to change. Robert Kennedy said this in the context of politics. He referred to making progress as a nation. The only way to make progress as a nation is to change our point of view, to change the way we govern ourselves, to change certain laws that are unfair, and change the way we deal with the bad guys.
But his words can apply to any aspect of life, not just politics. In my career as a trainer I can say that change is the one thing that is needed the most and done the least. I have seen people go way out of their way just to avoid change. I trained adults in job readiness skills. Let me tell you that there were times I couldn't even get an adult to change their seat after 20 minutes of being seated in class. That is how ridiculous we can get about change. We all need to train ourselves to be more open. But it goes further than that.
Change is an action word and that means we need to act if we are going to progress. Change is not a theoretical practice of the mind, it implies real physical movement. For example, we may say that we have changed our attitude towards someone, but unless that is followed up by an action towards that certain person, they are only shallow words. Change means to repent. I instantly scare people away as soon as I say that because of the religious overtones. Well you can apply this to religion if you like. All I am saying is when someone says to you to repent, it simply means to change what you are doing. Change requires 3 things. The first is to recognize the need to change. The second is you actually do the action that is required. The third is you maintain the new course of action. Those happen to be the same three things involved in repentance. They say that recognizing that you need to change is half the battle and that is so true in my experience. The changing part is actually a lot less difficult to do than the first part which again is recognizing that you need to change. The final part is easy. It just requires that you keep on doing the new action over and over again. The second part in the middle means you must turn around and do something different to prove that what you recognized as needed to be done will be done. Change is empowering no matter how small it is as long as it is positive. Today, why not give change a chance and perform an action that you know needs to be done in your life. You will be gratified and empowered when you do it!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6183.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
6 Great Concentration Exercises
by: Greg Frost
It is not easy to concentrate especially when we are surrounded by distractions, such as the people around us, the hum of the computer, or other background noises. In order to achieve greater concentration, we need to have a strong will in order to block out all other distractions except for the task at hand. Your thoughts have more power than you give them credit for, and if we apply our will to improving our concentration and reaching our goals, we can take better control of the direction in life that we are headed towards.
Here is a list of great concentration exercises that you should practice if you want to improve your concentration. Keep in mind that you should be calm and relaxed, physically and mentally. You can achieve this state by taking deep breathes and focusing on your breathing.
These exercises should be attempted for 5 minutes, and lengthened to 10 and then 15 minutes when you are satisfied with your own results and achievements. Do not be discouraged, and keep working at them as they seem simple on paper, but actually require a great deal of mental willpower and concentration to achieve. If you find your mind wandering away from the task before the time limit is reached, bring yourself back and start over.
Exercise #1:
Count backwards slowly in your mind, starting from 100 back to 1. Do not allow your mind to wander to other thoughts, such as the time, or why the neighbour’s dog is barking. Focus solely on the numbers, and if you find yourself daydreaming or confused as to which number you are at and which direction you are counting in, start over.
Exercise #2:
You can move on to this exercise when you can complete exercise #1 successfully. This time, count backwards slowly from 100 to 1 in your mind, skipping in multiples of 3. For example, 100, 97, 94 and so on. Like the previous exercise, this should be completely mental. Do not hold a piece of paper with the numbers written on it, and do not use your fingers or any other means of keeping track of your position.
Exercise #3:
Take a simple thought, scenario, or word and keep it focused in your mind for the entire time limit. If it is a word, repeat it to yourself without getting distracted by your favourite way of using the word, or why you picked the word. Focus solely on the word and how it sounds. This should be the same if it is a thought or a scenario. Do not let your mind wander and contemplate why you have picked that particular scenario, or what it means and how it came to be. Focus simply on what it is.
Exercise #4:
Pick a simple object that you are familiar with, such as a pencil, or a fruit. Concentrate and look at the fruit taking in its texture, colour and any other physical attributes that are evident. Spend the entire time limit simply looking and absorbing the object from all angels. Your mind should only be seeing the object, and you should not let it wander to other thoughts.
Exercise #5:
When you are able to complete exercise #4, you can move on to this exercise. Picture the same object in your mind, and try to recall every single detail. The colour, the weight, the feel of the object and how it looks. If you are unable to recall, you may open your eyes to look at the object, and then close your eyes and concentrate again.
Exercise #6:
When you have completed the rest of the exercises, take the entire time limit to sit down and breathe deeply. Focus on your breathing, in and out. Let your mind be cleared of all thoughts, so that your focus is solely on your breathing. Do not entertain any stray thoughts and keep your mind completely clear.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6240.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Overconfidence VS Lack of Confidence
by: Greg Frost
Confidence refers to a strong sense of belief and trust in your abilities to achieve what you want in life. The benefits of having greater self-confidence are numerous, allowing you to have more faith in your decisions in life. Having a lack of confidence can prove to be an obstacle to achieving more from your life, but having overconfidence should also be avoided.
Whether you feel that you have sufficient self confidence, or that you have room for improvement, do keep in mind that the key is in striking a balance between your level of confidence, and the life path that you are charting. If these two are not complementary, you may find that a lack of confidence will hinder you from staying on track, whilst overconfidence may prove to be your downfall.
Self confident people are able to determine what they are doing in life, and reach for it with enthusiasm, knowing and placing faith in their strengths and skills to achieve it. Many people seek to improve their self confidence, but it is necessary to draw a line between being confident and over confident. Overconfidence can work against what you are aiming for, blinding you to your own comparative advantages or preventing you from accurately determining if the position you are in is where you desire to be.
Overconfidence also works against you, when you are faced with failures or obstacles when you feel strongly that it should have been straightforward and easily achievable. This results in anger and impulsive behavior, and you may end up souring relationships with your colleagues and close friends. Often, people who are overconfident are unaware that they are, or that they have overreacted. This makes it even more difficult for them to identify if they are overconfident.
A few likely signs that you are overconfident is if you tend to be overly assertive and feel that you are superior to others. You will also find that your friends are keeping their distance, or are somewhat cool towards you, and most people keep a distance from you. If you suspect that you might be overconfident, well done, this is a signal that you are humble enough to deal with your confidence problems.
Constantly keep your pride and confidence in tasks or opinions come in second to logic and analysis. Do not let your confidence cause you to lose your guard, or put in less effort than you should be putting into your work.
Thus, while being confident is desirable, be careful not to over rely on your self confidence or use it as a reason to procrastinate or to cut down on your preparation work.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6280.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Discipline Yourself to Success
by: Iain Legg
When working toward goals or striving for success in any endeavor, self-discipline is one vital quality you need to have. Most of us cringe at the thought because it brings to mind instant visions of sacrifice, difficulty and strain.
However, discipline doesn’t have to be so hard. The problem occurs when you try to go from having no self-discipline to forcing yourself to undertake a heavy load of responsibility. Talk about pressure!
Below are three easy ways to become more disciplined with a minimum of discomfort:
1) First, change your attitude about discipline. One reason you may not be disciplined is because you think the activities or chores you need to do will be unpleasant in some way. The most common reaction to thoughts like that is to put the activities aside or avoid them until you feel ready to handle them.
Instead, pump yourself up and get motivated to get them done as soon as possible! Look forward to the challenge and keep affirming how great you’ll feel when you’re finished. Focus on the sense of personal accomplishment you’ll gain with every task and you’ll be much more likely to stick to your plans.
2) Make self-discipline a gradual process. Rather than trying to force yourself into submission with a big list of tasks or activities, go a little easier on yourself to start.
Identify one small task or activity that you can use for practice. Make it something fairly easy to accomplish each day, and then make sure you do it. If you have to, post notes of encouragement everywhere or wear an elastic band around your wrist as a reminder. If possible, get this one task out of the way first thing in the morning before you do anything else. Make it your highest priority and it will soon become a solid habit.
Then, begin adding more tasks or activities – or increase the size or frequency of the original task so you’re doing more each day. Little by little, keep increasing it like that and eventually you’ll find that you’re doing the things you set out to do without excuses or procrastination.
3) Commitment. If you’re not fully committed to achieving your goals, you’ll probably have a harder time pushing yourself to work on them. Make a solemn vow to yourself that you will do what it takes to work on your goals every single day. Write a list of important action steps and make it your mission to do one or more of them each day. Re-commit yourself as often as necessary to make sure you stick to your plans.
More than anything else, self-discipline is a favorable result of a series of wise decisions that you make each day. Choose to be disciplined, choose to be successful – and you will be!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6303.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Identifying Your Dreams and Desires
by: Gary Evans
Writing your intentions down is critical to your success. Writing has a magic ability to crystallize your intention and also provides a great method to place great amounts of focus and attention upon your desires.
Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich believed that writing your intentions down was one of the most critical stages in the manifestation process. Without it, one would fail to achieve the desire.
At first glance, identifying your desires sounds like a very easy task. Most would say, “I want more money,” or “I want a bigger home.” These are perfect desires to have, yet they lack any substantial detail. For example, let’s say for a moment that you do manifest a bigger home, but this new home you manifest does not have a kitchen. A very basic necessity to any home, yet because you didn’t define it, you weren’t given it. Or perhaps the home you manifest is bigger, but it requires more work to be done and isn’t what you want.
As soon as you give birth to a new desire, the Law of Attraction immediately begins working in your favour. As you begin to define the details of your desire, the Law of Attraction responds accordingly to incorporate your new asking.
The best way to get involved with the specifics of your desires and to determine exactly what you really want is by making an intention list. An intention list is as it sounds, a list of everything you want, dream of or desire.
You’ll probably want to make many intention lists, but for now focus on one desire per list. Grab a sheet of paper and title the page with your desire. Next, draw a line down the middle making two sections. On the right hand side, start listing everything that you do not want. We are conditioned to focus upon the negative aspects of a situation instead of the positives, so identifying what you don’t want should be a breeze!
Let’s say your desire is a new relationship. You begin to list everything that you do not want, such as:
* Spending night’s home by myself
* Doing all of the cooking and cleaning on my own
* Someone who watches the football all of the time
* A poor listener
* Not very romantic
On the left hand side of the page, you then write the polar opposite to what you said you didn’t want.
Not very romantic >> becomes >> Romantic & loving
A poor listener >> becomes >> Listens to my suggestions
By focussing on what you do want, instead of what you don’t want you are able to tell the Law of Attraction in detail how you want your desire to be.
Now that you’ve got your list, make good use out of it. Grab a new sheet of paper and write out all of those positive things that you want. We no longer need those old negatives dislikes in our life, so it’s best you throw that old piece of paper in the trash.
With your new list of positive aspects around your desire, place the list somewhere that you will look often. Maybe you could put it in your bathroom, bedroom, toilet, office or kitchen? Or perhaps you will check your handbag or wallet more often? Put the list where you will see it frequently. At least twice a day read your intentions list to yourself.
What you want to do now is to really get into the feeling as if you’ve already got your desire with all of the details you’ve specified. This can be as long or as short a process as you make it to be – as long as you’re feeling the feelings as already having it then your work is complete.
You will quickly discover that an intention list will be something you always want to keep around. They are great fun to write, fun to read, and most importantly, all of that fun will eventually transmute into manifestation!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6238.shtml
hai...i think all like to read the story!!So,today i would like to talk one interesting story...
Hansel and Gretel are the children of a poor woodcutter. Fearing starvation, the stepmother convinces him to lead the children into the forest and abandon them there. Hansel and Gretel hear her plan and gather white pebbles leave themselves a trail home. After their return, their mother clears all the pebbles from the front garden after she found out the children used them to find their way back. She used the same scheme but this time , they can only leave a trail of breadcrumbs. Unfortunately, breadcrumbs were eaten by birds, causing Hansel and Gretel to become lost. Lost in the forest, they find a house made of ginger bread and candies. There live a evil witch who eat children. She wanted to kill them by baking them, instead she was tricked and burn inside the oven.
Taking jewels from the witch's house, the children set off for home to be reunited with their father. After reuniting with their father and finding out that their stepmother has died, they all live happily ever after.
Hi everyone...
Too busy to go bed? Having trouble getting quality sleep once you do? Your health may be at risk!! So, today I will talk about ten reasons not to skimp on sleep…
You may literally have to add it to your to-do list, but scheduling a good night's sleep could be one of the smartest health priorities you set. It's not just daytime drowsiness you risk when shortchanging yourself on your seven to eight hours. Possible health consequences of getting too little or poor sleep can involve the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. In addition to letting life get in the way of good sleep, between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder—insomnia or sleep apnea, say—that affects daily functioning and impinges on health. Consider the research:
1) Less may mean more. For people who sleep under seven hours a night, the fewer zzzz's they get, the more obese they tend to be, according to a 2006 Institute of Medicine report. This may relate to the discovery that insufficient sleep appears to tip hunger hormones out of whack. Leptin, which suppresses appetite, is lowered; ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, gets a boost.
2) You're more apt to make bad food choices. A study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people with obstructive sleep apnea or other severely disordered breathing while asleep ate a diet higher in cholesterol, protein, total fat, and total saturated fat. Women were especially affected.
3) Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance, its precursor, may become more likely. A 2005 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people getting five or fewer hours of sleep each night were 2.5 times more likely to be diabetic, while those with six hours or fewer were 1.7 times more likely.
4) The ticker is put at risk. A 2003 study found that heart attacks were 45 percent more likely in women who slept for five or fewer hours per night than in those who got more.
5) Blood pressure may increase. Obstructive sleep apnea, for example, has been associated with chronically elevated daytime blood pressure, and the more severe the disorder, the more significant the hypertension, suggests the 2006 IOM report. Obesity plays a role in both disorders, so losing weight can ease associated health risks.
6) Auto accidents rise. As stated in a 2007 report in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly 20 percent of serious car crash injuries involve a sleepy driver—and that's independent of alcohol use.
7) Balance is off. Older folks who have trouble getting to sleep, who wake up at night, or are drowsy during the day could be 2 to 4.5 times more likely to sustain a fall, found a 2007 study in the Journal of Gerontology.
8) You may be more prone to depression. Adults who chronically operate on fumes report more mental distress, depression, and alcohol use. Adolescents suffer, too: One survey of high school students found similarly high rates of these issues. Middle scholars, too, report more symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem.
9) Kids may suffer more behavior problems. Research from an April issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that children who are plagued by insomnia, short duration of sleeping, or disordered breathing with obesity, for example, are more likely to have behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Hai, everyone…today I would like to talk about ‘ What makes men cheat’? Marriage counselor M. Gary Neuman dug through past research on male infidelity and found that most answers came from the wife's point of view. "Wouldn't it make more sense to ask the guys?" he thought. So for his new book, "The Truth about Cheating," Neuman surveyed 200 cheating and no cheating husbands to get at the real reasons behind men's infidelity -- including what cheating men say could have prevented them from straying. Here, some of his findings:
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48% of men rated emotional dissatisfaction as the primary reason they cheated.
So much for the myth that for men, cheating is all about physical intimacy: Only 8 percent of men said that physical dissatisfaction was the main factor in their infidelity. "Our culture tells us that all men need to be happy is to have physical intimacy with someone," Neuman says. "But men are emotionally driven beings too. They want their wives to show them that they're appreciated, and they want women to understand how hard they're trying to get things right." The problem is that men are less likely than women to express these feelings, so you won't always know when your guy is in need of a little affirmation. "Most men consider it unmanly to ask for a pat on the back, which is why their emotional needs are often overlooked," Neuman says. "But you can create a marital culture of appreciation and thoughtfulness -- and once you set the tone, he's likely to match it."
66% of cheating men report feeling guilt during the affair.
The implications are a little scary: It isn't just uncaring jerks who cheat. In fact, 68 percent of cheaters never dreamed they'd be unfaithful, and almost all of them wished they hadn't done it, Neuman says. Clearly, guilt isn't enough to stop a man from cheating. "Men are good at compartmentalizing feelings," Neuman explains. "They can hold on to their emotions and deal with them later." So even if your partner swears he would never cheat, don't assume it can't happen. It's important for both of you to take steps toward creating the relationship you want.
77% of cheating men have a good friend who cheated.
Hanging around friends who stray makes cheating seem normal and legitimizes it as a possibility.
Hanging around friends who stray makes cheating seem normal and legitimizes it as a possibility. The message he's subconsciously telling himself: "My friend is a good guy who happens to be cheating on his wife. I guess even the best of us do it." You can't simply ban your husband from hanging out with Mr. Wandering Eyes, Neuman says, but you can request that they spend their time together in an environment that offers less temptation, like at a sporting event or a restaurant for lunch rather than at a bar or club. Another strategy: Build your social circle around happily married couples that share your values -- it'll create an environment that supports marriage.
40% of cheating men met the other woman at work.
"Oftentimes the woman he cheats with at the office is someone who praises him, looks up to him, and compliments his efforts," Neuman says. "That's another reason why it's so critical that he feel valued at home." Luckily, there's a clear warning sign that your husband is getting a little too cozy with a colleague: If he praises or mentions the name of a female coworker more than he would a male counterpart, your antennae should go up -- and it's time for the two of you to set boundaries about what is and isn't okay at work, Neuman says. Is it acceptable for him to work late if it's only him and her? Can they travel together to conferences? Have dinners out to discuss a project? Ask him what he'd feel comfortable with you doing with a male colleague.
Only 12% of cheating men said their mistress was more physically attractive than their wife.
In other words, a man doesn't stray because he thinks he'll get lucky with a better-looking body. "
In most cases, he's cheating to fill an emotional void
In most cases, he's cheating to fill an emotional void," Neuman says. "He feels a connection with the other woman, and physical intimacy comes along for the ride." If you're worried about infidelity, focus on making your relationship more loving and connected, not on getting your body just right or mastering how to please him physically. (But know that physical intimacy does matter -- it's one of the key ways your guy expresses his love and feels close to you, so be sure to keep it a priority.)
Only 6% of cheating men had physical intimacy with a woman after meeting her that same day or night.
Actually, 73 percent of men got to know the other woman for more than a month before they cheated. This means that you may have time to see the warning signs before infidelity occurs -- you might even see it coming before he does. Keep an eye out for these common signals: He spends more time away from home, stops asking for physical intimacy, picks fights more frequently, or avoids your calls. Your gut reaction may be to confront him, but most men will deny even thinking about cheating, especially if nothing physical has occurred yet. Instead, Neuman suggests, take charge of what you can control -- your own behavior -- and take the lead in bringing your relationship to a better place. Don't hesitate to show your appreciation for him, prioritize time together, and initiate affection more. Give him a reason to keep you at the front of his mind, Neuman says. And be open about how you feel about what's going on between the two of you (again, without mentioning any third parties). Try "I think we've started to lose something important in our relationship, and I don't want it to disappear." In the meantime, commit to keeping tabs on your relationship and doing what it takes to keep it working for you.
hai,everyone...Today i would like to talk about the true love between human and the monster...
A rich merchant lived in a city with his three daughters; of whom the youngest is named is Vinu. The merchant eventually loses all of his wealth, and he and his daughters must therefore live in the rural areas outside of the city. After some years of this, he hears that one of the trade ships sent by himself had arrived in port, having escaped the destruction of its compatriots; therefore he returns to the city to discover whether it contains anything of monetary value. Before leaving, he asks his daughters whether they desire that he bring them any gift upon his return. His two oldest daughters ask for jewelry and dresses, thinking that his wealth has returned; Belle is satisfied with the promise of a rose, as none grow in their part of the country. The merchant finds that his ship's cargo has been seized to pay his debts, leaving him without money by which to buy his daughters their presents.
During his return, he becomes lost in a forest. Seeking shelter, he enters a castle. He finds inside tables laden with food and drink, which have apparently been left for him by the castle's owner. The merchant accepts this gift and is about to leave when he sees a rose garden and recalls that Belle had desired a rose. Upon picking the most lovely rose he finds, the merchant is confronted by a hideous 'Beast', which tells him that for taking his (the Beast's) most precious possession after accepting his hospitality, the merchant must stay his prisoner forever.. The Beast agrees to let him go only if the merchant will send his daughter to live in the castle in his place.
. He tries, upon arriving home, to hide the secret from Belle; but she pries it from him and willingly goes to the Beast's castle. The Beast receives her graciously and treats her as his guest. Eventually, Belle becomes homesick and begs the Beast to allow her to go to see her family. He allows it, if she will return exactly a week later. Belle agrees to this and sets off for home. Her older sisters are surprised to find her well fed and dressed in finery. They grow jealous and, hearing that she must return to the Beast on a certain day, beg her to stay another day, even putting onion in their eyes to make it appear as though they are weeping. Belle's heart is moved and she agrees to stay.
When Belle returns to the Beast's castle late, she finds him dying in his rose garden of a broken heart. Belle weeps over him, saying that she loves him; when her tears strike him, he is transformed into a handsome prince. The Prince informs Belle that long ago a fairy turned him into a hideous beast after he refused to let her in from the rain. Only by finding true love, despite his ugliness, can he break the curse.
Hai, everyone…now I want to talk about ‘searching for love’. It’s all too easy to get sidetracked by bad dates, broken hearts, and bad love habits. And while bad dates and broken hearts are part of the dating journey toward happily-ever-after, bad love habits can and should be avoided at all costs.
So what's a bad love habit? The following are some common bad dating beliefs:
• You choose potential partners who are incapable of meeting your emotional needs.
• You think love has to be difficult, painful, and/or hard.
You think your potential partner is going to fix whatever you don't like about yourself or your life.
• You believe time is running out on your search for love and/or your chance to have children.
If any of the above sound familiar, don't worry. You're not a lost cause. In fact, with a little time and effort, you can turn things around! What follows are five simple and effective tips and techniques geared toward helping you break free of limiting relationship beliefs and bad dating habits. Practiced over time, you can and will kick any bad dating habit for good!
1. Identify the dating traps you're stuck in
Think you've got to miraculously solve all your problems before you'll be deserving of love? Convinced there are no good "ones" left? Or do you believe that your perfect partner will one day swoop in and magically save you from your life? If any or all of the above sound familiar, chances are good that you suffer from some common dating traps. In order to become a successful single, you first need to free yourself from these traps. Acknowledging the traps you're stuck in is the first step. Next, you've got to break free of these traps, as well as any other limiting or destructive beliefs that are keeping you stuck. To find out how, keep reading.
2. Assess your excess baggage
Next, it's important to get honest with yourself about what you might be lugging around with you on dates (or in life in general). What are you holding onto that no longer serves you? Rejection, disappointment, betrayal? This is from your past, not your present or future. If you've got negative or destructive beliefs or fears weighing you down, you owe it to yourself to dump that excess baggage!
3. Dump your excess baggage
In order to have a happily ever after future, you have to first believe you deserve finding a mate. Gather those painful memories, that chip on your shoulder, any residual anger from past relationship experiences, and tell them they've got to go. Thank them for the lessons you've learned and tell them that it's now time for you to stand on your own two feet. In your mind's eye, give them the heave-ho! Next, start visualizing the kind of life you want to have, complete with your dream job, perfect partner, ideal home, etc. By getting clear about what you want, you give yourself permission to attract it.
4. Stop putting off your life and/or personal happiness
So many of us put off personal happiness waiting for some external result like "I'll be happy when I lose weight, when I pay off my debts, when I get a better job." The truth is, you deserve to enjoy your fabulously imperfect life right this very minute!
When you stop putting off happiness, you start attracting happy people, healthy relationships, exciting and new opportunities. Instead of postponing joy until something external happens, today's the day to start celebrating the joy in your everyday life.
5. Embrace a new dating vocabulary
Now that you're baggage light and dating-trap free, it's time to introduce a new vocabulary to your dating belief system. Every morning and night for 30 days, practice the following exercise: Say to yourself "Love/dating/my ideal relationship is..." and then fill in the blank with the appropriate words (words like healthy, whole, loving, fun, etc.). By creating a new vocabulary for yourself, you may be surprised at how your outlook on dating and relationships changes, and as a result, you'll start attracting happier and healthier potential partners. Love that!
So there you have it -- five simple dating tips and techniques to help you break free of limiting relationship beliefs and bad love habits. May you learn them, love them, live them. In doing so, you just may fall in love with your life all over again, not to mention exponentially increase your chances of future relationship success.
Good luck and happy dating!
Hai,my friends!!! Now I want to tell a story about the ‘ugly duckling’
A mother duck hatches her eggs and, while most of her ducklings are normal, only one is grey, too large, and too clumsy to fit in among the others. Though she tries to accept him, but the rest of them he simply does not belong and after a period of harassment he leaves to fend for himself. He is sheltered by an old woman in her poor cottage, but her cat and her hen will not accept him and he is forced to set off once again on his own. He wanders for the entire summer and fall, for no one will take him in, and he nearly freezes to death in an icy pond. Though he is rescued by a human, he cannot live in captivity, and he returns to the wild.
By the end of winter, he is still ugly. He comes to a pond in a park or garden, where astonishingly beautiful white swans are swimming. He is drawn to their beauty, though he has no reason to think that they will treat him better than anyone else has. To his surprise, the beautiful creatures welcome and accept him; gazing at his reflection, he sees that he too is a swan. The children declare that he is the most beautiful swan of them all, yet he is not proud, for a good heart is never proud. Because of all that he suffered he now appreciates his happiness so much more.
Hai, everyone…One again I like to tell the love story, but for sure everyone knew about that story !! It about ‘snow white’…
Once upon a time, as a queen sits sewing at her window, she pricks her finger on her needle and a drop of blood falls on the snow that had fallen on her ebony window frame. As she looks at the blood on the snow, she says to herself, "Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony". Soon after that, the queen gives birth to a baby girl who has skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony. They name her Princess Snow White. As soon as the child is born, the queen dies.
Soon after, the new king takes a new wife, who is beautiful but very vain. She possesses a magical mirror that answers any question, to which she often asks: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who in the land is fairest of all?" to which the mirror always replies "You, my queen, are fairest of all." But when Snow White reaches the age of seven, she becomes as beautiful as the day, and when the queen asks her mirror, it responds: "Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true, but Snow White is fairer than you."
The queen becomes jealous, and orders a huntsman to take Snow White into the woods to be killed. She demands that the huntsman return with Snow White's heart as proof of her killing. The huntsman takes Snow White into the forest, but he unable to kill her. Instead, brings the queen the heart of a young boar, which is then prepared by the cook and eaten by the queen.
In the forest, Snow White discovers a tiny cottage belonging to seven dwarfs, where she rests. There, the dwarfs take pity on her, saying "If you will keep house for us, and cook, make beds, wash, sew, and knit, and keep everything clean and orderly, then you can stay with us, and you shall have everything that you want." They warn her to take care and let no one in when they are away delving in the mountains. Meanwhile, the Queen asks her mirror once again "Who's the fairest of them all?", and is horrified to learn that Snow White is not only alive and well and living with the dwarfs, but is still the fairest of them all.
Finally, the Queen disguise herself as an old woman and makes a poisoned apple to Snow White. After she eats the apple ,she immediately falls into a deep stupor. When the dwarfs find her, they cannot revive her, and they place her in a glass coffin, assuming that she is dead.
Time passes, and a prince traveling through the land sees Snow White in her coffin. The prince is enchanted by her beauty and instantly falls in love with her. He begs the dwarfs to let him have the coffin. The prince's servants carry the coffin away. While doing so, they stumble on some bushes and the movement caused the piece of poisoned apple to dislodge from Snow White's throat, awakening her. The prince then declares his love for her and soon a wedding was planned.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Who Am I?
by: Gerard O'Donovan
(The question that is the gateway to spiritual enlightenment)
Having been a coach for many years, in addition to having been involved in the training of at least 1400 coaches worldwide, I have come to the conclusion that one of the greatest skills that we, as coaches, possess and need to perfect is the ‘art of the question’. In fact, one could say that another definition of a coach is Master Questioner.
It is important to remember that the quality of our life is determined by the quality of questions we ask ourselves. Some people ask themselves very mediocre questions indeed. For example, “What time shall we go to down the pub?” Others look at someone who has achieved great things and ask themselves “Why not me?”. It is similar to the difference between “I can’t afford it” and “How can I afford it?”
As coaches we have two responsibilities towards our client. The first is to provide them with a first-class coaching experience through the effective use of questioning skills. The second is to educate them in the techniques and benefits of self-questioning, helping them to realise the importance of regularly asking key questions.
Of course when it comes to asking questions we can get very sophisticated and clever indeed. We can use questions with suppositions and presuppositions. We can use open and closed questions, we can get involved in nested loops, we can use hidden questions and open questions and in fact we can make ourselves feel and look very clever indeed.
However I learned a long time ago the importance of simplicity and it is my opinion that the greatest coaching question of all is “Who am I?”
This question is very often ignored. Why? Because it is easy to ignore; it can take us on an uncomfortable journey and one we might prefer to avoid. And yet it is essential if we wish to understand our core, the real person, the immutable, incorruptible and authentic ‘me’. The “me” we are really meant to be.
This question is the one that helps people come to a deep and satisfying realization of who they really are. So this is one of the key questions that we must teach our clients to ask of themselves on a regular basis. ‘Who am I?’ Again and again.
True happiness and fulfilment in life is only achieved when our actions and goals are congruent with our core values. Yet the sad truth is most of us do not really know what our core values are. Unfortunately we take on board the values of others, the values that are impressed upon us by the media that constantly bombards us, and the values of the people we work with and the companies we work for. It is rare that the values that we attach to ourselves are our true values. The inner conflict that this creates is one of the underlying causes for the level of unhappiness and depression in today’s society.
You see our values are in fact the mirror of who we really are yet few of us look deep enough into the mirror to see the truth. Many thousand years ago there was a word written above a doorway in ancient Greece. The word was “ Knosti” and it was written above the doorway of the Delphic oracle. It is as true today as it ever was those thousands of years ago. It simply means “ know thyself”
There is an old adage that says that if you don't know where you're coming from then you don't know where you're going. The same is true here, if you don't know who you really are how can you possibly know what you really want out of life, what is truly important and how do you know where you are headed. I learned a long time ago that most people don't really know what they want in life, but are prepared to go through hell to get it !!!
Being able to answer the question “Who am I?” with clarity and honesty will start the process that will make a profound change in the direction your life takes. This in turn will affect those close to you; your family, your friends, and your work. The way to make a real change in the world today is simply to do it one person, one mind at a time. Start with the person who is closest to you - yourself of course!
HOW DO I ASK THE QUESTION?
It is important that when we ask ourselves the question “Who am I?” we allow time for the answers to come. The truth may have to percolate up through a number of layers, and this takes time. You may have to ask yourself this question a number of times. For example, you may ask “Who am I?” and the answer may come back ‘I am a teacher’, ‘I am an electrician’, ‘I am a solicitor’ etc. The truth is you are none of these things. You see you are not what you do! You are far more than that.
So when you ask yourself the question “Who am I?” and you get an answer, you may then need to ask again “and who else am I?” And again “Who else am I?”.
It is morally essential that we eventually find out who we are. So many of us wander through life in a kind of emotional and spiritual amnesia, deadening our response to life by producing images of ourselves that are far from the truth.
I recommend that when we engage in this important process that we do it in a place of solitude and stillness in order that we can be truly present for the answer. We cannot really experience anything without being present with it. True presence requires that we be attentive to what is happening in the here and now. It is our responsibility to be aware.
EXERCISES
EXERCISE ONE – Six months to live
Imagine that you have just come back from a visit to your doctor where you have been informed that you have an incurable disease and only six months to live. However, during these 6 months you will be perfectly healthy, fit and active. Now write down what you would do, who you would see, where you would go and, very important, who you would spend your time with - and why. Would you change any aspect of your life right now? Would you continue to work in your job/career? If not, why not?
Explanation: This should very clearly point you in the direction of what is important or even essential in your life. It is so easy to procrastinate but you need to attend to these things right now. It is obvious that these things are extremely important to you, so you should endeavour to achieve them as soon as possible – as a matter of urgency.
EXERCISE TWO - Direction
This exercise will provide you with excellent pointers towards the direction in life in which you should be heading. It is important that you sit quietly with pen and paper, and write clear, specific answers to the following questions. Do not be influenced by others, or let negative thoughts distort your answers. Please give due time and consideration to this exercise; it is not uncommon for its completion to take several hours.
1. Imagine that there are no barriers whatsoever to you achieving anything you want in life, what and where would you most want to be? Would you be President? An opera singer? Perhaps a great athlete, or successful businessperson?
2. What in the past has given you the most satisfaction and pleasure?
3. The following list of words generally encompasses what we desire in our life. Write clearly your own definition of what each word means to YOU.
Wealth
Happiness
Health
Success
Explanation: If you do not really know what it is you want in life, then how can you possibly achieve it? The answers you provide in this exercise will lie at the very heart of your final goal list. They will guide you towards what makes you happy and has true value in your life.
WHO AM I AT WORK?
It amazes me when I see the leaders of major companies like BAT (British American Tobacco) being hailed by the business community worldwide as paragons, and real exemplars of how business should be run. Yet, there are tens of thousands of people dying every month around the world because of their product. Society is putting on pedestals men and women who create products that kill, purely for profit. I sometimes wonder if the inmates have taken over the asylum!
However, what price has been paid by these decision-making men and women?
Like so many others in similar scenarios being played out in corporations all around the world, these individuals are subjugating their own values for those of the company they work for. If only they would ask themselves “Who am I?” we might see a profound and radical change in the thinking of these leaders.
I have found that when I have worked with men and women in these positions and supported them in answering my question “Who are you?” I have enjoyed watching them travel slowly towards a true realisation of self. It is at this point that they have started to make a change, to really make a difference within their companies. Making and carrying out decisions that are based on power rather than force. Making a positive difference in the lives of the employees and thousands of customers of that corporation.
Much is said about corporate social responsibility; it is a phrase that is bandied about with gay abandon and in some cases a solomneous that belies the real truth, which is that most people follow and adopt the company culture, ethics, morals and values rather than expressing their own thoughts. This leads them to do things that are not congruent with their own core values.
Therefor there is a great need for all of us to get back in touch with our core values, because the truth is that in most of us these are highly commendable. It 's just a case of getting back there and re-remembering who we are.
DO I EVEN KNOW WHO I AM?
If we are not sure of who we are right now then how much more difficult it is to try and work out who we really want to be in the future. Especially as the media does such a fantastic job of indoctrinating us into believing what we really should be. From advertisements on television we know we should all be young, slim, good-looking, tanned, without spots or glasses. From numerous magazines we learn that by paying a lot more attention to ourselves and spending lots of our hard earned money (and in some cases, yet to be earned money) we can really make ourselves young, sexually desirable, good-looking, and successful.
The result of this is that we end up setting goals for ourselves that have actually been foisted on us. Not ones that are congruent with or even based on our own true core values.
IN CONCLUSION
For many years I believed one of the greatest coaching questions of all was “What do you want?”. This question can be asked in so many ways, you can come at it from so many angles and for several years I believed this was the question of questions.
However, long ago I realised that for some of the reasons stated above this is not the great question it ought to be because, as we have seen, we don't really know what we want at all.
I now know with a deep and profound sense of knowing, that there is a higher question, a more important question, a question that reaches deep down to the core. That question is “Who am I”??
You see coaching is about performing at your best through the individual and private assistance of someone who will challenge stimulate and guide you to keep growing.
Essentially it is about helping you to reach self actualisation - a point at which you not only truly know yourself but within this knowledge possess a feeling of comfort with and understanding of the person you discover.
Coaching (or if we don’t have a coach, self-coaching) is indispensable if we want to really reach our full potential, to be all that we can be, to truly reach a point of self transcendence.
Written by Gerard O'Donovan Founder of Noble Manhattan coaching Ltd
Free Coaching Reports at
http://www.coaching-reports.com
http://www.noble-manhattan.com
Europe's leading executive coach
http://www.gerardodonovan.com
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
How to Relieve Stress for Free
by: Greg Frost
When talking about stress, stress management experts will always emphasize that the focus should be on making stress work for you, rather than eliminating stress. Without a doubt, it is impossible to live a stress free life in our times, when the needs of money and material wants and needs drives us to study hard and work harder. It is also perhaps a little known fact that stress need not always be bad.
Stress refers to our reaction from the conflict between our external environment and us, leading to emotional and physical pressure. The key is in learning to distinguish when the levels of stress are too high, and how to take steps to reduce the level of stress so that it remains optimal for you. Here are 3 tips to help your relieve stress for free!
Tip #1: Always set Goals
At the start of each day, week or month, it is crucial that you set yourself goals. These goals should be SMART, meaning that they have to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound. Remember that your goals should always be realistic, and by pursuing the goals that you have set out you will be able to achieve more than you thought you were capable of in the time span you have set yourself. It is no point to set goals that are overly ambitious, as the end result may be undesirable, with you unable to meet your goals and hence feeling stressed out and experiencing a lower sense of self confidence.
Tip #2: Improve your Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence here is taken in the context of managing your emotions, especially in relation to stressful situations. This is usually measured by an indicator known as the Emotional Quotient, or EQ. Most often, your emotional reactions may be more extreme than called for, and this is due to your perception of threat to your emotional wellbeing. It is important that you do not adopt extremist views with regards to any situation, though it definitely does not mean that you should not have an opinion. Remember that there is no strict black or white, and that our opinions should always be flexible along the gradient of gray.
Tip #3: Time Management
With proper time management, you will find that 24 hours a day is more than sufficient for you to complete everything that you want or need to, including rest. Before you go to sleep each night, review what you have done for the day, and what you are planning to do the next day. Follow a set of priorities, or draw up a daily to do list, complete with a realistic amount of time allocated to each task. However, there is no need to be overly rigid to the timetable as certain tasks may require more time due to greater complexity than accounted for.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6353.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
What Causes Social Anxiety?
by: Gary M. Miller
Social Anxiety Disorder is a fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people. People who have social anxiety often fear that they are being watched, judged, and evaluated by other people. It is often mistaken for shyness or low self-esteem. There are many different causes of social anxiety, however, the cause of social anxiety in some people simply cannot be explained.
A common cause of social anxiety is a traumatic social experience. If a person is 'picked on' or made fun of during childhood, they are likely to develop social anxiety. Social Anxiety can even develop during adulthood, as a result of a traumatic social experience. Some researchers believe that adult onset social anxiety, due to a traumatic social experience, is the easiest social anxiety to treat, because the person simply needs to regain their self-confidence. This isn't necessarily so for everyone.
Another common cause of social anxiety is a learned response. If a child has parents who have social anxiety, there is a good chance that the child will learn to fear social situations as well. As children, we learn everything from the people who are around us the very most. Alternately, some people who have vivacious, outgoing parents develop social anxiety as a result. They have underlying fears that make them feel that they could never live up to the standard that their parents have set - so, instead of being outgoing, they withdraw, and develop social anxiety as a result.
Furthermore, social anxiety can develop due to misleading or inaccurate information. For instance, if a girl is a tomboy as a child, and she is often discouraged from playing sports and climbing trees - while being encouraged to play with dolls, she could develop social anxiety. She would succumb to social pressure from friends and family members to 'do what girls do, not what boys do.' This could become a big problem as she grows up. Dating could become a problem, because she will not feel that she is not feminine, or 'lady like' enough for any boy to be interested in her - she likes sports after all. The thought process is totally inaccurate, but it is what she learned as a child. She would be confronted with the issue over and over as time goes by, and eventually, she would develop social anxiety - never feeling like she fits in, and always feeling like she is being judged.
Researchers now also believe that social anxiety can be inherited genetically. Research has shown that identical twins, who share identical genes, experience similar social anxiety symptoms, while fraternal twins, who do not share identical genes, do not experience similar social anxiety symptoms. Research in this area is still ongoing.
The causes of social anxiety vary from person to person. Often, the cause can be found through therapy. Therapists agree that once the underlying cause of social anxiety is found, most people are able to begin dealing with their social anxiety in effective, successful ways.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6180.shtml
Natural Teeth Whitening
You’ll be surprised to know that you can whiten your teeth
naturally, without the use of artificial cleansers and
man-made chemicals.
In fact, in the Elizabethan era, about 400 years ago,
almost everyone took care of their teeth with natural
remedies.
Back then, they didn’t have access to tooth gels, tooth
pastes or dentists. Hence, each one was their own dentist
as they took good oral care through natural remedies.
If you were rich, then a mixture of honey, vinegar, and
wine was the ultimate tooth cleanser for you. Even now, you
can apply this regularly and see the difference for
yourself.
A few centuries ago, an old rag with salt and water was
also used to whiten teeth. You might be shocked to know
that in ancient times, human urine was used as a tooth
whitening product!
To avoid the need of whitening your teeth you can also take
preventive measures. It is seen that teeth become yellow
with age.
Your diet intake also plays a major role in determining
your teeth shades. Some of the things that you will want to
avoid include coffee, smoking, and tea.
Although you may not realize it, one of the worst things
for your teeth is chips and wafers. Sometimes yellowing of
your teeth may also be hereditary.
However, rinsing your mouth with a 75% lemon juice and 25%
salt solution is known to work wonders for teeth whitening.
Some of the best foods and drinks that will prevent
bacteria from forming include celery and straight cranberry
juice.
Believe it or not, dark chocolate also reduces the amount
of bacteria that can be found in one’s mouth. So next time
you see your teeth turning yellowish you need not shell out
those bucks for your teeth whitening appointment.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/chocolate/natural%20teeth%20whitening.txt
FA08014
Is Adoption Right For You?
How can you tell if adoption is right for you? This can be
one of the hardest questions to answer.
Adoption is one of the most difficult and life changing
events you will ever face. This child is going to be a part
of you for the rest of your life.
If you just feel like you need something to take care of,
consider a puppy. A child is a huge responsibility and you
will need to face all the good times and the bad times with
no regrets.
An obvious benefit of adoption is that not only do you gain
a new member of your family, you also give a family to a
child without one.
This is a great thing to do for another human being. People
choose to adopt for many reasons. Maybe the woman doesn’t
want to carry a baby for 9 months, maybe there is an
infertility issue or maybe you just want to reach out and
help make the world a little bit better. Only you know the
reason you want to adopt a child.
Before even considering adoption you need to look inside
yourself. Do you have the patience to handle a child?
Children are not easy to tolerate all the time. If you’ve
ever seen that parent in the store with the child running
around misbehaving, you have a tiny glimpse into
parenthood.
Children don’t always do what you want or grow up to be who
you want them to be. They will grow up to be themselves
instead.
Before adopting, make sure you have the parenting skills,
finances, and above all, the time and love to give the
child a wonderful environment where they can grow up and
thrive in.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/family/is%20adoption%20right%20for%20you.txt
FA08014
If you are determined to quit smoking, you have made an impressive start. However, if you have decided to quit on your own, you are doing even better. Sounds strange does it? You would be surprised at just how many people “decide” to quit smoking by being informed by their doctor, spouse, parent, sibling or friend that they will be quitting. In order to successfully quit smoking for good you need to decide for yourself to quit. If you have actually made this decision on your own, you are doing an amazing job. If you are letting someone push you into quitting you are just setting yourself up for headaches, hassles and complications that are easily avoided.
As a smoker, you have no doubt developed a pattern to your smoking. For example, if you are a typical one pack a day smoker one of your habits is to smoke a pack a day. You need to take small steps to break these habits. Perhaps you will find best luck in simply changing your habits slowly. For example, if you typically smoke a cigarette after each meal, you might find it helpful to brush your teeth. This can have the effect of providing a fresh mouth that you do not want to dirty with cigarette taste. You might find that after each meal you need to try chewing a piece of gum, sucking on hard candy or even attempting nicotine gum.
If there are any specific circumstances that always trigger a cigarette craving, you should work to avoid the situation. If it is something that you absolutely cannot avoid, such as dinner times, you need to create an alternative habit that you replace smoking with. For example, if you always smoke as soon as you get to your car after work, you might want to consider carpooling with someone who does not smoke, taking a different route home, stopping for groceries, jamming to some music or even taking a bus. Anything you can do to shake up your normal smoking routine is good.
There will of course be times that it is quite difficult to break the habits. If you find yourself in a position where you cannot avoid a typical smoking situation, you need to create a way to deal with it. Some people use nicotine gum whenever they are faced with a smoking situation. Others find that the stop smoking sticks are beneficial. These sticks can allow you to hold a pretend cigarette that just provides your hands with something to do. If you find these quite useful then you know that your problem is your hands are idle, finding something for your hands to do might help a lot.
Trying to quit is a very difficult process. Many people take weeks if not months to quit smoking completely. If you are struggling far too much with the idea of completely quitting at once you may find it is much better for your own situation to slowly cut back on your cigarette consumption. Regardless of the precise method that you choose, it can take a minimum of 2 weeks to start adapting new habits. This means that any new behavior you adopt in your quest to stop smoking must be repeated continuously for at least two weeks before you will start to see a real difference in your lifestyle. Giving yourself plenty of time to work on your new habits is essential and will set you on the road to success.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/music/Breaking-the-Habit-of-Smoking.txt
FA08014
The Most Common Food Allergies
* Milk *
Being allergic to cow’s milk isn’t the same as being
lactose intolerant.
* Eggs *
You can be allergic to either the whites of the yolk.
This type of food allergy is more prevalent in
children, but does affect some adults.
* Peanut *
Most people, adults and children with food allergies,
are allergic to peanuts too.
* Tree nut *
More children have nut allergies than adults. The
symptoms of nut and peanut allergies are the same, but
being allergic to one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re
allergic to the other.
* Seafood *
This is more common in, but not limited, to children.
The fish allergens can be passed through the air by
people eating or cooking fish near you.
* Shellfish *
Similar to seafood allergies. But having one doesn’t
mean being allergic to the other.
* Soy *
People allergic to soy need to be especially careful
when eating Asian foods or using Asian sauces.
* Wheat *
This is most commonly a food allergy, but can also be
a respiratory contact allergy.
In the United States these are referred to as “the big
eight”. Over 90% of U.S. food allergies consist of
these foods.
Allergens differ in other countries, but these 8 make
the top 10 in many places through out the world.
Food allergies may be based on contact. In East Asia
where rice makes up a large part of the diet, rice
allergies are more common, as are celery allergies in
Central Europe.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/allergies/the%20most%20common%20food%20allergies.txt
FA08014
Hai..did you know sea level has been rising! The sea level has been rising at an average rate of 1.7 mm/year with plus minus 0.5 mm/year over the past 100 years, which is larger than the rate of averaged over the last several thousand years. It depending which greenhouse gas increase scenario is used (high or low)projected sea level rise is projected to be anywhere from 0.18 to 0.59 meters for the highest greenhouse gas increase scenario.
However, this increase is due mainly to thermal expansion and contributions from melting glaciers, does not include any potential contribution from melting ice sheets in Greenland or Antartica. Larger increase cannot be excluded but our current understanding of ice sheet renders certainties too a large to be able to assess the likelihood of large scale melting of these ice sheet. That,s all from me thank you.
When Teeth Whitening Does Not Work
Did you know that in certain cases, teeth whitening is not
advisable and may not be hundred percent effective? For
example, for children below sixteen years bleaching is not
advisable since the pulp chamber or the nerve of the tooth
remains enlarged.
Teeth whitening below this age may cause irritation of the
pulp or could make it more sensitive. Similarly, pregnant
women as well as lactating mothers should also not undergo
this process.
Moreover, people having sensitive teeth and gum problems,
receding gums and problems or defects in restoration must
opt for their dentist’s advice before undergoing the
process.
Similarly, those having allergies to peroxide are also not
recommended to undergo the bleaching process.
Diseases in gums and teeth and decaying enamel are also not
suitable cases for teeth whitening. Any cavity in the tooth
may cause the bleaching solutions to seep into the existing
decay causing further irritation.
Again, people having exposed tooth roots are also
discouraged since these roots do not have enamel cover.
Teeth containing any kind of filling like crowns, veneer,
bonding and bridges can not be bleached. Doing so may
result in uneven whitening and it is advisable to complete
the whitening process two weeks before the fillings.
While the yellowish stains can be whitened easily, brown,
gray, bluish-gray and purple ones show less response to
teeth whitening.
Moreover the result may also vary from person to person.
Smokers must refrain from smoking during teeth whitening
the process to get the best results. The desired color
should be a shade whiter than the whites of an eye.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/allergies/when%20teeth%20whitening%20does%20not%20work.txt
FA08014
What Causes Headaches?
Your head hurts. Again. You rub your eyes, twist your neck around and listen to the cracking and snapping noises in your neck. Why do you have another headache?
Headaches can happen for many reasons. You may have eyestrain from spending too much time on your laptop, you could have an inflammation of your sinus cavities or it could be a life-threatening condition like a tumor, brain cancer, or encephalitis. You can also get a headache if you’re dehydrated or hungry.
More than likely it’s simply a tension headache.
Tension headaches are caused by tightening in the muscles in shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. I’ll bet you didn’t realize that you had muscles in your scalp, much less that they could contract. These are tension headaches. The contractions of these muscles are often due to stress, depression or anxiety. If you’re working too much, not getting enough rest, not eating properly or using alcohol or drugs you’re probably more prone to getting tension headaches. Migraines and cluster headaches appear to be related to swelling of blood vessels. The pain comes from the blood vessel walls, membrane coverings of the brain and the muscles in the scalp and neck. Your brain itself actually cannot feel pain. Inflammation of your sinuses is also a common cause of headaches.
In your quest to determine the cause of your headaches, it’s a good idea to keep a headache journal. Get a little notebook and write down every time every time you get a headache. What did you eat before it happened? What activities were you engaged in? Did your vision change? Did you become sensitive to light? You’ll be able to see patterns of what may bring on your pain, like stress, food triggers, medications, and menstrual cycles. Foods that have been found to trigger certain headaches are chocolate, cheese and MSG (monosodium glutamate). Your mileage may vary in what triggers your headaches.
Your tension headache can be caused by engaging in an activity that requires you to keep your head in the same position for an extended period of time—like using a computer or a microscope or any other repetitive action. It could also be caused by sleeping in an odd position, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth while asleep or sleeping in a cold room.
Once you know what causes your headaches, you’re more likely to be able to avoid them in the future.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/depression/What%20Causes%20Headaches.txt
FA08014
Fishing Tips and Techniques
Fishing provides a great way to relax and observe nature. It can be a fun hobby that can continue throughout your lifetime. It is a sport that can be done alone or with others and can be done on many types of lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. To keep fishing enjoyable try these easy tips.
* Learn about the type of fish you want to catch. You will do much better at catching them if you pay attention to their feeding preferences as well as where they are most likely to be.
* Use the proper gear for the fish you want to catch. This gives you the best chance of catching fish. If you use the wrong sized hooks or rod and reel you will be disappointed in not getting any nibbles.
* Follow the lead of others. Take your cue from more experienced anglers. When in doubt, ask questions.
* Use maps or a depth finder to see the depth of the water and to locate areas where fish are most likely to be.
* Fish at the time of day that your particular fish like to eat. Many fish prefer to feed in the early morning or just before dark and may not come out of hiding during other times.
* When fish aren't biting try using live bait. Most fish can't resist a properly positioned fresh meal for the taking. Placement is everything so be sure to think about where your fish are hiding out.
* Use weed less lures in weedy areas and near trees. They will help keep you from getting stuck and losing lures or baits.
* Practice safety around water. Always wear a life jacket when you are in a boat. Keep little ones away from the water's edge.
* Keep several types and colors of lures and jigs in your tackle box. When fishing is slow you can try using other styles to see if your luck improves.
* Take care when casting. Look behind you and make sure you have plenty of room. Many fishermen get hooked each year. Usually the hooks are superficial and are easily removed. However, if there is a deep hook don't try to remove it yourself. Make a visit to the local emergency room to ensure that the hook is properly removed without pain or further injury.
* Sunfish or pan fish are often easy to catch from shore. They are great for beginners and children because they build confidence. Kids will easily get bored if there is no action and to them catching a few tiny sun fish is more exciting than waiting for the big fish that never comes.
* Fishing can be more enjoyable with someone else. Find a friend to take along.
* If a full day of fishing seems too long try fishing in local areas that you can get to easily. Fish for an hour or two at a time.
* When renting a fishing boat be sure you know how to use it. Watch the weather and head back in when threatening weather may be approaching.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/fishing/Fishing_Tips_and_Techniques.txt
FA08014
How The Sea Affects Our Lives
The sea can affect our lives in many ways. We eat food from the sea, we like to relax by the shore, we take pleasure in swimming and boating on the sea, and we take pleasure in the beauty of the sea. The sea is home to its own ecosystem that is both rich and diverse. The sea also produces storms and sets the climate for the whole planet.
The seas are critical to life on the planet. The seas offer a vast array of life forms that scientists are still learning about. The seas have existed longer than human life and there is much to learn from them. They affect everyone on the planet, even someone who doesn't live near the oceans.
The seas are part of the delicate ecosystem on the planet. This ecosystem supports ocean life - plant, animal and mineral. The ocean beds are made from deposits over the years and the shells of sea life settle on the floor. Years of water and waves grind the shells into sand that forms beaches along the water's edge. The food chain starts with tiny microscopic plankton and goes all the way to the largest whales and sharks that inhabit the seas.
A healthy ocean is essential to a healthy planet environment. The seas are at the heart of the hydrological cycle, which is nature's own water pump. Water evaporates from the oceans and part of that falls as precipitation over land. This replenishes the surface and ground waters and eventually completes the cycle by returning to the ocean. This delicate system provides water that everyone uses to drink and bathe.
The sea also drives the earth's climate. It stores huge amounts of solar energy in the process. The sea absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The ocean's currents transfer large amounts of water and nutrients from place to place. These currents help to maintain the earth's rivers. The storms are fueled by the oceans and help to provide a source of water to many. Precipitation in the form of snow falls in the mountains. In springtime much of the snow melts and makes its way to the streams and rivers keeping them healthy. The rivers eventually flow back to the sea.
The oceans also provide a living to sustain millions of people that fish from it for a living. Many millions of people live in towns on the ocean. Many using fishing as a source of income and to provide food for people. Other seaside towns have built a large tourist economy because of the sea. Millions of people rely on this tourist population to live.
Seafood is popular around the world. Fish of many types is an important source of vitamins and nutrients. Seafood is flown to locations that are not near the sea to provide fresh seafood to even those who are not living near the oceans. The sea provides a large amount of food to people around the world and is healthy.
http://www.interestingarticlesite.com/articles/beauty/How_Sea_Affects_Lives.txt
FA08014
Hello..did you know how does a roller coaster work? What you may realize as you are cruising down the track at 100 kilometers hour is that the roller coaster has no engine!!The car is pulled to the top of the first hill at the beginning of the ride, but after that the coaster must complete the ride on its own. You are not being propelled around the track by a motor or pulled by a hitch.
The conversation of potential energy to kinetic energy is drives the roller coaster, and all of the kinetic energy you need for the ride is present once the coaster descends the first hill. Once you are underway, different types of wheels help keep the ride smooth. Running wheels guide the coaster on the track. The friction wheels control lateral motion means the movement to either side of track. A final set wheel keeps the coaster on the track even it is inverted. Compressed air brakes stop the car as the ride ends.that's all from me. Thank you.
hazami@akademisains,gov.my
FA08024
Hai there..i want share with you about one of the Seven Ancient Wonders that is The Tower of Babel. The story of the tower of Babel found in the Bible. Is there evidence that such a tower really existed? In the fertile Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is now modern Iraq, is a mound, or tell, of broken mud-brick buildings and debris. This is all that remains of the ancient famed city of Babylon.
Babylon was one of a number of cities built by a succession of peoples that lived on the plain starting around 5,500 years ago. There developed a tradition in each city of building a temple in the shape of a stepped pyramid. These temples, or ziggurates, most likely honored a particular god. The people of Mesopotamia believed in many gods and often a city might have several ziggurates. Over time Babylon became the most influential city on the plain and its ziggurat, honoring the god Marduk, was built, destroyed and rebuilt until it was the tallest tower.
The tower, referred to by the Babylonians as Etemenanki, was only one of the marvels of the city. Down the street was the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nebuchadnezzar also had two impressive palaces inside the city. The final beginning of the end of the tower of Babel probably began around 478 BC. The tower was neglected and crumbled . Because of the use of mud-baked bricks, ziggurats needed constant maintenance. Often they had elaborate internal drainage systems to channel rain water away so that the bricks would not be eroded. If the pipes on a ziggurat were not cleaned regularly and allowed to jam the tower would slowly crumble. Ziggurats were also highly susceptible to earthquake damage. Their height amplified the effect of quake forces while the rigid, unreinforced-brick construction did not allow the structures to flex with the shaking.
Although the Tower of Babel now gone, a few lessor ziggurats still exist. The largest surviving, (although damaged) temple is now found in western Iran, in what was once the ancient land of Elam. Though the tower has been gone for many years, its biblical story has continued to inspire artists. It was a favorite subject during the 14th century when several well-known paintings were done. As archaeological and historical research has shown most were not truly representative of the actual building..that's all.thank you.
http://www.unmuseum.org/babel.htm
FA08024
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
The Real Secret of Getting What You Want In Life
by: Tony Hall
Have you ever heard the old saying, "If you don't ask, you don't get!"?
It's well worth taking heed of because far too many of us are afraid to ask for the things we need in order to succeed in life. Asking questions can open doors and bring to us the opportunities that without doubt are already out there. So why do we find it so hard?
The chances are that if you went to a good school you were always encouraged to ask questions. If you didn't quite understand what the teacher was telling you the only way to get it was to ask the meaning. As a Dad I certainly urge my sons to ask questions, it's the only way to learn.
But maybe as a child it's easy to say you don't understand and accept that you don't know something. Then it's easy to do something about it, ask for help and find the solution.
But sadly as we get older we stop asking! Maybe it's because we feel that as adults we should know what things mean and how to do them and so we don't want to appear foolish, particularly in front of our friends, family or work colleagues.
Or perhaps we have just stopped caring enough to want to learn new things and gain new experiences. It's sad, because when you do start to ask you usually start to get!
Sure, we all ask for things every day. We have to when we go shopping, go to the cinema, or go to a restaurant. But we only ask for the simple things!
Take that last example. When you go to a restaurant and see something on the menu that is unfamiliar do you ask the waiter what it is? Congratulations if you do, but most people will simply pass it over and stick with what they know. That's an opportunity lost!
And how many times, when in conversation with a group of people has something been mentioned that you don't understand? Instead of saying so and asking for an explanation it's so easy to just stay quiet and stay ignorant. Another chance wasted!
It's true isn't it? You just don't want to appear foolish.
Well it's time to change!
If you really want to move forward then you need to learn new things every day. You need to broaden your horizons, take on new experiences and discover all you need to get where you want to be.
So start asking. Ask what things mean, how to do them, and above all ask for the things you want in life.
The fact is that one of the keys to good conversation is asking questions. People won't think you're dumb or get annoyed. Instead they'll warm to you and you'll soon find that you are gaining all sorts of benefits. So don't be afraid to raise questions. Ask especially about the topics that you need to find out about to help you to achieve your goals.
Ask why, ask who, ask what. All those questions will get people talking and you'll soon to start to learn lots of new facts and information. You'll gain new knowledge and you'll discover new opportunities that will bring success to your life. And don't ever be afraid to ask for help.
So why not start right now by asking yourself some searching questions. Ask what it is you really want in life and what you need to do to get it. Search inside to find what will really bring you the happiness and fulfillment you desire. Because if you don't know what motivates you then you won't get to where you want to be.
So ask, and very soon you will begin to "get"!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6184.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Preparing for Success
by: Iain Legg
Many people dream about becoming successful, but few people think about preparing for success ahead of time. When you consider that “success” is really an inner process of growth and self-mastery, you realize that it’s not just about achieving a goal or becoming better at what you do.
Success actually changes who you are on a core level – which will inevitably create changes in all aspects of your life. If you’re not ready for it, upheaval and turmoil can follow.
Make the transition smoother with a little foresight and planning in these three key areas:
1) Mind
Some of the biggest changes you experience from success are mental. That much is obvious, because the differences in mental states between an unsuccessful person and a successful person are like day and night!
To prepare your mind for success, you may want to devote some time to encouraging yourself with positive self-talk, boosting your confidence and self-worth, and affirming your capabilities as often as you can.
Neglecting this mental conditioning could result in feelings of overwhelm and anxiety when you’re not prepared to handle the increased responsibility and pressure that can come along with greater success.
2) Body
With greater success often come a more purposeful stride, straighter spine, and perhaps a chin held a fraction of an inch higher than it used to be. If you catch yourself slouching, avoiding eye contact or scurrying when you walk, it might be an indication that you’re not confident enough to handle the success you desire. Body language reveals a lot!
Begin carrying and conducting yourself like a person who is proud of their accomplishments and confident that they can achieve still greater things. Your body will convey the message both to other people, and your own psyche.
Also related to the body is your wardrobe. Are you dressing for success? Or do you dress like a person who aims to blend into the crowd and avoid attention? Take pride in your appearance and you’ll feel more inclined to take pride in the rest of your “self” too.
3) Spirit
Great success without spiritual fortitude can often breed arrogance. Developing your spiritual self while on the journey to success can encourage humility and compassion, build your character and strengthen your integrity. Always remember where you came from, and never take for granted the spiritual gifts that bloom from your journey to success.
As you focus on these three aspects of self-development, you’ll not only make it easier to handle your success when it arrives, you’ll probably grow more quickly into the successful person you want to become – even before you’ve accomplished your goals!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6299.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
One Sure Path to Success
by: Iain Legg
Have you often wondered if you’re missing the obvious when it comes to being successful? If you’re still trying to achieve the level of success you desire (and most people are), ask yourself if you have been leaving out one vital ingredient: doing something you truly love.
Success can come from nearly anything you do, of course. If you have a solid plan and work consistently to see it through, you’re bound to enjoy some lucrative results. However, the likelihood of sticking to your plans increases by a lot if you’re actually enjoying the journey.
There are many benefits to doing something you love versus something that doesn’t inspire you, but here are a few big ones:
1) First, you’ll automatically give it a stronger level of effort and focus than you would with something that’s unpleasant or tiresome. You’ll avoid the temptation to procrastinate because you’ll actually look forward to working on it. In fact, you’ll be having so much fun with it that it won’t feel like “work” at all!
2) Rather than expecting to see big results from your efforts right away, you’ll see the value in letting the process unfold in its own time. With most goals, you’re focused only on getting it done, reaching the finish line before you experience a sense of satisfaction. When you’re doing something you love, the payoff at the end is just a nice bonus – the true reward comes from each moment you spend working on your labor of love!
3) You’ll have more fun in the process. Have you ever achieved something that was extremely difficult and strenuous? By the time you reached the finish line you were probably too tired and relieved that it was over to fully enjoy the sense of accomplishment you would have felt otherwise. With something you truly love, you’ll have fun the whole way through, and get a much bigger “high” when you finally do achieve it.
Not everyone believes this is so important. History is filled with people who saw an opportunity to be successful at a specific venture, and they put their best effort into it and succeeded – even if they didn’t really “love” what they were doing.
However, those people had something else that’s necessary: commitment and determination to see it through. If you’re disciplined and have strong willpower, you can make anything happen, whether you love it or not. But most people will need a little something extra to keep them motivated and determined, and doing something you love just might be enough to provide the fuel you need. Follow your heart and it will lead you to your greatest success ever!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6302.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Discover the Passion Within You
by: Richard Blackstone
The benefit of continued focus on spirituality information is that you are eventually led to the individual passion that lies within you. Part of the process of your spiritual growth is to discover this passion and then bring it forth and live your passion.
Some people are guided to discover their passion early in the human life process. We have all heard of child prodigies who have developed musical skills at a very early age and, along with those skills, they have a deep burning desire to develop and demonstrate those skills. That is passion demonstrated.
Well, we all have something like that within us. We all have our own song within us that yearns to be heard and demonstrated. We all have a particular aspect of love that we have chosen before birth that we are being guided by throughout our lives.
What is your passion? There are as many ways to demonstrate love as there are people on the planet. We are like snowflakes. From afar we all look just like snow but the closer we examine the snow the more we come to understand that every snowflake has its own unique signature. We all have our particular way to demonstrate that unique aspect of our beingness that can only be manifested in our own unprecedented manner. No two snowflakes are alike. No two passions are exactly the same. There is room in this world for all the snowflakes and there is room in this world for all the passions.
We have our overall purpose in life and we also have a more specific purpose in life. Our overall purpose in life is to just experience the life process, in the physical relative world, in order for God to know, through our experiences, all that she knows of as concepts. That is our mission. That is our way to occupy the space and develop the skills and the capacity to fulfill our larger purpose. This overall purpose is the backdrop on our stage of life upon which we are to develop, nurture and refine our more specific purpose.
We chose our specific purpose before birth. It is in this inborn privatized mission that we are continually being guided by the omnipresent organizing force that brings to us those people, places and information that we need to develop the specific purpose that we chose before birth.
Let's take a look at the big picture again. One of the huge dichotomies that is part of this eternal life process is this simple, yet incredibly complex, concept that we voluntarily forget that we are a spirit child of God before we re-enter the physical universe. When you look at this concept from the bigger picture of life, you can understand how this would be a necessary element to make the whole process work.
If God's purpose were to experience all the different aspects and perspectives of herself that she only knows of conceptually, then she would have to have the true freedom to do that.
Let's look at the alternative to this voluntary amnesia. If we, as spirit children of God, just entered this physical plane via our human birth and were raised and nurtured as pure Gods and Goddesses, knowing from the very outset of our cognitive stage of life that we are a spirit child of God, then that is all we would know.
If we already knew, in our consciousness, all there is to know then what is left to experience? We would always make the most correct choices because we would always know the natural consequences of not doing so. We wouldn't be able to choose to be who we are because we would already be who we really are, spirit children of God.
So here's the dichotomy. Even though we would be limitless beings, who know that they are spirit children of God with all of the same powers and abilities and knowledge of God, that very knowingness would actually limit us in our stated purpose of experiencing in the physical plane all that God knows as concepts in the absolute plane.
We wouldn't choose to have the craziness and dramas that develop and define ourselves. We wouldn't chose sickness or death and we therefore would not have those experiences. You see, you can't appreciate the concept of good health without experiencing the concept of poor health.
It is this relationship world of polar opposites that allows us to experience life in all of its different perspectives, from one extreme to the other. If you know all there is to know, including the natural consequences of your actions, then even with free will you wouldn't chose those experiences that would be harmful or not beneficial to your overall good.
That is the beauty of this voluntary amnesia that we agree to when we choose to re-enter the physical relative universe. You still have free will, but now you are totally at choice as to what you choose to experience. Each choice you make still brings you the natural consequence of that choice, whether it is what we term bad or good.
Now it is entirely up to you to determine which natural consequences serve you and which do not serve you. It is your choice. It has always been your choice.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6307.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
New Year’s Resolutions Anyone? 7 Steps to Make Them Happen
by: Sue Brenner, PCC, PMP
There's still time to get your resolutions rolling... The first of the year gave you a blank piece of paper on which to write the next year of your life. New Year’s resolutions anyone?
The holidays may have widened your hips or piled on the credit card debt. That's why people say things like, "This year I'm definitely going to get back into my skinny jeans." Or, "I’m going to get rid of my debt and start saving once and for all." These declarations may give you an initial boost of inspiration, but most of them will soon disappear. In fact, studies show that most people's New Year’s resolutions have dropped away by February.
So what can you do to beat the odds? How can you really make your New Year’s resolutions happen? These 7 steps work to accomplish a resolution or any goal. Apply them this year, starting today, and make your resolutions come true!
1. Ask yourself: "What do I want to accomplish this year?"
As you look toward the year in front of you, what do you really want to accomplish? If you actually made your New Year’s resolutions happen, what would you gain? Look to key areas of your life for inspiration—career, family, health/fitness, money or romantic relationships. As I stated in the How to Set Goals That Stick Special Report, "Imagine that you’ve already completed the coming year with satisfaction and ease. What are you most proud of? What thrilled you the most?" (http://www.ignitepress.com) From there, come up with ideas for your yearly goals.
If you’re drawing a blank, think about what you dislike in your life. On the career front, do your work hours stretch into the evening? Do you want to stop missing out on family dinners and outings? From a health/fitness point of view, are you tired of feeling low energy every day? Are the daily trips to the office vending machine taking their toll? Frustration and dissatisfaction can be great motivators for change.
By viewing what you want to move toward, or sorting through what you want to move away from, come up with several possible goals. Then narrow down your list and pick one to three final goals. Make them important. If you could only achieve three things this year, what would they be?
2. Ask why?
Why did you pick these goals? What's behind them? Connect to what's really driving you. As I said in my Special Report, "Set meaningful goals, not just any old goals." What goals would be meaningful to you this year? Be as specific as possible.
For example, if you want to save money, go beyond saying, "I want to save money because it would be great to have some extra cash." Wanting more money for the sole sake of having more money isn’t meaningful enough to keep most people going. Connect to something deeper. What's behind your desire for more money? Here’s one possibility: "I've always wanted to own a home. It’s time to take action toward that dream. I'm tired of renting and I want to lay down roots for my family. I also want to move to a nicer area that is safe and close to good schools for my children. I will use the money I save this year toward a down payment. I can definitely cut back on spending to buy a house!" When you clarify the "why" behind what you want you’ll feel much more driven and connected to your goal.
If you have no idea why you want something, dig deeper. Ask, "Why is this important to me? What would I get out of that? What would my family/friends/coworkers get out of that?" You can also ask another person or coach for insight. If you keep coming up with nothing, maybe you need to reconsider whether you want that particular goal at all. Create a goal that has some passion behind it. Give yourself reasons to strive toward your aspirations.
3. Follow the "do what by when" formula.
Most New Year’s resolutions fail because they remain vague or wishful. Goals such as "I want to lose weight" aren’t tangible and will be difficult to make happen. If weight loss is a goal of yours (and you already know why you want to weigh less), make it specific. For example, "I want to lose 20 pounds by May 30, 2008." Using the "do what by when" formula clarifies exactly what you intend to do (lose 20 pounds) by a specific month, day and year (May 30, 2008). Then you can measure your success every time you jump on the scale.
Speaking of measuring, make sure you can count, measure or touch your progress. The above weight goal, for example, can be measured in pounds—20 to be exact. How will you know when you've met your goal? Define it in a measurable way. Do you want a promotion of 10% or 20% this year? Do you want to save $1,000 or $10,000? How much money do you need to earn each month to pay your bills? Without ways to measure your goals, they remain wishes.
Financial advisor and founder of Insideout Investing, Anna Choi, says, "You can manifest your goals better when they are specific, measurable, time-bound and achievable." To do that, apply the "do what by when" formula to quantify your goals. Then, to make those goals achievable, do the "rubber band" test.
4. Do the "rubber band" test.
The trick is to set ambitious goals that will stretch you without making you “snap.” In the November 2007 article, ''Top 3 Must-Do’s Before the New Year," I said, "Like a rubber band stretched between two fingers, the goal should have the right mix of tension and flexibility. Put enough stretch in your goal to make it enticing yet with a touch of slack to make it doable." Setting a challenging goal will encourage you to try harder and to go for it.
Anna Choi agrees, "It's important to set a goal you believe can happen. But it also has to be a stretch goal, versus a goal so ridiculously huge you feel deflated even looking at it." Peak performance comes from doing something tough but possible given your time frame.
A common New Year’s resolution is to learn a new language. But unless they are multi-lingual or languages come easily, most people won’t achieve this in a year. Try something more doable, such as “to attend Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 at the local community college by December 31, 2008.” You’ll still be working toward your long-term goal of being fluent by allowing yourself to get started. Overly lofty goals will have you giving up at the starting line. Ambitious goals will give you a challenge but allow you to get going right away.
5. Put your goals in writing.
Have you written down your goals for the New Year? If you haven’t, you're not alone. Research shows that in the U.S. less than 1% of people write down their goals. Why is this important? A noted 1953 study at Harvard University evaluated how many graduates had clear, specific goals in writing and supported with an action plan. Although the classmates being assessed were obviously bright, very few of them set goals. In fact, only 3% of graduates put their goals in writing.
What happened to this 3%? When questioned 20 years later, it turned out that this small group had had greater success than the rest. Those 3% of graduates who had put their goals in writing had built greater fortunes than the entire remaining 97% of alumni.
Taking a moment to put your goals in writing is worth it. Try it yourself. Put pen to paper (or fingers to key pad). The act of writing will cement your goals in your mind. It can also help you clarify your goals, think about them in a new light and direct your energy toward ways to make them happen. Display your written goals somewhere visible and review them daily. Post them on the corner of your computer desktop and put them on your refrigerator. Keep them alive and create a plan around each one.
6. Create a plan.
You know what your goals are. They’re clearly written with deadlines. Now go beyond wishes and hope to put meat on each of your goals with a solid plan. Your plan answers the question: "How will I make this happen?" For example, if your goal is to save $10,000 by October 31, 2008, set a plan for saving $1,000 per month. What systems will you put in place to achieve this? Will you have the money automatically deducted from your paycheck and deposited into your retirement account? Will you cut back on buying clothing or eating out to reserve cash for savings?
Create milestones for each month. What’s the main thing you want to accomplish toward your goal in January? in February? in March? Then break each month down further. Underneath those milestones define specific actions needed to achieve them. Map out exact steps that are time-bound within the month. Put them in your schedule.
Celebrate small achievements along the way. If you've saved $2,000 by February (and have never saved money before), bravo! Take time to toast your progress. Let yourself know that you’re on track and let that progress motivate you to keep going. Getting even one dollar closer to your goal is better than adding one more dollar to your debt.
7. Take action… right away.
The most important thing is to begin. Never leave a planning or goal-setting session without taking at least one tangible action. Without action, your goals can’t take flight.
You’ve selected your top one to three goals for the year. You know why they are important in your heart of hearts. You've committed them to writing, and you have a plan. Way to go! Now keep going. Take that final step—action.
Start right away with at least one action you can take toward your goal today. Consider the goal "to lose 20 pounds by May 30, 2008." What small step can you take today toward that goal? For example, you schedule your first appointment with a trainer. Or you go to the gym for 30 minutes. Or you take a brisk 20-minute walk. Pick something so easy it would be almost impossible to fail. Stand up and take that single action.
Use your plan to plug action into your yearly, monthly, weekly and daily schedule. Look for consistent blocks of time when you can work toward your goal. It takes discipline. Life will get in the way. But staying the course will let you reap the rewards. Successful people know this. That’s why they make it a priority to focus and act on their goals regularly. You can do it too. When you arrive at your destination you’ll feel a great sense of satisfaction in your focused effort to make your goal happen.
The rest of the year is still before you. Use these 7 steps to make your New Year’s resolutions happen. Get focused and ready to go by picking your top one to three goals. Ask yourself why you picked these goals to tap into the strong desire behind them. Then define your goals further by plugging them into the "do what by when" formula. From there, write down your goals, support them with solid plans and remember to take action. Go forth and accomplish great things this year that contribute to your life and to those around you. Here's to your success! Make it a great year!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6337.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Achieve Your Goals By Expecting Miracles Instead Of Debacles
by: John Watson
How many times have you had a bad day when everything seemed to go wrong at the worst possible moment? You failed to achieve most of your goals and felt that the universe was against you.
Perhaps, the universe was to blame or perhaps you were to blame because you expected things to go wrong. We might be able to avoid such debacles by expecting miracles instead. In case anyone is wondering, one dictionary defines a 'debacle' as a 'total and often ludicrous failure.' 'Miracle' in this article simply means 'something wonderful'.
On Wednesday 23rd January 2008, my first goal of the day was to change the fluorescent tube light which is high on the ceiling over my desk. I expected the following might go wrong:
The small step ladder might break under my weight as I used it to climb on to my desk just as the attic ladder had collapsed under me a few months ago. I might even get my foot trapped within the ladder like a neighbour whose foot was nearly amputated by her own metal ladder. She retained her foot by holding it in place until help arrived but has had endless problems and pain for years as a result of this one unfortunate accident.
If the ladder did not collapse, I thought the desk might collapse if I had to put all my weight on it. My computer would then hit the floor with major damage and so would my monitor not to mention the phone and everything else on my desk. I would also hurtle to the floor breaking several bones and ending up in agony and even a state of paralysis for life!
Even if the desk did not collapse, I might not be able to fit the light tube into the holes at each end of the light fitting and, even if I did, the light might not work and/or the electric fitting might catch fire! The fitting had seemed to glow red as the previous light tube expired!
I am exaggerating but only a little and I would not have tried to change the light tube if I had really believed that everything would go wrong. However, I still believed a watered down version of Murphy's law that some things that could go wrong might go wrong at the worst possible moment and I nearly gave up on my goal before I even started. I could have used a lamp instead of changing the fluorescent light. In the event, everything went right although at times I struggled. The ladder and the desk held up under my full weight - over twenty stone - and the fluorescent light is now shining brightly above me. Goal achieved.
When I moved on to open my emails, in triumphant mood, I came across one from Christopher Westra which had a new law inside which I much prefer to Murphy's: "Everything that CAN go right WILL go right. Expect Miracles!"
He called it Bijan's law after it's author and added the following comment: "I came across this today and really liked it. I hope you liked it too. It's my philosophy, but I like the way Bijan phrases it."
I, also, prefer Bijan's law to Murphy's law. It can motivate you to get a move on with your goals. However, Murphy's law can still be a useful law in achieving your goals. It repays closer study
Murphy's law is a well known saying that broadly states that things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance. The law, thus, gives us fair warning not to leave things to chance. Instead we should prepare well and practice whatever we are planning to do especially if we are performing in public. We should avoid both hurry and worry.
The British stage magician Nevil Maskelyne discovered this for himself. He wrote in 1908: "It is an experience common to all men to find that, on any special occasion, such as the production of a magical effect for the first time in public, everything that can go wrong will go wrong. Whether we must attribute this to the malignity of matter or to the total depravity of inanimate things, whether the exciting cause is hurry, worry, or what not, the fact remains."
The law that produces this kind of experience has been around for a long time but after 1952, the name 'Murphy' was attached to it possibly when some measuring devices invented by Edward Murphy went wrong.
The perversity, or apparently deliberate tendency to mess things up, of the universe has long been commented on, and forerunners to the modern version of Murphy's law are not hard to find. For example, an Ohio newspaper printed this poem in 1841: "I never had a slice of bread, Particularly large and wide, That did not fall upon the floor, And always on the buttered side."
Designers of all kinds of products have long recognized the tendency of people as well as the universe to mess things up. Murphy's law has encouraged them to use defensive design i.e. to make things so simple and easy to use that even the greatest idiot can use them successfully.
For example, the 3.5-inch floppy disk once used in many computers will not easily fit into the drive unless it is put in the right way up. In contrast, the older 5.25-inch floppy disk could be inserted in a variety of ways that might damage the disk or drive.
The newer CD-ROM and DVD formats permit one incorrect orientation - the disc may be inserted upside-down, which is harmless to the disc. A defensive designer knows that if it is possible for the disc to be inserted the wrong way, someone will eventually try it.
An awareness of Murphy's law can then help all human beings especially the stupid ones to achieve their goals! I have, since my teenage years, classed myself amongst the technically stupid ones. I now realize that no one should think of themselves as stupid in connection with any skill or area of knowledge because if you consistently think of yourself as stupid you tend to become so and make only half-hearted efforts to improve.
Another example of defensive design can be seen in car design. Car designers have allowed for the tendency of some drivers to drive badly. They have created safety features like seat belts which will limit the damage caused by accidents.
So then, let's expect miracles by visualising the wonderful things that could happen rather than worrying about possible disasters that might well not happen. But let's also be aware of the problems that might bite us, if we do not take all necessary precautions.
Make sure that there are no shark fins around if you go for a swim in the sea and don't forget to check that the swimming pool is full of water before you dive into it. I have heard about at least one person who dived into an empty pool without checking simply because it had been full of water the day before! I am not sure if that story is true or not but would not be surprised if it was.
If you are doing business with somebody, make sure they are not a 'shark' who will just take your money. On the other hand, you need to trust and expect the best from some people or it will take a long time to achieve anything. If you love alcohol, avoid too much to drink or the world will literally become your playground as you fall and slip all over the place like a confused child. If you are a workaholic, get some rest or the same thing will happen!
Hopefully, your life will be full of goal achievement and miracles rather than debacles. Think daily of Bijan's law but, occasionally, remember Murphy's law and take steps to keep any debacles to a minimum.
Expect things to go right as you strive to achieve your goals and you are far more likely to achieve them. It is also worth remembering this great quote: "Life is not numbered by the amount of breaths we take but by the moments which take our breath away." Such moments constitute the miracles - the wonderful things, events, experiences and people - we should be expecting and appreciating every day of our lives.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6265.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Do Memory Games Work
by: Gregory Frost
There are many different kinds of memory games that are gaining popularity among people today, but do they really work? Research has shown that learning new things, doing puzzles and playing games helps the mind stay active and to help stimulate it. However, the most effective memory games allow you to improve your memory capacity and practice abstract thinking instead of just plaining help it stay active or to stimulate it only.
Just as we go to the gym and engage in exercise to increase our physical fitness, the brain has to be kept stretching to strengthen in throughout our life. Similarly, we all know that if a bodybuilder were to slacken off and stop training, his muscles will soon turn into fats and become flabby, which is a disaster for any bodybuilder. Our brain will turn "flabby" too if we stop using it. Early studies have shown that 20 minutes of exercise 3 times a week will help in stimulating the mind, strengthening attention spans and memory recall abilities. These exercises need not to be extremely intensive but actually, simple but interactive activities can help keep our mind active also.
Memory loss occurs as we age, and whilst there is little we can do to prevent it, we can definitely slow it down. Memory games are one form of doing so, as are regular physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle. However, to maximize the benefits of memory games, you should pair it with a change in your diet and light physical exercise. It is healthier to have a balance in everything rather than doing excessive change in a particular area of your life while leaving the others the same. Chess and other card games are useful only if balanced with good playing habits, as staying still for extended periods can cause abdominal obesity.
Playing these games with friends is also beneficial. There is much anecdotal evidence that such memory games are helpful, as playing these games and puzzles stimulates the mind and keeps it active. These games have also been shown to boost the dendrites in your brain that are responsible for processing information. Dr. Michael Valenzuela, a clinical neuroscience research fellow at the University of New South Wales’ School of Psychiatry, says games like wordplay are effective in preventing Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, games that require you to think or formulate words such as scrabble not only improves your memory, but can improve your language too and not to mention your ability to strategize.
Studies on adults who engage in memory exercises and games have shown a marked decrease in brain metabolism in the area of the brain directly linked to working memory and other cognitive functions, suggesting that they were using their brains more efficiently. Most people fail to realize that they are in control of their mind, even as they get older, and that the condition of their mind is solely dependent on them to look after. Simple lifestyle changes can go a long way towards improving your memory and brain, as well as your overall health.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6247.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Memory Techniques to Get Ahead in Life
by: Greg Frost
Memory techniques are very simple, and can be used to improve your mind and your life. Learn how to enhance your mind to impress your friends or your boss for that pay raise!
Imagine being able to remember your grocery list effortlessly, without rote memorization! The human mind is complex, and with understanding and some memory techniques you will find that knowledge is ingrained in your mind, and recalling it will be a breeze.
Connection Technique
The connection technique creates meaning or a link to an event or fact that you know, thus allowing you to recall it easily. An advantage of this memory technique is that it makes use of common information that you know and thus makes it unlikely for you to forget the information once the meaning has been attached. For example, it is easier to recall an address of 2612 Memory Walk, by linking it to Boxing Day, which falls on the 26th December.
Mind Mapping
An equally easy and potent technique for training your mind is through mind mapping, which is based on how we think and recall information. This memory technique uses your entire brain by linking ideas and processes. By forcing you to put down on paper your thoughts, it forces you to focus your full attention to the information. The usage of visuals through colours and pictures also reinforces memory.
Repetition
This is a simple technique often used to remember something by focusing your entire attention on it. The use of repetition entrenches the information in your long term memory. By doing so, you are able to avoid the common mistake many people make – forgetting things because they did not remember them in the first place.
Mnemonics
Mnemonics are a form of memory tool that trains your entire mind to store and retrieve information through the use of association. Language is an important aspect of recalling information, and mnemonics in the form of rhymes or familiar trigger words can serve as resources to your mind. You can link the main ideas or information that you need to remember in a story, or via the use of acronyms. An example would be Roy Of York Gave Birth in Vain, an acronym for the colours of the rainbow – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.
Simple day to day activities such as reading is also a great way to improve your memory by exercising your mind. By learning and using any of the techniques above, you will soon find yourself able to rely on your mind more than ever. The capacity of our memory is virtually unlimited, and by matching new information to things already in our memory, you will be able to train your mind into being a reliable store of data.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6273.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
How Do You Create You Own Luck? Five Practical Steps
by: Amany Mohamed
Some of us may think that there are lucky or successful people and other who are unlucky or losers, they think that if you were loser then you have no luck and if you were successful then of course you must have luck in all your life matter.
But, what do we mean by luck?
Luck is only the chances law which move through your control over the circumstances, events and people around you. You can move it up or down, increase or decrease the probabilities of reaching the desired results.
As during a certain period either month, year or years, you have made a group of small assignments ( which we will call inputs) these inputs led at the end of this period to certain results ( we will call it outputs).
So there is no lucky person; only someone who achieve many tasks and missions and control over many circumstances, events and people, doing so can raise the possibility of achieving the desired results which was set in the first place.
But, what some may call luck ( like winning a big prize, inherit a wealthy relatives or even winning a horse gamble) is not luck at all, it is only a coincident or chances were the achieved results is not under your control and you have no influence on it, because it is too risky and your chances to win it on the long run is merely zero, despite the fact that luck depends on your inputs and is under your control in every ways.
- Now you have to know how to make your own luck and how to control all the elements around you to raise the possibility of getting the results you want which some may call luck and I call consequences of your work.
- Also, you have to know how to make the possibilities law works for your benefit and not the opposite.
- Finally, you have to be free from randomly and uncertainty.
Here are five steps to do so:
1- You have to prepare a complete study to all the knowledge, skills and possibilities which you need to do a certain job ad apply this study by all means, therefore, you’ll raise the chances of your success in this job.
2- Be sure you can get whatever you want from life no matter how hard and difficult it is, just do everything possible to increase probabilities of getting it, no matter small what you do it may make a difference in future either by success or failure in getting what you want.
3- Organize your life, don’t live it hazard, put a plan for your life, a plan you will follow to raise probabilities of achieving your target. State your goals and how you will accomplish them, what is the events, things and people you will require to manage all parts of your life. Don’t leave anything to circumstances, use your full abilities and create your own life, as you are the one who make luck and you are the one who control it to your benefit or otherwise.
4- Follow the steps of successful people or what they call lucky people, do what they do to get the same results.
5- Work what you love and choose from jobs what suits your abilities, skills and your natural talents, and don’t do tasks beyond your abilities hoping for better results. Always make the right inputs to get the desired results or the right outputs. Everyday, increase what you can achieve in the job you wish to be successful at, to get final outputs as consequences to your work and not a matter of chance or luck.
And always REMEMBER that God never waste the reward of your hard work.
Who work will find and who seed will harvest.
God says in his holy Qur’an “And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint,- none but persons of the greatest good fortune” Fusalat. So there is a reason to be patient which is the great luck in the end ( meaning the great share of reward by God), and the relationship between cause and result is what make luck, as luck in the Arabic language means the destiny or results of work.
This is because God never create anything in life without a cause, as God says ’Allah created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned, and none of them be wronged” Al Gathya. Just by stated and calculated rules which luck has no role in it.
And not because we didn’t discover these rules it doesn’t exist, it exists despite our ignorance of it, and God may reveal it or not according to his will and for human benefits.
As God advise Mariam "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee" but if he wishes he could easily through the rips on her but everything must have a reason.
So your life is the results of your inputs in a certain period and your luck is your share from your work as God never be injustice to any of his worshipers and what people claim about luck is mere excuses to justify their failure in moving their life to the better.
I searched the internet and found a division for luck. According to them there is two kinds of luck- one is inner and the other is external - and I’ll explain it as I read, and at the end I’ll prove that there is no place for luck in life and that your life is the fruits of your hand.
First Kind: The Inner Luck
Is defined as the individual human gifts which came by inheritance like:
A- The physical beauty and harmony; which enable many people to reach their goals like sports men or beautiful ladies.
B- The intellectual superiority and intelligence.
C- Energetic power; which appear in fighting obstacles and patience, And This is what provide the person with determination and make him try harder every time he fail to accomplish a matter and thus prevent him from feeling failure and defeated.
D- The hunch, or the sixth sense; which qualify its owner to choose the right options in the mysteries situations and make him understand the events before it happened. Etc…..
Second kind: External luck
This is what stands outside the individual physical abilities like:
The environment :
We usually find that the high cultural atmosphere push its people to get more cultural and also the organized family grow in the children the of love being organized from childhood and vise versa, when we find a very poor cultured surroundings, this may be obstacle in the intellectual development of its individuals.
The materiality means:
The more it exists in a family or surroundings, the more these individuals have the chance to acquire more social, educational and cultural ranks.
Beside having the fund, owning a successful social relationship helps to acquire a high level.
Now, if we search through these kinds of luck we will find the following:
The physical beauty and harmony:
If you search through all the mankind history you will find many famous characters who didn’t have any beauty or harmony in their bodies on the contrary they may lack some of these qualities or they may represent the opposite of them, you will find them get advantage from being less beautiful than others or from having disharmony in their bodies and they became famous because of that like( Ismail Yassin the most famous comedian in the Egyptian cinema who make use of his features to present a wonderful comedy that still exists until now) can I ask you now if he was handsome?!
The intellectual superiority and intelligence:
The most intelligent people may not use their intelligent to achieve their aims and the less intelligent people may use this limited intelligent to be more successful in their life than the intelligent.
The environment and surroundings:
Didn’t you see before a poor person who succeed in his study and progress in his work?!
Didn’t you see before a rich person who is failure in his study and his work despite having every thing available for him?!
You must had seen this before, so I don’t have to say this again, just observe another time it is only working hard that raise the probabilities of reaching the desired targets.
Now you can measure that to all other kinds of luck and you will find yourself canceling every elements one by one. Just remember your luck is your share from your work and as much as you seed you will harvest, so seed flowers and roses to harvest the life beauty and happiness.
My advice to you to be more lucky than others, you must watch the followings:
- Trust in God: as everything happened or will happen to you in your life is for your good, either you know it or not.
- Knowledge: increase your cultural and educational knowledge as it gives you power in everything you want to achieve.
- Good relationship: the best and fastest way to acquire good relationship is the good manner.
- Be determined: as nothing stands against determination, it creates the influence upon reality.
- Imagine the results (pretend that you are the most lucky person): as prophet Mohammed PBUH says - that the learning is by learn, the tolerance is by being tolerant and that the patience is by being patient- so pretend that you are lucky and you will find all the doors open for you.
- Thank God for his blessings: God says ( if you thank I’ll increase the blessings) and who is more sincere than God?! So if you want to be lucky, thank God for your share in life.
And before I finish this article I want you to repeat these words every day:
-Now I’ll make my own share and luck in life.
-Now I’m controlling all details of my life.
-Now I’m moving every element to my benefit.
-Now I deserve all the success in my life and future.
-Now I’m capable of achieving whatever I want.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6319.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
How to Consciously Choose the Life of Your Dreams
by: Richard Blackstone
Everything in life is a choice and your spiritual growth depends entirely on the choices you make and the spirituality information that you immerse yourself in. The key to creating the life of your dreams is to begin the process of understanding how important it is to be conscious and aware of the choices you are making and whether those choices are serving you or not.
Relativity tells us that you can't know something as an experience until you first come to know its opposite. That is the purpose of the theory of relativity and all physical life.
That is why we have this other beautiful, magnificent and glorious ability in our lives called choice. We get to choose whatever it is that we desire. We can say “the devil made me do it” all we want, but the ultimate reality is that we make a choice about every decision we make in our lives.
Now comes the important question. Are you making your choices consciously or unconsciously? Really think about that one. Remember we are thinking up the life of your dreams here.
Are you thinking consciously or unconsciously? Think about that, consciously.
Right now you are reading this article. You are fully in the present moment. Your mind is engaged. Your brain is processing the data. You are in a conscious endeavor to improve your life. Right now you are thinking consciously, but what happens when you stop reading this article? Are you going to go over and turn on the idiot box and watch the next generation of a “reality show?” Are you going to mindlessly subject yourself to the commercials that tell you to go out and buy the next best version of the useless material possessions that already fill your cupboards and closets and your life?
Is that what you call conscious living? Does that serve you? I'm not making judgments here; I am just making observations. It is entirely your choice as to what you fill your days and nights with. I just want you think about what you are thinking about because that is the only way that you can begin to think consciously.
If we are saying that life is a process, and we are, then we want to be awake and aware of that process. You can only do that if you are conscious that life is a process and then consciously aware about how the process works.
That's why you are reading this article. To understand the true nature of how things work. This is a conscious endeavor, which takes some concerted effort, but the rewards and riches that await you are worth the undertaking.
We are not thinking about short-term gratification. We are going for the long haul, the big picture, the effortless life that awaits us when we wake up to this clarion call to consciously view life as a process.
Telling ourselves that “the devil made me do it” isn't going to cut it anymore. You can only use that excuse when you are living unconsciously. Remember we are changing the way we are thinking and thinking different thoughts. Thank you Albert Einstein for telling us that you can't change your current situation by thinking the same thoughts that got you there. You must change the way you are thinking and think different thoughts.
Start the process of consciously being aware of your current situation and the begin to consciously make choices that open up different avenues of thought that have the potential to create the life of your grandest dreams and aspirations.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6316.shtml
haii..did you know what is Tetraphobia? Tetraphobia is an aversion or fear of the number 4. It is a superstition most common in East Asian regions such as China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan .[1]
The Chinese word for four (四, pinyin: sì), sounds very similar to the word for death (死, pinyin: sǐ). Similarly, the Sino-Japanese and Sino-Korean words for four, shi (Japanese) and sa (Korean), sound identical to death in each language (see Korean numerals and Japanese numerals).
Special care may be taken to avoid occurrences or reminders of the number 4 during festive holidays, or when a family member is sick, especially in Chinese culture. Similarly, 14, 24, etc. are also to be avoided due to the presence of the digit 4 in these numbers. In these countries, these floor numbers are often skipped in buildings, ranging from hotels to offices to apartments, as well as hospitals. Table number 4, 14, 24, etc. are also often left out in wedding dinners or other social gatherings in these countries. In many residential complexes, building block 4, 14, 24 etc. are usually replaced with block 3A, 13A, 23A, etc. In Taiwan, tetraphobia is so common that there are no 4's or x4's for addresses, car number plates and almost everything numerically-related.
The Chinese also show this by having their designations for military aircraft start with the number 5, as in the fighter plane "Shenyang J-5". Similarly the Taiwanese and the South Korean navies do not use the number 4 when assigning Pennant numbers to their ships.
In cities where East Asian and Western cultures blend, such as in Hong Kong and Singapore, it is possible in some buildings that both 13 and 14 are skipped as floor numbers along with all the other 4's.
In Korea, tetraphobia is less extreme, but the floor number 4 is almost always skipped in hospitals and similar public buildings. In other buildings, the fourth floor is sometimes labeled "F" (Four) instead of "4" in elevators. Apartment numbers containing multiple occurrences of the number 4 (such as 404) are likely to be avoided to an extent that the value of the property is adversely affected.
OTher than that, Triskaidekaphobia is an irrational fear of the number 13, it is a superstition and related to a specific fear of Friday the 13th. To be more precise, this effect means that, whenever an individual performs an action expecting a reinforcement, and none seems forthcoming, it actually creates a sense of persistence within the individual. This strongly parallels superstitious behaviour in humans because the individual feels that, by continuing this action, reinforcement will happen, or that reinforcement has come at certain times in the past as a result of this action, although not all the time, but this may be one of those times. Thank you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraphobia
FA08024
hello...i had read the article "living green".this article tells about the environmental problems and the move to improve the environment.it shows how countries rate in air quality, water quality, energy efficiency, greenhouse gasses, environmental health, and overall rates.in the aspect of air quality, Malaysia range is 79 out of 141 countries; water quality our country range 47; energy efficiency 113; greenhouse gasses 110; enviromental health 40; and overall rating we get number 54. This article also stress about we should not stop thinking about tomorrow, save the forest and the trees,manage progress for the benefit of all, and turn things around while there's still time. Thank you.
source:readers digest november 2007
hai....
today i had read samething that we need to concern about,breath easy.do you know that in there are more than 80 million people in china will die in the next 25 years from respiratory diseases.if you get cough,bring up ph;egm,get breathless or wheeze you should better go to see the doctor because you may besuffering from the undiognosed respiratory diseases,one of the reason is smoking.tobacco smoke wil damages your lung through direct inhalation and direct exposure.howeever the article state more about the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD),it is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.this diseases causes lung tissue destruction that occur in emphysema cause body to lase its natural elasticity.stop the flow of oxygen and lastly it cannot function well.u can read about this more details in NST.thank you.hope you enjoy reading and plaese take good care of your health.
hello...i had read an article about "teens and dating". Teens are at the age when they will try to do their own thing.The more they are controlled by parental rules, the more they will step out of the boundaries. i agreed with this statement.we should advice and not over control them because they might be protes. we should explain our feeling and our hope for them to understand us.this article also tells that parents must be prepared to talk to their teens about dating and relationships. It is not the time to say “don’t” but to use more “dos”.Parents are children’s best role-models. parents has to be a positive example for your child to follow.parents actions speak louder than words.If teens are dating, they need to know the code of conduct for being in a relationship. Set ground rules on dating. Stand firm on what is right. parents should state clearly their expectations and listen to what their child has to say.Empower the teens to think for themselves. Instead of telling them repeatedly what they should or should not do, help them develop judgment to enable them to do the right thing.
thank you.
source:the star online;Wednesday October 22, 2008
hi guys...today i read the article about "access to breast cancer test tightens"...In the article it`s have many information about the breast cancer...let`s read the article.............
Genetic Technologies has denied reports it will stop women from accessing a genetic test for breast cancer in public hospitals.
But the DNA-testing company has ordered laboratories across Australia to stop tests for a genetic mutation in genes linked to breast cancer, a test for which it holds patent licences.
The company's laboratory in Melbourne must instead carry out the tests, it was reported yesterday.
The competition watchdog is investigating whether this contravenes the law.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said she was surprised by the company's move. ''It comes after a statement in 2003 to the Australian Stock Exchange by the company that it was gifting the test to the nation,'' she said. ''I recognise that there are legitimate concerns held by members of the community about these actions, focused around access to services and research.''
The genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are linked to up to 10 per cent of breast cancer cases.
Jan Murphy, of Macarthur, decided to lower her risk of getting breast cancer after 11 women on her mother's side of the family died from the disease.
When she developed breast lumps at the age of 26, she decided to have her breast tissue removed.
The test to find out whether she had inherited the genetic mutation was not around at the time, but it was when her daughter, Kate, developed breast lumps when she was 26. She made the same decision as her mother after her test came back inconclusive.
Mrs Murphy said she met many mothers who had had breast cancer and wanted their daughters to be tested to see if they were likely to have it, too. ''It gives women a choice as to whether they want to have their breast tissues removed and or keep them and be monitored.''
Mrs Murphy said she was very disappointed a company could control who did the test.
She hoped advances in technology would make things easier for her granddaughter when she was older.
Genetic Technologies chief executive Michael Ohanessian said patients who cancer clinics deemed as high risk would continue to not have to pay for the test.
He said the Government would not be charged any more for the tests to be conducted by their laboratories and the company would not hold information back from researchers.
''The one thing I think will be noticed is if Genetic Technologies performs more of this testing for the cancer clinics, then the time taken for a result to be produced will be shortened,'' Mr Ohanessian said.
He would not comment on whether the test should be patentable subject matter.
Cancer Council Australia spokesman Graeme Suthers said there were fundamental problems with patenting genetic sequences.
''DNA is human, biological material and the technology for its identification should not constitute a patentable inventive step,'' he said.
Australian National University patent law expert Luigi Palombi said, ''All of a sudden we're going to see that it will be much more difficult for scientists ... to actually undertake research in improving the diagnostic value of this genetic test.''
Hello..did you ever see glow worms?is so nice and bridgtly..If you had seen this worm,did you know how do glow warms light up? Glow warms, fire files, and many sea animals glow at night because of bioluminescence, which is light that is made chemically by aliving things.Glow worms is glow because of chemical reaction beween complex molecules and oxygen in their bodies.
This chemical reaction is veryf efficient which almost 100 percent of energy is produced by this reaction is given off as light, which is much more efficent than ligthbulb!! why do they glow? Some scientists think it's a warning sign to predators not to eat them. Imagine that a restaurant with a big neon sign said 'Bad food served here'..It is the same idea. Thank you
hazami@akademisains,gov.my
FA08024
hello..
I think everyone know about dangerous of smoking....below is the article how to help smokers to freely available from tobacco...
A vaccination to protect against a tobacco-related disease should be freely available to people who smoke, the Australian Medical Association says.
An influential United States Government panel recommended this week that smokers receive the pneumococcal vaccine to protect against bacteria that cause illnesses such as meningitis and pneumonia.
It was reportedly the first time the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices recommended a vaccination specifically for smokers.
The chairman of the AMA's council of general practice, Rod Pearce, said the vaccine should be freely available to people at risk of contracting the disease, which included smokers.
''I think vaccines need to be freely available to patients at the time when they're seeing their doctor,'' Dr Pearce, who is also a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, said.
''I would support any scheme that makes them more freely available, either by GPs being able to prescribe and dispense them, patients being able to get subsidies if they're given by doctors or a national immunisation program that supports a vaccine being available directly to a patient.''
Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council already recommends the pneumococcal vaccine for smokers.
The pneumococcal vaccine is not part of the National Immunisation Program for adults aged under 65, but it is available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at a subsidised cost to eligible healthcare cardholders.
Smokers are at a significantly higher risk of contracting pneumococcal disease compared with non-smokers. Studies show a pneumococcal vaccine is of proven benefit to smokers.
Dr Pearce said smoking damaged the protective mechanism in a smoker's respiratory system, which increased the risk of disease and complications.
He said a vaccine for smokers was about helping people decrease their risk of serious illness.
''Retribution for someone who smokes isn't the best policy,'' he said.
''It's about helping them understand the risk and minimising the risk. If they can't stop smoking, then keeping them safe as possible and helping them understand the consequences is a good public health policy.''
Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said the best thing smokers could do for their health was to quit smoking. Smoking kills one out every two long-term users and it remains the No1 cause of preventable death in Australia.
''They're more likely to get any number of diseases from cancers to heart disease to blindness,'' Ms Sharkie said. ''If you smoke, you're playing Russian Roulette with your life, basically. Something's going to get you.''
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hai...
last nite i had seen a movie,it extmely fun and interesting movie you need to watch...it is the story of a young, idealistic teacher who enters Shirokin Gakuen with hopes of making a difference in the students' lives. However, Yamaguchi Kumiko (Nakama Yukie) is in for a rude awakening when she finds that she will be the homeroom teacher of 3-D, the hardest class to maintain in the school. The students have multi-colored hair, sloppy uniforms, and show absolutely no respect to her. The leader of the class, Sawada Shin is lazy but bright and shows some interest in Yamaguchi when he notices that she is very different from other teachers. The students try to bully her to make her quit, but their attempts don't get them very far.
What the class and the rest of the school does not know is that Yamaguchi Kumiko is actually the 4th generation heir to the Ooedo Group, a notorious yakuza clan. Even though her family would like her to take the title of Ojou when her grandfather dies, they have accepted the fact that Yamaguchi would rather be a teacher.
Eventually, the students learn to respect their quirky teacher because of her devotion to them, and even give her a nickname: Yankumi.yankumi help them a lot even though her life in danger.but she done everthing to her student to make sure that her student will graduate together...you should this movie..and then you will reakize how much important yours teacher..hope you enjoy see this movie.
hi everybody...
This article is about "Obesity drug withdrawn over depression link"
Sales and prescriptions of a weight-loss drug were suspended yesterday after European health authorities said the benefits no longer outweighed the risks.
The European Medicines Agency said obese people taking Acomplia were roughly twice as likely to develop psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety and aggression, than those taking a placebo. US authorities have refused to allow Acomplia to be marketed in America.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which oversees drugs in the UK, said that as a result of the ruling, healthcare professionals would be told not to give any new prescriptions for Acomplia. Patients taking the drug have been told to consult their doctor.
Acomplia is a brand name for rimonabant, which helps obese patients to lose weight by suppressing their appetite. It has been authorised in the EU since 2006 to be used alongside diet and exercise to treat obese or overweight patients and has been "moderately effective".
Between June and August this year, five patients who were taking the drug as part of a trial involving 36,000 people committed suicide. One person taking the placebo committed suicide.
Manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis said it would comply with the request to temporarily suspend marketing the drug and added that it would provide additional evidence from clinical trials to help with the re-evaluation of Acomplia. It said 700,000 people worldwide had used Acomplia.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.....this book is written by jane austen,i had read this book since i form 5,and i like to read this book really.it is all about a girl named Elizabeth Bennet,she is a country gentleman's daughter in 19th Century England. She is one of five daughters, a plight that her father bears as best he can with common sense and a general disinterest in the silliness of his daughters. Elizabeth is his favorite because of her level-headed approach to life when his own wife's greatest concern is getting her daughters married off to well-established gentlemen. Only Jane, Elizabeth's older sister, is nearly as sensible and practical as Elizabeth, but Jane is also the beauty of the family, and therefore, Mrs. Bennet's highest hope for a good match.
When Mr. Bingley, a young gentleman of London, takes a country estate near to the Bennet's home, Mrs. Bennet begins her match-making schemes without any trace of subtlety or dignity. Despite Mrs. Bennet's embarassing interference, Mr. Bingley and Jane become fond of one another. Mr. Darcy, who has accompanied Bingley to the country, begins his acquaintance with Elizabeth, her family, and their neighbors with smug condescension and proud distaste for the all of the country people. Elizabeth, learning of his dislike, makes it a point to match his disgust with her own venom. She also hears from a soldier that she has a fondness for that Darcy has misused the man. Without thinking through the story, Elizabeth immediately seizes upon it as another, more concrete reason to hate Mr. Darcy. She contradicts and argues with Darcy each time they meet, but somewhere along the way he begins to like Elizabeth.
When Bingley leaves the countryside suddenly and makes no attempts to contact Jane anymore, the young woman is heartbroken. Elizabeth, who had thought well of Bingley, believes that there is something amiss in the way that he left Jane in the lurch. Only when Elizabeth goes to visit her friend at the estate of Darcy's aunt does the mystery begin to unfold. After several encounters with Mr. Darcy while visiting her friend, Elizabeth is shocked when Darcy proposes to her. Elizabeth refuses him and questions him about the way that he misused her soldier friend and his undoubted role in the way that Bingley abandoned Jane. Darcy writes a letter to explain himself, and Elizabeth is embarrassed to learn that she had been mislead about Darcy's character. Had she known the truth, she would have loved Darcy as he loved her. Darcy leaves that part of the country before she can sort out her feelings and make amends with him. Then she meets him again when she is touring the gardens of his estate with her aunt and uncle. Darcy treats her with kindness and she believes he may still love her, but before anything can be done about it, she learns that one of her younger sisters has shacked up with the very soldier who mislead Elizabeth and the rest of her family about Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth returns home immediately.
When the indignity of her sister's shot-gun wedding is straightened out, Elizabeth is surprised that Darcy returns to the country with Bingley. She expected that the shame of her sister's actions had ruined any chances of a relationship with Mr. Darcy, or Jane and Bingley. Elizabeth learns from her aunt that Darcy did a great part to help get her younger sister properly married to the infamous soldier. Jane and Bingley sort out the misunderstanding that drove him away before and get engaged. Then Elizabeth and Darcy work out their misunderstandings and agree to marry.
hello.....this is about an article i've read.crime prevention tips..
to prevent break-in:
first,when you leave home, make sure all the doors and windows are locked. second,At home, never open the door to a caller until you know who it is. third,You should have a peep-hole in the front door so that you can see who is out there. fourth,When you go out at night, leave a light on. and the last one,Before leaving on a trip,stop all deliveries,connect a light to a timer,notify the police , have a neighbour or relative check your home from time to time.
to prevent car theft, the following tips is effective:
first,Always park in a well-lit, bustling area or in parking lots that have attendants.second, Never leave valuables or keys in your car.third,Never leave your parking ticket or chip coin inside the car.fourth,Never leave the car running even if you'll only be gone for a minute.fifth,Always park with the windows up and the doors locked.sixth,Be careful while getting into your car. Watch for suspicious characters lurking nearby.seventh,Never pick up hitch-hikers.eighth,If you have a flat tyre in an area that does not seem safe, try to keep driving until you reach a safer location. ninth,If you are being followed by another vehicle, drive to the nearest police or fire station.tenth,Keep your car in good running condition. Make sure there's enough fuel to get you to your destination and back. eleventh,Do not get out of your car if it is suddenly blocked by another motorist. Lock your door and try to manoeuvre out of there. Remember, an assailant who gets out of his vehicle to approach your car is the vulnerable one.
for snatch theft:
first,Keep your valuables out of sight.second, Stay alert and follow your instincts.then,Keep handbags or slingbags on the shoulder that is away from the road.next, Avoid taking shortcuts through deserted areas.besides,If someone asks for directions, keep a polite but safe distance.also,If a thief demands your valuables, hand them over; your life is worth more. If possible, throw them away from you and run.You're safer in the company of others. If you must be out alone, stay away from dark corners, alleys and doorways. in addition,Keep your ID, driving licence, credit cards, etc in a pocket or concealed pouch to reduce the risk of losing them to thieves.furthermore,If you are robbed, try to remember the attacker's face, the licence plate number and the make of his vehicle. This information could save others. finally,Report all incidents of snatch theft to the police.
another is prevention in school:
first,Always travel in pairs or groups.Never walk or cycle alone.second,Do not take shortcuts through lonely areas.third,Make sure your parents get to know your friends' parents.fourth,Don't accept anything - gifts or rides - from strangers.fifth,If a stranger or a strange vehicle approaches you, keep walking or run if you have to.sixth,If you see a suspicious character hanging around the school or its entrance, tell a teacher. seventh,wait in line to get on the school bus. Do not push or shove.lastly,Don't play in the street while waiting for your transport home.
source:the star online;http://thestar.com.my/fightcrime/cp_tips.asp
hai...
tonite i read a novel the magic mountain,it is a stoty of Hans Castorp, an "ordinary" young German orphan from Hamburg about to begin a dull shipbuilding apprenticeship, visits his tubercular cousin Joachim Ziemssen at the International Sanatorium Berghof in the Swiss Alps in the years before World War I. Hans comes for a stay of three weeks - but ends up staying seven years, after he himself is diagnosed with TB (or is it really love?). With an international clientele, the Berghof is a microcosm of a frivolous, distracted Europe on the eve of cataclysm. The sanatorium's "enchanted" patients amuse themselves with love affairs, fads, and distractions as they await a cure (or death) in a world where time means something very different from time in the "flatlands." Hans Castorp falls hopelessly in love with a fellow patient, and is inspired to plunge into new worlds of.....
Inspirational love stories - Love and Time
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.
Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.
When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said,
"Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you."
"Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder,
Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."
Dads Blessings
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss Spirit's blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?
Dads Blessings
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss Spirit's blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?
Solid Waste Act will be enforced by year end
BERUAS: The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act will be enforced by the end of the year whether state governments choose to accept it or not, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.
The Act had been passed in Parliament and “whether or not you want to accept it (the Act), it’s the law,” he said on Friday after the swearing-in ceremony of the Beruas MCA, Youth and Wanita committee members at Changkat Kruing, about 80km from Ipoh.
Ong said this in reply to Perak executive councillor Nga Kor Ming who objected to the Act as it seemed “lopsided and unfair to the people”.
Nga had pointed out that the Act gave three concessionaires the contract to provide services currently undertaken by local councils, which would inevitably drive the assessment rates up.
Ong replied that the Federal Government would only take from the people’s assessments the same portion of money previously allocated by the councils for rubbish, grass cutting and drain cleaning.
“None of this involve charging the public extra,” he reiterated, adding that the Government was still in the process of taking over the services from the local councils.
He said the jurisdiction of the Solid Waste Management Board, set up under the Act, only involved discussing with the local authorities about the takeover of cleaning duties.
Some men with AIDS knowingly take more wives
GEORGE TOWN: The medical risks of sex with multiple partners in a polygamous marriage has been completely overlooked, said Seberang Jaya Hospital’s infectious disease clinic counsellor Jubaidah Bee Nagoor Pitchay.
She said one result of the second marriage was that the first wife might be exposed to possible infection of HIV/AIDS.
She said she would seek advice from the Penang Islamic Religious Council on ways to prevent such marriages, especially when a man has already been diagnosed HIV positive.
“It is unfair for innocent women to get infected with HIV through sexual relations with infected partners.
“And in most cases, men who know their HIV positive status still persist with subsequent marriages as a Muslim is allowed to have up to four wives.
“I do not have the authority to stop a HIV positive man from getting married but I believe a Syariah Court does,” she said after presenting her talk at the workshop on ‘HIV/AIDS, Girls and Women’ at Bayview Hotel Penang on Friday.
Jubaidah said she had come across a case where a factory van driver, in his late 30s, went ahead with a fourth marriage despite his HIV positive status.
“If the man is infected, why must we allow him to pass the virus to others.
“In fact, his fourth wife, a college student is now infected with HIV. I reprimanded them and since then the man has not attended my counseling sessions,” she said.
The two-day workshop, which ended on Friday, was organised by the AIDS Action & Research Group (AARG) in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
A total of 69 participants from various private and public sectors participated in the workshop.
AARG convenor and USM’s school of social sciences dean Assoc Prof Dr Ismail Baba said that, according to statistics revealed by Health Ministry, 80,938 people have been tested positive for HIV.
“Of the number, a 6,473 of them are women. And 80% of them got HIV from their husbands,” he said.
In view of the figures, he said there was a need to teach women about HIV/AIDS.
Mrs Singapore contestant leaves suicide note blaming Ah Long
Other News & Views
Compiled by SYLVIA LOOI, FLORENCE A. SAMY AND A. RAMAN
THE death of a former Mrs Singapore contestant was prominently featured in all the major Chinese dailies.
Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday that Liu Jin Lian, 42, plunged to her death from her flat in Singapore last Saturday.
In her suicide note, Liu, who left behind a husband and three children, aged between 16 and 23, blamed her death on loan sharks.
Expressing hope that her debts would be written off following her death, Liu said she felt sorry for her elder daughter because she had used her daughter’s college funds to pay off her loans.
Liu was a hawker and her food was said to be popular with customers.
Her husband Yu Ming Yong, 46, said his wife borrowed S$40,000 (RM96,000) from loan sharks to renovate her stall.
“Every day, she had to pay about S$200 (RM480) to the loan sharks,” he said.
Yu claimed that the loan sharks pressured his wife to contemplate death by claiming they did not receive her payment each time she banked the money into their account.
“Sometimes, they would call to say that they had changed their bank account number and so failed to receive her repayment,” he added.
Another loan shark had claimed Liu was late in repaying and she was forced to pay additional interest, added Yu.
China Press quoted Yu as saying that life had treated Liu unfairly, adding that she had been given up for adoption as a baby.
“Since young, she was forced to help her adoptive parents sell noodles,” he said.
Although she did well in school, Yu said Liu stopped schooling after Year Six to help her family with the noodle shop.
Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a sub-heading, it denotes a separate news item
Philippines to resume peace talks soon
THE Philippines will start formal talks with Muslim groups soon to bring peace to the restive southern islands.
President Gloria Arroyo informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Beijing yesterday.
Abdullah said Arroyo thanked Malaysia for its role in facilitating the talks between her government and the Muslim groups.
Unrest in southern Thailand and Pakistan was also the highlight of talks between Abdullah and the leaders of the two countries.
In his talks with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Abdullah stressed the importance of seeing through the various proposals to develop southern Thailand.
Somchai, who only took office recently, said he would visit Malaysia soon to strengthen bilateral ties.
Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani urged Abdullah to encourage more Malaysians to invest there. To this, the prime minister said Pakistan needed to ensure political stability.
"This is important as businessmen and investors would be worried otherwise," Abdullah said, adding that he was informed that 12 Malaysian companies were already in Pakistan exploring opportunities.
Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias briefed Abdullah on the situation between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and on steps being taken to improve ties between the two communities.
After the series of bilateral meetings, Abdullah proceeded to the Asem summit, which began its first plenary session in the afternoon.
The meeting ends today and the leaders are expected to come out with a statement on sustainable development, and possibly on the global financial crisis.
i-City makes its debut
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ
THERE is a new landmark in the city that boasts a well-connected and fast, cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Located in Section 7, Shah Alam, along the Federal Highway, the i-City is a RM2bil integrated commercial development on 29 hectares of freehold land by I-Berhad.
Spanking new: A row of office buildings at the phase 1A of the i-City.
Designed by award-winning architect Jon A. Jerde, it is a fully integrated township with amenities ranging from a shopping mall, corporate towers and corporate offices, office suites, shop offices, office and retail suites, hotels, service apartments and a data and innovation centre.
Currently, phase 1A of the ICT-based commercial township comprising 44 units of cyber office suites has been completed. The entire project is expected to take five years to complete.
The development was envisioned to be a Digital City.
It has obtained certification as a MSC Cyber Centre from the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, making its status similar to that of Cyberjaya, KL Sentral and the KL City Centre.
The area is connected with a giga-speed fibre-optics network that allows complete connectivity and mobility, resulting in a true plug-and-play environment with a network capacity up to 10gbps.
i-City chief innovative officer Ricky Lim said the development was a well-rounded structure that offered everything for the people who workedthere.
Artist impression: A model of what the i-City will look like once it is fully completed.
“We have offices, malls and residences with super broad band connectivity,” said Lim.
“The i-City is specially built for all knowledge-based businesses dealing with a lot of content and data.
“We just make the township very convenient and accessible by looking at every possible needs of the tenants, thus saving on travelling time, cost and more,” he said at the launch of the Concierge services at the townshipon Thursday.
The services and the network set-up is an agreement between I-Berhad and Australia’s ServCorp and their key services are reception greeting, call management, facilities management, customer service and support.
i-City Concierge is also equipped with meeting rooms and event halls to cater to the needs of the tenants and they are equipped with wireless broadband connection and state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities.
“The Concierge services concept offered in i-City is first of its kind in Asia, further stamping i-City as the premier technology city in this region,” he added.
Meatless meals
Penang
By HELEN ONG
The Penang Adventist Hospital cafeteria in Burmah Road, Pulau Tikus, has been serving lacto-ovo vegetarian (which includes eggs, cheese and milk) food since it opened in 1924, because of its health-giving qualities.
“We believe that with a vegetarian, meat-free diet, patients are able to recover faster,” explained dietician Helen Wong.
The hospital serves Chinese, Malay, Indian and western cuisine, as well as a range of high-fibre low-fat side dishes.
The Adventist Hospital in Penang was started by Dr Earl Gardner, who devoted his life to helping the poor and sick.
Food Service Manager Peter Chan has been overseeing the large new cafeteria for the past five years; no mean feat, as it caters for some 400 to 500 diners consisting mainly of staff, students and visitors daily and delivers up to 450 meals a day to patients throughout the 223-bed hospital €“ that’s nearly 900 meals a day.
There is also an extensive à la carte menu which offers a range of appetising dishes. Pasta is a popular traditional vegetarian ingredient €“ healthy and versatile, it can be served with a variety of meat-free sauces. The hospital’s “Spaghetti Adventist” is served with aubergine, onions and tomatoes, with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
Other popular dishes include pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and a tasty Dry Beef Curry, made with mushroom stalks which looked incredibly real, even down to the strands of “meat”. There’s also the hospital’s famous “Chicken No No” made of soy and flavoured with mushrooms, that is one of the most popular dishes.
Soybean is wrapped in seaweed to create a very life-like fish which is served with chips and house-made tartar sauce. It looked so real you could be forgiven for thinking it was just pulled out of the sea that morning.
Breakfast consists of local, western and continental offerings: fried noodles or rice, eggs cooked in a variety of ways, rice or oatmeal porridge. The hospital also tries to serve a healthy local favourite every day: Hokkien Mee, Laksa, etc.
“We use vegetarian products like seaweed to flavour the stock. Our Curry Mee has more milk than santan, and is even served with “vegetarian blood” made from taufu soaked in soya sauce,” explained Chan. Prices range from RM2-12.
They will also cater for parties and private functions both in-house and off-site for small parties, with a bit of notice. The Adventist Hospital Cafeteria is open from 6am to 6pm Sundays to Fridays.
Come in and try some,” Chan beckoned, “you’ll see just how good vegetarian food can be.”
For details, call 04-222 7505 or check out www.pah.com.my.
> Helen Ong is a self-confessed foodie who loves to hunt down the best of Penang. She is the author of the book Great Dining in Penang.
Festive bazaar
By FARIDAH BEGUM
Little India in almost every state offers interesting buys, particularly during the festive season.
WALKING down the crowded streets of Brickfields, one cannot help but feel the air of festivity all around.
Not because it is due to the upcoming Deepavali celebrations but the shops and the stalls that offer colourful items €“ fabric, sarees, Punjabi suits, sweetmeats, footwear or even jewellery, all lend a continuous festive air, no matter the season or time of day.
Colourful array: Shoppers checking out the variety of sarees on sale.
Little India in Malaysia is festive all year round but come Deepavali the ambience is heightened with the increase in the number of shoppers and the amount of items that swell out of the stores and onto the streets to appeal to each shopper.
Practically everyone is drawn to the rich colours of the silk and cottons that are on display in air-conditioned shops and even those on makeshift stalls along the sidewalks.
Haggling is a definite must and it is often during the lunch hour or all day during the weekends that you will hear the shrill voices of both the trader and the customer negotiating furiously.
This scene is ever so common on the streets of Brickfields, Leboh Ampang, Masjid India, Jalan Tengku Kelana in Klang, Selangor, or Lebuh Pasar in Penang, among others. Similarly, this also takes places in Seremban, Negri Sembilan; Jalan Lahat, Ipoh, Perak; Johor Baru and Jalan Station in Kluang, Johor.
In most of these places, the main players would be the textile shops selling sarees from polyester to cotton and the expensive embroidered silk sarees from Banaras, India.
Shanti Aaur, 35, showing off a saree sold at her stall in Brickfields.
While sarees can cost anything from as little as RM10 to tens of thousands, those who purchase these sarees do so with a keen eye as there are many types of silks and most of the designs are done specifically for weddings, formal wear and even for family gatherings.
Besides sarees, Punjabi suits, deepas and lenghas are also in demand, with the younger women going for the more stylish and easier-to-wear lengha that is a two-piece suit consisting of a short tunic and a flare long skirt. These come with intricate embroidery, beads and a matching shawl.
Punjabi suits are again, purchased according to taste and they go from simple to elaborate and in recent times, many reflecting modern designs that are sewn to show off the figure of the wearer.
Little India is not only known for Indian apparel but also for the delicious and irresistible Indian sweetmeats and savouries. You will find murukku, omapoddi, palkova, laddu, vadai, kesari and even halwas in many homes during open houses throughout the year. Easily found would be the murukku and omapoddi, which is short strips of murukku that are more spicy and addictive.
Jewellery is an important component in the Asian society and the Indian craftsmen are noted for intricate designs. Of late, even modern jewellery outlets have begun stocking up on Indian design jewellery as most women enjoy the chunky and geometric designs from India.
Right now, the many Little Indias across the country have transformed from everyday streets to colourful and festively lit-up areas, complete with loud music blaring from speakers from almost every shop on the same street.
To celebrate the festival of lights, oil lamps and house decorations are brought out for sale. It is almost impossible to walk on the sidewalks and even cars have to make way for shoppers who, for this season only, would not be fined for jaywalking in Little India.
So, if you are really intrigued about what more that is Indian that you have not seen or tasted, this is a good time to make your way to the nearest Little India and let your five senses out on the loose!
China burns milk prodcuts in giant furnaces
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has burnt 32,200 tonnes of melamine-tainted dairy products in a bid to put a health scandal in which tens of thousands of infants fell ill stones behind it.
State television showed boxes and packets of milk powder and baby formula being shovelled into giant furnaces in Shijiazhuang in the northern province of Hebei, where the scandal broke in September.
Milk is seen being poured away due to the closure of a milk factory on the outskirts of Wuhan, Hubei province September 21, 2008. (REUTERS/Stringer)
The goods were being burnt in four cement factories and two iron and steel factories.
China began reviewing a tougher draft food safety law on Thursday following criticism from the United Nations over its sluggish response to the health scandal.
China approved in principle a new food safety law last October following a raft of scandals involving unsafe toothpaste, seafood and pet food, among other products.
The country has since seen four children die and thousands of others made ill from drinking milk formula adulterated with melamine, which was subsequently found in other drinks and foods, prompting Chinese-made products to be stripped from shelves worldwide.
More than 3,000 children remain in hospital in China.
Chinese eggs found tainted with excessive melamine
HONG KONG (AP): Excessive levels of the industrial chemical melamine in Chinese eggs might be traced to fertilizer fed to chickens, the Hong Kong government said.
In a statement late Saturday, the government said it found 4.7 parts per million of melamine in the eggs produced by a division of China's Dalian Hanwei Enterprise Group based in the northeastern port city Dalian.
The legal limit of melamine in Hong Kong is 2.5 ppm.
Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said the melamine may have come from fertilizer fed to chickens that laid the eggs. "The preliminary opinion experts have given us is that there is a problem with the fertilizer,'' Chow told reporters.
China has been caught in a food safety scandal over dairy products tainted with melamine. More than 3,600 children remain sick in China from contaminated milk, with three in serious condition, the Ministry of Health said last week. The deaths of four infants have been blamed on dairy products contaminated with melamine.
Calls to Dalian Hanwei Enterprise Group Saturday went unanswered.
Chow said Hong Kong officials will step up checks of eggs imported from China.
Melamine is used in the manufacturing of plastics, fertilizer, paint and adhesives.
Health experts say ingesting a small amount poses no danger, but in larger doses, the chemical can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure. Infants are particularly vulnerable.
The Hong Kong government also said it found excessive amounts of melamine in Blueberry Cream Sandwich crackers made by Philippine company Croley Foods MFG. Corp.
Prices slashed by next week
By YUEN MEIKENG
PETALING JAYA: Consumers, long hard hit by increasing price tags, will have more cash to spare in their pockets from next week as hypermarkets slash prices by as much as 30%.
Reduced prices at fuel pumps will now translate to cheaper goods at hypermarkets.
Hypermarket chains are preparing to lower the prices of canned and fresh food, and other foodstuff like instant noodles and even clothing.
Mydin Hypermarkets managing director Datuk Ameer Mydin estimated that 300 to 500 items would be cheaper from Tuesday, with “discounts” of up to 33% in stores.
Bayam (spinach), sawi and kangkung will be cut in price from RM1.80 to RM1.20 per kg, while whole chicken with head and feet would be reduced to RM5.99 from RM6.49 per kilo, he added.
Other items which the local hypermarket chain is lowering is canned and bottled food, milk powder, rice and instant noodles.
That’s not all. Non-essential items such as clothing are also in for a price cut by as much as 20% to 30%.
Carrefour public relations and corporate social responsibility director Ras Adiba Radzi said the chain would lower the prices of between 1,000 and 1,500 items early next month.
She however could not say what the quantum of price reduction will be, adding that this was still being worked out.
Tesco Hypermarket corporate and legal affairs director Azlam Shah Alias said the chain would cut the prices of vegetables, fruit, seafood and other fresh food, adding that the price cuts would be announced later.
He said it was more important to reduce the prices of foodstuff compared to those of clothing and shoes.
Giant Hypermarket is also joining in the series of price cuts, with furniture prices also set to come down.
Ameer said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had done well in initiating the price reductions.
“Hopefully, others will also follow suit and reduce their prices.”
Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, when contacted, welcomed the support from the hypermarket chains.
Hypermarkets to take lead in reducing prices
IT IS going to be easier on the pockets for Malaysians from as early as next week.
After a barrage of hard-hitting news caused by spiralling fuel prices, price tags are coming down at hypermarkets.
This will be the first time that prices of consumer goods are being reduced, after the drastic increase in fuel prices in June.
Since then, pump prices have tumbled from RM2.70 to RM2.30 (RON 97 petrol).
Hypermarkets are making preparations to reduce prices of canned and fresh food, and clothing.
A major hypermarket chain proprietor estimates that his prices will drop from 15% to 30%.
And there will be more good news at the pumps - petrol prices are likely to come down by 15 sen.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said consumers could look forward to better times.
Stretching the Ringgit!
Makan Makan
By FARIDAH BEGUM
Prices of necessities aren’t coming down and it’s really time to tighten the belt.
For months, we have been grumbling among friends about the huge leap in the marketing bills and in fact, we have all taken to lessening the amount of food we buy for the home.
Unfortunately, the bills are still high and despite many reassurances that the reduction in fuel prices will bring down the prices of food items, it seems not to happen.
Being working mothers, most of us then to do the one-stop buying at hypermarkets and supermarkets, and this definitely includes fish, meat and chicken.
However, of late, in their desire to gain customer loyalty, most hypermarkets have been slashing prices of fish only to have hordes of people walking away without the items only because the fish were not fresh!
Just a word of advice, both to the hypermarket management and also to shoppers...it is a known fact that you can get food poisoning from stale fish and it serves to keep in mind that any fish that does not appeal to you in appearance, don’t buy.
Likewise, most of us can be quite gullible when it comes to shopping, thinking that we can save a Ringgit here and there only to spend more on other products.
It is wiser to pay a little more for really fresh fish, chicken and meat rather than buy them cheap and reach home to find them unsuitable for the pot or pan.
Perhaps we should allocate some time in our busy schedule to make our way to the wet market, where you can buy fresh fish and keep them well in your freezer. It pays to buy more of fresh fish in the market, then clean it and keep it in the freezer, dividing them as to the amount that you want to cook each time.
Likewise, for chicken and meat also, it is better to buy the former in the supermarkets as they are chilled while for meat, it depends whether you prefer local meat or imported stuff.
Again, since you won’t be cooking the whole chicken or using up a kilogramme of meat in a meal, then divide the chicken or meat to the portions that you desire and freeze them.
It also makes more sense to shop once or twice a week rather than daily as this helps you save time and fuel running to the supermarket or market for just an item or two.
As the festivals coming in one after another, first with the Hari Raya Puasa and now with Deepavali just round the corner, let us rest our minds from the pending economic gloom and focus on happier things like friendship and family during the festive seasons.
Since it is Deepavali this week and according to news reports, spending has been a little slow, it would be wise to celebrate on a moderate scale and be thankful that we are still rejoicing in a peaceful and harmonious country.
This week I offer you a thick mutton curry that goes well with the Indian staples of rice, puttu mayam, thosai, idli and appam.
Happy Festival of Lights!
> Faridah Begum is passionate about cooking and stuffing family and friends with food, whether tasty or not.
Mutton curry: quick, simple and tasty.
Mutton Curry
Ingredients:
300g mutton - shin, ribs or even meaty bones
5cm ginger
2 cloves garlic
1 onion - sliced lengthwise
2 sprigs curry leaves
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 stick of cinnamon
3 cardamoms
2 star anise
3 cloves
3 tablespoons meat curry powder
1 tablespoon kurma powder
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 cup thick coconut milk
1 cup water
2 potatoes €“ cut into desired sizes
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
3 red chillies €“ halved
Salt to taste
A few sprigs coriander leaves cut into 2cm lengths
A slice of lime
Method:
Cut the meat into bite pieces. Pound the ginger and garlic together until fine.
In a pot, heat up the cooking oil, then put in the onions, curry leaves and the pounded ginger and garlic along with the cinnamon, star anise, cloves and cardamoms.
When aromatic, add the curry powder, kurma powder and white pepper powder.
Add a little water and fry the concoction until oil surfaces.
Add the meat and mix it with the paste thoroughly.
When oil surfaces again, add the coconut milk and water and let the curry come to a boil. Lower the flame and let the curry simmer until the meat is tender.
Stir the curry to ensure it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. When the meat is tender, add the potatoes, cover the pot and let it simmer until the potatoes are soft.
Let the curry thicken a little before adding the tomatoes, chillies and coriander leaves. Turn off the fire and sprinkle the lime juice over the curry and mix well.
Let the curry stand for at least an hour for the flavour to develop before serving.
Unite, Samy urges Indians
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has called on the Indian community to set aside their differences, unite and speak with one voice.
In his Deepavali message, he said, for the sake of future generations, Indians must not cast aspersions on each other to the extent of dividing the community.
“Let us put our energy, mind and resources to bring about the transformation needed to face a globalised and borderless world,” said Samy Vellu.
It was time for the Indian community to work together to overcome the global economic recession, and their thoughts and strengths must be unified, he added.
He said that they must not “be in a state of denial” and think the Indian community had achieved progress in all fields.
“They must also be mindful that there is a section within the community that still lags behind economically and socially.
“This is where our focus should be.
“The ordinary Indians have placed their trust and future on their leaders. They look to us for guidance and to improve their living conditions.
“So let us do our work and not be engaged in unnecessary squabbles,” he said.
He hoped this Deepavali would enlighten the humanity in all the Indians in Malaysia, adding “let us move forward and maintain the racial unity”.
Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Indus-try president Datuk Kenneth Eswa-ran said the Deepavali celebration should not be restricted to the Indian community.
“I hope every Malaysian will consider this as our very own Malaysian festival.
“I am positive that it will help prosper the relationship and further strengthen our ties in the Bangsa Malaysia tradition,” he said in his Deepavali message.
Eswaran also hoped that entrepreneurs and the country would be blessed with enough resilience to “sail through the current volatile financial market and the global economic scenario”.
Shoes good for walking
SOUTHERN Rubber Works Sdn Bhd, which produces the Pallas brand of footwear and apparel, has once again come forward as a main sponsor for Penang Starwalk.
The company, a staunch supporter of the event for the ninth year, is sponsoring items worth RM20,000 for this year’s walk on Dec 14.
Pallas brand executive Lee Eng Pheng said the items included Pallas shoes and 2,000 T-shirts for the participants.
“We love to support activities where our products will be put to good use as we emphasise on comfort and durability of our footwear,” she said on Thursday after Pallas marketing communication executive Wilson Ngiam handed over a sponsorship for RM20,000 to The Star office manager Chin Yoon Foo at the company’s head office on Beach Street in Penang.
Ngiam (left) handing over the sponsorship worth RM20,000 to Chin.
She said the company would also set up a games and sales promotion booth during the event to introduce its products.
“Walkers are only required to fill in an entry form for them to take part in the game.
“As for the sales promotion booth, there will be a range of canvas shoes, Jazz Star new models and attractive best buys promotion,” she added.
Registration for Penang Starwalk 2008 is open from 9.15am to 5pm on weekdays, except public holidays, at the Star Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas or the newspaper’s town office at 15, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling. Early birds who sign up at these two places will get a free gift while stocks last.
Registration can also be made from 3pm to 7pm today and tomorrow at Queensbay Mall (ground floor central zone), Gurney Plaza (information counter 1st floor) and Sunshine Square (main entrance) where free gifts will also be given out while stocks last.
The 10km walk, with competition and non-competition categories, is jointly organised by Star Publications (M) Bhd and the Penang Amateur Athletic Association.
It will be flagged off at 7am from the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas. The entry form is available at the registration counters or can be downloaded from thestar.com.my/starwalk/starwalk08.pdf.
The registration fee is RM8 for non-competition walkers and RM12 for competition walkers. All participants will each get a T-shirt and a goodie bag.
Participants who complete the walk within two hours will be eligible for a lucky contest that offers attractive prizes, including five motorcycles. The closing date for entries is Nov 21.
Healthy Carrot Cake
By FARIDAH BEGUM
Packed with fibre, vitamins, crunchy nuts and delicious ingredients, a good carrot cake is often gone before you know it.
WHEN the carrot cake was put up for review, many thought we were talking about the radish cake, which is a Chinese delicacy and we received quite a few put-downs telling us it was not a carrot cake.
Simply scrumptious: Tee Haus also offers this delightful carrot cake.
Well folks, for once, we are really talking about carrots that Bugs Bunny really can’t do without and which health freaks on the Sunday Metro desk actually swear by.
So, we are really talking about this orangey root vegetable that is packed with loads of vitamins and minerals, that’s not only used in savoury dishes but also in cakes, especially in the now-famous Carrot Cake.
The craze used to be about carrot walnut cakes but the other carrot cake that holds on to its loyal consumers is the Carrot Pineapple Cake, which is truly out of this world, if made well.
Most carrot cakes are moist, with the added crunch of walnuts.
Children often balk at having carrot cake, only to become truly addicted once they discover how enjoyable it can be.
Relatively easy to make, and with its traditional cream cheese topping, which works well with the sweet, and moist cake, it has become one of the firm favourites of many. Often at cake shops, it is one of the few cakes that is requested for and women, who are usually more diet-conscious, would often choose it over other cakes as it’s supposedly less calorie-laden.
The carrot cake is delicious, with or without the topping, and offers a welcome treat, be it for birthdays or any other occasion. It also makes a mouth-watering alternative for those who don’t like chocolate or other cakes.
Carrot cake is actually one of the easiest cakes to make but the tedious part is to ensure the ingredients are all brought together and this means you need to grate the carrots first, keep the butter atroom temperature and clean and cut up the walnuts pieces, if you are using walnuts, or drain the crushed pineapple, if using it instead
The grated carrots are added into this easy mix cake and baked before the cream cheese topping is added on. It takes about five to six minutes to put the cake together and an hour to have it baked.
Then put together the cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar and voila! your carrot cake, home-made and deliciously moist, is ready to be cut up and devoured up to the last crumb.
For those who do not have an oven or simply want an easy way out, there are some fabulous carrot cakes being sold out there and one of the best is really La Manila cake house, which is head-quartered in Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya, while a popular outlet is situated at the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur.
The carrot cake there is thick, moist and rich and filled with carrot and crushed pineapple, topped with a thick layer of cream cheese topping that simply melts in your mouth. A piece is never enough and the outlet gets numerous orders for the cake, which is often taken out in the huge slabs that it is baked as.
Other places that serve up a good carrot cake is the Coffee Bar at Amcorp Mall, which was one of the favourites among the places that were text messaged to The Star from Sunday. Secret Recipe also has a formidable best seller in its carrot cake, which is often a choice for dessert or just a good afternoon tea favourite.
Tee Haus at Jalan Telawi 2 in Bangsar Baru, KL, is also said to serve a very good carrot cake.
So, do try your hand at making a carrot cake as the recipes are a dime a dozen in cookbooks and you can also source recipes online. The cake can be a delightful and healthy that one can perhaps savour as many times a day, provided the cream cheese topping is kept to a bare minimum!
Goodies for Halloween
Cold Storage has stocked up on items that should make Halloween a fun affair for both adults and children.
Halloween may not be on Malaysia’s calendar of festivities but this has not prevented expatriates and locals from keeping to the traditions of this very western event.
For many, Halloween, which falls on Oct 31 is a sort of warm-up event for Christmas and the new year. It certainly provides a good reason to get together for some camaraderie and merry-making for both children and adults.
Trick or treat: Cold Storage is stocked with a huge number of Halloween items that might just tickle your fancy.
For the children, particularly those from the expatriate community, the trick-or-treat exercise allows them to have a whale of a time, wearing horror disguises and knocking on doors and “threatening” their neighbours with tricks.
For the adult costume parties, horror and mythical themes is the order of the day, although they are likely to extract more laughter than shrieks.
This year, in true Halloween fashion, the Cold Storage stores at Mid Valley, Bangsar, Mont’Kiara, and Great Eastern Mall Mutiara, all in Kuala Lumpur, Mutiara Damansara, in Petaling Jaya, are stocked with a wide selection of delightful candies and confectionary and eye-popping costumes.
There’s the Franford Spongebob Krabby Patties, Franford Gummy Body Parts and Hilco Halloween Puzzle Pack. These are hot favourites as they resemble body parts ,such as intestines, fingers, human eyes and on top of that, they’re edible!
Cadbury’s Brunch Bars which come in assorted flavours like Hazelnut, Cranberry, and Raisin are appropriate to be given away as treats when your neighbours’ kids come a-knocking with tricks.
Apart from that, there’s Tim Tam Chocolate Biscuits or the Natural Confectionary that comes in an assortment of flavours.
As for the costumes, there are adult capes that come in black and red, and long-haired witch’s wigs. There are some fake blood and make-up kits available too. Those who do not wish to don full costumes can opt for the horror masks or witch’s hats and accessories. These should help make your desired look as a witch or monster a breeze. Prices range from RM4.20 to RM97.50.
For the kids, there is also a wide range of costumes such as capes, pirate hats with hooks, angel wings and many other types of masks.
For details on the Halloween products, log on to www.giant.com.my.
Towards conscious living
Living consciously is vital because it plays a major role in an individual’s peace and happiness.
Every individual should be aware of their inner awakening which is actually the birthright of everyone towards spiritual growth known as conscious living, an important aspect of life.
Since ancient times, theology is propagated as art of living because it is the science of harmonious living and the powerful remover of fear, anxiety, anger, hatred and stress.
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing as he leaves St Peter’s square at the Vatican at the end of a general audience on Wednesday.
Living consciously means going beyond the mind and the ego and realising who you really are and the purpose of your life. This divine journey is a process of detaching our unrealistic concepts, thoughts, beliefs and ideas and become more and more mindful and aware of life.
People should realise that our life is not just meant for eating, sleeping, making money, gossiping and merry-making.
The benefit of this transformation uncovers our hidden strength and goes beyond our ego-personality, which is currently the stumbling block to progress and happiness for many people.
Awakening can be attained without doing anything unnatural like living in secluded places or being far away from society. By discovering who we really are and the purpose of our existence, we will be able to take a more harmonious approach to life and ensure that we do not allow outer circumstances to influence our inner being and state of mind.
I have strong admiration and respect for places of worship of all faiths because these sacred sites are powerful and the structures are not only awesome but act as antennas that connect us to our awakening.
Brazilian faithful wave yellow scarves as Pope Benedict XVI (C) arrives at St Peter’s Square for his weekly audience.
Drawn by the serenity and peace of such holy destinations, I made a visit to the world’s richest asset based place of worship, the Vatican City in Rome on Wednesday.
I had the rare opportunity to visit the city for the Catholics and have an audience with Pope Benedict at St Peter’s Square.
After going through airport-style security to the holy ground, the 90-minute meeting was once in a life time experience because the bliss and joy of receiving such blessings can only be experienced and cannot be written about.
The ceremony started with singing a hymn and then the Pope read his message of peace and forgiveness.
The Pope’s messages lasted for about an hour and he then gave a papal blessing to all attendees.
Being pious does not mean escaping from responsibilities, behaving strangely and becoming an impractical person. It is a tool for growing and becoming a stronger, happier, contended and more responsible person.
You can walk on the path of spiritual growth, and at the same time live the same kind of life as everyone else. You don’t have to isolate yourself and live in some far away place or conduct life in an unusual way.
People seeking this path can raise a family, work or operate a business, and yet at the same time engage in practices that lead to inner growth and balance.
A balanced life requires us to care, not only of the necessities of the body, feelings and mind, but also of the spirit, and this is the role of conscious living.
Conscious living is the right of everyone and it is the key to a life of happiness, joy, good health and peace of mind because its manifestation has enormous power of the inner strength.
This spirit is equally present within the most material person and within the most spiritual person. The level of the expression of spirituality is dependent on how much the inner character is close to the surface, and on how much it is hidden, by thoughts, beliefs and negative habits.
Conscious living tips
·Develop tolerance, patience, tact and consideration for others.
·Read spiritual and uplifting books and apply the valuable information found in the texts in your life.
·Meditate at sunrise and sunset for 10 to 20 minutes daily because the exercise can connect an individual to higher consciousness and freedom.
·Observe silence by quietening your mind as this helps to give your body, mind and spirit some rest.
·Recognise the fact that you are a strength within a physical body and not a physical body with a strength because this idea will change your attitude towards many things in your life.
·Visit holy places as a tourists because touring such sites unknowingly leads you to self-realisation.
·Think positive and be in control of what enters your mind and open the door for the positive and close it for the negative.
·Develop the happiness habit, by always looking at the bright side of life and striving to be happy because happiness comes from within.
·Disallow the outer influence decide your happiness for you.
·Practice often your will power and decision making ability because this strengthens you and gives you control over your mind.
·Always remember to thank the universe for everything that you get.
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Choose To Be At Cause In Your Game
by: John Kenworthy
Have you ever thought about how you influence yourself? Are you like a thermometer, reacting to changes in the environment, or are you a thermostat, ready and willing to change yourself according to changes in the environment?
In golf, there are only two things that affect your game. Yes, sorry, just the two things. The first is physics. The golf ball, your clubs, how you swing your club, the course, are all subject to the laws of physics.
You might say that the weather changes the way the ball behaves. Yes indeed it can and does, cool air temperatures effect the turbulence of the air and hence the flight of the ball... just physics.
You might suggest that your swing technique changes the way you strike the ball and hence its direction and distance - yes true - just physics.
The only part of golf that is not directly about physics is the "you" part - not your technique, strength, everything physical is, well physics. No, the only non-physical part is mental. There are those that will scientifically argue that this too is physics - after all, the mental part is about electrons, neurons etc that obey the laws of physics. Yes this may be true, however, there is an important distinction, you can do nothing about the laws of physics. Not a thing. Rien. Zip. Nada. Naff all. Zero. You can't change it - you can use it - because the laws of physics don't change - knowing what physics is at work and how to use that knowledge to increase distance, improve direction and so on - now that's useful knowledge - see, you now wish that you'd paid more attention in school! The distinction is that the mental part of the game is something that you can change. Yes the neurons and so on that carry the messages and inform the parts of the body to do what they do will do so, because they obey the laws of physics. It is the message that they carry that you can change. Now, since this actually applies to everything in your life it could be a revelatory moment for you in everything.
So, we come back to the basic critical decision point. Are you at cause or effect? Do you cause your golf ball to fly in a particular direction? Yes, of course you do. Does the bahaviour of your playing buddy effect the way you play? Do you allow the weather to effect your playing? The answer is that all things going on in your surroundings will effect your playing - because they effect your mental attitude, they effect the message that you send to your muscles.
How much you allow external events to effect your playing is your choice!
It's important to preface this section with a reminder that everyone, every single human being has a choice to do something, or not do it. To learn something, or not to. Everything we do in this life is a choice. Yes, there are many many (far too many) people on this planet who do not have a good choice - or a 'real' choice. There are, too many people who's struggle for life overwhelms their choices in life. The choice to live or die in such circumstances, is however difficult or impossible, still a choice. You will understand that I am not suggesting that this is not difficult, only reiterating that we always have a choice. I simply want to ensure that you have a mindset that you can be at choice. Improving the opportunities for choice for the millions of those with little real choice is another matter entirely.
So, if you are at choice, which frequency do you listen, cause or effect?
How you influence others is somewhat obvious, but how you influence yourself is perhaps a little more obscure. We will take the obvious route first and then apply it to self. Leadership development and golf development work best when we are very strongly focussing on your self-leadership - how you lead yourself to greatness in golf, in business, in life. Leadership, unlike golf though, should pay much more attention - because leadership is pretty much all about influencing others.
Influence is a two-way street. Everything you do and say has some influence on others - you are part of their external environment. You even exert a small degree of gravitational force on others, indeed, you exert gravitational force on the planet! Not a lot admittedly, but your mass does attract other mass. You knew that you should have paid attention in science class now. Just as an aside, it's quite a useful factoid for use when you have gained a few pounds of weight - you do so in order to become more attractive! That's put paid to the glamour magazines!
The same is trues for other people exerting their influence over you. Your external environment is, in part, made up of everything that other people say or do, and this exerts an influence on your behaviour.
The external environment beyond other human beings, also has some influence over you. The weather for example - when it is raining, it is quite likely that you would alter your 'normal' behaviour by carrying an umbrella, or wearing a rain-proof coat. You know for sure that the weather can have a major influence over your golf. When there is lightning, you would wisely move away from the fairways under the trees or into the clubhouse. Being struck by lightning is one influence that everyone can do without.
The problem with influence is that human beings have a tendency to assume that there is little you can do to change the way something influences you. Well, let me put this straight. You can and you do!
Let us take an example of something that influences us and we do something about it - almost fight its influence on our lives. One that affects us all and that is our friend gravity. You see, gravity is ever present in our lives - there are a few exceptions but since that involves travelling into space I think I can safely assume that does not include you. If, by chance you have travelled into space - my question is - how far can you hit a drive out there? Must be awesome.
Back to earth. Our bodies are constantly under the influence of gravity. We consume food to produce the energy to run the muscles that spend most of each day pushing back. Only when we are physically damaged - break a leg, twist an ankle, suffer paralysis and so on, do we truly appreciate how much effort is involved in keeping our body upright and moving. When we are reasonably fit and well, we think little or nothing of getting up from a chair and walking, and most of the time, we do all this unconsciously. We have programmed our brain to take care of operating the correct muscles, keeping balance, walking, and all the while supplying those muscles and cells with energy through breathing and circulating our blood. Now, if you had to consciously work out how to do all this stuff that we simply take for granted, you'd not have a great deal of time to think about much else - at least, not consciously.
What's the point of this? Well, it's simple really - there are many many things occurring in your life, including when you practice and play golf, that influence your behaviour. Some things we cannot change - gravity, weather, daylight, animals etc. and to what extent we allow such to affect us and our behaviour is our own choice. We can choose to be at cause for ourselves or at the effect of the environment and others. In other words, I'm disabling your potential for 'excuses'.
In my next article I'll share how you can change the way that you influence yourself and choose to be at cause.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6340.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Knowledge is Power
by: Iain Legg
Part of being an empowered person is having intimate knowledge and awareness of yourself as an individual, including your strengths, talents, weaknesses, capabilities and limitations.
How well do you know yourself? You’d be surprised how many people don’t know themselves at all! If you’ve spent the majority of your time focusing on the people around you, you may not have a clear self-image, which can lead to feelings of inner disconnection and disempowerment.
On the other hand, when you know yourself well you are empowered in that knowledge. You feel confident, self-assured, centered and strong, which enables you to live purposely and make more beneficial decisions.
Getting to know yourself is easy to do with a consistent investment of time and focus. Basically, you’d start just like you would if you wanted to get to know another person better – you’d spend quality time with them! By spending frequent quality time with yourself, you’ll gain a clearer idea of who you are.
Start by considering your interests and passions. Grab a sheet of paper and jot down some of the things you enjoy doing now, or have wanted to explore in the past. If you’re not sure, think about the things you did when you were younger. Have you always had an interest in creative activities like art and photography? Did you belong to any clubs in school? Have you always wanted to take foreign language classes or travel to exotic places?
Eventually you’ll want to devote time to exploring these activities because they’ll help you to grow more fully into yourself as a person. However, for now simply explore your dreams, passions and interests on paper.
It’s also a good idea to get an idea of your personal values using this same process. What is most important to you? Honesty, love, compassion, service to others, family connections, making a positive difference in the world? Jot down some ideas about the things that really matter to you. Through these values you’ll get a clearer idea of the type of person you are.
Eventually you’ll want to be sure that the majority of your daily activities are in line with these values. For example, does your job support your value of honesty, or are you required to “fib” or act in ways that are contrary to your values? This is important because you will never feel truly empowered until you are living in alignment with your core values!
Another great way to get to know yourself better is through journaling. When you journal, you are connecting with a deeper part of yourself: your authentic self! Start by writing down some of your inner thoughts and insights about yourself. If you’re not sure exactly what to write, try asking questions like these:
• Who am I?
• Why am I here?
• What is my life purpose?
• What am I here to contribute to the world?
• What do others think of me?
• Is that who I really am?
Don’t worry about getting the answers right – the important thing is to explore your personality and get a clearer idea of who you are. Open your mind and let the answers spill out onto the page.
Getting to know yourself is a process that will continue throughout the rest of your life, but the more connected you become with your inner self, the more confident, self-assured – and empowered - you’re going to feel.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6289.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Discover Where Your Ego Dwells
by: Richard Blackstone
Dealing with your ego is part of your spiritual growth. Use this spirituality information to understand where the ego hangs out so that you can gain more understanding about the ego and how to avoid its influence. Seek the influence of the ego's counter-balancing force, your sacred self.
I hate to be redundant, but I love Albert Einstein for being such an enlightened messenger and what he had to say about how influential our thoughts are. Remember this? “You can't get any revolutionary ideas by thinking the same thoughts that you have been thinking. You have to change the way you are thinking and think different thoughts.”
If it was important enough for Albert Einstein to think this way then, personally, that is good enough for me. In fact, changing my way of thinking and thinking different thoughts is how I got to a point in my life where I was able to sit down and write a book. Now that's a revolutionary idea, isn't it? Do you have a book inside you? Do you have a song in you that needs to get out and be heard? Do you have a passion in you that is trying to break through and reach the forefront of your thinking and desires?
Methinks that you do. There is a revolution that is going on inside you and you need to take some time to listen to yourself and nurture the voice that beckons you to reveal to yourself what you truly desire.
I am not speaking about what the talking heads on the television are telling you to desire. I am not speaking about what your parents told you to desire. I am not speaking about what Charlie, down at the neighborhood pub, told you to desire. I am speaking about what your inner guidance system is trying to reveal to you.
But let's not be mistaken here because there are two heads to this inner voice that is trying to break through. One voice belongs to your ego and the other voice belongs to your sacred self.
Remember how we live in a universe of relativity? Remember how we learned that everything in this physical universe is in relationship to everything else? Well, that inner voice inside our heads is no different than anything else in this world of relativity.
At one end of the spectrum is our ego and at the other end is our sacred self. The ego is tied to the philosophy that we are separate from each other, separate from all other things in the universe and separate from God. The sacred self is tied to the philosophy that we are all one with each other, one with all things in the universe and one with God. Our lives exist between the margins.
The ego is part of the human make-up and will be with us whenever we dwell in the realm of the physical and live within this concept we know of as time because the ego only exists in our past memories or our future imaginings. The ego cannot exist in the present moment of now. That is where the spirit dwells. When we return to the realm of the absolute, everything reverts back to the love that is the core of our being and the ego disappears because we are once again in full knowledge that we are one with the source of all that exists and there is no concept such as time. There is only the present moment of now and the ego cannot exist in this environment.
Right now we are living in this physical universe, ergo the ego is very much a part of our make-up, but we must also remember that the sacred self is just as much a part of our beingness as the ego. Unfortunately, we have been conditioned so much by our society to listen to, and take the advice of, our ego that we don't think about our sacred self too much.
The reason for this preponderance of ego-based thinking is that most people do not dwell in the present moment. We are conditioned to live in the past or the future. The more you are able to live in the present moment the more you will be able to lose the influence of the ego and listen to your sacred self, or spirit.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6318.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
Three Ways to Empower Yourself
by: Iain Legg
When you’re feeling unsure of yourself or your capabilities, your options in life can seem few and far between. Not only do you have trouble recognizing opportunities to improve your life, you also resist taking action and end up feeling stuck and defeated much of the time.
Empowering yourself is a simple matter of switching your perspective and choosing to believe that you are not powerless or stuck. For example, you may currently have a perception that you’re not talented or resourceful. Such a belief will keep you locked in a cycle of fear, futility and inactivity because you won’t see the point of trying to improve your life, or you’ll be too afraid to try.
Regardless of the perceptions and beliefs that may be holding you back, there are specific things you can do to transform them and embrace more empowering beliefs. Below you’ll find three easy ways to help you switch your perspective from disempowerment to empowerment:
1) Challenge your limiting beliefs and fears. The most difficult thing about perceptions is that they appear to be undeniable truth in your own mind. For example, you may have held a belief for years that you’re not good at a particular task or activity, but when you begin to explore that “truth” later, you realize that you never gave it your full effort or didn’t allow time to fully master it. Once you do, you realize that you’re capable of much more than you ever suspected!
In order to fully empower yourself, get into the habit of questioning and challenging any limiting beliefs, fears and doubts that come up about you or your capabilities. Are they really true? Why do you think so? Have you ever tried to prove them wrong? By asking questions like this and being willing to expand your perceptions, you quickly realize that you are the only one holding yourself back!
2) Affirm your strengths and capabilities frequently. Along with disempowerment usually comes a belief that you’re weak and powerless, which is simply another perception! Begin changing this perception by affirming frequently that you are strong, powerful, talented and capable. Build up yourself up with encouraging words and thoughts and you’ll begin to believe in yourself more and more each day. Over time, this belief continues to grow and you’ll be able to do things you never would have believed you were capable of before.
3) Take action. Feeling disempowered usually causes you to hold back on taking action, either because you’re frightened, or because you believe it’s futile to try to change anything. Your first impulse might be to wait until you’re feeling stronger before you take action, but did you know that taking action can make you feel stronger? That’s right, taking action can empower you!
Be willing to take action in order to build up your confidence, even if you have to take very small steps. Come up with one small action you can take, push your fear aside and then go for it! Then keep that positive cycle going by taking small action steps and moving forward bit by bit, and eventually you’ll realize that you are anything but weak and powerless!
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6295.shtml
Lim Qian Bing
FA08063
The Many Faces Of Anger
by: Laura B. Young, LMFT
Having over thirty years experience as a psychotherapist, I have seen anger expressed in many of its forms, by omission and commission. Usually we have a way of expressing anger that is our signature, that is a way of being angry that we resort to over and over again, when we are in conflict. Habits have power because usually, we are unaware and we react unconsciously or automatically. Think for instance of where you place your tooth-brush. Every morning you reach in the same direction, without conscious thought unless it has been moved. Moving it breaks the automatic habit, as you become aware and notice you have to reach in a different direction. Many of our daily routines are similar response, i.e. automatic.
Like feelings in general, anger in and of itself is not good or bad. Its just a feeling. Feelings well up in us, as urges to go to the bathroom well up, without conscious invitation. It’s what you do with the feelings that will make a difference in the quality of your life and how it affects those near and dear. Most of us do not know, how to express anger appropriately, we’ve never been taught. Anger is feared, denied, projected and denounced. Often people associate any expression of anger with the extreme end of the spectrum, that of violence. Often and especially in relationships, it is the inability to express anger properly, that can escalate into violence.
On an anger spectrum; at one end we see irritability, grumpiness, negativity, criticism, resentment and judgemental behavior. These are milder forms of anger, but anger nonetheless. Our society seems to be more tolerant of the lesser forms, and our family conditioning allows it. Maybe because it is so prevalent, it is not addressed for what it really is, inappropriate anger. In the middle, is anger that has less intensity and is more amenable to appropriate expression. As it moves towards the other side, we encounter greater intensity as rage, fury, indignation and wrath. These levels of anger indicate on some level, a loss of control, a level of destructiveness verging on madness and violence. Wrath often implies not only rage and moral indignation but also a desire to punish. So where are you on this spectrum? Generally every individual has a troublesome spot. I read a quote from a Master who lived in the mountains. He answered several of life’s hard questions for the inquirer without hesitation. When asked how to handle anger, he broke his walking stick in half and bellowed “Do you think I’d be living alone in this deserted place if I had the answer to that?” Sooner or later we all have to come down from the mountain, and deal with fellow humans in the market place. Someone is invariably going to step on our toe, …. it!!
As a clinician, except for violent people, who take an extreme position and I very seldom work with, it’s the “nice nice’ anger avoiders, or deniers that give me the most trouble. If you are not willing or able to become aware of how you act out or project your anger, its like pulling teeth. They deny their anger, or fear it and fear it in others. They are also more likely to project it onto others. Not me, but them. Often avoiders have since childhood pushed down any version of angry feelings and may not be able to identify how it reveals itself in their lives. Maybe in childhood they were afraid to express, or lived in a violent home where an individual expressing could lead to violence. Nobody helped them differentiate violence from normal levels of dissatisfaction.
Sometimes it’s a woman living the “Christian Way”, who has mistakenly misinterpreted assertiveness and personal power, as aggressive, and non Christian. This is a hard nut to crack. One woman with the above profile, had Bible quote answers for many things including “turning the other cheek”. She however loved to attend boxing matches, and football games. She was videoed by her son, yelling “kill him, kill him” when she got fired up at these public spectator sports. Monday morning she was back to her “other cheek” way. She was unable to connect the dots as to how she projected her denied rage onto others. Her three children felt unheard, and experienced having no permission to express anything that wasn’t sweetness and light in her presence. When they grew to young adulthood, they limited their contact with her. She asked over and over “why are you upset with me?” “I haven’t done anything” She couldn’t express her own anger, and caused her children and others about her to feel guilty when they had their feelings. This mother was in fact a crazy maker, and it was sane of the children to keep their distance. She controlled others and frustrated them with avoidance, forgetting, being self righteous, thwarting plans, being late, etc. This behavior is so nebulous, one can’t get it out of the vapors, and make sense of it. You feel the disconnect with reality, but its hard for the average person to put a finger on exactly what is going on. Even in treatment such people usually have to be in a life altering crisis, to surrender their mask or ego, long enough to see the cracks in their cosmic egg.
I’m much prefer to work with anger that is available. Sometimes it is not pretty, its down right toxic, however its more available for exploration and change, than the suppressed and the denied. Anger is passion which indicates there is energy available for work if a person is ready to change. It is a big “if” due to the fact some people are addicted to anger. In the moment of their explosion, they feel powerful and for others it is a “rush” a high, that makes them feel at least temporarily more alive. The habit of anger then feeds the addiction as they get a surge of adrenalin and other feel good hormones. At this point it becomes more than a bad habit, its emotional excitement. You know of people who create some drama when life evens out. For people who rely on their anger in this way, the intense feelings keep their life from being dull, because they haven’t learned other ways of experiencing personal power.
You and I know that daily we rub up against situations that can if we allow it will trigger our anger. As matter of fact if we reacted to every opportunity to become angry, we’d be constantly angry. How about people who carry a well of shame, a high level of sensitivity and low self esteem. The slightest criticism sets off all three of the above stated characteristics. It can become explosive and blaming as well as projected on to whomever gets in their way. Usually their buttons have been pushed and inside of the raging adult is a child possessed, feeling vulnerable and out of control. Road rage is such an example. “How dare you cut me off, as others cut me off in the past, and I am justified in my rage toward you and a wanting to hurt you.” Of course all of this isn’t thought out, it a reaction to what is smoldering in the persons unconscious. The evidence of what is in the unconscious is the menancing, excessive, out of proportion , out of control behavior.
Some people suffer from black and white thinking, failing to be flexible enough to include others who are different. This concrete way of looking at a the world is quite prevalent in children until the age of reason. Some people get stuck at this level of development, and have a simplistic view of the world. This group spews moralistic anger towards others, when those others have broken the rules. Its as if they have a patent on what is right in the world and in order to protect it, they make others wrong. The offenders are labeled by this self-righteous group as bad, evil, wicked, sinful and deserve to be punished. So if one is different from the tribe, or from the church group, one may be harshly judged. It is interesting at times to look at the lives of the judges of how others should be. The ridigity of the frame they put around how others should live, is often frightening. What is more frightening is that this kind of thinking and anger is very prevalent in out society, at every level, from the highest offices to the person in the street. Such people claim moral superiority.
Hate happens when a person doesn’t resolve anger and allows no window of compassion or forgiveness to enter. Its really a hardened anger when one person decides that another person in totally wrong or evil or both. Its usually the cause of ongoing rumination, in the hater, who despises the offender and won’t let go or soften towards him or her. Sometimes the hater experiences secondary gain by seeing themselves as innocent and a victim.
You may see yourself in one or more of the examples I have given. You may wonder if you are able to change a life long habit of this nature. The first step is to become aware of what you do and how you do it. If you have an intention and willingness to change the way you express anger, it is certainly doable. Next time I’ll start with tools to address different modes of anger and the problems it causes in your life.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6230.shtml
hi...Today i want to talk about 'obesity'.
Obesity or other name fat or obese is a term used to describe body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. If you are obese, you have a much higher amount of body fat than lean muscle mass.
Rates of obesity are climbing. The percentage of children who are overweight has doubled in the last 20 years. The percentage of adolescents who are obese has tripled in the last 20 years.
Consuming more calories than you burn leads to being overweight and, eventually, obesity. The body stores unused calories as fat. Obesity can be the result of eating more food than the body can use,drinking too much alcohol and not getting enough exercise
Certain thyroid problems may also lead to signficant weight gain. Genetic factors play some part in the development of obesity -- children of obese parents are 10 times more likely to be obese than children with parents of normal weight.
Obesity is a significant health threat. The extra weight puts unusual stress on all parts of the body. It raises your risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and gallbladder disease. Conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which were once thought to mainly affect adults, are often seen in children who are obese. Obesity may also increase the risk for some types of cancer. Persons who are obese are more likely to develop osteoarthritis and sleep apnea.
A combination of calorie restriction and exercise (when adhered to) appears to be more effective rather than either one alone. Sticking to a weight reduction program is difficult and requires a lot of support from family and friends.
Even modest weight loss can improve your health. It is important to work with your health care provider or dietician to develop a plan that is best for you. For most people, weight can be lost by eating a healthier diet, exercising more, and adopting new behaviors such as keeping a food diary, avoiding food triggers, and thinking positively.
There are many over-the-counter diet products. Most do not work and some can be dangerous. Before using one, talk to your health care provider.
Prescription weight loss drugs are available. Such medicines include subutramine (Meridia) and orlistat (Xenical). Ask your health care provider if these are right for you.
Surgery may be an option for persons who are morbidly obese and who cannot lose weight using other methods. Weight loss surgery, such as placing adjustable bands around the stomach and gastric bypass surgery, can significantly improve weight and health in the right candidate. Talk to your doctor to learn if this is a good option for you.
Obesity can lead to a gradual decrease in the level of oxygen in your blood, a condition called hypoxemia. Persons who are obese may temporarily stop breathing while asleep (sleep apnea). Decreased blood oxygen levels and sleep apnea may cause a person to feel sleepy during the day. The conditions may also lead to high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension. In extreme cases, especially when left untreated, this can lead to right-sided heart failure and ultimately death.
Hi...have u hear about Zollinger-Ellison syndrome??
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or Gastrinoma is a condition that occurs with abnormal production of the hormone gastrin. A small tumor (gastrinoma) in the pancreas or small intestine produces the high levels of gastrin in the blood.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is caused by tumors, usually found in the head of the pancreas and the upper small bowel. These tumors produce the hormone gastrin and are called gastrinomas. High levels of gastrin cause too much production of stomach acid.
Gastrinomas occur as single tumors or as small, multiple tumors. About one-half to two-thirds of single gastrinomas are cancerous (malignant) tumors that commonly spread to the liver and nearby lymph nodes.
A number of patients with gastrinomas have many tumors as part of a condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN I). MEN I patients often have tumors of the pituitary gland (brain) and parathyroid gland (neck), as well as tumors of the pancreas.
Medications called proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole) are now the first choice for treating Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. These drugs reduce acid production by the stomach, and promote healing of ulcers in the stomach and small bowel. They also relieve abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Surgery to remove a single gastrinoma may be done if there is no evidence that it has spread to other organs (such as lymph nodes or the liver). Surgery on the stomach (gastrectomy) to control acid production is rarely needed today.
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