Thursday, June 19, 2008

Body Talk

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

Today Thursday • June 19, 2008

 

BY Dr Bill Maier

 

Do you ever wonder why people run the other way when you walk into a room?

 

Maybe it’s your body language!

 

Sometimes we say more by the way we carry ourselves than we realise.

 

It’s easy to send mixed signals without even being aware of it.

 

If you feel that people could be put off by your body language, try these simple steps.

·          Smile when greeting someone. A warm smile is a huge welcome sign.

·          Lean toward your friends when they’re talking. This lets them know that you care about what they’re saying and that you’re engaged in the conversation.

·          Don’t cross your arms or clasp your hands. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when relating to others. A locked posture says you’re bored or uninterested.

·          Make eye contact. Glancing around the room is a sure sign that you’d rather be someplace else and nobody wants to think they’re holding you hostage.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Get Your Family Involved

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

Today • Wednesday • June 18, 2008

 

By Dr Bill Maier

 

What should you do when you see your kids getting a little flabby around the middle?

 

Nobody wants to put their kids on a diet. It is no fun for them and it is a bad idea to call attention to their weight – especially at an age when their self-image is so fragile.

 

Maybe the answer is to make it a family affair!

 

Factors like the lack of exercise and watching too much television have been known to contribute to child obesity in children.

 

But another reason why so many kids struggle with their weight is that meal portions have gotten too big!

 

And kids tend to eat what we put in front of them.

 

Most of us are have more calories a day than we need, so just cutting back the portions at meal times can make a big difference to their diet.

 

Also, get the family on a regular exercise plan – whether it’s going to the gym, riding bikes or just taking walks through the neighbourhood several times a week.

 

When it comes to dieting, the best plan is a family plan.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Crystal clear audio for Motorola products

From TECHNOLOGY

MY PAPER TUESDAY JUNE 17, 2008

 

Motorola’s CrystalTalk

 

TALKING and listening in a noisy environment is the bane of most cellphone users. The phones that perform best in such hostile environments are probably treasured most.

 

Motorola’s CrystalTalk is a combination of microphone noise reduction and noise adaptive speaker enhancements. It seeks to enhance the clarity of voice amid a cacophony of competing environmental sounds.

 

CrystalTalk automatically adjusts audio quality, taking into account ambient noise conditions. It also adapts the device’s sound characteristics to maximise intelligibility and articulation.

 

Speaker enhancements are made to the handset’s earpiece, headset and speakerphone loudspeaker.

 

There are also noise reduction enhancements to the microphone. Some products also include a full duplex speakerphone that allows both parties to talk and be heard at the same time.

 

All these should mean that Motorola products equipped with CrystalTalk technology should offer a better audio experience.

 

Users should experiment to see if the sound quality of their Motorola cellphones is indeed better than other makes. I think it is.

New and improved Firefox 3 out

From TECHNOLOGY

MY PAPER TUESDAY JUNE 17, 2008

 

NEW YORK

 

A NEW, highly anticipated version of the Firefox Web browser is scheduled for release today, with improvements in security, speed and design.

 

Many of the enhancements in Firefox 3 involve bookmarks. Web surfers can add keywords, or tags, to sort bookmarks by topic. A new “Places” feature lets users quickly access sites they bookmarked or tagged and pages they visit frequently but have not bookmarked. There is also a new starred button for easily adding sites to your list.

 

Other new features include the ability to resume downloads midway if the connection is interrupted and an updated password manager that does not disrupt the log-in process.

 

In a nod to the growing use of Web-based e-mail, the browser can be set to launch Yahoo’s e-mail service when clicking a “mailto” link on a Web page, which one encounters when clicking on a hyper-linked name or a “contact us” link. Previously, such links could only open a standalone desktop e-mail program.

 

Yahoo is the only Web e-mail service supported. To use rivals like Google’s Gmail and Microsoft’s Hotmail, developers of those services will have to enable that capability first.

 

Firefox will also block rather than simply warn about sites known to engage in “phishing” scams that try to trick users into revealing passwords and other sensitive information.

 

Firefox is the No. 2 Web browser behind Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, and is from Mozilla, a community in which thousands of people, mostly volunteers, collectively develop free products.

- AP

Carvings of Wildlife on Ancient Tree in India

From GROUND zERO
CITIZEN JOURNALISM IN ACTION
MY PAPER TUESDAY JUNE 17, 2008

A STOMP contributor sent in photos circulated online of an ancient tree with intricate carvings of wildlife all over its massive trunk.

Its origins have reportedly been traced to the jungles of Andhra Pradesh in India.

Said Axl in his e-mail to the citizen media website: “At a glance, you may confuse the above tree with a massive trunk with a Baobab tree, which is known to possess the largest tree trunks in the world.

“But, this is yet another unknown species which is seen in the close proximity of a hermitage deep in the dense forest in Andhra Pradesh in India.”


HEALTHY LUNCHES AT WORK

From Health

Today • Tuesday • June 17, 2008

In collaboration with Health Promotion Board

 

What you eat can affect your productivity after lunch. Ms Cheong suggests these healthier choice combinations to keep your energy levels up through the week at work.

 

Eveline Gan

eveline@mediacorp.com.sg

 

MONDAY

• One small bowl of steamed plain rice

• Vegetables + a small serving of protein (fish/chicken/lean meat) + bean curd dish

• Fresh fruit + plain water or Chinese tea

 

TUESDAY

Yong tau foo noodle soup with more vegetables

• Fresh fruit + sugar-free drink or

tea/coffee with milk

 

WEDNESDAY

• Grilled/Baked fish or chicken

• Vegetables + boiled or roast potatoes

• Fresh fruit + sugar-free drink

 

THURSDAY

• Wholemeal sandwich with tuna or egg or chicken with salad

• Fresh fruit + tea/coffee with milk

 

FRIDAY

• Prawn noodle or bee hoon soup with extra vegetables

• Fresh fruit + sugar-free drink

Sorry boss, blame it on my lunch

From Health

Today Tuesday • June 17, 2008

In collaboration with Health Promotion Board

 

Experiencing the post-lunch slump is common, but healthy food choices can help fight it

 

Eveline Gan

eveline@mediacorp.com.sg

 

IT’S a common phenomenon that most office workers are familiar with.

 

You tell yourself you’ll finish that report after lunch. But soon after a hearty bowl of mee pok, you’re slumped over your desk, too drowsy to even think coherently.

 

If your boss demands to know why your report is late, blame it on the post lunch slump.

 

Nutritionists Today spoke to said that during this period, you’re likely to feel sleepy and sluggish as energy and concentration levels wane. A lack of alertness may also leave you more susceptible to making mistakes.

 

“For an average person, the post-lunch slump can occur within the first hour of your meal,” warned Ms Yondi Lee, a holistic nutritionist at Ascension Healing.

 

“By the time you finish your food, make it back to the office and sit down, you’ll start to feel the effects,” she said.

 

According to Ms Magdalin Cheong, chief dietitian at Changi General Hospital’s Dietetic and Food Services department, the post-lunch slump is often caused by eating a ”heavy lunch”.

 

“The body directs all or most of its energy to the digestive tract to try and digest all the food consumed, leaving you feeling tired and sleepy,” explained Ms Cheong.

 

What you ate for lunch may be the other culprit for the lethargy.

 

If you had been loading up on refined carbohydrates, which can be found in white rice and processed noodles such as bee hoon and kway teow, you’re more likely to be affected by the post-lunch slump, said Ms Lee.

 

“When we eat such foods, our body absorbs the carbohydrates very quickly. This causes blood sugar to rise sharply, but it falls quickly, too. This fluctuation in blood sugar levels causes drowsiness,” she added.

 

Interestingly, people who have greasy foods, such as roti prata or fried rice for lunch, may not experience the slump as quickly.

 

This is because fat slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, explained Ms Lee. But she added that this is not a fool-proof method of preventing the post lunch slump.

 

“Fats merely slow down the process but you’ll eventually feel tired because your body has to work hard to metabolise the fat.”

 

What you can do to combat the slump, said Ms Lee, is to cut down on foods containing refined carbohydrates and consume more wholesome grains such as brown rice, oats and buckwheat at lunch.

 

But what if it’s difficult to get hold of such less refined carbs?

 

“Cut down on the processed rice and noodles then and increase your intake of protein and fibre,” she advised.

 

An average-sized person who is not physically active should only be consuming about half to three-quarter bowl of white rice per meal, she said.

 

“The usual portion of one bowl of rice is really too much.”

 

It’s also helpful to keep yourself well hydrated and to avoid sitting down too soon after lunch.

 

“When you’re dehydrated, your brain becomes ‘foggy’. This is especially so in an air-conditioned room where the air is drier. Office workers also typically drink caffeinated beverages which are dehydrating,” said Ms Lee.

 

Eating a sugary snack may help elevate energy levels temporarily.

 

Said Ms Cheong: “Sugar is the simplest form which can be absorbed straight into the blood stream to provide energy. This is why some athletes drink energy beverages or eat energy bars during or before training.”

 

But beware: The sugar boost may end up becoming a vicious slump cycle, warned Ms Lee.

 

“It’s useful when you’re playing sports, but in the office, it may become a repeated post-lunch slump pattern — you get a surge of energy after the sugar boost, but when blood sugar levels drop, you feel tired again,” she said, adding that if there’s a need to snack, nuts and seeds are the best.

 

Ultimately, an average person really shouldn’t worry too much about the post lunch slump, said the nutritionists. The lapse in concentration and energy levels should pass as quickly as it began.

 

“Depending on the individual, it should be over in about half to one hour. By then, the blood sugar levels would have stabilised and you’ll start to feel alert again,” reassured Ms Lee.

Marry, With Eyes Wide Open

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
Today • Tuesday • June 17, 2008


By Dr Bill Maier

I’ve got a question for you. You say you’ve found your true soulmate, but how do you know for sure?

Well, you could always get married and see if it works out. That’s what a lot of couples do, which is why so many new marriages fail.

Or you could take the smart approach and evaluate your relationship through premarital counselling.

A good counsellor can help you look at the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship.

They’ll watch how you communicate, and determine your expectations in marriage. They’ll discern your values and your spiritual beliefs.

They’ll also help you evaluate important issues that you may have never thought to discuss.

For example, how many kids do you want to have? And what are your beliefs about discipline, school and other child rearing issues?

Taking a compatibility test can uncover scores of potential conflict. Don’t leave your marriage to chance. Go into marriage with your eyes wide open.

Imagine a world without Filipinos

From Arab News, The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily
Monday 16 June 2008 (11 Jumada al-Thani 1429)

Abdullah Al-Maghlooth Al-Watan, almaghlooth@alwatan.com.sa

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.

Read this article from the arab news website here.

Monday, June 16, 2008

A Nation's National Day Celebration


Well,

this isn't actually an article about a nation celebrating its national day, or what others would call an independence day. This is but one of the many, many pictures that would go down into history as 'how a national day was celebrated.'

It is worth keeping.

Give The Kids A Contract

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
Today • Monday • June 16, 2008

By Dr Bill Maier

Hey parents, if you’re still trying to “argue” your kids into minding, maybe it’s time to try a little “reality discipline”.

“Reality discipline” was coined by Dr Kevin Lehman, and it’s all about shifting the responsibility for bad behaviour onto your kids, where it belongs.

For instance, let’s say you can’t get your kids to keep their rooms clean. The solution is to clearly write out what’s expected of them in the form of a contract.

The contract could go something like this: “Johnny will clean his room to Mum’s expectations before lunch every Saturday. If he fails to do so, he won’t be able to go out with friends for the following week.”

You could also add an addendum that Mum will clean Johnny’s room and deduct a certain amount from his allowance.

All parties should then sign the contract.

What this does is hold Johnny responsible for his actions, and removes the need for argument.

When kids know what’s expected of them, and what will happen if they don’t obey, they will have no one to blame but themselves.