GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Who built the Great Wall? There are many answers. Some say Emperor Qin Shihuang. Some say ordinary working people of ancient China, and some say that it was slaves who built the wall. This is not an easy question to answer, just like the wall was not easy to build.

Experts have given us the most credible answer. As early as the Warring States Periods (476 BC - 221 BC), the ruling powers began to build walls as a defense against the northern nomadic tribes and other potential enemies. The state of Chu (11th Century BC-223BC) was the first to build a wall, followed by the Qi, Yan, Wei, Zhao and Qin. After Emperor Qin Shihuang unified the six states, he ordered General Meng Tian to connect the existing walls and to extend them further as a front line defense against possible invasion. Thus the Great Wall of China was formed. It extended from Lintao (present Lintao County in Dingxi City in Gansu Province) in the west and ended at Liaodong (present the eastern and southern parts of Liaoning Province) in the east. It was called "Wan Li Chang Cheng" (The Long Wall of 10,000 Li).

Three groups of people built the wall. They were soldiers, common people and criminals. Many people died during its construction, due to the heavy work, short time limit and tough condition. An accurate number of those who died is unknown.

During subsequent dynasties, the wall was extended, repaired or modified. The section of wall built in Han Dynasty (206BC-220) is the longest. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the wall was substantially repaired on more than twenty occasions. Today, the best known and most visited sections of the wall are at Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Jinshanling and these were built in the Ming Dynasty. They were all built to protect the people and territories south of the wall from a continued threat of invasion by the northern nomadic tribes.

Kewajaran satu aliran

Utusan Malaysia 20 mac 2001

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Oleh:AZMAN ANUAR (WARTAWAN UTUSAN)

BANTAHAN tiga daripada parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) iaitu MCA, MIC dan Gerakan terhadap cadangan sekolah satu aliran memperlihatkan mentaliti perkauman di negara ini.

Dalam perspektif lain, Perdana Menteri menyatakan bahawa sistem pendidikan satu aliran sebenarnya telah pun diamalkan tetapi kebanyakan daripada kita tidak faham peranan sistem sekolah kebangsaan.

Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad menjelaskan, semasa kerajaan membentuk sistem sekolah kebangsaan dahulu, sekolah-sekolah aliran Cina dan Tamil sudah pun ada. Kerajaan memberi bantuan kepada sekolah aliran tersebut dengan harapan pada akhirnya murid-murid dari sekolah itu kelak menyertai sekolah kebangsaan.

Tetapi sehingga kini nampaknya orang Cina dan India tidak berminat menghantar anak mereka ke sekolah kebangsaan kerana suasananya kurang menarik serta bimbang anak-anak mereka terpengaruh dengan adat resam orang Melayu dan Islam. Sikap dan fahaman agama yang terlalu kuat juga menakutkan bukan Melayu terhadap sekolah kebangsaan. Lalu apa yang berlaku dalam sistem persekolahan sekarang adalah faktor sikap perkauman yang masih menebal di kalangan masyarakat.

Sebab itu bagi parti-parti tersebut, antara isu pergaduhan di Jalan Klang Lama dengan isu sekolah satu aliran adalah berbeza. Malah Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu menganggap sistem pendidikan yang membenarkan kewujudan sekolah yang berbeza-beza aliran berdasarkan kaum yang sedia ada sudah dapat memenuhi hasrat semua kaum.

Ketika sebahagian orang Melayu nampaknya bersetuju diwujudkan sekolah satu aliran, Gerakan pula mengingatkan Menteri Pendidikan, Tan Sri Musa Mohamad supaya tidak termakan dengan cara pemikiran Menteri Kanan Singapura, Lee Kuan Yew mengenai kelemahan sistem pendidikan negara untuk menjamin perpaduan antara kaum. Tetapi mereka lupa bahawa Lee Kuan Yew adalah seorang Cina, dan beliau melihat ada halangan dalam usaha kerajaan memupuk perpaduan kaum.

Nada dan reaksi pemimpin parti yang mewakili masyarakat Cina dan India ini nampaknya lebih menjurus kepada sikap perkauman dan bukan untuk membina satu bangsa Malaysia yang dilaung-laungkan oleh mereka sendiri.

Sekiranya reaksi mereka dijadikan landasan, maka tersangat jelas bahawa mereka sebagai pemimpin turut memainkan peranan yang besar dalam menguat dan memperkukuhkan lagi syak wasangka antara kaum di negara ini.

Bukan itu sahaja, dengan mempersoal dan mempertikai cadangan sekolah satu aliran, para pemimpin politik yang mewakili kedua-dua kaum itu meragui keikhlasan dan kejujuran kerajaan untuk mewujudkan perpaduan kaum sedangkan mereka juga turut menjadi anggota pentingnya.

Atau mungkinkah bantahan yang dikemukakan sebenarnya hanya untuk menjaga kedudukan mereka sebagai pemimpin politik masyarakat masing-masing? Kita harap tidak.

Selagi para pemimpin kaum terus bersikap mementingkan kaum demi masa depan dan populariti politik masing-masing, selagi itulah usaha perpaduan kaum hanya bersifat kosmetik.

Sesungguhnya, mana-mana negara pun mahu menyatupadukan rakyatnya, kerana perpaduan adalah asas bagi menjamin kestabilan sosial, ekonomi dan politik.

Untuk ini, sistem pendidikan negara perlu dimanfaatkan untuk mencorak masa depan bagi melahirkan masyarakat berbilang kaum yang bersatu padu.

Sekolah satu aliran tidak akan membawa apa-apa masalah dan tidak mungkin mendatangkan akibat yang negatif, sebaliknya dari satu sudut ia akan membantu mewujudkan hubungan harmoni antara kaum.

Mereka yang menentang cadangan sekolah satu aliran ini adalah mereka yang tidak mengutamakan cita-cita dan rakyat Malaysia untuk membentuk sebuah negara yang bersatu padu.

Berdasarkan pengalaman pada masa-masa lalu, isu dalam sistem pendidikan yang melibatkan kaum amat sensitif. Pada tahun-tahun 80-an kuasa Menteri Pendidikan yang membenarkannya memansuhkan Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (SRJK) Cina ataupun Tamil sudah dihapuskan.

Kes sekolah SRJK di Damansara pula menggambarkan suasana tidak harmoni dalam hubungan antara kaum apabila segelintir ibu bapa menentang usaha pihak Kementerian Pendidikan hendak memindah murid ke sekolah yang baru.

Sebelum ini pun terdapat pihak yang menentang dan membantah penubuhan Sekolah Wawasan dan meminta pihak kerajaan menarik balik cadangan membina sekolah itu di Subang Jaya, Selangor dan Johor Jaya, Johor.

Alasan mereka menolak Sekolah Wawasan kerana bimbang penggunaan bahasa Cina akan dihapuskan manakala sekolah itu juga dilihat tidak boleh menyatupadukan kaum.

Memang jelas semua kaum hidup dalam suasana harmoni tetapi itu di permukaan sahaja, sedangkan hakikat sebenar ialah wujud perasaan tidak puas hati dan curiga-mencurigai.

Sebab itulah pentingnya, seperti yang dicadangkan oleh ahli akademik dan tokoh pendidikan negara supaya Kementerian Pendidikan mewujudkan sekolah satu aliran. Matlamat atau agendanya adalah satu iaitu perpaduan kaum.

Menurut tokoh pendidik, Tan Sri Ainuddin Wahid, sekolah satu aliran sepatutnya dilaksanakan sebelum merdeka lagi seperti yang dicadangkan 48 tahun lalu oleh Allahyarham Aminuddin Baki yang menjadi Penasihat Pelajaran Negara.

Ainuddin menjelaskan, cadangan Aminuddin itu kerana beliau telah menjangkakan masalah perkauman pasti akan timbul di kemudian hari berikutan setiap kaum mendapat pendidikan di sekolah yang berlainan.

``Jangkaan beliau itu betul dan kita lihat apa yang berlaku sekarang. Jika kita bertegas dari dulu dan semua kaum sanggup berkorban untuk belajar di satu sekolah mungkin soal permusuhan antara kaum tidak terjadi,'' katanya.

Ada pemerhati berpendapat bahawa konsep Sekolah Wawasan yang dicadangkan sebenarnya bukan jawapan kepada keharmonian kaum. Jaminan bahawa kerajaan tidak akan memaksa mana-mana sekolah menerima Sekolah Wawasan, tidak akan menghapuskan identiti dan bahasa Cina atau Tamil dan tidak akan menutup sekolah kedua-dua aliran itu apabila konsep Sekolah Wawasan dilaksanakan, belum tentu dapat memastikan perpaduan kaum akan terjalin di kalangan semua murid.

Ini kerana dalam konsep tersebut, pengasingan murid antara kaum mengikut aliran jenis sekolah masih berlaku. Mereka hanya berkongsi padang dan kemudahan dalam satu kawasan sekolah, sedangkan sistem pendidikannya masih kekal mengikut aliran masing-masing misalnya Melayu, Cina dan India.

Perpaduan kaum tidak mampu dicapai hanya di padang sekolah. Tidak munasabah jika hanya dengan bermain bola sepak atau hoki di padang, perpaduan dapat dicapai.

Di samping itu apabila Sekolah Wawasan ditubuhkan maka sekolah aliran Cina dan Tamil pula perlu dilayan sama rata dengan sekolah aliran kebangsaan. Jika ia tidak dilayan, maka akan timbul prasangka terhadap satu sama lain.

Untuk membuang sikap yang sudah berakar umbi selama tujuh tahun sebelum memasuki sekolah bukanlah satu tugas yang mudah. Tetapi untuk hidup bersama dalam sebuah negara dan akhirnya membina diri menjadi satu bangsa yang tidak lagi dikenali mengikut kumpulan kaum, masyarakat negara ini tidak dapat tidak perlu mengurangkan sikap prasangka, kalaupun tidak menghapuskannya sama sekali.

Inilah yang hendak dicapai melalui konsep sekolah satu aliran. Sekolah ialah tempat terbaik untuk memulakan hubungan integrasi. Apabila kanak-kanak sudah terdedah dan biasa dengan pergaulan antara berbilang kaum di sekolah, mereka tidak lagi mengalami kejutan apabila memasuki alam pekerjaan dan bermasyarakat.

Dalam kehidupan realiti kita sekarang, pergaulan antara kaum hanya terjadi dalam keadaan luaran dan tidak mendalam.

Tembok perkauman mesti diruntuhkan untuk memberi laluan kepada kehidupan satu bangsa Malaysia yang lebih harmoni. Tempat terbaik untuk memulakan usaha mencambah rasa harmoni ini ialah melalui sekolah satu aliran baik di peringkat sekolah rendah mahupun sekolah menengah.

Kementerian Pendidikan kini giat merancang dan melaksanakan Sekolah Wawasan. Kerajaan tidak mempunyai sebarang agenda untuk menghapuskan ciri-ciri sekolah vernakular dalam pelaksanaan Sekolah Wawasan melainkan mahu mengelakkan prejudis kaum di kalangan golongan muda negara pada masa depan.

Dalam hal ini, kena pada masanya pihak kementerian memikirkan pula penyesuaian Sekolah Wawasan menerapkan konsep sekolah satu aliran.

Kaedahnya tidak berbeza dengan agenda Sekolah Wawasan iaitu bagi menangani perasaan syak wasangka antara kaum daripada merebak dan berbahaya kepada perpaduan negara.

Kejayaan negara kita banyak bergantung kepada perpaduan dan kerjasama antara kaum yang dapat diwujudkan berasaskan perasaan muhibah dalam kehidupan seharian.

Kita sedar keperluan dan kepentingan Sekolah Wawasan, tetapi ada baiknya jika dikaji juga penubuhan sekolah satu aliran. Hubungan rapuh antara kaum akibat suasana sosial, ekonomi dan politik yang tidak begitu baik boleh menjadi satu bom jangka yang berbahaya.

LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTION (3)

i) Say " Thank you " a lot

ii) Say " Please ' a lot

(iii) Learn to play a musical instrument

(iv) Plant flowers

(v) Own a great stereo system

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BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR SIGN LANGUAGE

Profile of William C. Stokoe, Jr.

By Jamie Berke, About.com

Updated December 07, 2008

Sponsored Links

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American Sign Language (ASL) might not have the respect that it does today, if not for the work of William C. Stokoe, Jr. (1919-2000).

Sign Language Before Stokoe:

Before Stokoe began his work, sign language was not seen as a real language. Instead, it was seen as a collection of meaningless gestures or pantomime. This viewpoint was preventing sign language from gaining respect and from being used in education of deaf children. (Ironically, the book Deaf Heritage points out that Stokoe himself did not sign well at the time). The lack of respect for sign language was really limiting its use at the time. Stokoe himself estimated that the number of American and Canadian users of ASL was only 200,000 to 400,000 people.

Stokoe Arrives at Gallaudet College :

In 1955, Stokoe, who had both a bachelor’s and a Ph.D. degree in English, arrived at Gallaudet College (now University) to chair the English department. He became interested in ASL and set out to prove it was a real language. In 1957, Stokoe and two assistants (Carl Croneberg and Dorothy Casterline) began to film people using sign language. Studying the filmed sign language, Stokoe and his team identified the elements of a real language being used. The results of their research were published in 1960 in a research monograph, "Sign Language Structure."

Stokoe Continues Research :

The sign language research continued, and in 1965, his team published the book A Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles. Although Sign Language Structure came out first, the dictionary was the book that grabbed people's attention and sparked a growing interest in the linguistics of ASL.

Stokoe's Point of View:

Stokoe's argument was simple. He said ASL is both a native and a natural language. Native means that it is the first language learned (for children born into environments supporting sign language). Natural means that it is a language used everyday. Stokoe's work demonstrated that sign language IS a language, and today ASL is recognized as a language. This has led to an increase in its use.

Stokoe's Research and Publishing Career :

In 1971, Stokoe set up a Linguistic Research Laboratory at Gallaudet. In 1972, he founded the international sign language journal Sign Language Studies, which is today published by Gallaudet University Press. He also owned Linstok Press, which published books on sign language.

Honoring Stokoe:

In 1980, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) published Sign Language and the Deaf Community: Essays in Honor of William C. Stokoe. The NAD also established the William C. Stokoe Scholarship Fund to encourage sign language research. Sign Language Studies honored Stokoe with Sign Language Studies 1.4, Summer 2001, a Stokoe retrospective reprinting five articles and an editorial by Stokoe, including: "The Study and Use of Sign Language," and "Sign Language versus Spoken Language." Also, Stokoe was a Professor Emeritus at Gallaudet University. And in 1988, he received an honorary doctorate from Gallaudet.

Books By and About Stokoe :

The last book Stokoe worked on was Language in Hand: Why Sign Came Before Speech. , published post-humously by Gallaudet University Press. In this book, Stokoe indicates that speech is not necessary for language. Another Gallaudet University Press book, Seeing Language in Sign: The Work of William C. Stokoe , is a biography that details his often testy relationship with administrators at Gallaudet.

_Sources:

_{Gannon, Jack R. ,Deaf Heritage, National Association of the Deaf, 1981. pp. 365-367.}

_{William C. Stokoe, page on Gallaudet University Press site.}

SEMPENA HARIJADI KE59

Segala puji bagi Allah Tuhan seluruh alam. Salawat dan salam untuk Junjungan Besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Hari ini 27 Okt 2009 ulang tahun kelahiranku yang ke 59 tahun. Sepanjang tempoh 59 tahun itu aku lalui tanpa sebarang dugaan yang kuat dari Allah. Aku pohon semoga Allah swt permudahkan segala urusanku baik dunia mahu pun akhirat berlangsung dengan penuh rasa kasih sayang Nya jua hingga akhir hayat.

Biar semasa kedua Almarhum Ayahnda dan Almarhumah Bonda masih ada sehingga wafat keduanya, adik-beradikku yang 6 orang, isteri dan anak-anak yang 4 orang, semuanya lancar dilalui dengan izinNya jua.

Persekolahanku setakat SPM di SMK Kampong Baru, Bukit Mertajam (SMKKB). Ada yang kata SMKKB tu ialah sekolah menengah kebangsaan kubang babi dan sekolah menengah kebangsaan karat besi. Ada asasnya. Pertama nya sekolah ini didirikan di kawasan penempatan kaum Tionghua yang tradisinya penuh dengan aktiviti pemeliharaan babi dan babi-babi dilepas berkeliaran bebas di sekelilingnya. Aku adalah diantara murid yang bertugas menimbus kubang-kubang babi yang penuh bertaburan di sekitar padang dan sekitaran sekolah. Azab juga lah.

Keduanya warna seluar dan gaun uniform pula dipilih warna coklat yang seakan-akan sama dengan warna karat besi. Tapi aku puji semua guru-gurunya yang bersemangat tinggi untuk membuktikan bahawa sekolah menengah aliran Melayu juga setanding dengan sekolah lain-lain aliran seperti BM High School, Jit Sin atau pun Convent, yang suatu hari nanti akan melahirkan pemimpin-pemimpin berwibawa. YB Dato Haji Mohd Shariff Omar, mantan Timbalan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang adalah seorang darinya .

Aku kemudiannya berpindah ke Kuala Lumpur mengikuti ayah yang menjadi penjaja kaki-lima di Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Aku mengambil kelas lanjutan di Sekolah Menengah Jalan Storney Kg baru KL. di peringkat STP melalui kelas malam.

Aku mulai kerjaya ku dengan menjawat jawatan kerani persekutuan pada tahun 1970 bertempat di Kementerian Pelajaran di Rumah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur. Lima tahun kemudian aku di naik pangkat sebagai Pegawai Kerja ( Executive Officer ) dan di tempatkan di Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam, Bangunan UMBC Tingkat 14 bersama-sama rakan-rakan yang lain di Bahagian Latihan dan Kerjaya.

Dua Tahun kemudian aku mendapat peluang bertugas diluar negeri iaitu di jJbatan Penuntut-Penuntut Malaysia, Wellington New Zealand iaitu sekitar tahun 1979. Aku disana selama 3 tahun. Di New Zealand aku dan isteri mendapat kurniann Allah yang sangat-sangat kami nanti iaitu cahaya mata. Dua orang anak kami lahir disana iaitu Akmal pada tahun 1979 diikuti Aswadi pada tahun 1980. Rohayati dan Ariff lahir di KL. Rohayati also made in New Zealand but deliver in Malaysia.

Aku terperanjat bila seorang anak buah aku menjelaskan bahawa AKMAL itu maksudnya : Anak Kerajaan Malaysia. Tapi sebenarnya kami bersyukur dapat jadi rakyat Malaysia. Aku rasa semua orang bangga dapat jadi rakyat Malaysia. Ramai orang asing pun berebut-rebut nak jadi rakyat Malaysia. Samaada cara halal atau pun cara haram.

Selepas 3 tahun di New Zealand, aku balik ke Malaysia dan di tempatkan Di Pusat Rekod JPA, bangunan WismaPKNS Jalan Raja Laut.

Tahun 1984 aku masuk berkhidmat dengan Wisma Putra. Penempatan aku yang pertama di Wisma Putra ialah di Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. Ambassador pertama yang aku bertugas ialah YBhg Dato' Kamaruddin Abu. Sebulan kemudian di gantikan oleh Ambassador B. Rajaram.

Lain padang lain belalang. Lain airport lain kapalterbang. Pepatah yang selalu aku gunakan semasa bergurau dengan kawan-kawan. Ialah. PNG is land of unexpected , unpredictable also. Macam-macam pengalaman aku dapat temui. Tribal clashes, wife bashing, student riots, mixing with diplomatic community, pergaulan dengan Muslim Community , kena baling batu semasa memandu dan sebagainya. Macam cerita zaman jahilliah sebelum kedatangan nabi Muhammad saw di Tanah Arab. Aku juga berpeluang melawat ke Port Vila di Vanuatu semasa mengiringi TYT Duta Besar menyampai watikah surat Tauliah Perlantikan kepada Governor Vanuatu.

Dari Panua New Guinea aku bertukar pula ke Pulau Temasik ( Sinagpura laa tu ). Lama aku di sana. Mula-mula sampai , aku melapor diri kepada Ambassador K.T. Ratnam. Selepas itu Dato' Zainal Mokhtar. Diikuti dengan Ambassador Datuk Emam Mohd Haniff dan akhir sekali Ambassador Dato' Salim Hashim.

Puas rasanya tinggal di Singapura. Semasa aku masih lagi belum dewasa, semasa perpisahan Singapura dari Malaysia tahun 1965 , aku sangat kesal, kerana Singapura telah menjadi sebuah negeri asing. Aku belum lagi sampai ke Singapura. Hendak ke Singapura mesti guna passport. Aku pula orang susah. Boleh kah aku menjejaki kaki ke Singapura yang asalnya tanah airku. Kini menjadi negeri orang. Kerenah politik belaka.

Rasa syukur yang amat sangat kepada Ilahi, dengan kurniaNya aku berada di Singapura dari tahun 1990 hingga tahun 1997. Lama kan? Pecah rekod. Setiap hujung pasir yang ada di Singapura tu aku dah sampai. Lagi sekali Alhamdulillah.

Selepas berkhidmat di Singapura, aku balik ke Wisma Putra selama 1 tahun sebelum dihantar pula ke Pulau Serendib. Dimana Serendib ni??.....Sri Lanka yang dulunya zaman British diberi nama Ceylon. Serendib di pakai semasa zaman Ibn Battuta dan Admiral Cheng Ho.

Aku di Sri Lanka dari tahun 1999 hingga Julai 2002. Colombo nama ibu negerinya. Colombo sebuah kota yang cantik. Macam pulau Pinang. tepian laut India. Angin segar dan bersih bertiup tanpa henti. Galle Face, Nigombo, Kandy, Nuara Elya, Dehiwala, Matarra, Maharagama, Kote adalah nama-nama yang masih segar dalam ingatan. Pengalaman pertama berdepan dengan serangan LTTE ku alami seminggu selepas sampai. Yang terbunuh ialah Thiruchelvam seorang ahli kabinet keturunan India. Aku dapat melihat segala ceraian daging manusia bertaburan disekitar tempat kejadian. Taburan daging itu semuanya berakhir sebagai makan burung gagak yang sangat banyak dan lapar.

Tiga tahun kemudian aku dihantar pula ke Washington DC. Macam mimpi. Aku dah sampai di bumi Amerika pulak. Aku budak kampong. Ulu pula tu. Kampong Juru, Bukit Mertajam. Ramai kanak-kanak disitu mengalami sakit cacing dalam perut. Sekali lagi Alhamdulillah. Bertuah rasanya diri ini. Aku dapat menundukkan dahi aku sujud kepada Allah yang Maha Kuasa di Bumi Amerika pula. Tuah ayam nampak di kaki.

Kedutaan ini mempunyai perjawatan yang besar. Duta Besarnya memang terkenal dengan workholicnya. Jabatan-jabatan yang ada disini selain Wisma Putra ialah JPM, MNDEF, MITI, MSD, MRCP, MPOB, PETRONAS dan MARA. Pejabat UN pula di New York. 4 tahun aku di DC. Dapat juga aku rasai bagaimana salji jatuh atas kepala ni. Pengalaman memandu kereta dalam sajli. Main luncur salji. Dapat juga aku melawat ke Kanada dan paling ku hargai ialah peluang melawat ke Niagara Falls. Lawatan pertama kesitu ialah dengan memandu kereta nasional Proton Wira 1.6XL. The only proton car in US during my time. Rasanya setanding dengan kereta yang lain. Kemudiannya aku singgah sekali semasa aku Yati dan Ariff membuat lawatan ke Kanada.

Bersara dari perkhidmatan pada Oktober 2006 Ramadan 1427 Hijrah. Semasa hari-hari terakhir aku di DC, aku mendapat Duta Besar yang baru. Seorang iron lady. Nyaris-nyaris aku sambung lagi perkhidmatan selepas bersara di US. Duta Besar enggan melepas aku untuk bersara dengan alasan banyak lagi kerja-kerja aku yang belum selesai. Pada pendapat aku semua kerja tidak akan habis-habis hingga kita mati. Selesai satu tugas, kita akan berdepan dengan tugas yang lain pulak. Sebab itulah, awal-awal lagi aku dah katakan: lain padang lain belalang.

Dalam kotak fikir ku ni, aku membayangkan suasana selepas bersara, dimana aku akan tinggal di Taman Ehsan Kepong Selangor dan meneruskan aktiviti kemasayarakatn dengan masyarakat disekeliling aku di Taman Ehsan. Walau pun aku sentiasa di luar negeri, aku tetap anggota masyarakat di situ.

Tapi takdir Allah siapa yang yang tahu. Tuah burung nampak dikaki. Aku tak jadi duduk di Taman Ehsan. Aku melangkah kaki pula ke Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang. My the other half bertukar tempat kerja ke Kuching. Aku pun ikut saja sebagai spause pula. Cari pengalaman baru. Belum pernah lagi aku jejak kaki ke Kuching. Kami sampai sini tahun 2007 dan jangkaan akan berada di sini lagi 2 tahun.

Di Kuching banyak tabuan. Ada Tabuan Jaya, Tabuan Melayu, Tabuan Lalang, Tabuan Cina, Tabuan Hulu, Tabuan Dayak, Tabuan Laru dan Tabuan Dusun. Aku tinggal menyewa rumah di Penempatan Taman Tabuan Dusun. Suasananya aman dan tiada bising. Pesawat yang turun ke Kuching International Aairport dapat dilihat dari rumah aku. Kata kawan aku Haji Yazid, "hang jangan cari tebuan tanah sudahlah. Kena sengat hang mampoih".

Setakat inilah dulu coretan untuk kali ini. Insha Allah ilham akan menjelma lagi. Salam dari Kuching.

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LIFE"S LITTLE INSTRUCTION (2)

(1) Compliment 3 people every day

(2) Watch a sunrise at least once a year

(3) Remember other people's birthday

(4) Have a firm handshake

(5) Look people in the eye

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AYAT KURSI

1. Ayat ini diturunkan setelah hijrah. Semasa penurunannya ia telah diiringi oleh beribu-ribu malaikat kerana kehebatan dan kemuliaannya.

2. Syaitan dan iblis juga menjadi gempar kerana adanya satu perintang dalam perjuangan mereka.

3. Rasullah S.A.W. dengan segera memerintahkan Zaid b. Sabit menulis serta menyebarkannya.
Sesiapa yang membaca ayat Kursi dengan khusyuk setiap kali selepas solat fardhu, setiap pagi dan petang, setiap kali keluar masuk rumah atau hendak musafir, InsyaAllah akan terpeliharalah dirinya dari godaan syaitan, kejahatan manusia, binatang buas yang akan memudaratkan dirinya bahkan keluarga, anak-anak, harta bendanya juga akan terpelihara dengan izin Allah S.W.T.

4. Mengikut keterangan dari kitab"Asraarul Mufidah" sesiapa mengamalkan membacanya setiap hari sebanyak 18 kali maka akan dibukakan dadanya dengan berbagai hikmah, dimurahkan rezekinya, dinaikkan darjatnya dan diberikannya pengaruh sehingga semua orang akan menghormatinya serta terpelihara ia dari segala bencana dengan izin Allah.

5. Syeikh Abu Abbas ada menerangkan, siapa yang membacanya sebanyak 50 kali lalu ditiupkannya pada air hujan kemudian diminumnya, InsyaAllah, Allah akan mencerdaskan akal fikirannya serta memudahkannya menerima ilmu pengetahuan.

6. Untuk amalan kita semua.....:- Fadhilat Ayat Al-Kursi mengikut Hadis-Hadis Rasullullah S.A.W. bersabda bermaksud: "Sesiapa pulang ke rumahnya serta membaca ayat Kursi, Allah hilangkan segala kefakiran di depan matanya.",

7. Sabda baginda lagi; "Umatku yang membaca ayat Kursi 12 kali pada pagi Jumaat, kemudian berwuduk dan sembahyang sunat dua rakaat, Allah memeliharanya daripada kejahatan syaitan dan kejahatan pembesar."

8. Orang yang selalu membaca ayat Kursi dicintai dan dipelihara Allah sebagaimana DIA memelihara Nabi Muhammad.

9. Mereka yang beramal dengan bacaan ayat Kursi akan mendapat pertolongan serta perlindungan Allah daripada gangguan serta hasutan syaitan.

10. Pengamal ayat Kursi juga, dengan izin Allah, akan terhindar daripada pencerobohan pencuri. Ayat Kursi menjadi benteng yang kuat menyekat pencuri daripada memasuki rumah.

11. Mengamalkan bacaan ayat Kursi juga akan memberikan keselamatan ketika dalam perjalanannya.

12. Ayat Kursi yang dibaca dengan penuh khusyuk, Insya-Allah, boleh menyebabkan syaitan dan jin terbakar.

13. Jika anda berpindah ke rumah baru maka pada malam pertama anda menduduki rumah itu eloklah anda membaca ayat Kursi 100 kali, insya-Allah mudah-mudahan anda sekeluarga terhindar daripada gangguan lahir dan batin.

15. Barang siapa membaca ayat Al-Kursi apabila berbaring di tempat tidurnya, Allah mewakilkan 2 orang Malaikat memeliharanya hingga subuh.

16. Barang siapa membaca ayat Al-Kursi di akhir setiap solat Fardhu, ia akan berada dalam lindungan Allah hingga solat yang lain.

17. Barang siapa membaca ayat Al-Kursi di akhir tiap solat , tidak menegah akan dia daripada masuk syurga kecuali maut, dan barang siapa membacanya ketika hendak tidur, Allah memelihara akan dia ke atas rumahnya, rumah jirannya & ahli rumah2 di sekitarnya.

18. Barang siapa membaca ayat Al-Kursi diakhir tiap-tiap sembahyang Fardhu, Allah menganugerahkan dia hati-hati orang yang bersyukur, perbuatan-perbuatan orang yang benar, pahala nabi-nabi, juga Allah melimpahkan padanya rahmat.

19. Barang siapa membaca ayat Al-Kursi sebelum keluar rumahnya, maka Allah mengutuskan 70,000 Malaikat kepadanya, mereka semua memohon keampunan dan mendoakan baginya.

20. Barang siapa membaca ayat Al-Kursi di akhir sembahyang Allah azza wajalla akan mengendalikan pengambilan rohnya dan ia adalah seperti orang yang berperang bersama nabi Allah sehingga mati syahid.

21. Barang siapa yang membaca ayat al-Kursi ketika dalam kesempitan nescaya Allah berkenan memberi pertolongan kepadanya.

Nota: Petikan dari Halaqah.net.

Sukacita sekiranya sesiapa dapat menjelaskan maksud ayat Para (17) berikut:

Barang siapa membaca ayat Al-Kursi di akhir tiap solat , tidak menegah akan dia daripada masuk syurga kecuali maut, dan .............

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KUNCI KEBAHAGIAN TERLETAK PADA SUJUD

KEBAHAGIAN TIDAK TERLETAK PADA TIMBUNAN HARTA,
TETAPI ORANG YANG BERTAKWA DIALAH ORANG YANG BAHAGIA.

LEMBARAN KEBAHAGIAN PERTAMA TERTULIS DI DALAM BUKU HARIANMU UNTUK HARI INI DAN CATATAN PERTAMA YANG TERTULIS DI DALAM JADUAL LAWATANMU ADALAH MELAKSANAKAN SOLAT SUBUH.

MULAILAH HARI MU DENGAN MELAKSANAKAN SOLAT SUBUH DAN AWALI SIANGMU DENGAN MENDIRIKAN SOLAT SUBUH, NISCAYA ENGKAU BERADA DI DALAM JAMINAN, LINDUNGAN, PENJAGAAN, PEMELIHARAAN DAN KEAMANAN DARI ALLAH SWT. DIA AKAN MENJAGAMU DARI SEGALA HAL YANG TIDAK DISUKAI, MENUNJUKMU JALAN KEBAIKAN, MENGARAHKANMU KEPADA KEMULIAAN, MENCEGAHMU DARI SESUATU YANG HINA.

ALLAH SWT TIDAK AKAN MEMBERKATI HARI YANG TIDAK DIMULAI DENGAN SOLAT SUBUH. SEMOGA ALLAH SWT MEMULIAKAN HARI SIANG YANG DIKERJAKANNYA SOLAT SUBUH. ITULAH TANDA AWAL BAGI DITERIMANYA AMALAN SESEORANG, SEBAGAI PERTANDA BAGI CATATAN KEMENANNGAN, POSTER KEBERUNTUNGAN, KEPERKASAAN, KEKUASAAN DAN KEJAYAAN.

SELAMAT BAGI SETIAP ORANG YANG MENGERJAKAN SOLAT SUBUH. BERUNTUNGLAH ORANG YANG MELAKSANAKAN SOLAT SUBUH, KESEJUKAN BAGI ORANG YANG SELALU MENJAGA SOLAT SUBUH DAN SENGSARA DAN KEKECEWAAN
BAGI ORANG MEREMEHKAN SOLAT SUBUH.

Mutiara Kata: Berdebat yang tidak bermanafaat, diskusi rendahan akan menghilangkan kebersihan jiwa dan cahayanya.

****

NEVER GIVE UP

NEVER GIVE UP ON ANYBODY.
MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY

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LIFE"S LITTLE INSTRUCTION (1)

NEVER GIVE UP ON WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO. THE PERSON WITH BIG DREAM IS MORE POWERFUL THAN ONE WITH ALL THE FACTS.

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DOA DAPAT MENJAUHKAN BALA

Seorang teman yang soleh dan rajin beribadah , isterinya diserang kanser dan dia memiliki 3 orang anak. Waktu itu dunia baginya begitu sempit padahal dunia sebenar begitu luas, hidup berubah kelam pada pandangan matanya.

Lalu seorang ulamak menganjurkan dia bangun malam untuk berdoa di waktu sahor, istighfar serta membacakan ruqyah (ayat-ayat shifa') pada air zamzam untuk mengubati isterinya.

Ia lantas dan tetap melakukan pesan tersebut, maka Allah swt membuka baginya keluasan melalui doanya, dan isterinya selalu mandi air zamzam sambil dibacakan ruqyah. Hal itu dilakukannya sejak solat Subuh sampai terbit matahari dan dari Maghrib sampai solat Isha. Mereka beristighfar kepada Allah swt dan mengadu kepada Nya.

Akhirnya Allah swt menghilangkan apa yang menimpanya, menyembuhkan dan menghilangkan penyakit isterinya serta menggantikan kulit yang cantik dan rambut yang kemilau, dirinya dipenuhi dengan istighfar dan solat malam.

Maha Suchi Allah swt , Tuhan yang menyembuhkan dan menghilangkan penyakit. Tiada Tuhan yang berhak disembah dengan sebenar-benarnya kecuali Dia, dan tiada tuhan selain Dia.

Wahai Saudaraku,

Jika kamu sakit maka kembalilah kepada Allah swt, perbanyakan melakukan Istighfar , berdoa dan bertaubat. Dan bergembiralah dengan apa yang dipermudahkan oleh Allah swt bagi kamu. Sesungguhnya Allah swt menerima permohonan , menghapuskan kesusahan dan menghilangkan keburukan.

Al Quran surah An-Naml Ayat 62: Atau siapakah yang memperkenankan permohonan orang yang didalam kesulitan apabila ia berdoa kepada Nya.

"Tataplah masa depan dan masa sekarang, sebab hidup terdiri daripada pengalaman yang berkesinambungan. Seseorang wajib keluar darinya dengan kemenangan."

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CHINESE SAYING

The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this: 'When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others!'

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The above Chinese saying that I applied to share with you readers about the wellness of colostrum milk Alpha Lipid Lifeline. Give yourself a chance to try. Liaise with me anytime. I am at your service Sir/Madam.

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Don’t ignore warning signals

Sunday October 18, 2009

ON THE BEAT
By WONG CHUN WAI

The burnt-out rate is high for those who love the newsroom adrenaline. With age catching up and after the recent scare, I have to be mindful of how much my body and brain can take.

IT wasn’t karoshi, the Japanese term for death from overwork where workers die from heart attack, stress or over-exhaustion but I certainly suffered a blackout last week.

It happened on Monday when I was having a discussion with a colleague at 7.30pm after our daily evening editorial meeting to decide on the contents of the next day’s paper. It was the only time slot that we could find and I had wanted to discuss with her a simple matter – the design of the T-shirts for an upcoming event.

But shortly into our small talk, I felt my head spinning. I unbuttoned my collar to remove my necktie and complained about the heat in her room, asking for ever reliable minyak angin at the same time. My legs then turned wobbly and I started throwing up continuously. My colleague’s secretary quickly summoned for help.

I do not recall what happened subsequently – my colleagues struggling to put me into a wheelchair and bringing me down to the lobby to rush me to the hospital.

The headache was massive. It was horrendous. My colleagues thought it was a heart attack, which is not uncommon in the newsroom. Three of our editors, including two former group chief editors (GCE), had heart problems. One had to be rushed to hospital while he was in the newsroom and he still has plenty of stories to tell.

Ironically, he was at the lobby to help me into the company van that took me to the nearby Damansara Specialist Hospital.

Another one of my predecessors had to take sleeping pills every night because he had difficulty retiring for the night. An old school journalist, he would come to the office at midnight almost every day to see the pages before they went to print.

The rest of us had installed the page tracker software that enabled us to keep track of pages done by the sub-editors at Menara Star even when we are thousands of miles away. But my ex-boss didn’t believe in modern technology. Barely a year into the position of The Star’s GCE, he aged. But he looks fresh now that he has retired.

Back to my own drama. I was put into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on admittance and I can vaguely recall my anxious colleagues arguing with the doctor on duty at the emergency room that I had a heart problem. They must have annoyed the poor doctor and prevented her from performing her duties.

By that time, I was already a little conscious but still vomiting badly. I was instantly taken for a full body scan or CT (computed tomography) scan, a computerised test that X-rays the body in cross sections, to find out the cause of my massive head spin. The brain is after all the most important component part of the body. In short, this was the central command centre. I was worried that I could end up with a stroke.

But the doctors found no bleeding in my brain as initially feared. But the giddiness continued even as I was wheeled into the ICU for the night. I could not even lift my body without feeling nauseous. I was put on the drip and given oxygen to help me sleep better.

There were also concerns that I had suffered an aneurysm – blood clotting in my brain for those with history of migraine and headaches – but it turned out otherwise.

It didn’t help that there were other patients wailing away, probably in a more distressful situation than mine. It was only after a few doses of painkillers that the unbearable dizziness subsided slowly.

The following day, the doctors carried out an MRI test or magnetic resonance imaging for a more accurate picture of my problem.

I was discharged on Wednesday after being given a clean bill of health in every aspect, including blood pressure and sugar level. I still do not know whether my dizzy spell will be a long-term problem.

The body is still weak and I have more tests with my neurologist this week. But I should have seen the warning signals. Just days ago, I had complained of my headaches. I blamed it on the hot weather. The veins above my right eye were also throbbing slightly.

The body always has a way of telling us to slow down. There is only so much a worn-out body can take but the workaholic in me foolishly chose to ignore these signs.

It has been a punishing month. Most of us at the newsroom would have begun to clear our accumulated leave by now but the work of a journalist, regardless of our ranks, is unpredictable.

No one could have predicted an MCA crisis or an extraordinary general meeting. For that matter, another EGM soon or a fresh round of election barely after a year. Then, there is the Umno EGM to adopt amendments to the party constitution and the Budget.

With the Hari Raya and Deepavali just weeks apart, the thin staff strength in the newsroom added to the burden.

If that isn’t enough, a few projects are in the offing and a news portal has just been kicked off. Then, there is the endless SMSes and e-mail, easily hundreds a day, on my two computers and Blackberry.

The workload has been so heavy that for the first time since December 1997, when I first started this column, I could not find the time to write last Sunday. Even when I am on leave, my column is published. I should learn from this first warning.

But committed newsmen are bad at looking after their health. Our predecessors worked hard, drank hard, smoked hard and partied hard.

My generation – editors in their late 40s – are more health conscious. But we work just as hard. A good reporter may not be expected to file a story on his day off but he is expected to keep his ear to the ground.

But the burnt-out rate is high for those who love the newsroom adrenaline and are passionate about their work. Age is catching up and certainly I have to be mindful of how much my body and brain can take.

To all well-wishers, including my colleagues, friends and readers, I wish to extend my deepest appreciation to each and everyone for the many get-well messages and prayers.

It’s a lesson to all of us that we are merely a pencil in the Lord’s hand. It’s a gentle reminder from Him that I must heed.

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DEAR SIR,

I am not a doctor nor a medical dukun. I am just a distributor of colostrum milk Alpha Lipid Lifeline product of New Zealand New Image. I would like to suggest for those who having stress, depression due to their heavy workload, pressure from the boss, pressure of reaching target date to slow down themselves. We are only a human being. We not a machine. It has been proofed through medical research that that bovine milk is the best solution among the rest to take. Why not give yourself a chance, opportunity to try this suggestion.

It will not harmed you either your pocket or your health condition. Give yourself a chance to try and see the difference after a week or so.

My best regard.

Just Stay

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
'Your son is here,' she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened...

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack,

he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside

the oxygen tent.

He reached out his hand.

The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's

limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.


The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit

beside the bed.

All through the night the young Marine sat there

in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand

and offering him words of love and strength

Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine

move away and rest awhile.

He refused.

Whenever the nurse came into the ward,

the Marine was oblivious of her

and of the night noises of the hospital -

the clanking of the oxygen tank,

the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings,

the cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse.

While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned.

She started to offer words of sympathy,

but the Marine interrupted her.

'Who was that man?' he asked.
The nurse was startled,

'He was your father,' she answered.

'No, he wasn't,' the Marine replied.

'I never saw him before in my life.'

'Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?'

'I knew right away there had been a mistake,
but I also knew he needed his son, and his
son just wasn't here.
When I realized that he was too sick to tell
whether or not I was his son,
knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.'

The next time someone needs you ... just be there.
Stay.

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HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

When someone develops an infection at a hospital or other patient care facility that they did not have prior to treatment, this is referred to as a healthcare-associated (sometimes hospital-acquired) infection (HAI).

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any point in time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infections acquired in hospitals.

A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report published in March-April 2007 estimated the number of U.S. deaths from healthcare asociated infections in 2002 at 98,987.

The risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections in developing countries is 2-20 times higher than in developed countries.

Afflicting thousands of patients every year, HAI often leads to lengthening hospitalization, increasing the likelihood of readmission, and adding sizably to the cost of care per patient.

Financially, HAIs represent an estimated annual impact of $6.7 billion to healthcare facilities, but the human cost is even higher.

Until recently, a lack of HAI reporting requirements for healthcare facilities has contributed to less-than-optimal emphasis being placed on eliminating the sources of healthcare associated infections. However, growing public anxiety regarding the issue and resulting legislation on state and local levels demanding accountability is serving to accelerate initiatives to combat HAIs.

To learn more about the impact of healthcare-associated infections for both medical professionals and patients, please visit www.haiwatch.com.

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IBADAT HAJI 1430 HIJRAH

Tahun ini seramai 26,000 jemaah haji Malaysia akan berangkat ke Tanah Suci untuk menunaikan ibadat haji. Demikian Buletin Utama TV3 melaporkan jam 8.00 malam ini. Rombongan pertama akan berlepas pada 20 Oktober ini.

Pada pandangan saya daripada sejumlah 26,000 itu, tahap kesihatan mereka boleh dibahagi kepada 3 kategori seperti berikut: (i) sehat sejahtera, (ii) tidak berapa sihat dan (iii) tidak sihat.

Begitulah resam manusia. Hidup yang tak pernah terlepas dari menjadi sasaran penyakit. Kencing manis, darah tinggi, kolestrol tinggi, resdong, buasir, gout, athrytis dan berbagai lagi. Berbagai-bagai jenis ubat telah di ambil. Samaada dapat percuma dari klinik pemerintah atau pun di beli dari kaunter pharmacy. Banyak wang ringgit telah dibelanjakan.

Sehubungan dengan ini, saya ingin mencadangkan kepada semua jemaah haji sekiranya dapat mengambil susu kolostrum Alpha Lipid Lifeline sebagai supplementary. Kesannya dan khasiatnya telah pun terbukti. Ianya dapat membantu memulihkan kesulitan masaalah sakit lutut, duduk dan bangun semasa solat, gatal-gatal di kulit dan jari-jari, resdung dan bersin yang tak henti-henti, batuk di tengah malam yang mengganggu keenakan tidur, sakit kaki dan berbagai lagi.

Oleh kerana semasa di tanah suci banyak memerlukan pergerakan tenaga , umpamanya berulang alik dari hotel ke masjid-masjid samaada Masjid Nabawi ataupun Masjidil Haram. Atau pun mengikuti rombongan ziarah ke Masjid Quba, Masjid Qiblatain, Tapak Perang Uhud dan Makam Shuhadak, Ladang Korma, Pasar Korma dan Hudaibiyah, banyak berlaku naik-turun bas. Juga anda tentu mahu berjalan-jalan disekitar Kota Mekah atau Kota Madinah. Melawat kilang mencetak Quran, kilang menjahit kain kiswah kelambu Ka'abah. atau melawat Muzeum Mekah atau ladang unta untuk merasai keenakan susu unta yang segar.

Begitu juga semasa di Arafah, Mudzdalifah dan Mina khususnya berjalan kaki dari khemah-khemah menuju ke Jumrah yang tiga itu secara aberulang-alik. Banyak tenaga di perlukan. Memanjat bukit-bukit kecil disekitar Mina untuk memungut anak-anak batu tambahan buat melontar jumrah. Batu-batu yang di pungut di Muzdalifah hanya cukup untuk lontaran kali pertama sahaja. Di Kota Madinah dan Mekah juga banyak tempat tumpuan beli-belah yang menjadi tarikan. Jelas betapa kesihatan dan tenaga sangat diperlukan.

Elok rasanya anda siapkan diri dengan mengambil vitamin atau pun supplementari yang lain seperti Alpha Lipid Lifeline sebagai pilihan. Anda boleh memilih samaada produk yang berbentuk susu serbuk atau produk kapsul.

Masaalah gangguan kesihatan yang menjadi bualan setiap jemaah ialah BATUK. Serangan batuk ini kalau tidak di bendung dari awal, akan menjadi kronik dan tidak berhenti-henti sehingga sampai masa nak balik ke tanah air belum lagi sembuh. Apabila kita berdepan sesuatu musibah, segeralah berdoa mohon kasih sayang dan redha Allah supaya diberi kemudahan bagi sepanjang tempoh ibadat haji dan juga selepasnya. Buangkanlah sikap bebal, pemarah, menunjuk pandai dan cakap besar. Itu semuanya sifat Allah belaka. allah nak menguji kita , menyukat setakat mana keimanan kita dan ketaqwaan kepada Allah.

Walau bagaimana pun saya memanjatkan doa kepada Allah s.w.t., semoga memberi kesihatan yang baik kepada semua Jemaah Malaysia dan juga jemaah dari negara-negara lain.

SELAMAT MENUNAIKAN IBADAT HAJI.
SEMOGA ALLAH MENGURNIAKAN HAJI MABRUR KEPADA ANDA SEMUA.

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HAPPY DEEPAVALI 2009

Let me wish all the HINDU readers of this blog a very happy Deepavali and a prosperous New Year to follow.

DIFFERENT BETWEEN HARVARD AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston , and walked timidly without an appointment in to the Harvard University President's outer office.

The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge .

'We'd like to see the president,' the man said softly. 'He'll be busy all day,' the secretary snapped. 'We'll wait,' the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away.. They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted.

'Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave,' she said to him!

He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested Gingham dresses and Homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.

The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted to ward the couple. The lady told him, 'We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard... He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus.'

The president wasn't touched.. He was shocked.
'Madam,' he said, gruffly, 'we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery.'

'Oh, no,' the lady explained quickly. 'We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard.'

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, 'A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard.'

For a moment the lady was silent.

The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now.

The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, 'Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?'

Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment..

Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away,traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the university that bears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.

THIS IS A TRUE STORY By Malcolm Forbes about the founders of the now world renowned STANFORD UNIVERSITY !!

People will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did.
But people will never forget how you made them feel.

The History of Milk Banking

Introduction

At the dawn of the twentieth century, nearly all children were human milk fed - either maternally breastfed or provided with donated human milk. Over the next one hundred years, a number of dramatic changes took place including the replacement of human milk by artificial feeding products. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, human milk feeding was once again the recommended method of infant feeding. Experts recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months and the introduction of age appropriate foods with breast milk to remain in the diet for two years and beyond. When maternal milk is inadequate or lacking particularly for high risk or premature infants pasteurized donor milk is the next best option. Donor milk banking plays an important role in meeting these recommendations.

Wet Nursing

The roots of donor milk banking reach back to earlier times when children were either breastfed by their mothers or breast fed by friends, relatives or strangers - a practice referred to as "wet nursing". Evidence of the support for "wet nursing" is present in the Code of Hammurabi from 2250 BC where the attributes needed for good wet nurses are described. In those early days, children were thought to inherit the physical, mental and emotional traits of their wet nurse through the breast milk so selection of the nurse was felt to be very important. In the 13th century, European women made more money working as wet nurses than any other occupation open to women. By early in the twentieth century, awareness of the possibility of disease transmission, difficulty finding wet nurse particularly in North America and an increasing number of artificial feeding products resulted in increasing interest in artificial feeding.

Artificial feeding
Throughout the ages, when maternal milk was unavailable and wet nursing not possible, many different substances were tried in order to feed young babies. Prior to the mid 19th century most of these products resulted in the death of the infant. By the late 19th century, with the beginning of milk analysis, the first infant "formulas" were developed. Due to its availability, cow's milk, although very different to human milk, was used in the development of these "formulas." These early infant "formulas" often provided by the individual physician, involved complicated methods of modification of cow's milk. Improvement in food processing led to the development of condensed and powdered formulas which were easier to use. "Formulas" have continued to evolve and are still a "work in progress" over one hundred years later.

During the first half of the twentieth century a number of cultural changes resulted in the replacement of human milk by artificial feeding as the normal method of infant feeding. These cultural changes included medicalization of birth, changing physician and women's roles, increasing influence of science and increasing advertising of "formula." By the 1950's, most hospitals and health professionals in the developed world promoted artificial feeding as the feeding method of choice.

The marketing of artificial feeding products, begun in the late 1800's, has continued until the present day with the consistent message of physician endorsement, scientific development and good nutrition. This is the most successful marketing campaign ever undertaken resulting in the complete cultural acceptance and the perception by both the general public and many health professionals of a safe optimum product equal to or better than human milk.

Donor Milk Banking
Over the last hundred years, breastfeeding and the use of human milk has been promoted by various groups. The emphasis on use of human milk including donor milk banking has waxed and waned throughout this time. Early in the twentieth century, milk banking blossomed and grew with increased use of donor milk for ill and premature infants. Mothers with abundant milk supplies were asked to provide milk for ill infants by either nursing the babies directly or expressing milk. With technological and hygienic advances, milk banks were established as collection and storage of milk was possible with the development of refrigeration and a greater knowledge of safe food processing. In 1909, the first milk bank was established in Vienna, Austria. By 1919, two additional banks opened - one in Boston and a second in Germany.

Some of the most famous North American consumers were the Dionne quintuplets, born premature in northern Quebec, Canada in the 1930's and provided with 8,000 ounces of donor milk from both Canadian and American donors. A year later, British quadruplets received donor milk from the Queen Charlotte Milk bank which is still in operation today. Most of these early banks collected and distributed unprocessed milk to ill and premature infants.

Throughout the developed world, donor milk banking grew as pediatrics progressed and increasing numbers of ill and premature infants survived. In some cases mothers provided donor milk by nursing babies directly but in many other cases, there was no contact between donor and recipient.

In 1985, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) was established with one of the main goals being to establish standards for all North American milk banks. These standards, first published in 1990 form the basis for many other milk banking documents around the world and are reviewed and updated annually by HMBANA.

Also in the mid 1980's, with the advent of AIDS, the number of milk banks was dramatically effected. Concern for the unknown and the need for increasing complex screening of donors and milk processing resulted in many banks closing, almost overnight. Donor milk banks in North America were reduced to about eight or nine banks by the end of the 1980's.

By the 1990's with evidence of safety and increased research on the benefits of human milk, donor milk banks are again increasing globally. Many developed countries around the world either have established donor milk banks or are considering the establishment of donor banks. In North America, the interest in donor milk banks is also growing. Many families, aware of some of the problems associated with artificial feeding products, are requesting donor milk, particularly when they have an ill or premature infant and maternal milk is insufficient or unavailable. In addition, with increasing emphasis on informed choice, family centered care and best practice, health professionals are also seeking information on establishing banks.

Over the last one hundred years, the interest in human milk has come almost full circle with the understanding that although artificial feeding products are continually improving, human milk provides factors not replicated in any other source of nutrition. In addition, provision of a safe source of donor milk, supports breastfeeding by clearly indicating that human milk cannot be replaced. In the twenty-first century, donor milk banking is once again blossoming.

F. Jones
October 2003

A Rare Excursion to the North Borneo village of Kampung Mongkos ( SARAWAK MALAYSIA)

By Clive Freeman Jul 31, 2007, 6:02 GMT

Sarawak, Malaysia - The bus edges its way along a narrow, bumpy path, flanked by thick forest and soaring coconut trees, before halting in a sudden clearance, scattering a group of indignant chickens and ducks in the process.

Western media representatives alight from the bus to be greeted by a song, rendered by local musicians playing bamboo instruments. We have arrived in Kampung Mongkos, a remote village in a dense jungle area of northern Borneo, close to the Indonesian border.

For most of its history, Kampung Mongkos has had little contact with the outside world. Not that that was necessary, the isolated community has always been self-sustaining, due to its abundance of tropical fruit, vegetables and crops.

Its 1,049 inhabitants, content with their simple way of life, live in homes of rickety wooden construction or in the traditional village longhouse, amply spaced for large-sized families.

They own the land on which they live, having toiled in earlier years to slash down trees and help clear forest vegetation, observes Benedict Jimbau, a Sarawak Tourism Board executive, who has accompanied us on the trip north from Sarawak.

Disputes about boundary lines are rare, but if they do occur then the village chieftain, a respected figure in these parts, is called in to arbitrate.

'He adjudicates in all such matters,' notes Jimbau.

Originally, the traditional Kampung Mongkos longhouse was home to 70 families. After it was demolished, it was replaced by a new, somewhat shorter longhouse in the 1950s, albeit with accommodation for more than 20 families.

On our arrival in late July, the whole village turned out to welcome us in the traditional 'longhouse.' Singers beat rhythmic tunes on bamboo instruments; village women performed elegant dances in traditional costumes, while their impish bare-footed off-spring do everything to gain the attention of visitors, squatting on floor mats, eating up the atmosphere.

It's the first time the village has ever played host to western scribes.

Ever since its creation more than a century ago, Kampung Mongkos has been a peaceful place. Even in World War II when the Japanese invaded the country, its army units never set foot in the village. Heading instead to Kuching, the Sarawak state capital, two hours drive to the south.

Later, in the 1950s, when there was an armed territorial dispute with Indonesia, the village again came through unscathed, although locals point to a solitary stray bullet thudding into the longhouse wall.

'It's always been peaceful here,' maintains KK Daka Anak Baba, 60, a friendly faced farmhand, who has spent his life toiling in the forests and paddy fields. Married with nine children, he says:' The village is like one big extended family. Everybody knows one another. There's rarely trouble here.'

When a crime is committed in Kampung Mongkos, which is seldom, the chieftain and village elders decide what should be done with the offender. Otherwise, the village falls under Malaysian laws and regulations.

Villagers speak of the Bidayuh community placing great faith in the jungle 'spirits' who, it's said, are there to protect them from war and conflict. In the village square a statue stands proudly, honouring the spirits who 'protect our village from all harm.'

In the last century missionaries were active in Kampung Mongkos. Today a Roman Catholic Church can be found in the village, as well as a medical health centre, and a two-tier wooden building housing a store and restaurant. Most, but not all the Bidayuh are Catholics.

With two colleagues, this dpa reporter is invited by Anak Baba to overnight at a property he runs on an ad hoc basis as a guest-house. The premises are modest, equipped with the barest of facilities. A bucket of water is used to flush the toilet.

Malaysia has more than 200 communities of all races including Bidayuh, Iban, Kayan, Kenyah, Lun Bawang, Malay, Melanau and Penan. Sauntering through Kampung Mongkos, the sound of monkeys, cicadas and crickets reverberate, as do the shrill cries of the magnificent hornbills.

Curiously, though, one rarely catches a glimpse of monkeys in the forests surrounding the village.

'They gobble the crops and can be a nuisance,' says an old man, emerging from the village store. Later, I learn that like foxes in Britain, monkeys are regarded as the farmers' pest in parts of Borneo, and are shot to reduce numbers.

On home porteos, however, I do spot occasional monkeys kept in cages, presumably as pets.

Asked if he's ever contemplated leaving the village, Anak Baba says: 'No, my life is here where I have my relatives and friends. Some of my children do, however, work in other parts of Sarawak.'

For Kampung Mongkos the nearest town is Serian, about 40 minutes' drive from the village. A transit town between Kuching, the state capital, and places further north, it remains a favourite stopping-off point for tourists.

'Some of our fruit, cocoa, rubber, maize and soya products are sold in Serian and neighbouring communities,' notes Anak Baba proudly.

Footnote: In more recent years German, Scandinavian, French, Dutch and British back-packers have been arriving in Kampung Mongkos, curious to lean more about a village which for decades was virtually unknown to the outside world. Now incorporated into a 'community homestay programme' it offers cultural programmes in the Bidayuh village and overnight stays at low prices.

Are You Taking Too Many Medicines?

By Howard Levy, M.D. - Posted on Fri, May 02, 2008, 2:56 pm PDT

As many of us live longer with chronic conditions, the use of multiple medications at the same time - polypharmacy - is becoming common. And so are the problems that such multiple medication regimens can cause.

Good, evidence-based guidelines have helped doctors and patients better manage a variety of common diseases, like asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. Unfortunately, following all of this advice typically results in longer and longer medication lists.

Then there are remedies intended to treat, relieve, or reduce a variety of symptoms. Add to that the vitamins, supplements, and complementary and alternative therapies that many people choose to take, and the problem grows even larger.

Taking too many medicines can cause serious side effects, interactions, inconvenience, confusion, and expense. These issues get more complicated with every additional drug or supplement.

Children and seniors tend to be especially sensitive to these risks. Some guidelines suggest that people over age 65 should take no more than six medications. There's nothing magic about the number six, and the goal is to minimize their number to as few as possible.

This brings us to the art of medicine. Together with your health care provider(s), I suggest that you carefully consider the risks and benefits of every substance you take - whether it's natural or manufactured, whether it's traditional or alternative, and whether it's over-the-counter or prescription.

Here are some things to consider:

Which of my medications are necessary?
There are many medications that are necessary to control a disease or prolong life. A few examples include treatments for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, or major depression. There may be few or no day-to-day symptoms associated with some of these conditions, so you may not feel any better (and sometimes feel worse) while taking these products. This list could be short or quite long and will be different for everyone, but the point is to identify and control conditions that are likely to cause major illness or death.

Which of my medications help me to prevent serious disease down the road?
This includes taking things like calcium to maintain bone density and aspirin to prevent future heart attack or stroke. There are lots of nutritional and alternative therapies in this category, many of which claim multiple potential benefits. Vitamins, antioxidants, and fish oil are a few examples.

Note that some of these drugs fall into the "necessary" category for people who already have the condition(s) they are intended to prevent. For the preventative medication category, I suggest weighing the evidence for how well a product achieves its goal against the importance of preventing the specific problem for which you are considering it.

Which of my medications are optional?
Optional medications are intended to improve your quality of life. In this definition, I'm including everything that isn't life-threatening. This list is long and includes conditions like pain, hayfever, gastritis, bowel or bladder problems, mild-to-moderate depression, poor sleep, and sexual dysfunction.

Often, the symptoms are severe enough that it isn't really practical to consider not treating them. Not surprisingly, this group includes some of the most heavily advertised and frequently requested drugs. They often provide significant recognizable benefits, so many patients choose to take them and accept more side effects, higher costs, and longer drug lists.

Regardless of which categories your medications fit into, it makes sense to use as few as possible and re-evaluate them periodically. Depending upon your health and your priorities, you may be able to reduce the number.

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WELL. WELL. WELL.

MAY I SUGGEST THAT YOU SWITCH TO COLOSTRUM MILK ALPHA LIPID LIFELINE?

NO HARM FOR ARE CHANGE.