Are we rude? You @#%& well believe it!

This letter to theSun says it all.

Are we rude? You #%& well believe it!

Old School Dies at 50

Kim Klaver announced, in her blog, the passing of the Old School network marketing (aka Old School MLM). It is believed he was about 50.

"Old School died of complications from a terminal image problem and a misguided focus on big money. He had been ill for some years, weakened by excessive recruiting, mercenary tactics and customer neglect. Doctors identified the most harmful tactics that accelerated the spread of the fatal image: hype, promising quick money, telling half-truths, and selling out friendships.

He is survived by his 17-year old daughter New School, and her many stepchildren.

New School urges network marketers not to abandon their past, but let it help guide the future. She predicts that in time and with consistent practice in the new approaches, network marketing will become a jewel in mainstream American business."

Persistence is a state of mind

"The person of good and lawful purpose cannot fail. It only needs that he daily renew the fire and energy of his fixed resolve, to consummate his object." - The Mastery of Destiny

It is the great equalizer for all of those reaching for success.

It overcomes lack of education, money, talent, intelligence, looks and all other seeming advantages. President Calvin Coolidge said nothing could take its place.

"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

I cannot think of one victory I've ever had that I won without persistence. For a while I just thought that I had to work harder and longer than anyone else in order to achieve because nothing has ever come easy for me. Then I really looked around and noticed that everyone else was just like me. Every mentor I've ever had and every successful person I've ever known has their own story of how persistence was the key to their success.

Here's what Bob Proctor teaches on one of the Universal Laws called the Law of Gender: "This law decrees that all seeds (ideas are spiritual seeds) have a gestation or incubation period before they manifest. In other words, when you choose a goal or build the image in your mind, a definite period of time must elapse before that image manifests in physical results."

Coming from a family of six generations of farmers I certainly understand the gestation of a seed. In fact, one of my most favorite inspirational examples about persistence is the story of an Asian Bamboo species that even after five years of watering, weeding and fertilizing is barely visible. Then in a span of about six weeks it grows two and a half feet a day to 90 feet and higher. It grows so fast that you can literally "hear" it growing. The question to ask is did the bamboo grow 90 feet in six weeks or did it grow 90 feet in five years?

Obviously it grew 90 feet in five years, for all the time when growth wasn't visible it was developing a massive root system that would later support it's magnificent growth.

Can you see where the current circumstances in your life are developing your massive root system? Can you see where you must continue to "fertilize" and "water" yourself even though maybe you can't see any visible changes today?

Napoleon Hill thought that persistence was such a key to success that he devoted an entire chapter to it in the classic Think and Grow Rich. He writes, "Persistence is a state of mind, therefore it can be cultivated....Before success comes in any person's life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a person, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to QUIT. That is exactly what the majority of people do. More than five hundred of the most successful people this country has ever known, told the author their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them."

And that's worth thinking about.

Courtesy of James Allen eMeditation - June 5, 2006.
To Listen to this week's message in audio.
To subscribe, click here.

Having problems with your service provider?

Having problems with your service provider? Welcome to the world. It happens not only in Malaysia just as this incident shows.

"An incredible audio recording from CNBC shows an AOL customer trying to cancel his account, but a phone rep won't let him do it. What customer Vincent Ferrari got when he tried to cancel his account was a lot of frustration.

It took him 15 minutes waiting on the phone just to reach a real, live person.

And, what happened next was recorded by Ferrari on audio and lasted about
four minutes:"

Sometimes you’ve got to fight when you’re a man!

Now that the piper has played his tune and "Tommy Nazri" has entered the bar room, has it all begun? The dance, I mean.

Dr Mahathir Should Leave Umno, Says Nazri.
Malaysia Min Urges Mahathir To Leave Party.
Be a 'jantan', leave Umno, Mahathir told
Be a 'jantan-man'... brabus!

BN must rise above race to shape nation’s future

Via the NST; Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says that Barisan Nasional component parties should transcend communal interests to realise Vision 2020, which is of paramount importance to all Malaysians.

Very laughable, Pak Lah. Please tell that to the Youth wing of a certain BN component party. They are about the only group that dares play on communal issues.

The very same group that lodged a police report against me over the USJ 8 police station saga. Tell them, please.

The Coward of the County

Just in case you missed it in the New Sunday Times yesterday.

The man whom Tun M refers to as the "Hindu god and Muslim priest" ended his regular Sunday Column with Kenny Roger’s song, The Coward of the County.

This can only mean two things to me.

One, he is suggesting that Pak Lah will be fighting back.

Or two, he is suggesting that Pak Lak fights back.

Sometimes you’ve got to fight when you’re a man!

Hemorrhoids lah

Nothing major, guys. Just a small surgery to remove my hemorrhoids.

One small post-surgery challenge. Can't sit for long with the sore arse!

And the doctor said the real pain will be felt after the third day, i.e. today. But so far so good. Still bearable sitting on a pillow.

My apologies for causing some anxiety to all of you kind folks out there and thank you for the good wishes. All's well now.

Crime alerts via SMS, e-mail, fax

This blog entry on crime alerting should be of interest to all our crime fighters. I shall only be exploring all the links after I have my posterior remodelled at SJMC. Will have to check in tomorrow morning and will probably be out of action and incommunicado for the rest of the week.

Wish me well.

Thanks to John Postill for pointing out this link.

KL ranks 3rd in common courtesy survey

The bright side puts KL at third. The not so bright side places KL from the bottom. That's the result of Reader’s Digest's common coutesy survey of 35 of the world’s capitals.

Generally, the Malaysians interviewed by NST agree that Malaysians are rude. The expats, however, disagree. Why? Your guess is as good as mine.

The tests also showed that the under-40s were the most courteous and the over-60s the least - particularly older men.

A spokesman for Reader's Digest said: "If common courtesy is the oil that keeps society running, a check suggests there's plenty of oil in the engine."

From Readers Digest: Putting politeness to test.

Two Thumbs Up!

I offer no apologies with my two thumbs up!

NST, 21 June 2006: Suspected burglar allegedly beaten to death by residents
NST, 21 June 2006: Fleeing snatch thieves knocked down
NST, 21 June 2006: Alleged rapist gets village justice
Star, 21 June 2006: Housebreaker beaten to death
usjdotcom, 19 June 2006: Snatch Thefts

Time the victims hit back hard on these b*st*rds.

Obesity Drugs, Pharmaceutical Profits, and Kids

From Ivanhoe Newswire 19 June 2006, on Obesity Drugs, Pharmaceutical Profits, and Kids.

New guidelines on obesity may have a negative effect on children in the United States if they are instated. In addition, the financial links between the organization promoting the proposals and the pharmaceutical industry are raising concerns.

Leading international health writer Ray Moynihan says an expert committee of the American Medical Association has "tentatively decided" to reclassify obesity definitions. The fear is healthy children would be classified as overweight or obese -- and therefore eligible for treatment with obesity drugs. Approximately a quarter of toddlers and two-fifths of children between ages 6 and 11 would be considered obese.

Moynihan asserts one of the advocates behind the proposed is a senior member of the International Obesity Task Force. This Task Force, Moyniham says, has close ties to the World Health Organization, which was set up in the mid-1990s with the help of grants from three drug companies and continues to benefit from drug company sponsorship.

Two-thirds of the funding given to the merged International Association for the Study of Obesity and the Task Force, Moynihan says, will come from pharmaceutical giants Roche and Abbott. Roche makes the anti-obesity drug Xenical (orlistat), and Abbott makes the appetite suppressant Reductil (sibutramine hydrochloride). In recent years, drug company sponsorship is likely to have amounted to "millions" says Moynihan, but the Task Force maintains internal scrutiny ensures independence from sponsor influence.

The expert committee says, "No decisions have been as to finalizing the
recommendations."

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to this link.

SOURCE: British Medical Journal, 2006;331:1412

Accept Your Relationships

It is very common to compare our relationships with the relationships of other people, and with make-believe relationships in novels and movies.

Perhaps you have a very pragmatic relationship with your dad, one more of physical dependence than emotional intimacy. And you envy your neighbor, who enjoys a close friendship with his dad.

However, at the same time, your friend may be envying your relationship with your dad, wishing that his dad would also work hard to bring home the dough, instead of being such a bum.

The point is, every relationship is different and unique. Comparisons are often quite pointless.

When we compare in this way, always wishing that this could be better, or that could be more ideal, we become dissatisfied with the relationships we have. We then fail to enjoy and experience them to the fullest. Worse still, we allow the relationships to deteriorate because of our dissatisfaction.

Accept your relationships. They have their plus points. Focus on them.

Source: allinspiration.com

Tree Bark Supplement Reduces ADHD

From Ivan Newswire, 19 June 2006: Tree Bark Supplement Reduces ADHD

According to new research, a plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, the antioxidant Pycnogenol, significantly reduces Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children when used daily for one month.

In the randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study, researchers from Germany found Pycnogenol helped reduce hyperactivity and improve attention, concentration and motor-visual coordination in children with ADHD.

"These findings are especially notable for parents who are concerned about overmedicating children diagnosed with ADHD. Many families are seeking natural options to avoid the potentially dangerous side effects of prescription drugs," said senior study author Peter Rohdewald, Ph.D., at the University of Munster in Germany.

Participants underwent a basic psychiatric examination by teachers and parents one month after the study began and one month after the end of the study.

Results revealed a decrease in hyperactivity compared to psychiatric examination scores at the start of the study. Participants who took placebo showed no significant improvement in these scores. The researchers also found one month after treatment ended, symptoms returned to their levels as measured before the study started in the Pycnogenol group.

In conclusion, investigators say these results strongly suggest the antioxidant's effect on reducing ADHD symptoms. They report, "The results of this study show Pycnogenol may serve as a safe effective treatment children diagnosed with ADHD."

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to this link.

SOURCE: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2006;15:4

Vision 2020 is My Vision Petition

An email I received regarding the Vision 2020 is My Vision Petition. Please help circulate.

To: The Malaysian Government

VISION 2020 says:

The FIFTH challenge that we have always faced is the challenge of establishing a matured liberal and tolerant society in which Malaysians of all colours and creeds are free to practise and profess their customs, cultures and religious beliefs and yet feeling that they belong to one nation.

MY PERSONAL PLEDGE TO ACHIEVE VISION 2020:

Vision 2020 is My Vision. I am responsible to ensure Malaysia is a fully developed Nation with a First World Mindset.

Therefore,

1. I Pledge to work towards a truly united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny.
2. I Pledge to create a psychologically liberated, secure, and developed Malaysian Society, robust enough to face all manner of adversity and differences of opinion.
3. I Pledge to foster and develop a mature democratic society, practicing mature consensual, community-oriented democracy.
4. I Pledge to create a fully moral and ethical society, strong in personal religious and spiritual values and imbued with the highest of ethical standards.
5. I Pledge to be mature, liberal and respectful of all Malaysians regardless of colour and creed and I acknowledge their freedom to practise and profess their customs, cultures and religious beliefs while belonging to our nation - Malaysia.
6. I Pledge to be progressive in my thoughts and actions.
7. I Pledge to be a caring person where others will come before me, backed by a strong and resilient family system.
8. I Pledge to be fair and just towards all Malaysians regardless of Race and Religion.
9. I Pledge to contribute towards establishing a prosperous society.
10. I make this pledge in love towards all Malaysians who are my Brothers and Sisters.

SIGN THE VISION 2020 IS MY VISION PLEDGE.

The Vision 2020 is My Vision Petition to The Malaysian Government was created by IN HARMONY - A Malaysian Group for understanding religions in Malaysia and written by Pat Lu (raymapatlu@gmail.com).

I'd rather watch a winner

Fathers Day has just passed. You have already got your kisses, hugs, cards, wishes, cakes and everything you wanted on this special day. I had my share, as well. Lest you get too carried away by all the attention showered on you earlier, do remember that our children may not have spoken out but they do have their expectations from us super daddies! A little poem from Denis Waitley.

I'd rather watch a winner, than hear one any day;
So please, my loving parents let your lives show me the way.

I'm only a reflection of what you taught today I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give;

But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

So teach me by example, don't preach about what's right;

And show me by your actions everyday and night.

I know that you're not perfect, in things you do and say;

And the lectures you deliver are to help me find my way;

But I'd rather watch a winner, than hear one anyday.

Denis Waitley

Happy Fathers Day, once again.

Plan your golden years

The Sunday Star today issues a very timely reminder to us all to start planning for our retirement NOW if we have not already done so. And do it 20 years in advance!

Accordingly, our EPF savings is not dependable unless we are financially disciplined. In a recent study by the EPF, almost 69% of retirees deplete their EPF funds within the first three years of retirement. If this trend continues, the majority of our retiree population will probably have little or no money left by their fourth or fifth year into retirement.

A recipe for disaster?

Also, by the EPF, as reported in The Star on 10 May 2005; "most of the contributors withdrew about 40% of the savings while they are still working. As a result, the average savings of the contributors was about RM90,000. This leaves most of them only a monthly average of RM370 to spend until the age of 75," basing on an interest rate of 5%.

So if a couple wishes to retire comfortably in their golden years with say, about RM5,000 per month, how much must they have? According to my amateur calculations, and assuming that all debts, loans, children's education, etc. have already been taken care of - their combined EPF and other savings should be not less than RM1.2 million.

Ada kah?

I haven't got that amount YET and I get cold sweat thinking of that.

Happy Fathers Day

Being a Father myself, I feel priviledged to be able to share this motivational The Dad Movie with all the fathers and grandfathers around me.

Happy Fathers Day!

Spiderman unmasks at last!

Thanks to AFP and BBC News for spoiling Civil War #2!

"I'm proud of who I am, and I'm here right now to prove it," the legendary webslinger tells a press conference called in New York's Times Square, before pulling off his mask and standing before the massed ranks of reporters as newspaper photographer Peter Parker.

"Any questions?" Parker asks in the final panel of the issue, amid a barrage of
camera flashes.

This followed the passing of the Super-Hero Registration Act, which requires all superheroes to reveal their identities and register as "living weapons of mass destruction."

The invincible crime fighters then inevitably splitted into two bitterly opposed factions, with one camp - championed by the likes of Iron Man, Spiderman and Mr. Fantastic - in favour of the new law and the other, including Captain America and Wolverine, refusing to relinquish anonymity.

Civil War has started. Whose Side Are You On?

Happy Birthday, Kah Ming

Kah Ming turns six today. Happy Birthday from all of us; Kah Chern, Mummy and Papa.

Kongsi Raya versus faith resolution

The latest shit on this "Kongsi Raya" versus faith resolution by the 2006 Ulama Conference just goes to show how divisive religion can be made to be.

Now, enters Sam Harris. He is adamant in his belief that religion does more harm than good in the world, and has sparked controversy by suggesting that when it comes to faith-based violence, religious moderates are part of the problem, not the solution.

Beliefnet editor Laura Sheahen spoke with him about his provocative book "The End of Faith" and his comments at the World Congress of Secular Humanism, where this interview was conducted.

Full interview here.

Something to think about?

Support me and I will support you

"Support me and I will support you in return."

This is like Pak Lah sitting in front of the fire place and telling the fire, "Give me heat and I will give you the wood."

It worked 2 years ago. Now, not anymore.

Of Eagles and Chickens

Photograph taken at Bharat Tea Estate during our short trip to Cameron Highlands last week.

Doesn't it appear like two young eagles about to take off in flight? That's what we are raising our two boys to be; as EAGLES and not as the CHICKEN depicted the story as told by Jesuit Priest Anthony de Mello (1931 - 1987).

A man found an eagle's egg and put it in a nest of a barnyard hen. The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them.

All his life the eagle did what the barnyard chicks did, thinking he was a barnyard chicken. He scratched the earth for worms and insects. He clucked and cackled. And he would thrash his wings and fly a few feet into the air.

Years passed and the eagle grew very old. One day he saw a magnificent bird above him in the cloudless sky. It glided in graceful majesty among the powerful wind currents, with scarcely a beat on his strong golden wings.

The old eagle looked up in awe. "Who's that?" he asked.

"That's the eagle, the king of the birds," said his neighbour. "He belongs to the sky. We belong to the earth - we're chickens."

So the eagle lived and died a chicken, for that's what he thought he was.

Have The Answers Changed?

From Tun M to Tun M, "The premiership has changed." Yes, it certainly has but have the answers changed?

In a 75-minute interview with Bernama, Tun Musa Hitam, among others, said;

"In their opinion, times have changed, the situation has changed and it is they whodetermine what is "in the interest of national interest", so they change."

"When he first became the Prime Minister, he probably did not know then. Now he knows in depth. He says this is wrong, this is not suitable. In the national interest, this is not good. What's wrong in making changes."

The full text of the interview with Tun Musa Hitam.

Lens solution the culprit in worldwide contact lens scare

"SINGAPORE : Contact lens maker Bausch and Lomb has discovered that the cause behind the recent spate of fungal eye infections worldwide is the ReNu lens cleaning solution itself.

The findings were released at the first day of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress.

Most contact lens cleaning solutions contain just one polymer, but ReNuMoistureLoc multipurpose contact lens solution has three.

Its manufacturer, Bausch and Lomb, thought this would keep the eyes ofcontact lens users moist and comfortable, but the formula ended up trapping fungus instead of killing it.

Said Associate Professor Donald Tan, senior consultant ophthalmologist and director of the Singapore Eye Research Institute, "The disinfectant in MoistureLoc is actually very effective. The problem is when you add other things in, like the polymers, to improve comfort. The polymers are actually trapping the fungus so that the disinfectant, which is very strong, cannot get at the fungus. So it is a formulation problem."

And the fungus grows by the day with each repeated use.

Professor Tan said, "Bausch and Lomb has found that in open bottles you can get the fungus growing on the tip and on the cap of the open bottle because of the trapping of the fungus there. And what appears to be happening is that every time you add the solution onto your contact lens case, you actually add in fungus."

But doctors say users themselves must also practice good contact lenscleaning and care regimens.

Some 300 cases of fungal corneal infection have been reported across the US, Malaysia and Singapore.

In Singapore, 90 percent of the 80 patients had used the solutions from the ReNu range; three quarters of them were using ReNu MoistureLoc solution.

The Singapore Eye Research Institute has set up a special task force to study the hygiene habits of some 100 contact lens users, to look into preventing such fungal infections from recurring.

The study would include both healthy contact lens users and those who had the fungal corneal infection.

The institute is also working with microbiologists on a case control study. - CNA /ct"

Source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060609/5/singapore212830.html

Under Siege!

Some two weeks ago, 10 year old Adam, who lives a few doors away, asked Uncle Raymond what happened to our neighbourhood watch. Sadly, I didn't have any answer for him as he went on to tell me how his friends were accosted and robbed in the playground nearby. This happened in broad daylight.

I could only shake my head in embarrassment. Embarrassed not because of what happened to his friends. But to know that even 10 year olds are no longer safe in our own neighbourhood is shocking, to say the least!

I was embarrassed because I am still in the committee of the administration that is responsible for dump we are in now. Meetings are no longer held. In fact, I cannot remember when the last one was held. It is as though USJ 18 Neighbourhood Watch has lesap-ed from existence!

To all concerned residents who have been calling me, I really do not have any answer for you. I would strongly suggest that all communications be made directly to the Chairman himself.

In the meantime, please learn to be street smart because this neighbourhood is getting scarier by the day, if the recent cases below are of any indications.

• Just a few hours ago, at about 11pm, a resident of USJ 18/2A was robbed of his Toyota Altis right outside his house by two robbers (believed to be Malays). The robbers arrived in a silver or bright coloured Camry bearing registration plate number W-- 6638.
  c
• On 26 May 2006, at about 9.30pm, a resident of USJ 18/2A was also robbed of his Toyota Altis by two robbers who came in a Mercedes Kompressor! The resident lost his wallet as well.
  c
• On 29 May 2006, a house in USJ 18/2B was broken into. Strangely and fortunately, nothing was reported stolen although the owner was out the whole day.
  c
• On 1 May 2006, a man climbed over the gate of a house in USJ 18/4A. No adults were in and the man asked for the car keys from the young son who was inside the house. When the maid came out to check, the man fled.

I am not faulting anyone for the sad state of affairs we are in now. As a matter of fact, I still hold the strong opinion that the residents and committee members share a joint responsibility to keep our neighbourhood safe. Something has to be done fast. The committee has to take the lead but how do we do that without followers?

I invite all residents to re-visit our past events like the 2004 Annual Potluck Dinner and our the others, here and here. We can do it again if we want to.

Mr. Chairman, if you are reading this, please know that you are holding a postion of great responsibility.

I Wanted to Change the World

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

Authored by an unknown monk circa 1100 A.D. but greatly appreciated.

Dark soya sauce healthier than red wine: study

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Dark soya sauce, widely used in east Asia, may prove to be more effective than red wine and vitamin C in combating human cell damage, researchers in Singapore said.

Scientists found that the sauce -- derived from fermented soya beans -- contains antioxidant properties about 10 times more effective than red wine and 150 times more potent than vitamin C, Singapore's Strait Times reported on Saturday.

Antioxidants -- found in red wine, fruits and vegetables -- counter the effects of free radicals, unstable atoms which attack human cells and tissues.

Free radicals have been linked to the aging process as well as a range of ailments including Parkinson's disease, cancer and heart disease.

The National University of Singapore study also found that the sauce improved blood flow by as much as 50 percent in the hours after consumption.

"There's a preventative aspect, showing that it may potentially slow down the rate of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases," research team leader Professor Barry Halliwell said.

But he cautioned against taking large amounts of dark soya sauce because of its high salt content, which could lead to high blood pressure.

Will Today be Doomsday?

Today is 06.06.06. It would probably be just another day for many of us. But if you are a hardcore believer, today is doomsday. Have you done what needs to be done?

From The Sunday Star,

Armageddon believers claim that the sixth day of the sixth month of the new century's sixth year heralds the end of the world. The number 666 - which first occurs in the New Testament's Book of Revelation - is commonly known as the number of the beast.

• DCLXVI: Lowest six Roman numerals, in descending order, total 666.
• Life on Earth: Organic molecules are based on carbon-12, with 6 protons and 6 neutrons in the nucleus, surrounded by 6 electrons.
• Medicine: In the United States, 666 is a brand of cough syrup.
• Movies: The remake of The Omen is released today on 06.06.06.
• Good luck: In China, 666 is the luckiest number and is very popular on vehicle license plates.
• Gambling: 666 is the sum of all 36 numbers on a roulette wheel.
• Computers: Apple's first computer, the Apple I, was priced at US$666.66.
• Money: Combining each of Japan's coins yields 666 (Yen 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 1).

Will today 06.06.06 be doomsday? 24 hours to know the answer.

Malaysian World Cup Dream

Bernama, 5 June 2006
Pak Lah dreams of World Cup glory

KEPALA BATAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dreams of Malaysia playing in the World Cup football finals one day.

“But that day is not today,” he told reporters here.

Asked about his favourite team in the current World Cup line-up, he said he did not have one. “It's too early to tell,” he said. – Bernama

I, for one, believe this dream can materialise. But it will take alot of hard work and strong will, to first keep the politicians out.

Forget the Mistakes

"Do not dwell upon the sins and mistakes of yesterday so exclusively as to have no energy and mind left for living rightly today, and do not think that the sins of yesterday can prevent you from living purely today." - Byways of Blessedness

It's been said that the majority of conversations by men over 40 are about the past --- sometimes it's about the "good old days" and sometimes it's about the deals gone bad, the "if I only had" stories, the missed opportunities, etc.

Letting our "sins and mistakes of yesterday" dominate our thinking today robs us of our present joy and our future happiness. It causes us to miss the real opportunity of TODAY!

John Maxwell, in his outstanding best seller, Failing Forward, gives some great practical advice: "To move forward today, you must learn to say good-bye to yesterday's hurts, tragedies and baggage. You can't build a monument to past problems and fail forward.

"Take time right now to list the negative events from your past that may still be holding you hostage. For each item you list, go through the following exercise:

1. Acknowledge the pain.
2. Grieve the loss.
3. Forgive the person.
4. Forgive yourself.
5. Determine to release the event and move on.

"Your best days are definitely ahead of you if you treat your "mistakes" as necessary lessons to be learned. If you understand that each lesson brings with it a certain amount of wisdom, you can understand how truly enhanced your life is becoming. Many people can't achieve the success of their dreams because they won't leave their past behind. They won't tear down the monuments they've built to their old hurts and problems.

One of my all-time favorite affirmation verses comes from the Apostle Paul who said, "...but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal..."

One of the best teachings I ever heard on this was from a motivational speaker whose name has escaped me, but whose message didn't: "In life there are no mistakes, only lessons."

And that's worth thinking about.

Courtesy of James Allen eMeditation - June 5, 2006.
To subscribe, click here.

Welcome Inspector Md Yusof Jahaya

An email I received today from TH Teoh of SS14 Neighbourhood Watch, which is reproduced verbatim for the benefit of all affected Subang Jayans. TH Teoh is also my co-organiser for the coming Charity Premiere Show (see below) that will be held on 22 August 2006. Stay tuned for more details.

Dear friends

Great meeting all of you last night.

Last night, Subang Jaya ADUN Dato Lee Hwa Beng hosted a modest dinner for
representatives from the various Resident's Association, Neighbourhood Watch and Rukun Tetangga to welcome Chief Inspector Md Yusof Jahaya into the Subang Jaya community.

During the dinner, Dato Lee informed us that MPSJ through a private contractor was installing 30 CCTVs around the municipality and was planning to have another additional 70 CCTVs installed over a period of time. These cameras will be in public areas to monitor traffic and crime. They will be monitored jointly by the police in both Subang Jaya and USJ and MPSJ.

He also announced that a Charity Premiere Show will be organised on Aug 22 to raise funds for purchasing 2 Kembaras and 4 motorcycles, to be handed over to both the Subang Jaya and USJ police station for patrols in the area. More details of this will follow next week on this.

Chief Inspector Yusof during his speech pledged that he would continue the good work his predecessors had set in the past and build a good partnership with the community. He revealed that at present there was an average of 3 crimes being committed daily, to which he hopes to reduce with his team.

Have a good weekend ahead.


SS14/7 Neighbourhood Watch
Subang Jaya
Email: ss14nwatch@gmail.com
Website: http://www.ss14nwatch.org/

Inspector Md Yusof Jahaya is seated on the left.

IPCMC & BN Youth

Don't hold the government to ransom! This is the message from the Youth wings of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to the police. The caution followed the police's rebellion to the proposal to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai who also demanded an apology from the police: "It is wrong for government officers to do this, they should respect the government of the day. They are enforcement officers who must implement policies set by the government, don't even think about this kind of threat."

MIC Youth SA Vigneswaran said the threats from the police suggested the need for the IPCMC: "From someone who supported the police and their opposition to the IPCMC, the latest step taken by the police actually made me speechless and disappointed. Nobody should hold the government to ransom."

Gerakan Youth chief Mah Siew Keong: "We cannot tolerate such statements and threats by police officers. We appreciate the contribution made by the police and the difficulties and challenges they have to go through. However, the police force should not impose any threat on public safety despite their stand to object the proposal on the setting up of IPCMC. Public interest and national security should be upheld in order to maintain public confidence and accountability of the police force."

Umno Youth, where art thou? You are not going to turn around tomorrow and hentam the other wings, are you?

Silent Diabetes Still a Problem

More on the diabetes 'time bomb' via Ivanhoe Newswire;

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Even though the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has climbed over the last two decades, the number of people unaware they have the disease remains the same, reveals a new study from government
researchers.

Statistics from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal the number of Americans older than age 20 with diabetes has jumped from 5.1 percent to 6.5 percent since 1988, but about a third of those with the condition have been consistently unaware.

Diabetes is the most common cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputations in adults and is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 95 percent of all cases.

Analysis also revealed diabetes is twice as common in blacks as whites. Twenty-two percent of American seniors have diabetes, and 40 percent have a form of pre
diabetes.

"It's very important to know if you have pre-diabetes or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes," says Larry Blonde, M.D., chairman of the National Diabetes Education Program, which is sponsored jointly by the NIH and CDC.

"You should talk to your health care professional about your risk. If your blood glucose is high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, losing weight and increasing physical activity will greatly lower your risk of getting type two diabetes. If you have diabetes, controlling your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol will prevent or delay the complications of diabetes," states Dr. Blonde.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week.

To subscribe, go to http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, 2006;29:1263-1268

Be Street Smart

A thief looks at two houses on a street -- both are large and well kept, so he is assuming there are great steals in both houses. Both are empty -- all the neighbors are at a block party down at the end of the street. Both houses are exactly the same -- except that the house on the right is brightly lit, and the house on the left isn't. Which house do you think this thief is going to go for?

Same thing for muggers. Do you think a mugger is going to go after someone walking confidently, paying attention to her surroundings, aware of where she is going? Maybe, but he'd more likely go for the person shuffling along; wearing heels so high they're hard to walk in, let alone run in; distracted on a cell phone; scanning a map worriedly.

Call it awareness; call it survival skills; call it being street smart.

Whatever you call it -- have it and save yourself loads of trouble!