Sampai Bila......

:. Supaya berubah.................tetapi hampa

:. Supaya bertolak ansur...................tetapi kecewa

:. Supaya memahami rindu ini..............tetapi tiada kata

:. Supaya sentiasa luhur..................tetapi angan belaka

:. Supaya bersama memberi .........................tetapi hanya menerima

:. Supaya berlembut........................tetapi sambil lewa

Apa daya, apa upaya.........hanya DOA kepada yang Esa...

Inner Happiness

A happy belly and grateful gut are just a few simple lifestyle changes away.

DIGESTIVE problems such as constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn, and stomach cramps are quite common and usually not serious.

However, everyone would want to limit, or prevent, these conditions from occurring frequently and escalating into something more life-threatening.

The good news is that it’s easy to achieve good digestive health. It’s all a matter of making simple lifestyle and dietary changes. This is because the health of your digestive system depends on the food you eat (or don’t eat!), the way you lead your life, and how physically active you are.

Watch what you eat

The digestive system needs to be healthy in order for your body to efficiently digest food and absorb nutrients. A poor diet and unhealthy eating habits such as gulping food down and skipping meals can contribute to digestive disorders. A daily diet of processed foods and foods high in fat, for example, will place your digestive system under a lot of stress, as it needs to work overtime to break down these foods.

Poor nutrition results in a poor digestive system, which can cause the small intestine to lose its ability to absorb nutrients from food. An unhealthy system also causes secretory activity (eg the secretion of digestive enzymes and bile) to decrease (due to damaged accessory glands or intestinal mucosa), reduces fat tolerance, and causes malnutrition - all of which lead to poor digestive health.

Good food and habits for your gut

To ensure your digestive system is in optimal health, try these tips, which are part of the World Gastroenterology Organisation’s global nutritional recommendations to improve digestive health.

·Eat smaller, more frequent meals eg four to five smaller meals rather than two to three large meals a day. But be sure that these smaller meals don’t increase your overall calorie intake!

·Fill up on fibre-rich food like fruit (eg pears, apples, papaya), veggies (eg broccoli, green leafy veggies, leeks), legumes (beans, peas, lentils) and whole grains (multigrain bread, cereal, brown rice).

·Have more fish, at least three to five times a week.

·Choose meat with lower fat contents eg chicken, turkey, or lean cuts of beef.

·Reduce your intake of fatty, greasy, and fried foods.

·Consume probiotics eg cultured milk.

·Drink at least two litres of water daily and decrease consumption of caffeinated, alcoholic, and sugar-rich beverages.

Lifestyle and activity matters

Leading a healthy lifestyle and getting sufficient physical exercise are key to good digestive health, as well as overall wellbeing. Here’s how you can get your digestive system to work optimally:

·Reduce stress
Excessive stress can divert the blood flow from your digestive system. The digestive system responds well to routine. Having set times for certain tasks will benefit your digestion, and can help you feel more in control. If you’re suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), stress can also stimulate spasms in your colon.

·Maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI)
Obese or overweight individuals face an increased risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and cancer. Cardiovascular exercise helps strengthen abdominal muscles and reduces sluggishness by stimulating the intestinal muscles to push digestive contents through your system.

· Quit smoking
Smoking affects the entire body, including the digestive system. It lowers pressure at the junction between the stomach and oesophagus, causing a backflow of stomach acid into the oesophageal that can result in heartburn and other complications. Smoking also aggravates peptic ulcers and inflammatory conditions of the bowel, and is linked with an increased risk of numerous cancers.

·Limit consumption of alcoholic, caffeinated, and sugared beverages
These can all affect your digestive health and cause such problems as heartburn and constipation, and worsen disorders like IBS. Alcohol may cause inflammation of your stomach or oesophagus lining and produce heartburn symptoms. Caffeine may cause stomach acid to flow backwards (reflux) and trigger heartburn.

Probiotics and gut health

THE World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) recognises probiotics as “live microbes that have been shown in controlled human studies to impart a health benefit.” The WGO believes that their daily consumption can play a role in improving digestive health by modifying the balance of bacteria in the gut in favour of “good” bacteria and by controlling harmful enzyme activity.

Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan is president of the Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology & Hepatology (MSGH). This article is courtesy of the society and supported by the Vitagen Healthy Tummies Programme. For a free digestive health booklet by the MSGH, please contact 03-5621 1408 or 03-5632 3301.

The Science Of Forgetting

It is normal to suffer some memory loss — where you last kept the car keys, the reason you’re at the pharmacy in the first place and the name of the person you’ve been speaking to for the last 15 minutes.

Memory loss is non-discriminatory and universal, but not much is really understood about how memory is stored, and why and how we forget.Forgetting can be funny, but it can also be unnerving at times, says Martha Weinman Lear, author of Where Did I Leave My Glasses?.

Lear, like some of us, has a case of bad memory recall. As a writer, she grew increasingly frustrated with her memory blanks and sought to seek reassurance that her memory loss was normal. “The title of this book, she says, let me tell you, is a phrase carved into my soul,” Lear writes in an article on her publisher’s website.

“I often could not see what I was writing because I could not find my eyeglasses.”Her neurologist tells her that her memory loss is normal. It’s a condition that normally begins at early middle-age with symptoms such as forgetting names. That discovery piqued Lear’s curiosity to find out: what is normal memory loss?“Normal is not sexy. Normal does not attract pharmaceutical giants and press coverage,” she observes.

The irony is that normal does not attract medical attention and research, says Lear, who spent two years of research for her book.Lear presents readers with the issues surrounding remembering and forgetting in an extremely conversational style. Her approach and humour is occasional self-depreciating, but delivers the weight and essence of the issue well.

The book is extremely well-researched, based on interviews and correspondence with noted psychiatrists, psychologists, neuroscientists, computer scientists, evolutionary biologists, as well as friends and acquaintances.Each issue is approached with ease and grace, with a narrative flow that simplifies the mumble and vocabulary of academic and medical research.

And when the subject tends to be even slightly technical, Lear tries her best to explain everything in simple English, if apologetically.She introduces the categories of memory in straightforward language, with situations we can all relate to, and outlines the different types of memory that is affected by ageing.

How does one improve memory? According to her research, it is not known whether nutritional supplements such as herbs and minerals can actually help, but a healthy diet is definitely recommended. Lear personally finds physical and cognitive exercise helpful, although there is no conclusive scientific evidence of their effectiveness.

Aerobic exercise is highly recommended as it is known to release certain chemicals that improve the cognitive process, even in lab mice.There are also certain things that we never forget, such as emotional and physical pain. Lear tackles this by presenting both sides of the argument on whether men or women are better at remembering them.

The most interesting part of the discussion is based on research that says that we are biologically wired to forget. Using personal anecdotes, Lear describes the pain she felt upon her husband’s death and how she dealt with a sudden recall. Emotional pain can be retrieved, she says, but physical pain simply cannot be retrieved with precision.

“We are wired such for our survival. If we had literal memory of great physical pain, such as childbirth, or pleasure, such as a sexual orgasm, society might cease to function in an orderly way,” Lear points out. And we agree.

She also discusses “flashbulb memories”, that is, memories of where we were and what we were doing at the instant we learned of some momentous event, such as 9/11. These are public events, but stored in our memory as personal events. She quotes psychologist Ulric Neisser, who describes it as “an occasion when two narratives that we ordinarily keep separate — the course of history and the course of our own life — were momentarily put into alignment.

”These memories endure because of their emotional force on our lives, and also because we recall them and repeat them in day-to-day conversations endlessly. This memory is very little affected by age, and is etched even deeper if the event occurs earlier in youth. The fascinating fact about this memory is that we each are convinced that the version in our mind is accurate, even when it isn’t.

The Malaysian equivalent is probably March 8, 2008, an eventful moment in our times which we will no doubt talk about over and over again.Lear does not spend considerable space discussing Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia, as it is already heavily researched. She does share a few pointers on how to identify memory loss that is not normal, but according to some researchers, it may be a judgement that is hard for the person himself to make.

What brings people to the doctor’s office is when something happens, such as a big mistake at work or when memory loss interferes with daily functioning.In the last chapter of her book, Lear looks at memory and forgetting from a biological and evolutionary perspective. This era, she observes, is obsessed with mental fitness.

This craze is driven by neuroscience, and will eventually be highly commercial. It appears to be leading towards an anti-ageing industry, going beyond the chemical and surgical enhancement of Botox, further supported by external memory from computer science and artificial intelligence.

Having misplaced this book twice (and not very often remembering to take the trash out!), this writer takes comfort in the tome’s simple reassurance. Lear, an award-winning journalist, takes the seriousness out of normal memory loss, and makes an easygoing and enjoyable read out of what is normally approached from a neuro-scientific angle.

The paperback edition of Where Did I Leave My Glasses? by Martha Weinman Lear is priced at RM60.90 a copy and is available at all major bookstores.

:. The Edge 29/06/09

Monday Blues......

What a tiring, sleeping and bad mooding day..........today..........

Saya geram dengan beberapa orang yang telah menambahkan beban emosi saya hari ini.......sorang emotional prince......dan sorang lagi.......most unresponsible woman............grrrrrr

Fahamilah Istilah " Self Quarantine"

Oleh Hayati Ibrahimya_t@hmetro.com.my

LANGKAH PENGAWALAN...Dr Ismail menunjukkan topeng muka, gel pembersih tangan yang perlu digunakan untuk mengelak jangkitan H1N1.

PUTRAJAYA: “Ramai yang tidak faham istilah ‘self quarantine’ (mengkuarantinkan diri sendiri). Itu masalah yang kita hadapi,” kata Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.Beliau berkata, kebanyakan ibu bapa atau mereka yang baru pulang dari luar negara masih menghantar anak ke sekolah agama atau menghadiri majlis di tempat awam dan membeli-belah walaupun sudah diminta kuarantin di rumah. “Kita dapati perkara ini tidak dipatuhi sepenuhnya, ada mereka yang sudah menunjukkan simptom masih aktif bergerak ke majlis makan malam dan membeli-belah.

“Malah, saya juga dapat maklumat ada ibu bapa yang tidak menghantar anak ke sekolah kerana ditutup seperti Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Assunta dan Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Jalan Davidson, tetapi masih benarkan anak ke sekolah agama,” katanya pada sidang media selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Teknikal Mengenai Kejadian Wabak H1N1 Bilangan 6/2009 di Kementerian Kesihatan, di sini, semalam.

Dr Mohd Ismail berkata, senario itu membuktikan kebanyakan masyarakat negara ini termasuk ibu bapa tidak memahami maksud sebenar kuarantin di rumah. “Jadi terpulang kepada kementerian untuk memberitahu sekolah, guru dan pelajar... ‘self quarantine’ bermakna mereka mesti berada di dalam rumah, tak boleh ke mana-mana dan sekiranya ada simptom mereka perlu dapat rawatan daripada klinik dan hospital berdekatan,” katanya.Beliau turut meminta mereka yang baru pulang dari luar negara memberi kerjasama supaya penularan wabak H1N1 dapat dikawal.

Sepuluh perkara yang perlu dilakukan ketika menjalani kuarantin di rumah.

1. Hendaklah berada di rumah sepanjang tempoh kuarantin yang ditetapkan dan mesti berasingan dari ahli keluarga lain yang sihat.

2. Semasa berada dalam tempoh kuarantin, anda tidak dibenarkan keluar dari rumah sama ada untuk bertugas, sekolah, tuisyen, majlis makan malam, kenduri, membeli belah atau mana-mana tempat awam.

3. Dapatkan bantuan daripada saudara mara atau rakan bagi memperolehi keperluan harian jika tinggal bersendirian.

4. Kurangkan pertemuan dengan rakan dan saudara mara serta elakkan dari hadir di tempat awam.

5. Catatkan nama, nombor telefon dan alamat mana-mana saudara mara atau rakan mengunjungi dan memasuki rumah anda.

6. Gunakan penutup muka sepanjang masa jika mengalami batuk dan demam.

7. Amalkan kebersihan diri seperti menutup mulut semasa batuk atau bersin. Cuci tangan selepas menyentuh, hidung, mulut atau mata dan pastikan pengudaraan dalam rumah baik.

8. Pantau kes-kes demam dan tanda-tanda jangkitan setiap hari sepanjang tempoh kuarantin.

9. Hubungi segera pegawai kesihatan daerah berdekatan sekiranya mengalami demam dan simptom berkaitan.

10. Mengikuti perkembangan semasa mengenai penyakit ini dari media massa seperti radio, televisyen, akhbar dan lain-lain.

Employment Outlook For 2009

Recruitment consultants remain positive on the local job market for 2009, but speak of changes, for both employers and employees.

Late last year, Citigroup sent shockwaves across the world when it announced that 52,000 jobs worldwide would be lost by early this year. This was in addition to the 23,000 jobs it had cut from January to September. In November, Dutch electronics giant Philips said it would lay off 5% of its workforce at its healthcare division.

However, things are not as gloomy on our shores. According to recruitment consultants, the Malaysian economy is relatively insulated compared with other countries. While some employers are becoming more cautious about their recruitment and compensation budget, wide-scale retrenchment is unlikely to occur, they say. What’s more, high-growth sectors are still in need of manpower, while quality talents continue to be in demand. And, if you have been actively adding value to your company’s bottom line, you still stand to be duly rewarded.

Steady for now“There is no need to panic as the signs are still positive at the moment. We should not be overly pessimistic about the outlook, even though we may experience more of a downturn,” says Ross McKenzie, Malaysia country manager of recruitment specialist Robert Walters. “Other markets have more exposure to the effects of the recession. So, they may suffer more. I think Citigroup’s situation illustrates the point very well, as most of the job losses come from the sale of its business processing operations in India, and from its German retail banking operations.”

McKenzie observes that the Asian economy has become more resilient after surviving the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis and the 2003 SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] outbreak. Furthermore, Malaysia is faring better than its Asian neighbours. “Unlike Singapore, we’re not officially in a recession. Although there is a slowdown, it’s very much business as usual. Our company is still receiving lots of requirements from our key clients across the sectors. There are even new foreign businesses that are planning to set up offices in Malaysia,” he says.

Employers more cautious and selectiveIn uncertain times like these, most employers are likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach, said Madhvi Pande, compensation practice team lead at Hewitt Associates, in an interview last November. “As of now, the forecast for Malaysian economy is still strong. There are no significant actions from the employers yet. It’s still too early to tell. We’d probably see the full impact in nine or 12 months’ time.” Be that as it may, Pande believes that the current economic climate will cause employers to be more cautious.

“It will make businesses think twice. They will ask themselves: ‘It may not hurt us yet. But are we prepared if this happens?’” The implication is that employers may be more selective compared to the go-go days. As Melissa Norman, country manager of Kelly Services points out, organisations will be more critical of their existing talents and new recruits. “We feel that the selection process will be a little more stringent. When hiring, organisations will want to ensure that the candidates hired are able to show results quickly and contribute positively,” she elaborates.

Sunny Khoo, practice leader, human capital group, Watson Wyatt, says top performers will still be in demand. “Based on our recent Pulse survey conducted in response to the financial crisis, attracting and retaining high-potential employees was the biggest priority for most of the companies,” he says, adding that the banking and financial sector will be on a “cautiously optimistic mode”. “All hirings, whether replacements or new hire, will be supplemented with business justification.

Eventually, only the top candidates will get the job. If this scenario persists, it may lead to higher unemployment rates, especially among fresh graduates. It will be an employers’ market, or rather it has started to be one.” In mid-November, theSun reported that the government would form two committees to monitor job terminations and potential retrenchments, and to provide re-skilling, retraining and re-employment to assist retrenched workers.

However, Hewitt’s Pande believes that companies are more likely to focus on better utilisation of manpower instead of laying off employees on a big scale. “They are likely to conduct a productivity analysis and assess the return on their human capability. Employers will focus on training and development to improve employees’ job skills. They will also make use of alternative work arrangement like part-time jobs.

Essentially, there’ll be more planning in putting money in the right areas, so that it can increase output,” she explains. Using a Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) news report as a reference, Khoo reckons that there are no foreseeable massive layoffs. “However, some companies, especially the manufacturing concerns, are looking at cost cutting by reducing shift times, working hours, and partial shut-down of operations. The scenario will be clearer after the first quarter,” he says.

In late November, the New Straits Times reported that the FMM’s 2,300 members have not retrenched their workers. This remains the case even though orders are already declining by as much as 20% to 30% due to lower demand from overseas. FMM’s president Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon was reported to have said that to cope with the situation, some members might close their factories for a longer period than usual at year-end while others might decide not to extend their foreign workers’ contracts.

“Retrenchment is the last resort. Now, we have members who are cutting work hours,” Yong told the paper.Meanwhile, Norman believes that prospects will remain positive for high-quality talents. “People will continue to be the driving force in any organisation’s success. The question will be whether the talents will be able to consistently prove their ability to add value to their respective roles,” she says.

“The market is experiencing a talent crunch. However, talents with proven track records and who are able to add value to any given role will be in demand. With that in mind, we urge candidates to continue to upskill themselves by harnessing their personal and professional skills.”

Money and rewardsWhile most Malaysian employees may not have to fret over losing their rice bowl, recruitment consultants are generally more conservative on monetary returns. According to the Towers Perrin “Compensation in Crisis” Pulse survey, over 90% of companies in Asia are still planning base pay increases for 2009.

However, respondent companies in Malaysia reported a decline in planned 2009 base pay budgets from 6.7% to 6%. “There wouldn’t be a drastic increment. Gone are the days when companies can pay 30% extra to hire new employees,” Khoo says. McKenzie concurs, believing that the negotiating power of an employee will be reduced in a market facing recession.

“At the moment, we are not affected as yet. But employees also have to be realistic in terms of salary increment. We do not know how significant the impact will be,” he says, adding that employers are expected to be more cautious in rewarding their staff. “Buy-out bonuses are not likely or will be done selectively.

Blanket increments due to inflation are not going to happen. Bonus and increment will be focused on performance,” he says. Khoo adds that the amount of funds allocated for staff’s incentives will either be maintained or reduced. “So, the question is, how is the fund going to be distributed? Obviously, top performers will get more. So if you’re a mediocre performer, you can forget about your bonus,” he says.

The meritocracy practice mirrors Hewitt’s latest survey on Asia-Pacific salary increase. According to Pande, half of the 50 companies in Malaysia surveyed say there will be no changes in their budgets, while the other half who are planning to review their budgets say they are reserving the merit pool for high performers.

“While this has always been the case, it’s even more important now,” she stresses.Steven Pang, regional director (Asia) of Aquent, an international marketing and creative staff agency, encourages talents in the creative and media-related industries to focus less on monetary rewards.

“If you are a fresh graduate who is looking to get your first job, you should be smart about it and go for solid companies. You’ll also need to increase your stamina as your workload is going to be doubled. This is not the time to tell employers ‘I want more money and fewer hours’,” he points out. As for talents in the mid to senior levels, expect to receive fewer job offers, Pang adds. “Don’t chase the money.

Be cautious about your career move and weigh out the risks and rewards.”“The options may not be there any more as employers are going to be very selective about who they take in. In Malaysia and Singapore, our clients are cautiously hiring those with high productivity,” Pang elaborates

Issue 89 (January 2009) of Personal Money.

Gambar Permukaan Bulan Disiar

PANORAMA yang menunjukkan Bumi dirakamkan oleh kapal angkasa penyiasat Kaguya milik Jepun.TOKYO - Agensi Angkasa Jepun menyiarkan gambar terbaru permukaan bulan yang dirakamkan oleh kapal angkasa penyiasat kecil iaitu Kaguya beberapa minit sebelum ia terhempas, lapor sebuah akhbar semalam.

GAMBAR terbaru permukaan bulan disiarkan oleh Agensi Angkasa Jepun semalam.

Gambar-gambar itu sempat dirakamkan menerusi kamera berdefinisi tinggi sebelum kapal penyiasat itu terhempas pada 11 Jun lalu. Imej permukaan bulan yang tandus dan beralun-alun itu semakin jelas sebelum Kaguya terhempas. Bayang-bayang panjang turut kelihatan pada permukaan bulan kerana kapal tersebut mendarat ketika matahari terbenam.

Rakaman akhir pendaratan itu gelap kerana kapal itu memasuki kawasan bayang yang tidak mempunyai cahaya sekali gus tiada impak mendarat dapat dirakam.

Proses mendarat yang dikawal itu menyempurnakan misi pemerhatian bulan Kaguya yang dilancarkan pada 14 September 2007 dengan kos £353 juta (RM2 bilion).

Kaguya melakukan kerja-kerja pemetaan, meninjau permukaan bulan dan mengkaji medan magnetik dalam tempoh dua tahun. - Agensi

Benarkah Mereka ' Hanya Kawan? '

Memang antara sahabat boleh bergurau senda tetapi ada batasnya. Jika rakan wanitanya itu kelihatan berlebih-lebih atau menunjukkan kemesraan melampau, bermakna persahabatan mereka telah melampau batas.

BENAR...mereka hanya berkawan? Adakah rakan wanitanya itu satu ancaman kepada anda? Dan pernahkah anda terdetik bahawa pasangan anda itu mungkin menipu tentang kawan wanitanya.

Berkawan dengan rakan berbeza jantina bukanlah sesuatu yang pelik pada zaman serba moden ini. Tapi sejauh manakah kemesraan pasangan anda terhadap rakan wanita mereka?

Apa pun sebelum anda menyiasat kebenaran tersebut, pastikan diri anda tidak diselubungi perasaan cemburu kerana perasaan tersebut boleh mengaburi keputusan anda.

Cemburu juga boleh membuatkan anda berfikir tentang perkara yang bukan-bukan tentang pasangan anda serta rakan wanitanya.

Selepas anda berjaya ketepikan perasaan cemburu tersebut, kaji cara persahabatan antara pasangan anda dan rakan wanitanya.

Semasa membuat pemerhatian tersebut, carilah jawapan untuk soalan-soalan di bawah:

* Berapa lama masa yang pasangan anda habiskan untuk rakannya?

* Berapa kerap mereka berhubungan di telefon dalam sehari?

* Adakah pasangan anda amat mementingkan setiap panggilan telefon yang diterimanya?

* Adakah mereka nampak mesra lebih daripada rakan biasa?

* Akhir sekali adakah naluri anda mengatakan bahawa wanita tersebut mahukan pasangan anda lebih dari seorang rakan.

Jika mereka menghabiskan banyak masa bersama dan sering berhubung telefon, awas, perhubungan anda mungkin goyah disebabkan wanita tersebut.

Jika rakan wanita itu berlebih-lebih sebagai contoh bersentuhan kulit secara mesra bila bercakap dengan pasangan anda, bermakna persahabatan mereka telah melampau batas.

Memang antara sahabat boleh bergurau senda tetapi ada batasnya, ditambah pula dengan naluri anda kuat mengatakan yang wanita tersebut mahukan sesuatu yang romantis daripada pasangan anda.

Tetapi sebelum anda bertindak, anda perlu ingat bertepuk sebelah tangan tidak akan berbunyi. Rakan wanita ini hanya menjadi ancaman sekiranya pasangan anda membuatkan dia betul-betul menjadi ancaman anda.

Mungkin pasangan anda tidak menyedari bahawa rakan wanitanya mempunyai niat serong, tapi tidak bermakna dia tidak boleh menilai dengan cara layanan rakan wanitanya yang berbeza dari sahabat lain.

Jika mereka hanya kawan, pasangan anda juga mesti tahu had waktu yang sepatutnya dihabiskan dengan rakan wanitanya itu dan sejauh mana pentingnya panggilan telefon daripada wanita itu.

Bermakna, jika anda rasa tidak selamat atau rasa terancam dengan sikap wanita tersebut, perlu diingatkan juga bahawa pasangan anda itu juga sepatutnya menjaga perasaan anda dan tidak bersikap sesuka hatinya.

Berbicara untuk elak syak wasangka

Jika persahabatan pasangan anda dengan rakan wanitanya menjadi satu gangguan pada perasaan anda adalah lebih baik jika anda berdua duduk berbincang.

Beritahu dia apa yang anda rasa dan pastikan anda tidak minta sesuatu yang membuatkan dia rasa terikat dengan anda. Ini kerana pasangan anda sebenarnya berhak untuk berkawan dengan sesiapa sahaja sama seperti anda juga berhak memilih sesiapa sahaja sebagai rakan.

Pasangan yang menghormati anda akan menerima dan mengambil berat tentang apa yang merisaukan anda. Dan perhatikan juga adakah pasangan anda berubah sekali gus membuatkan anda berasa lebih selesa dengan situasi baru tersebut.

Jika dia tidak mengendahkan kerisauan anda, maka tibalah masa untuk anda berdua mengkaji dan memastikan adakah kehadiran anda bermakna untuk dia.

Tidak dinafikan sahabat memang perlu tetapi janganlah sampai merosakkan hubungan intim anda dan pasangan.

Memang pasangan anda bebas berkawan namun jika persahabatan tersebut mengganggu perhubungan anda maka persahabatan tersebut perlu dihentikan.

"Tidakkah saya nampak terlalu mengongkong jika meminta dia jangan berkawan dengan perempuan?"

Itu hanya dilakukan apabila anda pasti bahawa 'ada sesuatu' yang luar biasa pada persahabatan mereka.

Tidak salah jika anda berbuat demikian jika anda pasti bahawa wanita itu tidak berniat ikhlas terhadap persahabatannya dengan pasangan anda.

Memang pasangan anda patut menyedari hakikat tersebut dan selesaikan dengan baik, namun perlu diingat anda juga berhak untuk menyuarakannya jika anda mahu.

Anda juga perlu mengawal diri, bersikap tenang dan bertutur dengan jelas untuk melindungi hak anda. Jangan sesekali bergaduh, reaksi si dia boleh memberitahu respons dia terhadap isu tersebut.

Jika dia bersikap negatif terhadap kerisauan anda, mungkin ini memberitahu anda bahawa hubungan anda perlukan 'cuti panjang', mungkin pada tempoh tersebut dia boleh berfikir dan membuat keputusan apa yang dimahukan dalam hidupnya.

Cuti Amah: Majikan Tidak Setuju

Utusan Malaysia, 19/06/2009

SAYA tidak bersetuju dengan kenyataan Menteri Sumber Manusia mewajibkan majikan memberikan cuti sehari dalam seminggu kepada pembantu rumah warga asing hujung tahun ini.
Adakah kenyataan ini dibuat setelah mendapat pandangan daripada majikan-majikan rakyat Malaysia? Bukan semua majikan di Malaysia kejam dan menyerahkan urusan rumahtangga dan anak-anak kepada pembantu rumah mereka.

Banyak masalah akan timbul kepada majikan dan bukannya kepada menteri berkenaan. Masalah sosial, jenayah dan peluang mereka lari juga sangat tinggi. Sedangkan kami majikan telah berhabisan ribuan ringgit untuk mendapatkan khidmat mereka.

Siapa yang membela nasib kami majikan jika pembantu rumah lari? Kami majikan mendapatkan khidmat pembantu rumah supaya kami khususnya kaum wanita boleh menyumbangkan khidmat kami kepada negara.

Tetapi jika mereka lari, kami terpaksa membayar denda kepada Imigresen. Kalau tidak diberi cuti, kami harus membayar pampasan dan denda sehingga RM10,000? Belum dikira lagi masalah penjagaan anak dan rumah.

Saya berpendapat isu cuti ini wajar diberikan atas budi bicara dan persetujuan antara majikan dan pembantu rumah sahaja. Tidak perlu dimasukkan ke dalam perjanjian. Seperti pembantu rumah saya, waktu rehatnya ialah pada waktu petang menemani anak bermain atau menonton TV, sementara saya memasak makan malam. Waktu kerjanya adalah 5 pagi hingga 9.30 malam sahaja. Selepas itu, dia boleh berehat di biliknya mendengar radio atau berhubung dengan keluarganya di Indonesia.

Dia juga ada masa untuk sembahyang lima waktu, mendapat makanan yang halal dan berkhasiat dan bilik yang selesa. Pakaian dibelikan pada Hari Raya dan setiap kali perbaharui kontrak. Wang gaji juga boleh dihantar ke kampung apabila diperlukan ataupun disimpan di dalam bank atas nama beliau sendiri.

Mereka juga boleh ikut kami bercuti atau boleh memilih tinggal di rumah. Itulah layanan saya terhadap dua pembantu rumah saya sebelum ini dan juga yang sekarang. Yang penting, kami sama-sama bersetuju, asalkan semua kerja rumah dan anak beres.

Kebajikan mereka saya jaga dan mereka dilayan seperti manusia. Alhamdulillah, setakat ini saya tidak mempunyai masalah besar dengan pembantu rumah saya. Mereka ke Malaysia untuk bekerja kerana kehidupan di negara sendiri sangatlah jauh susahnya.

Kementerian Sumber Manusia dan mana-mana NGO atau agensi yang menyokong cadangan ini diminta melihat layanan negara lain terhadap pembantu rumah mereka.

Jangan kerana kes-kes terpencil yang berlaku, semua majikan di Malaysia menerima musibah.
Lebih baiklah Menteri Sumber Manusia dan kementerian berkaitan menyemak caj ejen-ejen yang mengenakan bayaran sehingga RM7,000-RM10,000 untuk mendapatkan seorang pembantu rumah dan meminta gaji pula sehingga RM600 sebulan.

Pelaksanaan undang-undang juga mesti tegas ke atas warga asing supaya mereka hormat kepada kita. Kenapa mereka dimanjakan? Kenapa kera di hutan disusukan, anak di rumah mati kelaparan?

MAJIKAN BAIK HATI
Kuala Terengganu

Rintihan Ibu Mangsa Rompak

Utusan Malaysia, 23/06/09

DALAM ruangan pojok Awang Selamat beberapa bulan lalu, ada disentuh tentang isu pendatang tanpa izin dan kesannya. Kini dengan era baru Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menjadi Perdana Menteri, besarlah harapan saya supaya keamanan dan ketenteraman yang pernah kita kecapi tidak akan tergugat.

Saya sendiri mengambil masa yang lama untuk mengatasi trauma kerana dirompak di rumah sendiri oleh empat perompak pada 20 Mac lalu pukul 3.30 pagi. Apatah lagi saya mempunyai empat orang anak perempuan. Rumah saya hanya sebuah rumah di kampung. Kini saya takut untuk untuk meninggalkan anak perempuan saya seorang diri.

Bayangkan anak saya yang baru lepas Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) terpaksa mengikut saya ke tempat kerja setiap hari.Selain kehilangan barang kemas yang mempunyai sentimental value, telefon bimbit, wang dan komputer riba, saya tertanya-tanya di manakah tempat yang selamat jika di rumah pun saya dirompak.

Sekarang setiap pukul 3.30 pagi saya akan terjaga kerana ketika itulah kami sekeluarga diikat oleh para perompak.Sepanjang masa mereka menggeledah, saya dan suami begitu risau dan takut. Risau dan takut bukan kerana harta atau barang berharga yang akan hilang tetapi risau dan bimbang kerana keselamatan empat orang anak gadis kami.

Saya memberanikan diri bersuara supaya anak-anak kami tidak diganggu (walaupun seorang anak gadis saya ditampar kerana sempat menendang perompak yang ingin mengikat kakinya).
Saya juga memberanikan diri meminta mereka tidak mengambil dokumen-dokumen penting seperti kad pengenalan dan pasport antarabangsa.

Perbualan saya dengan seorang jiran yang bekerja di sektor perbankan yang menziarahi saya selepas malapetaka ini, menimbulkan banyak pertanyaan. Begitu banyakkah wang pendatang Indonesia sehingga ada talian khas mereka di bank untuk mengirim wang ke Indonesia.
Malah menurut jiran, pekerja Indonesia akan menghantar wang dalam ribuan ringgit.

Mereka di sini bukan profesional, tetapi pekerja biasa, buruh, pembantu rumah dan bekerja di ladang. Ini amat berbeza dengan jururawat dari India yang bertugas di Malaysia. Setiap bulan mereka dapat mengirimkan wang sebanyak RM350 sahaja balik ke India.

Saya juga bersimpati dengan anggota polis. Mereka bertugas bertungkus-lumus. Bayangkan dalam tempoh 10 minit mereka telah pun sampai ke rumah saya. Dari gambar-gambar yang ditunjukkan untuk tujuan pengecaman, perompak-perompak ini pernah dipenjarakan dan dibebaskan.

Nyata penjara bukan institusi yang menakutkan mereka. Mereka juga profesional ketika merompak. Cara mereka mengawal mangsa, mengacu senjata tajam di leher saya serta menggeledah bilik-bilik jelas mereka sangat cekap.

Sehingga kini, ketika kami tidur, saya masih melihat anggota polis ronda masih lagi meronda di kawasan tempat kediaman kami. Jika ada kutukan terhadap anggota polis ternyata orang yang membuat kutukan tidak bersyukur dan tidak merasai pahitnya pengalaman berjumpa perompak. Saya sendiri melihat bagaimana seorang anggota polis berlari sejauh dua kilometer bersama D9 (anjing pengesan polis) untuk menjejaki perompak.

Rumah saya telah diceroboh sebanyak enam kali. Tetapi kali ini saya begitu trauma kerana perompak berjaya lepas sehingga ke bilik tidur. Harapan saya agar pihak tertinggi negara, khususnya kepimpinan Najib, berhati-hati dan berwaspada kepada setiap dasar yang dibuat, khususnya melibatkan kemasukan warga asing. Kesan dari dasar yang silap akhirnya kita berasa takut berada di negara sendiri.

Saya harus pura-pura berani di hadapan anak-anak selepas peristiwa ini. Ketakutan akan menjadikan anak-anak saya hilang semangat. Ke mana lagi kami hendak tinggal kerana inilah rumah kami, hasil dari keringat kami suami isteri serta pengorbanan dari segi wang ringgit dan masa.

Apakah ini harga yang perlu kami bayar atas nama pembangunan dan ke arah mencapai negara maju?

AMINAH AHMAD
Serkam Darat, Merlimau, Melaka

Striking A Balance In Discipline

The Star, 22 June 2009

I like your idea of balancing love with discipline, but I’m not sure I can do it. My parents were extremely rigid with us, and I’m determined not to make that mistake with my kids. But I don’t want to be a pushover, either. Can you give me some help in finding the middle ground between extremes?

Maybe it would clarify the overall goal of your discipline to state it in the negative. It is not to produce perfect kids. Even if you implement a flawless system of discipline at home, which no one in history has done, your children will still be children. At times they will be silly, lazy, selfish, and yes, disrespectful. Such is the nature of the human species.

We as adults have the same weaknesses. Furthermore, when it comes to kids, that’s how it should be. Boys and girls are like clocks; you have to let them run.

My point is that the purpose of parental discipline is not to produce obedient little robots who can sit with their hands folded in the parlour thinking patriotic and noble thoughts! Even if we could pull that off, it wouldn’t be wise to try.

The objective, as I see it, is to take the raw material with which our babies arrive on this Earth, and then gradually mould them into mature, responsible adults. It is a 20-year process that will bring progress, setbacks, successes and failures.

When the child turns 13, you’ll swear for a time that he’s missed everything you thought you had taught – manners, kindness, grace, and style. But then maturity begins to take over, and the little green shoots from former plantings start to emerge. It is one of the richest experiences in living to watch that blossoming at the latter end of childhood.

Sebab Lelaki Liat Bayar Hutang

Oleh RUSINAH SIRON, Utusan Malaysia 27/05/09

APABILA kenyataan Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) melaporkan bahawa kaum lelaki paling liat bayar hutang berbanding dengan peminjam wanita, terfikir juga di fikiran kita, apakah sebab lelaki bersikap demikian?

Walaupun tidak ada kajian yang spesifik untuk mencari sebab yang pasti, tetapi daripada pengalaman, pembacaan, pemerhatian penulis, banyak sebab yang boleh dikaitkan dengan 'keliatan' lelaki untuk membayar hutang.

Pertama, tidak ada perancangan yang kemas dan tidak fokus semasa membuat pinjaman dan antara sebab lelaki meminjam antaranya untuk membayar pendahuluan kereta, membeli keperluan rumah tangga kerana 'sokongan dan dorongan' isteri, berniaga yang belum pasti kejayaannya dalam suatu tempoh tertentu dan sebab pinjaman peribadi.

Kesan daripada tiada perancangan yang kemas dan teliti dalam membuat pinjaman menjadikan lelaki tidak pasti akan tahap kemampuannya untuk membayar pinjaman. Setelah membuat pinjaman, semangat kuat untuk membayar hanya enam bulan pertama semasa produk yang dibeli itu masih baru dan masih 'bau wangi.' Tetapi apabila produk yang dibeli telah lusuh dan buruk, maka semangat membayar hutang itu pun semakin pudar.

Kedua, tidak ada konsep 'pinjam untuk simpan' tetapi konsep 'pinjam untuk perhabis!' dan inilah sebab utama mengapa peminjam susah membayar hutang kerana tiada lagi dana disimpan untuk membayar hutang.

Peminjam kebiasaannya lebih lambat membayar hutang jika ada jaminan keselamatan seperti hutang koperasi, AIM dan jabatan serta agensi kerajaan. Ini kerana walaupun lambat dibayar, tindakannya adalah lebih berdiplomasi. Orang lelaki lebih cepat membayar hutang pinjaman yang berisiko tinggi seperti Along dan samseng kerana takut dipukul.

Ketiga, ada lelaki meminjam kerana desakan isteri atau ahli keluarga atau teman wanita. Pinjaman itu adalah untuk majlis kahwin, kenduri kendara, membeli emas permata, persekolahan anak-anak, ubah suai rumah dan sebagainya. Pinjaman atas sebab keseronokan dan kemewahan itu sememangnya menghalang ramai lelaki untuk membayarnya balik dengan rasa senang hati.

Keempat, lelaki kurang perasaan takut dan bimbang kerana tidak membayar hutang berbanding wanita kerana merasakan diri mereka kuat dalam pergaduhan, bertekak, bertumbuk dan diherdik. Hal ini berbeza dengan wanita yang soal emosinya banyak kelemahannya dan jiwanya dan tidak kuat dalam menerima tekanan pemberi hutang. Atas sebab rasa kuat itulah kaum lelaki kuat bertahan daripada membayar hutang.

Bayar hutang itu wajib. Bagi kaum wanita yang mempunyai anak lelaki, suami, teman lelaki, abang, adik dan sebagainya, nasihatilah mereka untuk bayar hutang mengikut masa ditetapkan.

Prof. Madya Dr. Rusinah Siron Kolej Pengurusan Bisnes dan Perakaunan

Universiti Tenaga Nasional

Manjakan Diri Dalam Suasana Mewah

Oleh MERAN ABU BAKAR, Utusan Malaysia

Penerangan mengenai cara penjagaan wajah dan solekan yang sesuai antara intipasti dalam program Passion Anggun di AsterSpring Origin of Beauty.
BILAKAH kali terakhir anda mengutamakan kesihatan diri, memanjakan diri, mencari ketenangan, mengikuti kemahuan dan kata hati serta melalui kehidupan seperti yang anda impikan.

Pastinya sukar untuk anda memberikan jawapan kerana mungkin semua itu tidak pernah anda fikirkan.Elakkan seketika kehidupan harian yang sibuk dan nikmati ketenangan. Beri keriangan pada kehidupan menerusi rangsangan deria, kebangkitan jiwa dan pulihkan semangat yang hilang.

AsterSpring Origin of Beauty melalui program Passion Anggun menjelmakan konsep kehidupan yang indah secara menyeluruh dengan meremajakan tubuh badan, minda dan semangat dalam suasana yang terpelihara. Alami pembaharuan dengan rawatan kepakaran istimewa dan terapeutik peribadi untuk kesejahteraan luaran dan dalaman anda.
Pengurus Besar AsterSpring, Karen Ho berkata, Passion Anggun merupakan program keahlian yang meraikan keunikan setiap wanita moden menerusi pendekatan integrasi kesihatan dan kecantikan.

''Temui nikmat kehidupan di AsterSpring Origin of Beauty dan manjakan diri dalam suasana mewah. Relaks dan biar tubuh serta jiwa anda dibelai pakar terapi dalam suasana yang tenang dan nyaman dilengkapi ruang istirehat, bar jus dan bilik persendirian.
''Wanita sememangnya layak dimanjakan. Keahlian dengan program Passion Anggun membolehkan ahli menghadiri ceramah khas dan bengkel mengenai pemakanan yang betul, gaya hidup sihat, peningkatan usia dan sebagainya.

''Di AsterSpring Origin of Beauty, kami menawarkan program penjagaan wajah dan membaik pulih seri dalaman dengan memberi tumpuan pada emosi, fizikal dan mental,'' katanya yang ditemui semasa pelancaran program Passion Anggun di KLCC baru-baru ini.
Program Passion Anggun bernilai lebih RM6,100 termasuk rawatan wajah dan badan, produk penjagaan kulit, kosmetik dan suplemen kesihatan untuk setahun. Kini, ia ditawarkan pada harga RM1,900 sahaja untuk tempoh setahun.

Tambahnya, program penjagaan kulit dan rawatan badan yang disediakan bersesuaian dan memenuhi kehendak pelanggan yang mengalami tekanan setiap hari. Setiap rawatan yang disediakan memberikan kesan maksimum pada tempoh minimum.

Karen berkata, menjadi hasrat AsterSpring Origin of Beauty memberikan yang terbaik pada pelanggan. Setiap sentuhan adalah unik dan memenuhi kehendak pelanggan dengan pelbagai gaya hidup dan setiap produk yang yang digunakan bebas daripada bahan-bahan berbahaya.

''Kumpulan ahli terapi kami bukan hanya memberikan nasihat mengenai jenis rawatan yang sesuai dengan pelanggan malah akan menerangkan mengenai perancangan jangka pendek dan panjang dengan penggunaan teknologi terkini bagi hasil yang memuaskan hati setiap orang.
''Selain itu, sesi pendidikan akan diberikan bagi mempastikan pelanggan memahami apa yang mereka perlu lakukan dan rutin seharian semasa di rumah,'' jelasnya

Confinement practices - practical or irrational?

The Star, 01/06/09

Confinement practices range from the practical (having ginger in your food to rid the body of gas) to the downright unhygienic (not having a bath for a month). Should they be strictly adhered to or are they just a bunch of old wives' tales?

According to Dave Teoh, group president and CEO of the Daveleen group of companies (including the Peiling Postnatal Care Services & Consultancy):
There were a lot of confinement practices in the past which may not apply today. For example, mothers were told not to sit in an air-conditioned room. But if you think about it even the labour room is air-conditioned. What about the people living in Cameron Highlands or Beijing in the winter? Does it mean they have to move to a hotter country or location?
These are some of the things that you have to think about - whether they are true or just myths.
If you ask me I would say most of them are just myths. The most important aspects of the confinement period are your lifestyle and your rejuvenation. The first seven to 10 days is the crucial period. The confinement period is the time for the mother to rest and rejuvenate. In fact confinement practices don't just cover rest and nutrition; it also covers your lifestyle.

In the old days most women worked on the farm, perhaps planting padi or working in the orchard. During confinement they actually had the time to rest. And those days you needed somebody to help you boil the water for your bath and also to bathe the baby. That's why they had a confinement nanny (pui yuet).

In the past women needed a confinement nanny to help them do things like boil the water and do the washing but now you have a water heater, a washing machine and disposable diapers. So you don't need a confinement nanny anymore.

Importantly, the confinement period has to be relaxing and a wonderful experience for the mother. It cannot be a matter of hiding yourself in the room and not being able to go out. That is not the right way to do it. Of course it's better to stay indoors but there is no solid evidence that if you go out there will be adverse effects. Look at the westerners - they go out after delivering their babies!

One of the confinement practices that may conflict with the doctor's advice is the consumption of alcohol. When you talk about Chinese confinement one of the main ingredients in food preparation is wine. I don't believe the woman in confinement should take alcohol but she can take rice wine which has been boiled till the alcohol content is completely evaporated. Only then do you use it in food preparation.

Drinking rice wine (without the alcohol) or what is sometimes called "confinement water" will help reduce the water retention in the woman. However, these days you don't even have to drink all this because there is R/O (Reverse Osmosis) water and you also have good filtration systems - so you don't need to have the confinement water, you can just take the R/O water.
Another thing we don't encourage (which used to be done in the past) is the practice of buying raw herbs and boiling them because herbs by nature are toxic. So it is better to get processed herbs.

Herbs are still important for rejuvenation but make sure you get the processed type in capsule or extract form.

According to Dr Wong Pak Seng, consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist;
One cannot dismiss age-old practices totally, even in the modern era with advances in medical care and evidence-based medicine. A lot of the confinement practices (more than 60%) are related to foods and food directly contributes to nutrition, which is important to everyone, more so after childbirth.

After childbirth, a woman may feel weak, and this is likely to be due to a sudden withdrawal of "feel good" hormones as well as anaemia due to the blood lost during labour. Also, the stomach and bowels which were initially compressed by the pregnant womb, now suddenly expands because of the sudden decrease in the size of the womb. These organs swell up with air and fluid, hence the sensation of bloatedness or "wind". If we can understand this, we can appreciate why the foods that are prepared (containing ginger or black pepper) for the mother in confinement appears to correct the problem.

Confinement food and herbal food are also medication. They try to replace the hormones so that the woman feels better. But too much hormones is not good either. When you have just delivered, your womb is very big, your ovaries are very big, everything is large and if you take too much hormones sometimes it can result in problems like bleeding or if there are fibroids they can start to grow. My advice is that you can take everything that is prescribed but take it in moderation.

I don't think there is any effect to the baby if the mother is still breastfeeding while taking the herbal medications. I don't think they will be toxic to the baby. Even the alcohol with a lot of herbs in it - it's fine to drink as well but the way to minimise the transfer to the baby is by drinking it late at night after you're done breastfeeding baby for the day. Then you sleep till morning and say about six hours later when it's time to feed baby again, the alcohol would have washed out of your system.

If you are very concerned and baby is not yet sleeping for six hours then give one feed by the bottle. But I usually tell my patients not to worry, they can have the herbal preparation because the actual amount of alcohol that is released in the breast milk is very little.
I believe one should be selective about confinement practices. Practices that are outright irrational cannot possibly be beneficial to the woman.

For example, the prohibition on having a bath and washing the hair. It is illogical not to put hygiene as the top priority. Keeping one's body clean by having regular showers is more likely to contribute to a quick recovery. The other irrational practice is the avoidance of fruits or vegetables. These foods are a good source of vitamins and fibre which would help ensure good bowel habits and faster recovery.

As for the advice not to touch water, if you are immersing yourself in iced water, then yes, it will cause temperature changes in you but if you are just washing your hands with cold water it wouldn't make much difference. So I think this belief that the woman shouldn't touch water is just an old wives' tale.

There's another irrational practice that prohibits a woman from drinking water. There's no problem with drinking water. It may not be so appropriate to drink soft drinks because your tummy is already gassy. But if you drink plain water or warm water I don't see how there's anything wrong with that.

When a woman tells me that she can't drink water and she's very dehydrated and constipated, I tell her to drink a lot of red dates water because red dates has a high iron content. Or she can drink milk. Otherwise (if she is not drinking water or milk) she would be constipated and then the milk won't come if she's trying to nurse baby.

There's some rationale behind some of the confinement practices. For example, if you take ginger and black pepper to get rid of the wind - yes, it's very logical. But to restrict your fluid, to believe that you cannot drink water and cannot shower - those, I think, are not appropriate in this age.

There's no truth to these unusual confinement practices.

Ashraff's nose was bleeding

Tergamam and panik jugak sekejap tengok darah yang mengalir dari hidung Ashraff, consider banyak jugaklah. Then after tekap ngan ais, darah tu dah berhenti mengalir. Yang buat aku lagi panik tu, sebab Ashraff kata dia mengantuk lepas tu........emmmm freaky afraid if something bad happen to him.

Moms Info: Colostrum

During pregnancy your body starts creating colostrum as your breasts prepare to nurse your unborn baby. Some women begin leaking colostrum weeks or months before delivery. For first-time moms who are unaware of this process, it can be a bit frightening or worrisome until their doctor or midwife assure them it is normal. First-time moms may start leaking colostrum during the third trimester, while previous mothers may start leaking as early as the second trimester.

Colostrum is a thick, sticky, yellow-to-orange colored milk that is created by your breasts to give your baby the nutrition he needs immediately after birth. It is low in fat, high in carbohydrates and has a laxative effect on the baby which helps him pass the first stools that are sitting in his intestines. Colostrum also helps get rid of the baby’s excess bile and helps lessen the chance of jaundice in your newborn.

Colostrum not only provides nutrition, but it also protects the infant from harmful viruses and bacteria. It also introduces beneficial bacteria in the baby’s digestive tract. The concentration of immune factors is much higher in colostrum than it is in the later mature milk that your baby will receive when your milk comes in.

It is important, if you plan on nursing to nurse frequently and often during the first few days of your baby’s life so that your baby not only gets all the colostrum and antibodies he needs, but also so that your milk comes in strong.

Colostrum is also a 100% safe vaccine for your baby. Many parents refuse to have the eye drops given by hospitals to babies after birth, and instead prefer to use the mother’s colostrum to rub on the baby’s eyes in hopes of killing bacteria and preventing infection. This natural vaccine is referred to as immunoglobulin A (IgA) and is different from the immunoglobulin G (IgG) that baby received from the placenta while in the uterus. IgG worked through the baby’s circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.

If you do not start leaking colostrum during your pregnancy, it is not a cause for concern. Not all pregnant women leak before their baby is born, and not producing colostrums has no effect on the success or failure of a mother nursing her newborn.

Kanak - kanak dan Bayi Juga Boleh Sakit Kepala

Sewaktu kebanyakan kita melalui zaman kanak-kanak, istilah sakit kepala tidak pernah wujud. Tetapi hari ini, anak-anak sering mengadu sakit kepala. Malah, bukan sesuatu yang luar biasa apabila seorang kanak-kanak mengunjungi pakar tiga kali sebulan kerana sakit kepala.

Sakit kepala masalah yang sangat biasa dan dialami semua orang. Tetapi, sakit kepala di kalangan kanak-kanak yang belum pandai bercakap tentunya lebih meresahkan ibu bapa dan anak itu sendiri.

Pakar Pediatrik Pusat Perubatan Darul Ehsan, Dr Roliza Ibrahim, berkata bukan saja kanak-kanak berusia setahun ke atas mengalami sakit kepala, malah bayi.

“Bayi akan memberitahu sakitnya dengan menangis dan merengek. Tetapi jika berusia lebih setahun, dia mungkin memberitahu kesakitannya dengan menggosokkan mata, menarik rambut atau memukul kepala sendiri,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun, kanak-kanak juga suka berlakon. Jika dia pernah sakit kepala sekali atau mendengarnya daripada kawan-kawan, setiap kali mengalami kesakitan dia akan mengatakan dia sakit kepala walaupun sebenarnya tidak.

Justeru, ibu bapa harus tahu dengan pasti, adakah anak sememangnya sakit kepala atau sekadar berlakon. Cara pa ling mudah, anda tanya anak bagaimana rasa sakit yang dialaminya?

Biasanya kanak-kanak yang benar-benar mengalami sakit kepala akan memberitahu kepalanya terasa berdenyut-denyut, diikuti muntah dan jika sakit kepalanya sangat kuat, dia tidak boleh bangun. Sakit kepala ada beberapa jenis.

Biasanya kebanyakan kanak-kanak mengalami sakit kepala disebabkan masalah tekanan dan sakit kepala kerana masalah migrain. Selain itu masalah penglihatan dan resdung juga menyebabkan sakit kepala. Jika diserang demam denggi juga boleh sakit kepala.

“Ada juga kes sakit kepala sebenarnya simptom terhadap penyakit lain. Misalnya ketumbuhan dalam otak atau meningitis. Kanak-kanak ini biasanya sakit kepala dan muntah. Tetapi ia kes yang sangat jarang berlaku,” katanya.

Secara umum, sakit kepala yang di alami kanak-kanak adalah sakit kepala disebabkan tekanan dan migrain. Dr Roliza berkata, sakit kepala disebabkan tekanan biasanya mudah sembuh jika punca tekanan itu dapat dikenal pasti.

“Misalnya, anak kita berasa tertekan setiap kali hendak ke sekolah. Jika perhatikan, pada hari cuti dia tidak pula sakit kepala,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, kadangkala apabila diserang sakit kepala, anak lebih selesa bersendirian dalam bilik gelap dan se nyap untuk melegakan kesakitan.

Cahaya lampu hanya akan menambahkan kesakitan. Jika itu berlaku ibu bapa harus memahami keada an anak.

Sakit kepala disebabkan migrain pula biasanya diwarisi daripada keluarga. Jika ibu bapa adalah pesakit migrain, anak-anak juga berisiko berhadapan masalah sama.

Sakit kepala disebabkan migrain terbahagi kepada dua jenis, ‘common migrain’ dan ‘classical migrain’.

‘Classical migrain’ adalah sakit kepala yang disertai amaran iaitu aura.

Aura adalah gangguan visual yang menyebabkan seseorang itu terasa disuluh dengan cahaya. Sakit kepala jenis ini berlaku dalam kepala.

‘Common migrain’ pula sakit kepala yang tidak disertai aura. Sakitnya itu terjadi di sebelah bahagian kepala saja.

Common migrain tidak begitu sakit, tetapi berpanjangan. Biasanya keadaan ini dicetuskan pelbagai faktor seperti makanan, tekanan atau melakukan aktiviti fizikal terlalu lasak.

“Sakit kepala boleh diubat dengan mudah dengan hanya mengambil panadol, tetapi dos yang diberikan mestilah sesuai dengan usia dan berat badan kanak-kanak itu. Jika sakit kepala terlalu kerap menyerang dan mengganggu pelajaran, pemeriksaan lanjut dengan pakar perubatan harus dibuat,” katanya.

Jangan tinggal solat........JANGANNNNNN

Saling ingat mengingati sesama kita.....InsyaAllah

Today's Taurus Horoscope:Jun 08, 2009

You are apt to get the feeling that the grass is greener on the other side today, dear Taurus. Try not to get too hung up on this concept. Either make the effort to cross the bridge and go where the landscape looks richer and more fruitful, or simply stay where you are. The key for true happiness is to make sure that regardless of where you end up, that you are enjoying the spot where you currently are.

Khasiat buah KIWI

Kiwi setiap hari

SETIAP hari dua hidangan buah kiwi, jadikan ia aturan baru dalam diet harian anda untuk kesihatan menyeluruh. Buah kiwi mempunyai banyak manfaat kesihatan. Ia kaya dengan nutrien yang membantu mencegah penyakit, memberi tenaga selain merupakan pilihan diet harian yang mudah.

Menurut fakta, buah kiwi mengandungi dua kali ganda jumlah vitamin C berbanding oren (108.9 miligram vitamin C dalam setiap 100 gram buah kiwi), dua kali ganda vitamin E berbanding avokado dan hanya separuh kalori berbanding yang lain. Ia sesuai untuk mereka yang mementingkan kesihatan dan pesakit diabetis kerana mengandungi indeks glisemik (GI) yang rendah dan mengandungi kandungan fiber yang sama tinggi dengan hidangan emping bijirin.

"Bagi sesetengah pengguna, nilai nutrisi mempengaruhi mereka untuk membeli sesuatu. Buah kiwi sesuai dimakan mentah, dimasukkan dalam masakan dan boleh juga dimakan bersama kulitnya. Secara purata, buah kiwi menyediakan kandungan cadangan harian (RDV) vitamin C dan juga bahan lain seperti folat, potasium dan zink yang mana sangat penting untuk mengekalkan kesihatan menyeluruh. Kiwi kaya dengan bahan imunisasi.

"Anda hanya memerlukan sebiji kiwi segar, potong kepada dua bahagian dan gunakan sudu untuk mencedok isinya," katanya. Menurutnya lagi, buah kiwi amat sesuai dijadikan amalan diet harian sejak dari usia kanak-kanak lagi memandangkan mereka kini sangat terdedah kepada makanan berproses.

"Untuk kanak-kanak, sebiji buah kiwi sudah memadai untuk membantu mereka melawan penyakit biasa seperti selesema, demam dan sembelit. Bayi berusia satu tahun ke atas juga boleh diberi buah kiwi yang dijadikan puri atau dilenyek halus," ujarnya.

Dengan pengambilan buah kiwi setiap hari katanya, kita tidak perlu lagi bergantung kepada suplemen tambahan berbentuk pil atau minuman kerana buah kiwi mengandungi semua jenis khasiat yang diperlukan oleh badan.

I have learned.........

I’ve learned-that you cannot make someone love you.

All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned-that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned-that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned-that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned-that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned-that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.

I’ve learned-that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned-that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned-that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned-that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned-that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned-that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I’ve learned-that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned-that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned-that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned-that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned-that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned-that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned-that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned-that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned-that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned-that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned-that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned-that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I’ve learned-that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.

I’ve learned-that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned-that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned-that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned-that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.

I’ve learned-that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned-that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I’ve learned-that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned-that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned-that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned-that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned-that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned-that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned-that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.

I’ve learned-that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Sabar Itu Separuh Iman

Sebagai manusia kita memang sering diuji dengan pelbagai ujian dan cabaran dalam kehidupan seperti sakit, kemiskinan, penderitaan, kesusahan hidup dan kematian, untuk itu kita perlu S.A.B.A.R. Ketabahan manusia menghadapi ujian Allah banyak bergantung kepada keimanan seseorang.

Allah SWT berfirman bermaksud, "Kamu sekalian Kami uji dengan keadaan serba ketakutan, lapar dan serba kekurangan, baik mengenai harta, jiwa, mahupun mengenai hasil tanaman, dan buah-buahan, gembiralah orang yang sabar, tidak ditimpa sesuatu musibah, mereka (berserah diri kepada Allah) dengan mengucapkan: kami kepunyaan Allah dan kepada-Nya kami kembali." (Al-Baqarah: 156).

Selanjutnya Allah berfirman bermaksud, "Barang siapa yang bertakwa kepada Allah, nescaya Allah memberi kepadanya jalan keluar (dari segala kesukaran) dan diberinya rezeki dari arah yang tiada disangka-sangka." (Riwayat Surah Ath Thalaq:2-3).

Aku, engkau, kita dan semua hamba Allah di muka bumi ini kena ingat bahawa setiap ujian dan dugaan dalam kehidupan itu akan mendidik kita untuk menjadi manusia SEJATI (setengah tu dah jadi itik serati pun.....heh...heh....) iaitu beriman, bertakwa, serta meneruskan tujuan hidup mencari keredaan Allah.

Kita hidup jangan tersasar dari landasan (keep on the right track ya.....) dan mesti mengikut dan mencontohi Rasulullah SAW dalam segala bidang. Baik yang berhubung dengan Allah mahupun berhubungan dengan sesama manusia. InsyaAllah......

Hal ini sesuai dengan firman Allah bermaksud, "Tidak ada manusia yang paling mulia di sisi Allah melainkan yang benar-benar takwa kepada Allah." (Al-Hujarat:13)

Dalam hal KESABARAN Nabi SAW mengingatkan dalam sabdanya bermaksud, "Sabar yang sebenarnya pada saat bermula tertimpa musibah." (Riwayat Al Bukhari).

Sementara Hukamak pernah berkata, "Apabila seseorang itu reda menerima apa-apa yang dikurniakan oleh Allah kepadanya, maka dia akan menjadi orang terkaya di dunia." (Am I rich in this context.......jawab....jawab....)

Oleh itu, reda dan sabar adalah kekuatan yang ada dalam diri seseorang dalam menghadapi ujian dan musibah.

Seterusnya, Nabi SAW bersabda bermaksud, "Tidak ada suatu rezeki yang Allah berikan kepada seorang hamba yang lebih luas baginya daripada sabar." (Riwayat Al-Hakim). Rezeki tu Mrs Moo........bersyukurlah....AMIN

Kalau tak silap aku pernah terbaca @ terjumpa @ terpandang, ada pepatah mengatakan bahawa : Kesempurnaan hidup terletak pada tiga perkara, iaitu:

1. Pandai menahan hati dalam menjunjung agama,

2. Sabar ketika ditimpa musibah

3. Pandai mengatur belanja.

Barang siapa tidak ada kesabaran, bererti ia tidak ada agama. Barang siapa tidak ada sifat warak, bererti ia tidak dekat dengan Tuhannya - ahli Tasauf Hassan Basri

"Sifat sabar sangat penting dalam kehidupan"

"Sabar terhadap teman yang menyakitkan lebih baik daripada mencacinya"

"Mencaci adalah lebih daripada memutuskan silaturahim"

"Memutuskan silaturahim adalah lebih baik daripada berkelahi".

Dalam kehidupan tidak ada seorang pun yang terlepas daripada kesedihan dan tidak seorang manusia pun yang terhindar daripada kesusahan. Oleh itu, bersabar menghadapi musibah.

Dr Aidh Abdullah Al-Qarni mengatakan, "Setiap musibah yang menimpa dirimu misalnya kesedihan, kesusahan, kelaparan, kemiskinan, penyakit, hutang dan musibah lain, Allah akan memberi pahalanya kepada anda jika anda bersabar.

Percayalah dunia ini adalah tempat ujian dan cubaan (memang betul....tapi....takkanlah.....memang budak ni tak mendengar kata...aik...) Semuanya ini adalah ke arah mencari reda Allah. Oleh itu, kita digalakkan meminta pertolongan hanya kepada Allah.

Sebagai ibu bapa, seseorang itu mesti bersabar menghadapi kerenah anak yang sedang membesar (hmmm 1001 karenah.....). Semua kebahagiaan terletak pada kesabaran ibu bapa yang menentukan sama ada bahagia atau sebaliknya dalam rumah tangga.

Dalam kehidupan, kita tidak berjaya mendapatkan apa yang kita sukai, melainkan kita bersabar pada perkara yang kita tidak senangi (ye ke.....ye ke......suka, tak suka, suka, tak suka......terpaksa......uwaaa). Sesungguhnya, sifat sabar dapat memaafkan (senangnya......buat salah......minta maaf......tak...bukan aku...tapi dia tu....) kesalahan orang lain dan juga tabah menjadikan hati tenang, fikiran dan perasaan sanggup menahan penderitaan dihadapi dalam kehidupan penuh pancaroba.

Penemuan Menarik Berkenaan Babi

Dari Abdullah bin 'Amr r.a., Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda:"Sampaikanlah PesanKu Biarpun Satu Ayat..." Hal ini penting untuk diketahui, terutama oleh pemuda-pemuda kita yang sering pergi ke negara-negara Eropah dan Amerika di mana daging babi adalah makanan asas dalam hidangan mereka.

Dalam kesempatan ini, saya fikir kembali kejadian yang berlangsung ketika Imam Muhammad Abduh mengunjungi Perancis. Mereka bertanya kepadanya mengenai rahsia diharamkannya babi dalam Islam. Mereka bertanya kepada Imam, "Kalian (umat Islam) mengatakan bahwa babi haram,kerana ia memakan sampah yang mengandung cacing pita, mikroba-mikroba dan bakteria-bakteria lainnya.

Hal itu sekarang ini sudah tidak ada.Kerana babi diternak dalam peternakan modern, dengan kebersihan terjamin, dan proses sterilisasi yang mencukupi. Bagaimana mungkin babi-babi itu terjangkit cacing pita atau bakteria dan mikroba lainnya.? "

Imam Muhammad Abduh tidak langsung menjawab pertanyaan itu, dan dengan kecerdikannya beliau meminta mereka untuk menghadirkan dua ekor ayam jantan beserta satu ayam betina, dan dua ekor babi jantan beserta satu babi betina mengetahui hal itu, mereka bertanya, " Untuk apa semua ini?"

Beliau menjawab, " Penuhi apa yang saya pinta, maka akan saya perlihatkan suatu rahsia." Mereka memenuhi apa yang beliau pinta. Kemudian beliau memerintahkan agar melepas dua ekor ayam jantan bersama satu ekor ayam betina dalam satu kandang. Kedua ayam jantan itu berkelahi dan saling membunuh, untuk mendapatkan ayam betina bagi dirinya sendiri, hingga salah satu dari keduanya hampir tewas. Beliau lalu memerintahkan agar mengurung kedua ayam tersebut.

Kemudian beliau memerintahkan mereka untuk melepas dua ekor babi jantan bersama dengan satu babi betina. Kali ini mereka menyaksikan keanehan. Babi jantan yang satu membantu temannya sesama jantan untuk melaksanakan hajat seksualnnya, tanpa rasa cemburu, tanpa harga diri atau keinginan untuk menjaga babi betina dari temannya.

Selanjutnya beliau berkata, "Saudara-saudara, daging babi membunuh ghairah' orang yang memakannya. Itulah yang terjadi pada kalian. Seorang lelaki dari kalian melihat isterinya bersama lelaki lain, dan membiarkannya tanpa rasa cemburu, dan seorang bapak di antara kalian melihat anak perempuannya bersama lelaki asing, dan kalian membiarkannya tanpa rasa cemburu, dan was-was, kerana daging babi itu menularkan sifat-sifatnya pada orang yang memakannya

Aisya is not well

Deman sejak dua hari lepas. Hari ni pagi2 lagi dah muntah. Lepas muntah baru nampak dia cergas n ceria sikit.

Malam tadi pergi bayar deposit coffee table and tv cabinet.....emmmm modern contemporary....eemmmm ......Alhamdulillah.... tapi kalau boleh beli yang lagi murah, lagi puas hati........


TV Cabinet & Coffee Table