Age-old fruitTHE Aztecs called the avocado ahuacati meaning “testicles”, which the

The dignity of old age

This is about a man who tells how his booking an air ticket for his father, his first flight, brought emotions and
made him realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father
had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of
being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Lufthansa.

The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air.
The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was
preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the
baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.

As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me.
He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great
deal to him. When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.

But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As a child how many dreams our parents
have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for football, dresses, toys, outings, etc.
Irrespective of their affordability, they have satisfied to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they
had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?

Same way, today, when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school.
Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks,
toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our
responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young,
it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.

Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience.
When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would
have felt at those moments.

Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children, the same attention
and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.

Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this
small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible
attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything
and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.

Take care of our parents. Don't take them for granted and make them feel small and unwanted in their old age.
They too have feelings, dreams, hope, aspirations, wishes (and many broken/shattered ones) too while
sacrificing them to give us our needs and our wants.

How to Tell When Someone is Lying

Watching body language in addition to what is spoken might just save you from being a victim of fraud, or it could help you figure out when somebody’s being genuine. The police do this during an interrogation.


You have to learn the little facial and body expressions that can help you distinguish a lie from the truth. Here are some steps and tips to do so.

Learn to recognize deflections. Usually when people are lying, they will tell stories that are true but are deliberately aimed at not answering the question you asked. If a person responds to the question “Did you ever hit your wife?” with an answer such as “I love my wife, why would I do that?”, the suspect is technically telling a truth, but they are avoiding answering your original question, which usually means they’re lying.
Mind exaggerated details. See if they are telling you too much, like “My mom is living in France, isn’t it nice there? Don’t you like the Eiffel tower? It’s so clean there.” Too many details may tip you off to their desperation to get you to believe them.
We have illustrators, and manipulators. Illustrators are a sign of telling the truth, this is when you are using your hand gestures to talk. moving your hands while you are talking is a sign of telling the truth. We also have manipulators. These, are the opposite of illustrators. An example of a manipulator can be playing with your wrist-watch, your jewelry, pulling on your ear lobe, etc. People who behave this way tend to be hiding something. The last, commonly unknown sign of hiding something is reptile tissue, most people have a reptile tissue in their nose, and it itches when you’re hiding something. But, before you assume that the person is hiding something, please establish a base line.
Base Line: A base line is what someone acts like when they are not lying. You have to get a base line before you proceed with anything. Imagine you have a itch on your nose ever since you got out of bed. And someone thinks you are hiding something because you scratch your nose when answering a question…oops. What the person should have done is establish a baseline. To establish a baseline, you need to see the person when they aren’t lying. Try asking what their name is, and what they do for a living.
Look out for micro-expressions. Micro-expressions are split second facial expressions that flash on a person’s face for a less than a 25th of a second and reveal the person’s true emotion underneath their facade. Some people may be naturally sensitive to them, but almost anybody can easily train to be able to detect microexpressions. Put focus to the upper and lower eyelids, the corner of the eyes, the mouth and the muscles surrounding the mouth, the eyebrows and forehead.
Shaking hands… When you meet the person who you think is deceiving you, shake their hand. Take note of the temperature. When you are sure they are lying to you, pretend to be leaving and quickly grab their hand for a “Good-Bye” Handshake. If the temperature is colder, they are fearful.
Notice the person’s eye movements. Contrary to popular belief, a liar does not always avoid eye contact. Humans naturally break eye contact and look at non-moving objects to help them focus and remember. Liars may deliberately make eye contact to seem more sincere. You can usually tell if a person is remembering something or making something up based on their eye’s movements. When someone is remembering details, their eyes move to the right (your right). When someone is making something up, their eyes move to the left. It’s usually reversed for lefties. (although not always true.)
Be aware of their emotional responses
Timing and duration tends to be off when someone is lying. If you ask someone a question and they respond directly after the question, there is a chance that the person is lying. This can be because they have rehearsed the answer, or they’re already thinking about the answer just to get it over with and move forward. A delayed answer can be a sign of lying. To tell the truth takes 2 parts of your brain at most, however to lie takes 6 parts of your brain. If the person has a long story then you can ask them to tell it backwards. Liars have trouble telling stories backwards, because in their mind they have rehearsed it forwards, but not backwards. And, as with smiling, facial expressions of a poor liar will be limited to the mouth area.
Pay close attention to the person’s reaction to your questions. A liar will often feel uncomfortable and turn their head or body away, or even subconsciously put an object between the two of you. Also, while an innocent person would go on the offensive (usually responding with anger, which will usually be revealed in a microexpression directly after you say you don’t believe them), a guilty person will often go immediately on the defensive (usually by saying something to reassure their facts, such as deflections).
Listen for a subtle delay in responses to questions. An honest answer comes quickly from memory. Lies require a quick mental review of what they have told others to avoid inconsistency and to make up new details as needed. However, when people look up to remember things, it does not necessarily mean that they are lying.
Be conscious of their usage of words. Verbal expression can give many clues as to whether a person is lying, such as:
Using/repeating your own exact words when answering a question
Not using contractions
Avoiding direct statements or answers (deflections)
Speaking excessively in an effort to convince
Speaking in a monotonous tone
Speaking in muddled sentences
Vocal pitch rising
Using classic qualifiers such as “I’m only going to say this once…”
Using humor and sarcasm to avoid the subject
Using Deflections (beating around the bush, not answering the question.)
Allow silence to enter the conversation.
If they’re lying, they will become uncomfortable if you stare at them for a while with a look of disbelief. If they’re telling the truth, they will usually become angry or just frustrated (lips pressed together, brows down, upper eyelid tensed and pulled down to glare).
Change the subject quickly. While an innocent person would be confused by the sudden shift in the conversation and may try to return to the previous subject, a liar will be relieved and welcome the change. You may see the person become more relaxed and less defensive.
Watch his or her throat. A person may constantly be either trying to lubricate their throat when he/she lies by swallowing or clearing their throat to relieve the tension built up. A person’s voice can also be a good lie indicator; they may suddenly start talking faster or slower than normal, or their tension may result in a higher-pitched speaking tone. See baseline info
Check the facts. If you have the means, check the validity of what the liar is saying. A skilled liar might give some reason why you shouldn’t talk to the person who could confirm or deny a story. Perhaps the liar will infer that the person is particularly favourable towards the liar, or that the person would have little time for you. These are probably lies themselves, so might be worthwhile overcoming your reluctance and to check with the person you’ve been warned against.
Judge the character. Most people tell the truth most of the time, and will cherish their reputation. Liars will ’sail close to the wind’ – they’ll artificially bolster their reputation so that they seem more credible or desirable than they actually are.
If you overhear a version of an anecdote that seems wrong, listen to those alarm bells – it might be a liar.
If someone takes the time out to ingratiate themselves with you out of the blue, it’s very flattering, but you have to ask, why are they doing that?
If John rubbishes or smears people more than normal, John is possibly putting in the groundwork so the audience are more receptive to John, and less receptive to the people who John has lied to – they’re discredited before they can say ‘John is a liar’.
Note -

Some people are extremely experienced or even professional liars. He or she has told their made up story so many times that they are actually believable, getting all their days, dates and times down perfectly! Sometimes, you may need to simply accept that you can’t catch every lie all the time.
If you do catch a lie, don’t reveal it to the liar; they will just adjust their story. Once you know one thing that is not true, you can use it to find more of the net of lies, and other nets of lies. Then decide which points you reveal and to whom

Epsom salt

EPSOM salts, or properly known as magnesium sulfate, derives its name
from the town of Epsom in Surrey, England.

In Epsom, the salt was distilled from the springs that arise where the
porous chalk of the North Downs meets non-porous London clay.

As such, the salts are made up of a naturally occurring mineral found in water.

The inexpensive and versatile salts used for a number of different
applications around the home are easily obtained at any pharmacy or
supermarket.

Many of the applications have to do with expediting healing, as well
as improving the quality of the skin and helping with basic grooming.

Epsom salt has been traditionally used as bath salts and is used as a
means of relieving stress at the end of a stressful day.

Two cups of Epsom salts in a tub of hot water can help to soothe tired
nerves and restore a sense of well being.

In modern times, the salts, which look like fine clear crystals with a
bitter taste, are diluted in water and consumed in liver detox
programmes.


Source: wikipedia.org, www.wisegeek.com

Exercise Triggers Stem Cells In Muscle

University of Illinois researchers determined that an adult stem cell present in muscle is responsive to exercise, a discovery that may provide a link between exercise and muscle health. The findings could lead to new therapeutic techniques using these cells to rehabilitate injured muscle and prevent or restore muscle loss with age.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in skeletal muscle have been known to be important for muscle repair in response to non-physiological injury, predominantly in response to chemical injections that significantly damage muscle tissue and induce inflammation. The researchers, led by kinesiology and community health professor Marni Boppart, investigated whether MSCs also responded to strain during exercise, and if so, how.


Mesenchymal stem cells (green) accumulate in skeletal muscle following exercise and release growth factors to spur regeneration. (Credit: Photo by Marni Boppart)
“Since exercise can induce some injury as part of the remodeling process following mechanical strain, we wondered if MSC accumulation was a natural response to exercise and whether these cells contributed to the beneficial regeneration and growth process that occurs post-exercise,” said Boppart, who also is affiliated with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the U. of I.

The researchers found that MSCs in muscle are very responsive to mechanical strain. They witnessed MSC accumulation in muscle of mice after vigorous exercise. Then, they determined that although MSCs don’t directly contribute to building new muscle fibers, they release growth factors that spur other cells in muscle to fuse and generate new muscle, providing the cellular basis for enhanced muscle health following exercise.

A key element to the Illinois team’s method was in exercising the mice before isolating the cells to trigger secretion of beneficial growth factors. Then, they dyed the cells with a fluorescent marker and injected them into other mice to see how MSCs coordinated with other muscle-building cells.

In addition to examining the cells in vivo, the researchers studied the cells’ response to strain on different substrates. They found that MSC response is very sensitive to the mechanical environment, indicating that conditions of muscle strain affect the cells’ activity.

“These findings are important because we’ve identified an adult stem cell in muscle that may provide the basis for muscle health with exercise and enhanced muscle healing with rehabilitation/movement therapy,” Boppart said. “The fact that MSCs in muscle have the potential to release high concentrations of growth factor into the circulatory system during exercise also makes us wonder if they provide a critical link between enhanced whole-body health and participation in routine physical activity.”

Next, the group hopes to determine whether these cells contribute to the decline in muscle mass over a person’s lifetime. Preliminary data suggest MSCs become deficient in muscle with age. The team hopes to develop a combinatorial therapy that utilizes molecular and stem-cell-based strategies to prevent age-related muscle loss.

“Although exercise is the best strategy for preserving muscle as we age, some individuals are just not able to effectively engage in physical activity,” Boppart said. “Disabilities can limit opportunities for muscle growth. We’re working hard to understand how we can best utilize these cells effectively to preserve muscle mass in the face of atrophy.”

The team published its findings in the journal PLoS One. The Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, the Ellison Medical Foundation and the Mary Jane Neer Foundation supported this work.

New Zealand scientists discover how infection triggers blood stem cell growth

Research at The University of Auckland has shed light on an area of medicine which has intrigued the international scientific community for decades.

Scientists at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences have identified a molecular mechanism which links infection to an increase in rare blood stem cells in an animal.

Their paper was published today in the prestigious Boston-based journal Cell Stem Cell. This high impact journal publishes novel results of unusual significance in the field of stem cell research.

The findings show blood stem and progenitor cells can directly react to inflammatory stress by proliferating and differentiating into the required mature blood cells.

The discovery opens up a field of study into stem cells and how the blood system is “fine-tuned” in response to stressors. This new understanding of exactly how microbes signal to the stem cells has important implications for the treatment of infections and many diseases that have an inflammatory component, including cancer.

“The longer term impact could be significant in terms of how stem cell growth and development can be manipulated therapeutically. There is an international effort aimed at identifying molecules that can be used to boost blood stem cell numbers,” says Professor Phil Crosier from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology.

“People have, for a long time, speculated that there must be some connection between infection and blood stem cell function, yet how the infection communicates to stem cells has been poorly understood. We have identified a novel unexpected mechanism that functions as an important link between infection and stem cell behaviour.”

Lead researcher on the two-year study which was funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Dr Chris Hall, explains that the connection came about through a serendipitous observation: “It was just by chance that during an infection within a zebrafish embryo, we saw that the stem cells had increased. We wanted to understand the mechanism by which this occurred. By exploiting these two areas of research we have used infection as a window to gain unique insights into stem cell behaviour.”

The next step in the research process will be to validate the findings in mammals before scientists begin developing drugs which are able to mimic the signal pathways that take place between the infection microbes and the stem cells.

Stress Management - Excellent *

A young lady confidently walked around the room while reading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... She fooled them all..., "How heavy is this glass of water?" - she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced.

So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.


Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later, after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"
REMEMBER, STRESS IS SOMETHING THAT
WE DO TO OURSELVES !!

1 * Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon,
and some days you're the statue!
2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.


3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.


4 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..


5 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague


6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it..


7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.


8 * Never buy a car you can't push.


9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.


10 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.


11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.


12 * The second mouse gets the cheese.


13 * When everything's coming your way,
you're in the wrong lane.


14 * Birthdays are good for you. The more
you have, the longer you live.


15 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.


16 * Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.


17 * We could learn a lot from crayons.
Some are sharp, some are pretty and
some are dull. Some have weird
names and all are different colors,
but they all have to live in the same box.



18 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.



19 * Have an awesome day and know that
someone thought about you today.


20 * It was me, your friend!


*Save the earth..... It's the only planet with chocolate !*

Choosing a bride

A Mother was very concerned that her middle-aged son has not shown the
slightest indication of getting married. So one day she called him over
to her house.
The Son came home from work, grudgingly. Upon arriving, he found that his
mother had gathered a few beautiful ladies at the house for him to choose
as his future bride.
The FIRST one was a well-endowed Telephonist-cum-Receptionist. He
immediately commented: 'Aiyaa..... Mother, they always say..... PLEASE
HOLD ON, HOLD ON.........DD.'
The SECOND nominee was a leggy secretary. She was also rejected. Reason
being: 'Aiyaa.... Mother, this one aaa..., Secretary always fond of saying
'Please SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN......DD.'
By this time, the mother is nearing frustration. She called a sweet but
plain-looking Teacher. The Son suddenly agreed!!
The Mother was surprised and asked: 'Why this one? I thought the earlier
two were a lot better.
He replied: 'Teacher aaa..... Teacher very good, very patient, always say:
PLEASE REPEATED IT AGAIN, I want it done 10 times....

Yin Of Chengdu And Yang Of Kunming Chinese Feng Shui

When I arrived in Kunming, which is located in the Yunnan province of China, a curious thing happened; the city was Yang.

Now, why would anyone say that? Sure die in the woods, Feng Shui addicts like myself unfortunately view landscapes as expressions of Yin and Yang or a combination of both and their exhibition of Qi (Chi energy) in a Sheng (auspicious) or Sha (inauspicious) form. And as such, attaching myself to them as a place to be in or prefer not to be. Why can`t I just look at a landscape and learn to enjoy it for what it offers?

To someone like me, Kunming is missing out on the Qi auspicious stakes. I think so because I had been influenced by first impressions, waking up (after sleeping in a hard sleeper compartment) on a 20 hour train ride from Chengdu to Kunming. The 800 or so Kilometre journey partly taken up looking out of the train window, enthralled by the incredible productive and picturesque landscapes scattered along and drawing themselves away within misty hills into secluded valleys. Basically doing so until we left those fertile slopes and valleys and wound our way into torturous mountains, where slopes increased and the impact from the Chinese peasant and farmer becoming nonexistent. Soils barren, infertile and clinging to steep slopes resisting any intrusions by the Chinese to touch them in any way.

These were hostile places for mankind, yet beautiful in their natural grandeur and finally disappearing as the sun set and the train journeying into the night. As a bypass, China`s rail system is very proficient. Dual concrete sleeper tracks, some electrification present, rail tunneling through and around mountains, transcending ravines on suspended bridges, quiet and running on time. Hey, I`m jealous, why can`t we have something of China`s rail systems?

Coming back to Kunming and its Yang landscapes and the train passing through different countryside to that of Chengdu. Hills bare of vegetation, soils clayish grey and stony, stone outcroppings, rivers and streams dry and no rice to be seen. Kunming is in drought, waiting for summer rains, dusty, hot and dry in nature as all places become when relying on rainfall and the flush of new life in the natural landscapes.

These are Yang characteristics, yet I noticed the good people of Kunming were exhibiting something of the landscape`s nature. Kunming`s people, appeared (to a casual observer) to be not as friendly when compared to the Chengdu Chinese. They seemed more purposeful, direct and wanting to quell nature rather than transpose themselves within it. Kunming is a bustling city, but unblessed on our visit by the greenery and bounty of places such as Chengdu, which is more harmonised by naturalness and bountiful beauty.

It`s not to say don`t go down to Kunming. I`m sure the rains will come soon and green up the parched earth, fill the paddies for rice to become established and soften the air so Kunming`s people can breathe in vital Qi and restore harmony into their lives. As an aside, Kunming`s streets and boulevards are becoming lined with trees of the instant kind, so the day will arise when Kunming`s image of Yang will abate. Besides, Kunming`s food is delicious and so is their provincial tea.

My Dragon Year Celebration

On the eve of Chinese New year, we had a wonderful reunion dinner with family. My 2 brothers were around this time and my parents even invited my father's friend who is from the same church to enjoy the dinner with us. My mum is a good cook. She cooked many delicious food such as soup, noodle, fried chicken and so on. We ate a lot. I ate till I'd stomachache and I went to the toilet twice. Haha. What a funny girl. Around 12.00 am, many people played fire crackers. actually I dislike the noise of fire crackers. It is a disturbance. The first day of c n y was raining very heavily. We had church service in the morning and I went to church with my whole family. After that, we went to pastor's house and my 2 friends' houses for visiting. After that, we went home waiting for visitors to come but no one would come on the first day. On the second day, We went to 5 houses. There were also many ppl coming to my house on that day. I went to my friend's house. On the fourth day, My brother's girlfriend invited my family to her open house. I ate curry and rendang. It was very nice. On the sixth day, the residents of blind centre were invited to a friend's coffee shop for lunch. She is indeed a kind person. She treated us well and even gave us Rm5. May God bless her richly. This time, c n y was quite fun except some unlucky experiences took place on the second till fifth day. I dislike to hear ppl quarreling. I also collected lots of ang pau during c n y. My father gave me rm1000 and my mum gave me rm500. My eldest brother gave me rm50 and my second brother gave me ad (australian dollar)50. Apart from that, I also collected some ang paus from the blind centre. Total will be rm95 from the centre. some kind ppl had donated them. My aunties and uncles also gave me. I'm going to keep my money in the bank... Today is the last day of c ny and also known as Cap Goh Mei.. There were around 8 ppl taking dinner in my family. We all ate happily. My aunty and cousin came and my father's friend came too. Hope the year of the dragon will bring peace and prosperity to my family and all.
God bless.

Entrepreneurs bring Internet coding skills to everyday users

CODING MADE EASY: The Codecademy site. Codecademy, which offers free
courses to anyone who is interested in learning web coding, has
managed to sign up hundreds of thousands of users since launching in
August. CHICAGO: Not too long ago, web coding was the rarified realm
of computer geeks, but a new crop of entrepreneurs is making this
valuable computer skill available to just about anyone with an
inclination to learn.

In New York, a nascent startup called Codecademy, the brainchild of
two former Columbia University students, has managed to sign up
hundreds of thousands of users since launching in August. Celebrity
participants such as New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg have helped create
buzz.

"Coding is the new literacy," said co-founder Zach Sims.

"As the world moves toward becoming increasingly complicated, it's
important to know what you're doing."

Codecademy's self-guided courses, with names like "Hello New York,"
and "FizzBuzz," are free. An introductory segment to JavaScript, a
language often used to build websites, took about five minutes and was
admittedly addictive.

Sims, who at 21 has already worked for prominent startups including
the former filesharing service Drop.io and group messaging site
groupme -now part of Skype - took a leave of absence from Columbia so
that he and partner Ryan Bubinski could dedicate their time fully to
the effort. The project was born in part from Sims' frustration when
learning to code.

"I was reading books and taking classes and watching video," he
recalled. "I was always dissatisfied.

Codecademy had more than 500,000 users through early November, the
last time figures were disclosed. Its latest initiative, dubbed Code
Year, challenges would-be users to make coding a New Year's
resolution; the campaign pulled in close to 300,000 adherents in just
eight days time, Sims said.

In October, Codecademy announced US$2.5mil (RM7.5mil) in startup
funding from a group of high-profile investors. Among them was Union
Square Ventures, a VC firm that has backed powerhouses such as Twitter
and Zynga.

"On a really fundamental level their vision is teaching the world how
to program for free," said Andy Weissman, a Union Square partner.
"That's a really big vision; it's a vision that's really right for the
time that we're in now. It's an important skill for people to learn."

Sims declined to provide specifics on the business model, but said
once the site builds scale, it should be able to attract a range of
business partners. Weissman said the creation of a large network of
engaged users could generate interest among corporate recruiters and
as well as those looking to find jobs.

To be sure, skilled IT professional are hard to find. According to a
May 2011 survey from ManpowerGroup, the employment services agency, IT
staff and engineers were among the top ten most difficult US jobs to
fill.

Even those who don't plan on becoming professional coders are finding
the skills beneficial, whether they run their own businesses, work in
large companies or use them in everyday life.

One is David Whittemore, the co-founder of Clothes Horse, an emerging
startup that offers advise about clothing fit and sizing to consumers
who purchase apparel online. He has been taking Codecademy courses,
but has no plans to become a web engineer.

"I actually think almost everybody should learn to code," said
Whittemore, adding that his new knowledge has eased the burden on his
company's chief technology officer.

"The more I can get involved and help him out, the better it is for
our business - being able to put a prototype together for him, get
access on the data on how a product is performing so I don't have to
ask him," he said.

"How much will it save us? Basically hiring a consultant or contractor
or having to hire another team member."

Therein lies the rub. At a time when more and more new ventures are
deploying so-called "lean" startup practices, the more skills and
services they can perform in house will help to keep their costs down.

Other entrepreneurs have recognised this need. In Chicago, Mike McGee
and Neal Sales-Griffin, a team of recently minted Northwestern
University graduates, are tapping demand for coding skills with a
different kind of training model under a similar name: Code Academy.
Theirs charges students US$6,000 (RM18,000) a pop for a 10-week course
at an actual school.

The two began working on the idea in April, eventually quitting their
jobs and jumping in headlong.

Demand for initial classes beginning in October quickly outstripped
supply. There were 88 applicants for just 12 spots, all willing to
plunk down tuition before Code Academy had even secured actual office
space.

So the founders upped class size to 35, and lucked out leasing space
inside of the headquarters of Groupon, the online couponing site.

"We didn't have to take in any investment," said McGee, who at 23 is
younger than many of his students. "We went from having no money to
being profitable by the first week of September."

The programme recently began its second series in the city's John
Hancock building with 57 students, including some who are taking
instruction in website design.

"It's just exploding," said McGee, whose business is already
profitable. "We have people that are 21 and people that are 52 - from
all over the world. It's just a big mixing pot." - Reuters

Lemon water

Lemon ONLY Kills Cancer Cells
Just cut 2-3 thin slices of lemon in a cup/cctainer andadd drinking water
will become "alkaline water0eadrink for the whole day, just by adding
drinking water. Take it as drinking water everyday is good for everybody.
Start to do this for your family drinking jar. Keep your body
ALKALINE.

Study: Working too much may increase risk of depression

WASHINGTON: The odds of a major depressive episode are more than
double for those working 11 or more hours a day compared to those
working seven to eight hours a day, according to a report published in
the online journal PLoS ONE.

The authors, led by Marianna Virtanen of the Finnish Institute of
Occupational Health and University College London, followed about
2,000 middle-aged British civil servants and found a robust
association between overtime work and depression.

This correlation was not affected when the analysis was adjusted for
various possible confounders, including socio-demographics, lifestyle,
and work-related factors.

There have been a number of previous studies on the subject, with
varying results, but the researchers emphasise that it is hard to
compare results across these studies because the cut-off for
"overtime" work has not been standardised.

"Although occasionally working overtime may have benefits for the
individual and society, it is important to recognise that working
excessive hours is also associated with an increased risk of major
depression", Virtanen said in a statement. - Bernama

I Can't Stand My Life

I don't know what's going to happen to me in the future. These 3 days, I've not been feeling well. I tend to lose patience and get angry. These few days, I'd stomachache and I wasn't in a good mood to work. Every time I go to my workplace, I'll look angrily. I've problems again... Firstly, one of my friends who's in the massage class is learning the computer from me. but because she knows most of the things about computer, she says my class is very boring. Since I'm teaching the basic course now, I just concentrate on keyboard help and typing using microsoft word. I just ask the students to memorize the positions of a till z and numbers and so on. I introduce to them what's keyboard for few days already till they can understand. However, one of my students who is a female who knows most of the things about computer kept complaining, "Boring! boring! boring! why don't you teach new things? Do you have other alternative?" That makes me angry. Since I kept in my heart for too long, I told her, "What suggestions do you have for my teaching?" and She said, "How do I know? You are the teacher." And, I was angry again by saying, "Others never complain my lesson is boring. You are the only one complaining. I can't only think of you. I've to teach all the others who are new to computer." I answered her angrily. She scolded or answered me back, "Ruth, I think if you go to KL, you need to change yourself. You are easily quick tempered. Why don't you cool down?" I was really angry by her words as I thought I got angry with reasons. Number 1, she is thinking only of herself. Number 2, she is selfish not giving me the alternative of how I can improve my teaching. I told her, "I'm an untrained teacher and never get experience of teaching before. This is my first time teaching." I don't want to hate my friend but she has wounded and hurt me. Please understand my feeling before you say anything okay... Give me chance to improve as I've been working only for few weeks... I've tried my very best to teach. First method, I teach one by one as everyone is calling on me and wants to ask me questions. Secondly, I'll test all the students at the same time. However, I found that teaching one by one works better than the second one. So, I'm really stress out... Everyday, I worry whether ppl understand my teaching and worry about the teaching plan... Furthermore, this afternoon an Englishman from Scotland was observing me teaching at the same time taking photo of me. I asked the photographer, "Is my strategies of teaching okay?" He said, "You are a great teacher." I was a little nervous. I'm wondering is everything my failure? I just think that if I don't teach well or ppl don't understand what I teach, everything is my fault. Life as a teacher is never easy. I really force myself to teach as I need to be committed to my work. that's why I don't have time to sit down as there is no place and everyone is calling on me and I've to check on them. I'll ask my students, "are you okay?" or "do you understand?" But my female student and another person not related to take this lesson say I never ask. I feel angry of being accused. I'm going to complain to my boss sometime. I'll complain without telling them. I don't care whether they get angry with me. I don't care who is going to read my blog. If you know you have hurt me, it's my freedom to write about what I'm going through on my blog. Hey... Those who are not supposed to come to my lesson, please go out of this class... You are disturbing my lesson... I didn't tell them today instead I just kept to myself. but I'm going to tell my boss. Luckily when I got angry, it was almost the end of the lesson and the photographer went home already. Sometimes, I don't feel like teaching. Maybe I can suggest to my boss whether my female student can be excluded from the basic course since he's mastered the course. I only teach one female student and the rest are males. Another man, about 55 years old, wasn't willing to learn. I understand that older ppl get tired easily. However, when I go to him and ask him something, only then he starts to touch the computer. When I go to other students, he will just sit there and do nothing. I'm very angry... How to control my temper???I worry non stop nowadays. Always worrying the same thing. I even worry about my private problem but I'm not going to write here. Glad that my friend will bring me out tomorrow night. She is a doctor and she will bring me to visit the psychiatrist. Should I tell him my probs? I don't think he has the time but I'll try... another problem I'm facing today. A male student just registered with the centre yesterday seemed to be interested with me. He asked me very strange and personal questions. at first, he took me to the computer room and accompanied me for awhile. He sat next to me and asked me to touch his face... I thought I should learn to say no but I couldn't as I was afraid. He asked me again, "Do you have a boyfriend?" I said, "no". He asked me this question for a few times. I felt insecure. He asked me again, "Do you have a handphone?" I said, "no but I'm going to buy next week." He ask me again, "If you have handphone, can you give me the number as the first person?" I feel strange and something is really not right with him. I asked him, "why?" He kept asking me personal questions and my face turned red. He asked why is your face red? I was afraid to tell him that he does is not right. He asked me whether I felt he's not right. I said, "no" even though in my heart, I felt he's hurt me. When he went off, I cried as I couldn't stand and was confused of what has happened to me. I've lots of experience. how?? Luckily, the photographer who is an Englishman came early when I was alone. I told him of my problem even though I only met him the second time as I really can't stand. He said he can tell my boss but I discourage him to do so as I don't feel like sharing this problem to my boss at the moment. Another problem is I can't find peace at home... Parents are always quarreling... They quarreled very badly again yesterday till I really hate them... Hey... Please don't think of yourself... Please think of others... You only want others to understand you but you never understand me and others.... When you are sick, someone is not scolding you but when you are better, you start to sin again... and, you only pretend to pray in front of me and I really disrespect you... This morning, I don't know what's wrong with me again. Someone asked me," something is not right with you." I answered," something is not right with you instead of me." For those of you who have no idea who I'm talking about, please keep quiet and don't ask me about that... For those of you who know, please do join in prayer with me.. I need to have peace at home and at work.. The Bible says we can gain peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Very often, I'm affected by environment. Everything is not easy. I read about forgiveness in the Christian perspection. It's not easy to apply. Even though my boss says I'm very responsible and committed, I felt I've lack one thing: and the thing is patience and determination to face my daily challenges.. That's why some ppl say they are afraid of polite ppl as they will keep everything to themselves and burn out everything when they really can't stand. I'm this type of person. I don't know what to teach tomorrow. I feel like not teaching. When I'm sick, I still do my work but I just feel insecure and unhappy with things around. I'm worried I'll suffer from depression. I don't want to take medication. but sometimes, I talk to myself. Ppl thought I'm crazy. When I share my probs with someone., they see that my face turns to be sad and I sound sad too. not only my emotional but physical as well.. How come this life is full of pain? How to use my pain as someone' else's gain? I'm responsible since I was a younger teenager. When I was in form 1-3, I really forced myself to study. Every time after meal, I just studied and studied. Until one day when I was in form 4, I realized that I couldn't do that anymore. I couldn't force my body to study non-stop. So when I was in form 6, I got tired easily and each time when I'm tired, I must rest. Now, I realize I feel more tired when working compared to studying. Luckily, this morning my friend brought me out for awhile and I met my friends whom I didn't meet for quite sometime. I need to stop uttering negative words but it can't be done overnight. sometimes, I have high expectation of myself. I expect I can achieve things fast. I've to end here.
Dear readers, please continue to pray for me :family, studies, career and future. Although I was feeling very tired today, I just want to pour my feeling here. Sorry if anything hurts.
May God bless you all richly.

I Want To Express My Emotional Feeling

Finally I've vomited out everything that is in my heart today... My anger aroused... I taught 8 students today and I really forced myself to stand when teaching.. I can't stand standing for long time especially after 1 hour, I'll get very tired. Some of my students are very stubborn, likes to disturb me and doesn't listen to my instruction. I feel tired of life... Life is so boring... I feel bored about life...Everyday going through the same life: when I wake up from sleep, I've to rush to work and when I come back, I'll be tired, I'll do something at night and go to sleep.again.. Working life is definitely not easy. and Today, I scolded my students, "If you think you are so smart, then you don't need to attend my class. You all just play games, listening to songs, but you all have not done what I want you to do... I ask you to memorize the positions of a till z in the keyboard help on.. and, the latest time for you to enter the class is 15 minutes and after 15 minutes, I'll not tick your name... I know you all are older than me, but please respect me... Please cooperate... How do you feel if you are a teacher and your students do not want to listen to you? Will you feel angry? Surely you will, right? So please listen to my instruction." Today, is the worst time I've ever had. I used my fullest energy to shout when I taught them.. I've to remind myself to be strong. I've to be strict otherwise students won't learn anything. I've not been resting since this morning. and I scolded my students again," I only teach you until the middle of March. after that, I don't know who's going to replace me. So please bear with me. Please don't pretend to ask me questions if you have already known the thing." I've headache.. One of my students only come for half and hour after that he disappear... He does that without my permission. How am I going to take attendants??? "students, please do not give me headache... I just need your cooperation very much... I'm not going to teach you for long... and I'm sorry if I hurt you but it's for your own good. I can't shout. Once I shout, I'll have sorethroat..."" and not only that... This morning someone from Scotland came to the center. He's a photographer. He asked me to perform and I was nervous therefore played with lots of mistakes. My boss just told me this morning that there will be a function on this Thursday and I'll need to perform some songs. So I've to prepare in a rush. O m g... How can this be??? so hard to decide which songs I should play... I'll definitely play "San Hai Tan, and Kongsi Kongsi" which is a C n y song. However, I'm not sure whether I want to play grade 5 or grade 8 song for another choice. Grade 5 piece is easier and shorter than the grade 8 one. how??? have one more day to prepare... I've not practised for quite sometime due to my recorder being spoilt by my teacher b4. how??? stress stress stress depressed depressed depressed.... How to do last-minute practice and decision? I just practised after I came back from work till 9 pm. However, I played with some mistakes.. I'm afraid the songs I'm going to play is too simple and ppl may recognize the mistakes I'll make. whereas the grade 8 piece is too long and I don't think ppl will love to listen:instead they will feel bored... I'm so restless and emotional.. really feel tired. I aim for perfection.. What if I perform on Thursday with a single mistake? How how how??? The newspaper reporter will come on that day too. It's on the 2nd Feb, Thursday at 9 pm... should I play simple or difficult pieces?? That's why I always worry as I aim for perfection. I know the life of a teacher now.. teachers always have to face naughty students and shout when teaching. One more thing: I've to organize a computer course in March during the school holidays. I'm making the proposal now. I'm doing everything alone at the same time.. The proposal needs to be handed by this Friday. This Friday I'll be busy as I'll go out the whole day... so I've to send the proposal by this Thursday... o m g... How come everything come at my hand at the same time??? So stress stress stress and crazy.. I think I'll not be able to sleep this 2 nights. Should I sleep at 12 a. m?? Do I really need to force myself? The Singaporean work till 6 pm. I told my colleagues when they after 5 pm, they can't work. and, I feel angry and can't concentrate when ppl ask me questions when I play piano.. ppl? are you taking advantage of me??? Please understand my feeling b4 you do something la... Don't let me ignore you and not teaching you when I really lose patience... I really lose my patience today. I really hate one student. He has behaved rudely to me.. I think if he does that again, I'll chase him out of my class.. again, all these are challenges to me.. Maybe, when I really work next time, I'll have to face them.. today, when I scold my students, I scolded at the same time shed my tears. I feel like crying out. Colleagues also the same.. I dislike them as they always do something not nice when the boss wasn't around and keep saying they are stress.. When I'm stress, I just keep quiet. I just release by writing or praying... If you are stress, I'm also stress... Please understand la.. When I greet or call, you never answer but instead: you touch my private part.. hey sigh. Please do not do to others what you don't want them to do to you... and to students and colleagues, I know you are of other races but please respect me as everyone needs to be respected...I have to end here.. I'm sorry I write this with anger.. I just can't control myself today.
Readers,I'm once again so sorry if I write about sensitive issue today that hurts you.. I just want to express my anger on my blog again since I've no one to talk to now. Sorry ya.. Beg for your forgiveness..
Please pray for me for the better.
Thanks and may God bless us all.

A banana leaf meal on paper

PETALING JAYA: You've had “paper thosai”. So how about paper banana leaf lunch?

Breaking away from tradition for the sake of hygiene and due to a
shortage of banana leaves, a popular restaurant chain has decided to
replace the leaves with bio-degradable paper “lookalikes”.

Kanna Curry House, which is famous for its South Indian banana leaf
meals, is now serving the dishes on paper “leaves” that look like the
real ones.

Patrons settling down to a banana leaf lunch at a popular restaurant
in Petaling Jaya. But it was a banana leaf spread with one big
difference. - RAJA FAISAL HISHAN /The Star
“We have a shortage of banana leaves,” said restaurant assistant
manager Muthu Kumar, 23, at the chain's Section 17 outlet here.

“Another reason for the change is because a lot of our customers have
been complaining that the leaves are dirty. For us to clean each leaf
individually is just too much work.”

He said the restaurant chain used up to 5,000 banana leaves daily.

Muthu added that the change would be implemented at the other outlets
all over the Klang Valley.

“Some of our regular customers said using the paper leaves take away
the authenticity of the traditional banana leaf meals.

Breaking tradition: An employee of Kanna Curry House showing the
difference between the banana leaf (left) and the paper leaf.
“However, most of them don't mind the change as it ensures
cleanliness,” he said.

A regular customer at the restaurant's Section 17 outlet for over 15
years, Mary Chong, 48, said although she preferred having her meals on
a “real” banana leaf, she would continue to patronise the restaurant
because she enjoyed the food.

“The paper leaves take away the feel of a banana leaf meal, but the
food still tastes the same,” she said.

Shamrat Sengupta, 34, who frequents the outlet for breakfast before
heading off to work, said it was “strange to eat from leaves made of
paper, but at least it was clean”.

Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners' Association president Datuk R.
Ramalingam Pillai said he did not foresee other banana leaf eateries
in Malaysia following suit and replacing organic leaves with paper
ones.

“Indians have practised eating on banana leaves for centuries. In
Malaysia, the banana leaf meal is a staple among locals and has even
become a tourist attraction.

“It is true that it is harder to get the leaves now, but in my
opinion, banana leaf restaurants should not stop using real leaves as
it takes away the authenticity of the traditional meal,” he said.

Food Snippets: Barley

Barley with its chewy texture and slightly nutty flavour when cooked
is a major cereal grain and is a member of the grass family.

It is starchy, hence it can be prepared like grains such as couscous or rice.

Barley is said to have originated in Ethiopia and Southeast Asia, and
has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years.

In ancient times, it was used as food for people and animals and to
make alcoholic beverages.

Barley water was also used for various medicinal purposes.

High in fiber: Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family.
Although in this region, barley is often consumed as a drink, it can
also be used in soups, stews and breads.

Whole grain barley is high in fiber, rich in protein and is good for
the health as it is is regarded as having numerous health benefits.

Barley contains high levels of dietary fiber and selenium (a type of
antioxidant).

Recent studies suggest that a diet high in beta-glucan from barley
helps lower blood LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).

Barley may also help stabilise blood glucose levels, which may benefit
people with diabetes.

Sprouted barley is naturally high in maltose, a sugar that serves as
the basis for malt syrup sweetener.

When fermented, barley is used as an ingredient in beer and certain
distilled beverages.

It is the main ingredient in the making of beer and whisky.

It also serves as a major animal fodder and as a component of various
health foods.

In appearance, it resembles wheat berries, but it is slightly lighter in colour.

how to get police to catch burglars quickly when you are old

Phillip Hewitson, an elderly man, from Norwich UK, was going up to bed, when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?"

He said "No," but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me.

Then the police dispatcher said "All patrols are busy. You should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available."

George said, "Okay."

He hung up the phone and counted to 30.

Then he phoned the police again.
"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well you don't have to worry about them now because I just shot them." and he hung up.
Within five minutes, Six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire Trucks, a Paramedic, and an Ambulance showed up at the Hewitson`s' residence, and caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to Phillip, "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

Phillip said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"
(True Story) I LOVE IT!
Don't mess with old people

Your Colon & Your Health

Kids are proud to show off their poop—but most adults rarely glance inside the toilet bowl. But the truth is...Examining your poop is one of the best ways to find out what's really going on in your body. So take this quick quiz to get the inside scoop on your poop!
Question #1: How long does it take you to have a bowel movement?
[ ]Less than 60 seconds [ ]More than two minutes
Answer: Healthy bowel movements happen within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. The stool should easily come out without straining, grunting or any discomfort. It should have the consistency of toothpaste. If you have time to read a newspaper while sitting on the toilet—you probably have a problem with constipation or poor bowel health.
Question #2: What is the shape of your stool?
[ ]Long like a banana [ ]round, hard pellets [ ]thin, pencil-shaped
Answer: Healthy stool averages about four to six inches long and are shaped like a banana or a torpedo. Very narrow, pencil-shaped stool is a sign your colon walls are impacted or you have polyps or growths on the inside of your colon or rectum. This causes the stool to squeeze to get through. Stress can also create narrow stool.
Hard, round or pellet-shaped stool is a possible sign of poor liver function, lack of exercise, dehydration or constipation.
Question #3: Is your stool accompanied by foul odor?
[ ]Yes [ ]No
Answer: Gas or odor is a sign of a bacterial imbalance in your intestinal flora. The "bad" bacteria release foul-smelling gases and toxins that can cramp your colon and create embarrassing odors. You can eliminate this odor by removing debris and encrusted feces from the walls of your intestines and restoring the balance in your intestinal flora.
Question #4: What color is your stool?
[ ]Yellow [ ]Green [ ]Brown [ ]Gray [ ]Black [ ]Bright red
According to Mayo Clinic research, all shades of brown and even green are considered normal stool colors. And the foods you eat can affect the color of your stool. For example, beets, tomato juice, blueberries, popsicles and green leafy vegetables can affect your stool color. However, a distinct change in stool color can be a warning sign for health problems.
Yellow-colored stool indicates your food is moving too quickly through your digestive tract—as in the case of diarrhea. If stool is greasy or foul-smelling, it may indicate excess fat caused by malabsorption of nutrients.
Green-colored stool means your food isn't properly being processed through your intestines. As a result, bile isn't broken down—and gives your stool that green color. Green stool can also mean you're eating too much sugar, fruits and vegetables and not enough grains or salt.
Gray or ashy colored stool indicates undigested fats or heavy use o f prescription or over-the-counter drugs that contain aluminum hydroxide. It can also indicate a lack of bile in the stool that may be caused by a bile duct obstruction.
Black stool is a serious warning sign for bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract—possibly the stomach.
Bright red stool may indicate bleeding in the lower intestinal tract—possibly the large intestine or rectum. Hemorrhoids may also be the source of the bleeding.
Question #5: Do you pass gas while you're having a bowel movement or have you noticed air or bubbles in your stool?
[ ]Yes [ ]No
Answer: Air or bubbles in stool can indicate an intestinal imbalance. Gas producing bacteria may be overgrowing and competing with the healthier flora in your gut.
Please know this: A normal bowel movement happens within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet.
There should be no straining, pain, bleeding or foul odor accompanied with your bowel movements.
And wiping afterwards should be easy and simple—using just one or two pieces of toilet paper!
If that's not your experience in the bathroom—then you need to give your intestines a thorough internal cleaning!
When your colon is in danger—it will do anything and everything to send out an S.O.S. for health!
If you notice strong body odor—especially under your arm pits......Or if your friends shy away and frequently offer you breath mints—LISTEN to your colon—it's screaming for help!
And INTESTINAL parasites can also trigger:
Painful gas and bloating
Irritable bowels
Runny stool or diarrhea
Allergies
Skin outbreaks
Insomnia
Poor immune system
Muscle pain and joint soreness
And much more!











--

A strange twist of fate

RECENTLY, I read an article that blew me away.

Monique van der Vorst from the Netherlands is a 27-year-old
silver-medal winning Paralympian who had been confined to a wheelchair
for 14 years.

She had been an athletic kid who excelled in tennis and hockey when a
routine ankle operation resulted in nerve damage and left one leg
paralysed from the hip down.

Most people would consider it a terrible tragedy — to lose the use of
a leg because of an accident in the operating room.

It wasn’t reported whether Monique, at 13 years old, mourned the loss
of her leg, but it was clear that after the incident, she took up
handcycling and competed nationally and internationally.

She won six European and three world championship titles, reported The
Sunday Telegraph.

I gaped in horror when I read that in 2008, Monique was hit by a car.
Her spinal cord was damaged and left her completely paralysed from the
waist down.

Anyone would have thought it incredibly tragic and unfair that life
could get so much worse for someone so young and brave.

Yet, later that year, Monique won two silver medals at the Beijing
Paralympic Games.

I was sitting there on the couch, reading this incredible piece of
news and feeling in absolute awe of this woman who is only a year
younger than I am.

Then I got to the part where she got into another accident, in 2010.
She was training on her handcycle when another cyclist hit her hard.

Again, she was back at the hospital.

And what can only be described as a miracle happened — she started
feeling sensations in her legs.

Over the next few days, Monique was able to stand. Within a few
months, she was able to walk.

“After an accident in 2010, my body started to change. After a long
and hard rehab period, I am back on my feet again. For me, a new
competition has started now,” she wrote on her website.

It was reported that Monique has swapped her hand-bike for a regular
model and has started racing competitively.

She told The Sunday Telegraph that she does not expect to be strong
enough to take part in the 2012 Olympics in London, but her goal is to
cycle for the Netherlands in 2016 — as an able-bodied cyclist.

At this point, I could not help but think, “Wow. If it was me, I would
never have been able to overcome such odds with courage and spirit.”

Then I remembered something that my aunt had once said when someone
told her they admired her ability to raise a child on her own while
working and that they couldn’t possibly do it.

“How do you know you won’t be able do it?”

Anger, frustration, tears and despair — these are emotions that many
of us associate with the inability to do something.

Feelings and emotions are part of being human, but they are not what define us.

For example, someone may feel inadequate that he can’t make more
money, but it does not make him an inadequate person.

One may feel frustrated at not being able to walk, but it does not
make you a frustrated person.

The one thing that defines us is our mind. Sometimes, we make the
mistake of thinking that our minds want something when it is our
emotions that shout for it.

When we allow our emotions to take over our minds, we often think of
ourselves as the victim.

When we see ourselves as the victim, it is only natural to helpless.
Instead of trying our best to get out of a despairing situation, we
think that we deserve better.

After trying briefly, we get even more upset that the situation has
not turned around. It’s like saying “Why is life so unfair? It’s not
like I didn’t try!”

I do not think Monique van der Vorst saw herself as a victim when she
was paralysed. And if there ever was a secret to achieving great
things, Monique probably had it down when she wrote on her website:

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it,
change your attitude, but don’t complain…”

When we complain about something, it means that our minds have not
found a solution to the problem, or that we have not overcome it.

If we’re complaining about the same thing day after day, it means
we’re dwelling on it. When we are living in the past, we are not
taking full advantage of the present.

I do not think for a moment that it was easy for Monique to overcome
her emotions and strive to achieve what most would consider
impossible.

I am sure she had moments where she felt like quitting. I am sure
there were times where she gave in to her emotions and wept at the
pain and unfairness of it all.

If you are climbing a steep and treacherous hill, there will be
moments where your shoes will get caught in rocks and you’ll stumble.
Moments where you feel so tired you have to stop and catch your
breath.

If you are with a group of people climbing this hill, you will see
some turning back the way they came, thinking that there is no way
they would be able to get to the top.

You will see some simply stopping, happy that they have managed to
climb this far but do not feel like they need to go further.

Some will rest for a while and trudge on. They will fall and get up.
When it rains, they climb slower or wait out the storm before heading
upwards.

All three kinds of people are like you and me, normal human beings who
make our own choices in life.

When it comes right down to it, it matters little how good your shoes
and climbing equipment are, and sometimes, even how experienced a hill
climber you are, because the power of the mind overrides any physical
and emotional challenge or pain.

People who achieve the unbelievable have incredibly strong minds,
which they train and exercise constantly.

If we do not allow our emotions and ego to control our mind, we are
never paralysed. We will never be the victim; nor will we be helpless.

Towards the end of the article I was reading, Monique said in the interview:

“Do I believe this is a miracle? I don’t know. I do believe there is something.”

“But I don’t believe you can sit back and wait for miracles. You have
to believe in yourself.”


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

World's Famous Disabled People

Albert Einstein



The Mathematician & Physicist who had a learning disability and did
not speak until age 3. He had a very

difficult time doing math in school. It was also very hard for him to
express himself through writing.



Christopher Reeve



Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention
in recent history. Christopher

Reeve, crippled after a horse-riding injury, wants to be up on his
feet & wants to help others stand

confident too. His life is now dedicated to harnessing the power of
medical research to get up & ride

again.



David Blunkett



The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP is without doubt Britain's most famous
guide dog owner. Often

photographed with his guide dogs - Ted, Offa and Lucy - David Blunkett
also holds the powerful political

post of Home Secretary. Joining the Labour party aged 16, he was
elected to Sheffield City Council aged

22. He was the council leader from 1980 to 1987 until he was elected
MP for Sheffield Brightside. Seen as

the archetypal municipal Socialist, he is in many senses a traditional
Labour man - beard-wearing and

blunt-talking. Arguably, he is a role model for disabled people who
just want to get on with their lives.



Edison



Edison had a learning disability. He couldn't read until he was twelve
years old and had a very difficult time

writing even when he was older.



Franklin D. Roosevelt



Roosevelt had Polio, was governor of New York State then elected
President of the United States for 4

terms.



George Washington



Had a learning disability. He could barely write and had very poor
grammar skills.





Goya



Spanish painter (1746-1828): At age 46, an illness left him deaf. He
went on to create the most famous

Spanish art of the 19th century.



Helen Keller



(Devoted Life to Persons with Disabilities) She was Blind, Deaf, and Mute



Alexander Graham Bell



Had a learning disability



John Milton



English Author/poet (1608-1674): He became blind at age 43. He went on
to create his most famous epic,

Paradise Lost.



Lord Byron



"Mad, bad and dangerous to know", Britain's great romantic was also
born with talipes, a club foot. It is

said that he "walked with difficulty but wandered at will". He toured
Europe extensively and captured the

popular imagination through his poetry and his personality. From
gloomy egoism through to satiric realism

he was renowned for his writings, his sexual ambivalences and his
championing of Greek independence

from the Turks. Disability activist Tom Shakespeare summed him up in
the following way: "Most of his

poetry hasn't stood the test of time, but he was a blockbuster in his
day, and like very few other heroes, his

name is still used as an adjective - 'Byronic', meaning

dashing."



Lord Nelson



Viscount Horatio Nelson is certainly Britain's greatest naval hero.
His skill as a naval commander is, of

course, well-documented. He won crucial victories at Trafalgar in 1805
and the Battle of the Nile in 1798,

during the wars with revolutionary and Napoleonic France. What is less
often remarked upon is that a great

part of his naval career and his major victories were won as a
disabled person. Going ashore in Corsica

following the fall of Toulon, a French shot flung debris into his face
leaving him without sight in his right eye.

Later, an assault on Tenerife resulted in a shattered right elbow -
back on his flagship the arm was

amputated. He carried on as a disabled seaman for nearly ten years,
securing his most important naval

victories at the Battle of the Nile and the infamous Battle of
Trafalgar - where he died on October 21, 1805.

Contrary to popular belief, he didn't say "I see no ships". Instead he
said, during the Battle of Copenhagen,

"... I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes" and,
raising his telescope to his blind eye, "I

really do not see the signal".



Marla Runyan



One of the women representing the Unites States in the 1500 metre
track event at hte 2000 Olympics was

Marla Runyan. The American runner finished seventh in her preliminary
heat and rose to sixth in the semi

finals to qualify for the finals. During the final race, Marla lost
track of the major competitors. She finished in

eighth position, 3.20 seconds behind the gold medal winner. In 1996,
Marla set several track and field

records at the Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Following that
success, Marla wanted to compete in the

2000 Olympics in Sydney -- even though she is legally blind. The
31-year-old runner has been diagnosed

with Stargardt disease. This is a condition that leaves her with a
limited ability to see what is in front of her.

In Sydney, Marla became the first legally blind athlete to compete in
an Olympics.



Marlee Matlin



Marlee Matlin is a stand-up comedian and an actress. Some of her films
include A Dead Silence, My

Party,A Hear No Evil, A Bridge to Silence, A Walker, and A Children of
A Lesser God. In 1987, she

captivated the world by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in
the film A Children of a Lesser

God. Marlee Matlin became deaf in infancy due to Roseola infantum.
However, deafness has not disabled

her or her career.



Michael Bolton



(famous Singer): Deaf in one ear



Sarah Bernhardt



French actress (1844-1923) Disabled by a knee injury, her leg
amputated in 1914, she continued starring

on stage until just before her death. She is regarded as France's
greatest actress -- "The Divine Sarah".



Stephen Hawkings



Physicist/mathematician has Lou Gehrigs Disease and is in a
wheelchair. He needs a computer to speak.



Sudha Chandran



(Indian actress and classical dancer) This brave lady dances with a
Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie

on classical dance called "Nache Mayuri" & today acts in a variety of
TV serials.



Tanni Grey-Thompson



Tanni Carys Davina Grey-Thompson OBE - to give her full name and title
- is the disabled athlete that most

people instantly recognise. Formerly Tanni Grey - the Thompson was
added following her marriage in

1999 - she has competed in Paralympic Games since 1988, representing
Britain at distances ranging

from 100m to 800m. She has won fourteen paralympic medals including
nine golds, and has broken over

twenty world records. As a wheelchair athlete she was also the winner
of five London marathons - in 1992,

1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. In recent years, she has established
herself as a TV presenter - including

BBC Two's from the Edge disability magazine programme.

A Touching Story from a Father.

My wife called, 'How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you come here
and make your darling daughter eat her food?'

I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter, Lisa, looked frightened.

Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a plate filled with rice
and vegetables. Lisa is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has just
turned eight. She particularly detested the broccoli. I cleared my throat,
and picked up the plate.

'Lisa, darling, why don't you take a mouthful of this plate? Just for Dad's sake, dear.'

Lisa softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands.

'OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole plate."

'But, you should...' Lisa hesitated. 'Dad, if I eat this entire plate, will you give me
whatever I ask for?'....

'Oh sure, darling'.... 'Promise!'......... 'Promise'.

I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine, and clinched the deal.

'Ask Mom also to give a similar promise', my daughter insisted.

My wife put her hand on Lisa's, muttering 'Promise'. Now I became a bit anxious.

'Lisa dear, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items.
Dad does not have that kind of money right now. OK?'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive'.

Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity.

I was silently angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child eat something
that she detested. After the ordeal was through, Lisa came to me with her eyes wide
with expectation. All our attention was on her.

'Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!' was her demand.

'Atrocious!' shouted my wife, 'A girl child having her head shaved off? Impossible!'
'Never in our family!' my mother rasped.

'She has been watching too much of television. Our culture is getting totally spoiled
with these TV programs!'

'Lisa darling, why don't you ask for something else? We will be sad seeing you
with a clean-shaven head.'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything else', Lisa said with finality.

'Please, Lisa, why don't you try to understand our feelings?'

I tried to plead with her.

'Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that food'.

Lisa was in tears. 'And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for.
Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you who told me
that we should honor our promises no matter what?'

It was time for me to call the shots.
'Our promise must be kept.'
'Are you out of your mind?' chorused my mother and wife.

'No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honor her own. Lisa,
your wish will be fulfilled.'

With her head clean-shaven, Lisa had a round-face, and her eyes looked big and beautiful.

On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch my hairless
Lisa walking towards her classroom. She turned around and waved. I waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted, 'Lisa, please wait for me!'

What struck me was the hairless head of that boy.
'May be, that is the in-stuff', I thought.

'Sir, your daughter Lisa is great indeed!' Without introducing herself, a lady got out
of the car, and continued,' That boy who is walking along with your daughter is
my son Harry. He is suffering from... ... leukemia.' She paused to muffle her sobs.

'Harry could not attend the school for the whole of the last month. He lost all his hair
due to the side effects of the chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school
fearing the unintentional but cruel teasing of the schoolmates.

Lisa visited him last week, and promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue.
But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son!
Sir, you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter.'

I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. 'My little Angel, you are teaching me how
selfless real love is!'

*The happiest people on this planet are not those who live on their own terms
but are those who change their terms for the ones whom they love..*

Love, Touch, and Inspire your FRIENDS "The life is short, the vanities of world
are transient but they alone live who live for others; the rest are more dead than alive."

THE CARPENTER - really beautiful

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I 'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge .. A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched..

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.

"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."

Remember This...
God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you helped get where they needed to go.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in Heaven, and not to the gates of hell.

God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to, but He'll ask why you were ashamed to pass it on to your friends...


















--

100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better

If you think that iPods are used just for listening to music, you obviously haven't been keeping up with the latest technology. The Apple-developed music player now features all kinds of accessories to help you study better, and now other companies are in a rush to get their designs in sync with the iPod. Pre-teens, college kids and even adults are taking advantage of the educational benefits an iPod affords them. From downloadable podcasts to just-for-iPod study guides and applications, learning on the go has never been easier. To find out about the many different ways you can transform your iPod into a learning device, check out our list below.
Study Guides Stop trying to keep track of all your Spark Notes and endless study guides. Use these programs to upload study materials onto your iPod.


1. Spark Notes: Long considered a busy high school or college student's best friend, the online study guide database now offers users an iPod-friendly version. Get summaries and analyses of books like A Tale of Two Cities, Beowulf, Hamlet and more.
2. iPREP-PRESS: This website provides study guides, travel guides and foreign language training, all compatible with iPods.
3. Raybook: This company has turned popular study guides and flash cards like Cliff's Notes and Netter's into iPod-compatible study sessions. Programs use video, audio and interactive media to help you learn more effectively.
4. VangoNotes: College students can browse this website for audio downloads in subjects like Sociology, Nursing, Business, Computer Science and other disciplines to access textbook study guides.
5. NotePods: Currently offered for just $1.99 each, these iPod-compatible study guides give summaries on Jane Austen novels, Shakespeare plays, works by Tolstoy and more.
6. WorldNomads Language Guides: Prepare for your next vacation by learning Spanish, Thai, French, Hindi, Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Chinese or any of the other languages offered here.
7. CramSession: Computer and IT students studying for professional exams can find audio study guides here, ready to download.
8. SparkCharts: This designed-for-iPod study charts help students prep for tests in biology, anatomy, chemistry, algebra, calculus, Spanish and other subjects.
9. SAT Vocabulary Builder: Get test taking strategies and access to a flocabulary hip hop audio session that will help you remember tricky SAT vocab words.
10. Cisco Study Guides: Students and professionals studying for Cisco exams can access iPod-compatible study guides here.
Podcasts and More From podcasts to audio books and other downloadable learning devices, check out these tools that give new meaning to the phrase "continuing education."


11. GoogleGet: Get your Google News and iPod in sync by installing this software program. You'll stay current on all the top news stories, making you better prepared for class or work.
12. Smithsonian Global Sound: Listen to and learn about music styles from all over the world by checking out the downloads available at the Smithsonian's Global Sound site.
13. Soundwalk: This site currently only sells COULD's and MP3's, but you can use an MP3-IPod converter to check out unique self-guided audio tours like "The Bronx Graffiti Walk" or "The Paris St. Germain Walk."
14. ESL Podcasts: Learn English by taking these ESL classes on your iPod.
15. Pod CityGuides: This site has hundreds of city guides that are compatible with iPods, so no one has to know you're really a tourist.
16. iPod Spanish to Go: Learn Spanish on your iPod with this program that teaches pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and culture.
17. Mogopop: Use this online program to enhance iPod learning by adding notes, video and illustrations to audiobooks and study notes.
18. BiblePL-AYER for iPod 1.1: Add the King James Bible to your iPod for free with this download.
19. Brain Quest: This popular educational game is available at different levels for grades 1-7.
20. Stedman's Medical Terminology Flash Cards: This set of iPod-friendly flash cards will help any healthcare, nursing, pre-med or medical student prepare for an exam.
21. Teach Kids Valuable Lessons with Free Sesame Street iPod Videos: Lifehacker writes about the six free Sesame Street videos offered on iTunes, perfect for introducing your child to technology and other educational basics.
22. The Education Podcast Network: Find this podcast at the iTunes store to access information, tutorials and other materials about teaching students at all levels and in a variety of disciplines.
23. NPR Science Friday: Listen to clever, engaging discussions about science from National Public Radio's popular program.
24. The Philosophy Talk: This is "the program that questions everything...except your intelligence." Find it on iTunes to save podcasts on your iPod.
Tutorials These tutorials will help you make the most of your iPod by showing you how to learn new skills and create your own podcasts.


25. iTunes Store -- Audiobooks: Find audiobooks on any subject at the iTunes Store, including news, sports, technology, travel, languages, drama and poetry and more.
26. Kaplan SAT Prep: Supplement your SAT prep with this iPod-friendly download from Kaplan.
27. iPod Manuals, User Guides and Tutorials: Troubleshoot any problems you have with your iPod and new educational downloads using this collection of iPod manuals.
28. Video iPod Tutorial: Learn how to add podcasts, videos and more to your iPod by checking out this easy how-to guide.
29. Learning Podcasting: If you want to create your own podcast to share your skills or expertise on a particular subject, read this in-depth introduction to podcasting from Wise-Womenddorg.
30. Podtender 3.0: This software program will teach you how to make all kinds of tasty cocktails for your next party.
31. PodGourmet 2.0: Teach yourself to become a master chef when you get recipes for traditional and vegan meals with this iPod program.
32. iPod Lesson Plans: Use your iPod in clever new ways to engage students in the classroom. Lesson plan ideas include learning math with music and creating an audio tour.
33. Librivox: Access podcasts and recordings of book chapters from nearly all genres of literature.
34. LearnOutLoudddcom: This popular website offers free audio books, lectures and other educational material that can be put on an iPod. Browse categories like technology, religion and spirituality, languages, science, politics and business, among others.
Applications Check out these applications and software programs that will make learning with your iPod even easier.


35. iPodSync: Sync up your work or school Outlook accounts with your iPod by installing iPodSync. You can get automatic updates and transfers for notes, calendar appointments, e-mail, news feeds and more.
36. MP3 to iPod Converter: Use this software to convert MP3's to iPod-compatible audio books.
37. iGadget: Make your class notes, presentations, study guides and other materials iPod-friendly by using iGadget. You'll be able to move documents and files back and forth between your iPod and your computer easily and securely.
38. Plato Video to iPod Converter: Use this app to transform all kinds of video formats into MPBLED formats so that you can upload video clips and footage onto your iPod.
39. Anapod: If you're a Windows user but love your iPod, use the Anapod to transfer files back and forth, including class notes, Web clips and more.
40. CopyTrans: If you've loaded up your iPod with tons of finals week study guides, formulas and translators, use the CopyTrans to back it all up and get in sync with your computer...j in case.
41. iSquint: Convert DVD's, TiVo, AVI, WMV and other video formats to iPod-friendly videos with iSquint.
42. iPodifier: Sync up your iPod with TiVo, Windows Media Player or SageTV to view video streams of the news, educational programming or other TV shows on your iPod.
43. iWriter: Talking Panda's iWriter gives you the tools to create your own iPod study tools with this application and quick tutorial.
44. YouTube to iPod Converter 2.6: This free converter lets you watch educational videos, TV clips and more on your iPod so that you can review for tests, contribute to class discussions or add them to a presentation.
45. WiPod v1.0: If you're looking for a place to study, do some research or prepare for a business meeting, use this application to help you identify the nearest public WiFi hotspot.
More Downloads Find even more classes and audio books online here. Then, download them to your iPod and keep learning on your way to class, on the plane to your next vacation or anywhere else you have a few minutes to zone out.


46. Telltale Weekly: This audio book store allows students and literature enthusiasts purchase AAC-formatted audio books and stories for just 25 cents each. Browse categories like Drama, Nonfiction, Humor and Popular Authors.
47. Free Classic AudioBooks: Find books like Herman Melville's Typee, Huckleberry Finn and Swiss Family Robinson in iPod-friendly formats here.
48. Made for Success: This popular personal and professional coaching program is now offered in an audio book format.
49. Sound Book Emporium: Browse categories like Foreign Language Study, Self Help and Business to find a class that meets your personal, professional or academic needs.
50. Talking Books Network: Students can quickly listen to key chapters of books they need to finish for class or hear critiques of literary works to help them contribute to in-class discussions.
51. Project Gutenberg: This large online library of audio books and e-books contains stories and books in languages from English to Greek to Danish to Korean.
52. iJourneys: Take walking tours in cities like Salzburg, Vienna, Amsterdam, Paris and Ancient Rome by downloading iPod-compatible guides from this site.
53. Audio Bibles for iPod: AllBiblesddcom offers iPod-compatible Bibles for theology and seminary students, or for those who just want a more portable version to take along with them.
54. iLingo: This easy-to-use foreign language program is designed for the iPod and includes tutorials in Italian, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Russian and more.
55. PodGuidesddnet: Create your own podguide to give visitors an insider's look at your community, or browse through other guides to enhance your next vacation to Melbourne, Brussels, France's Opal Coast and more.
Classroom Help Supplement your class discussions with iPod tools like StudyGuideGuru and Portable Notes, which will keep your assignments fresh in your head all day.


56. The Teaching Company: Supplement your class assignments and syllabi with courses and study guides from The Teaching Company. You can search topics like Ancient and Modern History, Religion, Philosophy, Science and Mathematics and more.
57. Portable Notes: Use this guide to help you install Portable Notes on your iPod, making it easy to review class notes and study guides even if you're away from your computer.
58. Merriam-Webster Reference Dictionary: Download the popular dictionary onto your iPod to look up words and definitions in class, on your way to class or anywhere else.
59. StudyGuideGuru: This collection of literature study guides will help you prep for your next exam, paper or in-class discussion.
iPod Learning Support New iPod users will appreciate these crash courses in iTunes, podcasting and downloading, while seasoned iPod veterans can find new tricks to maximize their iPod's portability.


60. Get Tips for Podcasts: The iTunes Store publishes this tutorial with tips for searching for, purchasing and playing podcasts on your iPod.
61. Download and Install iTunes: If you've just bought an iPod, check out this quick training guide to get tips on searching for and downloading iTunes.
62. PDA iPod Guide: This website features MPBLED converters, iPod converters, software and tutorials that will help you turn your iPod into a learning device with all the bells and whistles.
63. Podcasting Plus: This in-depth guide has everything you need to know about creating your own podcast.
64. Podcasting Legal Guide: Understand the legal issues and limitations that affect podcasting with this guide.
65. iPod in the Classroom: Take a look at Apple's collection of lesson plans for teachers who want to use their iPod for classroom work.
66. iLounge: Get together with other iPod users to find out about new things you can do with your iPod.
67. Rock Your iPod with an Open-Source Upgrade: Consider turning your iPod into an open-source device, allowing you to access even more videos, tutorials, online classes and more.
68. 5 Tricks You can Teach iTunes: Maximize your iPod's potential by learning how to work these tricks, including sharing files, reversing sync and setting up smart playlists.
Tools and Sites Turn to these websites for access to even more audio books and iPod learning devices.


69. AudioBook-Megashop: Categories here include Arts and Drama, Fiction, History and Self Help. There are no monthly subscription fees; just pay once each time you purchase an audio book.
70. ShowFootage: Browse through this site's library of video clips to make your presentations and projects more attractive.
71. Audibleddcom: Find a large variety of books, newspapers and magazines ready to download to your iPod on this site. Categories include Romance, Classics, Business, History and more.
72. iPod Tours: Apple's iPod Tour Guide store lets you search for and download audio tours like Chateau de Versailles, Jewish Museum Berlin and Disney Cruise Line.
73. AudioLearn: This site offers all kinds of test prep guides for the SAT, MCAT, DAT, TOEFL and other exams, all ready to be uploaded onto your iPod.
74. Homeschool eStore: Find SparkNotes in iPod-friendly formats here.
75. English Tutor TeleCampus: Download test preps for your iPod to study for the TOEFL, GRE, GMAT and other tests.
76. Rocketbook Video Study Guides: These unique video study guides can be downloaded as MP3's, but use a converter to make them iPod friendly. Humorous videos include guides for The Great Gatsby, Romeo and Juliet and The Odyssey.
77. Books on Board: Search for ebooks and audio books on this site, in categories ranging from Women's Reading to Textbooks to Classics to Business.
78. iPlay Music: This set of music lessons is designed for a variety of multimedia devices, including the iPod.
79. MyTrainingCenterddcom: Access hundreds of video tutorials and how-to guides that provide computer and business training. Downloads are compatible with the iPod.
80. Unerase Tool: Recover lost study guides, class notes and other materials with this handy tool made for iPods.
81. Budget Travel Podcasts: The famed Budget Travel site now offers downloadable podcasts for vacations to Las Vegas, Miami and Quebec City.
iTunes U These top schools offer classes on iTunes U. Start downloading now to listen to Ivy League professors lecture, brush up on your foreign language skills or just broaden your horizons.


82. Stanford on iTunes: Take a class from Stanford by downloading one onto your iPod. Or, you can find interviews with faculty and lectures to help you better understand the course material at your own school.
83. University of California -- Berkeley: Classes from this well-respected school are available in chemistry, the social sciences, journalism and much more.
84. Duke University: Listen to the Duke Featured Speakers Podcast or check out notes from the Theatre department or listen to the lecture series sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies.
85. New York Law School: New York Law School has lectures on iTunes on environmental law, family law, adoption policy, legal education and other hot topics.
86. MIT: This elite school shares lecture notes, project discussions and more on subjects ranging from engineering to philosophy to urban studies.
87. Michigan Tech": Classes like Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering are all available in podcast form at iTunesU.
88. Yale Books and Authors: Check out this collection of podcasts from Yale authors and faculty, on topics like education, slavery and more.
89. Harvard Extension School: Take classes from Harvard from the comfort of wherever you bring your iPod. This program features podcasts of a variety of lectures and courses from the Ivy school.
90. Wellesley on iTunesU: Wellesley College courses and lectures like "Not Such a Small World: The Challenges of Globalization" and "Academic Frauds, Fictions and Fantasies" on iTunes.
91. Texas A and M: Find all kinds of workshop materials, lectures and other podcasts from this well-known school on iTunes.
92. Lehigh University: Listen to and watch lectures, news, videos and entire courses from Lehigh University.
93. Northeastern University: NU is another top school with classes, interviews and other educational materials on iTunes.
94. Queen's University: Canada's famous Queen's University provides lectures, sports events, news and more to people all over the world wanting to advance their education.
Miscellaneous Read below for fun tutorials and podcasts that will enhance your educational experience no matter where you are.


95. iPod in Education: Visit this site for advice, tutorials and downloads for using the iPod in educational settings.
96. Research at Chicago: The University of Chicago sponsors this podcast, full of interviews and reports fro the latest research projects in psychology, physics, law and more.
97. Business English: Learn how to communicate better and improve your professional English skills by tuning into the podcast on your iPod.
98. History According to Bob: Professor Bob takes his listeners through history, from Ancient Greece to World War I to the Aztecs.
99. Education Podcast with John Merrow: This PBS-sponsored podcast features correspondent John Merrow and his interviews and reports on the social, political, economic and cultural issues that affect our world.
100. Openculture: Free Educational Podcasts: Check out this extensive list of free podcasts from colleges and universities like Columbia, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, Stanford Law and the London School of Economics.
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