Gloria Velez

Glorious, Simply Glorious!

New Magazines for Black Men Proudly Redefine the Pinup

By LOLA OGUNNAIKE
Published: August 31, 2004

In the pages of King, a bimonthly men's magazine for the rims, bling and sneakers set, one thing is prized more than a taut waistline and a pretty face, shapely legs or a perky bosom: a large behind.

"That's what our readers have come to expect from us," said Datwon Thomas, King's editor since it began publishing three years ago. "They want to see the thick girls, the girls with..." Mr Thomas, a 29-year-old married father of two, stammered here, searching for a description that would work in the pages of a family newspaper, "...with, you know, a big backside."

On the surface, King, a spinoff of the popular hip-hop magazine XXL, owned by Harris Publications, appears to follow the same formula that lad mags like Maxim, FHM and Stuff have used to great success. Hot girl on the cover. More hot girls in various stages of undress on the inside. Fast cars, expensive gadgets, even the occasional article thrown in for good measure. The difference is one of audience.

King is the leader in a small but growing market of magazines that cater primarily to young African-American men. According to a report released this month by the Audit Bureau of Circulations for the six-month period ending on June 30, King's paid circulation grew by 52.2 percent, to 227,323. Other magazines in the category include BlackMen and Smooth.

"We've positioned ourselves to be the black Maxim," said Sean Cummings, Smooth's editor. Mr Cummings said that his magazine, which is not audited by ABC, has also had double-digit gains this year, growing to a circulation of 150,000 from 80,000 in the last 12 months. BlackMen's circulation, according to ABC, grew to 103,000 from just over 80,000 in the same period. (Maxim, has a circulation of more than 2.5 million, up a tiny amount over last year.)

Their circulations may be small, but the relative success of King and the others has not come as a surprise to some publishing analysts.

"The magazine industry has largely ignored the young black male reader," said Reed Phillips, a partner in DeSilva & Phillips, a media investment banking company that specializes in the magazine industry. "Publishers think they pick them up with music magazines like The Source, XXL and Vibe, so as a result there has been a void."

But beyond the desire to tap into an underserved market, these magazines are also presenting an alternative image of beauty. And that, Mr Cummings argues, is the great and somewhat subversive thing about them. "These books allow us to celebrate the beauty of our women without compromise," he said. "For years magazines like FHM, Maxim and Stuff have showed you their idea of beauty - a blond and blue-eyed 110-pound woman. Now we're showing you ours."

That may sound like a high-minded justification for running layouts of nearly naked women. Yet even if that is the case, there is no question that these nearly naked girls look decidedly different than the nearly naked girls one finds in large-circulation mainstream magazines. Few are white and none are model thin. "It's safe to say that our girls would probably not appear in the pages of Vogue," Mr Thomas said, chuckling. "Anna Wintour would be like, 'Honey, stop with the cupcakes.' "

Mr Cummings said the measurements of the quintessential Smooth girl would be approximately 36-24-38, he added.

Andy Clerkson, editorial director of Dennis Publishing, the company behind Maxim and Stuff, said his magazines did not have a type. Last year, he pointed out, 5 of the 12 women who appeared on the cover of Maxim were not white. "We're looking at female celebrities who reflect the national demographic, and if that's Beyonce or Anna Kournikova or Lucy Liu, so be it," he said. Fame more than anything dictates his magazine's choices, he said.

Jayson Rodriguez, a 25-year-old graduate student at New York University, said he skipped over the mainstream lad magazines at newsstands and headed straight for King and Smooth. "I'm not interested in the Anna Kournikovas and Paris Hiltons of the world," Mr Rodriguez said. But the magazines provide more than an opportunity to ogle women with hour (and a half) glass figures, he was quick to explain. The magazines' "irreverent humor" and unique take on the world at large attract him, too.

"When I read Esquire and GQ, I feel like I'm broke," he said. "When I read King and Smooth, they make me laugh. I can relate. It feels like I'm talking to my boys."

The Healing Power of Home Remedies

BY KARIN FLEMING AND JACQUELINE HENNESSY
From Chatelaine

Every culture has its own special folk medicines
IN TRINIDAD people soothe itchy skin with an oatmeal paste. Ukrainian families use chamomile for insomnia. Jamaicans use pain-relief medications that grow wild in their gardens. Here's an eclectic mix of home remedies that doctors from around the world say may reduce symptoms and give comfort for what ails you.

Aches and Pains
Dr Bud Rickhi, a Trinidadian-born associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary and director of the Research Centre for Alternative Medicine, says devil's claw, a herb with claw-shaped leaves that grows in the Amazon, fends off joint pain. "Village healers know how powerful it is," he says. And so do those suffering from rheumatism and arthritis, according to medical herbalist Christopher Robbins, author of The Household Herbal: A Complete Practical Guide to Plants That Heal and Natural Pharmacy.

Recent British and German studies show the herb reduces pain and inflammation in the joints. But don't take it if you're pregnant: It may stimulate the uterine muscles during pregnancy. You can buy devil's-claw teas or ointments at most health-food stores.

Colds
In southern India a spicy, watery soup called rassam is thought to help relieve cold symptoms. Dr Elizabeth Thakkar, a family physician from Calgary, adds to 5 mL (1 tsp.) of light olive oil, a pinch of mustard seeds, a few curry leaves and lightly sautés with three cloves of minced garlic. Then she adds 5 mL of ground cumin and 5 mL of ground black pepper, three fresh tomatoes, blanched and peeled, 500 mL (2 cups) water and a pinch of salt. She brings the mixture to a boil and simmers for five minutes.

Although the tomatoes contain lycopene, a natural antioxidant that protects cells from damage, it's the spice, according to Earl Mindell, that provides the most relief. A Canadian professor of nutrition at Pacific Western University in Los Angeles and author of Earl Mindell's Food as Medicine: What You Can Eat to Help Prevent Everything from Colds to Heart Disease to Cancer he explains that black pepper is thermogenic -- creating heat in the body, which speeds up the metabolism and jump-starts the immune system.

For coughs that accompany colds, says a Ukrainian tradition, stock up on garlic. Because Ukrainian society is agrarian, people use their gardens to help keep them healthy. Ukrainians add garlic to many dishes. Modern research confirms its ability to fight viral infections and strep throat.

Garlic acts like a mild antifungal and antibiotic through the release of aromatic chemicals, including allicin, in the body. Raw garlic is the most effective, but it can cause gastrointestinal upset. If so, try garlic supplements, available at most pharmacies and health-food stores.

Related Links The following links are for informational and educational use only. For diagnoses and treatment of any illness, always consult a health-care professional. Garden Guides Herb Guide: Herbal Home Remedies, Herbs and Pregnancy, Preparing Medicinal Herbs Drugstore.com Herbal Remedies Botanical.com Home page of A Modern Herbal by Mrs M. Grieve, originally published 1931

Constipation
Chinese rhubarb is the main ingredient in an Asian prescription for constipation. Purée three Chinese rhubarb stalks (not to be confused with garden rhubarb), add 250 mL (1 cup) apple juice, 1 L (4 cups) of water, 1/4 peeled lemon and 15 mL (1 tbsp.) honey. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. According to Dr Joseph Yuk-Shing Wong, a Toronto physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, the ingredients are natural laxatives that also boost the digestive system.

Cuts
In Zimbabwe golden honey goes into the medicine chest. "My family was fortunate to have beehives in our backyard. If any of us had a cut that wouldn't heal, the best remedy was fresh honey," says Zimbabwe-born Dr Mohamed Ravalia, a family physician in Twillingate, Newfoundfland. Because honey absorbs the water on skin that bacteria need to grow, it has antibacterial properties. Ravalia's advice is to apply honey directly to a minor cut and cover it with gauze. However, only raw, unprocessed honey contains the vitamins, minerals and enzymes that can help wounds to heal.

Indigestion
Rickhi says Trinidadians grow ginger instead of buying antacids. Fresh or dried ginger can be added to food or made into a tea. Add 5 mL (1 tsp.) ginger to your favourite tea blend. Also recommended for nausea and ulcer pain, ginger reduces stomach irritation and helps produce digestive juices.

Instead of after-dinner mints, many East Indian restaurants serve dainty bowls of fennel seeds. Thakkar says fennel helps your body digest a spicy meal. To decrease flatulence and ease indigestion, drink fennel tea, available at most health-food stores. The Calgary physician says nursing mothers in India often drink the tea to help soothe their colicky babies. Mindell explains that fennel has the added benefit of stimulating milk production in lactating women.

Insomnia
"In Trinidad we would give little sachets of lavender to new parents, who put them in cribs to help babies sleep," says Rickhi. Lavender is a relaxing herb that affects your nervous system and may decrease your breathing and heart rate during a period of anxiety. For best results, Rickhi advises putting a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow before going to bed.

The Ukrainian remedy for sleeplessness is nothing more complicated than a cup of chamomile tea. A mild sedative, chamomile reduces anxiety and tension, especially before you go to bed.

Sore throat
Dr Marlyn Cook, a Grand Rapids First Nation family physician in Winnipeg, says that to soothe a sore throat, drink a sage infusion: Put 10 mL (2 tsp.) of fresh or home-dried sage into 625 mL (2-1/2 cups) of boiling water, simmer for 20 minutes, then strain off the leaves. Drink or gargle with 250 mL (1 cup) of the sage tea for soothing relief.

Robbins says sage is a natural astringent and antiseptic, which is recommended for gingivitis and throat infections. However, Robbins cautions women not to take it during pregnancy. As with any herbal, he notes, this plant should be treated with the same respect as any other medication. Consult your physician for more information.

Note:
Some points and clarification have been added by Azlan Adnan.

HUMOUR: A Lawyer and the Pope Die...

...and Go to Heaven

A lawyer died. At the same moment, the Pope also died. They arrived at the gates of heaven at the same moment. They spend the day in orientation, and as they're getting their heavenly vestments, the Pope gets a plain white toga and wings, like everyone else, and the lawyer gets much finer apparel, made of gold thread, and Gucci shoes.

Then, they get to see where they're going to live. The Pope gets what everyone else gets, a replica of a Holiday Inn room, and the lawyer gets an 18-room mansion with servants and a swimming pool. At dinnertime, the Pope receives the standard meal, a kosher TV dinner, but the lawyer receives a five-course meal including caviar, prime rib and chocolate truffles.

By this time, the lawyer is beginning to suspect that an error has been made, so he asks one of the angels in charge, "Has there been some kind of mistake? This guy was the Pope, and he gets what everyone else gets, and I'm just a lawyer and I'm getting the finest of everything?"

The angel replied, "No mistake, sir. We've had lots of Popes here, but you're the first lawyer we've ever had."

BAD JOKE DISCLAIMER: We recognize that religious humour can be risky. It is our hope that by laughing at ourselves (and others) we can make this subject more approachable. If you find any of these objectionable, we apologize. Many were passed along via email and others spotted on other websites. As with most jokes, the original authors are unknown -- but we thank them.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Dietary Tips

Secrets of My Current Success

Many of you who have seen me recently have asked me how come I have lost so much weight. The answer is careful selection of what to eat and what not to eat. Let's start with what not to eat. My doctor calls them the:

Five Deadly White Sins:

White Rice - Polished grains are some of the greatest causes of modern disease. Try eating pulut hitam instead.

White Flour - Try eating atta flour (from which chappatis are made), instead.

Sugar - Refined sugar is a sweet poison. Try consuming raw sugar like gula melaka or raw, unprocessed honey instead. Much of the goodness of raw, unprocessed honey comes from the enzymes present. Therefore, always consume raw, unprocessed honey as heat and pasteurisation deactivates the enzymes. Similarly, do not refrigerate honey as the cold also deactivates the enzymes. Also use a plastic or porcelain spoon with honey as heavy metals are leached from metal spoons. Raw unprocessed honey from Iran cost RM60 a kg but you can get similar raw, unprocessed honey from Vietnam at Giant supermarket at RM9.59 a kg (expiry June 30, 2006) or RM9.99 a kg (expiry June 30, 2007).

Salt - Causes hypertension.

Milk ~ Milk has fallen out of favour because of the antibiotics and growth hormones used in modern farming methods. If you can get milk that come from animals not given antibiotics and hormones, then, it's fine. By the same token, you should avoid beef and chicken. Lamb and mutton are generally okay as they are not fed with growth hormones. As the hormones have no effect on them, farmers do not waste money by injecting them with hormones.

---

Food rich in pectin enable toxins to be eliminated from our bodies. Pectin binds with the free radicals of these toxins and enable them to be eliminated by the liver and kidneys. Pectin-rich foods are:

Grapefruits

Lemons

Pomelos

Apples

Eat also dates, as they contain many complex sugars and are nutritious.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

SuperFoods Rx

Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life

Book Description

SuperFoods Rx is based on a simple but profound premise: some foods are dramatically better than others for our health and longevity.

Sure, everyone knows that an apple is a better snack than potato chips, but do you know that a daily handful of walnuts or a bowl of blueberries can actually improve your well-being and longevity?

Steven Pratt, MD, witnessed the positive results that occurred when his patients with age-related macular degeneration changed their diets to include certain powerhouse foods -- those he has identified as SuperFoods. Backed by proven research on fourteen of the most nutrient-dense foods, this book puts these tools in your hands, and on your plate, to give you more energy, greater protection against disease, and a healthy lifestyle now and for the future.

Whether you're 63 or 23, now is the right time to start eating the SuperFoods way. By making these foods part of your regular eating habits, you can actually change the course of your biochemistry and stop the incremental changes in your body that lead to diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers, obesity, and Alzheimer's.

What are the fourteen SuperFoods? Many may already be part of your daily meals, while some may make occasional appearances. But all are supermarket-friendly nutrition powerhouses:

• Beans • Blueberries • Broccoli • Oats • Oranges • Pumpkin • Salmon
• Soy • Spinach • Tea -- green or black • Tomatoes • Turkey • Walnuts • Yogurt

SuperFoods Rx not only outlines the amazing health benefits of these fourteen foods, it also includes delicious recipes, kitchen tips, and shopping suggestions that will make the SuperFoods lifestyle simple and irresistible.

Don't like tomatoes? Not to worry; almost all of the SuperFoods have sidekicks -- or substitutions -- that you can enjoy instead. Have some lycopene-rich red watermelon
or pink grapefruit
instead of tomatoes.

Can't bear the thought of spinach? Choose from a list of other dark leafy greens, romaine lettuce, or orange bell peppers.

In SuperFoods Rx, Dr Pratt leads you from the twentieth-century world of macronutrients -- proteins, fats, and carbohydrates -- into the twenty-first-century world of micronutrients -- phytonutrients, carotenoids, and antioxidants. You'll find:

Individual chapters dedicated to each of the fourteen SuperFoods, with the health benefits for each outlined and supported by Dr. Pratt's research, along with ideas for simple ways to get more of these foods into your everyday meals.

Fifty original recipes featuring SuperFoods, especially developed by Chef Michel Stroot of the world-renowned Golden Door Spa.

A shopping list of brand-name foods to ensure you're buying the most nutrient-dense SuperFoods available.

Guidelines for formulating your daily nutrient goals and supplement recommendations.

With Dr Pratt to guide you through the new nutritional frontier, you will be able to choose and enjoy the foods that are most beneficial to your health, well-being, and longevity.

SuperFoods Rx. You'll feel super.

To get a copy of his book, click here.

Rev Up A Stalled Sex Life: 10 Tips!

What happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom

And that could very well be the problem for many couples. There are plenty of people out there who are afflicted with one issue or another when it comes to sex. But sweeping these problems under the rug has become all too common. Despite society's obsession with sex, when it comes to discussing our own woes between the sheets, we have a tendency to become very tight-lipped.

Well the doctor is in and he's made it his mission to help those folks who are struggling, sexually speaking. Ian Kerner, PhD, has the love touch and he's sharing his healing powers with you readers. Although he's battled his own sexual demons, he's not just speaking from experience. Kerner holds a doctorate in Clinical Sexology and is the author of She Comes First: the Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman (HarperCollins).

"I suffered with sexual dysfunction and inadequacy," he tells us from his New York office. "I tried a lot of different ways of dealing, including sex therapy. I was so inspired and transformed by the experience that when I had to change careers and start down a new path, I decided to study human sexuality and sex therapy."

In addition to being on the faculty of the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists, Ian is certified by the American Board of Sexology and is also a member of The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and their sister-organization, The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

Since working out the kinks in his own sex life, Kerner, who's happily married, has been counseling others for the last five years. These days he's most commonly treating couples in their twenties and thirties.

Some common maladies from women include: no enjoyment out of sex, faking orgasms or lack of orgasms in their relationship. Men, on the other hand, suffer from premature ejaculation or some sort of sexual anxiety that prevents them from being in a committed relationship.

Couples often are afflicted with mismatched libidos, low desire, infidelity or sex ruts. Kerner points out that when the "honeymoon period" of the relationship ends, the thrill is gone. People might think there is something wrong with them, but it's simply a matter of learning how to move from the initial phase into a long-term committed relationship with an exciting sex life.

You don't necessarily have to seek out the help of a sex therapist right off the bat, he says. There are measures you can take to improve the quality of your sex life. The first step is leaving your problems at the door. Don't let your troubles with money, work or family seep into your sex life. Communicating with your partner is also essential. Talk about your sexuality and discuss intimacy issues instead of shutting each other out.

"I think very often reading a book or even being inspired by a magazine can help," Ian says. "Start your own path of communication. Sometimes a therapist is a good idea. People often need a moderated environment with a professional who has a process of allowing couples to communicate with each other and then offering clinically-proven therapy solutions to address the problems.

"It also depends on the nature of the problem and relationship. It's important to note that therapy isn't just for when things are terrible. Therapy can be a healthy way of contextualizing issues and facilitating the process of communication."

In this exclusive article, Kerner shares 10 secrets to revving up a stalled sex life.

1. Take foreplay out of the bedroom. Make it part of the fabric of your life -- whether it's public displays of affection, sexy emails, dinner on the town or dancing. The best sex often happens outside the bedroom. People in a healthy, growing relationship have a lot in common, as well as respect each other's differences. This provides the best impetus for having a good sex life.

2. Just do it. Many of us are slow starters sexually. Once you get going it's much easier to build and maintain momentum. Like exercise, sometimes you have to make the decision to do it. It may seem like a bit of a chore. However, once intercourse is underway you're enjoying yourself and things continue from there.

3. Be physical without the expectation of sex. Focus on kissing, hugging, cuddling, talking and holding hands. Feel free to be physical with each other without the expectation that it's going to lead to sexual intercourse. Physical affection and intimacy doesn't always have to lead to sex. Removing expectations allows us to be more intimate with each other.

4. Get into a present state of mind. Let go of your stress and anxiety. Try and leave a lot of the issues you might be worrying about outside the bedroom door. Turn sex into a present moment experience. Let go of your relationship baggage. Even if you're having issues in your relationship, that doesn't mean you can't have fun, enjoyable sex.

5. Fantasize. Give yourself permission to fantasize. Fantasize during sex -- even if it's about someone else. Talk about your fantasies with each other. People should remember the brain is the biggest sex organ. The brain is often the biggest aphrodisiac. We sometimes are so uncomfortable at the thought of communicating. Once you break the ice and start talking about your turn-offs, turn-ons and fantasies, it spices things up quickly.

6. Turn foreplay into coreplay. Break out of "intercourse discourse." We are so caught up with penis/vagina intercourse being in dominant mode. The dominant way to achieve sexual satisfaction often becomes routine and familiar. It quickly becomes all about intercourse. Turn foreplay into coreplay by focusing on kissing, touching, manual stimulation and oral stimulation. All of these things add excitement. Full-body sexuality adds a new dimension to your experience.

7. Pleasure yourself. Clinical studies show that couples with healthy sex lives masturbate more often. You can be in a healthy relationship, have a healthy sex life and still masturbate. Masturbation is a good way to jumpstart the libido.

8. Become comfortable in your own body. This used to apply mainly to women, but it also affects men. Poor body image is a major source of anxiety. We're often unaware of how anxiety inhibits us sexually. It can cripple who you are. You have to be comfortable in your own skin.

9. Think about a program of sexual fitness that includes balanced diet, exercise, stress management and erotic creativity. Our libido is a barometer of our overall sense of wellness. Very often we see couples who aren't having sex as much as they used to. They don't experience desire and arousal regularly. Oftentimes, they're also overweight. They smoke, drink or take some kind of prescription medicine. They've stopped exercising. These factors all impact desire and libido. Sex isn't something that happens independently of everything else that's going on in your life. You have to think holistically when in terms of wellness and how to improve your sex life.

10. Adrenaline makes the heart grow fonder. By studying neuroscience, Kerner has learned how the brain functions in all phases of a relationship. In the initial phase, when you're madly in love, the brain produces dopamine and neuropinephrine. These chemicals contribute to a sense of excitement and exhilaration. Once we graduate past the initial stages of first love into a more mature relationship, those chemicals start to wane. Part of the reason so many people cheat is not because they crave sex, it's because they crave the excitement, the newness and the danger that comes along with cheating. Fortunately, we know through clinical studies that couples can restimulate the chemicals by doing new things together.

11. (Bonus!) Communicate about sex. One thing many couples don't talk about is sex. They talk about other aspects of their relationship -- children, money, future plans, in-laws -- but not sex. Sexual dissatisfaction is one of the leading causes of divorce in this country. We can't deal with this statistic unless we start talking more openly about our sex lives with each other. One of the greatest things about a sex therapist is that this person gets couples comfortable with talking about their sexuality. Once you break the ice and start doing it, the floodgates open. When couples get in synch with each other, this really helps boost their desire.

To get a copy of his book, click here.

A Little Bit of Fish

Eating fish may help your health
even if you only eat it occasionally

After analyzing several large studies, researchers concluded that a minimal amount of fish in the diet may be enough to confer the benefit of reduced stroke risk. According to study reviews, eating fish as seldom as 1 to 3 times per month was enough to have a beneficial effect on the risk of ischemic stroke, the most common kind of stroke.

Benefit:
Eating at least 1 serving of fish per week can make you up to 2.7 years younger. Although eating fish as seldom as 1 to 3 times per month may be enough to provide some protection against stroke, a recent study revealed that eating fish weekly could reduce stroke risk by as much as 13 percent, compared to people who ate fish less often than once per month.

Caution:
Certain kinds of fish may contain high levels of mercury, a trace metal that is found in the environment and is toxic to humans. Choose your fish wisely. Long-lived fish, such as swordfish, shark, tilefish, king mackerel, red snapper, and orange roughy, tend to have the highest mercury levels.

Reference:
Fish consumption and incidence of stroke: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. He, K., Song, Y., Daviglus, M. L., Liu, K., Van Horn, L., Dyer, A. R., Goldbourt, U., Greenland, P., Stroke 2004 Jul;35(7):1538-1542. Epub 2004 May 20.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Talking to Your Kids About Sex

Sex Education Primer for Parents

Charlotte E. Grayson, MD
Senior Medical Editor

Sexuality is an important part of being human. It involves more than the physical act of intercourse with another person. It affects how we feel about ourselves as males and females, and even impacts some of the choices we make. That is why it is a good idea to talk to your kids about sex. They are going to learn about it somewhere, so it is best that they learn it from their parents. The best age to have the discussion is when your children become teenagers.

Why Should I Talk to my Kids About Sex?

Talking with your teenager is important to helping him or her develop healthy attitudes toward sex and to learn responsible sexual behavior. Openly discussing sex with your child also enables you to provide accurate information. After all, teens will learn about sex somewhere. But what they learn might not be true, and might not reflect the personal and moral values and principles you want your children to follow. In addition, teens need to understand the possible consequences of being sexually active -- including pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as being emotionally hurt.

If I Talk to my Kids About Sex, Won't That Just Make Them Want to Do It?

It is important for children to understand sexual feelings and relationships before they become sexually active. In fact, studies have shown that teens who have discussed sex with their parents are more likely to wait longer to begin having sex and to use contraception.

What Should I Tell my Kids?

First of all, focus on the facts. Consider using the following list of topics as an outline:

• Explanation of anatomy and reproduction in males and females
• Sexual intercourse and pregnancy
• Fertility and birth control
• Other forms of sexual behavior, including oral sex, masturbation, and petting
• Sexual orientation, including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality
• The physical and emotional aspects of sex, including the differences between males and females
• Self-image and peer pressure
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Rape and date rape, including how being intoxicated (drunk or high), or accepting rides/going to private places with strangers or acquaintances puts you at risk
• How choice of clothing and the way you present yourself sends messages to others about your interest in sexual behavior

How Should I Talk to my Kids?

Some parents are uncomfortable talking to their kids about sex. It may help to practice what you are going to say before you sit down with your son or daughter. Be sure to pay attention and listen, as well. It may be helpful to have both parents present for support. Some teens may be embarrassed to talk about sex or to admit they don't know something, and so may not ask direct questions. Look for opportunities to bring up sexuality issues with your children. Opportunities may come from a scene on TV or in a movie, a book or article, or the appearance of visible changes in your son or daughter, such as the growth of breasts or facial hair. Explain the physical maturation process and the sexual arousal process. Remember to respect your child's privacy, and try to show that you trust him or her to make good decisions.

Teen Sexual Rights

When talking with your teen, consider the following teen sexual rights, which were developed by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS):

• The right to accurate information about sexuality and HIV/AIDS
• The right to stop being physical or sexual with a partner at any point
• The right to say no to an unwanted touch of any kind
• The right to make decisions about sexuality, in your own time
• The right to express your sexuality safely, without risk of pregnancy, or STDs including HIV/AIDS
• The right not to be pressured into being physical or sexual
• The right not to express your sexuality unless you want to

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology. Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, October 2003

HUMOUR: God's Gift to Adam

Divinely Inspired Mutual Exclusivity

God says to Adam, "I have some good news and some bad news. What do you want to hear first?"

Adam says, "Tell me the good news first."

God says, "I'm going to give you a penis and a brain. You'll derive from these great pleasure and great intellect."

Adam replies, "Wonderful! But what's the bad news?"

God says, "I'm only going to give you enough blood supply to work one at a time."

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

NUTRITION: Added Beauty From Blueberries

By MARY DUENWALD
The Heart of the Matter

Blueberries, already known to help fight cancer and diabetes, may guard against heart disease as well, a new study suggests. The juicy little berries contain a compound called pterostilbene (pronounced ter-a-STILL-bean), which may have the potential to lower cholesterol as effectively as commercial drugs do.

Dr Agnes M. Rimando, a research chemist for the federal Department of Agriculture in Oxford, Missouri, who made the discovery, said she had suspected that the antioxidants in blueberries might help lower cholesterol. So she exposed chemicals found in blueberries to liver cells taken from rats. She found that pterostilbene activates a cell receptor that plays a role in lowering cholesterol and other blood fats.

The chemical's action is similar to that of ciprofibrate, a drug that lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which promote the development of plaques in the arteries, Dr Rimando said. If pterostilbene could be concentrated into pill form, it might be able to lower cholesterol as well as the drug but without the side effects of muscle pain and nausea that ciprofibrate causes in some people, she said.

Because the compound appears to be effective even in low concentrations, people might be able to get the cholesterol-lowering benefit simply by eating blueberries. But it is not yet known how many one would need to eat.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Breaking the Silence

The Truth on US Torture Policy

'We Were Supposed to Humiliate Them'

By CAROLIN EMCKE,
Der Spiegel

nterview with US Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick on torture at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.

SPIEGEL: Since the images of torture at Abu Ghraib became public, you have had a lot of time, while detained in Baghdad, to think about your actions. Today, how do you view what you did - as a disgrace for America?

Frederick: I am very upset and depressed about what happened. I'm not a sadist. My family and my friends will attest to that. I was always proud to be defending America. In doing so, I made a lot of sacrifices in the past twenty years, especially since the attacks of September 11. I have always served my country well, even in Iraq - until we were transferred to Abu Ghraib and things got out of control.

SPIEGEL: What was the prison like when you arrived there in October 2003?

Frederick: As soon as I walked into that place the first time, I knew it was a nightmare. There was dirt everywhere, the toilets didn't work, and it stank. The food was terrible. The chicken wasn't cooked properly. It was still raw. We worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week. And we only had five soldiers for 1,000 prisoners. We had no place to unload our stress. Morale was generally miserable.

SPIEGEL: What kinds of guidelines applied to your job during the night shift? Who gave you your commands and instructions?

Frederick: I didn't even know who was really in charge. I knew that Captain Donald Reese was theoretically the company commander and that Brigadier General Janis Karpinski was in charge of all operations at Abu Ghraib. But in reality, the battalion wanted you to do one thing, while the company wanted you to do something completely different, and the intelligence services had their own ideas altogether. It was total chaos.

SPIEGEL: That's not an excuse for abusing prisoners.

Frederick: You're right, but on my very first tour, when they showed me cell block 1-A, I saw naked prisoners with their hands tied to the door. Sleep deprivation, withholding food, humiliating prisoners - those things were already routine at Abu Ghraib before I was transferred there.

SPIEGEL: You are also a prison guard in your civilian life, so that you're someone who should know about the proper treatment of prisoners. Why didn't you talk to your superiors about these practices?

Frederick: On the very first day, I asked a sergeant in military police company 372 why the prisoners were being treated that way. His answer was: That's the way the intelligence services do it. I heard a number of people say: "We don't waste a lot of time with them here. If they don't cooperate, we deal with them."

SPIEGEL: You keep talking about everyone else, but you did play along, after all. Who started the torture? Were you following orders, or did the situation simply escalate?

Frederick: Both. They would say: "Let the dogs loose on these prisoners! Try to get more information out of them. Take away their food, their clothing. Humiliate them!"

SPIEGEL: You stacked naked prisoners into a pyramid and abused them. Was that your idea, or were you also just following orders?

Frederick: There was a riot uprising at Abu Ghraib. A prisoner had injured a female American soldier in the face with a rock. They brought him and the other ones who were involved to our section, the "tough section," as a punishment. First we searched them. Then we made them undress and forced them to build that pyramid - and then everything got out of hand. One of the methods was to humiliate them, so that they would break down and talk, and I... I just wanted (he begins to cry) to humiliate them. And so I made them masturbate. I didn't want to commit a crime, I just wanted to humiliate them. But I am guilty of that.

SPIEGEL: Didn't you realize, at that moment, that what you were doing was wrong?

Frederick: I had mixed feelings at the time. Today I know I was wrong. On the one hand, I was filled with rage for this prisoner who had injured a female soldier. And they had told me to "humiliate them!" On the other hand, no one explained to us exactly how we were supposed to do that.

SPIEGEL: Why didn't you object? Didn't you have clear guidelines?

Frederick: I had guidelines at the prison in Buckingham, Virginia, where I worked as a civilian. But there were no guidelines at Abu Ghraib. No one gave me any instructions on the military principles for treatment of prisoners.

SPIEGEL: You could have invoked the Geneva Conventions.

Frederick: I didn't know anything about the Geneva Conventions. No one told me about them when I was in training. I just recently tried to find out about the Conventions on the internet. In addition, the intelligence people were constantly praising us. They would just say: "Keep up the good work."

SPIEGEL: Was that in reference to the abuse?

Frederick: The intelligence service simply imposed no limits. They wanted concrete results, and they didn't care how they were achieved.

SPIEGEL: What do expect from your trial?

Frederick: First of all, I want to apologize to the victims and their families. And I will take responsibility for my actions during the trial. But I also hope that others will follow my example and assume their share of the responsibility. It's clear that more people are responsible for what happened in Abu Ghraib, and many of them haven't even been charged yet.

Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan

An Islamic Perspective on Stem Cell Research

A brief explanation of the science of stem cell research

Synopsis
A short article written in July 2002 giving a brief explanation of the science of stem cell research and the issues involved, written by Dr Muzammil (Imran) Siddiqi, a PhD in Genetics. The Islamic perspective on these issues is then examined. This article is from the Communications & Services section of IslamiCity, a US-based website covering community, social, educational, and religious issues, and also providing news coverage, business and finance information.

Let us first understand what is this research and what are the issues involved in it.
"The human body consists of many kinds of cells. These cells are very diverse in their structure and function. For example, neurons that make up the brain are very different from cells that make up our liver, cells that allow our heart to pump blood look nothing like the cells that make up our skin. In spite of their vast differences, however, all cells in the human body contain the same DNA. DNA provides the information, in the form of genes, which is necessary to make all these various cell types. Put simply, liver cells are liver cells because only a small set of genes are turned on in these cells while the rest are shut off. In the same way, cells in the brain or skin have their own set of genes activated, and other sets turned off. However, because all cells contain the entire set of DNA, they possess the information needed to make any kind of cell, though most of this information is not being used."

How do cells become specialized to form the different organs in the body?
"Human development begins when a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell. This initial fertilized egg, although it is only a single cell, is able to form an entire human being. This cell starts to divide into additional cells, which at this early stage are all able to produce a complete organism. These cells are therefore called totipotent, meaning they have total potential to produce all cell types present in a living human. As development proceeds and an embryo forms, these cells become pluripotent, meaning they have potential to become many different kinds of cells but can no longer give rise to a complete embryo. Later in development, through a process called cell differentiation, these pluripotent cells eventually give rise to the different and more specialized kinds of cells in the body and the different organs begin to form."

What are stem cells?
"Stem cells are cells that have not gone through the process of cell differentiation and therefore have the potential to give rise to many different kinds of specialized cells. For instance a stem cell could be used to produce liver cells, brain cells, heart muscle cells, blood cells, etc. The current sources of stem cells include embryos (which, as explained above, consist of pluripotent cells) and fetal tissue. In addition, some recent evidence suggests that even adults have a small number of mulitpotent cells that can be isolated and can later differentiate into various cell types."

"One source of stem cells is from embryos that were formed from a process called in vitro fertilization. This is a technique that has been used by doctors for some time, where eggs are removed from a woman after stimulation of the ovaries, and the isolated eggs are then fertilized by sperm cells in the laboratory. The fertilized eggs are allowed to divide for a few cycles and are then implanted into the woman's uterus, where a normal pregnancy can then take place. The purpose of this technique is to allow couples who cannot normally have children to be able to reproduce. The technique is not that efficient, however, and so doctors usually produce several embryos, hoping that at least one will be able to implant correctly in the uterus and start growing. The remaining embryos are either frozen for later use or are destroyed."

"Recently, scientists found that they can take these embryos at the stage before they are implanted into the uterus (within 1-5 days after fertilization), and remove pluripotent cells from them. These cells can then be grown and divided on dishes in the laboratory, and then theoretically used to produce all kinds of tissues, from liver cells to heart muscle cells to brain cells."

Why are stem cells important?
"Research on stem cells has much value both for scientific understanding of human development and for its potential to treat human disease. Many experiments on the effectiveness and safety of new drugs or treatments could be done on cell lines made from stem cells, instead of having to experiment on humans. In addition, stem cells might be used to produce liver cells that can then be formed into a functioning liver and transplanted into patients with liver failure. This would solve the current problem of organ shortage and could also solve the problem of immune rejection of organs. Stem cells might be used to create cells that produce insulin, which can then be transplanted into patients with type I diabetes. In short, stem cells have the potential to cure many diseases from liver disease, to diabetes, to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, to heart disease, to spinal cord injury, and the list can go on and on."

"To make this potential of stem cells a reality, much research needs to be done in the next few years. To do this research, scientists need an ample supply of stem cells. Controversy arises because the main source stem cells are embryos used for in vitro fertilization. By removing cells from these embryos, scientists are essentially destroying the embryo, which could have otherwise gone on to develop into a child. However, as explained above, these embryos were developed initially in the laboratory solely for the sake of reproduction and, due to limitations of the in vitro fertilization technique, they were produced in excess of what was required for this purpose. As a result, the remaining embryos would have either been frozen indefinitely or destroyed. Perhaps if research was limited to using only these already existing embryos, it would be more acceptable than if embryos were created and destroyed specifically for the sake of acquiring stem cells."

Are there any other alternatives? What about stem cells from adults?
"Some research has shown that even adult humans have a small number of cells that are multipotent, meaning they have the potential to become several different types of specialized cells. The best example of this is cells from the bone marrow. These cells have long been known to be able to produce the different types of blood cells, from white blood cells to red blood cells to platelets involved in blood clotting."

"Just this past year, a group of researchers showed that some rare bone marrow cells can also be triggered to form fat, cartilage, bone, and muscle. Additional research can theoretically be done on ways to make these multipotent cells become pluripotent; in other words to somehow trigger these cells to go in reverse and become less specialized, and then allow them to differentiate into many kinds of cells. In spite of this interesting research on adult stem cells, it appears that stem cells derived from adults will not be as versatile as stem cells from embryos. Adult stem cells may not be able to provide cells for all kinds of tissues, and in addition they are difficult to isolate because they are so rare in the body. Thus, adult stem cells do not hold as much promise as do stem cells from embryos."

Now let us look at some of the moral issues involved in this research from an Islamic perspective.

Shari'ah Perspective on Stem Cells Research:
Married couples who cannot have pregnancy in a normal way are allowed to have in vitro fertilization as long as the fertilized ovum is placed in the womb of the woman from whom the egg the was taken (not a surrogate mother). The fertilization has to be with the sperm of her lawful husband during their married life, not after divorce or after the death of the husband. This is the general conclusion of various Muslim jurists' meetings that discussed this subject.

Having recognized that in vitro fertilization is permissible in Islam, now the first question that we should ask is that should an embryo, which is formed within a few days after an artificial fertilization and is not yet in the womb of its mother, be considered a human being, with all the rights of a human being?

According to the Shari'ah we should make a distinction between actual life and potential life. Also we should make a clear distinction between the fertilized ovum in the dish and the fertilized ovum in the womb of its mother. Indeed an embryo is valuable. It has the potential to grow into a human being, but it is not yet a human being. Similarly there is big difference in having something in a test tube or dish or something in the body of a human being. As mentioned above, these embryos were developed initially in the laboratory solely for the sake of reproduction and, due to limitations of the in vitro fertilization technique, they were produced in excess of what was required for this purpose. As a result, the remaining embryos would have either been frozen indefinitely or destroyed. If these embryos were treated as full human, it would have been forbidden to produce them in excess and to destroy them later. No one treats them as humans. Destroying such embryos is not called and cannot be called abortion. We disagree with the Catholic position that this is "equivalent to infanticide."

Muslim jurists have made a clear distinction between the early stages of pregnancy (first 40 days) and its later stages. It is mentioned that if someone attacks a pregnant woman and aborts her baby in the early stages of her pregnancy, that person's punishment will be less than that of the person who does that during full pregnancy. And if he kills the child after the birth, then he is liable to be punished for homicide.

The second question is whether according to the Shari'ah it is acceptable to destroy an embryo for the sake of research, even if this research can potentially cure many otherwise fatal diseases?

Our answer is that the embryo in this stage is not human. It is not in its natural environment, the womb. If it is not placed in the womb it will not survive and it will not become a human being. So there is nothing wrong in doing this research, especially if this research has a potential to cure diseases. However, it is important that we establish strict rules against the misuse of embryos. Research on embryos has the potential for misuse, for instance in regards to the donors of these cells, and we should anticipate what these misuses might be and establish safeguards against them. (For example, doctors might have infertility patient go through extra cycles of ovulation just so they can obtain more embryos, or they might pay women to produce embryos, or embryos might be obtained without the consent of the donors). In making rules, the authorities should also clarify that there is a difference between the use of "spare" embryos from in vitro fertilization procedures which would be destroyed regardless, as compared to the deliberate production of embryos for stem cell research. Each year, thousands of embryos are wasted in fertility clinics around the world. Such embryos should not be wasted, they should be used for research.

It is also good to encourage the research on the alternative: to use adult stem cells instead of embryonic or fetal stem cells. This would be much less controversial. However, it seems from the discussion of the experts in the field that adult stem cells are not nearly as useful as embryonic stem cells in their ability to differentiate into different cell types and would therefore not be as applicable in treating many diseases.

Until more research is done on this subject and Muslim scholars deliberate in detail on various aspects of this research, humbly following recommendations are in order:

1. It is claimed by the experts in the field that the research on stem cells has great potential to relieve human disease and suffering. If this is the case, then, it is not only allowed but it is obligatory (fard kifayah) to pursue this research.

2. The use of embryonic stem cells should be very heavily limited. Only allow isolation of stem cells from frozen embryos that were created for the purpose of in vitro fertilization and would otherwise have been destroyed. Obtain full consent from the donors. Provide safeguards against monetary compensation to embryo donors and against the creation of embryos in excess of what is required for in vitro fertilization.

3. Perhaps research using stem cells derived from adults will eventually prove to be most promising. We should encourage further research on the use of adult stem cells, to the point where it will be unnecessary to use embryos for this purpose. Specifically, we should find better ways to isolate existing stem cells in the human body.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Miss Clementina

This one is African

Hello ,

I am writting this letter with due respect and heartful of tears since we have not known or met ourselves previously I am asking for your assistance after I have gone through a profile that speaks good of you.
I want to find out if it's possible for you to deal with individual as to investment . I came across your profile and I feel it's highly reputable that is why I pick an interest getting across to you in respect of investment at my disposal .

I will so glad if you can allow me and lead me to the right channel towards your assistance to my situation now.I will make my proposal well known if I am given the opportunity. I would like to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

Well I am clementina from Liberia,the only daughter of Col sinko Dabor. My father is now late,he died some weeks back during the last and current crisis in my country(Liberia). He was one of the high officers in the leadership of formal president Charles Taylor who is now in exile after many innocent soul were killed ,My father was unlucky to be among those that was killed by the rebel.

The main reason why I am contacting you now is to seek you assistance in the area of my future investment and also for a help hand over some huge amount of money in my possession. This money (US6.5 Million)is deposited in a secuirty and finacier company in Europe some years ago by my father he made me the sole beneficiary .

I am now asking you to stand on my behalf to make this claim,to stand as my partner oversea and in time of the investment as well. As I have mention earlier I will make the procedure to this issue to bewell know to you,if I am given the opportunity to do so. contact me via my email adress (clementina_joy@epals.com) to enable us discuss Pls attach your direct and full information .

Miss Clementina


Another Box Con

From :
Mrs Charity Koromah
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
West Africa.
Email: charitykoromah@yahoo.fr

Dear Sir,

With due respect to your humble self, I write you this letter which I believe you would be of great assistance to me and my children.

I am Mrs CHARITY KOROMAH, the wife of the late Dr DAVID KOROMAH of the blessed memory. Prior to my husband assassination by the rebel forces loyal to CORPORAL FODAY SANKOH of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), He was the Director General National Gold and Diamond Mining Corporation of Sierra-Leone.

Few days before my husband was assassinated, he instructed me and my children ( DIDOW and HENRY ) to
move out of Sierra-Leone and also to go in his underground strong room where the documents of money he has deposited in a security company in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire in one trunk Box as family valuables and treasures with the name of my first son DIDOW KOROMAH as the beneficiary. The amount is US$15,000.000.00 (Fifteen million United States Dollars.)We managed to escape to Abidjan the Republic
of Cote d'Ivoire through the help of my husband's friend who is a trawler. As our travelling document
was seized.

For your information , the security company does not know the real content of the box and we do not wish them to know until the money is transferred to your account. As it was deposited as family valuables and treasures.

Meanwhile, I want to leave Cote d'Ivoire entirely with this money for investment in your country because of the unstable political situation and mostly for the future of my children. I want you to please assist us to claim the box from the security company. we have it in mind to reward you with a certain percentage for your assistance. As soon as we hear from you.

Do not hesitate to send me e-mail immediately you receive this letter to enable us proceed in Ernest toward retrieving the box and transferring of the money into your account.

Finally, Please ensure that no one else knows about this money as it is only myself, my son, yourself knows about this money. Please even if you don't want to assist me, please don't expose this for my security.

May God bless you as you assist me. I am looking forward to hear from you as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,
MRS CHARITY KOROMAH.
NB: please reply me through my private email address: charitykoromah@yahoo.fr

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Urgent Attention

Another Filipina Scam

Urgent Attention:
villaran22@fastermail.com

Dear:

My name is Madam Villaran nenita. A complete citizen of the Philippines. My husband fell sick and he was flown to France for treatment but later died of ulcer and he has been buried.he died , who died on 15th of May 2002 I inherited a total sum of 12.3 million dollars from my late husband, this money which is concealed in a metallic trunk box is deposited with a security and finance company here in Philippine. Due to the instruction I laid down before I deposited the box, that I needed maximum security/safety of my consignment and no body nor government organization can trace the where about of the box until I am ready and prepare to claim it. for this reason the security company used their diplomatic means to send the box out of Philippines to Abidjan where they have their underground secrete vault. This deposit was coded under a secret arrangement as a family treasure. This means that the security company does not know the content of this trunk box that was sent from the Philippine to Abidjan under a diplomatic coverage for safe keeping.

My main purpose of sending you this mail is because of the way I found you and perhaps trustworthy to give you this priority of shipping the box of money to any address that you think is very secure and save in your country with your percentage of which we shall chat on soon.

In fact, since the death of my husband, his brothers has been seriously chasing me around with constant treats (sic), trying to suppress me so that they might have the documents of his landed properties and confiscate them. They have successfully collected all his properties, yet they never stopped there, they told me to surrender all bank account of my late husband, which I did, but I never disclose to them this deposit with the security company in Abidjan, because this is where my future and destiny lies upon.

The family secret existence of this deposit which I made with the security company and they can never be aware of it. Out of fear of my late husbands family, and when the situation becomes uncontrollable because of pressure on me from the Government of the Philippines, I decide to look for a trustworthy person who could assist me retrieve this box of money from the security company for onward lodgement into his account for the purpose of future investment. Consider my situation as a widow and come to my rescue.

There is need for urgent action because I'm paying $50 dollars per day as a demurrage to the security company for safe keeping this consignment. I will send you the Authorization Certificate to call them in my next mail which is the Certificate of deposit that they gave me on the very day when the box of money was deposited under their company.

I give thanks immensely for your co-operation as I look forward to hear from you soon.

Address your responds to my Private email address

villaran22@fastermail.com

for quick conclusion of this business.
All the best,
Madam Villaran nenita.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Some Scams Are Quite Elaborate

This one takes the cake

Laarni Enriquez is said to have moved to this house
in Wackwack when Estrada became Vice President.
(Click on the photo for a juicy bit of gossip.)

From: Laarni Enriquez
Subject: enjerika_18@yahoo.com.sg

Dear Sir,

I am madam Laarni Enriquez, a native of Philippine nationality, and a divorcee.

I would like to have a long lasting and confidant relationship with you and entrusting my life time fortune into your possession, as now I am broken hearted and needs someone to trust, without remembering my past and forsaken experiences from close confidants and family.


I need someone, who would take me for whom I am and as a life time partner, after making claims of my deposited life fortuned in Abroad.

Well, from your profile, I believe in me that you ought to be a very honest person. I would like to give you a brief description of my life.

I was once the mistress of our President, Joseph Estrada, and during his tenure in office, I was been used as a courier to depositing his funds, in the Europe, but due to the fracas I had with his wife, Madam Loi and her sone, Jude, it causes a public embarrasement and people came to know that I had been having an affair with the President.

But, not quite long, I was arrested, together with his wife and son, in connection with the 27th July, 2003, failed coup, which I did not have anything to do with, but was alleged of Rebellion charges and that I have been habouring some of the dissident and arms in one of the villa, bought for me by the President.

But, now, I have been released and I am under mmigration security watchlist and seriously monitored. All, I wanted from you is to assist me make claims of some funds, I did deposited in Europe and west Africa, as the other deposits documents have been consficated and seized by the the government of Madam Gloria, the President.

But, this one is the only one they could not see, as I did kept the documents with one of my close confidant, who was also arrested. The Amount being deposited is much about 10.2 million Euros, as this was the money that was supposed to be used by the President to aquire some properties in America, Europe and Africa.

All, I want from you, now is honesty and sincerity, as, as soon as this money is claimed by you, I will look for a way out and sneaked out of Philippines and travel down to meet you, so we can go into a life time partnership together,in investing this money in your country and anywhere else you prefer. I will send you my Photo, which I have with me and the Only one left. My private mail address is below, please do reply via it.

Sincerely yours,
Laarni Enriquez
enjerika_18@yahoo.com.sg

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Who Should Make the Coffee?

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee."

The husband said, "You are in charge of the cooking around here so you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee."

Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides it says in the Bible that the man should do the coffee."

Husband replies, "I can't believe that! Show me."

So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says, "HEBREWS."

Crime Watch

Dear friends,

I've just heard from a good buddy that he got robbed last night. He had parked his car in the car park under the flyover and gone for a drink at the PJ Hilton. As he was returning to his car, he was ambushed by three Indonesians brandishing a large knife.

Left with no choice, the unfortunate dude gave up his wallet complete with his IC, driving license, credit cards and RM400 inside. He had the presence of mind to pretend to plead for RM50 as cabfare to go home in a bid to save his car from being taken. The robbers slashed his throat for his efforts.

Thank god they ran away after that and my friend managed to seek medical help. Luckily for him it turned out that the slash wound was not life-threatening. He's now recuperating at home.

So dear friends - we all know we live in dangerous times when criminals are desperate and, more importantly, completely merciless. Remember the recent case in Bahau where the 98-year-old grandma was slashed and beaten to death for a crummy RM10 and a pair of earrings?

Please do not take your safety for granted. And please do not think that you won't be attacked if you're a macho male. My friend was no wimp or wussy either, but he did the smart thing and lived to see another day.

After all, you can always find another RM400 and reapplying for your documents is a minor inconvenience at worst.

Please, please be careful and be aware of your surroundings and movements.

I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'd hate it even more if inaction on my part resulted in someone getting hurt.

Right on the heels of one friend getting robbed and slashed recently, another friend tells me this incident happened to his brother, Deen, yesterday :

Deen walked across the parking lot at Bangsar, unlocked his car and got inside. He locked all the doors, started the engine and shifted into REVERSE, and looked into the rear-view mirror to back out of the parking space, only to find a newspaper stuck to the rear window, blocking his view. So, he shifted into PARK, left his engine running, unlocked his door and got out of his car to remove the paper obstructing his view.

When he reached the back of his car, the 2 car-jackers appeared as if out of nowhere, jumped into his car and took off, practically mowing him down as they sped off in his car.

Now comes the scary part - if you were a woman, you probably would have left your purse/handbag on the passenger seat of the car. You don't need me to remind you that it contains your identification, and you certainly do not want these guys getting your home address - they already have your keys! Not to mention your ATM cards, your handphone, and etc. BE AWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.

Just drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later, in a safe environment. Use your wing mirrors if necessary.

I normally do not encourage chain mail, but I do hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to the women in your life.

From: Tkiiii

Share this info with your friends, family & relatives...

If you would like to know more about Personal Accident Insurance, Medical Insurance and Hospitalization Benefits, kindly contact Hema to make an appointment for one of our Financial Planning Consultants to visit you:

KL/Questar Agency
8.29, 8th Floor, Wisma AIG
99 Jalan Ampang
50450 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel: 03-2031 8128
Fax: 03-2032 1128
Web: www.questar-agency.com

A Grave Tragedy

A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother
and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to
another man kneeling at a grave.

The man seemed to be praying with profound intensity and kept
repeating, "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die? Why did
you have to die? Why did you have to die?"

The first man approached him and said, "Sir, I don't wish to interfere
with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than
I've ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply? A child? A
parent?"

The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied... "My
wife's first husband."

LIFE 2

with many thanks to Nurzalena Zakaria for sharing this edifying piece
(see also companion piece Life of August 7, 2004)


Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,
It is because we are different that each of us is special...

Don't set your goals by what other people deem important,
Only you know what is best for you...

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart,
Cling to them as they would your life, for without them, life is meaningless...

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life...

Don't give up when you still have something to give,
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying...

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,
It is this fragile thread that binds us each together.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks,
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give;
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
And the best way to keep love is to give it wings...

Don't dismiss your dreams,
To be without dream is to be without hope;
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget...
Not only where you've been, but also where you are going...

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured each step of the way...

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery
And Today is a Gift, the Present...

Cleanse Yourself of Sin

I speak to those who honour the Lord, and pray to Him
constantly, but cannot see Him.
Those who cleanse themselves of sin, will be richly rewarded.
To God all creatures will return.

~ Qu'ran, Fatir, Surah 35:18b

HELP NEEDED FOR RESEARCH - jane@ligne-net.info

Sorry to bother you but I am hoping that you might be able to help me.
I found your e-mail address on a chain letter that was sent to me and
thought that as your name was on a chain letter you may have other chain
e-mail letters (forwards) that you could send to me?

I am doing a project at university regarding the different subjects
that go around the Internet on chain e-mail letters and how many people
they actually reach. I would be very grateful if you could send me any
that you have, absolutely anything and everything (even the rude ones).

We are trying to ascertain trends and patterns, also we know that
around 85% of all e-mails are Spam but what we don't know is what percentage
of that accounts for chain mail (forwards). I would also be very
grateful if you would be kind enough to forward this e-mail to all your
friends as I need as many as I can get my hands on for the project to be a
success.

This project is based over a year so please keep them coming. I will
let you know the results of my project and when to stop sending.

Please send all forwards to the following e-mail address - jane@ligne-net.info

Your help would very much be appreciated.

Thanks

Jane Rowlings
jane@ligne-net.info

To have your e-mail completely removed from my list, click the
following e-mail link and type remove in the subject line jane@ligne-net.info

Jane Rowlings
Middlesex University
Trent Park
Bramley Road
London
England
N14 4YZ

Roadshows for Week Beginning August 23

Free Credit Cards and Free Upgrades for those who Qualify

I'll be running Customer Service Roadshows in the following locations next week, signing up eligible applicants for free Motorist Club credit cards. Benefits include free petrol welcome gift when your card is approved, year-long discount whenever you buy petrol or diesel, 24-hour Auto Assist (all worth RM640 a year). I also do Credit Card Debt Restructuring.

To qualify, you need to have a credit card from any bank other than Standard Chartered Bank for more than one year. Please come prepared with photocopies of your:

1) IC (both sides)
2) present credit cards (both sides)
3) latest monthly statements of your present credit cards

If your present residential address is not the address on your IC, please bring a photocopy of a utility bill in your name with your current address on it.

PLEASE BRING THE ORIGINALS AS I HAVE TO SIGHT THEM BEFORE I CAN VERIFY THE PHOTOCOPIES.

ROADSHOW VENUES
Monday, August 23 2004 ~ 10 am to 3 pm
Kelana Jaya PUTRA LRT Station (concourse)
Kelana Jaya, PJ

Monday, August 23 2004 ~ 4 pm to 6 pm
AmInvestment Services Berhad
Bangsar Utama, KL

Monday, August 23 2004 ~ 6 pm to 8 pm
Wisma AIG and Menara AIA
99 Jalan Ampang, KL

Tuesday, August 24 2004 ~ 10.30 am to 12 noon
Faculty of Dentistry
University of Malaya

Tuesday, August 24 2004 ~ 12.30 pm to 3 pm
Pusat Kejiranan Precinct 16 (to be confirmed)
Putrajaya

Tuesday, August 24 2004 ~ 3.30 pm to 8 pm
Kelana Jaya PUTRA LRT Station (concourse)
Kelana Jaya, PJ

Wednesday, August 25 2004 ~ 10 am to 3 pm
Kelana Jaya PUTRA LRT Station (concourse)
Kelana Jaya, PJ

Wednesday, August 25 2004 ~ 4 pm to 5 pm
Wisma Denmark
86 Jalan Ampang, KL

Thursday, August 26 2004 ~ 11 am to 2 pm
Ministry of Health Kantin (next to Block A); and/or
Tanglin Hospital Kantin
Jalan Cenderasari, KL

Friday, August 26 2004 ~ 10 am to 3 pm
Central Bus Station
Cyberjaya

Friday, August 26 2004 ~ 5 pm to 8 pm
Menara AIA and Wisma AIG
99 Jalan Ampang, KL

--
Azlan
Mobile: 012-383 1324
Fax: 03-2032 1128
E-mail: azlan088@gmail.com
For more information on my Financial Planning and Other Services, click here.

Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Bond Asia tour announced - October 2004

From: www.bondmusic.net
Friday, August 20 2004

Bond are coming back to Asia in October!
We'll bring more details about venues as soon as we know them.

OCTOBER 2004
Fri 8 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sun 10 Hong Kong
Tues 12 Jakarta, Indonesia
Thurs 14 Singapore
Sat 16 Bangkok
Wed 20 Manila
Fri 22 Seoul, Korea
Sat 23 Pusan, Korea
Mon 25 Tokyo, Japan
Tues 26 Nagoya, Japan
Wed 27 Osaka, Japan
Fri 29 Kobe, Japan

for more information about the Japanese dates, go to the
Bond Japan site.

Azlan Adnan
Founder
Haylie Ecker Fan Club

HUMOUR: Don't step on the ducks!

Three women die together in an accident and go to heaven. When they
get there, St. Peter says, "We only have one rule here in heaven:
Don't step on the ducks!"

So they enter heaven, and sure enough, there are ducks all over the
place. It is almost impossible not to step on a duck, and although
they try their best to avoid them, the first woman accidentally steps
on one.

Along comes St. Peter with the ugliest man she ever saw. St. Peter
chains them together and says, "Your punishment for stepping on a duck
is to spend eternity chained to this ugly man!"

The next day, the second woman steps accidentally on a duck and along
comes St. Peter, who doesn't miss a thing. With him is another
extremely ugly man. He chains them together with the same admonishment
as for the first woman.

The third woman has observed all this and, not wanting to be chained
for all eternity to an ugly man, is very, VERY careful where she
steps. She manages to go for months without stepping on any duck, but
one day St. Peter comes up to her with the most handsome man she has
ever laid eyes on... very tall, long eyelashes, muscular, and thin.
St. Peter chains them together without saying a word.

The happy woman says, "I wonder what I did to deserve being chained to
you for all of eternity?"

The guy says, "I don't know about you, but I stepped on a duck!"

Private Audience With the Holy Mother

After a long life of unselfish service, Father John O'Malley died and
went to heaven. St. Peter met him at the gate and said: "John, you did
such a wonderful job for us on earth, we'd like to do something
special for you. You name it; it's yours."

John thought for a moment and said: "I'd like a private audience with
the Holy Mother." St. Peter told him it would be arranged.

On the appointed day, St. Peter escorted John to the Holy Mother's
sanctuary. John went before Her, knelt, and said: "Holy Mother, I've
always looked to You for guidance, and You have granted me peace and
serenity through some difficult times. But I have one question that
has nagged me during my whole time on earth. In all the paintings that
were done of you, and in all the sculptures that were carved of you,
you always looked so sad. Why is that?"

Mary thought for a moment, pursing her lips. She said: "I always wanted a girl."

HUMOUR: Long-Distance Calls

A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around
the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and worked east
from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs
and notes.

He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued
by a sign which read: "$10,000 a minute." Seeking out the Pastor he
asked about the phone and the sign. The Pastor explained that the
golden phone was, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he paid the
price he could talk directly to God. The man thanked the Pastor and
continued on his way.

As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, San Diego, Chicago,
Greensboro, Tampa and all around the United States, he found more
phones with the same sign and got the same answer from each Pastor.
Finally, he arrived in Texas. Upon entering a church in Dallas,
behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign
read: "Calls: 35 cents." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the Pastor.

"Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each
church I have found this golden telephone. I have been told it is a
direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the other
churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 35 cents.
Why?"

The Pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're in Texas now...
It's a local call."

PETROL STATION HAZARD

A True Story by Suzana Mohamed Zahir

Please take note...

A reminder to hold the petrol nozzle at all times. You guys don't be lazy.

My friend stopped for petrol at the Projet Petrol Station (the one at
the Lingkaran Tengah Highway near Gombak) a little over two weeks
ago. This was the first time he patronized a Projet station.

As his normal practice elsewhere, he put the nozzle on automatic and
stood nearby waiting for his car to be filled up. Suddenly the nozzle
flew out of the gas tank opening with petrol spewing out at high
speed. He was sprayed with petrol all over, including his face and
eyes (just imagine the pain in his eyes). His companion quickly
brought him to the toilet to wash his face.

After that, they reported the incident to the staff and asked to speak
to the manager. The manager refused to see them; he only instructed
the staff to take my friend to the hospital. According to the staff
that was not the first time the nozzle came out of the tank while
customers are filling up petrol. But my friend's incident was the
worst. The top layer of his right eye was damaged and the area around
his eye burnt. His eye had to be bandaged for 10 days. He was lucky
that his eyesight was not affected.

Apparently the nozzle was lighter than normal and the speed of the
petrol created a backward thrust that pushed the nozzle out of the
tank. So please be careful. Share this info with your friends, family
& relatives...

If you would like to know more about Personal Accident Insurance, Medical Insurance and Hospitalization Benefits, kindly contact Hema to make an appointment for one of our Financial Planning Consultants to visit you:

KL/Questar Agency
8.29, 8th Floor, Wisma AIG
99 Jalan Ampang
50450 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel: 03-2031 8128
Fax: 03-2032 1128
Web: www.questar-agency.com