The 15 days of CNY celebration have gone and it is back to our normal life. During the 15 days of celebration, we have cite it as a reason to delay our work, our resolutions or our activities and we just want to stay in the CNY mood and just doing nothing serious. NOw, it is all in the past.
It is not a bad thing to stay in the mood as long as we are happy and we can afford it. LIfe in the rat race is very stressful and it is our way or our mind and body to stay away from the sress. The 15 days break could have cure us or give our body and mind the time to repair itself. Most importantly, it give us time to catch up with our close ones, our parents, relatives and friends. It is the most preciously moments out of the 365 days to let ourself free and liberated.
This year is special as the CNY fell on a Monday and it was a good 4 days break and followed by another 4 days because of the Thaipusam and an islam holiday. In total, we have a 10 days public holiday and it was an excellent period to rekindle ourselves with passion and love.
During the 15 days, I have done a few things which I do not do during my normal days, I learn to play mahjong again with my sister, brother and my wife and I know the joy of just playing the game with them. It is not the money or the bets but it is the time we sit down together and enjoy a a game of Mahjong. Now, I know why older people eant to pay mahjong, it is the thrill to inter-act or communicate among the players and to catch up with things which we do not have the time or opportunity to talk., It is a very meaningful passing game and it is meaningful as well on special occasions among close or love ones.
Another thing I did is to spend time around my house taking care of repairs and re-arrangig my flowers in my garden. These small things I have not managed to do during the weekends or the public holidays.It is very interesting that we busy our lives to do other thngs instead of the things close to our heart.
LIfe is like that. We spend 80 lpercent of our time doing our office work or things for others while we spend only 20 percent of the time for ourself than we blame that we do not have the time for ourself. How foolish can we be? Not realizing that time is most precious for ourself.
We worry about the affairs of others including our children and we want to ensure the best for them. We place their importance on top of our affair and for some people we consider our children as investments. Basciall, it is the mentality of the Asean people. Nowadays, we talk about balance life but it will take years to change this mind-set before we really put our affairs as the top priority. We should continue to promote ourself first and let our children or love ones to choose the thing that they want to do. Believe me, they are more than capable to live by themselves.
Namaste.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Lunch at Chicago ribs - GP
On the 15th day of CNY, my wife told me that she wants to Go shopping at Gurney Plaza. Her strategy is to go early in the morning to avoid the jam and get out before the jam start. A smart move indeed. Surprisingly, the crowd was sparse until after lunch.
After walking around for three hours, we decide to have lunch in the mall. Our purpose if walking around is to replace our morning walk for the day. People spend time in a Gym and exercise under the air con. Why not do window shopping in an mall instead? It is not only free but more interesting and focus especially on the people passing by.
Well, this was not my message. After walking for more than 2 hours, my wife suggested lunch at the Mall and she told me that she want to try something special apart from the Japanese food. She suggested Chillies or Chicago ribs and I told her that we should try the Chicago ribs. It was our second time there but she insisted it was our first time. Well, it does not matter and we leave as that.
On reaching the restaurant, we were served by a young waitress and after that a young waiter took over the service and gave us a menu. He was quite polite and helpful and he suggested a full baby back rib which I agreed immediately while my wife order a fish fillet. As usual, we shared our meal and in this way, we could share more varieties. I ordered a ice lemon tea while my wife ordered a warm sky juice. It was not because she is thrifty but she was having a cold flu. The young waiter told me that my ice lemon tea is refillable for the whole day. I could drown on ice lemon tea on that day.
The fish fillet was so-so but the baby back rib was perfect and excellent. It was soft and tender and it jus melt into our mouth. It will be even perfect for a toothless tiger. I remembered we used to favor a baby rib shop along Burmah Road many years ago and it has closed down already. We used to frequent it 4 times in a month and I would recommend it to my friends and relatives. Maybe, the pork ribs did not catch on with the people in Penang especially it has to compete with the Chinese " siew yok". This fatty pork "siew yok" is also my favorite and it another excellent dish if you do mind the fatty stuff. As compared to babyback ribs, it is lean and dry and the "siew Yok" is wet and fat. It is way apart but it has its own unique taste. A perfect "10" in its own ways.
In life, we should try all types of food at least once.. There is a Chinese saying " we do mind it is not forever but having it once is enough". Well said, this poet must be wise old man who loves food. LOL
Namaste.
Fitness and fatness is important for health - survey
Fitness and "fatness" both matter to the heart
Mon Feb 6, 2012 4:19PM EST
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Losing fitness or packing on fat with age each can be bad for the heart -- but avoiding either one of those fates may protect the ticker, a study published Monday suggests.
U.S. researchers found that of more than 3,100 healthy adults they followed, those who improved -- or simply maintained -- their fitness levels were less likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other well-established heart disease risk factors.
Similarly, people who maintained their weight had fewer of those red flags than people who became heavier over time.
That may sound logical, but part of what's new in the findings, researchers say, is that changes in fitness and "fatness" each appeared important on their own.
In general, people who kept their fitness levels over time seemed to counter some of the ill effects of weight gain. And dips in fitness levels weren't as bad if a person lost some excess body fat.
The results suggest that protecting heart health is not as hard as some people think, according to lead researcher Duck-chul Lee, of the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
That is, just maintaining your weight and fitness levels as you age may be enough to see benefits.
"If you're overweight, losing weight and improving your fitness may be the best combination," Lee told Reuters Health. "But that's very challenging."
For many people, "maintenance" may be more achievable, Lee said.
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, included 3,148 men and women in the Dallas area who were in their early 40s, on average, at the outset.
Over six years, they developed high blood pressure at a rate of four percent each year, high cholesterol at a rate of three percent per year and so-called metabolic syndrome at a rate of two percent per year. (Metabolic syndrome refers to a collection of risk factors for heart disease -- including high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, abdominal obesity and high blood sugar.)
But people who kept up or improved their fitness levels -- as measured during treadmill tests -- had lower odds of developing those heart risk factors.
Their risks of high blood pressure or high cholesterol were 26 percent to 30 percent lower, versus people whose fitness levels declined. And their risk of metabolic syndrome was 42 percent to 52 percent lower.
Similarly, when people increased their percentage of body fat over time, they were more likely to develop heart risk factors.
For each one percent increase in body fat, the odds of those risk factors climbed anywhere from three percent to eight percent.
But in general, people who gained weight stayed healthier if they kept up their fitness levels. And if overweight people shed some fat, they countered some of the negative effects of waning fitness.
The bottom line, according to Lee, is that people who are active should stay active. Even if you don't see a benefit on your bathroom scale, you'll stay fit.
"If you're already exercising, keep it up, and maybe increase the intensity if you can," Lee said.
If you're sedentary but healthy, he said, you can safely take up moderate exercise like brisk walking. Lee added, though, that people who are obese or have chronic health conditions should talk to their doctors first.
"It's the sedentary people who will get the most benefit from exercise in a short time," Lee said.
He was, however, referring to the benefit of improved fitness. Overweight people often fail to see the pounds fly off when they first start exercising -- possibly because they are hungrier and start eating more.
Don't get discouraged by that, Lee said. You can improve your cardiovascular fitness even without shedding the extra body fat. One way to tell if your fitness is improving, Lee said, is to simply notice how you feel when you go about your normal exercise routine; if it's getting easier, you're getting fitter.
To actually lose weight, diet changes are needed as well.
"Most people will lose weight with exercise," Lee said, "if they also pay attention to the calories they're taking in."
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/dIuKje Journal of the American College of Cardiology, online February 6, 2012.
Mon Feb 6, 2012 4:19PM EST
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Losing fitness or packing on fat with age each can be bad for the heart -- but avoiding either one of those fates may protect the ticker, a study published Monday suggests.
U.S. researchers found that of more than 3,100 healthy adults they followed, those who improved -- or simply maintained -- their fitness levels were less likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other well-established heart disease risk factors.
Similarly, people who maintained their weight had fewer of those red flags than people who became heavier over time.
That may sound logical, but part of what's new in the findings, researchers say, is that changes in fitness and "fatness" each appeared important on their own.
In general, people who kept their fitness levels over time seemed to counter some of the ill effects of weight gain. And dips in fitness levels weren't as bad if a person lost some excess body fat.
The results suggest that protecting heart health is not as hard as some people think, according to lead researcher Duck-chul Lee, of the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
That is, just maintaining your weight and fitness levels as you age may be enough to see benefits.
"If you're overweight, losing weight and improving your fitness may be the best combination," Lee told Reuters Health. "But that's very challenging."
For many people, "maintenance" may be more achievable, Lee said.
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, included 3,148 men and women in the Dallas area who were in their early 40s, on average, at the outset.
Over six years, they developed high blood pressure at a rate of four percent each year, high cholesterol at a rate of three percent per year and so-called metabolic syndrome at a rate of two percent per year. (Metabolic syndrome refers to a collection of risk factors for heart disease -- including high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, abdominal obesity and high blood sugar.)
But people who kept up or improved their fitness levels -- as measured during treadmill tests -- had lower odds of developing those heart risk factors.
Their risks of high blood pressure or high cholesterol were 26 percent to 30 percent lower, versus people whose fitness levels declined. And their risk of metabolic syndrome was 42 percent to 52 percent lower.
Similarly, when people increased their percentage of body fat over time, they were more likely to develop heart risk factors.
For each one percent increase in body fat, the odds of those risk factors climbed anywhere from three percent to eight percent.
But in general, people who gained weight stayed healthier if they kept up their fitness levels. And if overweight people shed some fat, they countered some of the negative effects of waning fitness.
The bottom line, according to Lee, is that people who are active should stay active. Even if you don't see a benefit on your bathroom scale, you'll stay fit.
"If you're already exercising, keep it up, and maybe increase the intensity if you can," Lee said.
If you're sedentary but healthy, he said, you can safely take up moderate exercise like brisk walking. Lee added, though, that people who are obese or have chronic health conditions should talk to their doctors first.
"It's the sedentary people who will get the most benefit from exercise in a short time," Lee said.
He was, however, referring to the benefit of improved fitness. Overweight people often fail to see the pounds fly off when they first start exercising -- possibly because they are hungrier and start eating more.
Don't get discouraged by that, Lee said. You can improve your cardiovascular fitness even without shedding the extra body fat. One way to tell if your fitness is improving, Lee said, is to simply notice how you feel when you go about your normal exercise routine; if it's getting easier, you're getting fitter.
To actually lose weight, diet changes are needed as well.
"Most people will lose weight with exercise," Lee said, "if they also pay attention to the calories they're taking in."
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/dIuKje Journal of the American College of Cardiology, online February 6, 2012.
Find out what is wrong with failed romance - valentine day special
Finding out what went wrong with failed romance
Mon Feb 6, 2012 9:24AM EST
By Natasha Baker
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - With Valentine's Day just a week away disappointed daters wondering what went wrong with the romance have a new way to discover why the relationship fizzled.
A website called WotWentWrong provides a guided way to request and respond to feedback on why things didn't work out.
"It's for the people who are evolved enough to really want to be mature about it and find out so that they can move on," said Audrey Melnik, the developer and CEO of the site.
By selecting from a number of pre-made templates, users can request feedback from their former dates, in a way that Melnik said removes emotion from the equation.
"It's really just to tell them 'I understand there's no future with us, but just to get closure, let me know why you lost interest'," she said.
After the feedback has been submitted, the initial requestor is able to view that information, along with advice, and products, recommended by the website.
"If he says that you're constantly late, or have a problem with punctuality, there's a book there for helping you," she said.
According to Melnik, not hearing back from a date after an apparent connection is something that can happen for a variety of reasons. And the only way to truly know is to ask.
"A little bit of time goes by and you don't hear from him and you're sitting there and wondering if there's some kind of process going on his life, or if he's just not into you," Melnik explained.
The website, she said, is a socially acceptable way to ask, rather than an email or phone call which could put the other person on the spot.
More often, Melnik said that it's women who are left wondering why relationships didn't work which she said is attributed to the social conventions of dating.
"Mostly the way the dating story goes is that the guy does the pursuing. So the guy is in the position to make the phone call, and the woman is in the position to wait for that phone call," she said.
Coming from an technology background, Melnik came up with the idea when she realized that there were no hard statistics on the most common mistakes people make in relationships.
She realized that a website would be the best way to collect the data, and plans to create a feature on the website that will allow users to filter the information based on gender, duration of the relationship, location and other features after enough feedback has been collected.
But is there really value in gaining this feedback when a relationship is over? Melnik thinks there is.
"If you're continually making the same mistakes, shouldn't you know about that so you can fix them?" she said.
(Reporting by Natasha Baker; editing by Patricia Reaney)
Mon Feb 6, 2012 9:24AM EST
By Natasha Baker
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - With Valentine's Day just a week away disappointed daters wondering what went wrong with the romance have a new way to discover why the relationship fizzled.
A website called WotWentWrong provides a guided way to request and respond to feedback on why things didn't work out.
"It's for the people who are evolved enough to really want to be mature about it and find out so that they can move on," said Audrey Melnik, the developer and CEO of the site.
By selecting from a number of pre-made templates, users can request feedback from their former dates, in a way that Melnik said removes emotion from the equation.
"It's really just to tell them 'I understand there's no future with us, but just to get closure, let me know why you lost interest'," she said.
After the feedback has been submitted, the initial requestor is able to view that information, along with advice, and products, recommended by the website.
"If he says that you're constantly late, or have a problem with punctuality, there's a book there for helping you," she said.
According to Melnik, not hearing back from a date after an apparent connection is something that can happen for a variety of reasons. And the only way to truly know is to ask.
"A little bit of time goes by and you don't hear from him and you're sitting there and wondering if there's some kind of process going on his life, or if he's just not into you," Melnik explained.
The website, she said, is a socially acceptable way to ask, rather than an email or phone call which could put the other person on the spot.
More often, Melnik said that it's women who are left wondering why relationships didn't work which she said is attributed to the social conventions of dating.
"Mostly the way the dating story goes is that the guy does the pursuing. So the guy is in the position to make the phone call, and the woman is in the position to wait for that phone call," she said.
Coming from an technology background, Melnik came up with the idea when she realized that there were no hard statistics on the most common mistakes people make in relationships.
She realized that a website would be the best way to collect the data, and plans to create a feature on the website that will allow users to filter the information based on gender, duration of the relationship, location and other features after enough feedback has been collected.
But is there really value in gaining this feedback when a relationship is over? Melnik thinks there is.
"If you're continually making the same mistakes, shouldn't you know about that so you can fix them?" she said.
(Reporting by Natasha Baker; editing by Patricia Reaney)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Self- immolation by Tibetian Monks
recently, I have read about Tibetian monks carrying out self-immolation by fire in political protest and in support of the Dalai Lama. I am curious that these Buddhist monks would want to end their life in this manner. Such actions can arouse the world to take notice of the plight of the Tibetians but not enough to change the events and the fate of Tibet.
The Dalai Lama is in exile and he spreading the words of Buddhism form India and he continues to engage with foreign leaders in the world stage and hoping for China to return Tibet to him. This is just an impossible dream but the righteous one. China have build a railway from certain parts of China and this has open up Tibet to the rest of the world and the whole of China. This is the way of globalization and Tibet is no exception. But,the Tibetian Buddhism have spread very fast to a great part of the world through Tibetian Buddhist masters giving talks, writing books and building monasteries all over the world. This is the greatness of Buddhism.
I know that committing suicide is not allow in all the religions and these self - immolations for whatever purposes should not be allowed as life cannot be allowed to be taken away by oneself. Life is supposed to flourish and whitter in the end when the time is right. I have checked it out and the following extracts is for your better understanding:
HISTORY
Self-immolation is tolerated by some elements of Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism, and it has been practiced for many centuries, especially in India, for various reasons, including Sati, political protest, devotion, and renouncement. Certain warrior cultures, such as in the Charans and Rajputs, also practiced self-immolation. An article entitled History of Religions, written by Jan Yiin-Hua, investigates the medieval Chinese Buddhist precedents for self-immolation.[4]
Relying exclusively on authoritative Chinese Buddhist texts and, through the use of these texts, interpreting such acts exclusively in terms of doctrines and beliefs (e.g., self-immolation, much like an extreme renunciant might abstain from food until dying, could be an example of disdain for the body in favor of the life of the mind and wisdom) rather than in terms of their socio-political and historical context, the article allows its readers to interpret these deaths as acts that refer only to a distinct set of beliefs that happen to be foreign to the non-Buddhist
The Dalai Lama is in exile and he spreading the words of Buddhism form India and he continues to engage with foreign leaders in the world stage and hoping for China to return Tibet to him. This is just an impossible dream but the righteous one. China have build a railway from certain parts of China and this has open up Tibet to the rest of the world and the whole of China. This is the way of globalization and Tibet is no exception. But,the Tibetian Buddhism have spread very fast to a great part of the world through Tibetian Buddhist masters giving talks, writing books and building monasteries all over the world. This is the greatness of Buddhism.
I know that committing suicide is not allow in all the religions and these self - immolations for whatever purposes should not be allowed as life cannot be allowed to be taken away by oneself. Life is supposed to flourish and whitter in the end when the time is right. I have checked it out and the following extracts is for your better understanding:
HISTORY
Self-immolation is tolerated by some elements of Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism, and it has been practiced for many centuries, especially in India, for various reasons, including Sati, political protest, devotion, and renouncement. Certain warrior cultures, such as in the Charans and Rajputs, also practiced self-immolation. An article entitled History of Religions, written by Jan Yiin-Hua, investigates the medieval Chinese Buddhist precedents for self-immolation.[4]
Relying exclusively on authoritative Chinese Buddhist texts and, through the use of these texts, interpreting such acts exclusively in terms of doctrines and beliefs (e.g., self-immolation, much like an extreme renunciant might abstain from food until dying, could be an example of disdain for the body in favor of the life of the mind and wisdom) rather than in terms of their socio-political and historical context, the article allows its readers to interpret these deaths as acts that refer only to a distinct set of beliefs that happen to be foreign to the non-Buddhist
5 types of food that can bloat your stomarch - ext
Sunday, February 5, 2012
5 Types of Food That Can Bloat Your Stomach
When you are invited to a party, do you feel hesitated because you have been through a situation when you just put on the pretty dress, with your silky body hugging evening gown, and everything from the top to bottom was perfectly fine EXCEPT one part: Your “ballooned” stomach! Well this not only happens to women but also men. How do you get rid of it? (Disclaimer: Do not misinterpret the advice below as ways to lose your big belly.)
Watch out for salt
Salt causes water retention in your body. Cut down your salt intake. Please be reminded that salt may show up in simple food products like canned vegetable soup and cottage cheese.
Go slow on refined-carbs
You might be thinking, “Oh well, I can avoid rice and have bread instead”. However, do you know that, cookies and white bread are made of white flour, which is not only low in nutrition but can “balloon up” your tummy? That if you over eat it of course. The refined carbohydrates which are not absorbed will be stored around the waist and will retain water temporarily as fast "on-the-go" energy booster when you need it later. This is helpful for those who are involved in strenuous activities like jogging for hours.
Bulky raw veggies
Raw vegetables are the best because their nutrients are not adulterated. However, that is just one part of the story. When it comes prior to meeting your blind date, you may just want to skip tough greens that can take up lots of stomach space, hence resulting in the bloated feeling. Nevertheless, DON’T skip your vegetables. Instead, try small amount which is lightly steamed.
Gassy food
No, I am not into hammering carbonated drinks today. Gassy food can also refer to the infamously healthy vegetables but also gassy, such as onion, broccoli and Brussels sprout. They are friends that belong to the “cruciferous vegetables” group that might just inflate your tummy and also cause a “gassy episode” (flatulence). So, if you are planning to go for a social event, think twice before you have your broccoli helpings.
Air chewing
When we chew bubble gums, we swallow air indirectly (if you chew with your mouth open. Now, didn’t your mom told you not to chew with your mouth open?!!). The gas will be trapped in our belly and will cause your stomach to bloat. Now, by avoiding these five categories, you can confidently flaunt your flat stomach at the social event without needing to suck-in your stomach.
Until then,
Happy Reading!
Evelyn
5 Types of Food That Can Bloat Your Stomach
When you are invited to a party, do you feel hesitated because you have been through a situation when you just put on the pretty dress, with your silky body hugging evening gown, and everything from the top to bottom was perfectly fine EXCEPT one part: Your “ballooned” stomach! Well this not only happens to women but also men. How do you get rid of it? (Disclaimer: Do not misinterpret the advice below as ways to lose your big belly.)
Watch out for salt
Salt causes water retention in your body. Cut down your salt intake. Please be reminded that salt may show up in simple food products like canned vegetable soup and cottage cheese.
Go slow on refined-carbs
You might be thinking, “Oh well, I can avoid rice and have bread instead”. However, do you know that, cookies and white bread are made of white flour, which is not only low in nutrition but can “balloon up” your tummy? That if you over eat it of course. The refined carbohydrates which are not absorbed will be stored around the waist and will retain water temporarily as fast "on-the-go" energy booster when you need it later. This is helpful for those who are involved in strenuous activities like jogging for hours.
Bulky raw veggies
Raw vegetables are the best because their nutrients are not adulterated. However, that is just one part of the story. When it comes prior to meeting your blind date, you may just want to skip tough greens that can take up lots of stomach space, hence resulting in the bloated feeling. Nevertheless, DON’T skip your vegetables. Instead, try small amount which is lightly steamed.
Gassy food
No, I am not into hammering carbonated drinks today. Gassy food can also refer to the infamously healthy vegetables but also gassy, such as onion, broccoli and Brussels sprout. They are friends that belong to the “cruciferous vegetables” group that might just inflate your tummy and also cause a “gassy episode” (flatulence). So, if you are planning to go for a social event, think twice before you have your broccoli helpings.
Air chewing
When we chew bubble gums, we swallow air indirectly (if you chew with your mouth open. Now, didn’t your mom told you not to chew with your mouth open?!!). The gas will be trapped in our belly and will cause your stomach to bloat. Now, by avoiding these five categories, you can confidently flaunt your flat stomach at the social event without needing to suck-in your stomach.
Until then,
Happy Reading!
Evelyn
Saturday, February 4, 2012
I cannot agree more - have fun (report)
Growing old need not mean sad, lonely days
Singapore | Updated today at 06:00 AM
At least once a week, Ms Mabel Wee, 62, meets a group of up to eight friends for a few hours of music, fun and food.
They chat, share a meal and sing as they strum ukuleles, which they all learnt to play recently.
These get-togethers started shortly after Ms Wee, a retired school principal who is single, returned from visiting her 78-year-old cousin who lives in a retirement community in Los Angeles.
She was struck by what she saw. Residents suggested and took part in activities they liked, got their chores done by staff - and socialised.
Singapore | Updated today at 06:00 AM
At least once a week, Ms Mabel Wee, 62, meets a group of up to eight friends for a few hours of music, fun and food.
They chat, share a meal and sing as they strum ukuleles, which they all learnt to play recently.
These get-togethers started shortly after Ms Wee, a retired school principal who is single, returned from visiting her 78-year-old cousin who lives in a retirement community in Los Angeles.
She was struck by what she saw. Residents suggested and took part in activities they liked, got their chores done by staff - and socialised.
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