SeniorsAloud

ACCEPT OUR RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:18:00 +0000

Sunday mornings used to find me teaching bible classes in church. That seemed like a lifetime ago. I left because I found it difficult to embrace any religion, Christianity included, that is divisive - that guarantees salvation for their disciples and followers, but eternal hell and condemnation for all others. Sounds like Islam too, doesn't it? I often wonder if all the religious strife in the world today is the result of man's (mis)interpretation of the holy books.

I am reminded of a National Day speech given by Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong where he spoke about the risks of religious fervour in a multi-racial society. What he says is applicable to the Malaysian context too. After all, both countries had a shared history for many years. I reproduce excerpts below taken from the Straits Times. Click here for the full text. Also embedded here is a video clip of the speech. Highly recommended viewing.

"SO WHAT are these risks? Let me just highlight three of them.

Aggressive preaching - proselytisation. You push your own religion on others, you cause nuisance and offence. You have read in the papers recently about a couple who surreptitiously distributed Christian tracts which were offensive of other faiths, not just of non-Christians but even of Catholics. They were charged and sentenced to jail.

But there are less extreme cases too which can cause problems. We hear, from time to time, complaints about groups trying to convert very ill patients in our hospitals, who don't want to be converted, and who don't want to have the private difficult moments in their lives intruded upon.

Intolerance is another problem - not respecting the beliefs of others or not accommodating others who belong to different religions. You think of this one group versus another group, but sometimes it happens within the same family.

Sometimes we have parents from traditional religions whose children have converted. The parents have asked to be buried according to traditional rites and their children stay away from the funeral or the wake. It's very sad. From a traditional point of view, it's the ultimate unfilial act but it does happen occasionally.

Exclusiveness is a third problem - segregating into separate exclusive circles, not integrating with other faiths. That means you mix with your own people. You'll end up as separate communities.

FOUR BASIC RULES

WE can never take our racial and religious harmony for granted. We must observe some basic principles to keep it the way it is.

First, all groups have to exercise tolerance and restraint. Christians cannot expect this to be a Christian society, Muslims cannot expect this to be a Muslim society. Ditto the Buddhists, the Hindus and the other groups. Many faiths share this island. Each has different teachings, different practices. Rules which only apply to one group cannot become laws which are enforced on everyone. So Muslims don't drink alcohol but alcohol is not banned. Ditto gambling, which many religions disapprove of, but gambling is not banned. All have to adopt 'live and let live' as our principle.

Secondly, we have to keep religion separate from politics. The People's Action Party reminds our candidates, don't bring all the friends from your own religious group. Don't mobilise your church or your temple or your mosque to campaign for you. Bring a multi-racial, multi-religious group of supporters. When you are elected, represent the interest of all your constituents, not just your religious group in Parliament. Speak for all your constituents.

Thirdly, the Government has to remain secular. The Government's authority comes from the people. The laws are passed by Parliament which is elected by the people. They don't come from a sacred book. The Government has to be neutral, fair. We are not against religion. We uphold sound moral values. We hold the ring so that all groups can practise their faiths freely without colliding. That's the way Singapore has to be.

You may ask: Does this mean that religious groups have no views, cannot have views on national issues? Or that religious individuals cannot participate in politics? Obviously not.

Religious groups are free to propagate their teachings on social and moral issues. And obviously many Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists participate in politics. In Parliament, we have people of all faiths. In the Cabinet too. People who have a religion will often have views which are informed by their religious beliefs. It's natural because it's part of you, it's part of your personality.

But you must accept that other groups may have different views informed by different beliefs and you have to accept that and respect that. The public debate cannot be on whose religion is right and whose religion is wrong. It has to be on secular, rational considerations of public interest - what makes sense for Singapore.

The final requirement for us to live peacefully together is to maintain our common space that all Singaporeans share. It has to be neutral and secular because that's the only way all of us can feel at home in Singapore and at ease.

COMMON SPACES

Sharing meals. We have different food requirements. Muslims need halal food. Hindus don't eat beef. Buddhists sometimes are vegetarian. So if we must serve everybody food which is halal, no beef and vegetarian, I think we will have a problem. We will never eat meals together. So there will be halal food on one side, vegetarian food for those who need it, no beef for those who don't eat beef. Let's share a meal together, acknowledging that we are not the same. Don't discourage people from interacting. Don't make it difficult for us to be one people.

Our schools are another example of common space where all races and religions interact. Even in mission schools run by religious groups, the Ministry of Education has set clear rules, so students of all faiths will feel comfortable. You might ask: Why not allow mission schools to introduce prayers or Bible studies as compulsory parts of the school activity or as part of school assembly? Why not? Then why not let those who are not Christian, or don't want a Christian environment, go to a government school or go to a Buddhist school? Well, if they do that, we'll have Christians in Christian schools, Buddhists in Buddhist schools, Muslims in schools with only Muslim children and so on. I think that is not good for Singapore. Therefore, we have rules to keep all our schools secular and the religious groups understand and accept this.

Another example of common space - work. The office environment should be one which all groups feel comfortable with. Staff have to be confident that they will get equal treatment even if they belong to a different faith from their managers - especially in government departments, but in the private sector too. I think it can be done because even religious community service organisations often have people who don't belong to that religion working comfortably and happily together. This is one very important aspect of our meritocratic society.

THIS is an unusually serious and heavy subject for a National Day Rally. Normally, you talk about babies, hongbaos, bonuses. No bonuses tonight but a bonus lecture on a serious subject. We discussed this in Cabinet at length and decided that I should talk about this. I crafted the points carefully, circulated them many times. Different presentations in Mandarin, Malay and English, because different groups have different concerns, but a consistent message so that there's no misunderstanding.

I also invited the religious leaders to come and spend the evening with us tonight. They can help us to help their flocks understand our limitations, to guide them to practise their faiths, taking into account the context of our society. Please teach them accommodation, which is what all faiths teach. I look forward to all the religious groups continuing to do a lot of good work for Singapore for many years to come.

So let us rejoice in our harmony but let us never forget what being a Singaporean means. It's not just tolerating other groups but opening our hearts to all our fellow citizens.

OUR FUTURE

IF WE stay cohesive, then we can overcome our economic challenges and continue to grow. This is how we've transformed Singapore over the last half century - solving problems together, growing together, improving our lives. From the Singapore River to Marina Bay, we've totally transformed Singapore over the last half century. 1959 was a moment of great change but nobody at the Padang in June 1959 imagined the change in today's Singapore. We will continue to improve our lives, provided we work together and remain a harmonious and a cohesive society so that in another 50 years, we would have built another Singapore, which is equally unimaginable today.

The key is to stay united through rain or shine. To live peacefully together, we need good sense and tolerance on all sides, and a willingness to give and take. Otherwise, whatever the rules there will be no end of possible causes of friction."

A CHANCE TO OWN BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY STOCKS

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:09:00 +0000

Yesterday was the last day to submit applications for Maxis IPO shares for retail investors. Trading on the KLSE starts 19 November. If you missed the deadline, here's another investment opportunity for your retirement funds.

Warren Buffet is offering a 50-for-1 split Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares at US$65.30 a share. This is a price that's definitely more affordable to ordinary investors, and gives them a chance to own stocks in a bluer-than-blue company. Berkshire Class B shares closed Monday at US$3265 on the NYSE.

If you are interested to read more, and have money to spare, click here.

To view a slideshow of the company's biggest stock holdings, click on the link below.

Berkshire Hathaway's 15 Biggest Stock Holdings - Slideshows - CNBC.com

Footnote: As with all investments or purchases, do your homework before you part with your money.

SO WHAT'S NEW, AUDITOR-GENERAL?

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Click on the image to enlarge.

It's shocking the level of corruption that exists in this country. According to the Corruption Perception Index issued by Transparency International, Malaysia has been dropping in the rankings since 2001.

It's the same sad story year in year out. And I'm shedding tears of anger.

Scene 1:

The Auditor-General's report reveals shocking mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.

Scene 2:

The public demands action to be taken against the perpetrators.

Scene 3

The Anti-Corruption Agency or ACA (now the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or MACC) swings into action and nabs a few small fish. The big fish are swept under the carpet.

Scene 4:

The PM promises more stringent checks and balances, and prudent spending.

Scene 5:

The whole episode is soon forgotten and life goes on, obladi oblada, till the next year when the same script is played out again.

Consider some of the revelations in the AG's 2008 report:

~ RM42,320 for an old model laptop

~ RM1,050 for a swivel chair

~ RM224 for a set of 4 screwdrivers

~ RM5,700 for a car jack

~ RM8,254 for a digital camera

~ RM418,145 of welfare aid paid to non-existing people

~ RM2.08m for unnecessary computer software

~ RM28billion at least in total losses a year due to overcharging for various contracts and procurements.

What I find appalling is that someone somewhere must have signed and approved each of these inflated amounts knowing full well that it is a crime to do so. How are these scumbags able to get away scot free?

When I read in the papers today that the MACC had charged six people for false claims and fraud against the government, I was thinking "Here we go again...". Obviously, these are the fall guys. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

And it's not only these vultures who are sucking the treasury dry, student loan defaulters are doing the same. Many of them are now holding high positions and drawing fat salaries. But they have no qualms about not repaying their debt even though their names have been published in the print media.

To date, 780,000 borrowers have not repaid their study loans amounting to RM3.26 billion. If this snowballs, by 2020 the National Higher Education Corporation is expected to have a deficit of RM48 billion!!!

Omigosh! Someone get me a defibrillator!

How can these people sleep at night? How can they look at themselves in the mirror? We certainly have a lot of ugly Malaysians who tarnish the good name of our country. SHAME ON THEM!

CELEBRATING MENOPAUSE

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Not many people know about the Malaysian Menopause Society (MMS) which has been around since 1997. The society recently underwent a much-needed image makeover. As a life member since its early years, I can say the transformation is total and for the better - from the MMS website to the Berita Menopos Magazine. The recent surge of MMS events bear testimony that current MMS president Dr Ho Choon Moy and her team are doing the right things to rejuvenate the society and give women (and their men) a good reason to sign up as members.

MMS President Dr Ho Choon Moy urging the women to take action as cervical cancer is preventable.

Long queues at the bone density test counter.
Top: D'Happy Senior Citizens Club members looking pleased with the good response to their membership drive. Above: Brisk sales at the Remifemin booth.

Top: Dr Ong Hean Choon Bottom: Dr Liew Fah Onn

Dr Andy Low (click on the images to enlarge).

Dr Chin Chee Howe (click on the images to enlarge)

It's a good thing doctors have a sense of humour! (Click on the images to enlarge.)

MMS celebrated World Menopause Day (WMD) last Sunday 1 Nov 2009 with a series of talks on the theme "TRANSFORMATION - Up & Down, In & Out". Traditionally, WMD falls on 18 October every year. Event organizer Dr Liew Fah Onn must be congratulated on a job well done judging from the overwhelming response. Besides the talks by medical specialists, there was an exhibition of health and wellness products, a lucky draw and a fashion show with models selected from MMS members. I had a taste of catwalk modelling in a similar MMS event in 2007, and I can tell you it was FUN!

MMS members turned models for a day.

The only downside happened after the event, when the attendees were invited to high-tea. It was embarrassing to see quite a number of the ladies rushing for the food like they had just survived a week-long hunger strike.

Young and beautiful. The new 50s: sisters Lim Ai Mee and Alice Lim

MMS' s next event is the Fellowship Nite 2009 this Saturday 7 Nov, 7.30pm at Tropicana Golf & Country Resort, PJ. Tickets: RM20 for members, RM55 for non-members, spouses, friends. Interested? Call Mrs Jagjeet at 012-200 5276. I'm looking forward to an evening of fun, food and entertainment.

See you there.

CARING FOR AN ELDERLY PARENT

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Some time ago I received an email from a Singapore journalist with a request to share my views on caring for the elderly. I ended up writing about my experience as sole caregiver of my 83-year old mother. Extracts from my article were published in the November issue of the Singapore Women's Weekly. I reproduce below the original article.

The top two challenges of taking care of my 83-year-old mother.

#1 ~ Anxiety about my mother’s safety and health

Is it safe to leave her alone at home? What if she trips or falls? My mother lives on the third floor in a block of walk-up apartments. She has slipped on the stairs twice. Fortunately, she just had some bruises. But what about the next time? She has a very stubborn streak common in most elderly people, and refuses to listen to any advice not to use the stairs as a daily after-meals exercise.

What if she forgets to lock the front door or turn off the gas? What if she faints or has a heart attack, and is unable to contact me? My mom is hard of hearing. Whenever I call home and there’s no answer, I worry if something has happened to her. Her short-term memory is also fading. I worry that if she steps out of the compound on her own for a walk, she might not remember how to find her way home.

#2 ~ Strained relationship

My mom and I have very different ways of thinking. Her habits are a result of the survivor mentality common to those who lived through the Japanese Occupation. Her extreme frugality and unnecessary self-imposed rationing of water, electricity and food has caused friction between us on many occasions. This is compounded by her obsession to collect used plastic bags, empty containers and boxes and store them in her room ‘in case they come in handy”.

If I complain or nag too much about her set ways, she gets upset and threatens to move to an old folks home. On the rare occasions when she feels a little depressed, she has mentioned ‘suicide’, but never in a manner serious enough to cause alarm. She is aware she is very fortunate compared to many of her elderly friends who do not enjoy the same level of independence and family support that she has.

My mom (left) with her younger sister and her spouse.

How I deal with these issues

As I have work and social commitments to fulfil, I can't be at home all the time. I’ve hired a part-time helper to clean, cook and be on standby in case my mother needs emergency help and I’m not around. I’ve also set up a support group of neighbours who drop by for a chat or buy provisions for her at the wet market. My mother visits them regularly as their apartments are either in the same block or just across in the adjoining block.

The security guards have been told not to let my mom wander outside the compound. If I am away for an extended period of time, my younger sister takes over as caregiver.

I’ve written a list of important phone numbers in giant print and placed it on a board propped up against the wall next to the phone for easy viewing and reference whenever my mother needs to call up a family member or friend. The calendar is a daily one, with the date on each page in huge bold print. The clocks have easy-to-read numbers and hands.

All meals are cooked for her. She only has to heat the food if I am out, so there is minimal need to turn on the gas stove. She uses an automatic electric water jug to boil water. There are no carpets or loose wires on the floor to trip her up. All mats are non-slip. The same goes for her slippers and shoes. Empty plastic bags and boxes are quickly cleared so she can’t hoard them.

I do my best to see that my mom is comfortable and has everything she needs. As she gets befuddled by modern gadgets, our household appliances are very simple with basic features and functions. The TV is set at her favourite channel. All she has to do is press the ON / OFF button on the remote control. The CD player already has her favourite CD inserted. Everything that she uses is placed within easy reach. The bathroom is just a few steps away from her bed. As she loves to follow the news, I make sure she gets her daily copy of "The China Press".

I’ve learned not to be overly protective. I let my mom do simple household chores as a form of physical activity. The doctor says it's good for her. She hangs out her laundry by herself, wipes the table after a meal and washes her own utensils. She does exercises and goes for a stroll in the garden twice a day.

She enjoys family get-togethers with her siblings, children and grandchildren, although most times she has no clue who is who. I cope by reminding myself that she’s my only mother, even if we don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. I live a very busy life so that helps to lessen the moments of tension at home when there is disagreement. I can imagine it would be a different situation if she and I were to be in each other’s space 24/7.

I am fortunate that my mom is in relatively good health and is still physicaly able to take care of herself. But there will come a time when I can no longer leave her alone at home, even for a day or two. When that time comes, I’d have to put her in a good nursing home.

Being my mother’s sole caregiver has given me a deeper understanding of the elderly. It has also helped me prepare for my own golden years. Without her realizing it, she has taught me how I would want to grow old. I see in her certain traits I would want to emulate, and others I absolutely pray I would not!

Would my two girls look after me in my old age? You bet!

Related article:

Becoming 'parent of your parent' an emotionally wrenching process

MJ's "THIS COULD HAVE BEEN IT" concert?

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:31:00 +0000

Managed to catch the 11.30am screening of MJ's "This Is It" docu-movie. I'll say it again - I'm not an MJ fan, but this man deserves to be garlanded with superlatives of the highest order. The choreography was jaw-dropping, the special effects mind-blowing, and the music foot-stomping. I was completely mesmerized watching this legend on the big screen.

MJ with the director Kenny Ortega

The movie puts together video footage taken at rehearsals from April to June of this year. The viewer is given selected glimpses of what went on at the rehearsals. From auditions to music direction - MJ saw to every detail. Despite looking thin and gaunt in some of the movie sequences, MJ sang and danced just like he did in his music videos.

Orianthi Panagaris, MJ's guitarist from Adelaide. She's unbelievable!

Watch the video clip below and you will have a sense of the enormity of the production and the gruelling hours that went into it. The rehearsals were energy-sapping even for the dancers who were half MJ's age (he was 50). Doing 50 concerts would have taken the life out of him.

If you plan to catch the movie, go for the 2D version - better sound and visuals.

NO ALLOCATIONS FOR THE ELDERLY IN 2010 BUDGET

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Senior citizens are left out again in the 2010 Budget.

The PM has delivered his 2010 budget speech. No mention whatsoever was made of any allocation to meet the needs of the older people. On the other hand, the PM’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s Permata programme was given a boost of RM100 million allocation in recognition of the importance of early childcare and education in Malaysia. What about the importance of elderly care and the training of caregivers of the elderly?

"People First, Performance Now” says the PM. Well, the elderly are people too, aren’t they? For a start, he could have allocated RM500 million to making Kuala Lumpur (and PJ) an age-friendly city. The funds could be used to provide:

1. Well-run community centres which have social activities for older people. The community centres in Singapore can serve as good models.

An elderly-friendly shuttle bus with a ramp for easy wheel-chair access. Note the low step to board the bus.

2. Good public transport, including shuttles to take the elderly from their home to important destinations. Bus drivers should be trained to show some respect and courtesy to elderly commuters. The 50% off fares should also cover LRT and monorail, and not just RapidKL buses.
3. Adequate elder-friendly public housing with ramps, railings and non-slip flooring. Also an outdoor exercise gym. The government should make it mandatory for all housing developers to provide elderly-friendly facilities too.
4. Safe environment – well-lit streets, easily visible street directories and more police patrols. Uneven pavements and paths should be immediately resurfaced.

I wouldn't mind paying RM1 to use a public toilet like this one! Alas, they are harder to find than a lottery ticket with the winning number.

5. More clean public toilets, with separate ones for the elderly. The long queues especially in the ladies toilet often mean an agonizing wait for the elderly.
6. More lifelong learning centres offering courses at a discount for senior citizens.
7. Special queues at service counters in hospitals, post offices and other government buildings. This costs next to nothing to implement. The private sector i.e. banks, supermarkets, cinemas, should follow suit.

Left: Sign at the Tsao Foundation, Singapore. Right: WHO's Guide to Age-Friendly Cities.

In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a Global Age-Friendly Cities Project in 33 cities in 22 countries. Click here to read more about it. Pity Malaysia is not one of the participating countries.

STILL GOING STRONG AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:10:00 +0000

My taste in music is pretty eclectic. and runs from evergreens to new age meditation music with rock ballads, blues and reggae in between. For music lovers, Youtube is heaven-sent! I can spend hours listening to my favourite tunes and bands, and discovering new ones to add to my ever-growing playlist.

The only annoying thing about Youtube is the uploading. But once it is done, and you hit REPLAY, it's sheer bliss to relax and enjoy the audio-visual experience uninterrupted.

I've dug up a few of my favourite songs from the 1960s and 1970s to share. Isn't it fabulous that these guys - the Cascades, Cliff Richard, Brian Hyland, The Eagles and Pink Floyd are still performing? I would give an arm and a leg to catch Pink Floyd live.

Hope the songs bring you some happy memories of those days when we were young. ENJOY!

IMMORTALITY? NO, THANKS!

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:05:00 +0000

A fortnight ago when I read that the 2009 Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to three scientists for their research into ageing, I was elated. About time, I thought, for breakthroughs in gerontology to be given recognition. The trio, Carol Greider, Jack Szostak and Elizabeth Blackburn, were honoured for their discovery that chromosomes are protected by telomeres, and that an enzyme called telomerase was responsible for maintaining or eroding the telomere DNA. Cells age when telomeres become worn. I am sure the discovery will spark off further research into cell preservation and ultimately, longevity.

2009 Nobel Prize for Medicine: Greider, Szostak and Blackburn

A day later another related news item caught my interest. Last month (Sept 3-7), about 200 scientists gathered at Queens’ College Cambridge for the 4th SENS Conference. The main organizer was Dr Aubrey de Grey, co-founder of SENS Foundation, and a distinguished biomedical gerontologist at the Department of Genetics at the University of Cambridge. These scientists spent five days discussing ways to extend human lifespan, and (get ready for this) even achieve immortality.

According to Dr de Grey, medical science is progressing so fast that “a child born today can expect to live to 120 to 150 years. With the right breakthroughs in the next 25 years, there is a 50:50 chance that people alive today could live to be 1,000 years old.” This is achievable if cancer, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disorders are eradicated, and worn-out body parts can be replaced or regenerated through tissue engineering.

Dr Aubrey de Grey and his book "Ending Ageing"

Absolutely fascinating, and not all science fiction either. In Biblical times, it was the norm for people to live several hundred years. Methusalah was 969 years old when he died.

But seriously, would I want to live forever, or even to 1,000 years? No, thanks! How would I spend my days? How would I look? Imagine a world populated with far more supercentenarians and immortals than children and young people. Yikes!

Given a choice, I would rather die at 100 and come back in a brand new body, than to live forever in a constantly renewed body.

BE A WARRIOR NOT A WORRIER

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Just got back from an awesome 5-day "Enlightened Warrior Training Camp" 13-18 October in Kuala Rompin. Still exhausted from having only 4-5 hours of sleep each night, and from the gruelling tasks we participants had to perform. These tasks were designed to test our mental and physical strength and endurance. We were literally pushed to the brink. There was one activity where I had to learn not to fear death, even when the life force was being choked out of me.

Members of my tribe with Pa our facilitator from the US in the background.

Just to give you an idea - there was an ambulance on stand-by all the time, and pails close by in case anyone felt like throwing up. They don't call this a "warrior training camp" for nothing. But I SURVIVED, albeit with bruises all over, and blisters to boot!

Here's what I've learned that is worth sharing:

How we do something reflects on how we do everything.
Never give up on our dreams or goals.
"Try" is wishy-washy. Either we do it or we don't.
We don't have to please everybody.
Practise integrity all the time.
Don't take anything personally.
Don't harbour ill feelings - they make us ill.
Do everything at 100%, or don't do it at all.
Be 100% accountable for our actions.
Our choices create our reality, so choose wisely.
If others can do it, so can I.
Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask for support. Even warriors need help sometimes.
Never be afraid of challenges as they can be opportunities for growth.
Take one step at a time.
All of us possess inner strength and power - learn to draw upon it.

There will be folks who will say "I know all that!" But that's the problem - knowing something does not mean anything, unless we do something with that knowledge. Taking action is what counts. Smokers know the perils of smoking, but as long as they don't take action and be fully committed to that action, they will not succeed in giving up their ciggies. IF WE DON"T DO IT, WE DON'T KNOW IT.

Take me, for example, I know full well the benefits of exercise. I have been a regular at the gym for years. I have also done yoga and qigong. But after my liver operation last year, I got a little slack about my fitness regime. The result - I had to struggle with some of the more physically demanding activities. So I have recommitted to kick-starting my daily qigong exercises again beginning today - Monday 19 October 2009.

Action always speaks louder than words. That also explains why so many people attend wealth creation seminars, take notes, buy the books or audio tapes but only a handful succeed in amassing wealth. They are the ones who are fully committed. They are the ones who put into practise what they have learned. The rest merely listen and know.

Many of us worry too much sometimes. We let doubts and fears cloud our minds, and stop us from moving forward. "What if this happens....?" Doesn't it make more sense to take action than to worry about it? Be a warrior not a worrier.

I am now an enlightened warrior. A warrior doesn't just make it to the finish line - he goes through it! I am ready to make a difference. My word is my honour. I am prepared to face anything. I have no fear.

AHO!

A section of the tribal nation in their warrior T-shirts.

WRITING YOUR BUCKET LIST

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:09:00 +0000

At a recent tutorial, I was explaining to my students the importance of setting goals in life, and about effective goal-setting. Then it struck me. Goal-setting applies to the 50+ too. Just because we have passed the prime of our lives doesn't mean there's nothing left to achieve. There is a second prime in life, and we are just getting started.

Goal-setting for the 50+ is an euphemism for writing a bucket list. Let's be honest about it, there are many things we would like to accomplish before we kick the bucket. There's nothing like putting them down in writing to give it that quality of legitimacy. Having a bucket list adds meaning and purpose to our lives. It gives us a reason to get up in the morning and look forward to another new day.

We don't have to limit ourselves to one bucket list. We can have one every five years until we finally kick the bucket!

Here's my bucket list for the next five years, in no particular order.

write a book and get it published
be a guest on a radio or TV show
attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics
set up a 'Joy of Living' fun club for the 50+ in Malaysia
visit the holy cities of the world
learn belly dancing
provide free English and computer classes for senior citizens
start my own business
have my own seniors column in the Star or the New Straits Times
act in a play at Istana Budaya

Have fun creating your own bucket list. There should be an element of challenge and effort in achieving each item. Strike a balance between achieving things for yourself and for others. I have learned never to underestimate the power of the mind, so do remember to visualize and focus.

Now that I have shared my bucket list, I am committed to realizing it. Time to get cracking on the first item......

Can anyone tell me where I can get a DVD of the movie?

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THAT’S THE WAY TO DISTRIBUTE YOUR PROPERTY

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Simply mind-boggling. I am referring to the RM1.5b that represents frozen cash and assets left behind by folks who died without leaving a Will.

I can't even begin to tell you the headache and frustration that I went through when my beloved sister passed away intestate (without a Will) in 2006. It has been three years and we are still waiting for the land office to finalize the transfer of name on the title deed to my mother’s name. Believe me, the entire process can be very time-consuming, tedious and expensive.

Today, 10 October 2009, my mother turns 83. How long does she have to wait before she can claim her legal rights to my sister’s share of the property?

Many of us are aware of the benefits of making a Will, but we have a huge problem with procrastination. Well, it's time we set the wheel in motion. That advice applies to me too.

Here is some useful information, extracted from the book “All you need to know about Wills”, courtesy of the author Mr Saw Leong Aun, CEO of Rockwills Corporation Sdn Bhd.

· Anyone aged 18 and above is eligible to get a Will written.
· Information required: person’s assets, names of beneficiaries, details of executors /guardians (if any) and instructions on how the assets should be distributed.
· The Will can be hand-written, typed or printed, and in any language.
· Two witnesses must be present at the signing of the Will
· The Will takes effect only upon death.
· It is revocable before your death when:
a. You (re)marry.
b. You make a new Will
c. You convert to Islam
· Choose carefully who you want to be the executor(s) of your Will. The ideal number is two although you can have a maximum of four.
· If you are unable to find a suitable executor, you can name a trust corporation to act as executor.
· If you have young children, appoint a personal guardian for them, especially if you feel your spouse is incapable of looking after them.
· You may choose a different person to handle financial matters.
· Having joint property or joint bank accounts with your spouse does not mean that he or she will automatically inherit your half share if you die intestate.

Applicable only to West Malaysia and Sarawak

What happens if a person dies intestate?

As mentioned earlier, the testator’s estate is frozen and listed at the Registrar of Unclaimed Monies until a family member comes forward to make a claim. He is required to obtain a grant of probate, letter of administration, court order and other legal documents. There will be delays in sorting out all the legal complications. There may be family disputes to deal with.

If you are interested in getting a Will written or just want more information, please refer to Mr Cheah Ho San, a professional estate planner with Rockwills Corporation. His contact number is 019-211 9980. Remember to mention SeniorsAloud for extra special service!

GET READY FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA REVOLUTION

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:49:00 +0000

Are you planning to start a small business in your retirement?Wondering how to promote your products or services without spending a bomb on advertising in the media?

Check out this video and get ready to embrace the new social media. Marketing your business through online social networks is the way to go.

If you are unfamiliar with social networks, you can start with the basics - create a blog for your business, get a Facebook account and sign up for Twitter. The two YouTube videos below show you how.

Some of you have said you feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the new technologies. So do I! But I take it as a challenge. Remember, learning new things keeps the mind well-oiled and functioning smoothly.

The world is not going to slow down for us. Either we play catch-up or be branded digital dinosaurs. If you are an entrepreneur, you know which to choose.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BLOG

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:15:00 +0000

I have received emails from many of you about why I started SeniorsAloud. And there are others who are interested to start their own blog but don't know how.

Well, this video here will show you HOW you too can create your own blog. One word of advice. Get ready several names for your blog before you sign up. Estimates say there are at least two blogs created every second, so you really need to come up with unique names for your blog.

As to WHY I started SeniorsAloud, that shall be answered in another post.

I have also embedded a video clip on what TWITTER is all about, and why millions of people are twittering or tweeting.

Email SeniorsAloud if you have queries about blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

Twitter in Plain English

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:57:00 +0000

For those who would like to know what TWITTER is all about, and why it's the current big thing with both celebrities and ordinary folks like you and me.

You can follow SeniorsAloud on Twitter.

THE POWER OF A NAME - WARREN BUFFET

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:12:00 +0000

The WSJ article that drove me green with envy! Click on the image to enlarge.

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing through the Wall Street Journal when I came across an article that filled me with absolute envy for a certain Ms Li Guilian, 63, of Dalian, China. Well, it wasn't so much that she got a warm hug from the world's richest man - Warren Buffet, but the free publicity and the billions of yuan that hug would generate for her clothing company Dayang Group.

Left: Buffet and Ms Li (Photo: China Daily).

Apparently Buffet has fallen in love with Trands suits since he first wore them in 2007. He was quoted as saying "They're comfortable and people tell me they look good. I went 78 years before I got a compliment on my appearance."

Buffet says he has no stake in Dayang which owns the Trands label, but with Dayang stocks soaring 70%, who knows he may have second thoughts. He had his business partner, Charlie Munger, and Bill Gates wearing Trands too at the Berkshire Hathaway 2009 shareholders meeting in Nebraska in May.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet in their Trands suit. (Photo: Daily Mail)

Now if only someone with huge name power would give me a hug, my blog traffic would go up 70%. That would translate into....hmmm....millions of ringgit of sponsorship for the programmes I have in mind for senior citizens. And SeniorsAloud would be a superbrand name.....

Well, a woman can dream and hope, can't she?

LIVE BLOOD ANALYSIS - A SCAM?

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:03:00 +0000

The front page of the Star on 5 Oct 2009. Click on the image to enlarge.

I'm glad the Star exposed the Live Blood Analysis (LBA) scam on the front page yesterday. I know many people (yours truly among them) who have been duped into buying expensive supplements based on the results of their LBA.

Apparently, thousands of gullible folks have fallen victim to this scam for the past TEN years!

I remember three years ago, I was offered a free LBA by a wellness centre at an up-market shopping mall. They took a drop of my blood for analysis. Within minutes the results showed that I had what seemed to me like 1001 health problems! I was made to feel like my body was going to die on me soon unless I took their miracle supplements.

Not wanting to die a premature death, I paid RM400 for two tins of a nutritional beverage. After a week drinking the powder stuff, I was constipated! When I complained, I was told that it was my body reacting to the side effects, and that it was 'normal'. After another week of no-show from my bowels, I threw away the rest of the stuff and swore never again to be swayed by anyone promoting wonder drugs.

But don't believe what I say. This is only my personal experience. We all react differently to health supplements as our body and state of health are different. I am sure there are genuine supplements out there that do what they are supposed to do. You'll need all the luck to find them. To each his own, or as they say, one man's poison is another man's cure.

Related Articles:

~ Live Blood Cell Analysis:Another Gimmick to Sell You Something

~ Intrigued by the spectacular claims made for Live Blood Analysis? Don't be. It doesn't work.

~ Buyer Beware: Web Supplement Scams

TIPS FOR THE SEXUALLY ACTIVE OVER 50'S...

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Did you know that October 1 is designated International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) by the United Nations? Well, as in previous years, that day came and went without anyone here being the wiser for it. The theme for 2009 is: "Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons: Towards a Society for All Ages".

Instead of the usual round of forums, talks and exhibitions to mark the occasion, the City Council of Manchester, UK, launched a 47-page illustrated booklet targeted at the 50+ offering advice on how to spice up their marriage life or look for new love after divorce.

There are chapters devoted to issues like dealing with the changes our bodies undergo with age, the dangers of sexually transmitted infections and how to get back in the dating game. There are also tips on how to use a condom, discover our erotic side and combat impotency problems.

The expressed objective of the booklet is to address the problem of increasing numbers of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) amongst the over-50s. I don't think this is the case in Malaysia or Singapore where middle-aged couples are quite conservative when it comes to their sex life, that is, if they have one!

Well, if those hormones are still raging within, have fun! Just be careful you don't pull a muscle, break a bone or overstrain your heart!

negaraku? terang bulan

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:11:00 +0000

Rudy van Daim and his band came out with this number in 1963. I was in Form 4 then. I remember singing "Negara Ku" at every school assembly. Nothing like this upbeat version, I can tell you!

OUR 'NEGARA KU' AND INDONESIA'S 'TERANG BULAN' - THE SAME?

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:05:00 +0000

No wonder Indonesia is claiming the tune for our national anthem as theirs! Listen to "Terang Bulan" and you be the judge.

DO ANTI-AGEING PRODUCTS REALLY WORK?

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Two nights ago I was at a Toastmasters meeting where the theme was “Fountain of Youth”. It got me reflecting on how obsessed people are about looking young and beautiful. This unhealthy obsession has driven celebrities and ordinary folk alike into spending huge sums of money on anti-ageing products, and surgery.

Today, the anti-ageing industry is a multibillion-dollar business. Step into any pharmacy or departmental store, and you will see a confusing array of age-defying supplements, creams and what-have-yous. But really, do any of these actually work?

Most of the surveys done on this subject have turned up little evidence to prove the effectiveness of anti-ageing products. Indeed, Anita Roddick, the late founder of The Body Shop famously said the cosmetics industry was peddling "a scandalous lie" in claiming that anti-ageing creams can stop wrinkles.

Sometimes all it takes to look great is a bit of grooming, make-up and a warm smile.

At the end of the day, anti ageing products tend to only work on the earliest and mildest signs of ageing. They may prevent and erase fine lines but they can't turn back the clock and make you look 20 if you are 50.

Furthermore, all dermatologists agree that our rate of ageing depends mostly on our lifestyle. So, rather than look for miracle creams, adopt the following regime:
1. Eat a balanced, healthy diet,
2. Stay out of the sun and use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15,
3. Drink plenty of water.
4. Don’t smoke and keep away from smoky places and
5. Exercise regularly.

Boring…but effective!

Ageing is a natural process that everyone goes through, even a former Mr Universe. Guys are more concerned about youthful manhood than youthful looks, right?

Don’t be taken in by pictures of youthful looking ‘older’ women or men in glossy magazines. These pictures have been cleverly air-brushed to make the models look fabulous. Either that or the models are actually in their early 30s! The litmus test is to pick a model who is 60+ but looks 30+, and is a regular user of the brand of anti-ageing cream advertised.

Twiggy, 60. What a difference air-brushing makes! (Photo: Daily Mail)

I’d rather put my money and my faith in moisturizers. They are cheap, easily available and guaranteed effective. Want to get rid of wrinkles? Just learn to relax and smile more often. Worries and stress add lines to your face. That’s the simple truth.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”

~ Sophia Loren

WILL SENIORS HERE TAKE TO THE TRIKE?

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:30:00 +0000

I kid you not - the view was spectacular! A bird's eye-view of the F1 race.

Was in Singapore over the weekend. Caught the F1 race again this year from the same hotel room as last year - from the 32nd floor of the Swissotel The Stamford. The view was simply breathtaking, and the roar of the cars simply deafening!

Hey, even F1 drivers have to start small. Me on the trike.

Last week I had an opportunity to try out a contraption called a trike. Of course, it's nothing like an F1 racer, but I was told the trike could boast speeds up to a maximum of 50mph. Not sure if I got that right, but Wow!

I found the trike extremely easy to maneuvre, even around tight corners. It is environmentally friendly as it uses pedal power. It is also great for exercising the lower body. And as you are in a recumbent position, you can relax and enjoy the view. No worries about backache from hunching over or, for the guys, no more "numb nuts"! Click here for a vicarious experience of triking.

Triking or recumbent biking has the potential to develop into a popular sport with the 50+. With its low centre of gravity, it's definitely much safer than riding a bicycle. There is no way you can fall and break a bone. But with a hefty price tag of USD2000+, not everyone can afford to pedal around the neighbourhood on a trike.

If you are interested in checking out the range of models for trikes, visit VelocityRacers in Hongkong. I'm going to put the recumbent trike next to the Kindle on my wish list!

SINGAPORE SNIPPETS

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:33:00 +0000

ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM

A group of 250 seniors were treated to a free shopping trip at the NTUC Fairprice supermarket in Jurong on Sunday. Volunteers from the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) and Moral Neighbourhood Link, a voluntary welfare organisation that focuses on elder care were on hand to help the seniors and share tips on how to check for expiry dates and nutritional content on food items.

On the same day, the CDAC concluded a month-long rice donation drive with about 87,000kg of grain collected. The rice will be distributed to 4,000 needy families and senior citizens.

With nearly half of the pedestrian fatalities coming from the over-60 age group, the Singapore government will be introducing longer time at selected pedestrian crossings, mostly in the homelands or areas with a large concentration of elderly people. These 'Green Man Plus' crossings allow for an extra 17 seconds at a 4-lane crossing, and 21 seconds for a six-lane crossing.

All a senior citizen has to do is to tap his ez-link concession card on the special card-reader to activate the Green Man Plus. This will give him more time to cross the road safely.

The Green Man Plus idea would be great for the pedestrian crossing in front of Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) along Jalan Ampang. You have only 22 seconds to cross this busy 8-lane road. And you had better pray that motorists give you right of way as some don't bother to stop.

EAT WELL, BE WELL - 10 foods for longevity

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:59:00 +0000

It's been a frustrating week not being able to upload pictures on Seniorsaloud, no thanks to some technical glitch on Blogger. Apparently, it's a common problem. Guess I'll have to be patient and wait it out.

Fortunately, I can still upload from YouTube. Here's a video that I would like to share with you. I hope you will find it informative and useful.

When life is great, who doesn't want to extend it?

I've been meeting more and more 50+ folks who certainly know to enjoy life in their golden years. Just yesterday I met a fiesty 84-year old lady at a birthday bash for senior citizens. She was on the dance floor for almost every dance and game. Believe me, she looked fabulous!

There is no reason why we can't look good, feel great and enjoy life to the fullest, whatever our age. We just have to watch what we put into our body and mind. The right food, the right thoughts, and the right actions take us a long way on the road to longevity.

That's my mantra.

READING MADE EASY FOR SENIORS

noreply@blogger.com (el-f) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Just watched Oprah on telly going gaga over the Kindle. When I first heard about the Kindle late 2007, I dismissed it as yet another pricey gadget for the young and trendy. Now after seeing Oprah waxing lyrical over her Kindle 2, I thought maybe I should check out the latest model - the Kindle DX. I did and came away impressed.

No, Amazon is not paying me to promote their e-reader. But, hey, good stuff should be shared, right? I know a lot of seniors love to read.

Consider these features. At only 19 oz, it's a lightweight. It can store up to 3500 books. Think of all the storage space you can save. You can select from over 275,000 titles. You don't need to carry wires and batteries along with the Kindle. There's a built-in dictionary. You can adjust the font size for easy readability. Also, no trees will be sacrificed for your reading pleasure.

Sure, there are other models like the Sony e-reader and the iLiad, but I have a feeling that, like Google, the Kindle will become a verb.

The only major downer is the price tag - USD490. Well, I'm putting the Kindle on my wish-list and visualizing reading my favourite books on a kindle. Maybe that will work.

If you want more info on how to use the Kindle in Malaysia, visit http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1053076.