RAMADAN 21st July 2012 > Night 1 2012 ~ Makkah Taraweeh

DURING THIS MONTH OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION, I WISH MUSLIMS HERE IN MALAYSIA AND ACROSS THE GLOBE RAMADAN KAREEM

Night 1 2012 ~ Makkah Taraweeh

Teen Sex Education in Schools – Parent’s Involvement?

Sex remains a taboo subject especially in this part of the world (Asians) probably due to cultural and religious restrictions or the ways our parents brought us up. I have to admit I was not prepared, in fact never would have expected my daughter to approach me with very intimate questions about the birds and the bees.

 

Daughter: Mum, are you free? 

Me: Of ‘cos, what’s up?

Daughter: May I ask you a question?

Me: Sure, why not?

Daughter: We had sex education in class this morning; how should I answer this question mum? >>>hmmm, Madam Ann plans to have a baby, how many times must she “MATE” with her husband to conceive one<<<?

Poinggg! ....  Oh dear ..... such question coming from my little girl, and she nicely used the word "mate" instead!


I was taken by surprise - I heard the Ministry of Education was planning to implement sex education in schools (called social and reproductive-health education) but I never bothered to find out more - the syllabus or topics that they will discuss in class. 


My first (instant) reaction was a hearty laugh, (she chuckled too), then suddenly mumbled I had something important to attend to and quickly excused myself! How many of you out there were jolted by your teenage kids’ sudden "facts of life" questions?

The Guardian is running a year-long series looking at young people's sexual health and sex education in the UK and around the world (paid for by IPPF and FPA). Last 31^st of May 2012 The Guardian  opened a live forum on sex and sexuality education and called on all parents/guardians/interested parties to join in and participate. 

It is an interesting topic, an eye opener and some comments included links to many helpful websites and reading materials/references for parents on how best to approach this subject. 

Finally after gathering tips from various sources I was confident enough to know what and how best to explain to my daughter. Just the two of us - we sat down to have the talk. She appeared pretty comfortable with the subject, very well informed about our reproductive systems (covered in class) so her questions were way beyond that and much more intimate in nature.

     

None of my boys approached me with direct questions. However I noticed whenever they are alone with me they will raise questions, (very curious to know) about the relationships - between mum and dad such as;

1.  How did you meet dad and wanted to hear details from A to Z 
2. I have never seen the two of you fight, why? 
3. Other boyfriends before dad? 

Maybe what they actually wanted was to initiate some sort of discussion but just did not know how to get these messages across to me?

PLANTATION LIFE (8) – Cocoa – Malaysia is the World’s 5th largest producer.

  Tenegang – Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia

 Filipino workers preparing polyethylene bags for the seeds

 Filipino workers sowing cocoa seeds in polyethylene bags.

 Cocoa nursery

Shade trees.

   Cocoa is grown in full sun however the young tree

needs shade, especially during its establishment. 

   Flowering and fruiting!

The cocoa tree is a small tree. It produces cocoa pods on its woody trunk and branches. The 20cm long pods are red or yellow and are hard. Cocoa pods are produced throughout the year. Natural Cocoa Powder is made from well-fermented and roasted cocoa beans.

The Cocoa tree's botanical name, 'Theobroma cacao' translated from the Greek means "food of the gods" has a history as far back as 1662.

Cocoa was first introduced to South East Asia in the 17th century by the Spanish and brought to Sabah in the early 18th century. In Malaysia, the first cocoa planted area was found in Malacca in 1778. The earliest cocoa commercialization started between 1853 to 1959, first planted at Jerangau, Terengganu.

The Malaysian cocoa industry started its commercial planting in the early 1950s, experienced a growth that was accelerated by high prices of cocoa in the 1970s and 1980s. The prices of cocoa beans varied greatly over the years due to shortage or over-supply of world cocoa beans. The all time record of the price was in 1977 when it reached RM 13,000 per ton. Malaysia currently is the world’s fifth largest cocoa producer and is the largest cocoa processor in Asia. 

However, due to the persistent low prices which started in early 1990 coupled with extensive labor compared with the oil palm industry, most plantation companies were no longer interested in cocoa cultivation.

Today, cocoa is the most popular and most favoured flavour in the world. For an interesting read on the health benefits/tips/recipes of Cocoa and new research/findings go here .


               Johnny Depp movie  

   Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

STRESS EXERCISE – Try this!

Dear dear wonderful Mr Bean,

you bring so much joy to this world!

TQ

GOING BALD? New discoveries

"On average, we lose fifty to a hundred hairs a day," says Francesca Fusco, MD, a New York City dermatologist who specializes in hair loss. "That's just hair going through its cycles, and there will be a new one to replace it." 

But hair loss may be a sign of a more serious medical condition that needs an evaluation by a dermatologist and possible treatment. Here are nine causes of hair loss and how to deal with them. More here.

In a proof of concept study for bio engineered organ replacement,  researchers managed to grow a tuft of hair using stem cells taken from the scalp of a balding man, which were then transplanted onto hairless mouse that subsequently grew a Mohawk-like tuft of hair just behind its ears. 


Takashi Tsuji, a Professor in the Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, and Director of Organ Technologies Inc, led the team, who reported their findings in an open access paper published in Nature Communications on 17 April 2012. 

More on baldness;

'Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25, why not? I'm delighted with the result'. Rooney paid £30,000 to solve the problem earlier this year. More here.

 



Natalie Portman considered to be the most beautiful baldactress of all time, shaved her hair for her role in the movie V for Vendetta.

FRIENDS are FOREVER – Arabic belly dance for fitness

Twenty-eight little 7yr old girls met for the first time on our first day at school and many years on remain as one big family. Coming from different backgrounds, race and religion some later went to different schools and lived in different towns/ overseas during high school and higher studies. 

I can clearly remember the faces and the names of our Principal, Reverend Mother Aloysius and my class teacher, Sister John – such caring, gentle and loving teachers that will forever remain in our hearts. I believe our school and the teachers played a huge role in keeping our beautiful school years’ memories intact, precious and special.

Today we are spread out across the country; some have migrated to Australia, United Kingdom and the United States of America. To keep our memories alive and connections going, every month we organize a get-together, each taking turns to host the gatherings in our homes.  

Food? Delicious and Plentiful… Potluck… 

 

Roasted Turkey, grilled lamb, Mamak fried noodles, Briani rice, Roti Jala/chicken curry, fried buttered prawns, selection of Nyonya desserts, cakes, fruits - well just bring a little of anything where all can share and enjoy our day together. 

SR - had no time to cook so she brought roses and daisies from her garden and distributed to all. At one of the gatherings ZA brought along with her an Arabic Belly Dance instructress to entertain us and teach us belly dancing..........



Uh.. ah..... Ladies, this is one good form of exercise to do in the comfort of your own homes, fun and very relaxing!.

Throw Away Your Worries – Breaking Point

I was having breakfast with my friend yesterday at a restaurant (chuckling and laughing at her jokes) when a group sitting next to our table suddenly turned their attention towards me and one of the men casually commented “Ahh... look at Katrina, a person with no worries.. sooooo relax!” 



Eh? Apparently they were having some heated early morning discussion about life in general, fretting and grumbling nonstop.

So this is how people here see me all these while? What else can I say except throw them my usual smile? 


hmmm “”If only they knew!”” that a few years back I was struggling within and was once on anxiety pills - “panic attack” said the doctor. “Try as much to avoid stress, change your ways of life” he advised.

I was given anxiety pills by the doctors; I sadly confided to my best friend over the phone… “Oh oh, that’s a mild dose of medication, doctors usually will give to psychiatric patients a stronger one (Crudely put in Malay - Ubat untuk Orang Gila). This definitely is bad news!”.

She drove all the way from Kulim and we spent the weekend analyzing and discussing my ‘panic attack’ – I had to get an honest outside opinion of what is actually wrong with me.

Many women especially Single Mothers these days have to work full time in high stress jobs plus take care of the house and kids. This is definitely not an easy task, however, sadly to note our society places very uncompassionate demands on us women.

Without realizing, ‘silly we’ unconsciously submit/comply to these expectations hence pushing ourselves unnecessarily – finally, at one point somehow your “sanity” just cannot cope and you will eventually explode.

I am not going to waste any more of my precious time being a slave to my worries. I decided to spring-clean my brain. 

Breaking Point - 
Why Women Fall Apart and 
How They Can Re-create Their Lives  

by Martha Nibley Beck is an interesting read, a real eye opener.

Read more: 

VERTIGO – Simple Exercises

You feel dizzy, unstable, nausea, sweaty, the room is spinning and you are floating about crazily, try lying down and the moment you rise – starts all over again.

 

The first attack caught me by surprise, without any warning, very scary indeed as I have never been through dizzy spells before. A few hours in the hospital for thorough examination, tests and observation, the doctor explained to me what Vertigo is all about. Phew… what a relief, something’s just not right with my inner ears!

Image Source: here

I was very lucky my first experiences happened at home but imagine if one is driving a car, swimming, climbing the stairs or carrying your baby etc? 

Roughly a third of patients have such recurrences within a year of treatment and half have recurrences within five years, do you need to carry the pills with you at all times?

There are vertigo exercises that you can do at home to help manage these attacks, simple steps that will take less than 5minutes of your time, it works. There are many videos posted in the internet to help you with these exercises.

Learn more here and here.

Super African Mangoes? May lose 8.9 Pounds and 2 Inches in 28 Days?

The New Year went whizzing by, almost 2 weeks now, 2012 resolutions “I am going to lose my weight” playing on your minds? Fantasizing the many plans on how to go about - early morning jogs, getting new skipping ropes, and cycling, bidding sayonara to your favourite food? What to do, oh when to start, really frustrating eh? Anyway for those trying to find the simplest  way out on how to lose weight here is some exciting news; 

African Mangoes

.... According to a recent study published in the scientific journal Lipids in Health and Disease, men and women supplementing with African Mango extract for just 28 days lost an astonishing 3,990% more weight than those taking a placebo (8.9 lbs vs. 0.22 lbs)...

They claim by taking African Mango Plus just a few times per day, you will see your body transform like you never thought possible!

“...Help melt inches off your waist, helping you to finally achieve the flat belly you’ve always wanted. Melting those extra pounds of fat off your butt in your quest for a firm and sexy butt, help burn the fat from your thighs, helping you get legs and so on...”


Wow, really tempting and very so inviting? Over the years I had to please many friends having to buy from them all sorts of “wonder” health supplements, could this be one of those advertising gimmicks? 


Okay, hang on everyone, my close friend is living in Nigeria, close enough to Cameroon, I will try to get her to check with the local Africans there and update later on her personal views. Interested to know more on African Mango go here and here.

Still on Mangoes, have your read about the “Eggs of the Sun”? Shocking prices;

...A pair of Japanese mangoes known as “Eggs of the Sun” for their fiery colour and juicy flesh hatched a sweet deal for their owner on Thursday, fetching a record 2,000 dollars at auction..  Interesting read here.

Harumanis

  One of my favourite local mango varieties is still the “harumanis”.  However it is so difficult to find them in Kuala Lumpur. Even during my visits to Kangar not always lucky to find any. Where have all our harumanis gone to? 

A Happy Belated New Year Wishes to all, may this year bring lots of happiness to all.. the very best..stay fit and healthy!

‘World Toilet Day’ – PooP Like a King.

In Honor of World Toilet Day, "Let's Talk Sh*t", here. This headline really teased my curiosity. An important day went by so quietly – I was not even aware that 19^th November was declared the World’s Toilet Day!

World Toilet Day (WTD) is a global non-profit organization committed to improving toilet and sanitation conditions worldwide. WTD focuses on toilets instead of water, which receives more attention and resources under the common subject of sanitation.

World Toilet Day: 

Burkina Faso

Founded in 2001 with 15 members, it now has 151 member organizations in 53 countries working towards eliminating the toilet taboo and delivering sustainable sanitation.

Future Toilets

In 2005, WTO started the world's first World Toilet College (WTC) to provide training in toilet design, maintenance, School Sanitation and Disaster Sanitation and implementation of Sustainable Sanitation systems.

Automated street toilets

 – Malaysia

The hi-tech, self serving cleaning toilets are placed in busy areas including Bukit Bintang, Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Raja Laut. State-of-the-art public toilets are part of City Hall’s programme to ensure Malaysians and tourist have clean and modern public toilet facilities.

Sensors automatically trigger water, soap and the hand dryer upon use. The sensors also activates the flushing system after each use and the toilet seats are cleaned automatically as well.

The ASTs are disabled-friendly; also have a pull-down table to change babies diapers.

Poop like a KING! 

The most expensive toilet in the world. 

Sexual Inadequacy in Marriages Erectile Dysfunction (ED) What Women Need to Know Treatment

What is Erectile Dysfunction (ED),

It is not a deadly disease,

but it can signal other deadly health problems

    Cliparts

 Dubai woman sues ex-husband for $12 million for depriving her of conjugal rights

 

Latest update:  

05 Sep 2011

A Frenchman has been ordered to pay his ex-wife £8,500 in damages for failing to have enough sex with her during their marriage.  Here.

May 5, 2011 2:18 PM (CBS) - A Dubai woman is suing her ex-husband for 45 million Dirhams (about $12 million) because he wouldn't have sex with her during their marriage. 

The unidentified woman told the court her ex-husband suffers from sexual impotency which caused her mental and emotional anguish by failing to fulfill her needs, it was reported by Gulf News, an English language newspaper in the Arab emirate. Source here.

Sexual Inadequacy in Marriages
For a variety of reasons, most wives would not consider public discussion of the sexual inadequacy in their marriages even with their parents or closest friend. No one likes having to confront this very uncomfortable subject.

Since the issue is very sensitive, it is impossible to know how many men suffer from erectile dysfunction. It has been estimated that about 5 percent of 40-year-old men and 25 percent of 65-year-old men suffer from this dysfunction.  There's no doubt that erectile dysfunction puts a big strain on many relationships.

Either partner or both may start showing signs of stress and in some cases due to the strain emotionally, on their family as well. Below are just a few of the feelings a woman may experience:

• Rejection
• Sexual frustration
• Display withdrawal symptoms -  depression, anxiety and insomnia.
• Anger - Very frequently, she'll assume that her man has found another woman and is having an affair or that her husband has become gay.
• Shame -   
• Self-doubt - 
• Felt cheated -
• Unattractive -  She may think there is something repulsive about her body.
• Abandoned - she decides that she wants a divorce.

The ED patient typically suffers from the following: denial about their condition,  guilt, depression, anxiety, frustration, low self esteem. These feelings are quite commonly reported as one of the many side effects of erectile dysfunction. Such feelings not only affect a man’s self-esteem, he may even begin to emotionally and physically withdraw from or reject his partner.

What is Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Erectile dysfunction is when a man can't get an erection to have sex or can't keep an erection long enough to finish having sex. (It used to be called impotence). Many times ED is not purely a psychological problem like many once believed, but a physical one that can be successfully treated.

 

 

Erectile dysfunction (ED) varies in severity. It can be of three types. They are; the total failure to achieve erection, inconsistency in the ability to get erection or a habit or tendency to sustain erection for the very shorter period of time. ED is not a deadly disease, but it can signal other deadly health problems;

• Arteriosclerosis or hardening of arteries.
• Hypertension.
• Diabetes.
• Heart disease.
• Neurological disorders.
• Neurological diseases.
• Diseases of the lower urogenital tract, e.g. cancer prostate, penile deformities.
• After pelvic surgery.
• Certain medications.
• Others

ED is still a taboo subject but we should look at it in perspective as the subject of sexual disorder is not something men are open to talk about. As a result, they don't get the help that could resolve their problem with ED.

Warning Signs of Erectile Dysfunction

If you don't see your doctor, these problems will go untreated. Assessment and treatment for ED is an important avenue for improving men's health. For many, treating ED is just as important as treating underlying medical illness and adopting a healthy lifestyle. More here.

What Women Need to Know


The more you and your partner know about erectile dysfunction, the better you will be able to manage this sexual issue together. If successful and effective management is to be achieved, the evaluation and discussion of any intervention should include both partners.

More here, here and here.