2008 US Presidential Debate

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) participate in the first 2008 Presidential debate.

First 2008 Presidential Debate (Full Video)



Full video of the second 2008 Presidential Debate with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

Second 2008 Presidential Debate (Full Video)



Full Video of the Third 2008 Presidential Debate with Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

Third 2008 Presidential Debate (Full Video)

Online Registration of Business (ROB)

 
SSM e-Lodgement Services



Matching Grant For Business Start-Ups

Small & Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC)

Matching Grant For Business Start-Ups


Objective

The scheme provides assistance to assist start-up of businesses.


Direct Enquiry

En Norain (6207 6000 ext 6140)

Secretariat Matching Grant for Business Start-Ups
Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC)
Aras 20, West Wing, Menara MATRADE
Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Off Jalan Duta
50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel No: 03-6207 6000 
Fax No: 03-6201 6564
E-mail : info@smidec.gov.my
Infoline : 1-300-88-1801
Website www.smidec.gov.my

10 Ways to Have a Better Day Today

by Geno Stampora

1. Wake up 30 Minutes Early.
Get up 30 minutes before the alarm goes off and take the first half hour for yourself. Once you get busy and into the day there never seems to be the time for yourself. Take this time to plan getting the most from the day.

2. Read, Listen, or Watch Something Uplifting.
Make this a daily habit. Get out of starting the day with no mental food. A great day does not begin with the news or the paper, it begins with ideas or energy that will propel you through the day. What you first hear will stay with you throughout the day.

3. Eat a Good Breakfast to Start You Off Right.
Get something good into your body to wake it up and get it going. Think about the energy you will need to perform. Everyday we run a marathon. What would you need to eat and drink to win it.

4. Choose Your Winning Attitude.
There is enough to go wrong without sabotaging yourself. Your attitude is a choice you make. Don't let it come between you and your success. Be careful to keep it positive all day long.

5. Be Aware of What They are Telling You.
The people around us have a profound effect on how we get through life. Our closest friends and family are our greatest environmental influences. Make sure you have the best advisors you can find.

6. Make the Most of What You Do.
When you get to your work, make it the best place to be. Most people go to work and never think about work while they are there. Focus on your contribution. What would it be like if you were not around. Strive to give a 100% each and every day.

7. Always Remember that People are Listening.
Make a point of talking well of others. Wish others the best in life. What goes around does come around. Don't talk negative about anyone. Try to understand their circumstances Practice being a support system to your friends and family. They need you.

8. Be Honest and Fair to Others.
It does make a difference. What you give to others is usually what you get from others. Practice integrity that people can see and feel. Be aware of what you say. Learn to walk your talk at all times. The more people trust you, the more of their time they will trust with you.

9. Pace Your Energy to Last All Day.
Be careful of bursts of energy. Pace your energy throughout the day. If you get to crazy early in the day, you will reach a point of exhaustion before the day is over. By planning your entire day before you begin, you will have what you need. You've heard the old saying "look alive."

10. Get in Bed Early and Study for the Future.
I have a friend who keeps a journal at his bedside. Every night he writes what he learned new on that day. The only way to keep one step above the masses is to learn new ways to do things. Develop the habit of reading a work or personal development book before you go to sleep. Reading for 30 minutes a day is like a year of college. You can't succeed if you don't read. Remember throughout your day that life is what we make it, day by day. Practice having the best day ever. It adds up to a great life.

Prevent Sore Throat Progressing to Cold

How to Prevent a Sore Throat from Progressing to a Cold
By Dr. Ben Kim on March 09, 2008
Natural Health Solutions

Before I share a great little tip on how to stop a sore throat from progressing into a week-long cold, please know that periodically experiencing a cold or the flu can actually be helpful to your health. If you have no idea why this is, please view the following popular article that I wrote on this topic:

What Most Doctors Won't Tell You About Colds and Flus

You just won't get this information on why colds and flus can help you stay healthy over the long run from medical textbooks and mainstream media - please consider sharing it with family and friends.

Although experiencing a cold or the flu once in a while can help rid your body of your weakest cells, I'm willing to bet that there are times when you would really prefer to delay such a period of cleansing and malaise.

Here's how you can stand a good chance of preventing a cold from developing:

As soon as you experience that sore, tickly feeling in your throat that precedes a full-blown cold, gargle with warm salt water.

And when I say gargle, I mean really gargle; take in a mouthful of warm salt water, look up at the ceiling, and gargle aggressively. You may want to tap at your throat (the Adam's apple region) with your fingers while you gargle to encourage the warm salt water to trickle deeply into your throat.

Gargle like this several times with a glass of warm salt water, and repeat as often as possible throughout the day.

Warm salt water can remove viruses from the tonsils and adenoids that line the back of your throat region. Viruses that cause colds and flus typically get caught by your tonsils and adenoids before they spread through your body. Your tonsils and adenoids are important parts of your immune system because they are located near the entrance of your breathing passages, and they serve as a first line of defense against undesirable airborne microorganisms and substances.

This, by the way, is why it is best not to remove tonsils and adenoids from your throat region. Chronic swelling of tonsils and adenoids is best addressed by reducing sugar intake, adopting a minimally processed diet that is rich in fresh plant foods, and supporting immune system health by getting plenty of rest, exercise, and exposure to sunlight and fresh air.

Cold salt water may also help to remove viruses from your tonsils and adenoids, but warm salt water tends to be more effective. Warm water may help to melt the fatty coating that protects viruses that cause the cold and flu.

What if you gargle for all you're worth but still end up developing a full-blown cold?

Get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take comfort in knowing that countless viruses are at work destroying your weakest cells. And don't forget to blow your nose as often as it runs; help your body get rid of what it wants to get rid of.

Malaysia Budget 2009

Publication Date: 29-08-2008

Malaysian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi unveiled the much anticipated 2009 Budget on Friday (Aug 29).

The following are the highlights:

Enhancing health services

- Excise duty specific on cigarettes increased by three sen--from 15 sen per stick to 18 sen per stick. With this, the duty for a 20-stick pack of cigarettes is now up 60 sen.

Social safety net

- Eligibility criteria for welfare assistance under the Welfare Department, increased from a monthly household income of 400 ringgit to 720 ringgit for Peninsular Malaysia, 830 ringgit for Sarawak and 960 ringgit for Sabah.

- Government pensioners who have served at least 25 years upon retirement, will receive a pension of not less than 720 ringgit per month, effective Jan 1 2009.

- The government will now also set up a special fund of 25 million ringgit set up to channel financial assistance to victims of calamities such as floods and fire.

Eradicating poverty

- Programmes to enhance income, as well as provide skills and career development training under the Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat to be continued. In addition, Programme Lonjakan Mega Luar Bandar is being implemented in Pulau Banggi, Sabah and Tanjung Gahai, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

- In 2009, 50 million ringgit is allocated to build 1,400 new houses and repair 1,000 houses under the Housing Assistance Programme. Priority will be given to senior citizens, the disabled and single parents with many dependents as well as victims of natural disasters.

- 580 million ringgit and 420 million ringgit allocated for Sabah and Sarawak respectively to increase income and enhance quality of life of Malaysians there by improving basic amenities, such as electricity, water and rural roads.

- Households which incur monthly electricity bills of 20 ringgit or less, will not have to pay for electricity, for the period from October 1, 2008 to end of 2009.

- The current tax rebate of 350 ringgit per person will be increased to 400 ringgit for those with taxable income of 35,000 ringgit and below.

- All interest income from savings for individuals be tax exempt.

- Reduce import duties on various consumer durables from between 10 per cent and 60 per cent to between 5 per cent and 30 per cent. These include blender, rice cooker, microwave oven and electric kettle.

- Full import duty exemption on several food items, which currently attract import duties of between 2 per cent and 20 per cent. These include vermicelli, biscuits, fruit juices and canned sweet corn.

- Reduce the road tax on private passenger vehicles with diesel engines to be the same as those with petrol engines, effective September 1, 2008.

Enhancing the welfare of employees

- Travel allowance for commuting to work provided by employers be given full tax deduction, while the employees receiving such an allowance be given tax exemption of up to 2,400 ringgit per year.

- Tax exemption be given to employees on:

-- Interest subsidies on housing, motor vehicles and education loans. The tax exemption will be limited to total loans up to 300,000 ringgit;

-- Mobile phones, as well as telephone and internet bills paid by the employer;

-- Staff discounts of up to 1,000 ringgit a year on company traded goods;

-- Staff discounts on services rendered by the company, such as private schools providing free education to children of their employees; and

-- Childcare allowance of up to 2,400 ringgit per year.

- Tax exemption on medical benefits provided by employers to include expenses on maternity and traditional medicine, namely acupuncture and ayurvedic.

- Effective from January 1, 2009, civil servants with a monthly household income of 3,000 ringgit will be eligible for a subsidy of 180 ringgit per month.

Improving Public Transportation

- A sum of 35 billion ringgit will be expended during the period 2009 to 2014 to improve public transportation.

- The existing LRT system in the Klang Valley will be extended by 30km, that is 15km respectively, for Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines. Upon completion in 2011, the extensions are expected to benefit 2.6 million residents in the Subang Jaya-USJ and Kinrara-Puchong areas, compared with 1.9 million currently.

- A new LRT line will be built along a 42km route from Kota Damansara to Cheras; to be completed in 2014.

- The commuter rail services of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will be upgraded. Rehabilitation works are being undertaken on the existing 20 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) and are expected to be completed in 2009. An additional 13 new units of EMUs will be acquired and be operational by 2011.

- To reduce the operating costs of public transport operators:
-- government will provide a soft loan facility of 3 billion ringgit under the Public Transportation Fund, administered by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB), to finance the acquisition of buses and rail assets; and

-- reduce toll charges by 50 per cent for all buses, except at border entry points, namely Johor Causeway, Second Link and Bukit Kayu Hitam, for a period of two years, effective Sept 15 2008.

- Road tax will also be reduce to 20 ringgit a year for all bus, taxi, car rental and limousine operators.

Food security

- Sum of 5.6 billion is provided under the National Food Security Policy, for the period 2008 to 2010. This allocation is to provide incentives to agriculture entrepreneurs to reduce production costs and encourage higher agriculture output.

- 300 million ringgit allocated to increase fish landings. Of this, 180 million ringgit is in the form of cost of living allowance to fishermen and fishing boat owners, as well as 120 million ringgit as incentive for fish landings.

- 1 billion ringgit allocation as incentives for 220,000 padi farmers throughout the country to increase padi production.

Generating income through micro credit

- 160 million ringgit allocated to provide better education opportunities as well as improve health and basic amenities for the Orang Asli.

- A monthly allowance of 150 ringgit to disabled who are unable to work. In addition, the monthly allowance for disabled students in special education schools, will also be increased from 50 ringgit to 150 ringgit, while teaching assistants in these schools will be provided incentive payments of 200 ringgit per month.

- In 2009, an allocation of 330 million ringgit is provided to Jabatan Perumahan Negara to complete 4,400 units of Programme Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Disewa, 1,500 units of PPR Bersepadu and 600 units of PPR Dimiliki. In addition, Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad will build 33,000 low cost houses.

- For civil servants, tenure of new housing loans extended from 25 years to 30 years. They will also be provided housing loan facility for renovation works on houses not purchased through Government housing loan.

- For medium cost houses of up to 250,000 ringgit, a 50 per cent stamp duty exemption is extended to the loan agreement on top of the 50 per cent stamp duty exemption on the instrument of transfer.

- For companies contributing to charitable institutions, the limit of tax deduction be increased from 7 per cent to 10 per cent of aggregate income.

Improving public amenities

- Allocation of 3 billion ringgit to intensify efforts to further develop Sabah and Sarawak for infrastructure projects, including 266km of federal and rural roads, benefiting more than 550,000 residents.

- An allocation of 3.3 billion ringgit is provided for Sarawak to implement various projects, including the construction of 230km of federal and rural roads, benefiting more than 350,000 residents.

Second strategy: Developing quality human capital

- A sum of 70 million ringgit is allocated in 2009 to train 5,600 nurses in training colleges under the ministry of health, with 2,000 in recognised private training colleges.

- To meet the need for new schools and replace dilapidated schools, 110 primary and 181 secondary schools will be built. In addition, to ensure that existing schools are well maintained, an allocation of 615 million ringgit is provided.

- 14.1 billion ringgit to improve quality of learning at institutions of higher learning. Of this, RM8bil is for Operating Expenditure for public institutions of higher learning, 627 million ringgit for polytechnics and community colleges as well as 37 million ringgit for the Malaysian Qualification Agency.

Culture of excellence

- The highest marginal tax rate for individuals be reduced from 28 per cent to 27 per cent, effective the year of assessment 2009. In addition, the marginal tax rate of 13 per cent will also be reduced to 12 per cent, which will benefit the middle income group.

- Recruitment costs, such as payments to employment agencies and participation in job fairs, be tax deductible.

Third strategy: Strengthening the nation’s resilience

- To encourage private sector activities, tax treatment on group relief be enhanced by allowing losses for the purpose of offsetting be increased from 50 per cent to 70 per cent.

- An additional 300 million ringgit under the Strategic Investment Fund to further strengthen private investment in Iskandar Malaysia.

Promoting tourism

- New investments by 4-star and 5-star hotel operators in Sabah and Sarawak be given Pioneer Status with 100 per cent income tax exemption or Investment Tax Allowance of 100 per cent for 5 years.

- 50 million ringgit for conservation works of heritage sites in Malacca and Penang to support activities undertaken by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private sector.

Promoting venture capital companies

- Venture capital companies that invest at least 30 per cent of their funds in start-up, early stage financing or seed capital be eligible for a 5-year tax exemption.

Promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

- All SME assets in the form of plant and machinery acquired in the years of assessment 2009 and 2010 be given Accelerated Capital Allowance to be claimed within one year. In addition, SMEs are allowed to claim full Capital Allowance on all small value assets within one year.

National energy plan

- Exemption of import duty and sales tax on solar photovoltaic system equipment, import duty and sales tax on intermediate goods such as High Efficiency Motors and insulation materials; sales tax on locally manufactured solar heating system equipment; sales tax on locally manufactured energy efficient consumers goods such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, lightings, fans and televisions; and 100 per cent import duty and 50 per cent excise duty on new hybrid CBU cars, with engine capacity below 2,000cc, be given to franchise importers. This exemption is given for a period of two years to prepare for the local assembly of such cars.

Towards a vibrant capital market

- Tax exemption be given on fees received by domestic intermediaries, which successfully list foreign companies and foreign investment products in Bursa Malaysia. This measure will also enable domestic investors to acquire shares of foreign companies listed in the local exchange.

- Current tax rate on dividends received by foreign institutional investors from Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) be reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. Recognising that REITs is an attractive investment product for individuals as well, the government also proposes a reduction in tax rate from 15 per cent to 10 per cent.

12 Essential Detox Tips

Life can be a dirty place, and whether you're 20 or 65 you've probably accumulated some excess toxins in your body and some emotional baggage in your mind. These poisons can come from concrete things like pesticides in your food, pollution in the air you breathe and even chemicals that you consume in the form of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

But they can also be more abstract, in the form of things like too much stress, negative media, advertising, relationship problems and inner conflicts. So when you think about detoxing, it's important to not only detoxify your body but also your mind and spirit.

12 Essential Detox Tips

While spring is often considered the ideal time to detox, fall, which is just around the corner, is also an important season for cleansing. The shorter days and cooler temperatures lead to decreases in your metabolism and mood, and may trigger a desire to eat more than you normally do. Detoxing in the fall can help to lift your spirits, increase your energy and help you feel your best as winter arrives.

However, some forms of detoxing can become a part of your everyday life. The tips that follow include such tips, and we recommend using them on a regular basis to keep your life mentally, physically and emotionally healthy.

1. Exercise. It will help you relieve stress and improves your circulation and overall health.

2. Be careful of what drugs you take. Sometimes medication is necessary, but you may want to think twice before constantly popping pills for every ache and pain. Many can cause side effects and may contain chemicals that can damage your kidneys.

3. Quit smoking. Cigarettes contain over 4,000 different chemicals.

4. Use natural cleaning products in your home. Using typical cleaning sprays and air fresheners at least once a week can increase your risk of asthma by 30-50 percent.

5. Meditate. It's a simple (and free) way to detoxify your mind and spirit.

6. Make sure you're sleeping enough, and well. Like refueling a car or taking a drink of water, it's thought that sleep refreshes your body and helps to restore the energy that you've used up during the day. Says Dr. Neil B. Kavey, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, sleep is the time when your body is able to do repair work.

7. Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol is a poison, and in excess amounts it will cause harm to your body.

8. Learn how to forgive. Most of us will harbor (or are harboring right now) feelings of pain, anger, resentment and hurt against someone we feel did us wrong. If they are not released, by way of forgiveness, these negative notions will slowly drain your energy while fanning the fires of chronic stress.

9. Turn off the TV. Your mind needs a break from the advertisements, the negative news and the celebrity gossip.

10. Volunteer. People who donate their time to a cause report feeling a heightened sense of well-being, relief from insomnia, and various other physical, mental and emotional benefits.

11. Challenge your mind. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that challenging your brain with mentally stimulating leisure activities (including playing board games or cards, doing crossword puzzles, reading, writing, and playing musical instruments) is great for your mind.

12. Tune out things that bring you down. This could be your gossiping coworkers, a meddling relative, or annoying instant messages. Whatever the poison, learn to ignore it for your own sanity's sake.

Good Ads

Here are 5 pictures of European trucks whose trailers are decorated to look like the sides are missing and the products they are hauling are painted on the sides and back.

The first one is of a bottle of beer and looks so real, like it is coming out the side of the trailer.



The second is of canvas tote bag.



The third is of Pepsi cases and they are all stacked on the ceiling, and the bottom of the trailer is empty.



The fourth is of another truck with the windshield facing the back and there has been a driver painted in the driver's seat looking back over his shoulder to appear like he is driving backwards.. (Now this one is just plain scary, even when the German reads 'On the wrong way?')



The last one is for Pringles-Hot & Spicy. The 'inside' of the trailer has the appearance of having been through a fire.

Eye Health Camp

This is a fabulous opportunity to check the health of your eyes.

This event is co-organized with Lions Club of Georgetown and Penang Adventist Hospital.

If you have family or friends who need this opportunity badly please advise them to come.











ONE Life Revolution needs volunteers in Penang, Aug 12-14

World Vision Malaysia is looking for volunteers for ONE Life Revolution exhibit that will be coming to Penang, Gurney Plaza Aug 12-14.

There are 2 shifts, 9am-4pm / 3pm-10pm (as least 15 ppl per shift).
They don't have to come everyday if they cant, just choose a shift for any days they can.

Youths would be great but open to anyone.

Please help me spread the word.


Those interested, please write to kerk_ching_wui@wvi.org or call 03-7880 6414 by 31 July.

Volunteers training will be conducted on Aug 2 in Penang.

Warm Regards,
Joanne Tay
Promotion & Communications
World Vision Malaysia

Office Address: 106 & 108 Ground Floor, Block A, Kelana Centre Point, Jalan SS 7/19, Kelana Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Tel : +603-78806414 Fax : +603-78806424
Website: www.worldvision.com.my

Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness;
Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.

Link to this program:
http://www.worldvision.com.my/onelife/
http://blog.worldvision.com.my/

Eye Test

Eye Test - Can you read?







Please email me your answer. Thanks


9 Crucial Tips

Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life.


Crucial

Because of recent abductions

in daylight hours, refresh yourself

of these things to do

in an emergency situation...

This is for you,

and for you to share

with your wife,

your children,

everyone you know.

After reading these 9 crucial tips,

forward them to someone you care about.

It never hurts to be careful

in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :

The elbow is the strongest point

on your body.

If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide

in New Orleans

If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,

DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.

Toss it away from you....

chances are that he is more interested

in your wallet and/or purse than you,

and he will go for the wallet/purse.

RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,

kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole

and start waving like crazy.

The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.

This has saved lives.


4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars

after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit

(doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.

DON'T DO THIS!)

The predator will be watching you, and this

is the perfect opportunity for him to get in

on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,

and tell you where to go.

AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR ,

LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

If someone

is in the car

with a gun

to your head

DO NOT DRIVE OFF,

repeat:

DO NOT DRIVE OFF!

Instead gun the engine

and speed into anything, wrecking the car.

Your Air Bag will save you.

If the person is in the back seat

they will get the worst of it .

As soon as the car crashes

bail out and run.

It is better than having them find your body

in a remote location.


5. A few notes about getting

into your car in a parking lot,

or parking garage:

A.) Be aware:

look around you,

look into your car,

at the passenger side floor ,

and in the back seat

B.) If you are parked next to a big van,

enter your car from the passenger door.

Most serial killers attack their victims

by pulling them into their vans while the women

are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car

parked on the driver's side of your vehicle,

and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone

in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back

into the mall, or work, and get a

guard/policeman to walk you back out.

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)


6. ALWAYS take the elevator

instead of the stairs.

(Stairwells are horrible places to be alone

and the perfect crime spot.

This is especially true at NIGHT!)


7. If the predator has a gun

and you are not under his control,

ALWAYS RUN!

The predator will only hit you (a running target)

4 in 100 times; And even then,

it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ.

RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!


8. As women, we are always trying

to be sympathetic:

STOP

It may get you raped, or killed.

Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking,

well educated man, who ALWAYS played

on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.

He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often

asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle,

which is when he abducted
his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point:

Someone just told me that her friend heard

a crying baby on her porch the night before last,

and she called the police because it was late

and she thought it was weird. The police told her

'Whatever you do, DO NOT

open the door.'

The lady then said that it sounded like the baby

had crawled near a window, and she was worried

that it would crawl to the street and get run over.

The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way,

whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'

He told her that they think a serial killer

has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax

women out of their homes thinking that someone

dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it,

but have had several calls by women saying that

they hear baby's cries outside their doors

when they're home alone at night.

Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door

for a crying baby ----

This e-mail should be taken seriously because

the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on

America 's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled

the serial killer in Louisiana


I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know.

It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle.

I was going to send this to the ladies only,

but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc.,

you may want to pass it onto them, as well.


Send this to any woman you know that may need

Driving Tips on Fuel Saving

By modifying some of your driving habits, you can increase your fuel efficiency and use less gas, bringing the cost down.

Driving Tip 1: Eliminate The Junk in Your Trunk
No matter what kind of car you drive, eliminating weight can go a long way toward increasing your car's fuel efficiency. So just by cleaning up your act, you can start on the road to saving.

Driving Tip 2: Inflated Tires
Proper tire maintenance is an often overlooked way to increase your fuel economy. The easiest way to use your tires to save money is to make sure they're properly inflated. Tires that are under inflated negatively affect fuel efficiency. Properly inflated tires have less contact with the road, which means they encounter less friction, so the engine doesn't have to work as hard to move the car.

Driving Tip 3: Limit Your Need for Speed
One of the best ways to improve your fuel economy is to change the way you drive. Speeding, accelerating and braking hard can deplete efficiency by 33 percent. So remember to drive steady, smoothly, not too fast and furious.

Driving Tip 4: Alternative Fuel?
You may install NGV kits or the OxyHydrogen Generator.

Driving Tip 5: Time to trade in for a more efficient car?
If you're really serious about driving greener, you can get a more fuel-efficient car. Like switching from a large SUV to a smaller car.

Driving Tip 6: Car Pooling
If you really want to cut down on your fuel usage, car pooling is a great way to do it. When two or more people buddy up and ride together, the number of cars on the road drops and gas is saved. It's that simple.

Car pooling isn't just a good way to drive green and break up a lonely commute; it's a good way to save a lot of money. By alternating driving days with another driver, you'll cut your gas costs by half. And by not driving your car as much, you'll save on routine maintenance. Driving only half as much will also slow the rate you put miles on your car, helping its resale value.

So how much can you save? With the simple driving tips we've compiled here, you could increase your fuel economy and savings.

Way to live healthy to 100 - 312 Meridian Exercise

Eighty-four-year-old Zhu Zongxiang has the vigor and vitality of man half his age. In a few old and shabby rooms situated near a group of ancient buildings in Beijing, the old doctor has stubbornly persisted in learning more about the meridians of acupuncture for more than 30 years. He often said he was a traitor to Western medicine.

Since the 1950s, he had been teaching physiology, a basic medical subject, in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. However, a decision in 1973 changed his life.

That year, he was inspired by Premier Zhou Enlai's appeal to Chinese medical experts to make clear the theory of acupuncture. Zhou's call for action followed US President Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972.

Zhu Zongxiang (right) talks with a practioner of 312 meridian exercises.

Zhu joined the acupuncture meridian research group of the Institute of Biophysics under Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Meridian points were discovered in China 2,500 years ago. In Huang Di Nei Jing (The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor), one of the most important ancient medical classics, the meridians were recorded to have the function of "promoting circulation of Xueqi (Blood and Qi) and balancing yin and yang" and "determining life and death and treating hundred diseases."

The meridians were discovered to be a general controlling system for the human body and had the function of preventing diseases and promoting health and longevity. Today, TCM doctors still insert acupuncture needles into the acupoints along the meridians to treat diseases.

However, the existence of the meridians has always been questioned by Western medicine.

To justify the theory, doctor Zhu and his colleagues had spent more than 10 years to experiment with modern methods to demonstrate its biophysical existence.

In the 1980s, the researchers successfully showed the 14 meridians in human body through biophysical methods, which are surprisingly identical to that recorded in ancient classical meridian graph.

For visitors suspicious towards his research, doctor Zhu would proudly demonstrate his two proof tests to them.

He used a mallet to tap different areas on the elbow until the patient heard a loud sound measured through a device similar to the stethoscope. Zhu then marked a red spot at that point.

A line of the red spots determined by the same method is actually showing the position of a meridian, according to Zhu.

He would then place two electrodes of a current meter on the line and stimulation of the current could be felt. When one electrode was placed off the line, one would feel nothing. It showed that the meridian line had the lowest electric impedance, according to Zhu.

The red meridian lines pictured above connect to the major organs of the body. Acupuncture and massage on strategic points along the meridian zones can improve health.

Even after Zhu published his breakthrough findings, the scientific world still did not change their skeptical attitude. And the debate on meridians is ongoing and interpretations of the phenomenon vary among scientists.

In ancient times, meridians was a philosophical concept invented by ancient Chinese doctors to summarize the general functions of the human body, according to Wu Gencheng, director of Institute of Acupuncture Research, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University. The institute had been researching acupuncture for decades.

"We believe that the meridians' functions are closely related with the nerves, but it is impossible in modern science to find the material equivalent to the meridians described in the ancient time. It is hard to imagine a new passage way in the human body," said Wu.

In a further blow to Zhu's efforts, the Institute stopped funding their research.

Zhu did not give up and established Beijing Yanhuang Meridian Center to design the meridian based exercise to promote people's health and longevity. Zhu calls it the "3-1-2" method.

According to Zhu, 3 refers to massaging three acupoints of hegu on the hand neiguan on the wrist and zusanli on the knee.

1 refers to abdominal breathing, actually a form of simplified qigong (breathing exercise), through which Zhu believed could exercise the meridians in the abdomen area being closely related with chronic diseases.

2 refers to the physical exercise of both legs. Zhu believed the most simple and effective exercise is squatting down and standing up.

Of the 312 meridian exercises, the number of 3 refers to massaging three acupoints of hegu on the hand (left) neiguan on the wrist (center) and zusanli on the knee (right).

"Physical exercise will involve the excitation of all the meridians spreading in the whole body," he explained.

In fact, in Zhu's views, the health benefits of all kinds of physical exercise are actually coming from the enhancement of the meridians in the process.

Daily exercises for 25 minutes will keep people young and vigorous, prevent and treat many senile and difficult diseases and relieve some common diseases, Zhu claims.

During the past 17 years, Zhu had formally trained more than 10,000 people, mostly elderly people. "Though the popularization of the exercise is slow, I obtain valuable proof information from them that the exercise is effective for health promotion," he said.

Zhang Yawen, 74, was a typical beneficiary of 312 exercises. She was a college professor and had long been inflicted by hypertension and arthritis, which often made her sleepless at night.

She claimed her health improved a lot after she followed 312 exercises for a few months. Now she has the confidence to live to 100.

Zhu conducted a study among more than 8,000 people attending his training class, 95 percent of whom suffered from chronic diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, asthma, diabetes and arthritis. Most have seen major improvements after four weeks' practice.

Though Zhu had a strong wish to spread his exercise to a larger population, he still depends on opening workshops and distributing study materials to spread the word.


Please go to the below site to watch the demonstration:
3 1 2 Meridian Training Method
is through three points of massage (Hegu, Neiguan, and Zusanli),
an abdominal breathing and
consisting mainly of two legs squat exercises.
http://312exercise.blogspot.com/2008/06/312-exercise-introduction.html



Watermelon: The new Viagra ?



Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra.

"Watermelon may not be as organ-specific as Viagra, but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side effects."

There are more citrulline (about 60%) is found in watermelon rind than in the flesh.

Citrulline is found in all colors of watermelon and is highest in the yellow-fleshed types.

Link of this post: http://news4malaysian.blogspot.com/2008/07/watermelon-new-viagra.html

Top 10 High-Antioxidant Foods

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene which has 20 times the antioxidant potential of vitamin C. In its several categories, small tomatoes have a higher vitamin C content and are better antioxidant effective. You’d better cook them since the lycopene increases several times when cooked.

2. Grapes

The anthocyanin glycosides in grape seeds have a high antioxidant capability: 20 times that of vitamin C and 50 times vitamin E. Grapes used for wine have their antioxidant capacity increased after fermentation.

3. Green tea

Green tea is high in vitamin C and polyphenols. Unlike black and oolong teas, green tea is made from leaves that are not fermented before they are dried. Thus, the antioxidant levels of green tea are five times higher than black tea.

4. Salmon

It is the only meat included in the antioxidant food list. Its strong antioxidant effect comes from the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which balances out the omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids that general livestock and poultry meats contain.

5. Nuts

Nuts including cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts are rich in vitamin E and have great antioxidant functions. However, don’t eat too many since they are a high fat food.6. Cauliflower

Having vitamin A and C, cauliflower also contains a unique antioxidant substance. This plant gathers almost all set in anti-oxidants together and is considered an anti-cancer star.

7. Blueberries

Berry fruits are rich in carotene and vitamin C, which are considered the most important components by the medical profession. In addition, they contain potassium and soluble fiber, which can lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the probability of suffering from hypertension.

8. Garlic

Sulphide contained in garlic can not only reduce inner body cholesterol effectively, but also prevent hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Drinking a bottle of milk after eating garlic can wipe out the annoying smell.

9. Spinach

Spinach also contains iron, potassium, carotere, vitamin C, magnesium and other minerals as well as folic acid, which can lower blood pressure and boost sentiment effectively. Ask Popeye! Filter spinach in hot water to remove salt before eating it to avoid oxalate stones.

10. Oats

Oats, loaded with protein, calcium, riboflavin, thiamine and other components, are the only cereal grains appearing on the list of best foods. Adequate daily intake of oats can accelerate the human metabolism and the synthesis of amino acids and promote cell renewal.


Antioxidant tips

Antioxidants are found in certain foods that neutralize free radicals. These include the nutrient antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals copper, zinc and selenium.

Other dietary food compounds, such as the photochemicals in plants and zoochemicals from animal products, are believed to have greater antioxidant effects than either vitamins or minerals. These are called the non-nutrient antioxidants and include photochemicals such as lycopenes in tomatoes, and anthocyanins found in cranberries.

Generally, the deeper and richer the color of fruits and vegetables is, the higher the quantity of antioxidants.

However, the color rule of thumb does not apply to varieties of tea. The darker the variety of tea is, the lower its antioxidant concentration, because it has been oxidized.

Fruit juice contains antioxidants, but not as much as the fruits from which they are made, since the antioxidants are concentrated in the skins and pulps.

Convert to water powered cars

Is it true? Now we can covert our fuel car to a water powered car?

Yup that's right, as you may have seen, the Japanese have recently revealed another H2O powered car. This technology is very simple and people are already converting their cars to save themselves from the prices at the fuel pumps.

How the beggars' open wounds are created - wow

Let's assume you are willing to bear the scorn of your local transient community. How much can you make as a panhandler/beggar?

Free Rice - Play and Feed a Hungry Person!

About FreeRice

FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com.

FreeRice has two goals:
1.Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2.Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive.

Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide.

Thank you.



See what Press say:

“What if just knowing what a word meant could help feed hungry people around the world? Well, at FreeRice it does . . . the totals have grown exponentially.”
- The Washington Post

“Web game provides rice for hungry . . . FreeRice went online in early October and has now raised 1 billion grains of rice [by November 9].”
- BBC News

“Addictive, yes. But . . . each correct answer results in the donation of rice to help feed the hungry around the globe. Perhaps that qualifies the game as a good addiction . . . one with redeeming qualities, something that’s, oh, didactic and edifying.”
- Kansas City Star

“People from all walks of life and from around the globe have written in to express their appreciation for the game . . . Secretaries admit to playing it during boring business meetings.”
- Christian Science Monitor

“Every grain of rice is essential in the fight against hunger . . . FreeRice really hits home how the Web can be harnessed to raise awareness and funds for the world’s number one emergency.”
- UN World Food Program

“A teacher of fourth and fifth graders on the Yurok Indian reservation in Klamath, CA, . . . emailed the WFP. ‘My students absolutely LOVE the free rice site. Almost daily they earn several thousand grains of rice!’ she wrote. ‘You cannot imagine the joy in my heart when I look out and see 25 kids doing vocabulary work and enjoying it.’”
- School Library Journal

“The Web site offers a greater gift, the gift of awareness about world hunger.”
- NPR National Public Radio

“Freerice.com is an international, viral sensation. Folks from Thailand to Germany and India are just as enthusiastic . . . improving thousands of lives, all with a simple, collective, click of a mouse.”
- CBS Evening News

Weebly - Build a Web Site

WOW.......Weebly, another wonderful WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) website building tool for you.



Additional Information:
Weebly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Weebly.com - 50 Best Websites 2007 - TIME
Learn Weebly For Free

How The VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam Works

This is something worth your knowing.
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This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want.
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Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading.
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By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
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One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.
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The scam works like this:
Person calling says, 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for ?97.99 from a Marketing company based in London ?'
When you say 'No',
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the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from ?97 to ?97, just under the ?00 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'
You say 'yes'.
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The caller continues - 'I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number.'
The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'
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Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card.'
He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers.' There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.
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After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?'
After you say, 'No,' the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do', and hangs up.
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You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did!
The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of ?97.99 was charged to our card. Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number.
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Note: A Few Things You Should Know.
1. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card.
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2. Don't give it to them.
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3. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation.
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4. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card!
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If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
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What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of MasterCard' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening .
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Please pass this on to all your family and friends.
By informing each other, we protect each other.


Related Article:
How to Identify and Avoid High-Tech Credit Card Skimming