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Quote of the day

misi — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:03:26 GMT

"Parents need to fill a child's bucket of self-esteem so high
that the rest of the world can't poke enough holes in it to
drain it dry."
Alvin Price

Forum: RELATIONSHIPS

Nigeria`s President still in Saudi

misi — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:15:40 GMT

Nigerian VP chosen to take over for ailing president

February 9, 2010 5:49 p.m. EST

Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, left, and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan pose for a picture in November.

Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) -- Nigeria's House and Senate approved a resolution Tuesday to install the country's vice president as head of state until ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua recovers enough to resume his duties.

But the Executive Council, made up of government ministers, must still approve the resolution before Vice President Goodluck Jonathan can become acting president.

The Executive Council is likely to discuss the matter at a regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday.

The absence of Yar'Adua, who left Nigeria for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia in November, has created a power vacuum in Africa's most populous country, observers have said. It also sparked demonstrations in the nation's capital, Abuja, where protesters demanded a constitutional order on his absence and evidence about his true state of health.

But Nigeria's Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa insisted Tuesday there has been no power vacuum.

"The main issue is that there must be ways of resolving our progress constitutionally," Aondoakaa told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "The system is working because nobody has taken up arms."

He added, "What is important now is to move the country forward ... for the three arms of government to come and support the vice president to carry out his duties."

Aondoakaa's stance was criticized by a Nobel Prize winner for literature, Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, who accused the attorney general of talking "from all four compass points of his mouth. ... He's told so many untruths."

Soyinka accused the ruling People's Democratic Party of taking advantage of the president's absence. "The issue is that certain elements within the ruling party love this hiatus, they love the headlessness of government because they can proceed to loot and create their own little empires while the president is away," he said.

Soyinka predicted that the PDP will not give up its current position easily. "They're going to find other forms of delaying tactics, and I'm talking about certain criminal elements within the ruling party," he said. "They are the ones really responsible for this."

Soyinka added that Nigerians may soon need to embark on a campaign of civil disobedience to stop the PDP, which he described as "an illegitimate, unelected, corrupt and murderous party."

A failure to implement measures such as electoral reform -- designed to put the country back on a democratic path -- could foment such a campaign, he said.

"There's got to be a review," he said. "Failing all this, the citizenry will embark on a civil disobedience campaign. I see no other course for the nation."

Soyinka said such a campaign would begin on a small scale and escalate until "so-called legislators" are made to live up to their responsibilities.

"It'll mean a de-recognition of the government to start with, flouting the law wherever possible," he said. "We've demonstrated that the rallies need not be violent as long as civil rights are not trampled on."

The president is being treated for inflammation of tissue around the heart, a condition that was diagnosed in November after he complained of chest pain in Abuja. He was taken to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he had undergone his last checkup in August, his doctor said.

Yar'Adua said at the time he did not intend to resign while in Saudi Arabia, but no further news came from the president for almost two months until January 13, when he gave the BBC an interview from his hospital bed.

In a frail voice, Yar'Adua sought to assure his countrymen that he was getting better and intended to return soon to power.

Nigeria's Senate expressed concern "that there had been no formal communication to the National Assembly" -- as required by the nation's constitution -- to "empower the vice president to act and perform the functions of the president," Voice of Nigeria reported.

But Aondoakaa, the attorney general, has said the president did not need to write such a letter.

In addition to internal discord over its missing president, the oil-rich nation has faced international heat after one of its citizens allegedly attempted to blow up a U.S.-bound jetliner on Christmas Day.

U.S. authorities then required passengers on U.S.-bound flights from Nigeria to undergo enhanced security measures. A senior U.S. administration official said Nigeria fell into the U.S. Transportation Security Administration category of "state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest."

CNN's Christian Purefoy contributed to this report.

Forum: Africa

Jackson`s Doctor finally charged

misi — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:11:33 GMT

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jacksons doctor has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the pop singers death.

Prosecutors announced the charge Monday against Dr. Conrad Murray, a Houston cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Murrays attorney Ed Chernoff says Murray will plead not guilty.

In a brief statement posted on his Web site Monday, Murrays lead attorney said his client was prepared to surrender at the courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport at 1:30 p.m. PST. In anticipation of his arrival, TV news vans and satellite trucks filled the courthouse parking lot before dawn.

Murray has been the focal point of a police investigation since Jackson died under his care last June 25 at age 50. Murray acknowledged that he administered the hospital anesthetic propofol and other sedatives as Jackson, a chronic insomniac, struggled to sleep.

Murray had been hired as the performers personal physician as he prepared for a monumental comeback concert in London. The doctor was to have traveled with Jackson and had closed down his cardiology practices in Houston and Las Vegas to devote himself to Jackson full time.

The death of the pop superstar left the doctors life and medical practice in limbo. There was talk of a criminal case even before a coroners report found that Jacksons death was a homicide and pinpointed propofol and other drugs as the cause.

On Friday, after a week of on-again, off-again reports that Murray would be charged, district attorneys spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said the office was delaying any action until Monday amid reports that police wanted to arrest and handcuff the doctor but his attorneys were negotiating to avoid that.

The drama of his surrender and subsequent arraignment was to be played out in front of news cameras, and Murrays legal team wanted to avoid the spectacle of having the doctor seen in handcuffs by a large audience including potential jurors for his trial.

One group that wants to see him in handcuffs is a contingent of Michael Jackson fans who launched a telephone campaign to the Los Angeles Police Department demanding as much. They threatened to hold a protest at the airport-area courthouse if Murray was allowed to surrender on his own.

The doctor maintains nothing he gave Jackson should have killed him. A trial would be expected to involve expert medical testimony on the use of propofol and whether there was gross negligence involved in its use at a private home. It is normally administered in hospital settings.

Murrays lead defense lawyer, Ed Chernoff, has said the doctor is prepared for the legal battle ahead.

Well make bail, well plead not guilty and well fight like hell, said Chernoff.

Forum: LOUNGE

World happiest countries

misi — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:19:25 GMT

According to a new report released by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, a Paris-based group of 30 countries with democratic governments that provides economic and social statistics and data, happiness levels are highest in northern European countries.

In Depth: See All 10 of the World's Happiest Places

Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands rated at the top of the list, ranking first, second and third, respectively. Outside Europe, New Zealand and Canada landed at Nos. 8 and 6, respectively. The United States did not crack the top 10. Switzerland placed seventh and Belgium placed tenth.

Forum: Europe

ZIMBABWE'S HELL HOLE

patrickekanem — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:32:44 GMT

--------------------

Johannesburg (South Africa), Apr.1 : A horrifying investigative film has exposed how prisoners in President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe are dying from either disease or hunger.
The documentary, shown on South Africa's state broadcaster SABC, documented the "living hell" for prisoners across 55 state institutions.
"Hell Hole", as the film is titled, is a grim account of a crisis in which dozens of inmates die each day, reports The Times.
Describing the conditions in two of the main prisons in the capital, Harare, in late 2008, a prison officer said: "We have gone the whole year in which
- for prisoners and prison officers - the food is hand-to-mouth. They'll be lucky to get one meal. Sometimes they will sleep without. We have moving skeletons, moving graves. They're dying."
The film was made by SABC's Special Assignment programme and shot over three months with cameras smuggled into the prisons.
The reaction in South Africa, where the authorities try to deny the extent of the crisis in its neighbouring country, is certain to be fierce.
The film shows how prison staff have converted cells and storage rooms into "hospital wards" for the dying and makeshift mortuaries, where bodies "rotted on the floor with maggots moving all around".
They have had to create mass graves within prison grounds to accommodate the dead.
Prisoners described how the sick and the healthy slept side by side, packed together like sardines, along with those who died in the night.
Prisoners in the film are suffering from slow starvation, nutrition-related illnesses and an array of other diseases to which they are exposed as a result of living in unhygienic conditions.
A former prisoner, a young man, struggled to convey the horror of these conditions: "That place, I haven't got the words ... I can describe it as hell on earth - though they say it's more than hell."
In October last year the Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender (Zacro) released a report noting that there were 55 prisons in Zimbabwe, with the capacity to hold 17,000 inmates.
But in October 2008 it was estimated that more than 35,000 people were in jail
After reading this writeup , nothing comes to mind rather than the zeal to drive for a change. But i can't do this alone without your help. We need to make a change.

Spread the message, a change is needed in Africa.

Forum: Africa

Manners can save marriages

misi — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:22:14 GMT

Have you ever wondered why manners are so important?

Well, for one thing, it's because manners preserve relationships. That's right. When manners are lacking, people may feel violated and relationships can be threatened.

This is especially true in a marriage relationship. In fact, when the honeymoon phase of a marriage comes to a close, emotions may begin to deteriorate if a couple fails to display basic manners toward one another.

Let me give you several examples. When two people begin dating, they typically display very good manners, right? They show appreciation by saying "thank you"; they show consideration by being sensitive and courteous to each other; the man shows care for the lady by opening doors for her, and so on.

As the relationship progresses, it is often typical for a husband and wife to begin to take each other for granted and stop exhibiting good manners. They may fail to show appreciation by saying "thank you"; they are not as sensitive or courteous to one another; a husband may stop opening doors for his wife, and so on.

Manners, however, are very important--they are indicators of the kind of people we are. The presence of manners means that we are givers. The lack of manners means that we are takers. The presence of manners means that we are not self-centered. The absence of manners shows that we are selfish. The presence of manners means that we value others. The absence of manners means that we don't.

Remember: manners preserve relationships. They preserve a marriage and promote good will between a husband and wife.

God's design is for marriage to get progressively better every year. It is never His intention for a marriage to experience an emotional slump for any significant period of time. A lack of passion and good will between married people indicate that something is missing in the relationship--primarily good manners.

So, how are your manners? Do you treat your spouse as you did when you first met? Do you treat strangers better than your spouse? An honest assessment of your marriage manners can help you discover a lot about yourself and the overall health of your marriage relationship.

Forum: RELATIONSHIPS

Beware of Scams !!!

misi — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:13:21 GMT

The Nigerian Letter
This is one of the classic scams that just keeps coming back for more. It presents itself in new and different forms -- recently using a bogus note from the director of the FBI himself as the come-on. The Nigerian letter, also known as 419 fraud for the section of Nigerian law it violates, involves an e-mail (it really started as a letter) that seeks your help to stash some money for a foreign official in a jam. Your kindness in hanging onto their millions is supposed to be repaid by giving you a percentage. Instead, you end up sending your money to them.

Forum: FINANCIAL

A To Z of Fitness - The Complete Guide To Fitness

Nemry — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:08:12 GMT

A-stands for awareness.Go on a familiarization trip with your body. See if your body muscles are toned or rusting. Check if your heartbeat does not shoot up too much and too soon if you have to walk fast or climb stairs. Go for a thorough check up for the sake of your body. It also stands for aerobics, an activity that exercises your heart, lungs and blood vessels.

B-stands for balance, which you have to constantly strive to strike in life-be it your fitness regime or the food you eat, or even the quantum of time you set aside for yourself.

C- is for comfort levels, meaning the care you have to take to always cool down your body after workout by adding some stretches. C is also for consumption patterns. To effect that, you have to first find out how many calories your body requires for its daily functioning and stick to your nutritionist's advice. Overeating never solved any health-related problems.

D- is for dieting, which should be a complete no-no. Healthy eating and healthy living should be your motto. Because while dieting, you also lose muscle tissues besides fat. Regular exercise can do the trick better and smatter.

E- stands for the necessary equipment like cool and comfortable clothing to permit ventilation and unrestricted movement. Shoes with adequate cushioning to reduce the impact, and if possible, a friend to keep you company and motivate alongside.

F-is for frequency. Any workout should last at least 20 minutes, minimum three times a week. If you are into weight training and whole body workouts, plan them every alternate day to take complete rest the day after the workout.

G- is for the good night sleep that is sure to envelop you after you have had an energetic, active or a positive stress day.

H- is for high, also called runner's high that actually is the release of endorphin, secreted by the brain which gives you a natural high.

I- is for making an informed choice, i.e., choosing whatever suits you best. It makes little sense to force jogging on yourself if you are over 50 and have not exercised all your life. Start with walking and then switch over to brisk walking, gradually increasing the time span. A word of advice from your doctor before you embark on such regular activity would go a long way.

J- is for jerks. Totally avoid them during exercise as they put pressure on your joints. Any pain during a workout means your body is begging you to stop.

K- is for kingly posture. Wherever you are and whatever you do, remember the correct posture technique. Keep shoulder and hips square to each other, shoulder blades relaxed and abdomen tucked in tight.

L- points towards your legs. They follow the principle of direct proportion-the more you work on them the better they will get.

M- is for measurements. Don't be too swayed by the declining or rarely-budging trends of the weighing machine(it could also be mere fluid loss). What is important are your body measurements. For example, your WHR (waist to hip ratio). Divide your waist measurement at its narrowest with hips' measurement at their widest. If the ratio is more than 0.80 for men and 0.85 for women, it is time to re-work your fitness strategy. It would be wise to keep in mind that miracles donot happen in a jiffy. Only perseverence pays.

N- is for nature at its best. Foods closest to their natural form top the list of sensible in take.

O- is for overindulgence, which is obviously to be avoided if you are looking at a life full of fitness and fervour.

P- is for prevention of injury. Since following a fitness regimen amounts to hours of vigorous physical activity, make sure that an adequate warm up always precedes your workout. Also, P indicates an all-important phase in a woman's life -pregnancy -when you should work out only after a clean chit from your doctor.

Q-is for quacks, so stay away from them. Look for trained, qualified and experienced personnel to help you through your fitness programme. Fitness instructors are now a common and talked-about breed, who can ensure a decent commitment level if you so desire.

R- is for regularity. An absolute must for desired results.

S- is for strain. This is something you might be prone to if you donot warm up well enough, cool down or do simple stretches after every workout.

T- is for time-a minimum of 20 minute of aerobic workout each time you embark on such a programme. The best time of day is anytime that you can find uninterrupted. But remember to keep a gap of 2 hours between meals and your workout.

U- is for utility-utilize your energy and resources positively. It is also the urgency to get started.

V- is for vitality and vigour. Buzzwords in your personal directory of fitness and versatility-add variety to your workouts and eliminate drudgery and boredom. Keep the options open to switch the type of aerobic activity or with that of anaerobic type.

W- is for weight loss-not the only thing you should be looking for when you are on the road to fitness. It's also for water -drink it till it comes out of your ears. Sages of yore have wisely called it the elixir of life.
individuals
X- is for the X-factor. Keep it in mind that different respond to different exercises differently and no two bodies are the same or can react to one exercise in the same way.

Y- is for the healthy years that add to your life when you exercise regularly.

Z- is for the zenith-the highest point in your life when there is an amalgamation of self discipline, spirit and the zest for living.

Forum: HEALTH, STRENGTH, & VITALITY

COMMON JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Ona — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:01:06 GMT

For a person to succeed in an interview and to come out with flying colours is confidence and the ability to judge what questions the interviewer will put up and how efficiently to answer them. We have compiled a few questions, which are most frequently asked during interviews. By rehearsing interview questions, you'll become more familiar with your own qualifications, expectations and will be well prepared to demonstrate how well you can benefit the company.

Go through the following examples:

" Tell us a little about yourself "
This question is mostly common since it tends to create a friendly atmosphere and makes you comfortable and relaxed. Make a short, organized statement of your education and professional achievements and professional goals. Then give your qualifications for the job.

"Why do you want to work in our company"
When such a question is put to you, you have to demonstrate to the interviewer clearly and with enthusiasm your interest in the company. Share what you learned about the job, the company, its prospects and the industry through your own research and describe how your professional qualifications and skills will benefit the company.

"What are your best skills/qualifications that will help us in our company"
This will be easy if you have sufficiently researched the organization, their job expectations and requirements. If you have then you should be able to imagine what qualifications and skills the company values. List them, and then give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.

"Are you comfortable working in a group or you like working alone"
The ideal answer is one of flexibility. However, be honest. Give examples describing how you have worked in both situations.

"What are your future plans"
When such a question is put to you, you have to show the interviewer that you are ambitious enough to plan ahead. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your performance, and be specific as possible about how you will meet the goals you have set for yourself.

"What are your hobbies"
By making such a question the interviewer might simply be curious as to whether you have a life outside of work and this also shows that you are less susceptible to stress and have a healthy and happy life. Also the kind of hobby that interests you demonstrates your skills and ability to adjust and work efficiently. For example, hobbies such as chess or bridge demonstrate analytical skills. Reading, music, and painting are creative hobbies. Individual sports show determination and stamina, while group sport activities may indicate you are comfortable working as part of a team.

"Why did you leave your last job"
The interviewer may want to know the reason why you left the last job, i.e., was it because you were facing some problems or for some other reasons. If you did not have any problems, simply give a reason, such as: company went out of business; temporary job; no possibility of promotion; wanted a job better suited to your skills, etc. If you did have problems, be honest. Show that you can accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes.

"What salary are you expecting"
This is a tricky question and the best way out is to wiggle your way out skillfully. You probably don't want to answer this one directly. Instead, deflect the question back to the interviewer by saying something like: "I don't know. What are you planning on paying the best candidate?" Let the employer make the first offer. Also at the same time keep yourself updated with the information as to what the current salary range is for the profession. This information can help you negotiate compensation once the employer makes an offer.

Here are some other job interview questions you might want to rehearse:

Questions about your work experience

What have you learned from your past jobs?
How does your previous experience relate to this position?
What were your biggest responsibilities?

Questions about your career goals

How ambitious are you? How will you judge yourself successful?
What type of position are you interested in?
Five years from now how do you place yourself?
What do you expect from this job?

Questions about your qualifications

What qualifications do you have that relate to the position you are seeking in this job?
What new skills or capabilities have you developed recently?
What have been your greatest accomplishments recently?
What is most important to you in a job?

Forum: CAREER & BUSINESS

Zimbabwe`s Loss

misi — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:26:01 GMT

Zimbabwe premier: Car crash was an accident

HARARE, Zimbabwe Zimbabwe's prime minister said Monday that a car crash that killed his wife was an accident and that there was "no foul play" in the collision, despite at least three previous assassination attempts against him.

Wearing dark glasses over a swollen eye after undergoing treatment for his injuries, Morgan Tsvangirai told supporters he would overcome the loss of his wife, Susan, and continue moving ahead with Zimbabwe's unity government.

Zimbabwe's long history of political violence blamed on President Robert Mugabe's forces fueled speculation that the Friday crash was not accidental. A number of Mugabe's opponents have been killed in suspicious car accidents.

But Tsvangirai said: "In this case I want to say there is no foul play. It was an accident that unfortunately took away her life."

Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe's capital Monday after receiving medical treatment in neighboring Botswana.

The couple's Toyota Land Cruiser collided with a truck carrying U.S. aid on the outskirts of the capital on a notoriously dangerous road.

State television said the truck swerved on an uneven stretch of the road that is poorly maintained, like many in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai's spokesman said the car sideswiped the truck and rolled at least three times.

A rally in honor of Susan Tsvangirai will be held Tuesday on the prime minister's 57th birthday. The funeral will take place on Wednesday.

Tsvangirai said he and his wife of 31 years had gone through "trials and tribulations together." He said he returned to resume his duties because that is what his wife would have wanted.

"It is painful for us, but we have to look forward ... because she would have wanted us to continue moving on," he said.

Thousands of mourners were keeping vigil outside the house where Susan Tsvangirai's body is to lie in state.

The U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, was among the many dignitaries who came to pay their condolences.

"I am very sorry for Tsvangirai and his family," McGee said. "I hope that he can get through this, be strong and go forward."

The death of Tsvangirai's wife has triggered an outpouring of grief across the country in a show of the couple's popularity.

This is in comparison with the open dislike for Mugabe's wife, Grace, who recently punched a British photographer in the face with her diamond-encrusted rings while in Hong Kong.

"I am saddened by the death of Susan," said Mike Garikai, one mourner gathered outside Tsvangirai's house. "Tsvangirai must remain steadfast."

Tsvangirai traveled to Botswana on Saturday after spending one night in a Zimbabwean hospital following the crash.

Last year he spent months in Botswana, fearing for his life at the height of a standoff with Mugabe the man with whom he formed a joint government in February.

Tsvangirai's party has called for an investigation into Friday's crash and has questioned the security measures for the prime minister.

Zimbabwe's coalition was formed after a dispute over the presidential election nearly a year ago and months of state-sponsored violence against members of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change and independent political activists.

But the start of the new government has been troubled, and support for Tsvangirai has been falling amid doubts over how much power Mugabe is prepared to relinquish. After the accident Friday, Mugabe and his wife went to the hospital to see Tsvangirai.

There also were fears that his wife's death would break his spirit, but it seems he is finding solace in the nation's sympathy.

Max Chimusoro, who came from a province northeast of Harare to pay his respects, said the accident could not have happened at a more critical stage in Tsvangirai's life.

"We urge him to soldier on and fulfill the dreams he began with Susan. He must not look back," he said.

Zimbabwe's unity government faces the world's highest official inflation rate, a hunger crisis that has left most of its people dependent on foreign handouts and a cholera epidemic blamed on the collapse of a once-enviable health and sanitation system.

The United Nations said Monday that the number of cholera deaths had topped 4,000, with more than 89,000 cases.

In neighboring South Africa, the waterborne disease has killed 59 people and infected 12,324 since it spread from Zimbabwe in November, the country's health minister said.

Forum: Africa

Realistic Expectations in marriages

misi — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:15:58 GMT

There is an interesting paradox about successful marriages. The first part of the paradox has to do with the fact that, according to research, the most successful couples are those with high expectations for their marriages. However, high expectations by themselves are a setup for disappointment and sure failure unless they are combined with a realistic assessment of the high price that will have to be paid to see your dreams come true.

This is the essence of the paradox--high expectations must be combined with a tough minded commitment to pay the price necessary to see those dreams come true. It's no different than having a dream to own a successful business. The desire is wonderful as long as you expect to have to work hard and make some sacrifices. The same would be true of one's desire to have a body that is in great shape. The desire must be combined with a commitment to eat right and exercise; otherwise it will never happen.

Somehow, we understand the connection between high expectations and hard work in every area of life except for marriage. So many couples enter into marriage with high expectations, but without the understanding that it will take hard work and time to get there. In fact, some people are convinced that if you have to work too hard in a marriage, there must be something wrong.

No, there's nothing wrong. Marriage is work and it is successful only when people are willing to roll up their sleeves and give it their best. If you want to succeed in marriage, you need to begin with a big dream in your heart for what you want to accomplish. Make sure it's realistic, but don't let it be too small. God is the God of big dreams. Then, once you have a big dream and some high expectations, commit yourself to working hard and sacrificing for as long as necessary to see your dreams come true. This also includes praying hard for God's blessings and assistance.

Big dreams and hard work are the magic ingredients that create great marriages. Do you have high expectations and a big dream for your marriage? Have you given up and lowered your standards because of previous disappointments? Are you giving your marriage your best and do you understand the work ethic and the sacrifice that are part of every great marriage?

I want you to succeed in marriage. Don't give up. Dream again and talk and pray with your spouse until you both have the same vision for your future. As you do, commit to God and each other to give your marriage your best. Expect difficulty and hard work. They aren't your enemies. They line the inevitable path on which we all must travel on the way to our dream marriages. There are no exceptions and no "perfect soul mate" utopias. Just the promise of happiness for any good hearted, hard working couple willing to sweat their way to the Promised Land.

Forum: RELATIONSHIPS

Personal Hygiene

misi — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:44:07 GMT

Bathroom Germs: Keeping the Bathroom Clean

If you follow a few simple rules for cleaning your bathroom, and cleaning yourself when you use the bathroom, you can usually avoid transmitting most of these organisms. Let's start with cleaning rules.

Clean regularly. This means cleaning all bathroom floors and solid surfaces with a disinfectant cleanser on a weekly basis, and "deep cleaning" -- a more thorough scrubbing -- about once a month. If you or a family member or household visitor has had the flu or diarrhea, you might want to step up the cleaning.
Use the right cleanser when tackling bathroom germs. Experts agree that the best household disinfectant is a 10% bleach solution (that means mixing one part bleach with nine parts water). Avoid buying already-watery "bleach blends."
Pay special attention to the toilet bowl. "That's where all the excretions go," says Tierno. "A biofilm grows after just a few hours with any germ, even normal flora, which can allow household pathogens to survive even with chlorine tablets in the water. So scrub that bowl with soap, disinfectant, and a brush once a week." Let the bleach sit on the bowl and seat surface for a good 10 minutes before rinsing with soapy water, adds Duberg.
Keep shower walls and floors free of mold and mildew. "Shower curtains should have a liner on the inside that's changed every three to six months, depending on how well you're cleaning," says Tierno.
For spot cleaning bathroom germs, keep either a spray bottle of 10% bleach solution, or packaged cleaning wipes like Lysol or Clorox, within arm's reach in every bathroom.
Don't reuse sponges, which can harbor bacteria themselves and leave surfaces more germy than when you started. "Instead, buy cheap disposable sponges or use old towels or clothes as rags," says Duberg.

In the battle with bathroom germs, it's also important to practice good personal hygiene.

Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before brushing your teeth.
Close the toilet lid when you flush. "Flushing aerosolizes all the organisms found in feces, and there are 3.2 million microbes per square inch of toilet bowl," says Duberg. That means that when you flush with the lid up, it's like pressing the nozzle on a spray canister full of infectious organisms.
Discard toothbrushes after you've been sick.
Use disposable bathroom cups instead of glasses.

If you and your family follow these simple steps, you're likely to stay fairly safe from bathroom germs. "The bulk of germs are harmless to us; they maintain our life and our immunities," says Tierno. "But it's important to know where the harmful ones are and how to deal with them so as to prevent unnecessary bouts of illness that waylay you for days." -webmd.com

Forum: HEALTH, STRENGTH, & VITALITY

FAMILY

Cielito — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:48:54 GMT

This is a very good article that i came accross.

I ran into a stranger as he passed by, 'Oh excuse me please' was my reply.

He said, 'Please excuse me too; I wasn't watching for you.'

We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told, how we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal, my son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down. 'Move out of the way,' I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heartbroken. I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said,

'While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor, youll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you. He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise; you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.'

By this time, I felt very small, and now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed; 'Wake up, little one, wake up,' I said.

'Are these the flowers you picked for me?' He smiled, 'I found them, out by the tree.

I picked them because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like them, especially the blue.'

I said, 'Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn't have yelled at you that way.'

He said, 'Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway.'

I said, 'Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.'

FAMILY

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days? But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?

So what is behind the story? Do you know what the word FAMILY means?

FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Forum: RELATIONSHIPS

Nigerian Player hit millions!!!

misi — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:43:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS Reaction was swift and ugly Thursday to the deals the Oakland Raiders gave CB Nnamdi Asomugha and punter Shane Lechler over the past two days.

"How many different ways can you say, 'What were they thinking?' " a team executive who declined to be identified said after being told the terms of Asomugha's three-year, $45 million contract.

"Insanity, stupidity, whatever you want to attach to it. Yeah, the kid is the best cornerback in the league. They paid for quality. I'll give them that. But that deal wrecks the league. Absolutely wrecks it. I'm sure Al doesn't care, but it's deals like that that change the league for the worse."

Asomugha (pictured) is guaranteed $28.5 million over the first two years of the deal and the Raiders will have to decide by the fifth day of the league year in 2011 whether to pick up the third season of the deal. If they do, the final year is guaranteed. If not, Asomugha can't be franchised (nor can the Raiders franchise him even if he plays out all three years on the contract), making him an unrestricted free agent at either age 29 or 30. Combined with the $9.7 million Asomugha made last season as a franchise player for Oakland, he stands to make approximately $55 million in a four-year stretch.

"And still hit free agency at the right time for one more big contract, assuming he's healthy," a second team executive said, shaking his head.

The fear among the executives is that the Asomugha deal will have a ripple effect on the rest of the league. Specifically, Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth is likely to get a contract that exceeds previous deals for defensive linemen such as Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney.

"You can argue that Haynesworth is a defensive tackle or that he's a bad guy," said a third team executive. "But if a cornerback gets what the Raiders just paid, a defensive tackle like Haynesworth is going to get a serious pay day as well."

Similarly, Lechler's deal more than doubled the previous high average for a punter. His four-year, $16 million deal includes $9 million guaranteed, according to sources close to the negotiations. The $4 million average per season exceeds the previous high of $1.8 million.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire

Forum: Africa

Top 10 Movies of All-Time

hairey — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:02:56 GMT

Casablanca
Citizen Kane
Gone With The Wind
Birth Of A Nation
The Jazz Singer
King Kong
The Wizard Of Oz
2001: A Space Odyssey
Psycho
Star Wars

Forum: RELATIONSHIPS

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Nigerian Player hit millions!!!

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