MY BIRTH COUNTRY

 Sarawak is most definitely a wonderful and exciting holiday destination.There are currently about 30 different ethnic groups here.However,one is able to distinguish one from the other because each has carefully preserved their cultural identity,traditional custom and rituals.Their friendliness,warmth and hospitality unite them all.Communication is not a problem when visiting Sarawak as English is widely spoken there.Visiting a longhouse is a must.One will get to see their unique way of life.Three main areas for longhouse visits are Skrang,Lemanak,Batang Ai and middle Rejang rivers,the Bario Highlands and around Kuching.While on such visits,you will be able to observe and join in their daily chores.You will also be entertained by performers.Visitors should observe good manners here too.

HOW ICT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN GETTING AID TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Modern communications networks are being used extensively to help victims of the earthquake-generated tsunami.Donation drives via SMS initiated in Malaysia have seen hundreds of thousands of ringgit pour in from local cellphone users.eBay Malaysia has set up a Tsunami Disaster Relief page on its website that provides links to Websites of other organisations conducting relief efforts.Donors can donate online via credit card to organisations of their choice.They can also donate by trading online using an online auction feature that turns donations in-kind into cash.Donors can buy and sell items,with the proceeds from the transactions going to the organisations they choose.Local auction site,Lelong.com.my allows Internat users to auction off items and donate the proceeds.

FAMILY SPIRIT RUNS HIGH IN ANNUAL EVENT

They came with strollers,on wheelchairs and on superbikes.There were group of inline skaters,too.Formany,theSubang Jaya 10km Run has become a”familyevent”.I am a regular participant of road races.However,it was the first time that my wife took part in the Run.In fact, my wife ,who had trained for the race,was excited that she managed to complete the distance.

HOW HANS ISAAC FEELS ABOUT HIS AUDIENCE

Hans Isaac advises viewers that stories on television series are all just make believe.However,Hans is pleased that TV viewers recognize his performance.He knows that the next time he plays a good guy,people will like him.His philosophy is to be honest.He believes in confronting things head on.But before making any decision,however,Hans believes that one must always weigh the interest of other as well.Hans takes his acting roles seriously,and he has four new movies lined up this year.He is sporting a slight beard for a role in a new film called “BuliBalik”, a role for which he lost some weight.He gives his very best when making films.He was hospitalized for exhaustion and dehydration during a making of one movie.

WAITRESS

Working as a waitress,the then 23-year-old.Farah went to catch a bus straight for home when a motorcycle lost control and slammed into her.She found out she would have to spend the rest of her life in bed.However,now she owns and runs a resort called Rose Lovely which is fully disabled friendly.However,the road to Rose Lovely was never easy in coming.She isolated herself from all her loved ones and friends due to self-pity and regret.After years of denial and depression,being in contact with specialists,psychologists and physiotherapists gave her back her motivation.Even a female radio deejay encouraged her to mix and meet with people.Talking to disabled friends and discovering how they personally coped with their problems also helped here.

MY FRIENDS

I am a seventeen-years-old.Recently,my family moved to a new town and I had to go to a new school too.I miss my old friends so much especially my best friend.My classmates now are friendly but I feel like I do not belong here.My parent said that I will soon get used to it and things will be fine.Finally,I have many new friend.My friend is very lovely and happy go lucky.

CHRISTMAS DAY

The Christmas tree has long been a symbol of the Christmas spirit.It was previously a symbol used to ward off witchcraft, evil spirits and ghosts.It was also used to signal the winter solstice and that spring is approaching.The tree tradition however started in Germany in the 16^thcentury.This practice was further popularized in 1846 in England by Queen Victoria and her family.They were featured in the ‘’London News” standing around a Christmas tree.Soon the trend reached American soil especially in the east coast.Tree decoration were originally home madeornament.This has recently changed to more commercialized ornaments and even the trees are plastic.Most of them are manufactured in China.There is also a virtual Christmas tree farm on the Internet nowadays.

BULLY

Kudos to the Education Ministry for taking efforts to combat bullying among students to ensure schools in the country are safe places for our children to stdy and play. Some school heads and teachers do cover up bullying cases rather than find solutions to combat the problem.This act is not only cowardly and foolish but also selfish.Furthermore,covering up bullying case will only aggravate the problem.If this behaviour continues,schools will no longer be safe for our children to stdyin,socialize and play.Schools are places for children to be educated and not chambers of horror where they become targets for bullies to pick on.

EFFECTS OF STRESS

Chronic stress can cause a wide range of medical consequances.Studies have found a link between chronic stress and a higher risk of heart attack,high blood pressure and insomnia.Stress is also associated with intense hot flushes,depression,excessive anger and hostility.Woman who were more  stressed judging from subjective ratings of stress and by the duration of their care-giving had cells which showed signs of premature aging.Their telomeres, were shriveling up faster than normal.A cell cannot divide once the telomeres get too short.The longer they took care of a sick child,the shorter were the telomeres.Furthermore,women who were more stressed had lower levels of the enzyme which restores the telomere length.