6 cancer-fighting superfoods

From shine.yahoo.com

By Leslie Barrie


To reduce your risk of cancer, look no further than your fridge. "All the studies on cancer and nutrition point to eating plant-based foods for their phytonutrients and other special compounds," says Richard Béliveau, PhD, chair in the prevention and treatment of cancer at the University of Québec at Montreal and author of Foods to Fight Cancer.

Aim for five to nine daily servings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables—especially these six superstars.

Broccoli
All cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals, says Jed Fahey, ScD. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells—those that aid in tumor growth.

Helps fight: breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers

Your Rx: The more broccoli, the better, research suggests—so add it wherever you can, from salads to omelets to the top of your pizza.

Health.com: 13 easy pizza recipes

Berries
All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. But black raspberries, in particular, contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor), according to Gary D. Stoner, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Helps fight: colon, esophageal, oral, and skin cancers

Your Rx: Stoner uses a concentrated berry powder in his studies but says a half-cup serving of berries a day may help your health, too.

Health.com: Go wild for berries!

Tomatoes
This juicy fruit is the best dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red hue, Béliveau says. And that's good news, because lycopene was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth in a study in Nutrition and Cancer. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year.

Helps fight: endometrial, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: The biggest benefits come from cooked tomatoes (think pasta sauce!), since the heating process increases the amount of lycopene your body is able to absorb.

Health.com: 10 tasty tomato recipes

Walnuts
Their phytosterols (cholesterol-like molecules found in plants) have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells' growth, says Elaine Hardman, PhD, associate professor at Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.

Helps fight: breast and prostate cancers

Your Rx: Munching on an ounce of walnuts a day may yield the best benefits, Hardman's research found.

Health.com: 8 super nuts

Garlic
Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach (and in the intestines, in certain conditions) when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative, Béliveau says. In fact, the Iowa Women's Health Study found that women with the highest amounts of garlic in their diets had a 50 percent lower risk of certain colon cancers than women who ate the least.

Helps fight: breast, colon, esophageal, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: Chop a clove of fresh, crushed garlic (crushing helps release beneficial enzymes), and sprinkle it into that lycopene-rich tomato sauce while it simmers.

Health.com: Surprising health benefits of garlic

Beans
A study out of Michigan State University found that black and navy beans significantly reduced colon cancer incidence in rats, in part because a diet rich in the legumes increased levels of the fatty acid butyrate, which in high concentrations has protective effects against cancer growth. Another study, in the journal Crop Science, found dried beans particularly effective in preventing breast cancer in rats.

Helps fight: breast and colon cancers

Your Rx: Add a serving—a half-cup—of legumes a few times a week (either from a can or dry beans that've been soaked and cooked) to your usual rotation of greens or other veggies.

All copyrights reserved.

A flirter's guide

Wednesday, January 3, 2001
Relationships


A flirter's guide (but beware!)

The following is a selection of popular chat-up lines. The list does not claim to be an accurate cross-section and most certainly offers no guarantee of success.

"I seem to have lost my telephone number, do you think I could have yours?"
Assessment: direct and in certain circumstances very effective.

"I thought you were great in the last episode of Bay Watch."
Assessment: fun, but what if she doesn't have a television?

"What a horrendous day. The only thing that could save it now is the smile of a beautiful woman. Would you give me a smile?"
Assessment: A classic line with a lot of charm, unless she has crooked teeth.

"Who does this cute little fellow belong to?"
Assessment: solid, so long as it's his or her dog. A love of animals always goes down well.

"Excuse me, but which of all the chat-up lines would you most like to hear?"
Assessment: intellectual, polite, but risky--she might demand a list of the alternatives.

"If I were to follow you all the way home, would you keep me?"
Assessment: cute, in a humble sort of way. Chance he or she might say no.

"I would love to cause you sleepless nights."
Assessment: ambiguous--do you really want to compare yourself to a nightmare?

"You're turning my software into hardware."
Assessment: very cheeky, only for computer nerds.

"I'm an organ donor, do you need anything?"
Assessment: witty enough, if you have two kidneys, that is.

He says, "You look a lot like my fourth girlfriend." She says: "How many girlfriends have you had?" He says: "Three."
Assessment: Love and maths don't mix, not very romantic.-- dpa

How to store and organize cats

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED

Men Are Just Happier People-- Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can never be pregnant. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks and engines. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original colour. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes. No wonder men are happier.

Are you raising your child to be empathetic and grateful?

-  Interview  - The director discovered from the CV,  that the youth's academic result is excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never has a year he did not score. The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarship in school?" and the youth answered "none". The director asked, " Is it your father pay for your school fees?" the youth answered, my father passed away when I was one year old, it is my mother who paid for my school fees. The director asked, " Where did your mother worked?" the youth answered, my mother worked as cloth cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hand, the youth showed a pair of hand that is smooth an d perfect to the director. The director asked, " Did you ever help your mother washed the cloth before?" The youth answered, never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother can wash cloths faster than me. The director said, I had a request, when you go back today, go and help to clean your mother's hand, and then see me tomorrow morning. The youth felt that its chance of landing the job is high, when he went back, he happily wanted to clean his mother's hand, his mother feel strange, happy but mixed with fear, she showed her hand to the kid. The youth cleaned his mother's hand slowly, his tear drop down as he did t hat.  It is first time he found his mother's hand is so wrinkled, and there are so many bruises in her hand. Som e bruises incites pains so strong that shiver her mother's body when cleaned with water. This is the first time the youth realized and experienced that it is this pair of hand that washed the cloth everyday to earn him the school fees, the bruises in the mother's hand is the price that the mother paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future. After finishing the cleaning of his mother hand, the youth quietly cleaned all remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and sons talked for a very long time. Next morning, the youth went to the director's office The director noticed the tear in the youth's eye, asked: " Can you tell you what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?" The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes' The director asked, " please tell me your feeling." The youth said, Number 1, I knew what is appreciation, without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, I knew how to work together with my mother, then only I can realize how difficult and tough to get something done.  Number 3, I knew the importance and value of family relationship. The director said, " This is what I am asking, I want to recruit a person that can appreciate the help of other, a person that knew the suffering of others to ge t thing done, and a person that would not put money as his only goal in life to be my manager. You are hired. Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates, every employees worked diligently and in a team, the company's result improved tremendously. A child who has been protected and habitually given whatever he did, he developed "entitlement mentality" and always put himself first. He is ig nora nce of his parent's effort. When he started work, he assumed every people must listen to him, and when he became a manager, he would never know how suffering his employee and always blame others.  For this kind of people, he can have good result, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement, he will grumble and full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parent, did we love the kid or destroy the kid? You can let your kid lived in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experienced it. After a meal, let them washed their plate and bowl together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way.  You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parent are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learn how to appreciate th e effort and experience the difficulty and learn the ability to work with others to get thing done.

Tidak Wajar Sinchan Dijadikan Ikon

Jangan terkejut andai tiba-tiba anak anda berumur kurang tujuh tahun melondehkan seluar serta menunjukkan punggungnya sambil menggoyangkannya dan berkata, "Punggung..." Timbul persoalan, dari mana mereka belajar perkara sebegitu?   Ini secara jelas adalah pengaruh yang tidak sihat daripada rancangan kartun kegemaran kebanyakan kanak-kanak termasuk sesetengah ibu bapa sendiri iaitu Sin-Chan.   Sedarkah kita bahawa, bukan semua kartun adalah selamat bagi ditontonkan kepada anak-anak mutakhir ini.   Sebagai contoh rancangan Sin-Chan sendiri yang banyak dengan unsur lucah, siri Sponge Bob yang menjadikan 'Bikini Bottom' sebagai tempat tinggal mereka.   Tidak kurang juga kebanyakan kartun yang menjadikan tema pergaduhan, perbalahan dan membalas dendam sebagai tema dan jalan cerita.   Tidak kurang juga kartun yang mempromosi adegan seksual dan cara berpakaian yang tidak senonoh serta tidak mengatup aurat.   Tanpa menafikan kartun mampu menjadi instrumen pendidikan yang terbaik untuk anak-anak namun dalam masa yang sama ianya juga amat berpengaruh dalam menanamkan budaya dan akhlak yang tidak baik kepada anak-anak.   Lantas, adalah menjadi kesalahan yang besar apabila ibu bapa sendiri yang mendorong anak-anak mereka bagi menonton siri-siri yang ternyata lebih besar kesan negatif berbanding kesan positif.   Namun, dalam masa yang sama kita berterima kasih kepada pihak yang berjaya mencipta watak Upin dan Ipin, watak kartun animasi yang diciptakan oleh warga tempatan.   Kejayaan Upin dan Ipin sebagai produk animasi Malaysia yang berjaya menambat hati kanak-kanak tempatan dan luar negara wajar dipuji dan diangkat menjadi ikon kanak-kanak terkini dengan lebih penambahan unsur didaktik secara langsung mahupun tidak langsung.   Di Indonesia sebagai contoh, ikon Upin dan Ipin digunakan semaksimum mungkin dengan melekatkan dan mengaitkan watak tersebut termasuk pada buku-buku agama.   Ini tidak lain adalah bertujuan bagi menarik dan mendapatkan perhatian anak-anak dan secara tidak langsung terhadap bahan-bahan bacaan agama.   Kesimpulannya adalah pemantauan dan penyaringan terhadap rancangan-rancangan kartun di televisyen perlu dilakukan oleh ibu bapa apabila anak-anak di rumah sementelah pada waktu cuti sekolah sekarang ini.   Dalam masa yang sama pihak televisyen bertanggungjawab menyiarkan hanya rancangan yang berfaedah dan mendidik kepada anak bangsa. (sedikit tambahan ttg upin dan ipin ialah watak kanak-kanak berseluar pendek patut di tukar kepada seluar panjang/menutup aurat)

Making a difference in life - a story for teachers

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around..'

His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.'

His third grade teacher wrote, 'His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.'

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class..'

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.'

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets..'

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had.. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there.
You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.'

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong.. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.'

(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Doctor at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today. . . . ..
pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just 'do it'.

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it!

What's important

What's important is not what kind of car you drive, but rather how many people you give a lift.

What's important is not the size of your house, but rather the number of people you welcome into your home.

What's important is not your social status, but whether you live your life with class.

What's important is not what you possess, but rather what you give.

What's important is not how many friends you have, but rather how many to whom you are a friend.

What's important is not how much overtime you worked, but rather if you work overtime for your family and loved ones.

What's important is not if you live in a great neighborhood, but rather how you treat your neighbor.

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Top Ten Reasons Why God Created Eve

10. God was worried that Adam would frequently become lost in the garden because he would not ask for directions.

9. God knew that one day Adam would require someone to locate and hand him the remote.

8. God knew Adam would never go out and buy himself a new fig leaf when his wore out and would therefore need Eve to buy one for him.

7. God knew Adam would never be able to make a doctor's dentist's or haircut appointment by himself.

6. God knew Adam would never remember which night to put the garbage on the curb.

5. God knew if the world was to be populated, men would never be able to handle the pain and discomfort of childbearing.


4. As the Keeper of the Garden, Adam would never remember where he left his tools.

3. Apparently, Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden.

2. As the Bible says, "It is not good for man to be alone."

1. When God finished the creation of Adam, He stepped back, scratched his head, and said, "I can do better than that!"

.

Women have strengths that amaze men

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They carry children, they carry hardships,

they carry burdens but they hold happiness, love and joy. 

They smile when they want to scream. 

They sing when they want to cry. 

They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. 

They fight for what they believe in. 

They stand up for injustice. 

They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. 

They go without new shoes so their children can have them. 

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally. 

They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. 

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage. 

Their hearts break when a friend dies. 

They have sorrow at the loss of a family member, 

yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. 

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. 

Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes. 

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. 

The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin! 

Women do more than just give birth. 

They bring joy and hope. 

They give compassion and ideals. 

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have a lot to say and a lot to give.

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9 Reasons Your Body Thinks It's Hungry

9 Reasons Your Body Thinks It's Hungry

By Brynn Mannino, Woman's Day
Thu, Dec 02, 2010

A staggering 63 percent of Americans are overweight. The most common cause? We eat more food than we need—and we're all guilty of doing it: mindlessly munching on a bag of pretzels during a reality TV marathon or treating ourselves to a second helping when the first was plenty. But boredom and indulgence aside, why else are we reaching for a snack when we should feel full? Some of it can be blamed on habit, while other triggers have more to do with our body's hunger signals. Check out the list below to find out the most common overeating pitfalls and simple solutions for avoiding these traps.

1. You didn't get enough sleep last night.
Lack of rest stimulates two faux hunger triggers: energy deficiency, to which our natural reaction is to nourish our bodies, and appetite hormone confusion. "When our bodies are drained, levels of leptin—a hormone produced by our fat cells that controls our appetite—decrease, while levels of gherlin—a hormone produced by our stomach that stimulates our appetite—increase," explains American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Karen Ansel, RD. That's two hormones working against you. "Getting eight hours of sleep a night is the easiest thing you can do to prevent overeating." If you do fall short on zzz's, be sure to load up on nourishing, naturally energizing foods—such as fresh fruit, complex carbohydrates and lean proteins—throughout the day to help your body feel satisfied.

2. You're taking medication that causes hunger as a side effect.
If you felt ravenous the last time you were taking an antibiotic to tame an allergic reaction, joint inflammation, acne or a bad cold, the medicine may be to blame. "Medication that contains mild steroids, like prednisone, a corticosteroid, ramp up hunger big time," says Milton Stokes, RD, owner of One Source Nutrition, LLC. "If you've already eaten a normal-size meal, ignore the drug-inflated hunger," says Stokes. Instead, try an oral fix like chewing gum, sipping warm coffee or brushing your teeth, he suggests. If you're on long-term steroid therapy, consult a dietitian to devise an eating plan that will help you feel more satisfied throughout the treatment.

3. You're thirsty or dehydrated.
The symptoms of dehydration (sleepiness, low energy) closely mimic those of being overly hungry, which may lead you to think you need food to increase your energy level, explains Sandon. When you're thirsty, your mouth becomes dry, a symptom that eating will temporarily relieve, notes Sandon. She suggests drinking a tall glass of water or cup of herbal tea before eating and waiting for your body's hunger signals to adjust (about 10 minutes). "Doing so could save hundreds of calories."

4. It's "mealtime."
As creatures of habit, we tend to eat on autopilot. While some regularity is encouraged so that you don't become overly hungry, which could lead to bingeing, it's also important to listen to hunger signals, says Ansel. "Next time you sit down to eat, ask yourself: 'Am I really hungry?' If the answer is 'no,' either eat a smaller portion or put off the meal for an hour—though no longer than that," suggests Ansel. This also applies to situations you associate with eating, like flying. "We've been conditioned to associate an airplane ride with eating," Ansel says. The solution: "Pay attention to timing," recommends Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, assistant professor of nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern. "Know how long the flight is and plan satisfying meals around it." Also, take advantage of the free (hydrating) beverages, she adds, as the enclosed space leads to hunger-causing dehydration.

5. You just worked out.
We are conditioned to feed ourselves after exercising. And, after a particularly strenuous exercise session like a spinning class or interval-training workout, we tend to feel ravenous. But that doesn't mean your body needs extra calories. "It means your body needs a specific kind of nourishment," says Marissa Lippert, RD, a nutrition consultant and dietitian in New York City. Opt for roasted chicken or other lean meats (protein will replenish your muscles) and brown rice or other whole grains (complex carbohydrates take a while to break down) to help your body recover faster and fend off hunger longer.

6. Not enough time has passed since you finished your meal.
You've just eaten lunch only to wonder: "Why am I still hungry?" Before you assume you didn't eat enough, consider that maybe you ate too quickly. "Appetite hormones need time to tell your brain you're full," explains Sandon. To prevent post-meal hunger pangs, keep these pointers in mind: Eat slowly, putting down your fork between bites; choose flavorful and satisfying foods; and include a combination of fat, protein and carbohydrates in every meal. If you're still hungry, try sucking on a mint to ward off your cravings.

7. The women around you are eating.
A joint study out of Duke University and Arizona State University found that women tend to mirror other women's eating habits. "When one overdoes it, the rest often follow along," Ansel confirms. To avoid this copycat effect, Lippert suggests taking a quick minute to reassess your own eating habits—or, if all else fails, grabbing a pal and evacuating the scene of the food. A more permanent fix? Be the one who sets a healthy example for your girlfriends to follow. Their waistlines will thank you! "Just as obesity is contagious, so are healthy habits," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet.

8. You smell or see food.
"We tend to eat with our senses more than our stomachs," says Ansel. When we smell or see food—even if it's in a photo, advertisement or TV show—our mouths water, which stimulates our appetite. Onset factors can include smelling a batch of cupcakes baking, seeing snack food laid out on the counter or watching a cooking show. The clear-cut solution: "Out of sight, out of mind." Leave the room, hide the candy jar, turn off the TV—and the craving to eat will likely subside, says Ansel.

9. You're stressed out.
"Studies show that when people recognize they're stressed, they are more likely to turn to high-fat, salty or sugary foods," says Sandon. "These foods both are comforting and feel good in the mouth," she adds. But it's not all about emotional eating. Sandon notes that your body's chemical reaction to stress could also cause hunger pangs. "Increased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and insulin may be associated with triggering appetite." Either way, appetite control boils down to decision-making. Before reaching for the ice cream tub, try quickly clearing your mind.

Good Question

A young Arab asks his father: - What is this weird hat that we are wearing? - It's a "chechia" because in the desert it protects our heads from the sun! - And what is this type of clothing that we are wearing? - It's a "djbellah" because in the desert it is very hot and it protects your body - And what are these ugly shoes that we have on our feet? - These are "babouches", which keep us from burning our feet when in the desert.   - "Tell me, papa..." - "Yes, my son…" - Why are we living in  Dearborn   Michigan  and still wearing all this sh_t? .

Zaman dulu-dulu

You Might Be An Engineer If...

"Q: What is the difference between Mechanical Engineers and Civil Engineers ?
A: Mechanical Engineers build weapons, Civil Engineers build targets."

You Might Be An Engineer If...

* —You have no life - and you can PROVE it mathematically.
* You enjoy pain.
* You know vector calculus but you can't remember how to do long division.
* You chuckle whenever anyone says "centrifugal force".
* You've actually used every single function on your graphing calculator.
* It is sunny and 70 degrees outside, and you are working on a computer.
* You frequently whistle the theme song to "MacGyver".
* You know how to integrate a chicken and can take the derivative of water.
* You think in "math".
* You've calculated that the World Series actually diverges.
* You hesitate to look at something because you don't want to break down its wave function.
* You have a pet named after a scientist.
* You laugh at jokes about mathematicians.
* The Humane society has you arrested because you actually performed the Schrodinger's Cat experiment.
* You can translate English into Binary.
* You can't remember what's behind the door in the engineering building which says "Exit".
* You have to bring a jacket with you, in the middle of summer, because there's a wind-chill factor in the lab.
* You are completely addicted to caffeine.
* You avoid doing anything because you don't want to contribute to the eventual heat-death of the universe.
* You consider ANY non-engineering course "easy".
* When your professor asks you where your homework is, you claim to have accidentally determined its momentum so precisely, that according to Heisenberg it could be anywhere in the universe.
* The "fun" center of your brain has deteriorated from lack of use.
* You'll assume that a "horse" is a "sphere" in order to make the math easier.
* The blinking 12:00 on someone's VCR draws you in like a tractor beam to fix it.
* You bring a computer manual / technical journal as vacation reading.
* The salesperson at Circuit City can't answer any of your questions.
* You can't help eavesdropping in computer stores... and correcting the salesperson.
* You're in line for the guillotine... it stops working properly... and you offer to fix it.
* You go on the rides at Disneyland and sit backwards to see how they do the special effects.
* You have any "Dilbert" comics displayed in your work area.
* You have a habit of destroying things in order to see how they work.
* You have never backed up your hard drive.
* You haven't bought any new underwear or socks for yourself since you got married.
* You spent more on your calculator than on your wedding ring.
* You think that when people around you yawn, it's because they didn't get enough sleep.
* You would rather get more dots per inch than miles per gallon
* You've ever calculated how much you make per second.
* Your favorite James Bond character is "Q," the guy who makes the gadgets.
* You understood more than five of these jokes.
* You make a copy of this list, and post it on your door (or your home page !)

"Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet." — Scott Adams.

What one’s favorite color signifies

By Barrie Dolnick

Most of us have a favorite color. Maybe you’re drawn to sky blue because it makes your eyes stand out or you find forest green particularly comforting. Whatever the case, your preferred hue can reveal a lot about what makes you tick. And the same holds true for the people you date — you’d probably have a different impression of a date if he or she said, “My favorite color is yellow” versus “My favorite color is black.” That’s because color speaks a powerful, silent language. And I can help you understand it. I’m a success coach and best-selling author of Simple Spells for Love and other books, and I’ve studied color theory. So, look up your favorite color below — then, your date’s best-loved shade — and get some colorful insights that will benefit your romantic life.

Red
What it represents: Ah, the color of passion, anger and high blood pressure. Red is a primal color. It represents primal urges, like lust (“I must have you now!”) and fury (you know the phrase “seeing red,” right?). Yes, red is a commanding color: think of how stop signs get you to halt in your tracks and how you stand back when a red fire engine goes whizzing by.

Understanding people who love it: They act — sometimes without thinking — on immediate desires. In fact, they’re usually the poster children for immediate gratification. It’s up to you if you go for it... or proceed with caution.

Orange
What it represents: OK, orange is not exactly the easiest color to wear and it’s not the most common favorite color, but guess what? Orange is as sensual as it gets. Orange is a mellowed red — and it takes primal, lusty urges and mellows them with a softer vibe. Orange is the color of early attractions, emotional responses, and inner magnetism. Oh, and one other thing: orange is also close to gold, the color of success and wealth.

Understanding people who love it: Someone who likes orange is alive with feelings, the ability to nurture, and can intuit a path to success. If your favorite color is orange, you don’t have an “off” switch when it comes to passion. This is all good stuff, but there’s nothing casual about the connections this kind of person usually forges.

Yellow
What it represents: Yellow is the color of the sun, vitality, power and ego... but it’s not a great indicator of romance. Watch out for self-centered, “me first” energy when someone prefers yellow to the rest of the rainbow.

Understanding people who love it: If yellow is your favorite color, temper your use of the word “I” when you’re interested in someone else. You can come across as too ego-centric otherwise. Now, if you’re dating someone whose favorite hue is yellow, make sure to jump in and share stories about yourself, since this person may not give you much room.

Green
What it represents: Here is the heart of the matter: green is the color of love. (It’s no coincidence that we make our money in the same color...) Green is the color of life and abundance — leaves, grass, plants — it’s all about growing, expanding, and living. So why don’t we give ferns instead of roses on Valentine’s Day? Because green is about expansive, humanistic love and acceptance, not bodice-ripping romance. What’s more, green is a nice-person color, a “do-gooder, be-gooder” kind of color. This person has a warm heart. Passion is probably in there somewhere, buried under their integrity and honor.

Understanding people who love it: If you love green, you put the greater good before your own good — but try a little selfish behavior once in a while.

Blue
What it represents: Blue is a color of clarity, communications and charm. And regardless of the shade, this hue says: “I like to be understood.” On the downside, under stress, a “blue” person can send mixed messages, have trouble making up their mind, or just space out during conversations.

Understanding people who love it: If blue is your favorite color, you never run out of anything to say — expression is your strong suit. And if you’re dating a “blue” person? The same holds true; you should always know where you stand.

Purple
What it represents: Purple evokes the energy of illusion, imagination and fantasy. Or should we say purrrrple? Purple tends to inspire coyness, romance, flirtation and teasing — it builds anticipation with a dash of playfulness. The downside of purple is unrealistic expectations. Is it easier to live in your fantasy world than the real world? Some purple-lovers prefer it.

Understanding people who love it: If you love purple, you can be an imaginative romantic or prefer imaginary romance, depending on how you feel.

White
What it represents: White is light — the combination of all colors. White symbolizes purity (the traditional bridal dress, the christening gown) and spirituality. There’s a simplicity to it, too.

Understanding people who love it: People who love white are probably clean and orderly. While white isn’t the sexiest color, it is certainly healthy.

Black
What it represents: Like white, black is a combination of all colors, but instead of purity, it represents the unknown, the unseen — mystery. Black basically holds back information... but there’s no denying that it has strong associations in our culture with “the dark side” and evil.

Understanding people who love it: If your favorite color is black, you are more hush-hush than high-strung in nature. The silence of this color lets others fill in the blanks. Black says, “I’m not telling you anything.” People who love black can be tough nuts to crack, but quite possibly worth the effort.

Astro-coach Barrie Dolnick helps people find love and happiness by understanding their stars and their karmic energy. She is the author of twelve books, including Enlighten Up! and KarmaBabe.

Akademi Al-Qur’an Cinta Madinah

Terima kasih kerana meluangkan masa untuk membaca coretan ini. Ini semua adalah kisah benar. 


Saya pernah mengislamkan seorang kawan yang beragama Kristian. Atas kelemahan saya, kini saya tak tahu dimana dia. Saya gagal menjaga kebajikannya. Pernah dia berhasrat untuk berniaga, tapi saya tak mampu nak menolong lantaran ekonomi tak mengizinkan. Benarlah kata seorang ustaz tu, dia telah mengislamkan ramai orang. Katanya, nak suruh orang masuk Islam mudah, tapi nak ikram (jaga) mereka payah. Kerana itu ramai yang kembali ke agama asal mereka kerana orang Islam entah di mana.

Seorang kawan baru masuk Islam, orang Sabah. Hidup dia susah. Untuk menampung perbelanjaan, dia berhasrat untuk berniaga Car Wash. Lebihkurang modal RM10 ribu. Maka dia telah di bawa ke Baitul Mal dan Pusat Zakat. Tahu apa mereka kata? Kamu asal Sabah ye, jadi kena buat urusan di Sabah. Bingung dibuatnya dek birokrasi orang Islam.

Seorang India baru masuk Islam. Satu hari merempat di sebuah surau akibat kelaparan. Dia mintak makan tapi orang surau buat tak peduli kerana mereka sangka dia India mabuk. Puas dia kata dia baru masuk Islam, tapi orang surau buat tak peduli dan masing-masing pakat mintak bukti yang dia Islam. Akhirnya seorang hamba Allah bagi dia makan dan sedikit duit. Kalaupun dia menipu, rugi ke bagi orang makan???

Saya pernah berura-ura untuk mengajak seorang kawan India Kristian masuk Islam. Dia ingin sangat tapi takut. Sebab katanya bapaknya dah meninggal dan dia anak sulung. Kalau dia masuk Islam, pakcik-pakciknya akan pulaukan dia, maknya yang dah tua dan adik-beradiknya. Mereka pasti akan disusahkan dan tak mustahil mereka sekeluarga boleh diancam dibunuh. "Can you stand for us?". Soalannya tak dapat saya jawab.

Kerana itulah, pada musim Haji awal tahun 2005, saya telah berdoa dihadapan Kaabah. Modal saya hanyalah airmata. Mohon pada Allah supaya semua orang dapat hidayat untuk dapat kalimah dan mati dengan kalimah, sehinggalah bayi yang terakhir daripada Hari Kiamat. Dan saya mohon mintak Allah lorongkan satu jalan supaya saya dapat bantu golongan muallaf ini, terutamanya dari segi kewangan. Sepanjang haji saya doa, di Arafah, di Mina, di Madinah, di Mekah..Entah bagaimana, saya dapat ilham untuk tubuhkan Yayasan. Saya pun tak tahu bagaimana proses nak tubuhkan yayasan dan berapa banyak wang yang perlu dicampakkan. Lalu saya doa mintak Allah RM1 juta - tanpa syarat. Saya yakin khazanah Allah Maha Luas.

2 tahun telah berlalu. Awal tahun ni saya buka perniagaan. Isteri saya yang jaga kedai dan saya masih bekerja di sebuah kilang di Nilai 3. Nama yang Allah ilhamkan adalah "Cinta Madinah" (lihat gambar). Lalu baru-baru ni saya namakan "Yayasan Cinta Madinah" - membantu golongan muallaf. Masih belum ada dana. Projek pertama untuk salurkan dana pada yayasan adalah Projek Khemah Ibadat "SUPER CAMP - Pemantapan Solat & Al-Qur'an" pada 23 Dis ni. Projek akan datang "Didik Anak Cara Rasulullah saw" dan "Solat Khusyu' Cara Rasulullah saw". Doakan kejayaan projek ini.

Konsep yayasan ini sama dengan konsep Bank Untuk Orang Miskin di Bangladesh - memberi pinjaman perniagaan tanpa syarat (dalam kes ini hanya muallaf). Biasa tak dengar kenyataan ini? "If you give them a fish to eat, they can eat once. But if you teach them how to fish, insyaAllah they can eat forever". Sesiapa yang ada pengalaman dalam hal yayasan bolehlah bagi idea.

Jadi bagaimana anda boleh bantu saya untuk melaksanakan impian murni ini?

Forwardkan email ini pada semua kawan-kawan di dalam email networking anda. Setiap kali anda forwardkan email ini, jangan lupa untuk memasukkan semula address saya : rahimi@hexagonholdings.com . Saya sendiri akan menghubungi kawan-kawan anda.

Terimakasih di atas bantuan anda. Moga Allah membalasnya di syurga.


Hj Rahimi Shamsuddin
019-2766441

**********************

Buat pengetahuan anda, projek Dana Yayasan Cinta Madinah – Membantu Golongan Mua’llaf, telah dihentikan kerana kurang sambutan. Namun projek Super Camp – Pemantapan Solat dan Al-Qur’an telah pun dilaksanakan pada Disember 2007. Program Cuti Sekolah 2Hari 1Malam akan menyusul pada Disember 2010 – Super Teen Camp 2. Tunggukan brochurenya.
Harap anda dapat meluangkan masa 5 minit menatap brochure madrasah tahfiz Al-Qur’an – Akademi Al-Qur’an Cinta Madinah. Jika tidak keberatan, dapatlah kiranya sebar2kan di kalangan rakan2 di dalam networking anda. Semoga Allah membalas kemurahan hati anda dengan kekayaan di akhirat.

Yang dhaif,

Hj Rahimi Shamsuddin
QA Manager

Accident victim’s chances of recovery slim, could be paralysed for life

By SIMON KHOO

simonkhoo@thestar.com.my

KUANTAN: After coming out of a coma and spending 115 days in hospital due to a horrific accident, seven-year-old Ku Norfaizzatu Che Ku Mustaffa is now back at home.

But gone is the cheerful girl she used to be.

Lying helpless in bed, she has to be fed with milk every three hours via an opening in her stomach, bathed and has her diapers changed thrice daily.

But Ku Norfaizzatu is considered fortunate to survive the accident which killed her mother, injured her four siblings and a neighbour.

Her aunt Che Ku Nik Che Ku Muda, 40, said doctors informed them that Ku Norfaizzatu’s chances of recovery was very slim and she could be paralysed for life.

Daily care needed: Che Ku Nik tending to Ku Norfaizzatu at their house in Taman Semambu Satu, Kuantan, yesterday. Looking on is Engku Norfasihah.

Che Ku Nik said the family was advised to care for the girl at home since she had awakened from the coma.

“She can hear us calling her name, moves her fingers slightly and blinks. However, she can’t sit up, talk or eat on her own,” Che Ku Nik said at their home in Taman Semambu Satu near here yesterday.

Relating the ordeal, Che Ku Nik said her sister-in-law Ne @ Mimi Noraini Ab Rani was sending her children – Ku Norfaizzatu, Ku Muhammad Kalmanadha, eight, Ku Kamriadha, 11, Engku Fahmiadha, 14, Engku Norfasihah, 15 – and neighbour Alija Ahmad, 15, to school on July 15.

An oncoming car tried to overtake another vehicle but rammed head on into their vehicle.

“My sister-in-law died at 4pm the same day at the hospital while Ku Norfaizzatu, who was seated in the front passenger seat, suffered serious head injuries.

“She was in a coma,” she said, adding that the other children, all seated behind, escaped with minor injuries.

She and her brother Che Ku Mustaffa, 47, are extremely upset that the driver of the other vehicle – a teacher – who was also warded for injuries, has yet to visit them to apologise and offer her condolences.

“We hope she will get the rightful punishment for driving dangerously.

“For now, we can only hope for Ku Norfaizzatu to recover and pray for a miracle,” she added.

She said the family was also facing financial difficulties in taking care of Ku Norfaizzatu as the milk powder she fed on was costly.

“We also need to buy diapers and tubes to feed her,” she said, adding that the family had already spent most of their savings to buy a special bed, pay for the operations on her stomach and a device to help her breathe.

The family was grateful to the girl’s school – SJK (C) Semambu – for initiating a collection and channelling some cash to them for the past four months.

Those who wish to help the family can contact the representative of the lawyer’s firm who took up the case – Teo Theam Huat – at 016-9888 668.

They can also visit the family at No 24, Lorong Semambu Baru 91, Taman Semambu Satu, Kuantan.

This old dorm room: What it says about you

By Kendra Hurley

Two weeks after I turned 18, I arrived at my arty New England college eager to reinvent myself. I had just left Houston, Texas, which I'd never much liked, and my family, whom I'd never much gotten along with. Moving into my dorm room, I was certain my life was officially beginning.

I purposefully left behind many staples of my teenage years — the tennis racket that saw me through four years of high school tournaments; the electric typewriter I used for college applications; the pink-rimmed curling iron that singed my hair daily. Instead, I packed a bunch of oddities, most of them completely useless: the guitar painted Day-Glo green, a going-away gift from a friend; the clunky, manual typewriter I bought after Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance convinced me that manual typewriters had more character than electric ones; the stiff and itchy blue Moroccan rug I intended to use as a bedspread.

Never mind that I didn't play guitar, that the second-hand typewriter lacked several keys, or that the nubby rug lasted all of two sleepless hours before I tossed it on the floor, where it belonged, in lieu of something, well, softer. Carrying those objects across the continent seemed important, even critical, but not because they were practical or familiar. I imagined them to be magical beans that, once planted in my dorm, might help me climb toward a whole new world of possibilities. Maybe I would be a rock star! Compose masterpieces on a romantic, fire-engine-red Royal typewriter! Travel to Morocco!

My dorm mates and I decorated our cinder-block-walled, shoebox-size, transient homes to mirror our lumbering hopes. No detail was too small to obsess over. Newcomers took leaps of faith and painted their walls lime green or rocket orange, knowing full well they'd have to repaint at the end of the school year. Those who shared rooms, like my roommate and me, pried apart our bunk beds so we could each claim half the room as our personalized terrain.

Students with singles held heated debates over whether to leave the narrow mattress on the box spring. The practical-minded argued that it made sense to use the bed frame, which not only offered storage space underneath but also kept dust where it belonged. Then they cringed, exclaiming they sounded like moms, and a group of us would rescue them, hoisting the bed frame into the closet and leaving the mattress unbridled, bohemian-style, on the dusty floor. Jen, a sophisticated sophomore, took it to the next level. She showed up with a wide, floppy futon because, she winked, it slept more than one.

Josh, one hall over, left his mattress framed, but made up for it by lacing his ceiling with red chili pepper lights. At his high school, an elite Eastern boarding school, Josh, a Westerner, had felt alienated. He arrived at college determined to indulge in serious, soul-searching bonding. The chilli peppers were part of the plan. Late at night, after the required dorm "tolerance meetings" where we freshmen practiced putting condoms on bananas, or role-played coming out as gay, we crept somberly to Josh's room to share his air-popped popcorn and Red Zinger tea.

Those sizzling chili peppers provided the perfect backdrop for mulling over the Big Questions: Could I actually be gay? Am I secretly a racist? Must I wear my leg hair long, in feminist vogue?

Many of us had picked our liberal college because we wanted to challenge and be challenged. But we also wanted to feel safe. While the campus rules outside our dorms were murky and in continual flux, inside our dorm rooms we found our footing. They were the only space where we alone set the rules, and so we made them incubators for our dreams. To have someone visit your room and slurp your crock-pot brewed tea from mugs pocketed at the dining hall was the greatest compliment. Visitors weren't just accepting who you were, but all you hoped to become.

If Josh's room had a philosophical, coffee-shop feel, Sarah's was the panacea for pre-party jitters. A no-nonsense Long Islander, she transformed her assigned shoebox into the peppiest, most conservative room on our floor. With primary-colored throw rugs, overstuffed pillows, a shiny stereo, and a never-rumpled bed, it seemed straight from an IKEA catalog. We, her hall mates, derived comfort from its bright blandness. Weekend nights, three hours before party time, we gathered there wearing lipstick and miniskirts.

Bopping along to house music, we sipped screwdrivers from plastic cocktail cups, boosting our courage to venture into a less tidy nightlife.

The morning after, after all the ridiculous things we'd said or done, or kissed, we'd skulk moodily to Kathleen's room, a masterpiece of sheer will. In her former life, Kathleen, then bookish and shy, had quietly cultivated a love for jazz and a secret wish to become, like the jazz patron Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, a nurturer of musicians. At college, Kathleen transformed her new home into a mini-version of the Baroness' Fifth Avenue apartment where Charlie Parker had died. To create a mellow, groovy ambience, she placed in the overhead light a bulb colored "dawn pink," a color rumoured to have a calming effect on prison inmates. She tucked her clock and textbooks out of sight, in a closet hidden by a beige tapestry. A bright shroud disguised her desk, which held not notebooks, but a refrigerator, a wok, a coffee maker, a set of handmade pottery mugs and a perennially burning candle.

Outside our dorm Kathleen seemed nervous and unsure. But in her room, sitting Indian-style atop her 50-year-old green, leather armchair, she'd attend to her guest's needs calm as a Buddha. And eventually, the confidence she cultivated in that room spilt into the larger world. When Kathleen started hanging with a musician, her room became his band's favorite spot to chill.

They lounged on her bright, flannel-sheeted futon for hours on end, sniffing her incense, slurping organic coffee, and tapping their cigarettes in time to Kathleen's extensive jazz collection.

Whenever I felt anxious and overextended — as was often the case — I dipped into Kathleen's room. Within minutes, my concerns began to melt. If I stayed too long, I'd find myself talking in dragged-out monosyllables like a true jazz junkie myself.

"Man," I'd say. "Rad. Sweet."

Kathleen's dreams were not my own, but once the sun had slipped into darkness and the first notes of house music emanated from Sarah's walls, the glow-in-the dark sticker stars Kathleen had placed on her ceiling began glistening, and I could see her point of view.

After college, Kathleen became an artist who nurtures bees on the roof of her Manhattan apartment building, not far from where the Baroness Pannonica lived; Sarah, now a headhunter, continues providing sanctuary from self-doubt by keeping job applicants hopeful between interviews; Josh has become an experimental educator, an advocate of the type of Socratic learning he first hosted in his college dorm room; and though I’ve had my share of mundane nine-to-five jobs, I have also continued to pursue my early dorm room dreams. I write. I travel. I kick myself daily for not being a rock star.

Our whimsical dorm decorations marked our first tentative attempts to discovering who we might be. And though they were often ridiculous efforts, they did reflect something real in each of us. Looking back, those silly sticker stars on Kathleen’s ceiling loomed like tacky, lovely guiding lights, and we’ve been following them ever since.

Freelance writer Kenda Hurley lives in a one-room apartment that looks surprisingly similar to a college dorm room. She is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, New York, and co-editor of “Foster Care Youth United,” a national magazine written by and for teenagers living in foster care. She also wrote “No rules romance: the problem with hanging out” for UnderWire.