Sunday, September 28, 2008

Job Interview Tips


Job interviewing never seems to get any easier - even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don't know. Here are job interview tips to help prepare you to interview effectively. Proper preparation which help alleviate some of the stress involved in job interviews:

How to write Impressive Resume


Here are four sure-fire ways to ensure your resume makes the right impression.

1. Your personal life is just that -- personal: One candidate included that he spent summers on his family's yacht in Grand Cayman, while another included family medical history. Hiring managers don't need to know personal information such as your waistline measurement or where you spend your summer vacations. Instead, include information on activities that are business-related such as memberships in professional organizations and community service involvement.

2. Simple. Bold. Professional: Using pale blue paper with teddy bears around the border (like one candidate did) isn't going to strike anyone as anything but weird. Three key ideas to keep in mind when formatting your resume are: simple, bold and professional. Instead of flashy formatting and stationary with borders or graphics, create a clean and polished document on resume paper with consistent formatting for headings and bullet points. To gain a hiring manager's attention, use strong action words such as 'achieved' and 'managed' instead of unconventional fonts or colored text.

3. One size does NOT fit all: If you're applying for a sales position, it wouldn't make much sense to focus on your experience in an unrelated field like education or information technology. Not only should you play up achievements and experience specific to the job you're applying for, but also provide quantifiable results. For example, it's easy to say that you have experience in sales, but employers will take note if you say that you were responsible for a 10 percent growth in overall sales.

Note: Including a picture of you in a cheerleading uniform, as one applicant did, also doesn't make sense.

4. Two sets of eyes are better than one: After you proofread your resume a few times, ask someone else to review it. A second pair of eyes may be able to catch mistakes you missed and could provide a fresh perspective on how to improve your resume

Friday, September 26, 2008

Mending A Broken Relationship

Have you ever had an argument with a friend or family member? Chances are that you have and that you know how difficult it can be to try to mend a relationship once an argument has taken place. Whether it is your pride or simply not knowing what you should say that gets in the way, you should never think that any relationship is too far gone without giving it another chance. Maybe during the coming Hari Raya celebration, you can take the opportunity to work toward mending your relationship that has gone sour.

1. Take responsibility - It is natural to try to point the finger of blame at the other person. No one likes to admit that they are wrong. But it is precisely this kind of pride that leads to so many relationship problems. The fact of the matter is that 9 times out of ten both parties involved in the argument are going to be partially at fault. Blaming your own insufficiencies on the other person only angers them more and the conversation naturally turns to argument. Once you have made the decision to mend a relationship you must also take responsibility for your actions and for the faults that you brought to the argument.

2. Apologize - It sounds like a simple thing to do, but saying "I'm sorry" can be very difficult. Apologizing is a significant part of mending a relationship because in doing so, not only are you swallowing your pride and showing humility, but you are also sincerely asking for the other person to accept your apology.

3. Listen to the other person's point of view - In an argument there are always two sides to a story. While we are arguing chances are that we are less likely to be really concentrating on what the other person is saying, and more likely to be thinking about what we will say next to further "stick it to `em." Once the heat of the moment has cooled express your desire to hear what the other person has to say and really sincerely want to understand where they are coming from.

4. Express your feelings - You cannot mend relationships by simply always admitting that you were wrong and giving the other person no responsibility whatsoever. Relationships involve two people and just as you were willing to hear out your friend, you should be able to now express what you were feeling when the argument took place. Speaking of your own emotions can be difficult especially if those emotions are still close to the surface. As best as you can, you should use "I" statements (statements where you begin your sentences with "I feel," "I thought," etc.) rather than on criticizing the other person.

5. Give it some time - Mending a relationship that has gone sour can take some time, especially if you have waited a long time to try to resolve your differences. Accept that there will be times when even after talking to each other respectfully you still feel hurt or offended. When something such as trust is broken it will take time to build that trust up again. Harsh words can cut deep and those wounds do not always heal over night. Be willing to do what it takes over the period of time that you and your friend will need to set things right again. If you really value the relationship you will give the other individual as much time as they feel that they need to forgive and forget. Remember that you cannot change the past; all you can do is try to build a better future relationship.


MAY I ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WISH ALL MY MUSLIM FRIENDS

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI, MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN"


Thursday, September 25, 2008

5 Qualities of a Good Leader


1. Vision
A leader must have a vision. That means having a reasonably clear idea of where you want to take the country or company. It is best to be able to put on paper exactly what that vision is. If you can't put your vision in writing, then it is likely that you don't have one.

2. Communication
A leader needs to have the skill to communicate his or her vision. Without communication skills your followers and the rest of the stakeholders whose lives and careers you affect, will have no clue about the direction you are taking the party or company. This will create dysfunction and, likely discord.

3. Passion
A leader must have passion. As a leader, you have to show your team that you want to accomplish the goal badly. Your passion will drive them towards the goal and achieve your vision.

4. Decision-making
A leader must be a great decision maker. Often, leaders face times of crisis or great pressure where they are forced to make quick decisions. A leader must have this skill. This quality includes team building skills. The ability to delegate responsibility to team members is important. But be careful not to abdicate control. A leader needs to project trust. But, the trust is conditional upon the need for feedback and follow-up action. This means maintaining the action as an agenda for the next meetings until the task is completed. Otherwise, dysfunction and discord will set in.

5. Character
A leader must have character. This means being able to project not only strength but, virtue. If the leader is corrupt and crony-laden (this applies to politics and business), followers will mirror these qualities. A selfish leader cannot inspire virtue. He can project strength, of course, through fear and intimidation. But the values will be negative ones. Loyalty will be at a premium.

In the real world that we live in we see many leaders having some of these qualities but the absence of others. No one is perfect. Perhaps the idea is to identify a leader or, be a leader with the least imperfection.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Otak Lelaki, Wanita Berbeza

LONDON: Lelaki dan wanita akhirnya mempunyai satu perkara untuk dipersetujui - cara pemikiran kedua-duanya tidak sama dan ia dibuktikan secara saintifik untuk menjelaskan misteri yang sudah berlanjutan bertahun-tahun lamanya.

Kajian mendapati, wanita memperuntukkan lebih banyak bahagian otak kepada membuat keputusan, emosi dan keupayaan mengemudi, sesuatu yang memeranjatkan kerana tanggapan umum golongan berkenaan lemah membaca peta.

Bagaimanapun, otak lelaki pula cuma mengesahkan 'stereotaip' dengan penekanan lebih besar terhadap seks. Namun, perbezaan jantina tidak terhenti di situ, dengan lelaki dan wanita menggunakan kaedah berbeza memproses kesakitan dan emosi.

Malah, selera mereka juga berbeza bagi dadah terlarang berpunca daripada pembentukan otak, kata penyelidik selepas mengukur dan membandingkan 45 bahagian otak pada lelaki dan wanita.

Ini berbeza dengan teori dipakai sekian lama bahawa perbezaan cara dua jantina itu berfikir adalah disebabkan tekanan sosial dan proses pembesaran, atau tindakan hormon seks.

Laporan majalah New Scientist menyebut: "Bagi kebanyakan bahagian, pembentukan asas otak, dan cara ia berfungsi, difikirkan sama bagi kedua-dua jantina. Penyelidikan mendedahkan otak lelaki dan wanita dibina daripada genetik induk ditanda secara berbeza.

"Ada juga perbezaan dalam proses genetik itu dan kimia yang menyampaikan mesej. Semua ini membawa kepada rumusan ada dua jenis otak, bukan satu." - AFP

Monday, September 22, 2008

10 Tips for Approaching Single Women


Most guys get caught up in guessing what to say; here's what they really should do

1. Observe something. Make a comment about something you observe in the environment. This is especially effective at the grocery store. For example, if she is ordering a turkey sandwich, ask her if the turkey is good here. Make your comment immediate to the situation and it will seem perfectly natural. No matter where you are, there is always something interesting to comment on.

2. Smile. This shows her that you are friendly and confident. A genuine smile not only feels good to you, but will put her at ease while creating openness in the interaction -- a requirement for building rapport.

3. Do not hesitate. If you hesitate in your approach, this tells her that you are not feeling confident -- an immediate turn-off. When you see her, walk over to her within a short period of time (the three-second rule). Show her you are a man who knows what he wants and goes after it.

4. Positive body language. If you approach hunched over with your head down, you are sending negative information about yourself, which makes you dead in the water before you begin. Stand up straight, with shoulders back and chest out, and use a firm yet relaxed walk.

5. Not too fast. If you walk over too fast, you could likely trigger her internal alarm. A calm, casual approach is usually the best way to make her feel at ease with you.

6. Keep eye contact. Never be the first to break eye contact when you approach. If you do, this sends the message that you are not feeling good about approaching. When you use strong eye contact, she will feel more drawn to you. With practice, you can master this.

7. Listen up. Make sure you pay careful attention to what she says. Do not have your response pre-thought out. Women love a man who pays attention to the details of what she says. If you start throwing out random words, she will lose interest fast.

8. Do not fidget. Fidgeting after you approach is distracting and shows you are uncomfortable. If you communicate that you are uncomfortable, she will feel uncomfortable, too, and will close up. Practice being aware of your movements. Pay attention to those movements, or lack of movements, that communicate comfort and confidence.

9. Lighten your tone of voice. The tone of your voice is a very powerful tool. Approaching her in a light and playful tone is one of the best ways to start. You could also begin in a serious tone, accusing her of something like " I hope you saved some turkey for me," followed by a quick smile to let her know you are joking. Practice playing with your vocal tone with your friends -- notice the different reactions you get when you say the exact same thing using varied tones and fluctuations.

10. Lean away from her. A man who leans in too far when he talks often makes a woman feel crowded. A better approach is to lean away from her slightly. This lets her know that you respect her space, boundaries, and are comfortable with yourself.


Panduan Cegah Pecah Rumah


Sekiranya anda bercadang bercuti panjang semasa Perayaan Hari Raya Aidilfitri ini , pastikan rumah anda selamat untuk ditinggalkan. Gaya hidup kini yang mementingkan `privacy' menggalakkan pecah rumah kerana saling tidak mengenal jiran.

Berikut 11 panduan mungkin dapat membantu anda mencegah kegiatan jenayah ini.

1. Sebelum meninggalkan rumah, pastikan semua pintu, tingkap dan jeriji dikunci.

2. Jika anda tinggal di rumah bandar atau bertangga khas menuju ke rumah anda, pastikan pagar ke rumah anda berkunci. Jika di dalam rumah anda memasang pagar (bertujuan mengelakkan anak kecil turun naik tangga), tangga ini pun sebaiknya dikunci juga.

3. Berbaik dan bergaul dengan jiran. Beritahu jiran bahawa anda tiada di rumah.

4. Sertai kegiatan sukarelawan atau Rukun Tetangga di kawasan perumahan anda yang membuat rondaan pada waktu malam.

5. Pasangkan lampu halaman atau lampu keselamatan untuk mengelirukan pencuri.

6. Berikan kunci pendua kepada kawan atau jiran yang dipercayai. Minta bantuan mereka menjenguk rumah sepanjang ketiadaan anda.

7. Batalkan langganan akhbar. Longgokan akhbar di halaman atau di pintu pagar menandakan rumah tiada penghuni .

8. Jika ada perkhidmatan rondaan pihak penguasa seperti polis, maklumkan kepada mereka bahawa rumah anda akan kosong untuk tempoh tertentu.

9. Cabut talian telefon rumah untuk mengelakkan telefon berdering. Sebaiknya sediakan peti pesanan suara tetapi jangan sekali-kali memberitahu anda tiada di rumah.

10. Simpan semua barang berharga di tempat selamat dan sebaik-baiknya sorokkan daripada pemandangan bakal penyamun.

11. Pasangkan lampu keselamatan yang boleh padam atau nyala secara automatik atau berkala; contohnya lampu taman solar (hanya menyala pada waktu malam). Ini seolah-olah menandakan anda berada di rumah.

Tips Cegah Jenayah Ragut


1. Bawa wang sekadar mencukupi untuk membeli-belah. Simpan wang dengan baik bagi mengelakkan penyeluk saku mengintai peluang.

2. Bagi wanita, beg tangan seelok-eloknya dibimbit.

3. Bagi lelaki, dinasihatkan menyimpan dompet di dalam kocek berbutang. Elakkan menyimpan dompet anda di kocek belakang ketika berasak-asak menaiki kenderaan awam.

4
. Elakkan meletak beg tangan di tempat duduk jika memandu berseorangan.

5. Pastikan anda membimbit / mengepit tas tangan dengan kemas ketika berjalan di tempat yang sibuk.

6. Jangan memakai terlalu banyak barang kemas ketika berada di tempat awam.

7. Elakkan dari berjalan di tempat yang sibuk dan berebut-rebut.

8. Jangan mudah mempercayai dan tertipu oleh orang yang t idak dikenali.

9. Periksa segera dompet / beg tangan anda jika dilanggar / diasak oleh orang lain.

8 Petua Keselamatan Jalan Raya


1. Rancang perjalanan anda terlebih dahulu. Jika anda letih, mengantuk, mabuk atau tidak fokus, tangguhkan perjalanan anda.

2. Sentiasa ikut had laju yang ditentukan.

3. Berikan isyarat dan patuhi semua peraturan keselamatan semasa menukar lorong. Periksa cermin sisi dan cermin pandangan belakang sebelum melakukan pertukaran lorong.

4. Sentiasa patuhi peraturan jalan raya di simpang dengan berhenti apabila lampu isyarat merah atau kuning dan beri keutamaan kepada pejalan kaki.

5. Elakkan daripada mengekori kenderaan lain pada sepanjang masa kerana ini sering menjadi punca kemalangan yang serius.

6. Patuhi garis panduan keselamatan semasa memotong. Jangan memotong jika teragak-agak.

7. Jangan memotong barisan atau menyalahgunakan lorong kecemasan. Ia bukan sahaja biadap tetapi membahayakan semua pengguna.

8. Elakkan mencelah di antara kenderaan kerana ini membahayakan keselamatan anda dan orang lain.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

How To Create a Frugal Budget


1. Assess your monthly expenses.
Make a list of all of your regular monthly expenses, including any money that you spend on fun things like eating out, entertainment and hobbies; and any minimum payments that you have to make towards your debts. You can use a budget form for this purpose if it makes the job easier.

2. Total your earnings.
Calculate how much you make per month, including any money that you receive from investments and other forms of residual income.

3. Subtract expenses from earnings.

Test out the effectiveness of your budget by subtracting your monthly expenses from your earnings. This will show you how much you can expect to have left at the end of the month.

4. Rework your budget.

If your budget comes out on the negative side, rework it until your numbers crunch. To do this, go back over each expense, and look for places to make cuts.

5. Build in money for debt reduction.

If you have debts, your budget should already include the minimum payments that you have to make each month. Now you need to find the money to pay down those debts. Look at your numbers again, and determine where you are willing to make sacrifices to get out of debt.

6. Build in your savings and investments.

Now it’s time to budget money for your financial goals. Do you want to have an emergency fund? Retirement investments? Vacation savings? Make a list of what you hope to achieve, and then survey your budget once more to find the money that you need to reach those goals. If you have a lot of debt, you may need to skip this step for a while, and that’s okay – debt reduction should be priority one.

7. Put your budget to work.

Once you’ve created a budget that covers all of your monthly expenses and financial goals, it’s time to put your budget to the test. Try to live within your budget, and see how it feels.

8. Assess your budget.

At the end of each month, look over your expenditures to see if they are matching up to your budget. If they aren’t, determine if you need to work harder to stick to your spending plan; or if you need to rework your budget to reflect your actual spending.

9. Assess and assess again.

A frugal budget is never finished. Continue to look over your budget every month to catch areas of overspending. Then, crunch the numbers again until you’ve made it right.

The Secret To Saving Money


Saving money is a basic concept of personal financial planning, and key to financial success. Yet many of us don't have a formal savings plan. Without such a plan, the chances of ever saving enough money to meet long-term financial goals or achieve financial security are very slim.

It seems simple. In order to save money, you need to have "extra" cash, right? This is a common misconception. Having a spending plan (aka "budget"), will help you create money for savings. Most of us, by setting spending goals, can manage to save regularly, so if you're tempted to hit your back button because you simply don't have enough money to have a formal savings plan, STOP! This article will tell you the "secrets" to savings.

First, set a few short-term and long-term financial goals to work towards, like a down payment on a car or home. Include the dollar amount and a time frame for achieving the goal. It's much more motivating to save when you know what you're saving for. And remember, a goal that isn't written down is only a dream.

Set up a separate savings account. If you mingle your savings with your regular checking account, you'll almost certainly dip into your savings and may never pay them back. Having your savings in a separate account is a constant reminder that these funds are earmarked for your future, and watching the balance grow is not only rewarding and motivating - it's downright exciting!

If you don't already have a written budget that includes tracking your expenditures each month, begin one now. Whether you make thousands of dollars or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, you need a budget. Budgeting can be relatively simple and entirely guilt-free. See Budgeting 101 for simple, easy budgeting.

Decide on a percentage of your gross income to designate as savings. 10% is a good starting point, but if you've developed a budget and have analyzed your spending and you honestly can't find a way to set aside 10% for your future, then start out with 8%, or 5%, or whatever you're able to do with perhaps a little bit of discomfort but without great sacrifice.

If possible, have your employer or your spouse's employer deduct a set amount from your paycheck each pay period and deposit it into your savings account automatically. The old adage "out of sight, out of mind" works well here. Having to transfer money to your savings account is a little like giving someone who is trying to quit smoking a cigarette to carry around in his pocket and expecting him not to light up. Why tempt yourself? Make it easy and increase your chances of success with automatic deposits or transfers.

Whenever unexpected money comes your way, put all or most of it into your savings account. Bonuses, salary increases, tax refunds, rebates, overtime pay, income from hobbies or yard sales and other windfalls can pump up your savings account nicely without requiring additional cutbacks.

If you're forced to dip into your savings for an emergency, consider it a loan which must be paid back in a reasonable period of time, and set up a repayment schedule.

That's all there is to it! The "secret" is that there's no magic involved. The key is to start now and stick to it.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

5 Cara Mencari Kawan Baru


Kau berhasrat mencari sahabat baru tetapi kau tidak tahu bagaimana ingin memulakannya.? Hari ini aku ada 5 cara bagaimana kau boleh menambah senarai kawan.


1. Keluar dari rumah- Untuk berjumpa dengan orang secara bersemuka, kau perlu keluar dari rumah. Jangan jadi seorang pemalas. Pergilah ke mana-mana tempat atau ikutlah kawan sedia ada kau untuk berjumpa dengan kawannya dan mulakan kata-kata yang sedap di dengar di depan bakal kawanmu.

2. Senyum- Senyumlah kepada orang yang tidak kau kenali. Dia akan tertanya-tanya siapa kau dan itu satu permulaan yang baik untuk meneruskan agenda kau-mencari kawan baru!

3. Cakap sesuatu- Cakap sesuatu bila kau berjumpa dengan seseorang. Jangan takut kerana dia mungkin akan balas kata-kata kau dan itu adalah satu cara yang bagus untuk memulakan tujuan kau. Sekiranya tidak dibalas-kita anggap saja yang dia tidak mendengar kita (jangan mengata dia pulak).

4. Tolong seseorang- Sekiranya kau menolong seseorang, tidak mustahil orang yang ditolong menjadi kawan kau kerana kau seorang yang baik hati.

5. Kontak mata- Ini lebih kepada lelaki. Mata kau hendaklah fokus kepada mata bakal atau kawan baru kau dan sekiranya dia seorang gadis, jangan bercakap tengok dada dia. Dada dia tidak boleh bercakap jadi fokuskan pada mata mereka

Early Warning Signs for Cancer

Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness

Change in Bowel or Bladder Habits. Change in bowel habits may be a sign of colorectal cancer. Constipation or diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain may indicate there is a tumor blocking your colon. A major symptom of cancer in the rectum is discharge of blood with bowel movements.

A Sore that does not Heal. A sore that does not heal may be related to cancer. Smokers and people who use chewing tobacco may develop oral leukoplakia. Oral leukoplakia are rough white patches which form in the mouth. These patches may develop into cancer.

Unusual Bleeding or Discharge. Unusual bleeding or discharge from the rectum, bladder or vagina may indicate signs of cancer.

Thickening or Lump in Breast or Elsewhere. Thickening or a lump in the breast can be signs of breast cancer. Other signs of breast cancer include retraction of the nipple, nipple discharge, pain or tenderness in that area. Cancer of the testis may present with a lump in the testicular area.

Indigestion or Difficulty in Swallowing. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing can be a symptom of esophageal or stomach cancer. People with esophageal cancer may complain that food "feels stuck" when they eat.

Obvious Change in a Mole or Wart. Obvious change in a mole or wart (or darkening of a previously normal area) can be a sign of melanoma, or skin cancer.

Nagging Cough or Hoarseness. Nagging cough or hoarseness may be early signs of lung cancer, which is the number one killer in women and men who have cancer.

If you have any of these early warning signs of cancer, contact your physician. Early detection is essential for improved survival for patients with cancer. Although these signs may seem vague, they may indicate that cancer is present

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Gaya-Gaya Bercinta


FAKTA MENGENAI PERCINTAAN

1. Storge (Kawan Karib)
Berasal daripada perkataan Greek yang bermaksud ketenangan dan cinta yang penuh dengan kasih sayang. Cinta itu timbul dan berkembang secara perlahan-lahan daripada perhubungan karib yang lama. Selalunya, pasangan Storge mempunyai minat dan keinginan yang sama.

Mereka gemar berkongsi harapan secara terbuka dan tidak berupaya untuk bercinta tanpa mengenali pasangan mereka dengan lebih mendalam. Mereka juga jarang memaparkan kemesraan tetapi lebih logikal dan tenteram. Sifat yang jarang merajuk atau merasa cemburu. Perpisahan atau berjauhan tidak menimbulkan kerisauan. Jika mereka bercerai, mereka masih boleh berkawan.

2. Agape (Pengorbanan)
Bermaksud altruistik. Individu ini mengambil berat mengenai pasangan mereka. Lazimnya mereka mesra dan berhati mulia. Cinta jenis ini juga tidak mengharap apa-apa balasan daripada orang yang dicintainya itu. Akan tetapi mereka yang memiliki cara cinta Agape mudah dipermainkan oleh orang yang dicintainya dan sekiranya mereka sedar penindasan berlaku, ia dianggap sebagai satu tindakan yang tidak disengajakan.

3. Mania (Kepunyaan)
Sangat hebat dan obses. Kebanyakan individu yang memiliki cinta jenis ini sentiasa memikirkan mengenai pasangan mereka, memerlukan kasih sayang, perhatian, kepastian dan ketulusan yang berterusan daripada pasangan mereka.

Mereka juga suka mengawal dan mengongkong pasangannya, cemburu buta, sentiasa perlukan kepastian cinta, mencurigai kejujuran serta keutuhan cinta, bimbang penolakan dan kehilangan cinta serta sentiasa peka terhadap sebarang tanda kekurangan cinta. Selain itu mereka sentiasa menagihkan janji daripada pasangan mereka yang menyebabkan mereka terumbang-ambing di antara keghairahan dan kekecewaan.

4. Pragma (Logikal)
Bermakna praktikal dan realistik. Cinta jenis ini dicirikan sebagai logik dan munasabah. Individu itu lebih mengutamakan praktikaliti daripada hubungan cinta. Mereka lebih memerhatikan keuntungan peribadi dalam perhubungan.

Ini dicapai dengan mengadakan senarai sifat yang diperlukan daripada objek cinta dan mengikut taraf serta kemampuan peribadi individu berkenaan.

5. Ludus (Permainan)
Cinta permainan yang sering dicirikan dengan kepentingan diri sendiri. Individu yang memiliki cinta itu menganggap cinta sebagai satu permainan dan pertandingan yang harus dimenangi. Ia membabitkan cinta yang tiada komitmen, kurang kemesraan, berahsia, tiada rancangan jangka masa panjang dalam perhubungan dan suka kepada perhubungan yang mendadak serta tidak teratur. Selain itu, mereka selalunya suka mempermainkan perasaan pasangan dengan mempunyai lebih dari seorang individu yang dicintai.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Basic Weight Loss Tips


A lot of us are out there watching what we eat and exercising, but still not making a dent in our bellies and body weight. There are a few things we are probably not doing, or doing too much of, that would mean major improvements in our health.

Get more sleep. After a very short period of time (about 6 nights), studies show that your glucose levels can rise if you get only 4 to 7 hours of sleep each night. New parents are excluded, but everyone else should try to hit the 8 hour mark as often as you can and get to bed BEFORE midnight. Every hour of rest before 12 a.m. is twice as valuable as the hours after midnight: Our cortisol levels are lowest before midnight therefore our recovery is the highest.

Eating fewer refined and processed foods. Avoid fast and fried food and try to consume as many real foods as you can. It's also imperative to get enough fiber (helps with elimination); fruits and veggies are a great way to fill up.

Avoid sugary drinks and reach for more water. Water is great for so many things like digestion, eliminating toxins in the body, and transporting important nutrients to our cells which need energy to burn calories. Americans drink 20% of their calories, so be careful of that silent pitfall.

Get to know your kitchen. I realize it takes more work, but the simple truth is we eat out or order in too often. There is a greater opportunity to control what is in your food if you cook it yourself.

Slow down. When you do sit down to a meal, don't wolf it down. Our culture encourages eating while driving or sitting at our desks. The only time we seem to sit down and enjoy our food is at Thanksgiving. The monks chew each bite of food 100 times (which is excessive), but they also eat only until they are full. They recognize that chewing their food more makes it easier for the body to digest.

Breathe. There are so many days that I don't breathe deeply. In the morning, mid-afternoon, and at the end of the day take a 10 conscious, belly-deep breaths. Close your eyes, pull that air deep into your stomach via your nose and let all the junk out through your mouth. Whether its a stressful day, or you just want to start and end your day on the right foot, breathing is important.

Don't starve yourself. Oddly enough some of you may not be eating enough, and the lack of calories is putting your body into save mode. Our bodies are so brilliant, and if they aren't getting enough food, your metabolism will tell your body to store each and every calorie it receives or to make energy from whatever muscle tissue you have. Not good. Oh and by the way, don't skip breakfast. People who skip breakfast are over 4 times more likely to be overweight.

Do more than exercise. Even if you are working out, you can't eat and drink whatever you want. It really is a three sided puzzle: balancing exercise, food, and (oh yes) the spirit (which stress and happiness play into).

Warning Signs for Suicide


The San Francisco Suicide Prevention Crisis Line has listed the following as possible warning signs:

1. Talking about dying -- any mention of dying, disappearing, jumping, shooting oneself or other types of self harm.

2. Recent loss -- through death, divorce, separation, broken relationship; loss of job, money, status, self-confidence, self-esteem, religious faith; and loss of interest in friends, sex, hobbies or activities previously enjoyed.

3. Change in personality -- sad, withdrawn, irritable, anxious, tired, indecisive or apathetic.

4. Change in behaviour -- can't concentrate at school, work or on routine tasks.

5. Change in sleep patterns -- insomnia, often with early waking or oversleeping, or nightmares.

6. Change in eating habits -- loss of appetite and weight, or overeating.

7. Diminished sexual interest -- impotence or menstrual abnormalities (often missed periods).

8. Fear of losing control -- going crazy, harming self or others.

9. Low self esteem -- feeling worthless, shame, overwhelming guilt, self-hatred, or "everyone would be better off without me".

10. No hope for the future -- believing things will never get better; that nothing will ever change.

11. Other things to watch for -- suicidal impulses, statements, plans; giving away favourite things; and previous suicide attempts, substance abuse, making out wills, arranging for the care of pets, extravagant spending, agitation, hyperactivity, restlessness or lethargy.

Are Bad Dating Habits Keeping You Single?


Five tips to free yourself from common dating traps

1. Identify the dating traps you're stuck in
Think you've got to miraculously solve all your problems before you'll be deserving of love? Convinced there are no good "ones" left? Or do you believe that your perfect partner will one day swoop in and magically save you from your life? If any or all of the above sound familiar, chances are good that you suffer from some common dating traps.

In order to become a successful single, you first need to free yourself from these traps. Acknowledging the traps you're stuck in is the first step. Next, you've got to break free of these traps, as well as any other limiting or destructive beliefs that are keeping you stuck. To find out how, keep reading.

2. Assess your excess baggage
Next, it's important to get honest with yourself about what you might be lugging around with you on dates (or in life in general). What are you holding onto that no longer serves you? Rejection, disappointment, betrayal? This is from your past, not your present or future. If you've got negative or destructive beliefs or fears weighing you down, you owe it to yourself to dump that excess baggage!

3. Dump your excess baggage
In order to have a happily ever after future, you have to first believe you deserve finding a mate. Gather those painful memories, that chip on your shoulder, any residual anger from past relationship experiences, and tell them they've got to go. Thank them for the lessons you've learned and tell them that it's now time for you to stand on your own two feet. In your mind's eye, give them the heave-ho!

Next, start visualizing the kind of life you want to have, complete with your dream job, perfect partner, ideal home, etc. By getting clear about what you want, you give yourself permission to attract it.

4. Stop putting off your life and/or personal happiness
So many of us put off personal happiness waiting for some external result like "I'll be happy when I lose weight, when I pay off my debts, when I get a better job." The truth is, you deserve to enjoy your fabulously imperfect life right this very minute!

“When you stop putting off happiness, you start attracting happy people, healthy relationships, exciting and new opportunities.” When you stop putting off happiness, you start attracting happy people, healthy relationships, exciting and new opportunities. Instead of postponing joy until something external happens, today's the day to start celebrating the joy in your everyday life.

5. Embrace a new dating vocabulary
Now that you're baggage light and dating-trap free, it's time to introduce a new vocabulary to your dating belief system. Every morning and night for 30 days, practice the following exercise: Say to yourself "Love/dating/my ideal relationship is..." and then fill in the blank with the appropriate words (words like healthy, whole, loving, fun, etc.). By creating a new vocabulary for yourself, you may be surprised at how your outlook on dating and relationships changes, and as a result, you'll start attracting happier and healthier potential partners. Love that!

So there you have it -- five simple dating tips and techniques to help you break free of limiting relationship beliefs and bad love habits. May you learn them, love them, live them. In doing so, you just may fall in love with your life all over again, not to mention exponentially increase your chances of future relationship success.

Good luck and happy dating!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Sikap yang Menentukan Segala-galanya.

Zig Ziglar ialah seorang pakar motivasi yang terkemuka di Amerika Syarikat. Sesi-sesi ceramahnya telah berjaya mengubah hidup jutaan penonton di seluruh dunia. Saksikanlah sendiri aksi memukau Ziglar dalam klip video berikut:


Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Improving your Memory


There are some basic things you can do to improve your ability to retain and retrieve memories:
  1. Pay attention. You can’t remember something if you never learned it, and you can’t learn something — that is, encode it into your brain — if you don’t pay enough attention to it. It takes about eight seconds of intent focus to process a piece of information through your hippocampus and into the appropriate memory center. So, no multitasking when you need to concentrate! If you distract easily, try to receive information in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.
  2. Tailor information acquisition to your learning style. Most people are visual learners; they learn best by reading or otherwise seeing what it is they have to know. But some are auditory learners who learn better by listening. They might benefit by recording information they need and listening to it until they remember it.
  3. Involve as many senses as possible. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember. If you can recite it rhythmically, even better. Try to relate information to colors, textures, smells and tastes. The physical act of rewriting information can help imprint it onto your brain.
  4. Relate information to what you already know. Connect new data to information you already remember, whether it’s new material that builds on previous knowledge, or something as simple as an address of someone who lives on a street where you already know someone.
  5. Organize information. Write things down in address books and datebooks and on calendars; take notes on more complex material and reorganize the notes into categories later. Use both words and pictures in learning information.
  6. Understand and be able to interpret complex material. For more complex material, focus on understanding basic ideas rather than memorizing isolated details. Be able to explain it to someone else in your own words.
  7. Rehearse information frequently and “over-learn”. Review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it, and at intervals thereafter. What researchers call “spaced rehearsal” is more effective than “cramming.” If you’re able to “over-learn” information so that recalling it becomes second nature, so much the better.
  8. Be motivated and keep a positive attitude. Tell yourself that you want to learn what you need to remember, and that you can learn and remember it. Telling yourself you have a bad memory actually hampers the ability of your brain to remember, while positive mental feedback sets up an expectation of success.

10 Ways to Manage Stress


Stress is a normal part of life and usually comes from everyday occurrences. Here are some ways you can deal with everyday sources of stress.

1. Eliminate as many sources of stress as you can. For example, if crowds bother you, go to the supermarket when you know the lines won't be too long. Try renting videotapes rather than going to crowded movie theaters. Clear up the clutter in your life by giving away or throwing away the things that get in your way. A garage sale is one effective way to do this.

2. If you are always running late, sit down with a pencil and paper and see how you are actually allotting your time. Say it takes you 40 minutes to get to work. Are you leaving your house on time? You may be able to solve your problem (and de-stress your life a bit) just by being realistic. If you can't find the time for all the activities that are important to you, maybe you are trying to do too much. Again, make a list of what you do during the day and how much each activity takes. Then cut back.

3. Avoid predictably stressful situations. If a certain sport or game makes you tense (whether it's tennis or bridge), decline the invitation to play. After all, the point of these activities is to have a good time. If you know you won't, there's no reason to play.

4. If you can't remove the stress, remove yourself. Slip away once in a while for some private time. These quiet moments may give you a fresh perspective on your problems. Avoid stressful people. For example, if you don't get along with your father-in-law but you don't want to make an issue of it, invite other in-laws at the same time you invite him. Having other people around will absorb some of the pressure you would normally feel.

5. Competing with others, whether in accomplishments, appearance, or possessions, is an avoidable source of stress. You might know people who do all they can to provoke envy in others. While it may seem easy to say you should be satisfied with what you have, it's the truth. Stress from this kind of jealousy is self-inflicted.

6. Laborsaving devices, such as cellular phones or computer hookups, often encourage us to cram too many activities into each day. Before you buy new equipment, be sure that it will really improve your life. Be aware that taking care of equipment and getting it repaired can be stressful.

7. Try doing only one thing at a time. For example, when you're riding your exercise bike, you don't have to listen to the radio or watch television.

8. Remember, sometimes it's okay to do nothing.

9. If you suffer from insomnia, headaches, recurring colds, or stomach upsets, consider whether stress is part of the problem. Being chronically angry, frustrated, or apprehensive can deplete your physical resources.

10. If you feel stress (or anything else) is getting the better of you, seek professional help -- a doctor or therapist. Early signs of excess stress are loss of a sense of well-being and reluctance to get up in the morning to face another day.

Look of Love


MEN tend to wind up with life partners who look like their mother, while a woman is lured to a partner who looks like her father, scientists reported recently.

They are deeply attracted to individuals whose faces are similar to that of their opposite-sex parent, they said, suggesting that this characteristic is rooted in an evolutionary drive.

A team led by Tamas Bereczkei at the University of Pecs in Hungary created a model of facial ratios – width of jaw, distance between mouth and brow and so on – comprising 14 facial zones. They measured 312 Hungarian adults from 52 different families using this method. Each family included a couple, along with two sets of parents.

The researchers found a significant correlation in facial similarities between a woman’s mate and her father, and also between a man’s partner and his mother.

The team tested the model on faces that were randomly selected from the general population and repeated the experiment with a panel of judges, who also picked out the same pairings from randomly selected groups of photos.

Interestingly, men and women focused on different parts of the face when they home in on a potential mate, they found.

A man’s lover and his mother tended to have similar fullness in the lips, width of mouth, as well as length and width of jaw. But for women, the critical features were the distance between mouth and brow, the height of the face, distance between the eyes and the size of a man’s nose.

The choices are driven less by psychology and socialisation and more by evolutionary pressures, suggests Bereczkei.

Too much genetic overlap – as can happen with incest – is an evolutionary no-no. But seeking similar genetic traits "may confer individuals with additional adaptive advantages", he wrote.

It could increase the degree to which parents share genes with their offsprings, enhancing the genetic representation of future generations. Finding similar partners might also help perpetuate genetic complexes that have evolved to adapt to a particular environment.

Also, human couples who are similar in physical and psychological characteristics are more likely to remain together than dissimilar partners, possibly leading to an increase in fertility, the study concludes.

The research appears in the British journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society B. - AFP


Sunday, September 7, 2008

How to Tell if a Guy Is Cheating


1. He's superprotective of his gadgets. "The main way that trysts are found out is through the discovery of incriminating e-mails, IM chats, cell phone texts or bills," says Belisa Vranich, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in New York City. So if he's being unfaithful, he may guard his gadgets or act really defensive when you innocently touch his phone or computer. It should be a giant red flag if he readily gave you passwords in the past, and now he's more evasive.

2. He steps up the grooming. This is so obvious, but it's a sign many women miss: "If your man starts grooming more without you requesting it, that could be an indication that he's getting intimate with someone else," says Vranich. You can actually thank modern mass media for this tipoff. Guys today are used to viewing manscaped dudes onscreen, so if he has another chick to impress with his appearance, he may emulate those ultra-trimmed guys. Another clue: He's spending more time at the gym.

3. He smells different. "When he comes home, if he doesn't smell the same as he did in the morning, and it isn't the scent of soap in the gym or at your home, it may be because he's showered at her place," offers Vranich. So pay attention, because in this case, that old saying "the nose knows" might very well be true.

4. Nothing fazes him anymore. "If he was short-tempered before, a combination of added intimacy and attention could be making him way more relaxed, even downright giddy," Vranich says. Adds Mira Kirshenbaum, author of "When Good People Have Affairs: Inside the Hearts and Minds of People in Two Relationships": "If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and
whistling, then you need to find out why."

5. He becomes suspicious of you. "If he's normally a mellow type, all of a sudden he may want to know where you are all the time and with whom," says Vranich. "It's the result of him realizing that if he's cheating and it's not that hard, you might also be getting away with it." Also, beware of extremely detailed responses to even your most innocent "How was work today?" queries. He may be preparing epic answers because he's terrified of getting caught.

One caveat: If your romantic life hasn't fallen off, that's no guarantee that he's faithful. "It's a serious mistake to think that affairs are necessarily physical. He may just be unhappy in other parts of the relationship," says Kirshenbaum. In fact, an illicit relationship could even stoke his lust for you.

Friday, September 5, 2008

The Last Lecture

Sekiranya anda diberitahu oleh doktor anda bahawa anda cuma ada beberapa bulan untuk hidup, apakah yang anda akan lakukan?

1. Ikutilah kisah luar biasa Prof Randy Pausch (klip video) di

http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/

2. Untuk versi tempatan, layarilah laman web Hee Boon's Amazing New Adventures di

http://fhbadventure.blogspot.com/

Semoga mendapat manfaat darinya.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Freud Would Have Loved This!


The couch may not be a dog psychologist's best friend

Teknik Membuat Nota Ringkas

Berikut disenaraikan teknik atau susun cara atau pusingan pembelajaran yang boleh diamalkan . Ia boleh diubahsuai mengikut kesesuaian pelajar masing-masing :

1.Pilih satu tajuk dan baca nota .

2.Faham kandungan secara umum untuk menentukan fakta atau pokok persoalan .

3.Baca dan garis fakta .

4.Baca dan cuba fahamkan kaitan antara fakta yang digariskan dengan nota asal .

5.Keluarkan fakta dan salin pada kertas lain .

6.Faham fakta dan kaitannya dengan keseluruhan fakta daripada tajuk itu .

7.Susun fakta ( jika perlu )

8.Cuba tulis semula fakta-fakta tanpa melihat fakta-fakta yang telah ditulis dahulu .

9.Bandingkan apa yang kamu tulis .

10.Ulang hingga kamu puas hati .

11.Ulang membaca fakta , jika ada masa.

12.Simpan dengan baik untuk tujuan ulang kaji .

13.Mulakan tajuk baru dan lakukan proses no. 1 hingga no. 12 , sehingga habis kesemua tajuk dalam sukatan pelajaran .