Eye-opening programme for students

Eye-opening programme for students

Cannon wheels stolen

Cannon wheels stolen

Malacca becomes Malaysia's first smoking-free city‏

The Malaysian world heritage city of Malacca will be smoke-free from June 15, a first for the country, the health minister said Monday.

Malacca becomes Malaysia's first smoking-free city

The move was to bring in more tourists and help stamp out smoking in a country where the habit is widespread, Liow Tiong Lai told AFP, insisting it would also help preserve the city.
"The idea is to create fresh air and a clean environment for tourists and Malaysians alike to enjoy the historic city," he said.
"It will also aid in preserving the old monuments and buildings as the ban will reduce pollution in the area and promote a healthy lifestyle."
The no-smoking area covers the entire 4.2 square kilometres (1.6 square miles) of the city and four other areas in the southern state of Malacca.
"These areas will be free from cigarette smoke and make Malacca city the first smoking-free city in the country," said the minister.
"Those caught will be hit with a fine of 300 ringgit (100 dollars) although the maximum penalty is 5,000 ringgit."
Malacca chief minister Mohamad Ali Rustam told the Star daily that the state was also serious about declaring more tourist destinations in the state smoke-free zones.
With more than 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West, Malacca's multi-cultural heritage is seen its ornately designed government buildings, churches and forts.
It is where the Malay sultanate originated in the 15th century, before being invaded by the Portuguese and Dutch in the early 16th century.
In 2008, UNESCO included Malacca and Georgetown, on the resort island of Penang, in its world heritage list but there have been recent concerns that the southern port city could be de-listed because of redevelopment in its historic quarter.
Malaysia is hoping the heritage listing will boost tourism, which is a key foreign exchange earner.

Stop Animal Abuse In Malaysia : Online Petition

Stop Animal Abuse In Malaysia : Online Petition: "



Animal abuse is increasingly rampant in Malaysia, with senseless abuses and killings by local councils and cold-blooded people. We must act NOW, and act FAST.

Let's play a role in stopping animal abuse and cruelty! We aim to collect 50,000 signatures ASAP and present it to our Prime Minister.

Please sign the joint online petition by leading Malaysian animal welfare NGOs, and show how much you care about the animals. Spread the word to your friends too.

Together, we can make a difference.

Sign Petition Now:
http://StopAnimalAbuse.PetFinder.my/

"

Men stress more in traffic: study

Men stress more in traffic: study

Matt Campbell
May 26, 2011 - 3:50PM
Advertisement

It's official – men stress more than women when they're stuck in traffic. Seven times more, to be precise.

A study in Britain has found women suffer an 8.7 per cent increase in stress levels when driving in traffic, while men's stress levels jump by 60 per cent in the same bumper-to-bumper situation.

The research – conducted by a group of psychologists in conjunction with sat-nav maker TomTom – analysed the signature stress chemicals in the saliva of male and female volunteers, finding that the actual physiological symptoms were far higher than the volunteers' stated levels of stress.

Half the men and two-thirds of the women participating in the research reported "not feeling stressed" after 20 minutes' driving in traffic; with their saliva clearly stating otherwise.

According to the report, telltale symptoms of traffic jam tension include dizziness, breathlessness, muscular aches and even chest pains, while behavioural symptoms include agitation and erratic driving.

The report also suggested that long-term exposure to stressful situations, such as being stuck in traffic, could lead to high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and suppressed immune function.

Research leader and health psychologist David Moxon says the fact that men stress more in situations they cannot escape comes down to their "fight or flight" response, which causes males to want to either attack the situation or walk away from it.

"Men, in particular, show a strong acute physiological 'fight or flight' response," Moxon says. "The fact that they are not always aware of this could indicate that driving regularly in dense traffic could have a profound effect on their health."

Women, on the other hand, found ways to cope with their stress. The report found that two out of three females will feel less stressed if they turn the radio up and sing along to a song.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/drive/roads-and-traffic/men-stress-more-in-traffic-study-20110526-1f5qv.html

'Planet of Apes' actress arrested in Los Angeles

'Planet of Apes' actress arrested in Los Angeles

US & Canada

21 May 2011 Last updated at 18:26 GMT

'Rapture' apocalypse prediction sparks atheist reaction

Comments (707)

US atheists are holding parties in response to an evangelical broadcaster's prediction that Saturday will be "judgement day".

The Rapture After Party in North Carolina - "the best damned party in NC" - is among the planned events.

Harold Camping, 89, predicts that Jesus Christ will return to earth on Saturday and true believers will be swept up, or "raptured", to heaven.

He has used broadcasts and billboards to publicise his ideas.

He says biblical texts indicate that a giant earthquake on Saturday will mark the start of the world's destruction, and that by 21 October all non-believers will be dead.

Mr Camping has predicted an apocalypse once before, in 1994, though followers now say that only referred to an intermediary stage.

"We learn from the Bible that Holy God plans to rescue about 200 million people," says a text on the website of Mr Camping's network, Family Radio Worldwide.

"On the first day of the Day of Judgment (May 21, 2011) they will be caught up (raptured) into Heaven because God had great mercy for them."

'Countdown to back-pedalling'

The Rapture After Party in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a two-day event organised by the Central North Carolina Atheists and Humanists.

"Though the absurdity of this claim is obvious to the majority of the world, it's a great opportunity to highlight some of the most bizarre beliefs often put forth by religious fundamentalists and raise awareness of the need for reason," said a posting about the party on the group's website.

Atheists in Tacoma, Washington, have headed their celebration "countdown to back-pedalling".

Events were also due to take place in Texas, Florida and California.

An atheist and entrepreneur from New Hampshire, Bart Centre, is enjoying a boost in business for Eternal Earth-bound Pets, which he set up to look after the pets of those who believe they will be raptured.

He has more than 250 clients who are paying up to $135 (£83) to have their pets picked up and cared for after the rapture.

They would be disappointed twice, he told the Wall Street Journal. "Once because they weren't raptured and again because I don't do refunds."

'No Plan B'

Meanwhile Mr Camping says he knows "without any shadow of a doubt" that "judgement day" is arriving.

There is no "Plan B", he says.

His campaign has been unusually widely promoted - both in the US and overseas, including in the Middle East.

In Vietnam, thousands of members of the Hmong ethnic minority gathered near the border with Laos earlier this month to await the 21 May event, the Associated Press reported.

He said rolling earthquakes would occur at 1800 in the world's various time zones.

The internet has been alive with reactions as the apocalypse failed to materialise in various countries.

One early posting on Twitter read: "Harold Camping's 21st May Doomsday prediction fails; No earthquake in New Zealand."