Martes, Mayo 10, 2011
Lunes, Mayo 9, 2011
Linggo, Mayo 8, 2011
Acid splasher now a stalker
KUALA LUMPUR: Police are concerned as a serial acid splasher who is believed to be responsible for more than 20 attacks on women and children in the city has begun to strike at night.
All of the earlier attacks which started early this year had occurred in the day.
However, on Friday, three women were attacked 30 minutes apart at around 9pm in the city area.
In the first case, two women who were walking along Jalan Pudu Lama were splashed with acid by a man on a motorcycle leaving one of them with severe burns that almost blinded her left eye.
Half an hour later, another woman had acid splashed on her at a parking lot, believed to be by the same man.
On Saturday, a woman and her year-old baby were attacked at their home in Persiaran Titiwangsa.
City police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said a task force, formed since the beginning of the initial attacks, was examining the facts of the latest attacks to determine if they were the work of the same man.
Meanwhile, the father of the woman who was severely burned in the eye, Mohammad Salleh, said his daughter was responding well to treatment when met at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital intensive care unit yesterday.
“Doctors believe they may be able to save her left eye. But she also suffered 5% burns on her face and chest,” he said.
The other victims had reacted quickly by washing their faces with water, resulting in little or no lasting injuries.
Sources, however, pointed out that despite the sudden change in the time of the suspect’s attacks, he still primarily targeted women and children.
DCP Zulkifli was reported earlier as saying the police were taking the matter very seriously as the attacks were beginning to cause panic among city folks.
The only lead police have on the identity of the suspect is that he is of dark complexion and rides either a Honda EX5 or Yamaha motorcycle
Can Multitasking Make You Fat?
Juggling lots of unrelated responsibilities can ruin self-discipline in the areas of your life. As a result, you may find it harder to control the temper, withstand fattening meals, or stick to your exercise routine, suggests a new study published in Firm Behavior and Human Determination Processes. Chalk it down to mental overload, due to brain empty from abnormal multi-tasking at home or on the job.
Compulsively checking your Blackberry as you help young kids do their own homework, as well as frequently moving between various tasks on the job can tire out the “executive function” from the brain. The researchers, a crew of marketing professors from Emory’s Goizueta Company School and other universities, have concluded that our mind are only sent to change mental equipment a limited amount of times prior to the intellectual sources required for personal control are usually exhausted, leaving people prone to such behavior as emotional outbursts as well as cheating on the diet. The study involved several experiments about 300 members who were questioned to complete different tasks, employing different methods, as their self-control was measured. Here???s a closer look on the study conclusions:
How does multi-tasking challenge healthy eating? In one research, the volunteers had been asked to believe abstractly about 1 topic, believe in more concrete floor or technical terms about yet another, or mix the two kinds of thought. Later on, the volunteers had been offered the bitter-flavored beverage and told of their health benefits. Those who switched forward and backward between concrete and fuzy thought drank one-third the amount of the actual bitter drink than did volunteers who were simply asked to make use of one type of imagined, thus displaying less self-control within healthy eating than would non-multi-taskers, the study discovered. This discovering could also connect with sticking to any weight-loss diet, that requires every day self-discipline, the researchers point out. Also, multi-tasking can make you more victim to the lure of distracted eating, a typical problem when folks are consumed with stress by an overly hectic, juggling lifestyle.
Grammar Lesson 2 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Grammar(中級文法)
Chapter 2
動名詞
Gerund
Introduction
In this chapter, you will learn about the continuous form of verbs known as
gerund.
Sentence for this lesson（このレッスンの例文）
Smoking is bad for our health.
Structure
Verb + -ing
Practice 1 : Sample Sentences
Instruction: Repeat after your tutor.
（講師に続いて読みましょう。）
1. Dancing is the world’s best form of exercise.
2. Calling you gives me relief.
3. I like cooking very much.
4. Studying English is a big help for me at work.
5. My neighbor is good at fixing windows.
6. I prefer talking than writing.
7. Being honest is important for a good relationship.
Practice 2 : Word Filling
Instruction: Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate words.
（適切な語を入れて空欄を埋めてください。）
1. _________ alone is what he likes the most.
2. He is good at _____________________.
3. __________ questions is a good way to learn.
4. I love ______________.
5. We are tired of ________________.
6. Before ________ your major, you should think twice.
Practice 3 : Sentence completion
Instruction: Complete each sentence by adding appropriate words/phrases.
（適切な語句、フレーズを入れて文章を完成させてください。）
1. Drinking wine is _____________.
2. Deep breathing helps you ________________.
3. After years of planning, we finally ________________________.
4. Swimming is the thing that I ______________________.
5. I __________ ___ cleaning my room.
6. Exploring the world gives me _________________.
Practice 4 : Short Conversation
Instruction: Practice grammar three times in each question in a more casual way.
（各質問3 回ずつ、より実践に近い形で練習しましょう。）
1.
A : What is your hobby?
B : My hobby is (skiing / biking / watching TV).
2.
A : What is your passion?
B : Since I was five, (swimming / writing / dancing ) has been my passion.
3.
A : What do you do after work?
B : After work, I like ( shopping / relaxing / drinking with my friends )
Practice 5 : Conversation
Instruction: Practice a whole of conversation three times with your tutor.
（会話全体を3 度、講師と練習しましょう。）
A : What are you doing here?
B : I started ( working / cleaning / writing ) in this company yesterday.
A : Oh really? That is good to hear.
B : Yes and after work, we could go ( drinking / travelling / shopping ).
A : I like shopping. What do you like to do when you have free time?
B : ( Designing / Buying / Sewing ) skirts is what I like the most.
Practice 6 : Free Conversation
Instruction: Have a free conversation with your tutor using what you learned in
this chapter. Tutor will start and continue conversation.
（講師と一緒にこのチャプターで習ったことを使い、会話をしてみまし
ょう。講師が会話を始め、会話を広げてくれます。）
Using GERUND to all questions!!
1. What is your hobby? When did you start to do that?
2. What do you do after eating dinner?
(Using “after eating”)
3. What do you like doing after this lesson?
(Using “I like ~ing ~”)
4. What is studying English for you?
(Starting with “studying English ~”)
5. What is the most important point when you work or do part time job?
(Starting with “Being ~”)
Styles Of Communication
Every time we speak, we choose and use one of four basic communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive.
Assertive Communication
The most effective and healthiest form of communication is the assertive style. It's how we naturally express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact, giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation.
When we are being assertive, we work hard to create mutually satisfying solutions. We communicate our needs clearly and forthrightly. We care about the relationship and strive for a win/win situation. We know our limits and refuse to be pushed beyond them just because someone else wants or needs something from us. Surprisingly, assertive is the style most people use least.
Aggressive Communication
Aggressive communication always involves manipulation. We may attempt to make people do what we want by inducing guilt (hurt) or by using intimidation and control tactics (anger). Covert or overt, we simply want our needs met - and right now! Although there are a few arenas where aggressive behavior is called for (i.e., sports or war), it will never work in a relationship. Ironically, the more aggressive sports rely heavily on team members and rational coaching strategies. Even war might be avoided if we could learn to be more assertive and negotiate to solve our problems.
Passive Communication
Passive communication is based on compliance and hopes to avoid confrontation at all costs. In this mode we don't talk much, question even less, and actually do very little. We just don't want to rock the boat. Passives have learned that it is safer not to react and better to disappear than to stand up and be noticed.
Passive-Aggressive Communication
A combination of styles, passive-aggressive avoids direct confrontation (passive), but attempts to get even through manipulation (aggressive). If you've ever thought about making that certain someone who needs to be "taught a thing or two" suffer (even just a teeny bit), you've stepped pretty close to (if not on into) the devious and sneaky world of the passive-aggressive. This style of communication often leads to office politics and rumour-mongering.
So now what?
Clearly, for many reasons, the only healthy communication style is assertive communication. Surely you can identify many people in your own life that favor each of the four styles. Most of us use a combination of these four styles, depending on the person or situation. The styles we choose generally depend on what our past experiences have taught us will work best to get our needs met in each specific situation. If you take a really good look at yourself, you've probably used each throughout your lifetime.
Understanding the four basic types of communication will help you learn how to react most effectively when confronted with a difficult person. It will also help you recognize when you are using manipulative behavior to get your own needs met. Remember, you always have a choice as to which communication style you use. If you're serious about taking control of your life, practice being more assertive. It will help you diffuse anger, reduce guilt and build relationships - both personally and professionally.
Have a look at these situations and decide how...
...a passive person would react
...an aggressive person would react
...a passive-aggressive person would react
...an assertive person would react
Assertive Communication
The most effective and healthiest form of communication is the assertive style. It's how we naturally express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact, giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation.
When we are being assertive, we work hard to create mutually satisfying solutions. We communicate our needs clearly and forthrightly. We care about the relationship and strive for a win/win situation. We know our limits and refuse to be pushed beyond them just because someone else wants or needs something from us. Surprisingly, assertive is the style most people use least.
Aggressive Communication
Aggressive communication always involves manipulation. We may attempt to make people do what we want by inducing guilt (hurt) or by using intimidation and control tactics (anger). Covert or overt, we simply want our needs met - and right now! Although there are a few arenas where aggressive behavior is called for (i.e., sports or war), it will never work in a relationship. Ironically, the more aggressive sports rely heavily on team members and rational coaching strategies. Even war might be avoided if we could learn to be more assertive and negotiate to solve our problems.
Passive Communication
Passive communication is based on compliance and hopes to avoid confrontation at all costs. In this mode we don't talk much, question even less, and actually do very little. We just don't want to rock the boat. Passives have learned that it is safer not to react and better to disappear than to stand up and be noticed.
Passive-Aggressive Communication
A combination of styles, passive-aggressive avoids direct confrontation (passive), but attempts to get even through manipulation (aggressive). If you've ever thought about making that certain someone who needs to be "taught a thing or two" suffer (even just a teeny bit), you've stepped pretty close to (if not on into) the devious and sneaky world of the passive-aggressive. This style of communication often leads to office politics and rumour-mongering.
So now what?
Clearly, for many reasons, the only healthy communication style is assertive communication. Surely you can identify many people in your own life that favor each of the four styles. Most of us use a combination of these four styles, depending on the person or situation. The styles we choose generally depend on what our past experiences have taught us will work best to get our needs met in each specific situation. If you take a really good look at yourself, you've probably used each throughout your lifetime.
Understanding the four basic types of communication will help you learn how to react most effectively when confronted with a difficult person. It will also help you recognize when you are using manipulative behavior to get your own needs met. Remember, you always have a choice as to which communication style you use. If you're serious about taking control of your life, practice being more assertive. It will help you diffuse anger, reduce guilt and build relationships - both personally and professionally.
Situations |
Have a look at these situations and decide how...
...a passive person would react
...an aggressive person would react
...a passive-aggressive person would react
...an assertive person would react
|
Seven Keys To Effective Meetings
A meeting need not be boring...
People assume that a meeting has to be boring, non-productive and just generally a waste of everybody’s time. However, this does not need to be true. A meeting can actually be productive, motivating and even interesting! Here’s how:
People assume that a meeting has to be boring, non-productive and just generally a waste of everybody’s time. However, this does not need to be true. A meeting can actually be productive, motivating and even interesting! Here’s how:
1 Set an agenda and stick to it.
Many small companies skip the agenda as they want to have an informal environment. However, the agenda gives the meeting structure and focus. The agenda itself can be informal – but it should be there.
2 Set objectives for the meeting.
State the objectives clearly at the beginning. Otherwise, people may wonder, “What am I doing here?”
3 Take minutes.
Just like the agenda, minutes give focus and make sure action is carried out. And just like the agenda, the minutes need not be too formal.
4 Set a time limit.
How wonderful it would be if all meetings lasted less than one hour!
5 Encourage everyone to participate.
A meeting should never be just one person talking. Otherwise, a circulated memo would do the job just as well! A meeting should be a free exchange of ideas with no one left out.
6 Avoid hidden agendas.
Make sure the participants are thinking in terms of the group’s interests and not their own.
7 Be sensitive to others
People do not like to be criticised in front of a crowd. Remember, when giving a negative comment, to criticise the idea and not the person. And keep it constructive.
What Is The Purpose Of A Job Interview?
Just what is the purpose of a job interview?
Ask any job seeker and the answer you are likely to get is, "To find a job, of course!"
But in fact if you use this approach, you may be setting yourself up for a big disappointment. You see, an interview is a kind of negotiation. The purpose is for both sides to establish whether a successful partnership may be forged. In other words, it is as much for you to see whether you want them as the other way around.
Just consider how many people have given 110% to a recruitment interview, concentrated and given all the right answers only to end up with a job they do not want – then it is time to start the job search all over again.
“Now hold on; wait a minute,” I hear you say, “I can’t just go strolling into the Head of Department’s office, sit down and say, “Now, why would I want to work for you?” That would be a very big mistake indeed. However, there is a lot that you can do.
These are the ways that you can assess the company:
1 Talk to people who work there to get the inside scoop. Ask your friends if they know of anyone currently or formerly employed there.
2 Run an Internet search
3 Ask lots of questions at the end of the interview. For example, take the old question, ‘Where do you see yourself in five years time?’ and turn it around: ‘If I join this firm and I perform to or above expectations, where would I be in two or five years time?’.
Do not be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to make an informed choice. That is what the interview is for.
4 Ask for a brief tour of the office.
Here is a checklist of things to look for. (Don’t just think about the money!)
- environment – is the office clean? a peaceful place to work?
- employees – do they look happy or stressed?
- management style
- opportunities for advancement
- salary and other benefits (leave, bonus, travel allowance and so on)
- chance to learn new things – will the position give you good experience?
- will you be working independently or as a part of a team?
- will you enjoy the work?
If the company takes the time to interview you, that means that they have already established from your CV that you are suitable for the job. Now you have to show them that you have charisma and drive. But never forget that it is a two-way relationship. Make sure that you leave the interview with a clear picture of what the organisation can do for you.
Grammar Lesson 3 (Inetrmediate)
Intermediate Grammar(中級文法)
Chapter 3
関係詞代名詞（主格）
(Relative pronoun as a subject)
Introduction
In this chapter, you will learn how to use relative pronoun as a subject which
would help you expand your conversation ability.
（ここでは主格としての関係代名詞を学びます、これはあなたの会話能力の引き上げます。）
Sentence for this lesson（このレッスンの例文）
I know your brother who can sing very well.
We read the article which explains the country economic situation.
Structure
noun + (who / which) ~
Practice 1 : Sample Sentences
Instruction: Repeat after your tutor.
（講師に続いて読みましょう。）
1. She is talking with a guy who is a famous author.
2. You made a poem which is beautiful and superb.
3. I don’t know him who is staring at us.
4. They are finally given a hint which was too difficult to find by themselves.
5. When my mother was young, she was a famous actress who awarded that
prize.
6. I always correct his mistake which is sometimes critical for our project..
Practice 2 : Word Filling
Instruction: Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate words.
（適切な語を入れて空欄を埋めてください。）
1. She agrees with an idea ___________ is practical and feasible.
2. That company produces tires ___________ are strong and light.
3. She likes to have friends to those ___________ are poor.
4. He told secret ___________ is very surprising.
5. After this examination, we will have a party with the professors ___________ gave us difficult examinations.
6. She is telling a story ___________ is unbelievable.
Practice 3 : Sentence completion
Instruction: Complete each sentence by adding appropriate words/phrases.
（適切な語句、フレーズを入れて文章を完成させてください。）
1. He is the manager of this restaurant which ___________
2. She is the girl who ___________ .
3. He has been seeking an opportunity which ___________ .
4. Everyone wants to have a new car which ___________.
5. When you were a child, you met famous person who ___________.
Practice 4 : Short Conversation
Instruction: Practice grammar three times in each question in a more casual way.
（各質問3 回ずつ、より実践に近い形で練習しましょう。）
1.
A : What is this?
B : This is a useful tool which ( helps us to make a website / will be sold soon/ would satisfy you ).
2.
A : I know a guy over there.
B : He is a famous movie director who ( produced AAA movie / lives in Hollywood
3.
A : Is she your friend?
B : Yes. She is one of my best friends who ( can speak English very well / has gorgeous look / always goes to shop with me).
Practice 5 : Conversation
Instruction: Practice a whole of conversation three times with your tutor.
（会話全体を3 度、講師と練習しましょう。）
A : How have you been lately?
B : I’ve been doing very well. What did you have?
A : This is an iPad which ( can connect to the internet / helps us to search
something / has many office softwares).
B : Sounds great. How did you get it?
A : My uncle who ( works for Apple / was successful in his business / loves new gadgets ) gave it to me.
B : That’s nice. I am jealous of you.
Practice 6 : Free Conversation
Instruction: Have a free conversation with your tutor using what you learned in this chapter. Tutor will start and continue conversation.
（講師と一緒にこのチャプターで習ったことを使い、会話をしてみまし ょう。講師が会話を始め、会話を広げてくれます。）
1. Who is your favorite teacher when you were high school student?
2. What do you always bring when you go outside you house? Why?
3. Who do you want to meet the most now?
4. Have you bought something for your friend, lovers or family recently? What’s that?
Biyernes, Mayo 6, 2011
4th person dies from food poisoning at 'yakiniku' chain
TOYAMA —
The death toll in a string of food poisoning cases believed to be caused by consuming raw meat at a ‘‘yakiniku’’ barbecue restaurant chain has risen to four after a 70-year-old woman died Thursday, local authorities said.
In response, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry asked prefectural governments to conduct emergency checks on whether restaurants serving meat to be eaten raw are properly observing sanitation standards, ministry officials said.
The woman had been hospitalized for food poisoning and fell into serious condition after dining at an outlet of the Yakiniku-zakaya Ebisu chain in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, on April 23, according to the prefectural government.
She was a family member of another woman in her 40s who dined with her and died Wednesday.
In addition to the two women, two boys in Toyama and Fukui prefectures also died in April in the food poisoning cases involving the restaurant chain operator, Foods Forus Co, based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The restaurant chain bought the raw meat from a wholesaler in Tokyo.
More than 30 people have been hospitalized in the food poisoning outbreak in Toyama and Kanagawa prefectures, with about 20 of them in serious condition. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli bacteria including the O-111 and O-157 strains have been detected in many of the cases.
The Toyama, Fukui and Kanagawa prefectural police have launched investigations on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death or injury.
Where Germs Hide: You’ll be Surprised!
Bacteria and viruses are everywhere--so many of them in so many places that it’s a wonder we don’t get sick more often. The germs in question aren’t just the ones that cause colds and flu, but also nastier ones that can trigger staph infections, pneumonia and GI illnesses. And long after an infected person leaves the area, pathogens can linger on contaminated surfaces, surviving for several days. Here’s a guide to germ hotspots and how to protect yourself:
The supermarket: Beware of those shopping cart handles! And the child seat: just think of what can leak out of diapers. No one disinfects shopping carts so they’re a breeding ground for whatever ails the customers who pushed them around before you.
- Germ control: Keep sanitizing wipes in your purse or pocket to swab the handles and kid’s seat. Check the product label for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration number, indicating that it can be used as a disinfectant. Or squirt hand sanitizer on a tissue and wipe.
At work: Your desk at work could have 400 times more germs than a toilet seat. What’s more, thousands of bacteria can coat your phone. When’s the last time you disinfected your computer keyboard or cleaned the crumbs out of your desk drawers (a feast for germs)? Also be wary of control buttons on the office copier or fax machine, elevator buttons, handles of shared coffee cups and pots, and other communal items.
- Germ control: Use disinfectant wipes daily on the surface of your desk, phone, computer keyboard, desk drawer handles and anything else you habitually touch, and wash your hands after using communal items.
In the kitchen: Sure, you disinfect countertops and cutting boards after readying raw meat or chicken (even raw veggies and fruit) for cooking. But who knew that it’s also important to clean all the other stuff you might handle in the process: microwave controls, salt and pepper shakers, jars of spices and herbs.
- Germ control: Use disinfectant on everything you handle during food preparation. Don’t forget the refrigerator door, the faucet, and cabinet door handles. Use an antimicrobial cleaner or a mixture of one part household bleach diluted with ten parts water. Sanitize sponges in the dishwasher or by microwaving them for 60 seconds at high power.
Public restrooms: Studies have shown that sinks and faucets harbor far more bugs than toilet seats. A study at Johns Hopkins found that water from hands-free faucets is actually dirtier than water from manual ones (researchers suggested that the complex valve systems may promote more bacterial growth, but didn’t test the handles of the manual faucets for germs).
- Germ control: Avoid touching faucets and soap dispensers with bare hands - use a paper towel to turn the water on and off, to push the soap dispenser and to open the bathroom door to leave when you’re done.
Restaurants: We all hope that employees obey the signs and always wash their hands before leaving the restroom, but no one checks on them. Then there’s the rag or sponge used to clean the table before you sit down. But think about less obvious threats: germs can roost on the menus (who disinfects a menu?) and the lemon in your soft drink or iced tea: a study published in Environmental Health in 2007 found that nearly 70 percent of the lemon wedges tested at 21 restaurants contained e. coli and more than 20 other pathogens.
- Germ control: Choose your restaurants with care. Don’t let the menu touch your plate or silverware, and wash your hands after you give it back to the waiter. Order your beverages without lemon.
A final caution: don’t waste money on hand sanitizers that claim to protect against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the H1N1 flu virus, Salmonella or E. coli. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any such consumer products. Your best bet: wash your hands with soap and water frequently, for 30 seconds per washing. Or, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol concentration). Sanitizers kill most harmful bacteria and viruses, and don’t contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Number of millionaires is projected to rise rapidly
Despite the Great Recession, which wiped out $15.5 trillion in household wealth in the United States alone, the number of millionaires in this country and abroad will grow rapidly over the next decade.
In the U.S., the total number of families with a net worth of over $1 million, including real estate, will double by 2020, according to a report by the Deloitte Center for Financial Services.
Overall, the U.S. and Europe have the greatest concentrations of wealth than any other region, although emerging markets are narrowing the gap.
China will lead the way in millionaire growth, the report said, followed by Brazil and Russia.
By 2020, China and South Korea will rank in the top 10 of countries with the greatest total number of families worth more than a million dollars.
"There is going to be very fast growth, but it will take a lot longer to reach anything like the wealth in the developed world," said Andrew Freeman, lead author of the report. (Calculator: When will you be a millionaire?)
With 10.5 million, the U.S. has -- by far -- the greatest number of millionaire households in the world, despite the financial crisis and ensuing recession which knocked more than 3 million millionaire families off the map between 2006 and 2008.
The number of millionaire households is expected to return to pre-crisis levels by 2015 and reach 20.6 million in 2020, maintaining the U.S.'s position in the top spot.
By then, 43% of the world's wealth held by millionaire households will be in the U.S., up slightly from 42% this year, the report said.
Japan is expected to rank a distant second, with 8.6 million millionaire households in 2020 and 9% of the world's wealth.
China is expected to be No. 7, with 2.5 million millionaire households in 2020 and 4% of the world's wealth.
Within the U.S., California will likely have the most number of wealthy households by 2020, while Wyoming is forecast to have the fewest. New Jersey will have the highest density of millionaires with a quarter of all households projected to be valued at more than $1 million.
The Deloitte report looked at 25 economies worldwide. The definition of wealth included financial assets, such as stocks, bonds and other investments and non-financial assets like real estate, automobiles and art. It was sponsored by the Deloitte Center for Financial Services and conducted with Oxford Economics.
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