A Safer 2009 School Year...

Polycarb Water Bottles Harmful

Tuesday, 23 December 2008 05:00pm

©The Star (Used by permission) by Winnie Yeoh GEORGE TOWN: Polycarbonate water bottles are harmful and the use of them may be linked to many health abnormalities, says the Consumer Association of Penang. Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris said that polycarbonate-made water bottles will leach out bisphenol A (BPA), a potent hormone disruptor which can have a detrimental effect on future generations. “BPA is a synthetic chemical that is also known as ‘environmental hormones.’ It can disrupt the hormone-secreting glands that form a network known as the endocrine system that includes the thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, thymus, adrenal, ovaries and testical glands. “The chemical could lead to impairment of the reproductive organs, has an adverse effect on tumours and on prostate development by reducing sperm count, and also has adverse influence on breast cancer tissue development,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday. He said that such bottles can be identified by a number seven inside a triangle with the letters PC next to it. (Many do not even have such labels, I noticed when buying household wares. Laws, anyone?) “The bottles are being sold everywhere and people think they are safe as they can withstand high temperature liquids. “But researchers have found out that BPA can leach into the bottle’s contents through normal wear and tear, exposure to heat and cleaning agents,” he said. Mohamed Idris claimed that a study conducted by the University of Missouri found that the chemical can even leach into liquids at room temperature. “This finding is alarming and I urge the Education Ministry and parents to ban the use of the bottles in schools and for the people to restrain from using polycarbonate or any other plastic bottles,” he said. He said that steel or glass bottles are preferred and cost about the same as the polycarbonate bottle at around RM12. Note: From Non-Toxic Kids Avoid: Plastics labeled #3, #6, #7 Safer Plastics (notice I didn't say safe-): #1, #2, #4, #5 Never microwave plastic, limit putting it in the dishwasher Don't use plastic cling wrap, or if you do, don't let it touch your food.

Half-Breed Ideas

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - HIV carriers should not be allowed to marry, in order to avoid having sick children, a top Malaysian politician was quoted on Monday as saying.

"Somebody who is very sick like that should not be allowed to get married," Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, chief minister of northern Perak state was quoted as saying by New Straits Times newspaper.

"If there's any breeding, sorry for having to use that word, the embryo will also carry the same virus. So that is even more unfair because you are actually passing that disease on to the child."

He had been asked to comment on a statement by an official of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia that Muslims who test positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, would still be allowed to marry.

An aide to Nizar, who is a member of the opposition Islamist party Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), said the minister was referring to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Breeding? Embryo? What? Are these people sub-human? Yeah, you SHOULD be sorry for using that word. Ever heard of condoms, Nizar? Those 007 thingys they put in full view of everyone at the checkout counters at 7-11s nationwide, to encourage your kids to loudly inquire when there are 10 people behind you...What is that ah, Umi? Laterlah I tell you. Why, why later? Coklat apa tu? Kenapa gambar tak pakai baju? Laterlah!

(btw...why those corny soft porn pics ah, targeted at the more visually stimulated men?...maybe to get one in the mood as he is casually buying roti Gardenia or a bottle of Pepsi for the young 'uns, and have him thinking of sex all day, only to return to the 7-11, buy the darn condom pack and call Happy Massage services or cruise the backlanes because wifey is too tired?

Now if they put up a picture of Husam on the condom packs lecturing on the evils of fornication like one of those mandatory "rokok membahayakan kesihatan" labels with the pics of 'em blackened lungs...it could have the opposite of the desired effect on some people...)

Or maybe we should encourage the HIV positive to have illicit sex and spread it around even more?

Could MB Nizar be mistaking HIV with full blown AIDS with his "very sick like that" statement?

Here is an excerpt for him from the Kids' guide to AIDS and HIV:

Many people (not just kids, but adults, too) don't really understand how HIV and AIDS are related, even though they hear these two words used together all the time.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency (say: ih-myoo-nuh-dih-fih-shun-see) virus. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV is actually the virus that causes the disease AIDS.

HIV Hurts the Immune System

People who are HIV positive have been tested and found to have signs of the human immunodeficiency virus in their blood. HIV destroys part of the immune (say: ih-myoon) system. Specifically, it affects a type of white blood cell called the T lymphocyte (say: lim-fuh-site), or T cell. T cells are one type of "fighter" cell in the blood that help the body fight off all kinds of germs and diseases.

After HIV enters the body, it piggybacks onto a T cell and works its way inside of that cell. Once inside, the virus completely takes over the T cell and uses it as a virus-making factory to make a lot of copies of itself. The newly made viruses then leave the T cell and go on to infect and destroy other healthy T cells as they continue to multiply inside the body. After the virus invades the T cells, they can no longer properly fight infections.

Someone who is infected with the virus is called HIV positive. But it may take years for the virus to damage enough T cells for that person to get sick and develop AIDS. And thanks to new medications, someone infected with HIV can stay relatively healthy and symptom-free for many years. But these medications are very expensive and not available to everyone in the world. (Maybe we can focus on this point here? Cutting edge research, anyone?)

What a field day for the Wong Chun Wais of the world....

Patience. I need some...

Grant Me Patience… Right Now!!!

By AElfwine Mischler

It will be easier to control your temper if you remember Allah

Imagine this: You’re running ten minutes late in the morning, you didn’t sleep well last night, the baby is screaming, you’ve burned the toast, the two big kids won’t eat and keep fighting, your husband is calling from another room that he can’t find his tie, the kids just spilled a carton of milk on the floor, the telephone is ringing, you just realize you forgot to wash the dress you want to wear today, and then your husband walks into the kitchen and tells you, “Be patient!” Should you punch him in the mouth or just scream at him? Of course you shouldn’t do either of those!

Perhaps the hardest time to be patient is just when someone tells us to be patient! And yet that is the time we need patience most. In stressful times it is good to be able to take things calmly and not get upset. We should be able to close our eyes, take a deep breath and whisper something like, “Please, Allah, get me through the next five minutes and through this day!” In a situation like the one described above, being able to control your temper when everything is going wrong is a great virtue to nurture. Unfortunately, it’s an ability that doesn’t come easily to everyone. (It helps if you can train your husband to say “Let me help you” rather than “Be patient”.)

Taking care of body as well as soul does help. If you’re not getting enough iron and calcium in your diet, it can decrease your ability to deal with stress. (Ladies, this is particularly true for you. Insufficient calcium makes you more likely to turn into a monster once a month on “those days”.) Regular exercise also helps relieve stress. When you really feel you’re going to lose it, try taking a long walk instead. So much for body. What about soul?

Patience comes from having a certain mindset. And that mindset comes from following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He taught us that when we are angry we should sit down, and if we are still angry we should lie down. We should also say, “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed.” That should give you some idea of where anger comes from.

Allah has prepared Paradise for those who control their anger

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) further taught us that the strong one is not the one who can punch another but the one who can control himself when angry.

Take time out now and then to reflect on this. (And if you’re one who gets angry easily, do this often — even several times a day.) Convince yourself that you want to be a strong person, that you want to control yourself. And remind yourself often that Allah has prepared Paradise for those who control their anger:(And vie with one another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off evil; those who spend (of that which Allah has given them) in ease and in adversity; those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loves the good;) (Qur’an 3: 133–134)

A reward as big as Paradise ought to be enough motivation to get you to restrain your hands and bite your lip more often!

Reading or listening to the Qur’an is a wonderful way to relax and relieve stress

It will also be easier to control your temper if you train yourself to remember Allah frequently. The Qur’an tells us (Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!) (Qur’an 13: 28) Remembering Allah frequently brings you closer to Him and keeps Him at the back of your mind. It’s a lot easier to call Him to mind when He’s at the back of it rather than not in it at all.

And then there is the Qur’an itself. Reading or listening attentively to the Qur’an is a wonderful way to relax and relieve stress. If you’re just learning to read it, it might be stressful to do so and thus be contrary to the purpose. Practice reading when you’re already relaxed. You can play a tape or CD of someone reciting. Close your eyes, relax and listen to the words, even if you don’t understand anything. You can read a translation afterwards. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us a beautiful prayer (du‘aa’ or supplication) to say to when filled with sorrow or distress. Say this prayer, then immediately read or listen to the Qur’an. It never fails to help me.

O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release of my anxiety.

So next time you’re having one of those days when everything is going wrong, take a deep breath and remember Allah. Remember that nothing can happen without His permission. Ask Him for the strength to control yourself and deal with your situation. Then get a rag and clean up the spilled milk.

But What If Things Are Really Bad?

Sometimes things can get very bad, but you should always ask Allah for help

But what if you’re in a really bad situation, something long-term that you can’t get out of? Like your economic situation forces you to live with your in-laws? Or you’re miserable in your marriage? Or your child is born with a serious birth defect? In times like these, if someone tells you “Be patient” it may sound like he’s telling you to do nothing but to just sit and take whatever problems come your way. Big help, huh? Thanks, buddy.

But the Arabic word sabr, which is usually translated as patience or as patience and perseverance, is much more than that. It has the basic meaning of restriction and detention, and means to prevent one’s soul from reaching the point of despair and panic. But it also means to prevent yourself from evil, to control your desires, and to persevere in whatever you’re doing. But of course in order to persevere you have to be doing something. That is, something other than suffering. In these types of situations, to have sabr means to patiently and rationally — and prayerfully — seek solutions to your problems. It means to not ask for a divorce the first time you and your spouse have a major fight, but to look carefully at the situation (perhaps with the aid of a counselor or family members) and see what the source of the problem is and what the two of you can do to amend it. It means to seek whatever information you need, to weigh your options, to seek others’ aid.

For example, if your child is handicapped, you need to know what medical and social services your community offers, as well as what aid you can get from the Muslims and others around you in terms of helping you with transportation, therapy, counseling, babysitting, et cetera.

Ask for a change in your heart to bear with your difficulties until the situation changes

Be sure to examine things critically. Maybe there really are some things that you can change to ease your problems even if you can’t totally solve them. For example, a simple change in your daily routine might ease the pressure of living with in-laws. (I’m not suggesting that you start working the night shift so that you don’t have to see them, but then again . . .)

A good prayer (though not from the Sunnah) is: “Lord, grant me patience to bear the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” While you are searching for solutions, always ask Allah for His help. Ask not only for a change in your situation, but also for a change in your heart to bear with your difficulties until the situation changes.

Praying is doing something; it’s not sitting back and just putting up with things. Praying is asking the Only One Who can change your conditions to do so. On this the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us: “The supplication of every one of you is granted if he does not grow impatient and say: I supplicated but it was not granted.”

And always, always bear in mind that this life is short. The hardships we bear now are nothing compared to those we will face on the Day of Judgment. That thought should cheer you!

What a lovely...

breezy late December morn...
the hummingbirds sweetly sang
upon the break of dawn,
and the mynah birds gathered
in the deserted playground
of the still sleeping babes
to plan their escapades...
the skies so blue,
they took away the gray,
and the exquisitely shaped leaves...
on trees of
each and every kind,
(darn, I can't recall their names)
down to the ubiquitous sea of lalang
rustled in their different sway
coming together
in a symphony
surpassing the masters' flawless play
and
simply
taking
my breath away.

And then people started waking up...sigh.

Go Watch Musicals?

So what exactly does the government do? (My sentiments exactly) by Bryan Yap

DEC 18 - As if many Malaysians weren't already concerned about the lack of competent leadership, or any leadership for that matter, a recent statement by the designated future Prime Minister made me wonder if anything will change in his administration.

In the wake of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak called on developers not to lobby or pressure the Government for any building permits for hillside development.

In one simple statement, it became clear to me why Malaysia is in trouble.

If the second highest-ranking individual in the executive branch doesn't realise that it is the government that has the authority to decide on the building permits it chooses to grant, then something is clearly wrong. To put it simply, corporations have become more powerful than our government.

This failure to understand the role of a government might explain why the current administration is so bad at governing.

Here's a simple breakdown on what governments are supposed to do, since it's obvious so many remain unclear of the concept.

Developers are obviously going to lobby and pressure to get their way. Corporations are definitely going to do whatever it takes to maximise their profits. That's what they do.

That in itself isn't a bad thing. It is why we have laws and public institutions regulating the private sector. The government's role then, is to protect the interests of the people who gave it the privilege to serve, the Malaysian public.

There, not so hard to understand, is it?

The reckless wave of privatisation in the '80s, however, has created a government that is largely disinterested in governance. Virtually everything is outsourced to the private sector or government-linked corporations that are not accountable to the people.

If PLUS wants to raise its toll rates, and the poorly negotiated contract allows it to, then all Malaysians can really do is reload their Touch 'N' Go more frequently. If Tourism Ministry "subsidiary" Pempena takes public funds and uses it to invest it in luxury taxis, we cannot vote for a different CEO in an election.

In many ways, the government, be it federal, state or local, has auctioned off much of our country to the highest bidder. It is why Petaling Jaya has become one big advertising space, subject to the whims of billboard companies.

It is why the federal government is threatening a 37% increase in water tariff if the Selangor government doesn't hand over the public's water service assets, worth RM5.5 billion to a private corporation.

And it is why Tenaga Nasional has to pay RM1 billion a year to the Jimah IPP for power it does not need, indirectly raising the cost of electricity to Malaysians.

The examples of corporate interests superseding public benefit are endless. When the most powerful telco in the country gets the contract to build a high-speed broadband network, despite its embarrassingly poor record of providing Internet service, it is clear that the government is more eager serve corporate interests than the greater Malaysian good.

Given the right conditions and regulations, there is no doubt that certain sectors do benefit from privatisation. The competitive mobile telephony industry, for instance, has made cell phones affordable to most Malaysians.

There is also an argument that the private sector often does a better job than the government. To me, however, it isn't so much a positive argument for indiscriminate privatisation, but rather, a sign of gross incompetence on the part of the government.

So now, this trend of privatising everything but sunlight and air has left us with a government that struggles with basic administration and has essentially ceded its power and authority to govern to big business. A government that has to plead with developers not to risk people's lives by building on hillsides, instead of exercising its authority to pass laws and enforce them.

Where is our pride, our maruah? Being washed away by the rain like so many homes in Bukit Antarabangsa.

Life's a Beach in Pulau Kapas ( repeat for Mammasita's Posse...)

Ni nak promote Cherating dulu...depan Best Western...still lovely (don't know why the pics are coming out this size, must be the blog settings, but click on the pics for a larger image)

Clean, beautiful, golden sands of Cherating



Ok...the next are all of Pulau Kapas from my trip in August...nak commentary tak sempat...got two way behind jobs...I'm dead meat!!!

Me, SportsIllustrated 1890 Pulau Kapas Swimsuit issue

Now for the beach of horrors....

Port Dickson...illusion of tranquility...

Reality up close..heheh...

Malaysian specialty...soiled pampers on our beaches and in our rivers...I wanna rub the culprits faces in them...