Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Exercise is good for the heart - ext

For heart health, every bit of exercise counts

NEW YORK - People who walk or jog for just a couple of hours each week are at lower risk of heart disease than those who don't exercise, suggests a new study.

And among people already accustomed to getting the blood flowing, those who go above and beyond on physical activity seem to have the best heart outcomes, said researchers who analyzed past data on exercise and heart disease risks.

"Exercise is good, more exercise is better," said David Swain, an exercise scientist at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, who was not involved in the new research.

"There's a continuous improvement in your health and your reducing of heart disease the more physical activity you do," he told Reuters Health.

Still, Swain cautioned, people who are at risk of heart disease and not used to working out should take it slow, and consult their doctor, when they're starting out.

Researchers have known that exercise is good for heart health for decades. Pounding the pavement on a regular basis helps reduce blood pressure and improves blood flow in the heart, Swain said.

The authors of the new study, led by Jacob Sattelmair, wanted to test the benefit of exercise on heart disease in relation to new federal guidelines to provide a better picture of just how much activity is necessary for heart protection.

United States guidelines from 2008 recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) each week, or 30 minutes five days per week, as a minimum for health benefit. Twice that, the guidelines say, adds additional benefit.

The researchers collected data from nine past studies that asked participants how frequently they exercised, and for how long each time, and followed them to see who was diagnosed with heart disease over anywhere from a few years to a couple decades.

Those types of studies do have some limitations, the researchers noted. For example, they didn't all collect information on participants' diets, so it's hard to know if the heart benefits were from exercise alone, or due to other health-related factors. Some of the studies took into account factors like weight and whether participants smoked, while others did not.

The findings tended to support the new federal guidelines, said Sattelmair, from the electronic health record company Dossia who led the research while at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Taken together, people who exercised according to the minimum guidelines (equivalent to burning about 550 calories per week through exercise) had a 14 percent lower risk of heart disease than those who didn't exercise at all.

For those who met the higher guideline standard (about 1100 calories per week), that improved to a 20 percent lower risk, the researchers reported in Circulation.

People who only got half as much exercise as the minimum guidelines also had some heart protection compared to non-exercisers, Sattelmair said. And those who worked out for longer than guidelines recommend continued to reduce their heart risks -- but the added benefit leveled off with high amounts of activity.

About one in eight adult Americans suffers from heart disease, the leading killer worldwide.

The study didn't look at the difference between moderate and more vigorous exercise, but researchers said that people who work out intensely get the same or greater benefit from less time than "moderate" exercisers.

While the findings show that more is generally better, "If you're doing nothing, you don't have to start walking an hour a day to achieve benefit," Sattelmair said.

Jumping off the couch into a running routine might also be worrisome for people who are at risk for heart disease, Swain added, and they should ease into exercise and discuss it with their doctor. Being overweight and having diabetes or high cholesterol adds to heart risks.

"If you're totally sedentary...as little as 10 to 15 minutes of brisk walking a day was associated with a reduction in risk of heart disease," Sattelmair told Reuters Health. "Everyone can benefit from movement and physical activity and exercise."

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I am in Krabi Thailand

Krabi is a southern province on Thailand's Andaman seaboard with perhaps the country's oldest history of continued settlement. After dating stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains found in the province's many cliffs and caves, it is thought that Krabi has been home to Homo Sapiens since the period 25,000 - 35,000 B.C. In recorded times it was called the 'Ban Thai Samor', and was one of twelve towns that used, before people were widely literate, the monkey for their standard. At that time, c. 1200 A.D., Krabi was tributary to the Kingdom of Ligor, a city on the Kra Peninsula's east coast better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat

Chocolate , is it good for you?

Is chocolate good for your heart? It depends


Mon Aug 29, 2011 4:14AM EDT

By Ben Hirschler

PARIS (Reuters) - Chocolate may be good for the heart but cardiologists are not giving you a license to indulge.

New research presented at Europe's biggest medical meeting Monday suggested chocolate consumption might be associated with a one third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease.

Just why there should be such a link was unclear, the European Society of Cardiology congress was told.

There has been a string of scientific studies in recent years showing a potential health benefit from eating chocolate. Dark chocolate, in particular, contains compounds called flavanols thought to be good for the blood system.

In an attempt to paint a clearer picture, Oscar Franco and colleagues from the University of Cambridge pooled results from seven studies involving 100,000 people.

Five of the studies showed a beneficial link between eating chocolate and cardiovascular health, while two did not.

Overall, the findings showed the highest levels of chocolate consumption were associated with a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared with the lowest levels.

Franco said there were limitations with the pooled analysis, which did not differentiate between dark and milk chocolate, and more research was needed to test whether chocolate actually caused better health outcomes or if it was due to some other confounding factor.

"Evidence does suggest chocolate might have some heart health benefits but we need to find out why that might be," said Victoria Taylor, of the British Heart Foundation, who was not involved in the research.

"If you want to reduce your heart disease risk, there are much better places to start than at the bottom of a box of chocolates."

Franco, whose findings were also published online in the British Medical Journal, said while it seemed chocolate had heart benefits, these could easily be outweighed by the unhealthy nature of much confectionery.

"The high sugar and fat content of commercially available chocolate should be considered, and initiatives to reduce it might permit an improved exposure to the beneficial effect of chocolate," the research team wrote.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Chocolate in diet - (ext)

Chocolate doesn't have to derail a diet: study

Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:54PM EDT

By Genevra Pittman

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For chocolate lovers trying to drop a few pounds, new research suggests that it's still possible to lose weight while indulging your sweet tooth every day.

Overweight and obese women who added a bit of chocolate or other sweets on top of a healthy diet plan lost about 11 pounds over four months, on average.

The study was funded by Hershey's, which provided its own candy for snacks, and two of the study authors are company employees.

"Women think about going on a diet and think they have to deprive themselves of their favorite foods, but really that's not the case if you incorporate them in a portion-controlled way," said Kathryn Piehowski, who conducted the research while at Pennsylvania State University in University Park.

An outside researcher cautioned that the study had no "control" group of women who didn't eat a sweet snack, so it's impossible to know how much weight those who abstained from sweets, or ate other snacks, would have lost.

"Chocolate ... is a highly-desired food," said Debra Keast, from Food & Nutrition Database Research, Inc in Okemos, Michigan. But, she added, "I really don't think that it would be as effective as some other type of snack" for weight loss.

Snacks that also pack some fiber and protein, she said, would probably help women stay full until their next meal better than candy. For the new study, Piehowski and her colleagues tracked the weight loss of 33 overweight and obese women on a reduced-calorie diet.

Overweight is defined by having a body mass index (BMI) -- a measure of weight in relation to height -- between 25 and 29.9; obese is a BMI above 30. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal.

All of the women in the study were premenopausal, with BMIs between 25 and 43. All attended weekly nutrition sessions and were taught a diet plan based on food exchanges and portion size that aimed for 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day.

Half of them were also given small dark chocolate snacks to eat twice a day (totaling 90 calories each day) and sugar-free cocoa for breakfast. The other women ate fruit-flavored licorice snacks and had a sugar-free non-cocoa drink in the morning.

Twenty-six women completed the study, 13 in each group. After just over four months, women in both groups had lost an average of 11 pounds. The researchers said that shows that women don't have to totally remove chocolate and other sweet snacks from their diets to see weight-loss success. And the small snacks may reduce cravings for more sweets, they add -- cravings that have been the downfall of many strict diets.

"As soon as someone tells you you can't have something, what do you want? You want that thing," Piehowski, now at Nestle Health Science, told Reuters Health.

A diet with sweet snacks "may provide an effective weight-loss strategy for women who struggle with other more restrictive diet plans," the authors wrote in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

"I think allowing snacks and allowing sweets and a reward for exercising or a reward for sticking to your healthy foods is good," Keast, who was not involved in the new study, told Reuters Health.

"But I think there are probably other foods that might be more satiating to eat between meals, if the objective is to hold you over to the next meal so you're not feeling so hungry that you have to gorge when you actually sit down to eat."

She highlighted nuts and low-fat yogurt as two of those ideal snacks, but didn't denounce dark chocolate and its potential health benefits. For any weight-loss diet -- chocolate-enhanced or not -- "you need to eat small amounts frequently and not be on a restrictive diet where you're starving yourself," Keast said.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Zen Buddhist philosophy (ext)

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
Atisha

Introduction to Zen Buddhism (extracts)

Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. In this manual, we will give you a brief introduction of Zen Buddhism, along with its complete history…

The Mahayana sutras that were written in India and China form the basis of Zen Buddhism. Of these, the most prominent ones are the Lankavatara Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, the Samantamukha Parivarta, the Heart Sutra, a chapter of the Lotus Sutra and the Platform Sutra of Huineng. The fundamental elements of Buddhist philosophy consist of the basics of Zen Buddhism also. These include the Eightfold Path, the five precepts, the Four Noble Truths, the five skandhas, three dharma seals, etc.

The teachings in Zen philosophy are restricted to the Mahayana Buddhism. The major religious figures in Zen include Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, MaƱjusri Bodhisattva, Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. Zen Buddhism has been influenced by Chinese philosophy to a great extent, especially Taoism. This is because of the fact that Zen emerged as a distinct school in medieval China. However, the degree of influence of Taoism on Zen Buddhism is still open to debate.

As per a number of modern scholars, the influence was quite shallow, while others contend a deep influence of Taoism on Zen philosophy. It is a mistake to understand Zen as an intellectual philosophy or a solitary pursuit. Rather, it is more of a practice or a way of life. The temples dedicated to zed lay emphasis on a thorough practice of meditation on daily basis. They also advise practicing along with other people, as it helps in preventing the traps of ego. The students of Zen Buddhism are required to perform some of the tedious tasks that one performs at home.

This is because Zen Buddhists believe that a person should acquire knowledge from all the aspects of life. This knowledge will help him in the process of enlightenment. The textual hermeneutics have been severely condemned in Zen teachings. The pursuit of worldly treasures is looked down upon. They advise people to focus on meditation, which will ultimately lead them to unmediated consciousness of the processes of both the world as well as their own mind.

When the time to go, we let go....


This is the resignation letter of Steve Jobs, the ex-CEO of Apple Computers, the maker of IPad and IPhones. Currently, he is terminally ill with cancer but his commitment to stay alive is still firm and strong.  Great men are always rare and positive creatures and they usually die young.

Spirituality: Steve studied Zen Buddhism in his youth. He often said that he thought of becoming a monk up in a monastery in Japan instead of starting Apple, but his guru Kobun Chino convinced him otherwise. That same Zen master was a spiritual adviser at NeXT and married Steve and Laurene in Yosemite in 1991.
A lot of critics of Steve’s tough management style point out: “Imagine what he’d be like if he hadn’t studied buddhism...” This is one of Steve’s many paradoxes: how could a real Buddhist make a living out of selling gadgets to the masses?

Namaste.






















Full name: Steven Paul Jobs
Birthdate: 24 February 1955
Birth location: San Francisco, California
Social background: lower middle-class. Father was fixing cars for a living.
Education: high-school certificate. Dropped out of Reed College after one semester.
Occupations: chairman & CEO at Apple Inc. + Director at The Walt Disney Company
Net worth: $5.5 billion according to Forbes' 2010 ranking — 136th richest man on Earth
Annual salary: $1


Resignation letter :

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve Jobs

Thursday, August 25, 2011

How to spot a liar?

Management Tip of the Day: Three ways to spot a liar


Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:02AM EDT

BOSTON (Reuters) - In business there are no shortage of lies and manipulation at all levels, but there are some behavioral clues that can be used to detect the liars, says Harvard Business Review.

The Harvard Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical management tips and ideas from Harvard Business Review and HBR.org (http://www.hbr.org). Any opinions expressed are not endorsed by Reuters.

"In today's business world, there is no shortage of lies. People tell them all the time -- sometimes to seek a payoff or avoid responsibility. But these untruths can be hard to detect, especially in complex situations.

Look out for these three signs that you're being lied to:

1. Discomfort. People who lie often demonstrate visible anxiety. This may be because they're afraid of getting caught or they feel guilty. Be on the look-out for a fake smile, frozen body language, or lack of eye contact.

2. Evasiveness. Someone who withholds information or keeps the conversation vague may not be telling the truth.

3. Manipulation. When you ask a question, people lying may answer with more detail than necessary. They may also use overly explicit language for emphasis. Watch out for this kind of manipulation."

-- Today's management tip was adapted from "To Catch a Liar" by Bill Rosenthal and Carolyn M. Anderson.

I was just pondering.

There is a long break coming with the Hari Raya festive season next week. I can sense that it is coming and I am expecting it. I want to extract the most from this holiday and really enjoying it after a hectic few months. After the holidays, I will be having another hectic schedule having to travel to Bangladesh again and to initiate the expansion plan or a new project in that foreign land.  I predict this year and the next will be a busy year for me.

If you have a busy schedule, time will pass by every fast and by the time, you know it , the projects will be up and coming. Strange. We hardly notice that time slip by.  Like I say before hours turn into days and days into weeks and weeks into months and months into years. We just sail by and consciously or unconsciously, we have grown older.

Another few years , I will probably retire. Have to slow down and enjoy the food of my hard labor. Is there a need to be glamorous or staying up the limelight? The end is the same for all and in the end, nothing matters. Yeah, now I have to really enjoy  the rare long breaks and to do something, I enjoy.

One of my Japanese colleague is going back to Japan and he has stayed here for more than two and half years. He told me that he enjoyed Penang and he is reluctant to go back because the situation in Japan now is chaotic. He has a young child and according to him, the radiation will not be good for her.  He has no choice unless he quit his job.  He is one of the many Japanese colleague which I have worked with. Perhaps, more than 20 of them. They just come and go. The good, the bad and the ugly. I took them all in my own stripes. Some of them works well with me, some of them play politics and some of them are really nasty.  To the nasty ones…piss off, you will have your day.

Now, it is after office hours.  I should leave all the problems behind and do the things, I want.  Yes, like one of my friend told me ,,, I am going jollying.

Namaste.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Cardiac arrest survey for athletes - news

Cardiac arrest strikes young and old athletes alike


Wed Aug 24, 2011 5:21PM EDT

By Genevra Pittman

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research from France suggests that young, competitive athletes account for only a fraction of sports-related cardiac arrests, in which the heart stops beating without warning.

Rather, most cardiac arrests may happen in adult men playing recreational sports, the study found.

The findings come in the wake of several sudden deaths on the playing field, such as Michigan high school basketball player Wes Leonard, who collapsed earlier this year when his heart stopped just moments after he'd sunk a game-winning basket.

In the new study, researchers documented 820 cases of sports-related cardiac arrest over five years. That works out to only four or five deaths for every million people each year, although the true rate may be higher than that, they say.

"We cannot transmit the message that sport practice is dangerous for health," study author Dr. Eloi Marijon, from the Paris Cardiovascular Research Center, told Reuters Health in an email.

Rather, the findings point to the importance of doing quick CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, when someone suffers a cardiac arrest, the French team says.

The new data came from a combination of ambulance reports of sudden cardiac arrest in exercisers and media releases on those emergencies. From 2005 to 2010, the researchers tracked all sport-related cardiac arrests in adolescents and adults living in 60 of 96 districts in France.

Out of 820 total cardiac arrests, 50 occurred in younger competitive athletes age 10 to 35. On average, they still suffered cardiac arrests at a higher rate than the population in general -- about 10 in every million, per year.

"That was one of the take-home findings -- that they probably are more likely to die from cardiac death," said Dr. Kim Harmon, a sports medicine doctor at the University of Washington in Seattle, who reviewed the findings for Reuters Health.

Still, more than 90 percent of all cardiac arrests happened during recreational sports, most often biking or running, the researchers reported in the journal Circulation. The majority were in otherwise healthy men between age 35 and 65.

Less than a third of people in cardiac arrest were given CPR -- but when they were, their odds of surviving the arrest more than tripled. In total, 253 people in the study made it to the hospital alive, and 128 ultimately survived.

About 300,000 Americans suffer cardiac arrest every year die, and the vast majority of them die.

The French researchers observe that "sports-related sudden death in the general population is considerably more common than previously suspected," but add that studies that look beyond competitive athletes have been limited.

Doctors have debated whether competitive athletes should be screened for underlying small heart defects that might cause a sudden cardiac arrest.

But such an effort would be very difficult to plan in all recreational athletes, Marijon said. And it's not clear that mass screening would be worth the costs and the risk of "false-positives" -- abnormal test findings that wouldn't have led to any problems.

What may prevent deaths is fast CPR or defibrillation - an electrical shock to the heart to help restore its normal rhythm - in people who suffer a cardiac arrest, experts say.

Harmon added there's no reason to think the rates would be very far off in the U.S. or other countries.

"The types of heart (conditions) that cause this in different populations might be a little different, but the problem is the same," she said.

"I think that this study really highlights ... that early defibrillation and CPR is important."

Mid Autumn Festival 2011 - enjoy yourself

China's Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunisolar month (see Mid-Autumn Festival Dates), which is in September or October. The festival is the second most important festival after the Spring Festival to Chinese people. Every year, when the festival comes people go home from every corner of the country and the world to meet their family and have dinner with them.

Celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival has a history of over 3,000 years, dating back to the moon worship in ancient times. Read more on history and origin of Mid-Autumn Festival

The festival is celebrated extensively across the country, and is one of the few reunion holidays for Chinese families. (see Chinese public holiday schedule 2011). On that day, Chinese family members stay together, admiring the full moon and eating mooncakes.




 

 

History and Origin of Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-autumn Festival dates back over 3,000 years, to moon worshipping in the Shang Dynasty. Ancient Chinese emperors worshiped the moon in the autumn, as they believed that the practice would bring them another harvest year. The word “mid-autumn” first appeared in the Zhou Dynasty. During that time,
worshipping the moon on the 15th night of the eighth month had spread to high officials and rich families. The practice entailed placing a large table in the middle of the yard under the moon, and they put offerings such as fruits and snacks on the table. However, not until the early Tang Dynasty was the day officially celebrated as a traditional festival. It then became an established festival during the Song Dynasty, and has become as popular as the Spring Festival since the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Appreciating the moon has been a custom since the Tang Dynasty (618–907). Not only the rich merchants and officials, but also the common citizens, liked appreciating the moon together at that time. The rich merchants and officials held big parties in their big courts. They drank and appreciated the bright moon. Music and dances were also indispensable. The common citizens just prayed to the moon for a good harvest.
The tradition of eating mooncakes during the festival bgan in Yuan Dynasty. At the end of Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368, a dynasty ruled by the Mongols), the Han people’s army wanted to overthrow the rule of the Mongols, so they planed an uprising, but they had no way to inform every Han who wanted to join them of the time of the uprising without being discovered by the Mongols. One day, the military counselor of the Han people’s army, Liu Bowen, thought out a stratagem related to mooncakes. Liu Bowen asked his soldiers to spread the rumor that there would be a serious disease in winter and eating mooncakes was the only way to cure the disease, then he asked soldiers to write "uprising, at the night of Mid-Autumn Festival" on papers and put them into mooncakes then sell them to common Han people. When the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival came a huge uprising broke out. From then on, people eat mooncakes every Mid-Autumn Festival to commemorate the uprising.


My experience with Soka Gakai


This morning I attended the 3rd week prayer for my FIL and when I reach the temple with my wife, her step mother was already there chanting the Soka Gakai togething with her friend. My wife told me that the chanting during the 7 weeks of mourning period will bring my FIL’s soul to a higher realm. Of course, I can understand this purpose as some chants are very powerful as it has been chanted by millions of people and have be transmitted into Universe and saying out this chant will have very positive effect.

My problem is that the way of chanting and the uncoordinated chanting of the believers have a very disturbing effect on me. I feel very comfortable as it was a pain to my ear. Yes, I know that for some people, it is music to their ears. Nevertheless, some of my relatives who have experienced this chants could feel the un-calming effect on my mood or sentiments.

During the wake of my FIL, a lot of the literature from Soka Gakai was given to us and I was told that this religion is the same as Buddhism except the believers pray to the scriptures and not Buddha. Their repetitious six words vow means “ the believer devote their life to the dharma”. I think some of the believers misunderstood Buddhism , as Buddhist believe there is Buddha nature in all of us and praying to Buddha is only expressing a respect to the idol. A respect to the Great Teacher. This is the true belief and if one is praying to Buddha for wealth and miracle, this belief is wrong. But, from the literature of Soka Gakai , there is this belief that by repeating this chant , it will bring great fortune on the believer. This is something , I cannot understand or accept. When we pray with our compassionate heart , it should be for the well being of the entire living being and not for one self. Every living being is inter-connected in one way or another and the pray is for all good things for every being.

The chanting of “ namo oreng ge keo “ in Japanese is equivalent to “ namo amitabah” but the chanting tone and the feeling is different. The Sanskrit version is more pleasing and have a more calming effect , maybe it is because it has not self promotion effect on the Sanskrit version. I have heard about a lot of strange things happening to the believers of the Soka Gakai sect and this something I would want to avoid.

I asked my wife why my FIL can believe in this sect and she told me that her father is a non believer in all the religions and he only occasionally go to the Quan Ying temple. He was from China and live under the communist regime for a large part of his younger days and there is no religious under the communist regime. Religion under communist is a waste of time and effort. Only recently, China have relax this rules and allow the restrict freedom of religion in their country.

Nevertheless, whatever is the belief , it has ended for my FIL and we are not sure where is he now. Some Buddhist belief is that part of his soul is wondering around during the 49 days after his death and we do not know whether this is true or not. If his consciousness is still around, I wish him rest in peace.

Namaste.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Lesson on life: the ant and the grasshopper.


The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and
laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter,
so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE OLD STORY:

Be responsible for yourself!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

May's Birthday

Yesterday was May's birthday and my family together with my sister and brother had a buffet lunch at Sirkes, E&O Hotel. I think it is the best buffet spread now in Penang. There was huge varieties of food. Sushi, Peking Duck, grilled salmon fish head, Char keow teow and all type of seafood.  You name it and they got it.  You can eat , eat and continue to eat until they close at 3pm. Wonderful food and quantity  is generous.  It was a guilty trip but just for May.

I Left with my wife at 2pm , heavily sedated with food. The food is ready to come out of our nose, ears and eyes , just to exaggerate a bit. It was  full of temptation and we just let go. It was fill to the brink for the whole day and we have to reduce our dinner for a bowl of simple congee.

May is a social animal and she has so  much offer for dinners and lunch during these two days and I have to constantly remind her of the extra weight from these sumptuous food. To reduce a kg, it took us a few days and hardship but putting on a kg , it comes with pleasure. Well, the lesson is that  we have to avoid the temptations and avoid the sight of good food.

Just now, I was blogging  and I came across a youtube video and this young girl speak about the earth that is changing so fast that there is a real threat on nature including clean water and food. She said that while some countries are throwing tons of food down the drain , in those poor countries , the children is dying of famine, under nourished and hunger. If human being is kind and compassionate, such wastage could be put to good use.

May is a kind hearted and compassionate girl. She do cares for the poor but her priority now is to enjoy life and I think she is doing the right thing. I think a lot of youngsters her age is taking a too serious stand in life. There is an advice to the/ youngsters " Only fools will do nothing wrong through their eyes but wise man listen to advise" .

Namaste.

Take a break : harvard study (extract)

Management Tip of the Day: Go ahead, take that break


Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:46AM EDT

BOSTON (Reuters) - As the work world gets busier and more demanding, you need to make a greater effort to disconnect and create moments of quiet, says Harvard Business Review.

The Harvard Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical management tips and ideas from Harvard Business Review and HBR.org (http://www.hbr.org). Any opinions expressed are not endorsed by Reuters.

"Study after study shows how important rest is to the human brain. Yet, the world of work seems to get busier and more demanding every day.

This means you have to make even more of an effort to disconnect and find the time to relax. Try leaving your phone at home on your next family outing. Make a to-do list on Friday and hide it (physically and mentally) until Monday morning. If this seems like a waste of potentially productive time, remind yourself that moments of quiet are critical. After focusing intently on a project or problem, the brain needs to fully disengage and relax to be creative. Only after a break can you have a breakthrough."

-- Today's management tip was adapted from "Go Ahead, Take that Break" by Whitney Johnson.

(For the full post and to join the discussion: http://blogs.hbr.org/johnson/2011/07/go-ahead-take-that-break.html)

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes


Saturday, August 20, 2011

Gikung exercise - 15 minutes (extracts)

A *must read and try exercise* for those who are too busy to go to the gym
or morning walk. Wish you all good health:-****

****

Dear Friends: The Qikung Walking Exercise that I am teaching at different
venues is good but needs at least 1 hour a day to practice for good
results. Since many of you are still working, here is one exercise I
believe that could help you solve the "time" problem. Just *15 minutes a
day* and *good results can be expected* if you do it diligently *everyday
for a period of 2-3 months* (depending on individual's health conditions and
one's duration of holding up the legs....) A real simple exercise to help you
increase your energy... The English text is my translation from the Chinese
text that I received from Sonata. Lie down on your back, raise your legs -
90 degree at thighs with body, 90 degree at knee joints, 90 degree at ankles
- and keep this posture for 15 minutes or longer. Start with as long as
you can manage and add on the minutes. That's it.****

****

Notes: ****

1) Drink before and after the exercise 300cc of warm water. Breathing
normally. Don't hold back your breath. Using the energy from your waist
and "Dan tian" to hold your legs in that posture as long as you can manage.*
***

****

2) When you are lying down in this posture, blood will flow back to your
liver and kidneys ensuring fast detoxing and increasing your metabolism.
You will feel very "soared" with your legs and your pituitary gland will
be activated to hasten the detox process and the toxins in your body will be
excreted via sweating.****

****

3) When you are lying in this posture, your body is getting rid of the
"toxin" in your body. They your good body cells will be stronger and has
definitely a good control of any bad cells (including cancer cells) inside
your body.****

****

4) Since you are using your waist's energy to support the legs, your
Shenqu (CV 8)and Ming Men (GV4) of the main acupressure points) were used to
do the breathing, your Front and Back main Meridians will be cleared and
connected. Thus your minute skin pores will be opened to help with the
"detox" process. With breathing through the Dan Tian, it helps to lessen
the burden of breath on your lungs. Therefore, you heart functions will be
stronger with the result that your blood pressure will also be lower.****

****

5) When you sweat, the acidic toxins will be excreted, your blood lipid
(fatty deposits) will be burnt. Spleen is in charge of our 4 limbs.
Therefore, your blood sugar level will also be stabilized with the result
your spleen function is being improved. End result is that you will feel
more calm and gentle.****

****

6) When your legs are up, your small intestine's movement will be
activated and your bladder's muscles will be stronger. Therefore,
constipation, abnormal menstruation, prostate problems can all be avoided.
Also, once your digestion and excretion systems are in order, you will have
good appetite and can maintain your normal body weight.****

****

7) When your legs are up, your spine is straight. That means your whole
body's muscles will be strengthened. Qi and blood will flow smoothly
throughout your body. Your joints can easiy have more bone marrows and the
nerves alongside your spine are well connected with all parts of the body.
Thus degeneration of joints and growth of bone spurs can be avoided.****

****

8) When your legs are up, all your inner organs are working in harmony.
Your brain burden will be less and thus can function better, resulting in
clear heads, better memory and no more insomnia. Also you will have better
tolerance and stronger will power.****

Therefore, the longer you can hold up your legs in that posture, the better
and long living you will be. ****

****

**

Vitamin F

*Vitamin F - the essential vitamin*

A Friend shared this article with me and I want to share it with you.

Why do I have a variety of friends who are all different in character ?
Some of them can be considered marginal even ?
How do I get on with them all ?
I think that each one helps to bring out a "different" part of me...
With one of them I am polite.
I joke with another friend.
I sit down and talk about serious matters with one of them.
With another I giggle at every silly thing.
I have my wine with one
And dance with another.
I listen to one friend's problems and give them advice
Then I listen to another advising me.
They are all like pieces of a jigsaw,
When completed they form a treasure box.
A treasure of friends!
They are my friends who understand me better than myself,
who support me through good days and bad days.
They are like colourful anti-depressants that I take on different days.
Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health.
Dr. Oz calls them Vitamins F (from Friends) and counts the benefits of
friends to our well being.

Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of
depression and terminal strokes. If you take Vitamin F constantly you can be
up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops
stress and even in your tense moments, it decreases the chance of a cardiac
arrest or stroke by 50 %.

I am so happy that I have a stock of Vitamins F!
In summary, we should value our friends and keep in touch with them.
We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together,
not forgetting to open our mouths big to swallow the vitamin F !!!!

Thank you for being one of my vitamins! You have enriched my life!
(See attached file: C.htm)
Attachment C.htm (size=4,697) has been removed from this note.

Death through sports

My wife told me that the husband of her sister's friend, Karen died when playing badminton and at the age of 56. Such news brings back many memories of friends that have gone this way at young age. I remembered I wrote an article about them.

BC, my college Junior was a state hockey player and he was the committee member at the PSC. He was busy with the club work and was captain of the club's veteran team. It is probably the stress and the strenuous practice sessions in the run up to the veteran game in Alor Star. He died while playing in the competitive veteran game. He was 49.

Leong, my tax consultant. He was an active badminton player and he was on his way for promotion to be a partner in his firm. He was either fat or over weight but again, perhaps to the hidden stress and his body condition on the fateful night.  He died after an active game while resting on the side line. He was 49,

Many such incidents including famous personalities who have died while sporting or after sporting. There was an article that too much sports is harmful to the body and as we age, we should show down. The belief that sports keep our body young is a myth and it is natural evolution that everybody must die.  Yes, we can slow it down but not keeping it forever young. There is a saying " the heart is welling but the body cannot fulfill" . It applies to a lot of activities including sex.  Too much of everything is bad for the body.

There is a choice for us, either to live an active life and run the risk or slow down and live a passive life to live longer. However, there is no guarantee that both choice could make you live longer. It is fate and the process of evolution.  The personal characters of the person plays a big part in the process of living and dying. I have learned that people with strong characters like Shih Huang Ti' character and  is tyrannic leader, such people will die young as they often see things in their perfect ways and never tolerate out of line followers. Such characters have to constantly remind themselves to slow down and accept dissent or look at obituaries everyday to remind them of the fragility of life.

Everything works in a balance. We have to balance our character and our activities just like what Buddha have taught us " the middle way" . Strike a balance in everything we do and we will enjoy a happier and longer life.

Namaste.

10 useful ways in the use of internet - extract

1. Make Money with Online Surveys - There are some scammy survey companies out there that really won't pan out for any extra money for you in the long run. BUT, I've had very good success with these Canadian online survey companies: Ipsos I-Reid and MySurvey.ca. You earn points for each completed survey (which I, in fact, find fun to fill out!) and gather those points up for free gift cards, or even cheques in the mail. Lovely! Fill out some fun surveys and then get gift cards to treat yourself to a nice new book, or at least that's how I spend mine...

2. Save Money on Travel - Oh man, how did we ever travel cheaply back in the days before the Internet? Travel research is a breeze online, and you can quickly compare prices with different companies and sites. Everything from airline tickets, to hotel rooms are marked down and revealed on the Internet - all you have to do is find the bargains and snag the deal quickly, before it's gone.

3. Make Money with Blogs - Blogs and websites are an incredible way for anyone who loves to put pen to paper (urm...fingers to keys, rather) and express themselves. Blogger.com makes setting up a blog a breeze even for those of us who feel technologically inept. Google Adsense and other types of advertisers make it easy to monetize your blogs. And it's a fun hobby - instead of shopping online, blog online and make a few extra dollars. (It was my websites and blogs that landed me a book deal...so very interesting things can happen when you set your mind to it. That little blog of yours might very well turn into your full-time job.)

4. Save Money on Groceries - I believe every major supermarket in Canada and the US has a major online presence. So, even if you don't get all the flyers delivered to you, you have no excuse but to check the grocery store's websites and create a list of all the deals to stock up on when you head into the store. And, by joining frugal forums and websites, you can network with other Frugalites and find even more best deals.

5. Make Money with Articles - Again, this is a way that writers can earn some more moola - you can find newspapers, magazines or major websites that are looking for fresh content, and email them a query letter. It's easy - in another post another day, I'll share some tips on how to write a simple yet effective query.

6. Save Money on Furniture and Home Stuff - I adore Kijiji. I used to be a lover of Craigslist, but I've had great success recently with Kijiji. I've gotten a $700-value solid wooden armoire (in which we hide away our TV and stereo) for only $180. And recently, a solid wooden table and chairs set (and lovely striped tablecloth to boot! In all my favorite colors...) for only $180 as well. Hey, that seems to be a good number for me. lol You can save incredible amounts of money by purchasing good quality second hand furniture items through Kijiji or other local classified ads sites. * Note: Please be careful when purchasing items this way. If you have a 'funny feeling', just let the so-called deal go. There are con artists out there, and weirdos. *

7. Make Money on eBay - Getting rid of clutter and junk in your home will make YOU feel great, will make your home look great, and will help your bank account bulge greatly! It's unbelievable how one man's junk is truly another man's treasure.

8. Save Money with Coupons - Certain retailers have online printable coupons you can use in-store or online when purchasing. Plus, coupon groups are a handy way to stock up on a few extra coupons, while getting rid of coupons you don't need. eBay is another source of coupons, surprisingly.

9. Make Money by selling your crafts - Whether you're a painter or create beautiful paper crafts, you can create a simple website to sell your handmade items, or else use Etsy or eBay to sell on.

10. Save Money by going online...and not relying on RETAIL THERAPY. Remember, you can get carried away spending online, too! Instead, use the Internet as a way to stick to your frugalite goals, whether that be reducing debt or saving money, or possibly paying off a mortgage early. By using the Internet for financial prudence and motivation, you can prevent shopping as a form of therapy. Retail therapy, huh? More like retail scare-apy! Oh, wow, that was bad...
10

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Tai Chi 24-form


Chen Style Taiji - Master Aiping Cheng


Waiting at KLIA

Waiting for  the flight back to Penang, just sitting at KLIA , reflecting on the two and half days in KL.  I could not sleep well last night and I suspect that it could be the Chinese tea , I had with my sister , Jo at lot 10.  I have similar experience in the past after drinking tea in the evening.  I have specially mentioned to Jo that we have to be careful and get some light tea which induce sleep  But, the opposite have happened.  A bit dizzy and drowsy.

Anyway, I managed to struggle through the morning session on some international trade issue with MITI and catch a simple lunch before going to the airport. When I reach the airport, there was a big contingent of police officers and I believe they are welcoming some VIP before sending them  off from the airport.  I avoided the crowd and proceed to self check in and proceed to check in myself.

I just wanna share my thoughts while sitting here waiting for the plane.  The past two and half days have been hectic , going through the bi-lateral trade issues , some serious work. After the whole sessions, I realize that the world is going away from globalization.  The creation of trade blocks , FTAs and economic pacts are isolating the Countries. In the name of Free trade, the countries are negotiating with each other for more trade within themselves. What about those small countries or the LDC ( Less Developed Countries ) who cannot manage themselves?  A lot of matrix of trade agreements wiring up the whole global trade connections.  It is immensely complex and troublesome. Where are we going ?  Instead of simplification, we are going into the woods?

Just feel fed-up with the massive documents and trade conditions and the next stage is to seek a compromise among all the countries to manage the bi-lateral trade.  It will take years and I do not whether it will be within my working life .

So, much for now.  Try to stir my thoughts away to something more present.

Namaste.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Introducing Yoga 108


yoga 108 :: home page

Each Asana (posture) repeated twice, using #13 as relaxation after #14 through #16.

1. Pranayama

* good for mental relaxation
* helps with sleep disorders, irritability * helps maintain good blood pressure
2. Ardha Chandrasana


* strengthens abdominal muscles * releases frozen shoulders * aids in recovery of slipped or ruptured disc
3. Utkatasana


* relieves sciatica, arthritis, rheumatism, and gout in the legs * cure slipped disc and lumbago in the lower spine
* firms all muscles of thighs, calves, and hips
4. Garurasana


supplies fresh blood to the sexual organs and the kidneys * firms calves, thighs, hips, abdomen, and arms * improves the flexibility of the hip, knee, and ankle joints
5. Dandayamana–Janushirasana


* reduces diabetes * improves flexibility of sciatic nerves
* strengthens the tendons, biceps of the thigh muscles, and hamstrings in the legs
6. Dandayamana–Dhanurasana


* increases circulation to the heart and lungs * improves elasticity of the spine * creates marriage between strength and balance * regulates menstrual cycle * helps with lower back pain
7. Tuladandasana


* the most cardivascular pose in the series increases blood flow over the body at same time keeps the stomach trim or helps get it trim with shoulders up and chest down
* clears blockage of the arteries for prevention of cardiac problems
8. Dandayamana–Bibhaktapada–Paschimotthanasana


* helps relieve depression * loss of memory * constipation * increases circulation to the brain and adrenal glands * stretches the spine and back of the legs
9. Trikanasana


* changes chemical imbalances in the system * helps with menstrual disorders * the whole body is effected; muscles, nerves & tissues * good for hip and back pain
10. Dandayamana–Bibhaktapada–Janushirasana


* helps maintain good blood sugar balance * compression of the pancreas and kidney * marriage between pineal and thyroid * helps with colds, sinus problems, migraines * muscular, skeletal, endocrine, digestive and reproductive systems all benefit
11. Tadasana


* creates hip and knee mobility * excellent for posture and balance * the only pose which creates total body traction * releases abdominal tension * aids in rheumatism and circulatory disorders
12. Padangustasana


* creates balance in body and mind * strengthens stomach muscles * helps to avoid gout, arthritis of the knee, leg strengthens weak joints * challenges your mental concentration
13. Savasana


* returns the body to it's normal slate * preparation for floor series
14. Pavanamuktasana


* prevents flatulence, low back pain, constipation, anorexia * abdominal pressure on ascending, descending and tranverse colon regulates digestion * stretches tight hips * straightens the spine
15. Sit-up pose


* strengthens and tightens abdomen * releases toxins from the lungs
16. Bhujangasana


increases spinal strength and flexibility * helps prevent lower backache, cure lumbago, rheumatism, and arthritis of the spine * improves the functioning of the liver and spleen
17. Salabhasana


* cures gout, slipped disc, sciatica, and tennis elbow * excellent for firming buttocks and hips
18. Poorna–Salabhasana


* same therapeutic value as the Salabhasana and Dandayamana–Dhanurasana
19. Dhanurasana


* works entire spine * helps with back pain and scoleosis * holds vertebrae in position
20. Supta Vajrasana


* stretches and strengthens the psoas muscles * stretches knee and ankle joints * relieves lower back pain *slims thighs, firms abdomen and calves * helps cure sciatica, gout, vericose veins * helps prevent hernia
21. Ardha–Kurmasana


* provides maximum relaxation * cures indigestion, constipation, flatulence * good for emphysema and asthma * increases blood flow to the brain bringing mental clarity, good memory
22. Ustrasana


* opens the chest * strengthens muscles of the back & shoulders * produces maximum compression of the spine * often an emotional release happens in this pose * the nervous system is stimulated * improves flexibility of the neck and spine

23. Sanangasana


* helps maintain mobility and elasticity of the spine and back muscles * nurtures the nervous system * brings blood to the brain

24a. Janushirasana


* increases flexibility of the shoulder muscles, hip joint, and last five vertebrae of the spine * stretches sciatic nerve * increases circulation to the liver, spleen, pancreas, thyroid, thymus and intestines


24b. Paschimotthanasana


* circulation of blood to legs & brain * flexibility of the spine * stretches the back of the legs
25. Ardha–Matsyendrasana


* only posture that twists the spine from top to bottom at the same time helps prevent slipped discs, scoliosis, arthritis, rheumatism * increases circulation and nutrition to the spinal nerves, veins and tissues * relieves lethargy, releases tension * helps cure vertigo and dizziness * maintains youth by improving flexibility of the spine

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26. Kapalbhati in Vajrasana


* improves oxygenation to the body * rids the body of toxins * energizes and revitalizes the body * helps bring mental clarity and alertness