SPM Results Out In Second Week Of March

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results will be released in the second week of March.

“Students can obtain the results from their schools towards the end of the second week,” Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said.

The SPM results have been released around this time for the past few years.

A total of 442,936 students sat for the examination last year.

Does The Type Of Blood You Have Tell You Anything?

WiseGeek

Identifying blood type can help in a number of ways and is thus important. Degree of importance depends upon the needs of the individual. All should know their blood types for emergency purposes.

Should one require blood after an accident, one’s blood type determines the other types of blood one can receive. Almost all types of blood are compatible with the type O negative. However, sometimes people require type specific blood, and thus specific blood type should be known.

Blood typing can be a way to initiate research into establishing genetic relationships. For example two parents with AB negative blood cannot have an O positive child. In criminal investigations this can be used to establish kidnapping charges when a child has clearly not been adopted. Conversely it can be the beginning step toward proving parental relationships if blood typing is the same.

Blood typing used to be one of the main ways in which the police establish a criminal’s presence at the scene of a crime. Since it takes only a few moments to perform a blood type test, it can still at least eliminate potential suspects. However, since there are numerous people of the same blood type, having the same blood type found at the scene of a crime does not mean one is necessarily guilty. Further tests that evaluate DNA are used as proof of presence at a crime scene. DNA cannot be duplicated, and each person’s DNA is individual, like fingerprints.

Knowing one’s blood type can also be helpful if one plans to donate blood, bone marrow, or an organ. Only blood type information is needed for the purpose of blood donation. Both bone marrow and organ donation require more specific testing to determine matches. However, blood typing is the first step toward determining a match.

It is also useful to know blood type because rare types are in constant demand at local blood banks. O negative blood is in very high demand as this is considered the universal donor blood type. All other blood types can receive O negative blood.

Yet people with O negative blood can only receive O negative blood. Thus this blood is also needed specifically for the accidents or surgeries of those with O negative blood type. As well, some people may require other type specific blood, thus those with rare blood types are encouraged to regularly donate.

Sweet Memories

Cheers to the 70's... 80's babies...

Those OLD days!!!

You grew up watching He-man, Transformers, Thundercats, Silver Hawk, Space Cop Gaban, Ultraman, and Mighty Mouse. Not to forget, Ninja Turtles, Mask and Smurfs too.

You grew up brushing your teeth with a mug in primary school after recess time.

You squatted by a drain with all your classmates beside you, and brushed your teeth with a colourful mug. Remember the days when the school nurse comes with a list for the dentist appointments, the sound of the drilling when your friend has a fill in his tooth.

You remember the packets of milk (Projeck Susu Segar) and Milo we get in primary school to encourage us to drink more milk. And when we had to line up just to get one cup, and some of us would line up again for another cup of cold Milo.

And remember we use to buy susu sekolah and get stomach-ache the next day. During primary (some KBSR & 3M) school days, the teacher will punish you using a long ruler to hit your palm.

A bowl of noodle soup cost only 20 cent in primary school days.

When you were in primary school, girls like to go to the bookshop to buy cute stuff such as animal erasers, sharpeners, notebook etc. Play with these paper doll... With all the paper clothes, etc...

In secondary (some KBSM) school, girls go to the library to borrow their favourite romance storybook. In secondary school, girls altered their school skirt to shorten it and guys will go to the school appointed school uniform tailor shop to tailor make their school trousers to the then fashionable "baggy pants", or the GQ one with all the 'batik' or buckle at the edge of the pocket! the straight cut jeans.. or codroy...

In secondary school days, you buy the Bata BM Turbo school shoes. Some guys like to wear those china made ankle high shoes. Some even like to wear those very thick socks with their school shoes. Remember the Panda, Carefree or Warrior shoes..

Internet? E-mail? What the hell is that? So you thought a decade or more ago. Your friends don't have pagers or handphones in school.

CDs? What's that? Cassette tapes were the norm.

Movie tickets used to cost less than RM5 last time. There is no KLCC. Pertama Complex or Bukit Bintang the only place we have.

The goodies from Mamak shop used to be Mamee, Kaka, Kum Kum, Ding Dang choco balls (with toys in the box) plus the Mat Sentul voices as a jingle, colourful hard "egg", "cigerette" chocolate, pink bottle of bubbles, and small tubes with yellow sticks to blow "more lasting" bubbles that you can pop more air in or slam it on.

You never forget 'Ti Kam'. When exams are over, the board games (eg: UNO, Monopoly, CLUEDO) & hand held video games will be all over the class room.

Girls will start playing 'batu seremban'. Guys with 'tudung botol oren'.

For it's the homemade ice cream man. The cream that tops Haagan Dazs! The pink colour ice-cream with eyes plus a wide smile.

Your favourite sound is the bell!

Another bell is the recess bell, a time to get away from school work and to eat.

Another time when there is no bell but all guys will anxiously wait for it... The PJ, PE time (time for football!)

Your favourite childhood games were playing "guli" (marbles), five stones, zero-point, catching, and/or "Pepsi-Cola one two three"! The best thirst quencher of all times is the yummy colourful ice tubes you can buy from provision shops. To eat them, break the tab and suck while holding the freezing tube!

All gals had barbie dolls, My Little Pony, pound puppy, Polly Pocket and etc, while all boys had star wars figurines or a rubber band catapult that shoots folded paper or eraser bits.

Once was the era whereby ice-cream sticks were valueable items, than came the paper aircrafts, chalk fights.

Everyone envied the class monitor and his assitant, coz they were the ones who came up with the daily duty roster, giving names to teacher on who makes the most noise and who's running around the class.

The elite group are the prefects, the one with license to move around, they consider themselves above the law when not many students actually listened to them, and that's when the PK HEM comes in.

Some boys made their own guns from wood, and used 'Bacali' as the bullets. Some even used matches to shoot and burn kid's lanterns during Latern Festival.

And you also rather to 'ponteng sekolah' just to watch final episod of Moero Attack... Miss that much... Summersault Berkembar... He he he... Still remember this one...

Once Upon A Time In Kuala Lumpur

Petaling Street

Bukit Aman

General Hospital

National Museum

Lake Garden

1909 - Kuala Berlumpur - Masjid Jame'k

Merdeka Square

1950 - Jalan Bukit Bintang

Blood Type Diet - Type AB

DrLam

Multiple antigens make Type ABs sometimes A-like with weak stomach acid, and sometimes B-like with genetically programmed for the consumption of meats.

Type AB do best when their muscle tissues are slightly alkaline. Type ABs can't metabolize meat efficiently because of low stomach acid, so it is important to watch the portion size and frequency.

Chicken has lectin that irritates the blood and digestive tracts of Type ABs also. Tofu is a good protein supplements for Type ABs.

Nuts, seeds, beans and legumes present a mixed picture for Type ABs. Eat nuts and seeds in small amounts and with caution.

Type ABs can tolerate dairy foods fairly well. But watch out for excessive mucus production.

Generally Type ABs do well on grains, even wheat, but keep in mind that the inner kernel of the wheat grain is highly acid forming in the muscle for Type ABs. Type AB benefits from a diet rich in rice rather than pasta.

Type ABs has a weaker immune system, so you will benefit from the vegetables, which are high in phytocheicals and the more alkaline fruits, which can help to balance the grains that are acid forming in the muscle tissues.

Tomatoes do not impose any ill effects on Type ABs.

Type AB should begin each day by drinking a glass of warm water with the freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon to cleanse the system of mucus accumulated while sleeping.

See Detailed Type AB Food Chart

Blood Type Diet - Type B

DrLam

The sturdy and alert Type Bs are usually able to resist many of the most severe diseases common to modern life, such as heart disease and cancer.

In fact, a Type B who carefully follows the recommended diet can often bypass severe disease and live a long and healthy life.

Type Bs are more prone to immune-system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Type B Diet is balance and wholesome, including a wide variety of foods.

For Type Bs, the biggest factors in weight gain are corn, buckwheat, lentils, peanuts and sesame seeds.

These foods have different lectin that affect the efficiency of the metabolic process, resulting in fatigue, fluid retention, and hypoglycemia.

The gluten lectin in wheat germ and whole wheat products also adds to the problems cause by other metabolism-slowing foods.

It is important to leave off chicken for Type Bs. Chicken contains a Blood Type B agglutinating lectin in its muscle tissue, which attack the bloodstream and potentially lead to strokes and immune disorders.

Type Bs thrive on deep-ocean fish, but should avoid all shellfish. The shellfish contain lectins that are disruptive to the Type B system.

Type B is the only blood type that can fully enjoy a variety of dairy foods. Most nuts and seeds (especially peanuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds) are not advised for Type Bs., they contain lectins that interfere with Type B insulin production.

Wheat is not tolerated well by most Type Bs. They contain a lectin that reuce insulin efficiency and failure to stimulate fat "burning". Rye contains a lectin that settles in the vascular system, causing blood disorders and potentially strokes.

Corn and buckwheat are major factors in Type B weight gain, they contribute to a sluggish metabolism, insulin irregularity, fluid retention, and fatigue.

Eliminate tomatoes completely from Type B diet. It has lectins that irritate the stomach lining. Fruits and vegetables are generally well tolerated and should be taken generously.

See Detailed Type B Food Chart

Blood Type Diet - Type A

DrLam

Type As flourish on vegetarian diets Type As are predisposed to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It is particularly important for sensitive Type As to get their foods in as natural a state as possible: fresh, pure, and organic.

When you get on the Type A Diet, you will naturally be thinner. If you are accustomed to eating meat, you'll lose weight rather rapidly in the beginning as you eliminate the toxic foods from your diet.

And when you follow the Type diet, you can supercharge your immune system and potentially short-circuit the development of life-threatening diseases.

When Type As eat meat, they experience sluggishness. Type As have low stomach-acid content, therefore they have a hard time digesting meat. Since Type As eat very little animal protein, nuts and seeds supply an important protein component.

Type As also thrive on the vegetable proteins found in beans and legumes, except those mentioned for the "Avoid" list. These beans can cause a decrease in insulin production, which may cause obesity and diabetes. Tofu should be a staple in the Type A Diet.

Dairy foods are also poorly digested by Type As, and can cause metabolic slowdown. Type As can tolerate small amounts of fermented dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, nonfat sour cream, and cultured dairy products.

Vegetables are vital to the Type A Diet, providing minerals, enzymes and antioxidants. Type A are very sensitive to the lectins in potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, cabbage, tomatoes and peppers.

They aggravate the delicate stomach of Type A. Type A should eat more fruits that are alkaline, avoid mangoes, papaya and oranges for they are not good for your digestive tract.

See Detailed Type A Food Chart

Blood Type Diet - Type O

DrLam

Type Os thrive on intense physical exercise and animal protein. Unlike the other blood types, Type Os muscle tissue should be slightly on the acid side. Type Os can efficiently digest and metabolize meat because they tend to have high stomach-acid content.

The success of the Type O Diet depends on the use of lean, chemical-free meats, poultry, and fish. Type Os don't find dairy products and grains quite as user friendly as do most of the other blood types.

The initial weight loss on the Type O Diet is by restricting consumption of grains, breads, legumes, and beans. The leading factor in weight gain for Type Os is the gluten found in wheat germ and whole wheat products, which interferes with insulin efficiency and slow down metabolic rate.

Another factor that contribute to weight gain is certain beans and legumes (lentils and kidney beans) contain lectins that deposit in the muscle tissues making them less "charged" for physical activity.

The third factor in Type O weight gain is that Type Os have a tendency to have low levels of thyroid hormone or unstable thyroid functions, which also cause metabolic problems.

Therefore it is good to avoid food that inhibits thyroid hormone (cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, mustard green) but increase hormone production (kelp, seafood, iodized salt).

Several classes of vegetables can cause big problems for Type Os, such as the Brassica family (cabbage, cauliflower, etc.) can inhibit the thyroid function.

Eat more vegetables that are high in Vitamin K, which helps the clotting factor which is weak in Type Os. The nightshade vegetables can cause lectin deposit in the tissue surrounding the joints.

Because of the high acidity stomach, Type Os should eat fruits of alkaline nature such as berries and plums.

Type Os should severely restrict the use of dairy products. Their system is not designed for the proper metabolism. If you are a Type O of African ancestry, you should eliminate dairy foods and eggs altogether.

See Detailed Type O Food Chart

Importance of Physical Activity

Muscle strength and bone strength tend to go hand in hand.

When muscles work, they pull on the bones, stimulating them to lay down more trabeculae and grow stronger.

When muscles work, the hormones that promote new muscle growth also favour the building of bone.

As a result, active bones are denser then sedentary bones.

Even modest increases in physical activity and calcium intake help to maximize bone gain in young adulthood and minimize further losses that occur with inactivity.

To keep bones healthy, weight-bearing physical activity, such as walking, dancing or jogging are especially effective.

Recommended Nutrients Intakes (RNI)

The Recommended Nutrients Intakes (RNI) as published by National Coordinating Committee on Food and Nutrition for Malaysian children and adolescents are as the following:

* 1 - 3 years => 500 mg/day

* 4 - 6 years => 600 mg/day

* 7 - 9 years => 700 mg/day

* 10 - 18 years => 1,000 mg/day

Calcium - Nutritional factors and bone health

Calcium accounts for 1 - 2% of the adult human's body weight.

The adult human body contains about 1200g of calcium.

Of this amount, over 99% is found in mineralised tissues, such as bones and teeth.

The amount of calcium needed changes throughout the different stage of life.

In the pre-pubescence years calcium requirements are high due to rapid growth of the skeleton.

Milk and other dairy products are the most important sources of calcium.

Other good food sources of calcium include some;

* Green vegetables, like brocoli;

* Canned fish with soft edible bones, such as sardines, pilchards and salmon;

* Nuts - especially Brazil nut and almonds; and some fruits, such as oranges and apricots.

Our Skeleton

The human skeleton represents the scaffolding of the human body. It provides mechanical support, facilitates movement and protects vital organs.

Despite the fact that the skeleton is mainly formed by a mineral framework, bone is a living, active tissue, metabolically active and in constant transformation.

Bone is composed of a collagen framework permeated with mineral salts composed of mostly calcium and phosphate, together with trace amounts of other minerals and ions.

The skeleton needs a constant supply of nutrients. A healthy, balanced diet containing both macro - and micronutrients plus sufficient energy is vital for both normal development an on-going maintenance of the skeleton.