31 August 1957, 57 years ago

In January 1956, Tunku  Abdul Rahman led a mission to London to negotiate for Malayan independence, in the end securing self-government for Malaya and the promise of independence by August 1957.  Tunku Abdul Rahman became independent Malaya’s first Prime Minister (a post he would retain when the Federation of Malaysia, which consolidated the countries of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak under one umbrella, was formed in 1963). At midnight on August 30, he stood at the flagpole in Merdeka Square, in Kuala Lumpur, when the Union Jack was lowered for the last time and the new Federation of Malaya flag was raised.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, the Father of Independence.

103 years old sprinter!

Closing in on his 104th birthday, Hidekichi Miyazaki, a twinkle-toed Japanese sprinter has thrown down the challenge to the world's fastest man Usain Bolt, telling him: "let's rumble!"

Hidekichi Miyazaki -- who holds the 100 metres world record for centenarians at 29.83 seconds and is dubbed 'Golden Bolt' after the Jamaican flyer -- plans to wait another five years for his dream race and was happy to reveal his secret weapon: his daughter's tangerine jam.

Read more at:
www.japantoday.com
Japan's golden bolt 103 years old !

MH 17 - our people come home

Malaysians woke up this morning to the National Flag being hoisted at half-mast  to honour the victims of the MH 17 crash, which killed all 298 persons on board, including 43 Malaysians on July 17.    
 
What must have been an agonizing wait for the next-of-kin of 20 of the 43 Malaysian victims came to an end with the arrival of their remains, 37 days after the downing of MH 17, that shocked us all, especially so close following the tragic disappearance of MH 370 hardly 4 months before on 8 March 2014.  

To whoever shot down the plane, do you know how many lives are destroyed foreever?  You not only killed 298 persons but brought so much grief to all those who love them, all those who depend on them and all those who are supposed to grow up with them and spend the future with them.  

Please read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/

The scene along the busy Federal Highway at 10.55 am today when all Malaysians,
including motorists, observed 1 minute of silence for the victims of MH17  

Into the winter's gray delight,
Into the summer's golden dream,
Holy and high and impartial,
Death, the mother of Life,
Mingles all men for ever.
~William Ernest Henley, "XIV: Ave, Caesar!", In Hospital

Poverty begets poverty and hunger begets hunger

One billion people live on less than $1 a day, the threshold defined by the international community as constituting extreme poverty, below which survival is questionable.

Within a trap, poverty begets poverty and hunger begets hunger. A number of studies at the level of individuals and households provide clear evidence that poverty and hunger in combination put into play mechanisms that cause both conditions to persist. Poverty and hunger inherited at birth, or resulting from unfortunate and unexpected events, can persist for years.

-Quote from The-worlds-most-deprived-characteristics-and-causes-of-extreme-poverty-and-hunger.html

My lucky morning

When I cracked open my half boiled egg this morning the egg had double yolks! Although I hear that twin yolks are quite common, this is the first for me after so many years of cracking eggs!

I did some research to find out what a double-yolk egg means in folklore and superstition. I would have assumed that a double egg yolk would definitely be a sign of good luck and prosperity.  But some initial web browsing came up with conflicting information, although there were more happy predictions than bad ones. Well, being quite an optimist, I am more inclined to believe in the happy predictions, ha..ha.. Whatever it is, since I got 2 yolks for the price of one, it must be good luck!

Anyway, there is this superstition that two yolks would mean a marriage was coming up soon or a sign of a coming pregnancy, a black spot on a yolk was a bad omen, and an egg with no yolk at all was just about as bad as you could get!

Putting superstitions aside it seems approximately one egg in every thousand is double-yolked. It seems these are produced by hens which have just started laying eggs or by hens which ovulate too quickly.

A Walk to Remember

“There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well.”
― Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

Exercise is an antidote to aging !

 Get active. It's one of the best things you can do for yourself.

“Exercise is an antidote to aging," says Barry A. Franklin, PhD. He is director of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise labs at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

A well-rounded routine, as part of a healthy lifestyle, may help you avoid things like falls, heart disease, and osteoporosis. In fact, experts say, many of the conditions people think are due to getting older have more to do with not moving enough.

At any age, these are the types of exercise you want to get:

• Aerobic: good for your heart and lungs
• Strength training: good for your muscles and bones
• Flexibility and balance: helps prevent falls

Don't avoid exercise because you're afraid of getting hurt or think it's too late to start. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor for their advice before starting a new exercise program.

If you have a condition like heart disease, osteoporosis, or arthritis, you may need to tweak your exercise routine a little to meet your needs, but it’s worth it.

Source: Healthy-aging / fitness-for-long-term

You’re only as old as you feel !

Research from Purdue University discovers the maxim, “you’re only as old as you feel” is an accurate statement, especially for older adults.

Although chronological age matters, the perception of how you feel “has far-reaching implications for the process of aging,” said Markus H. Schafer, a doctoral student who led the study. This study’s results mirror previous research done on aging, including that of Ellen Langer.

“If you feel old beyond your own chronological years you are probably going to experience a lot of the downsides that we associate with aging.  “But if you are older and maintain a sense of being younger, then that gives you an edge in maintaining a lot of the abilities you prize.”

Source:  Age-perception-influences-capabilities

Spending time with family

There is a garden in every childhood

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Spending time with my younger brother Tai Keat's grandchildren