Relieving Stress

Quick Ways to Relieve Stress

We are currently living in a capitalist society where money and power rule. Therefore, many of us have become workaholics and often overlook signs of tiredness in order to stay on track. However, there is a slight problem we do not know how to manage our stress, which is definitely not a good thing! Stress has been linked to mental or emotional such as depression, anxiety, and anger. It also related to physical illnesses such as weakens the immune system. Therefore, it is more than important that you constantly work on reducing your stress level in order to maintain your overall health.

To release stress, you must pause and give your body the opportunity to go into a different "mode". You want to "change your vibrations" from the inside. Firstly, you should become conscious and aware of your thoughts and feelings. When they are negative or when you are feeling uneasy, disturbed, anxious and others, you should know that you are resonating with what you don't want.

Try to figure out what is bothering you. All feelings, subtle or intense, are preceded by a thought or outside stimulant. Do whatever you need to do to re-focus your attention, so that you change your state, which changes your resonance. The following activities will change your state in the moment, and, if practiced as part of your routine of life, they will help to permanently reprogram you.

· Take rhythmic breaths - any rhythm is fine through your nose

· "Sigh" deeply - if you're in a state of tension/anxiety only, not if you're depressed.

· Long breaths in or rapid, strong breaths out - Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. This breath will wake you up from depression.

· Alter your physiology - Tony Robbins is big on this one. Change the way you stand, the way you hold your shoulders and head, the way you walk, look up instead of down, smile instead of frown.

· Talk to yourself until you change your perception and thoughts and see the situation from a new perspective.

· Talk to someone else who is willing to listen, and/or can help you see things differently.

· Visualize - create a mental picture of what you want, in full detail.

· Affirm - repeat meaningful, inspiring affirmations or statements.

· Meditate - sit quietly and breathe gently even five minutes is beneficial.

· Pray positively - as if you believe you deserve the "good" in life.

· Give gratitude - think of what you have to be thankful for.

· Relax - lie down, relax and listen to peaceful music, a subliminal or "healing" tape.

· Be entertained - watch a TV program you enjoy; rent a video; go to a movie, etc.

· Take a brisk walk - bring your walkman and listen to a positive tape or uplifting music.

· Exercise - jog, run, lift weights, go to the gym, go bowling and others

· Movement - do yoga postures, tai chi, flowing dance movements and others

· Does something creative - sing, draw, dance, write, play drums, paint, play the piano, mold clay, finger paint, etc.

· Play at your hobby - if you don't have one, and have been thinking about it, pursue that hobby, for it will help you in the future to change your resonance.

· Read from a motivating or inspiring book - a few pages will do as long as it's enough to change your focus.

· Listen to a few moments of a tape that informs, inspires and/or motivates you.

· Laugh - if you can't think of anything funny, read from a funny book, watch a funny TV show or video, or do whatever it takes to laugh.

In time you'll find that many of your attitudes and responses are automatically different. You will be less "charged" by things and people that formerly bothered you and you will more frequently vibrate with higher, more positive frequencies, and those frequencies will draw more of the things you want to you.

The above is taken from Dynamic Self-Healing Manuals.

Pesta Tanglung Chinese Community 2009

30 September 2009

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, it is also sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival.¹

The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is usually around late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. It is a date that parallels the autumn and spring Equinoxes of the solar calendar. This traditional festival is celebrated by the Chinese community whole over world even though it is in different way of celebration. [1]

In this year, as usual, our college Chinese committee also cel

ebrated the mooncake festival. It is one of the annual Chinese committee programme, namely Pesta Tanglung Chinese Committee (PTCC), which is one of the grand activities in the college.

PTCC started with the barbeque dinner among the Chinese committee family. After that, there was also a riddle solving session .The participants were asked to solve the riddles which were hanged up under the lanterns.

After the barbeque, comes the time for prize giving ceremony. Each of the Chinese committee family was asked to present their lanterns in front of the stage. The lanterns were judged based on groups’ creativity. The function was ended with the announcement of first prize winner, the Black Tangerine family.

Then, it’s time to light the lanterns and have a stroll around the 12^th residential college!

Such kind of activities should be carried out every year. Through this activity, it will strengthen the relationship among the Chinese committee of 12th college. But, it would be better if the Chinese committee of 12th residential college can make the effort to open the participation to all the residents without having regards to their races. As we are living under the same roof, it is no offence for us to celebrate this traditional festival together.[2]

Author : Chung Moi Hua

Edited : Jackson

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[1] Google Search, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

[2] Personal suggestion by the author.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri ~

AIDILFITRI IS COMING!!!!!!!!

Hari Raya Aidilfitri which is celebrated in Syawal 1 in the Hijrah year is also known as Hari Raya Puasa ( Eid ul-Fitr), Hari Raya Fitrah, and Hari Lebaran( Day Of Celebration). Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a celebration that celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadhan which Muslims had undergone fast piety one-month long. It is between two biggest celebrations to Muslims, other than Hari Raya Korban.

Aidilfitri originate through two means namely through Rukyah (see new moon) or by Hisab (count). In case of Rukyah, when the new moon seem, this mark the beginning of month of Syawal, namely 10th month in Takwim Islamic Hejira. In Malaysia, new moon will be observed by officer work in evening side to dusk in several strategic locations.

THE AIDILFITRI SYMBOL

The famous symbol for Hari Raya's celebration in Malaysia is rice cake or known as Ketupat. Rice cake is particular food that we served today. Rice cake is rice that we steam in coconut leaf weaving or accordion leaf and usually it serve together with rendang. The other foods served during Hari Raya including lemang, lontong, dodol, and cookies.

THE PREPARATION

In Malaysia, Hari Raya Aidilfitri greeted merrily. Weeks before that celebration loomed, preparation atmosphere approaching an Aidilfitri has been felt. The shopping centre will hold sale and embellished with ornament largely. Great songs also will be turned on radio and on television. Plans rotation of an Aidilfitri would be screened.

In major road and highway nationwide, congestion will be imputed flooded city population homing to homeland to take an Aidilfitri together family and kinsfolk. This phenomenon is also known as Going Back to Hometown.

TYPICAL PRACTICE

Among practice done at Hari Raya Aidilfitri was the habit of visit. In Hari Raya Aidilfitri morning, usually before and just after that perform prayer on Hari Raya Aidilfitri, those Muslims who have lost their relatives would visit their grave. Then they will visit to their family house. They will forgive each other and forget the past mistake. In the basis, Hari Raya is day to forgive each other and also a day to consolidate affinity amongst Muslims.

Practice of giving money to children also very popular in Hari Raya. The Raya money usually given by adults to the children through money envelope.

At night of twenty seven or known as Malam Tujuh Likur (night 27 Ramadan), lamp or kerosene lamp will be lit especially in villages. Sometimes lamp will be replaced with electric light use because it cleaner and practical, however Hari Raya celebration originality usually would decrease with this use.

Open houses will be held on Hari Raya or during month of Syawal. Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivity usually will be prolonged until one month, and the festivity will be lost with his self when all people return to town after completed leave.

CLOTHES

Baju melayu is Malay community traditional costume worn by men in Malaysia in Hari Raya. This clothes is equipped with songkok and songket that circumference in waist part. Those clothes become norm womenfolk also was Baju Kurung and Baju Kebaya.

Nur Hidayah ( 16.9.2009/ 18.9.2009 )

Extracted from: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hari_Raya_Aidilfitri

Origins of Ramadan

Origins of Ramadan…

Ramadan also written as Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, or Ramadaan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramaḍān, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year as it is a moving festival depending on the moon. Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were claimed to have been revealed^{[Qur'an 2:185]} to the Prophet Muhammad

Privileges of the month of the Ramadan…

The most prominent event of this month is fasting. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sehri or Sahari (it means something we eat at Sahar), the pre-dawn meal, then they perform the fajr (or Sobh) prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib. Muslims open their fast at Magrib (at sunset) prayer time or Iftari. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next morning's fajr prayer call. Then the process starts all over. Ramadan is a time of reflecting and worshiping Allah. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual activities during fasting hours are also forbidden.^{[Qur'an 2:187]} Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God.

Specialty Bulan Ramadhan

>the doors of heaven opened and closed the doors of hell

>bound demons in the month of Ramadhan,

>there a night better than thousand months, whoever is honored, then it get the glory of God ".
>Bulan yang penuh Barakah > Full moon Barakah
>Pada bulan ini pintu Jannah di buka dan pintu Neraka ditutup > In this open the door in the Jannah and the Fire closed doors
>Pada bulan ini syaitan-syaitan dibelenggu > In these demons handcuffed
>Dalam bulan ini ada suatu malam yang keberkatan beramal di dalamnya adalah lebih baik dari beramal selama seribu bulan, iaitu Malam Al-Qadar. > In this month there is a night of blessings do in it is better than work for a thousand months, ie Malam Al-Qadar.
>Pada bulan ini juga setiap hari akan ada malaikat yang menyeru dan menasihati umat Islam supaya berbuat baik dan menjauhi perkara maksiat > In this day will also each have an angel who called and advised Muslims to do goods and avoid evil things

Keistimewaan beramal di bulan Ramadhan>Amal itu dapat menutup dosa-dosa kecil antara Ramadhan ini sehingga bertemu Ramadhan berikutnya

> Charities was able to close the small sins of Ramadhan this meeting until the next Ramadhan

>Menjadikan bulan Ramadhan sebagai bulan memintakan syafaat daripada amalan membaca al-Quran dan puasa itu sendiri dan perisai siksaan neraka > Making month of Ramadhan as a month requested the intercession of the practice of reading the Quran and fasting itself and shield the punishment of the Fire

>Bagi orang yang berpuasa disediakan pintu khusus baginya untuk memasuki Jannah iaitu yang dinamakan “Rayyaan” > For those who fast specially prepared for him to enter the gates of Jannah called "Rayyaan"

Ihsan Mimbar Ulama Ihsan Pulpit Scholars

Practices during Ramadan…

1. Read Quran - Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (juz, which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

2. Solat Sunat Terawih - Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 20 raka'ahs according to the three major schools (Hanafis, Shafi'i, Hanbali) of Sunni Islam. This prayer is performed only during Ramadan of the Islamic Calendar after salah of Isha'a. Sunni Muslims believe it is customary to attempt a 'khatm' (complete recitation) of the Qur'an in Ramadan by reciting at least one juz per night in tarawih. If someone does not know how to read Qur'an or cannot read it very well, they may recite Surahs that they know. Tarawih prayers can therefore be considered optional, not mandatory.

Siti noraniza bt sani ( 16.9.2009 / 18.9.2009 )

Extracted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

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SWINE FLU – H1N1 Influenza

Swine influenza can also call H1N1 flu, swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu. It is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Influenza A, H1N1 virus is a subtype of influenza virus A and the most common cause of influenza in humans. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. In June 2009, World Health Organization declared that flu due to a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. This strain is commonly called "swine flu" by the public media.Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.

During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human.

Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.There are some main symptoms of swine flu in humans. Direct transmission of a swine flu virus from pigs to humans is occasionally possible, called zoonotic swine flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of the 2009 "swine flu" H1N1 virus are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general.Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The 2009 outbreak has shown an increased percentage of patients reporting diarrhea and vomiting. The 2009 H1N1 virus is not zoonotic swine flu, as it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, but from person to person. Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history. A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a respiratory sample through a simple nose and throat swab.

Influenza spreads between humans through coughing or sneezing and people touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food. The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days for analysis.

Recommendations to prevent spread of the virus among humans include using standard infection control against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.

Chance of transmission is also reduced by disinfecting household surfaces, which can be done effectively with a diluted chlorine bleach solution. Experts agree that hand-washing can help prevent viral infections, including ordinary influenza and the swine flu virus. Also avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with hands prevents flu. Influenza can spread in coughs or sneezes, but an increasing body of evidence shows small droplets containing the virus can linger on tabletops, telephones and other surfaces and be transferred via the fingers to the mouth, nose or eyes.

Alcohol-based gel or foam hand sanitizers work well to destroy viruses and bacteria. Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should contact a doctor for advice. Social distancing is another tactic. It means staying away from other people who might be infected and can include avoiding large gatherings, spreading out a little at work, or perhaps staying home and lying low if an infection is spreading in a community. Public health and other responsible authorities have action plans which may request or require social distancing actions depending on the severity of the outbreak.

Extracted from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_flu

Members of Edisi Khas 12th RC

Authors: Joey Tan
Editors : Nadiah
Designer : Norsakinah

FESKUM 2009

Shaking up all students and outsiders alike, University of Malaya organized FESKUM 2009 in conjunction with the convocation ceremonies. Since the beginning, FESKUM has been a significant element for University of Malaya during the convocation period.

This programme is organised in the name of fun as well as fellowship. Those of you, who want to meet new people, make new friends or just want to have a fun day out, you ought to check out FESKUM 2009. This carnival also serves as a platform to promote good food from all around Malaysia as well as acting as a bridge for interaction among the students of University of Malaya. Even if you don't stay nearby, you will still be heading to DTC and KPS across the library and wondering what you should eat besides checking out how it is like during FESKUM in this period of one week.

I got there around 5 pm with a few friends of mine right after class. It was a great trip except that I got a little wet by the drizzle. A mini funfair has been set up in our beloved University of Malaya, offering everything that you can get.

The first stall I visited is a stall that exhibits traditional games for the visitors to learn how to play if they are first timers. Later, I walked all around the carnival and found many interesting things, but the booth that really caught my eye was a booth selling items which I call the “mobile bird nest”. You can get this item for a little over RM200 but it is worth every penny spent. These are quality, well-made “nests”.

And of course there's the food. I could go on describing the flavours of their hot burgers, nasi lemak, or their delicious local delicacies from all over Malaysia, but the list is endless. Simply to say, the food sold was awesome!

*ding ding* Do try out in Selera D’Royal.. =P

Some other photos of other stalls.

Not to forget, I would like to wish all the graduates a happy graduation. FESKUM is indeed a memorable occasion for the graduating students, who by their hard work and dedication have earned the degree which will enable them to meet the need of time. I hereby congratulate the graduates and wish them a bright future and all the best in their future undertakings!! Happy Convocation!!

In conclusion, it was a blast having to go to FESKUM 2009. I will be looking forward for this popular university event to achieve greater heights in the future. Do join FESKUM in years to come for those who missed out on the opportunities this year. Till then, see ya!!

Members of Edisi Khas 12th '09

Author: Chiong Hoe Siang
Editor: Candy Soh Yuen Yi
Designer: Yap Wei Yin