I Think, Therefore I Am Dangerous

New Book To Look Out For

Got this email earlier, and I believe you guys would be interested to read about it:

I enjoyed visiting your blog today, and I thought that you might be interested to learn that a new edition of Napoleon Hill's classic book "Think and Grow Rich" has been published.

Its title is "Think and Grow Rich!" (subtitled) "The Original Version, Restored and Revised." I am the editor/annotator of this new 412-page edition, which is really an homage to Dr. Hill. (For several years I was the editor-in-chief of "Think & Grow Rich Newsletter.")

What I have done is this: to restore Dr. Hill's book to its original manuscript content (it was first published in 1937, but was abridged in 1960), annotate it with more than 50 pages of endnotes (most of the persons and events he discusses are generally unknown to readers today), index it thoroughly, add an appendix with a wealth of additional information about Dr. Hill and his work, and revise the book in ways to help remove certain "impediments" to reading the book today (language that today would be considered obsolete, sexist or racist). None of these things had previously been done with TGR.

If you would like to learn a little more about this project, a quick visit to www.tgr-restored-revised.com will give you some details. The "Editor's Foreword" provides more complete information, and the “Testimonials” page will demonstrate how well-received this new book is around the world.

Here is the book’s Amazon.com page...

http://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Original-Restored/dp/1593302002/sr=1-1/qid=1172004763/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1493475-7148634?ie=UTF8&s=books

The book is available on all the Amazon websites and most other online sellers, it can be ordered by any bookstore, and it will start appearing in bookstores soon. We also sell direct, at steep discounts, to personal success coaches and motivational speakers who use it for back-of-the-room sales and to teach Master Mind Study Groups.

Our edition of TGR! is superior in every way to other versions on the market. It is a trade paperback, not a pocket-size mass market paperback. It is unabridged. It is 412 pages versus 230+ (depending on the edition). It looks better, feels better, reads better than any other version. It is fast becoming the "version of choice" among Napoleon Hill devotees and other students of success and high achievement.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Ross Cornwell, Editor

Well, what are you waiting for? Go get it, and read it from cover to cover. Here's to success.

Site of the week: House of Happy Furmily

Am doing this to help an old acquaintance. She's the founder of this movement, and I'd like to see her succeed in her endeavor, since I'm a pet-lover myself.

House of Happy Furmily

Providing H O P E when it seems to be HOPELESS

Imagine all of a sudden your lovely dog was diagnosed with a critical health problem.

Or worse, your precious cat got hit by a car, and lost two of his/her legs.

Not only humans have medical problems but animals as well. If your pet encountered any of the similar misfortune, what would you have done?

Put your pet to sleep? Give away to a shelter?

You might be thinking that giving your pet away is the best solution because you cannot bear the high medical fees to help your pet.

“I can buy more than 1 new puppy with that amount of money, why bother paying for that sick dog’s medical fees?”

That kind of thinking is sick and insane, mind my language.

Will you push your family members like your mother/father to a shelter or even put them to sleep when you think of their medical bills?

But sadly to say, there are some people with such thinking in this wonderful world.

I have 7 adopted dogs and 1 rescued cat staying with me under the same roof. Most of them are either abandoned by the previous owners, with critical health condition, untamed or untrained. Even they are with such disadvantage, i doesn’t see them showing me their “giving up” face. They are still trying their very best to live a happy life, eat and play as hard as they could. It is a joy to have them around. Seeing them brings tear to my eyes because these are the true example of being grateful and happy for what you have despite your shortcomings.

I’m personally touched by their strong surviving spirits. Together with my friends; we are a group of pet enthusiasts who believe that helping pets is a necessity because pets have feelings like we do. If you abandon your dogs, they will be feeling the same way you would feel if someone abandoned you when you get sick.

Therefore, my friend and her partners decided to develop a charity fund catered especially for handicapped pets or those in dire needs of medical attention even those who are advised to “put-to-sleep” by certain vets, in other words, special pets. With this charity fund, there would not be any more cases of owners not being able to treat their pets because of financial constraints.

We want to help as many as we could! All our team mates behind this charity fund have a true heart to help these special pets. We want to be the ones that these special pets can turn to when there seems to be hopeless in their owners’ eyes.

Please support the House of Happy Furmily and be a blessing to those special pets. Let’s give them a hope and a chance to live a longer and happier life.

H1N1 Info: Kindly share if you care

Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 is a disease that is caused by a virus that could affects your respiratory system.

The symptoms of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 are:
i. Fever
ii. Cough or sore throat
iii. Body aches
iv. Headache, chills and fatigue
v. In some cases, vomiting and diarrhoea

Complications of the disease include pneumonia and difficulty in breathing. Death may occur in persons who have other medical problems or complications.

How does Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 spread?
i. Influenza viruses are mainly spread from one person to another through droplets released during coughing or sneezing;
ii. Sometimes people may become infected by touching surfaces or holding objects contaminated with influenza viruses (e.g., hands, door handles , handkerchiefs, tissue paper) and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.

How is Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 managed?
i. There is no vaccine available at the moment; however, studies are being conducted to produce a vaccine;
ii. Antivirals (medicines used for managing infection with a virus), can be used to treat the disease. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is one of the effective medicines currently being used;
iii. Antiviral medicines work better if started soon after getting sick (within two days of appearance of symptoms);
iv. Those treated with antivirals usually recover fully; so far, no resistance to the recommended medicines for Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 virus has been documented;
v. Health workers should make treatment decisions based on clinical and epidemiological assessment. Particular attention should be paid to patients with complications.
vi. WHO does not recommend the use of antivirals for mass prophylaxis.

If a person is in contact with or likely to be exposed to a sick person, how can he avoid being infected?
i. Regular washing of hands with soap and water is strongly recommended;
ii. Hand rubbing with alcohol is also advised where available
iii. Keep a distance of at least one step (one meter) from the infected person to avoid coming into contact with the influenza droplets;
iv. If contact with a sick person or with potentially infected surfaces or objects occurs, those involved must not touch their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
v. Close contact with a sick person should be avoided; people are advised to refrain from handshaking, kissing or hugging during an outbreak;
vi. Those taking care of a sick person should use a face mask in accordance with guidelines provided by national health authorities;
vii. It is advisable to be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, eat well, reduce stress and have enough sleep.

What can infected individuals do to prevent spreading Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 to others?
i. They should cover their mouth with a piece of cloth or tissue paper when sneezing or coughing; the used tissue should be properly disposed of while the cloth should be washed with soap, dried and replaced as often as required;
ii. The infected person should wear a mask when in contact with others;
iii. Tissue paper, handkerchief or other material used by the sick person for wiping his nose or mouth, must not be used by others;
iv. If there is no tissue paper or cloth, the sick person should cover his face with his arm before sneezing or coughing, and not use his hands to contaminate surfaces or things that may be touched or held by others;
v. Hands should be washed with soap and water especially after sneezing, or coughing, and before touching door handles and other objects or surfaces so as to prevent contamination with droplets;
vi. Sick persons should stay at home and limit contact with others as much as possible.
vii. People should seek treatment immediately if infection is suspected, if symptoms occur or when advised by a health worker.

What should communities do to help prevent the spread of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009?.
i. Ensure community members know how to limit the spread of influenza, the symptoms of the disease and what to do if infection occurs;
ii. Ensure provision of care for those infected;
iii. Support social distancing, isolation or quarantine when requested by a health worker (or as determined by health authorities);
iv. Establish contact with the nearest health facility that will provide support in managing the disease;
v. Report suspected cases and deaths to a health worker or other relevant authority.

For more information about Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 , contact the Regional Office Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 Crisis Management Team (Dr Yada –yadaa@afro.who.int ) and visit the websites www.who.int or www.cdc.gov.

Wine as an investment class has become more appealing

Here's a good article for the investors in these uncertain time:

By DALJIT DHESI

INVESTMENT in quality wine is fast making waves across the globe as an alternative investment class amidst plummeting equity value, extreme volatility and looming recession. It appears that many investors are diversifying their portfolio into premium wines and others, including teetotallers, are also jumping into the bandwagon.

Sure Holdings Ltd managing director James Pala says the biggest appeal of wine as an alternative investment class is that it is low risk, offers stable returns and has a low co-relation with stocks and bonds.

In addition, he points out that wine investment has also become increasingly attractive in recent years due to the fact that people do not have to pay capital gains tax when they sell their wines.

Vintage Assets Pte Ltd director Lionel Lau says the investment in this “liquid asset” is unique as once wine is produced in a certain year, it can never be repeated again in line with the famous saying in Bordeaux “Once in a bottle, never again”.
Pala

Bordeaux is a province in France and the mother of all quality and investment grade wines of the world.

From the world’s total production, only 1% is categorised as investment grade wine, out of which 80% comes from Bordeaux.

Lau says the longer a wine is held, the higher the price it can fetch and the higher the potential returns. During one of the great vintage years of 2005, he says the price of certain wines surged by over 148% between the pre-bottling stage (in June 2005) to the time they hit the market three years later.

General manager Chris Low says great vintage is a term used to describe the best harvest by the top critics of quality wines.

The top five performing wine brand of Vintage 2000, Low says, is Lafite Rothschild, Haut-Brion, Latour, Mouton Rothschild and Margaux.

Sure Holdings and Vintage Assets are believed to be the only two wine advisors and brokers operating in Malaysia. According to Lau, the higher consumption and demand is set to drive existing investment and collection of wines in the global market.

He says investment grade wines like Lafite has survived three recessions – of the eighties, nineties and the present one.

Annual returns on investment grade wines, says Pala, especially those from Bordeaux can typically rake in returns of between 12% and 20%, even though they have averaged far higher returns over the last 25 years.

Liv-ex, the world’s biggest fine wine index based in London, estimates the prices of the best vintages have currently increased by 50% since the start of last year, in sharp contrast to the global stock market, where prices had fallen by 15%. Over the last 12 months, he says wines traded on the Liv-ex 500 Fine Wine Index has increased by 14.4% as against a decline of 33% and 37% on the FTSE 100 and S&P 500 respectively.
Lau

Due to its close proximity with France, London is currently the wine hub of the world as it has the best bonded public wine warehouses equipped with high tech facilities and conducive storage temperature, amongst others.

The turnover on wine investment in Britain alone has currently reached over a billion dollars, not accounting for the US and Asia markets.

The trend in Asia is visible. Hong Kong recently abolished tax on wine and beer in a bid to become a wine hub in the region.

He says in Malaysia the market for investment grade wines was on the uptrend as investors were looking for safer investments to grow their monies.

Pala says he generally advises his clients to go for less risky and relatively short to medium term (two to three years) type of investment.

“We trade Bordeaux wines and part of it is the 1855 classification. Over the last three years, we have recommended 40 different wines to our clients with investments totalling £69,000, which have made returns of 43% (£98,000 in value) during the period,’’ he notes.

Vintage Assets was set up last year. Lau says the lowest return raked in by a client so far is less than 20% return a year.

Wine investors in Malaysia are generally high net worth individuals who are businessmen, CEOs of companies and banks, university lecturers and doctors.

Before investing, Lau says that he analyses his clients’ risk appetite and the time frame they expect to realise their investment returns, be it two, three or even in five years time. Both Pala and Lau advised their clients to store their wines bought at bonded warehouses in London to ensure its premium quality.

“It is not advisable to ship them to other parts of the world as it is risky and will affect the wines quality, leading to depreciation in value,’’ Pala remarks.

Source: The Star BizWeek Section

Notice

Umm... Hi there. Wow, didn't expect to see people visiting this dilapidated blog haha. Yeah, the owner is a lazy bum, who would rather go out for a teh beng (or iced milk tea for the westerners) session than writing some useful stuffs in his blog. I will try to be more active in writing, though I admit, am very susceptible to distractions. Namely World of Warcraft, teh beng, gatherings, and MSN haha.

Anyway, hope you guys will visit my other blogs as well. For now, please visit my personal blog. Yes, this blog is not for personal purpose, though I tend to get things mixed up every now and then. The link is on the left-hand side bar. Drats... I need to update those as well. Sigh.

Okay, RadicalScope signing off. Time to take a bath. I'm smelly :p

Be nice to people, as long as they are certified nice.

I remember watching "Fruits Basket" the animation, and listened to the story of "The Foolish Traveler". This particular traveler, had a very good heart. Always wanting to help people, to the extend that he was manipulated by the people he met in his travel. He gave away all his possessions, after listening to their stories, even though they were lying. In the end, as he got not even a single article of clothing on him, he went into the jungle. There, he got tricked by the demons in the jungle, who ate everything save his head. The demons said, "Thank you for your kindness. We have a present for you." The traveler, since he never asked anything in return for his kindness, and never got anyway, was very happy. He keep on saying, "Thank you, thank you. I've never got a present before. Thank you, thank you." He said those words so happily, as he was dying. The present the demons left was a piece of paper, with "Stupid" written on it.

Lesson of the story: DO NOT BE NICE TO PEOPLE UNLESS THEY GOT PROOF THAT THEY ARE NICE TOO.

WANTED

TELEMARKETERS CUM ADMIN

URGENTLY REQUIRED

WORK ALONGSIDE EXPATRIATES

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED, AS LONG AS YOU CAN SPEAK FLUENT ENGLISH

WE OFFER COMMISSIONS IN UK POUND STERLING

JOBSCOPE:
-DATAMINING
-COLD-CALLING
-DATABASE MANAGEMENT

BASE SALARY RM1500++, PLUS INCREMENTS IF YOU EXCEED THE TARGET KPI.

WORKING HRS: 8.30AM-5.30PM

OFFICE LOCATED AT THE HERITAGE HOUSE, JALAN YAP AH SHAK, KL (BEHIND SHERATON IMPERIAL HOTEL)

CALL NOW TO ARRANGE FOR AN INTERVIEW: 0166001609

We Are Hiring

Do you want to build a long-term financial success?

We are looking for inspiring, hard-working, goal-driven, exciting sales people to help us market our provent investment portfolio. If you have what it takes and you need a new challenge, then get in contact with us now. Proficiency in English is a MUST and very crucial to our success in the business. Join a world class marketing team NOW!

The job:

• involves telesales and/or face to face meetings with potential clients to introduce our wine investment portfolios.
• working with sales presentations.
• attending network evenings and exhibitions to expand contacts and promote the portfolios.

FULL TRAINING AND CONTINUOUS SUPPORT PROVIDED

The person:

• strong telephone skills etiquette
• aggressive, hardworking, able to work independently and willing to work extra hours when necesary.
• good sense of humor and strong people skills.
• fluency in English both written and oral, paired with good communication skills.
• 1-2 years of documented successful sales experience.
• must be a self-motivated, disciplined professional.
• knowledge in wines and investment jargon is an added advantage.
  

Fax or email your CV to:

Nor Ismat, HR Executive
Email: info@sureholdings.com
Fax: +603-2694 8416

An Age Old Argument on the Almighty

Born into a Muslim family, my parents (like any other "rational" Muslim parents in Malaysia) would tell me not to question about God. Which, as I grow up, makes no sense as there are plenty verses in the Holy Quran that hinted that as Muslims we should. Not question in a negative manner, but question in a questing manner. We are supposed to question His existence in order to find Him, not to deny Him.

With that mentality in mind, I look around and sure enough, I found that intellectual people who argues about the divine spirit with the intention of seeking the truth found them, whereas those who seek to deny the truth will not. You gain what you seek. So how should we argue about something that we never seen, cannot be touched, never been heard, cannot be tasted, and has no smell? The following conversation might give you an idea:

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.
He asks one of his new students to stand and.....

Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.

Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.

Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student: Yes.

Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
Student: (Student is silent.)

Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.

Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.

Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God...

Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.

Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.

Prof: So who created evil?
Student: (Student does not answer.)

Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.

Prof: So, who created them?
Student: (Student has no answer.)

Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.

Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No , sir.

Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.

Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.

Student: No sir. There isn't. (The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold.
We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.
We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something.
You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?
In reality, darkness isn't exist. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God.
You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor.
Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
Prof: (The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir?
Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
Prof: (The class is in uproar.)

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
Prof: (The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?.....No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

Prof: (The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir.. The link between man & God is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

Chicken Soup for the Malaysian Soul

Hi there . Now, how long has it been since the last time I posted? Well, life has been a bit harsh on me. But I know, it is because life is preparing me for something bigger. Something that the current me can never comprehend. Thus, all the hardship I'm facing right now. But hey, we're talking about being positive here, so let's put the depressing talk aside.

What I wanted to talk about today, in this post, is about something that has been in my mind since last year. Have you guys read the book Chicken Soup for the Soul? When I was younger, they even made a TV series based on the stories featured in that book. Since then, there had been various other chicken soup books published, due to the impact brought by the stories featured. So a thought came into my mind, "Hey, it's about time we have a Chicken Soup book for Malaysian." Now, I'm not looking for an avenue for profit. I just want to have an avenue where people share their most motivating, life-changing, inspiring stories with other Malaysians, as well as the world. So the most I can promise for now is a Teh Tarik session at a mamak stall of your preference.

So, I need you to help me to:

1. Send me 1 (one) motivating, life-changing, and inspiring story that you had experienced PERSONALLY. It must be a true story, not an adaptation of any sort. Please include your personal details (name, contact number) as well, so that we can have the teh tarik session I promised. Stories are to be sent to my personal email: radicalscope@gmail.com.
   
2. Next, recommend me 3 people whom you know would be able to provide me with stories of the same or greater impact. All I need is their name and email address. If they don't do emails, a phone number would do as well.

The stories, once compiled, will be sent to Jack Canfield, the original author of the Chicken Soup series. If he lets me publish the book under my name, or with me as the co-author, I'll share with you all whatever I get from the book. But the teh tarik session is a confirmed promise.

Okay, that's all for now. Looking for ward for the wonderful stories that you have in store for me, and the people you'd like me to meet for more stories. And thank you in advance. Lord bless you all with happiness beyond imagination.

'Dieting ruined my health'

Jane Elliott
BBC News Online health staff

An eating disorder in her teens left Dr Anna Richman with a legacy of ill-health.

Aged only 32, Anna has osteoporosis - a condition usually associated with menopausal women twice her age.

Formerly a statuesque six footer Anna, used to be taller than her sisters, but the osteoporosis has taken at least two inches from her height.

"The irony is that I wanted to lose weight to have a better-shaped body.

"When I lost the height from my spine my waist actually disappeared and I was left with a protruding stomach.

"I will never get that height back. It seems to have gone from the top half of my body and it affects the way I dress."

As well as osteoporosis, anorexia can have further drastic effects on the body.

A lack of food deprives the body of protein and prevents the normal metabolism of fat.

The effects of this can include an irregular heart beat caused by a change in the heart muscle - which in turn can lead to heart failure and death.

Other problems can include ceasing of menstruation, dehydration, kidney stones and kidney failure.

Some anorexics also develop a fine, downy body hair, called lanugo, on the face and arms and their muscles waste away. Some suffer constipation or bowel irritation.

Teenage diet

Anna, who now works as a hospital doctor in Liverpool, started to diet in her late teens.

"I was only dieting for 18 months, but the implications have gone on for years," she said.

It wasn't long after Anna started dieting that her weight got out of control.

Very soon she was hospitalised with anorexia.

"It did just start off as a bit of a diet. I lost a bit of weight and then it went from a diet to anorexia."

When Anna was first hospitalised her weight had plummeted to just seven-and-a-half stone.

Doctors helped her build her weight back up to over 10 stone.

But then she relapsed and needed hospitalisation as it slumped again to just six stone.

Rebuilding life

Watching her friends leave her behind as they gained their A' Levels and then university places, Anna struggled to take charge of her life again.

She took her exams and started to study medicine, but the damage had been done.

"When I was 19 I was just getting over the anorexia and had taken a part-time job in a nursing home.

Risks

One in three woman and one in 12 men over 50 have osteoporosis
Treating broken bones due to osteoporosis costs the NHS about £5 million a day

"I had a backache and was just told that everyone at the home used to get these.

"But then one day I was in excruciating pain with my back and I just fell to the floor. I could not walk and had to crawl back to bed."

Eventually doctors diagnosed Anna with osteoporosis and spotted that she had two compression fractures in the spine.

Her bone density was low and doctors recommended a high-dose pill to boost her levels.

But she found taking calcium tablets and doing weight bearing exercises worked better.

Fragile bones

Emma Burrows, of the National Osteoporosis Society, said young women like Anna are at an increased risk of osteoporosis.

"Oestrogen is essential for healthy bones in women. Over-dieting can cause a drop in oestrogen levels similar to that experienced at the menopause and can result in fragile bones that are liable to break easily.

"It is essential that we all protect our bones by eating a healthy, well-balanced and calcium rich diet, and that doesn't mean it has to be fattening.

"Low-fat dairy products, such as skimmed milk, actually contain more calcium than the full-fat varieties, and calcium can come from non-dairy sources too.

"Young women who miss their periods for six months or more as a result of over-dieting or over-exercising are at an increased risk of suffering a broken bone due to osteoporosis and should talk to their GP about a possible bone scan or treatment."

Diet is not an answer; it's a mean. Use it wisely or it will devour you.

Malaysia keeps its tiger caged

-------------------------------

William Pesek

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Those wondering where Malaysia is headed should keep an eye on Tony Fernandes. Perhaps no one personifies the promise of Asia's 10th-biggest economy better than the 43-year-old entrepreneur.

In 2001, he created a budget airline, beating the odds in a place dominated by government-linked companies that tend to abhor competition. AirAsia has been

turning heads ever since.

It was another airline magnate, Aristotle Onassis, who said the key to succeeding in business is knowing something others don't.

Fernandes knew that not only were Asians ready for no-frills carriers, but so were investors.

Fernandes is often called Southeast Asia's answer to Richard Branson. It seems highly appropriate, then, that the two men teamed to launch AirAsia X, a long-haul budget carrier that this month made its maiden flight.

Branson's Virgin Group is among its key backers.

For all his success, Fernandes also is a microcosm of why Malaysia's economy isn't on the upward trajectory it could be. Politicians' efforts over the years to protect the turf of Malaysian Airline System backfired, leaving Kuala Lumpur lagging behind in the

race for Asia's travel hub. Malaysia has effectively tied one hand behind its back to help out national champions at the expense of the bigger picture.

'I'm asking this for national interest, not MAS's interest or anything else,' says Fernandes of his battle to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. 'The consumers have suffered enough.'

Politicians continue to dither over another national champion: state- controlled carmaker Proton Holdings. While talks on an alliance with Volkswagen are

progressing, the saga is a reminder that Malaysia's leaders are wasting time the nation doesn't have.

In Proton's case, the exercise is about finding a partner to help revive sales and return the 24-year-old company to profit. Yet this, like Fernandes's fight to expand his innovative airline, is emblematic of how politicians often don't grasp that

Malaysia's place in Asia is rather tenuous.

The world has lots riding on multi- ethnic Malaysia. It's a place where micro-miniskirts comfortably exist next to women in headscarves. Yet the next 50 years will arguably be even harder than the last. It wasn't one of the original Asian tigers, yet Malaysia became one over the years. Now, amid Asia's boom, the economy

has its fair share of blemishes with which to grapple.

'The world is moving ahead at a rapid pace, and it won't wait for Malaysia,' says Razlan Mohamed, chief executive of Malaysian Rating Corp. The nation needs

to work harder and faster, he added.

Chrisanne Chin, finance faculty head at MIMS Business School, Malaysian Institute of Management & INTI University College, puts it this way: 'It's not so much what Malaysia is lacking, but that China, India, Vietnam and even Thailand and Indonesia have improved so much that they are very capable of leapfrogging Malaysia in a short span of another five years because of specific comparative advantages, from low costs to human capital to technology.'

Human capital is a particular concern. The government needs to do more to train the leaders of tomorrow and import the talent that firms require to thrive. It also has to win more of the foreign direct investment flowing elsewhere in Asia.

There's much backslapping about how the US$147 billion (HK$1.15 trillion) economy may expand 6 percent this year and 6.5 percent in 2008. The real picture can be

found in the World Economic Forum's latest competitiveness survey, in which Malaysia slipped two spots to 21st.

A huge obstacle for Malaysia is something that can barely be discussed: a 37-year-old affirmative-action program favoring the predominant Malay community. It alienates non-Malays, limits foreign investment, stifles competition and keeps the economy from moving toward a meritocracy.

Yet it's a third-rail issue. Most Malaysians won't even discuss it without first looking around to see who is listening.

A sense of political drift doesn't help. Four years in office, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has spent more time trying to solidify the influence of his party, the United Malays National Organization, than bringing the economy to the next level.

Investors and entrepreneurs complain that Abdullah, who, oddly, also serves as finance minister, hasn't attacked subsidies on products such as oil, or tackled

corruption as promised.

Malays are angry too

Umar Mukhtar Nov 28, 07 6:22pm

The Indians are unhappy and angry. So are the Malays and we know it is pretty much the same with the Chinese, Kadazans and Ibans. What they are unhappy about is pretty much the same: A government that does not listen, an electoral process that is so questionable that it is not a real hope for change and the eventual destruction of a nation through the abuse of power by people in government.

By this measure, never have Malaysians been so united in the single cause of changing the way the nation is governed, no matter how much BN tries to spin communal tensions into this. It does not matter if Hishammuddin Hussein brings a million government supporters to the streets Mugabe-style. Like all simple-minded, self-serving myopics, he has missed the point. This is a democracy. Whilst numbers decide a lot, the government in power is still the government of all the people.

Just in case Khairy Jamaluddin and gang has not been made aware, by now they should have gotten the message that people are angry enough to risk their freedom and limbs.

A police force, with members who bullies, kills with dynamites and is corrupt at the highest levels, may be feared but certainly not respected enough for it to be an effective protector. An election that is a farce can never be a hope or even a valve for frustrations. Nor can a judiciary that can be bought and sold or a prime minister who sleeps on the job.

Of course, we can expect the government to listen only to its cronies and continue to believe the lies told to the simple kampung folks. But the people will find ways to make the government listen. In the absence of a fair electoral process, street marches are only one of the many avenues that the downtrodden have resorted - all over the world, throughout the centuries - including my forefathers in their fight for independence.

People like me are thankful to Bersih and Hindraf, not necessarily because I support their causes. Their bravery are the barometers of the people's anger and desperation. The government should listen hard or risk the consequences of a chaotic society when people lose hope. My family and I should not have to bear the inconvenience caused by a government that pushes the people beyond the limit.

Every decent Malaysian, with enough sense in his head, finds the government's lies in its media revolting and insulting our intelligence. The rest of us are blinded by some misguided sense of nationalism, racism and patriotism - messed up into some cheap rojak, spiced up with fear, insecurities and a huge ego that hides an inferiority complex. Every now and then, an expensive and glossy Petronas commercial is commissioned to tug at our hearts as if they depict real life in Malaysia today. How I really wish.

I have no time to justify a renters' economy, rationalise my leaders' indiscretions in the name of my race or turn a deaf ear to their arrogance so unbecoming of my culture.

I am a Malay and proud of it until you guys made into a lunch ticket. I am angry.

A lot of truth in this

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."


Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.


Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

A Thankful Thanksgiving by Jim Rohn

You may be wondering why I would call this article a Thankful Thanksgiving. Aren't all Thanksgivings Thankful? Unfortunately, no. As a person who has experienced over 70 Thanksgivings, I recognize that being thankful is something that we have to work at, even on Thanksgiving.

If your home is like most, your Thanksgiving day will be very busy, with either traveling to where you want to go or preparing your home to have others over for the day. Either way, that can be very hectic and emotionally trying, which doesn't lend itself to preparing your heart to be reflective and thankful. In fact, Thanksgiving weekend is the most traveled weekend in America. Airports are full, and not always providing much room for contemplation of your good fortune.

This means all the more that if we want to be the kind of people who are characterized by thankfulness, then we must make sure that we focus on it, and not just on Thanksgiving Day, but at all times during the year.

Here are a few key words as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply; something you can use right away in your quest for becoming more thankful:

Time. Set aside time regularly to be quiet, to reflect. We live in the fastest paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day in which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds up from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.

Thought. Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have "it". But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things that you have that you may typically take for granted and then take a moment and give thanks for those. In fact, I make it a part of my reflection time to review a list of things that I'm thankful for.

Generosity. Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, "I sure wish I had what he does." That kind of thinking breeds envy and jealousy rather than contentment. What can we do to break that cycle? I would suggest being generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself. Go to work at a food bank. And not just during the holidays - everybody works there then - but on a regular basis during the year. That will remind you of how good you really have it.

Ask. Ask a friend what they are thankful for. The next time you are at lunch with a friend, ask him or her what they are most thankful for. You will be amazed at the answers you receive and you will create a meaningful bond with your friends as you focus on this powerful question.

Acknowledge. Lastly, tell those you love how thankful you are for having them in your life. So many times we neglect to take the time to craft the words to express to those closest to us what their presence in our lives means to us. Take the opportunity of Thanksgiving Day to write them a note or sometime during the day put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes and tell them. Let them know what they mean to you, and in return you'll begin to create the possibility of deeper, richer, more fulfilling relationships with those you love.

Of course we should do what we can to make the most of the day we call Thanksgiving, but wouldn't it be a shame if the only time we reflected on our blessings was that one Thursday in November? And the answer is, of course! So let's do our best to be aware of the many great gifts that we have each and every day of the year. As we do so we will see our hearts soar and our minds will experience more and more at peace as we regularly remember and remain aware of our good fortune.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Jim Rohn

Learn another language.

Guys and girls, I'd like you, especially those who fancies Spanish, to take a look at these two sites:

Learn Spanish
http://www.webspanish.com

Thanks to this revolutionary advance in education you can now learn Spanish one-to-one from anywhere in the world that has access to a broadband Internet connection.

Spanish tests online
http://www.practicespanishonline.com

Practice Spanish Online is an informed, thorough and up-to-date review of the main online Spanish learning resources available. Now you can check the quality of online Spanish resources with just one click!

I assure you that by visiting these sites, and following the system they've come up with, you'd be able to master the language. I wouldn't say in no time, though, as language requires just 3 things: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!

Update in Life

Hi there,

It has been quite sometime, hasn't it. Sorry for the long hiatus. Had
been quite busy. Especially when you have an employer who is looking
at you as his successor. I guess life is being more and more generous
to me.

Currently I am working with Sheffield Resources Sdn Bhd, a HR
solutions company. It is a wholly owned by a New Zealand-based
company. 3 years old, with a staff of less than 10 people including
myself. The office here is being headed by Chris and Vignes. The two
of them has a cumulative HR experience of over 40 years. I really
enjoyed working with them, since the working environment is more or
less like a family. With me being the eldest son hehe.

So far I've been working on 3 positions, with 2 of them busted due to
the lack of cooperation from the client. But along the way, I managed
to secure some new contacts, mostly HR Managers and Directors.
Hopefully, in the long run, my dream of being a freelance consultant
will come true. With their guidance of course.

Today, I'm going to Gemas to help my boss to conduct a training
program. He actually asked me to design some game activities for the
program, and conduct them.

As for the future planning, they wanted to create a newsletter, as
well as conduct a forum periodically. And looking at the current
composition of the staff, I might be the person in charge for them.

As for the pay, I don't get any basics. The commission is quite
lucrative, though. 20% for executive search, and 10% for training
programs.

Do look up the company for more info as to what we have to offer:
www.sheffieldresource.com

Your Achievement Article

Your Thoughts Brought You Here
by Vic Johnson (excerpted from Day by Day with James Allen)

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." - Above Life's Turmoil

This principle was not easy for me to accept and I fought it for a long time. As miserable as my life was at the time I learned this concept, I was certain that there was no way that it was due to the thoughts that I had held. There were too many other reasons why things had gone bad: my ex-spouse, the economy, a client who had wronged me, and on and on and on. Since I wasn't responsible for my "bad luck," then certainly my thoughts had nothing to do with it.

But I was wrong. Like the biblical Job who said, "the thing I feared most has come upon me," I, too, had thought myself to the situation I was in.

Dr. Walter Doyle Staples, writing in Think Like a Winner! says, "I credit one simple concept with getting me started on my journey into self-discovery. After a great deal of study and contemplation, I came to the conclusion that people have in their lives today exactly what they keep telling their mind they want."

Like Dr. Staples, it was a moment of great illumination for me! The logical side of me said, "if you and you alone can think yourself into such a mess, then surely you and you alone can think yourself out of it."

And that I did. It wasn't overnight and it wasn't easy, but it was a sure thing! And by accepting all of the responsibility for where I was, and all of the responsibility for where I was going, I experienced a tremendous joy and freedom. I knew in my knower that if I got myself into the predicament, I could get myself out.

Of course, I had some great inspiration along the way. And I will always remember Les Brown's three steps to take during "hard time:"

1. Have Faith (didn't Paul say, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for...")
2. Remind yourself: "No matter how hard it is or how hard it gets, I'm going to make it!"
3. Have patience and engage in consistent action.

And that's worth thinking about.

Small Update

Got the job :p. Grueling working lif starts on Monday. Working 7-7, a.m to p.m. And I think someone is trying to use my comment space to spread mayhem. By the way, I'm looking for a new house for rent. Any help?

Suryakanta

I'm writing this on behalf of a dear _____________ (fill in the blank).

Suryakanta is a song composed by Sharon Paul. Lyrics by Fedtri Yahya and Ihab Ismail (THE Ihab Ismail listed in my blog). Vocals by Zehra Zambri. World Music rocks, Mawi sucks.

Here's the song: Suryakanta. Right-click to download, left-click to listen.

And please, leave a few words of comments.

One Down, More To Go...

Okay, Marcus Evans' interview done and over. And Winnie, the officer who interviewed me asked to call her back at 4pm today to confirm whether I'm qualified for the second interview. My presentation didn't go that well, although she did praise me for the efforts I put in. I got a rating of 6.5 out of 10, which is a B-. Oh well, I did my best, and if I failed, I'll just apply again. I don't think I want to work with another company. Other than Marcus Evans.

Dani had tagged me, but I think I'll do the tag after my return. Have to finish my clearance first. See you guys soon.

EDIT

I qualified for the second session. ROUND 2, START!

Raja Petra summoned to Dang Wangi 11.00am today

Raja Petra Kamarudin has been summoned to the Dang Wangi Police Station, Jalan Stadium, at 11.00am today (25 July 2007) for his statement to be recorded with regards to the police report made by the Umno Information Chief. It is believed a second police report has also been made with regards to the article Raja Petra wrote called ‘See you in hell Muhamad son of Muhamad’.

Hmmm... Bloggers! ASSEMBLE, AND FORM MAGNA-BLOGGER!!

Wish me ALL THE BEST

3 days, 5 interviews. Reminds me a lot of my varsity years. The exam period, to be exact, where the unlucky gets double exam on a day. Wait, I've heard that some got triple exams on a day...

27th July:

8.30am - Marcus Evans: Sales Executive
2.30pm - Recruit Express: Admin Assistant


30th July:

11.00am - Pacific Powerhouse: Business Development Trainee
2.00pm - JTM: Trainee Manager

31st July:
10.45am - Creative-KT: Fresh Graduate Business Development Trainee

I expect to leave for JB on 1st August. For the position with Marcus Evans, I need to do a presentation. A sales presentation. On such a short notice... Oh well, time to put my rusty brain to the test. Anyway, I need a lot of prayers from you guys. Hopefully one of the position is meant for me...

A Secular State or an Islamic State?

Written by Chandra Muzaffar
Monday, 23 July 2007

Malaysia is not a secular state within the conventional use of the term. Neither is it an Islamic state in the classical sense.

It is not a secular state since the Malaysian state formulates policies and organizes activities from the building of mosques and the administration of the Hajj, on the one hand, to the establishment of Islamic schools and the dissemination of Islamic awareness through public broadcasting channels, on the other, which demonstrate that it is actively involved in sustaining and strengthening the position of Islam in society. Judicial pronouncements and political utterances from the past which suggest that Malaysia is a secular state do not in any way negate the fact that the state has functioned in a non-secular mode, especially in the last three decades.

Nonetheless, for the majority of contemporary Muslim jurists, Malaysia is not an Islamic state since its constitution does not state that governance is based upon the Qur’an and Sunnah (the way of the Prophet Muhammad). Neither is shari’ah the supreme law of the land. Hudud (the Islamic criminal code) is not in force anywhere in Malaysia. These are legal and political attributes of state which are found in almost all those countries that are acknowledged as ‘Islamic’.

More than the actual situation prevalent in Malaysia, there are perceptions of what a ‘secular state’ is, and what an ‘Islamic state’ will be, which have shaped the outlooks of both Muslims and non-Muslims in the country. For a lot of Muslims, the term ‘secular’ connotes antipathy towards, or worse, rejection of, religion in the life of the nation. Since Islam encompasses all aspects of life, including government and politics, the idea of a ‘secular state’ has become anathema to them. Similarly, for many non-Muslims, an ‘Islamic state’ conjures up a frightening vision of Malay dominance reinforced by religious dogmatism. These perceptions – even if they are misconceived – carry tremendous weight and impact directly upon inter-ethnic ties.

This is why it is unwise to insist that Malaysia is a secular state or an Islamic state. There is no need to do this. It will only widen the chasm between the communities. It will exacerbate ethnic tensions.

Why is it necessary to categorize Malaysia as a secular state or an Islamic state when the character of the Malaysian state, its guiding principles and goals, and its vision of the future, have already been spelt out with such lucidity and clarity in the three fundamental documents that were meant to be our signposts in the last 50 years? The most important of these --- the Malaysian Constitution--- embodies a dozen or so basic principles which tell us what this nation is. In a nutshell Malaysia means;-

1. A parliamentary form of government based upon the concept of one person, one vote.
2. A federal system of governance.
3. A constitutional monarchy.
4. The supremacy of the rule of law.
5. An independent judiciary.
6. Protection of fundamental liberties.
7. Malay as the national and official language.
8. The right to use and study other languages.
9. Islam as the religion of the Federation.
10. Recognition of the right of non-Muslims to practise their religions.
11. The special position of the Malays and other indigenous peoples.
12. The legitimate interests of the other communities.

These principles enunciated in 1957 when we achieved Merdeka were reiterated in one form or other in the Rukunegara, the nation’s charter, in August 1970. It is significant that the first of the five principles of the Rukunegara is Belief in God. Young Malaysians recite this and the other four principles in school every morning but what is not emphasized at all are the five goals of the Rukunegara--- the goals of a united, just, democratic, liberal and progressive nation. Twenty-one years after the Rukunegara, its principles and goals were further elaborated in the nine strategic challenges of Vision 2020 which include the creation of a moral and ethical society.

If we reflected upon the Malaysian Constitution, the Rukunegara and Vision 2020, it would appear that they represent a trajectory in the evolution of the nation’s identity and character. It is as if the three documents embody the steady maturation of the Malaysian state and society.

It is important to emphasize at the same time that most of the principles and goals articulated by the three documents do not in any way contradict the universal values of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Indeed, in certain respects, they seek to give meaning to some of the eternal concerns of the religion about justice, accountability and ethical conduct. Likewise, those who subscribe to a secular vision of society which is not antagonistic to the Divine, would applaud the fact that the Constitution, the Rukunegara and Vision 2020 uphold such principles and goals. In other words, when we go beyond labels such as ‘secular’ and ‘Islamic’ and connect with the substance of our three principal documents we will discover that there is a degree of congruence between the two positions.

This is why as we observe the fiftieth year of our Merdeka, we should reiterate our trust and confidence in the three documents that speak to the spirit of the Malaysian people and their shared destiny. To embroil ourselves in the unending controversy about whether we are a secular state or an Islamic state is to forfeit our future.