Gossip

I spend a lot of time conversing with my kids whose age range from 11 to 21. Lately I hear a lot of 'stories' which really are 'gossip' from some form of speculation formed from eavesdropping or by sight and thus drawing random conclusions.

When I hear these type of topics surface from our conversations, I am adamant about 'terminating' such frivolous talk. No, I'm not a self righteous goody-goody primp. I just think that it is my responsibility as an adult and parent to discourage young people in entangling themselves in such talk.

It is so easy to gossip about other people to create speculations from impressions when one is on this side of the fence. What if one was the subject and center of gossip and speculation? How would one feel? Such irresponsible and 'free' speculation lead to hurt, tears and sometimes end up even with suicides.

It takes discipline and even will power to avoid and to END the gossip when it reaches us. It needs a brave heart and a compassionate heart to trust that the gossip needs to end not only by my not repeating it but also to share with the one who 'informed' me why it should not continue.

Sure, it feels good to be in possession of some juicy gossip and it feels powerful to be the one who spreads it. But...can we really be responsible for it's consequences? Sometimes a lost friendship, a devastated loss of trust, even a potential suicide on our conscience?

Laugh at my face and say I'm calling bluff and I only have this to say, when you are young and the world is at your feet you have the privilege to make choices, thus make the right ones. END gossip now.

Oh brother!

Ok! So I'm a dud when it comes to photography. I hear people talk about shutter speed, light, settings, exposure, aperture, etc, etc. It makes no sense to me and I'm not interested to know.



In my world, "the simpler the better". I told my husband "please buy me something which I only need to press a button and the process is complete and over". Well, I've learnt over the years that it's not as simple as I wished it to be. *rolls eyes*



This was my first 'personal' camera. It died on me after a couple of years. We got it repaired at the Olympus centre in Hartamas. It finally gave way anyway. The flip lock for the batteries broke and from my unprofessional observation and point of view, it looks like the entire camera frame needs to be replaced. *shakes head*

So, we got this baby. One week later we found that it 'sucks the energy DRY from my poor batteries. It was giving me about a dozen or less pictures everytime I used FULLY charged batteries. I thought at first that my rechargeables were getting old and so I replaced new ones but the result was the same.

The first time it went bonkers (something wrong with the shutters), I got it repaired at the Olympus center and complained to the technician. Guess what! It's a common complaint and that's what you get if you don't know how to ask before you buy! *I felt so smart* (sarcasm meant here).

So, this baby died too at the end of last year.

For a time, I had to try make do with #1's toy. I don't know why she calls it a 'toy' because I'm absolutely NOT amused by it. Neither either by it's weight nor size! Hmmmphhh...couldn't handle the monster.

Too many buttons and issues to deal with.

I finally settled with this little retard. This belongs to #2.

No! Those colorful crystals didn't come with the camera. She bought them and bedazzled the camera. She had to add them one by one - so much patience!

I think I like this little retard because it's really easy to use. Just press 'food' on the menu and snap my bento. No hassle, no problem and no stress! Yippeeee!!!!

Chaos @ home!

The 'stars' of my blog post today.


I have two Jack Russel's and three mixed breed 'toy' dogs.


Hubs was away for two days and the security in my gated community visited me twice!

Yesterday, a security representative rang my door bell and very pleasantly informed me that 'one of my neighbors' has complained about my doggies barking incessantly during the nights.

While we were discussing, my 'mat salleh' neighbor, came across and in a huff and puff kind of manner began griping and grousing about my doggies.

I responded by reminding him that we are neighbors and speaking for the first time in three years since he moved in, that we should maintain the conversation 'friendly'. It's obvious, this Briton has relocated via the "Malaysia - my second home retirement program" and loving this new place called home (he claims) he needs his beauty sleep in "Silence" of the night.

Apparently, over the last one week, my doggies has been a noisy lot, every hour from 3.00a.m. till morning. Anyway, to make the long story short, after some unpleasant exchanges, I managed to pacify my gruff neighbor and departed on 'friendly terms'.

Come Sunday, I got an urgent call from #2. "#%&@*&%$!!!!!! she garbled", I deciphered her distressed report and analyzed the short exchange we had and decided that I had to rush home. It had to do with one of the Jack Russel's bleeding profusely and some struggle with some other animal.

On the way home, I got another hysterical call about my maid trying to kill a 'Cobra'. I just pressed my foot lower on the accelerator and began praying. By the time I reached home, there was bliss and no trace of any previous commotion except for a wet and washed garage.

Apparently we had an uninvited guest. Not a Cobra but a monitor lizard!


All the 5 doggies surrounded this four legged reptile. The 2 Jack Russel's attacked this two and a half feet long tropical lizard. It retaliated by whipping them with it's strong tail.

#2 & #3 reported that it was a quite a sight for a quiet Sunday!

Imagine my maid screaming with #2 and #3, five dogs barking at the top of their voices and my neighbors living diagonally across, together with her 3 maids were 'cheering' for my maid to 'terminate' the monitor lizard. (My good neighbor, in the mean time called for security back up).

Thank God that my maid has in her own home 'tackled' these lizards before. Because I am truly grateful to her for 'protecting' my 2 younger girls. Apparently the monitor lizard had heaved it's breath, thus enlarging it's chest, hissed and leaped towards #2 but not before my maid yelled for her to clear off just in time. And thereafter %^&$%$#!!@, I think, it was finally terminated!

See the 'bloody spot'? That's where the Jack Russel's' attacked.

The security arrived after everything was over. Our uninvited four legged reptile probably landed into a hot cauldron that night, and into some happy stomachs!


I never got to see anything but the the scratches on the two hero's noses. Listening to #2 & #3's 'trauma' right up to bed time was just too much. I slept at 4.00a.m. 'replaying' the entire 'story' in my mind till I slept as a result of exhaustion.



* pictures - courtesy of #2
this post has some 'gaps' in it's story because I don't want to include too many details.

Healthy eating 'can cut crime'

Prison chiefs have been urged to consider the findings Encouraging healthier eating could be the government's secret weapon in the fight against crime, according to experts. A study by researchers at the University of Oxford has found that adding vitamins and other vital nutrients to young people's diets can cut crime. They found that improving the diets of young offenders at a maximum security institution in Buckinghamshire cut offences by 25%. The improvement was huge Bernard Gesch The study - one of the first to show a scientific link between healthy eating and crime - has now been extended to see if the findings can be applied to the population in general. Bernard Gesch and colleagues at the University of Oxford enrolled 230 young offenders from HM Young Offenders Institution Aylesbury in their study. Half of the young men received pills containing vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. The other half received placebo or dummy pills. The researchers recorded the number and type of offences each of the prisoners committed in the nine months before they received the pills and in the nine months during the trial. They found that the group which received the supplements committed 25% fewer offences than those who had been given the placebo. The greatest reduction was for serious offences, including violence which fell by 40%. There was no such reduction for those on the dummy pills. 'Huge difference' The authors described the finding as "remarkable". Bernard Gesch said the finding could have policy implications Writing in the British Journal of Psychiatry, they said improving diets could be a cost-effective way of reducing crime in the community and also reducing the prison population. Mr Gesch said: "The supplements just provided the vitamins, minerals and fatty acids found in a good diet which the inmates should get anyway. Yet the improvement was huge." He added: "This approach needs to be re-tested but looks to be cheap, highly effective and humane." The study is of great importance not only to those who work inside prisons but also more widely in the community Bishop Hugh Montefiore He said that given that nutrients were the building blocks of the brain and its associated structures, it was highly likely that a good diet would have a direct impact on behaviour. The study was organised by Natural Justice, a research charity set up in 1991 to investigate the social and physical causes of crime. Its chairman Bishop Hugh Montefiore of Birmingham, said: "The study is of great importance not only to those who work inside prisons but also more widely in the community." He added: "There are many causes of anti-social behaviour. But our project has shown that an important factor is the lack of proper nutrition. "The reduction of disciplinary offences by 25% among those who took the supplements cannot be shrugged off as insignificant." Strong evidence Sir David Ramsbotham, former chief inspector of prisons, urged officials to consider the findings. "It must make sense for the prison service to explore every avenue that might enable every prisoner to live a useful and law abiding life. "If healthy eating is part of a healthy lifestyle, and a healthy lifestyle is a crime-free lifestyle, I hope that they will look seriously at exploiting the evidence presented to them." Ron Blackburn, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Liverpool, said: "Efforts to reduce offending usually require major resources. "This research programme promises to have an impact on antisocial behaviour with minimal intervention and deserves full support." The above article was found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2063117.stm

Gardasil

I'm UPSET!!!

WARNING: This is a very long and word-y article. It is a personal opinion which I need to rant about. Read at your own risk!


Sorry folks, no bento today because it's a public holiday here in Malaysia.

So? Why should I be UPSET?

I'll share with you why I'm UPSET.

Nutrition standards and health issues pertaining to our children are important where ever we are. Be it in the USA, Malaysia or Timbuktu. Global news on these issues play a large influencing factor on decisions made by mothers like me, in the course of feeding, clothing and educating our children.

It doesn't matter to me where this news is coming from or who it's directed to because some how and some where I find that there will be some familiarity to our home ground problems.

We may not have "school lunch programs" in most Malaysian schools, but our canteens doesn't serve any healthier foods either.

My ten year old goes to school with a regular supply of tuna sandwiches, sushi, spaghetti, various cookies, apples, oranges, cinnamon bananas and an occasional butter and Marmite sandwich. She is picky and difficult to please. She spends her 15 minute break with her best friend who comes with a constant flow of Nutella sandwiches with a rare and occasional change in menu.

#3's best friend constantly looks over her shoulder to see what is in her 'bento box'. I dread to call hers a 'bento box' because most days, it's only a fruit and a main meal. Nevertheless, #3's best friend is always ready to barter her Nutella sandwiches for anything from #3's box.

#3 is not much of a Nutella fan but she has a BIG heart! She shares some of her food when ever she can. And since #3 has also shared her break time stories with me, I tend to pack a little more for her to share because I was also told that some days her best friend would buy fries, ice-cream and canned drinks to share with her. *shakes head in disapproval*

Last year, on July 10th, 2008, I posted an article about "More reasons to Bento". I made references to an article published by the UK based Press Association on "primary school children eating healthy meals".

The article was very informative and provided some positives on how the new UK Government rules require greater use of fresh ingredients cooked from scratch albeit escalating food prices.

In another related article, it also reported that Secondary school children found it cheaper to buy 'junk food' to eat and thus being able to use 'excess' pocket money for drinks and candies.

I found the articles very 'real' and thus further affirmed that bento packing on my part was the best decision I've made by far. In the early days, many mornings I've hated to wake up that extra 45 minutes and get myself into a frenzied mood of packing bentos for my girls. When I read of articles in relation to the poor standards of food served in schools, I feel re-energized and purpose driven for the sake of my children.

So, why am I UPSET?

Here is why!! When I made reference to my blog post "More reasons to Bento", I found that all the links has been broken. I searched UK Press Association for the said articles, there was ZERO results. I Google-d some 'quoted remarks', there was no inkling of the article. It was as though the article has vanished.

I hate making assumptions and speculations about my opinions, so I leave you to make your own conclusions why the few related articles has dissapeared!

On October 29, 2007, I posted another blog post on "Healthy, Friendly Japan - Lifestyle, Star Online". I am happy to note that the links are still intact. Even the movie link is intact.

Only last week, I came across another article which I found an inspiration. It's a link I found on the Aidan Bento Society blog - 'Bento Days' catching on with schools, kids'.

I thrive on these articles to keep me enthusiastic about bento packing. I blog to share this 'goodness' with people who want to, and can do more for their kids eating habits. Granted, there are some who want to, but cannot for very valid reasons.

For whatever the reasons behind the positives or negatives, I am inspired to be an inspiration to others even if only a few. I am just happy to post a daily bento or two and be the blog with something new to read or with a new picture to look at. I do what I do for the betterment of my children's healthy eating habits and in that course, if someone is inspired to follow suite, it's a plus point.

But... I am human too, and I need to be inspired and affirmed occasionally. I need to know that I am doing right. I need to be reminded that bento packing is really not about going on a frenzy to pick up 'every new bento accessory' even if it costs only RM5. (approximately equivalent to USD1.50/=!!).

I need 'reality checks' to remind me that it's what goes into the box and into my children's stomachs and not the container or accessory that's getting digested! I need to admit my 'addiction' and remedy it. Hahaha! I sound like a "BENTO AA" (Addict Anonymous)

I am aware that part of bento packing is about the 'kawaii' and 'cutesy' display of a balanced meal in a box. In my pursuit of the perfect box, it has taken me over one year and maybe over fifty boxes and a limitless (some useless at this point) amount of accessories to find it! I am sure that many people are in my shoes and share my experience. I guess I can say that I have 'grown' as a bento packer and matured to realize what is necessary and what is a novelty.

Please don't get me wrong, I am not against buying all those 'kawaii and cutesy' bento accessories. I've been there and lived that, but in the light of the economic slowdown and being the practical person that I am, I feel that this indulgence for me is unnecessary.

My inspiration comes from the regularly updated bento blogs or ones with awesome links on their blog roll. My inspiration comes from the bento pictures which I gawk on the bento sites which I regularly and quietly lurk.

My inspiration and self 'reality checks' are also from the far and few in between bento and related articles in the electronic media.

Today, I added a new widget for thedailygreen.com on my side bar. In the news feed, I saw an article entitled "School Lunch Nutrition Standards Haven't Been Updated In 30 Years".

Please spend a little time watching the video clip in the above link. It is shocking at what is being shared. I am saddened by the 'politics' involved in the food industry which in turn affects the 'School Lunch programs'. I am saddened by the politics and policies which are 'manipulated' from one hand to the other which helps to increase a rising problem with obesity and serious health diseases in children. I am saddened by all this because it is not only happening in the US but I also see familiarity in the home ground.

The hot favorites sold in our local school canteens are: "Nasi Lemak", fries, ice-cream, can-drinks, packets of junk food, sweets and the list goes on. I, for one, counter this problem by packing home cooked food from home. But what about the other kids who feed on the above menu daily?



Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliations with "thedailygreen.com" or any other names mentioned above. Opinions expressed are my own.