Almonds
“Almonds are a winner,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, and author of the bestselling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! “They contain magnesium which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation,” he says. “And they have the added benefit of supplying proteins that can help maintain a stable blood sugar level while sleeping, and help promote sleep by switching you from your alert adrenaline cycle to your rest-and-digest cycle.” Try this bedtime snack: Have a tablespoon of almond butter or a 1-ounce portion of almonds to help your body relax. Photo: Shutterstock
Tea
Yes, avoiding all caffeine in the evening hours is key, but some decaf varieties can help get you into sleep mode, says Dr. Teitelbaum. “Chamomile tea is a very helpful and safe sleep aid,” he says, adding that green tea is another good choice. “Green tea contains theanine, which helps promote sleep. Just be sure you get a decaf green tea if drinking it at bedtime.” Experts recommend trying a 1-cup serving of the hot stuff. Photo: Thinkstock
Miso Soup
You love to order this comforting, broth-based soup in Japanese restaurants, but keeping a few 8-ounce packs of instant miso soup at home may be key when you’re having trouble falling asleep, says Stella Metsovas, CN, a nutritionist in Laguna Beach, California. Here’s why: Miso contains amino acids that may boost the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that can help induce the yawns. Bonus: Research shows that warm liquids like soup and tea may also relieve cold symptoms, helping you sleep better when you're feeling under the weather. Photo: Shutterstock
Banana
Worried about falling asleep tonight? Have a banana before bed, says Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, an internist and the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves. “Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which help to relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming hormones." Try this tasty and incredibly simple bedtime smoothie: Blend one banana with one cup of milk or soy milk (and ice, if desired). Pour and enjoy! Photo: Shutterstock
Dairy
Yogurt, milk and cheese do contain tryptophan, notes Dr. Dalton-Smith, but also have a surprising sleep-inducing nutrient: “Calcium is effective in stress reduction and stabilization of nerve fibers, including those in the brain." That means a serving of your favorite Greek yogurt before bed can not only help you sleep, but also help you stop worrying about the weird thing your boss said earlier at work. Photo: Thinkstock
Oatmeal
You eat it for breakfast, but could a bowl of warm oatmeal help you get more rest? Yes, says Stephan Dorlandt, a clinical nutritionist based in Southern California. “Think about it,” he says. “Oatmeal is warm,soft, soothing, easy to prepare, inexpensive and nourishing. It’s rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and potassium—the who's who of nutrients known to support sleep.” But go easy on the sweeteners; too much sugar before bed can have an anti-calming effect. Instead, consider topping your bowl with fruit, like bananas (see above). Photo: Shutterstock
Hard-Cooked Egg
If you have trouble staying asleep at night, it may be because you didn’t eat a pre-bedtime snack high in protein, or perhaps your snack was too high in simple, high-sugar carbohydrates, like cake and candy. “The problem with simple carbs is that they can put you on a ‘sugar roller coaster’ and drop your blood sugar while you're sleeping, causing you to wake at 2 or 3 in the morning,” says Dr. Teitelbaum. A better bet? “Eat an egg, cheese, nuts or other protein-rich snack instead,” he says, “so you can not only fall asleep, but stay asleep.” Photo: Shutterstock
Edamame
Craving a salty snack before bed? Turn to lightly salted edamame, says Dr. Dalton-Smith—especially if you’re dealing with menopause-related symptoms. “The natural estrogen-like compounds found in soy-based products can be very beneficial in controlling those nighttime hot flashes that can disturb your sleep,” she says. If it’s crackers and dip you’re craving, try making this easy edamame recipe: In a food processor, blend together 2 cups of shelled, cooked edamame with 1 tsp salt, a drizzle of olive oil and 1 clove garlic (optional) until smooth. Photo: Thinkstock
Cherries
Oddly, a glass of cherry juice may be an effective way to fall asleep faster, says a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Rochester. In their study, they found that cherries, particularly tart cherries, naturally boosted the body’s supply of melatonin, which helped people with insomnia. While the jury is still out on how much juice or how many cherries are needed to make you sleepy, experts say sipping a glass of cherry juice (available at most natural foods stores) or having a serving of fresh, frozen or dried cherries before bedtime couldn’t hurt. Photo: Thinkstock
Cereal
There’s no need to feel guilty about having a small bowl of cereal before bed, especially if it’s a low-sugar, whole-grain cereal. Not only is it a healthy snack (make sure you top it with milk to give your body the protein it needs), but it may also help you snooze. “Complex carbohydrate–rich foods increase the availability of tryptophan in the bloodstream, increasing the sleep-inducing effects,” says Dr. Dalton-Smith. Bonus: Top your bowl with a sprinkling of dried cherries (see above) for extra help catching your zzz's. Photo: Thinkstock
Kudos to students, teachers and schools for yet another stunning performance in the PMR. These students had learnt science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia for six years in primary school followed by three years in English, enduring a difficult transition period in Form 1.
The Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page) is elated that highlights of the above results included significant improvements, not only in narrowing the gap between the rural-urban schools but also in Bahasa Malaysia, English language, science and mathematics.
Kudos, too, to the Ministry of Education.
This implies that after teaching science and mathematics in English for eight years to date, these teachers are now more confident and proficient in these subjects, further growing from strength to strength.
It further proves the point that the policy has not relegated Bahasa Malaysia as our national language as claimed by the detractors, and as a bonus, the application and usage of the English language through these very subjects has not only benefited the teachers but also the students in leaps and bounds.
Read more here.
They only managed to get RM300 cash and a mobile phone from the victim, reported SinChew Daily.
At about midnight on Wednesday, Wang Kai Yin, 28, from Kulai was driving home alone but stopped his car at a parking lot in a park after hearing an unusual noise.
When he got down to check, three men on two motorcycles demanded he hand over all his cash and valuables.
Wang surrendered his wallet, but when he told them he had no more money, one of the robbers got angry and cut off his arm.
The following illustrations are the RIGHT TECHNIQUES of usage of your computer mouse and keyboard.
The 40-year-old Dutch keeper’s retirement has been on the cards for some time and United have been preparing to have to fill some big boots by bringing in Dane Anders Lindegaard, who will be registered with the club early next month.
“We’re planning for it to be possibly Edwin’s last season,” Ferguson told a news conference.
Read more here.
P/S: Surely, Man U die-hard supporters will miss you. If possible you play until you 50, that definitely be the world record!
With crude reaching back-to-back 26-month highs, ultra-cold weather stoking demand and depleting US stockpiles at the fastest pace in 12 years, traders are now looking for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to signal when it might begin pumping more crude.
Read more here.
P/S: Be ready to go to your nearest petrol kiosk to pump in your car full tank, price be adjusted anytime soon!
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A Singaporean behaves too much like an insecure lover, forever seeking assurance that she is the fairest of them all and that she is much admired and loved. The insatiable craving for praise and adoration would, in normal circumstances, point to a serious flaw in the national character. How else can you explain their supercilious behaviour towards us, the Japanese and Indians, all falling into the category of “stupid?”
Singapore is not an unknown quantity to us in Malaysia. In a sense it is of us, but not part of us. Forget the so-called historical ties that are supposed to underpin our relations because they amount to nothing in practice.
To view them through rose-tinted spectacles as is our wont would distort even further a relationship that has never been known for its convergence of views on even the most pedestrian of issues. Rather, it has always had all the makings and attributes of a potentially protracted and acrimonious future.
Singapore has no time for sentiments; emotion is anathema to its national make-up. So, do not use that tack because it simply will not wash with it. Singapore is brutally clinical and rarely takes prisoners in any engagement with it.
Being small is not always easy, especially when you are trying to flex your muscles and punch above your weight. To be constantly reminded that you are nothing more than a little red dot on the face of the earth as President B.J. Habibi of Indonesia once did, somewhat insensitively, must touch some raw nerves, especially for a country that can justifiably claim a string of successes on so many fronts.
I came across the following tale from a blog where the author says many of us are familiar with it. The purpose of the author in putting up the tale was to describe the leadership tussle in a leading political party in the country. The tale runs as follow;... You see, a government is formed by the party with the most number of seats in Federal Parliament. That’s your party. There are other seats occupied by Malaysians representing other Malaysians who did not vote for your party but nevertheless are entitled to the same benefits of those Malaysians who did.
This is what a ‘democracy’ is all about. This means you get elected by a majority of the people to run the country for everyone. You are an employee of the people and I mean ALL the people and not just the ones who voted for you.
Part of your job is to be entrusted with the country’s coffers. Everyone contributes to these coffers, not just the people who voted for you.
Therefore you are running a government whose funds come from both your supporters and the supporters of the opposition. This is because everyone, unfortunately, has to pay taxes ...
Then you will now begin to appreciate that the money you have been entrusted with belongs not to you or your mates but to everyone in the country. It is not your personal money. It is the rakyat's money. It belongs to every Malaysian, even those who chose not to vote for your gang.
Therefore when you spend OUR money, you cannot be selective. If you feel you are able to allocate some funds for the betterment of the average citizen’s welfare, you must consider all citizens. You cannot select a few citizens to benefit from your misguided generosity based not on need but on your own whims and fancies. That is not the way things are supposed to work.
Otherwise it would be called ‘discrimination’, (or even bribery).
Do you think by ‘punishing’ those who voted for the opposition (and in so doing punishing your own supporters), will necessarily mean more votes for you next time around? Is that your logic?
Well, try this. Give everyone the benefit of development funds and perhaps everyone will vote for you next time. Or are you just simply unable to think outside the box?
Read more here.
SPM Student Killed in Crash on Way Home After Exam
December 10, 2010
IPOH, Dec 10 — A Form Five student who sat for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination was killed when his motorcycle was involved in an accident on his way home at Km28.6, Jalan Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar near Sungai Siput yesterday.
State traffic chief Supt Wan Abdullah Wan Ishak said Mohd Azam Ahmad Loothpi, 17, from Taman Tun Sambanthan, Sungai Siput was on his way home after sitting for an SPM paper.
The Sekolah Menengah Toh Muda Abdul Aziz student suffered severe head injuries and died on the spot after his motorcycle knocked into a car from behind while the car was making a right turn at about 4.30pm, he said.
Wan Abdullah said Mohd Azam, who fell on the road, was hit by another car from behind. — Bernama
Read more here.
Fri Dec 3, 11:38 am ET Fiery food mavens seeking to one-up each other now have to gear up for a whole new test of culinary bravado: the world's hottest chili pepper.
Yes, the Naga Viper, the latest claimant to the world's-hottest-pepper crown, outdistances its predecessor, the Bhut Jolokia, or "ghost chili," by more than 300,000 points on the famous Scoville scale of tongue-scorching chili hotness. Researchers at Warwick University testing the Naga Viper found that it measures 1,359,000 on the Scoville scale, which rates heat by tracking the presence of a chemical compound. In comparison, most varieties of jalapeño peppers measure in the 2,500 to 5,000 range -- milder than the Naga Viper by a factor of 270.
My grandmother died a long time ago but
“Mungkin seseorang diberikan keistimewaan disebabkan faktor kekurangannya ataupun kelebihannya. Maka, perkataan 'keistimewaan' tidak boleh disamakan dengan ketuanan,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan akhbar.Menurut Mohd Asri, jika seseorang menganggap dirinya lebih mulia disebabkan faktor keturunan atau bangsanya semata-mata, atau orang lain lebih rendah dari dirinya kerana tidak berbangsa sepertinya, maka itu adalah iktikad yang salah dan menyanggahi ajaran Islam.
“Jika itu berlaku, ia boleh menyamai dakwaan Yahudi bahawa mereka 'bangsa terpilih' (chosen race). Kebanggaan yang seperti ini ditolak oleh Islam,” katanya.
Baca lagi di sini.
Fri Dec 3, 4:18 am ET BEIJING – A Chinese passenger train hit a record speed of 302 miles per hour (486 kilometers per hour) Friday during a test run of a yet-to-be opened link between Beijing and Shanghai, state media said.
The Xinhua News Agency said it was the fastest speed recorded by an unmodified conventional commercial train. Other types of trains in other countries have traveled faster.
A specially modified French TGV train reached 357.2 mph (574.8 kph) during a 2007 test, while a Japanese magnetically levitated train sped to 361 mph (581 kph) in 2003.
State television footage showed the sleek white train whipping past green farm fields in eastern China. It reached the top speed on a segment of the 824-mile (1,318-kilometer) -long line between Zaozhuang city in Shandong province and Bengbu city in Anhui province, Xinhua said.
Read more here.
Petrol RON95, dinaikkan 5 sen menjadikan RM1.90 seliter. Dua hari lalu, petrol RON 97 naik sebanyak 15 sen kepada RM2.30 seliter. Kenaikan itu berikutan perubahan harga pasaran yang diapungkan sejak Julai lalu.
Harga diesel turut naik 5 sen menjadikannya RM1.80 seliter manakala gas LPG juga naik 5 sen menjadikan harganya RM1.90 sekilogram.
Harga gula pula naik 20 sen menjadikan harganya RM2.10 sekilogram. Semua harga baru berkuatkuasa pada jam 12.01 pagi esok, 4 Disember 2010.
