Health/Addiction: Stuff You Should Know

Stuff you should know to avoid, and the signs of the bad habits/addiction nowadays.

Nicotine
Smoking resulted in 4.9 million deaths in 2000. That number is expected to rise to 8.9 million by 2020. - (Action on Smoking and Heath, Australia 2003; WHO 2002)

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including ammonia (floor/toilet cleaner), arsenic (rat poison), formaldehyde (body tissue preserver), hydrogen cyanide (gas chamber poison). - (Surgeon General's Report, US Government 1989)

"A cigarette is the only consumer product that when used as directed kills it consumers." - (Dr. G.H Brundtland, Director - General Emeritus, WHO 2005)

Tobacco and puberty form a vicious link. Tobacco tends to be consumed more by the poor. In turn, it contributes to poverty through loss of income and loss of productivity due to ill-health and premature death." - (Dr. S. Pilanbangchung - Regional Director, WHO - SEAR 2005) read more...

The Computer Hangs or is Not Responding

There would be times when computer just stops while you are in the middle of your work.

The first thing you do is determine if the entire system is not responding or it is just the particular application you are using. Try to press the Caps Lock button, then see if the Num Lock and /or Caps Lock led indicators (in the uppermost right corner of your keyboard)light up.If they do, then it is most likely that only application you are using is the one not responding (see 1a.). If you see no reaction at all,then the entire system is not working(see 1b.) read more...

Little Red Bird

The life of a red bird.

As the red bird sings,
the world will go around,
as it always has, always.

As the red bird flys,
the sun will hold us in place,
as it always has, always.

As the red bird sleeps,
the moon will keep it silent,
as it always has, always. read more...

Forever

A love that lasts forever.

I never knew I could love anyone
until I met you.
You made me realize
what love is all about,
in your own way,
you helped me break the barrier of hate.
Long enough to catch a glimpse of a love
that is so everlasting.
You have given me memories to occupy
the emptiness of my mind. read more...

Five Facts About Soy

If cruelty to cows isn't enough of a milk turnoff, maybe these soy benefits will convince you.

1. Take your heart seriously by taking in soy that cuts cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease.

2. Had too much break-dancing during your teenage life and now trembling in fear of it's possible consequences? Soy protein helps preserve calcium in the body and promotes healthy bones. Osteoporosis away!

3. You fear your honey going menopause for the possible torment she'll put you through once her hormones go mood swingin' away. Turn the panic alarm a notch lower, for soy helps alleviate the symptoms of menopause. read more...

Five Sources of Caffeine

Fight off sleep with a natural chemical boost.

1. Cocoa
this is where chocolate comes from. Eating 28 grams of regular milk chocolate bar will give you as much caffeine boost as decaf.

2. Coffee Beans
On the average, a single-shot espresso gives a caffeine kick of 40 mg, while strong drip coffee has about 100mg of caffeine.

3. Tea
A serving of tea has, on the average, half the caffeine of a serving coffee. Oolong and black tea generally contain higher amounts of caffeine than other teas. read more...

Five Things You Didn't Know About H20

It's all good and crystal clear.

1. Interesting water-y things happen when our body metabolizes the things we eat. But while our bodies require about 10 cups of water for metabolism, it also makes half cup of water during the biological process.

2. We need about eight glasses of water, yes. But we also obtain about three and a half cups from the food that we eat.

3. Not all liquids you drink can make for the daily requirement of eight glasses. Milk, for instance, contains concentrated nutrients. This is why it is considered more as food than as drink. read more...

Damage Control

What to do when you accidentally drop your mobile phone into the glass of water.

1. Turn it off
Get it out of the water in 20 seconds or less. switch it off immediately and remove the battery. If you're in the beach and salt water's the culprit, sorry but you've got to prepare to retire the unit.

2. Take it off
Disassemble the phone. remove the SIM card, the battery, keypad mat, and casing. Pat the SIM card dry, and wipe the remaining parts with a dry cloth before setting it aside. read more...

For Love of the Game

Softball. Nope, there's nothing soft about it.

Mr. Webster defined sport as a physical activity engaged in for pleasure. For someone playing softball, I can attest that it is more complicated than what meets the eye. True, it resembles baseball though bigger balls, smaller fields, and more rules are used.I first played the game when I was still a freshman in high school. I thought it was just sport that's similar to soccer, only with a literally "softer" ball used. We played it for an inter-section competition so I went on playing the game without any knowledge whats over. I was struck out because i kept batting every pitch not knowing if it's a good pitch or a ball. After that, I didn't get to play softball again because on my second year I transferred to another school where softball is uhmm, a "dormant" sport. Softball became a sport that i dream of playing again, if given a chance. Then came high school graduation, where I received the greatest gift ever, the opportunity to be enrolled in a summer camp where I can play softball again -- the Softbelles Summer Camp. read more...

Top Three Common Dieting Mistakes

Find out if you're committing the most common dieting mistakes.

Most people would do anything to lose a few extra pounds -- diets, trips to the gym and joining all kinds of sports programs. Of course, there are the few lucky ones who don't have the seemingly perfect figure still have a complaint or two about their bodies. Sometimes, diets, workouts, endless aerobics, tae bo, and badminton sessions still aren't sufficient in getting us the desired look we aim for. What are we doing wrong? Is the exercising not enough? Is there a flaw in our dieting techniques? Find out if you're committing the most common dieting mistakes:

1. You skip breakfast and other meals
This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when they diet. Skimping breakfast is definitely a bad idea--whether you're on a diet or not. Skimping breakfast slows down your metabolism and conserves the fat as the source of energy to get you through that day's activities. When you eat breakfast however the carbohydrates you take in will be used as your body's energy fuel and is easier than fats to breakdown. recommended breakfast foods include wheat cereals with milk and fresh fruits. Try to stay away from fatty foods like bacon and canned foods, which have a lot of preservatives that are bad for the body. read more...

Brown Eyes

I stare at him oftentimes
wondering what those deep brown eyes are thinking,
If the slight wrinkling of his forehead
means that his thoughts are the same as mine.

I mistook the silence of mystery,
A puzzle I cannot wait unravel,
that there was a magnificent person
lying beneath the blank space that always faced me. read more...

Missing

I'm complete but I feel there's something missing
I'm satisfied but I'm still looking for something
I still have this desolate feeling within the deepest part of me
Though I'm not alone, not really

I'm contented but something's not making me enough
The puzzle is now done but there's a part that sticks out
I can still feel it hammering my insides
Telling me that there is still something that I should find

To nourish me, to nurture me
To make me feel important
Not to be obsolete read more...