For Home Maintenance – FORHM

Presbyopia, also known as “short arm syndrome”, is a medical
term used to describe a vision defect where the natural lens loses
its accommodation power. Accommodation power refers to the ability
of the eye lens to change its focal distance, depending on whether
the object in view is placed up-close or far away. This is a common
disorder that virtually everyone experiences in their middle age.
Specifically, at the onset of the 40s, people experience blurred
vision while looking at nearby objects, such as when reading or
sewing.

Presbyopia is different from other vision disorders, such as
nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism – these are all
concerned with the shape of the eyeball or the corneal tissue and
are caused due to genetic factors, trauma, or disease. However,
Presbyopia is an age related disorder and is believed to be caused
due to a gradual loss of elasticity of the natural eye lens. As the
eye lens stiffens with age, it is difficult for the lens to focus
up close.

Presbyopia is not normally curable, but the loss of
accommodation power can be compensated for by using eyeglasses or
contact lenses. A few patients might require bifocal or progressive
lenses. As the ability to focus deteriorates, the prescription lens
needs to be changed accordingly. In order to eliminate the
dependence on bifocals or reading glasses, some people opt for a
method called “monovision”, where one eye is corrected for near and
the other for far. However, monovision may interfere with depth
perception, and not everyone can adapt to monovision.

When Presbyopia sets in, LASIK can be used to produce
monovision. However, it’s recommended that at first you try
monovision with contact lenses, in order to be sure that you can
adapt to the change. Another surgical option, which was approved in
March 2004 by the Food and Drug Association (FDA), is a procedure
known as conductive keratoplasty (CK).

Research is ongoing and it suggests that a cure for Presbyopia
is quite possible. New surgical procedures also promise solutions
for those who don’t wish to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses while
suffering from Presbyopia.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is common form of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is a type of tumor that affects the middle layer of the
skin. Squamous cells are cells that compose most of the epidermis.
An abnormal growth of these cells is known as a squamous cell
carcinoma. Squamous cell cancer results when cells in the middle
part of the skin start to change. The changes may begin in normal
skin or in skin that has been injured or inflamed. Most skin
cancers occur on skin that is regularly exposed to sunlight or
other ultraviolet radiation. It is most often seen in those over
age 50. Over 90% of skin cancers occur on areas of the skin that
are regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation.
This is considered the primary cause of all skin cancers. Main
symptom of squamous cell skin cancer is a growing bump that may
have a rough, scaly surface and flat reddish patches. The bump is
usually located on the face, ears, neck, hands, or arms, but may
occur on other areas. A sore that does not heal can be a sign of
squamous cell cancer. Any change in an existing wart, mole, or
other skin lesion could be a sign of skin cancer. Squamous cell
carcinoma can develop on almost any part of the body, including the
genitals and the soles of the feet, the most common locations are
the head (scalp, lips, ears, inside the mouth) or the back of the
hands or arms.

Squamous cell carcinoma is much more common in geographic areas
where patients have a high frequency of sun exposure. Most SCCs are
readily identified and removed in the physician’s office as a minor
surgical procedure. Squamous cell carcinomas may also occur where
skin has suffered certain kinds of injury: burns, scars,
long-standing sores, sites previously exposed to X-rays or certain
chemicals. SCC may present as either a proliferative or erosive
lesion. Proliferative lesions may vary from a red firm plaque to a
cauliflowerlike lesion that often ulcerates. The erosive lesion,
which is most common in the cat, initially starts as a shallow
crustinglesion that may develop into a deep ulcer. Histologically,
the initial crusting lesions often represent carcinoma in situ or
preinvasive carcinoma..Skin cancer has a high cure rate if it is
treated early. Treatment depends on how big the tumor is, its
location, and how much it has spread (metastasis). Surgery to
remove the tumor is often recommended. Microscopic shaving (Mohs’
surgery) may be used to remove small tumors. Skin grafting may be
needed if wide areas of skin are removed. Radiation therapy may
help reduce tumor size. Chemotherapy can be used if surgery and
radiation fail, but it usually does not work very well for squamous
cell cancer.

Causes of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
1.UV sunlight exposure.
2.Chemical carcinogens.
3.DNA repair failure.
4.Iatrogenic immunosuppression.
5.Chronic inflammation.
6.Genetic syndromes and dermatoses.
Symptoms of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
1.Persistent, firm, red bump on sun-exposed skin.

2.Patch of skin that feels scaly, bleeds, or develops a
crust.

3.Skin growth that looks like a wart.

4.Change in the size, shape, or color of a wart or mole.

5.Actinic keratosis.
Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

There are several effective treatment options available for
squamous cell carcinoma. Surgery is best treatment of squamous cell
carcinoma. Surgry is devided two types first is Moh´s Surgery /
Surgery the most effective treatment. During the surgery a
microscopic method is used to make sure all of the affected skin
areas are excised. This type of surgery is rather complicated but
has a high cure rate. It has the highest cure rate of all surgical
treatments. The removed tissue can be examined microscopically to
determine if the tumor has been totally excised. It is a rather
complicated proceedure.Second is Cryosurgery is liquid nitrogen is
applied to the affected surface with a cotton tip applicator or
spray device. Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold (-195,8 °C =
-320,44 °F) and will cause death of all cells of this area.
Unfortunately there is no control as to how deep the tissue has
been destroyed. Therefore reoccurences are not uncommon. It usually
is an effective treatment.

Cryosurgery causes discomfort and/or pain. Due to freezing the
skin may presumably react with blisters, reddening, swelling or a
change of color in skin patches.and an infection may occur due to
delayed wound-healing. Curettage is scraping away of a superficial
skin disorder. Usually a scalpel or another sharp device, called a
curette, is used for scraping. Unfortunately there is no control if
all of the affected tissue has been removed. The treatment usually
requires a local anesthetic. Therefore reoccurances are not
uncommon.Radiotherapy uses X-rays to destroy damaged cells. Usually
the affected area needs to be treated several times to reach a dose
that is effective, depending on the size and stage of the squamous
cell carcinoma. Therefore the therapy might last several weeks.
This treatment has a good cure rate. It is good for elderly
patients who are not physically able to undergo surgery.Other
Treatments is Laser. Laser is affected cells are destroyed by the
laser.

If you’re not making sushi at home you’re missing out on a
delicious and extremely diet-friendly meal. It’s easy to make,
fast, nutritious, and the raw fish you’re afraid of is completely
optional.

First let’s have a brief overview of sushi for those who’ve
never had it or those who have tried it but want to know more.

Sushi is the catch-all name for a wide variety of Japanese
dishes. The word sushi actually refers to rice with rice vinegar
added. Since this is a very basic and lightly flavored food, it is
the many ingredients added to it that really define what dish you
are eating. The raw fish you have heard of is sashimi — which is a
crucial ingredient of many types of sushi — but you can create
delicious sushi with almost any ingredient that goes with rice.

In America by far the most common type of sushi is maki-sushi,
or rice wrapped in seaweed. The seaweed is called nori and forms
the green skin you can see around sushi pieces. For this reason
maki-sushi are also called nori rolls. Also popular are
nigiri-sushi, small bars of rice topped with wasabi and
sashimi.

It’s easy to include sushi in a healthy diet. Think of the
ingredients: rice, vegetables, and fish. Not exactly a heart-attack
in the making; just the opposite in fact. As long as you don’t go
overboard on the rice it is extremely low in calories in addition
to being low in fat. While we chomp pork rinds and potato chips,
the Japanese have sushi. Care to guess which country has a longer
average life span?

Let’s learn how to make a California roll, easily the most
popular nori roll in America today. You will need the following
items, all of which should be easy to find in your supermarket’s
oriental foods section or at your local Asian market:

Bamboo rolling mat Sushi rice (short or medium grain) Nori
(squares of roasted seaweed) Salt Sugar Rice vinegar Imitation crab
meat Avocado Cucumber Wasabi Soy sauce

Prepare the rice according to the directions on the package. You
will need about 3/4 cup cooked rice for each sushi roll, and most
people will be full after eating 1 or 2 rolls.

In a small pan, place a tablespoon of vinegar and 1/3 tbsp of
sugar and salt for each 3/4 cup of rice you are cooking. Heat the
resulting mixture briefly and stir until the sugar dissolves. When
the rice is almost done cooking, begin cutting your vegetables.
Peel a cucumber and cut it into long thin strips, about a 1/4″
around. Same for the avocado. If you bought powdered wasabi prepare
it also (just mix in tiny amounts of water until you get a thick
paste).

Once the rice is done, remove it from heat and slowly fold in
the vinegar mixture. Then lay the rice out on a sheet of waxpaper
or a cutting board and allow it to cool (traditionally this is done
by fanning the rice while slowly cutting and folding it with a
special rice spatula). The rice should be slightly damp from the
vinegar and sticky, but not wet and mushy, adjust the amount of
vinegar mixture you add as needed. Getting the rice right is the
most difficult part of making sushi, but a little practice will
teach you what works.

Once the vinegared rice has cooled off, you are ready to put it
all together. Lay your bamboo rolling mat in front of you
horizontally (the bamboo sticks should run left-right). Take a
sheet of nori and lay it on the rolling mat. For best luck with the
rice, keep water handy to dip your fingers in. Spread a layer of
rice on the nori, covering about 3/4 of it. The part of the nori
not covered in rice will hold the roll closed (think of the glue
strip on an envelope or the gum on a cigarette paper).

Place a strip of avocado and a strip of cucumber on the rice,
and top it with crab meat. Now wet your fingers with cold water and
dampen the part of the nori you left uncovered. Carefully roll the
sushi using the mat. If this sounds complicated, don’t worry. It’s
as simple as rolling up a sleeping bag or a beach towel, and it
will be obvious to you once you actually have the ingredients in
front of you.

Take the resulting roll and cut it into bite sized slices,
usually 6 per roll. If you are having trouble cutting the roll
without damaging it, try dipping your knife into water between each
cut. Lay the pieces flat and they will look like little colorful
discs. Serve with wasabi and soy sauce on the side.

If you feel brave and want to try do-it-yourself sashimi, here
are a few safety tips. First of all, understand that millions of
people eat raw fish every day without getting sick. However, most
of them live right next to the sea where fresh fish is abundant.
For many land-locked Americans this isn’t the case. Fish that is
prepared for shipping to a grocery store in Boise is not handled in
the same way as that bound for a San Francisco sushi bar. Look for
fish that is specially labeled as sushi-grade. Avoid freshwater
fish, with the notable exception of Salmon, which spends much of
its life at sea. When buying whole fish, make sure the gills are
bright red and not slimy, the eyes should be transparent and not
cloudy, and there should be no fishy odor.

Take up a healthy and nutritious sushi addiction today. It may
take you a while to get the rice and the rolling right, but once
you are experienced you’ll be able to whip out several nori rolls
in no time.

You can find them almost anywhere near the seashore boardwalks.
All you have to do is walk into a cramped little gift shop on the
beach and you can find them, stuck in a 6″X 3″ carrying cage and
nothing else. If you haven’t looked there, all you have to do is
look in the nearest wannabe pet shop. They are stashed on the
darkest bottom shelf with tons of others, cramped in a small
aquarium with a little water and food. Some of them won’t even
venture out of their shells. Some of them are even missing limbs
and claws. That’s right, I’m talking about hermit crabs. Before
they even have a chance to be chosen by people from a caring home,
they are already being mistreated wherever they are being sold. The
cards are already stacked against them.

Many pet stores treat hermit crabs as if they are simply stock.
They take good care of their birds that are worth hundreds of
dollars. Same goes for their expensive puppies and kittens. But
where are the pet stores that care about pets down to the smallest
and most inexpensive. Just because they don’t cost an arm and a leg
to buy and care for doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be cared for
in the same way. As you know, temperature and humidity are key
components to keeping a hermit crab healthy. Shoving a small
aquarium on the darkest bottom shelf in the store, leaving the lid
open with no humidity or temperature gauge, and not even caring to
regulate temperature and humidity is total, undeniable hermit crab
abuse. Unfortunately, there isn’t a big organization to make pet
stores treat these small creatures humanely. The SPCA won’t come
barging indignantly into a pet store treating hermit crabs
horribly. This isn’t something that is important to very many
people.

If you are interested enough to purchase a hermit crab from a
pet store, most of the time you won’t get an information or fact
sheet about your pet. If you question the store clerk about tank
conditions or ask the pros and cons of certain types of diets, you
are dismissed because the clerk doesn’t know anything about the
pets they are selling or just flat out do not care to learn. They
see hermit crabs as a “disposable” pet. You know… the kind people
buy and just in case they don’t take care of it and it dies, it’s
ok; they are cheap and they can simply replace it. The pet store
associates themselves even say that hermit crabs do not last as
pets. Not only do some people believe this way, some pet stores
having a return policy for defective animals, are used when the
crab is mistreated, dies within the 30 days, then is taken back and
another victim is chosen. This should never be the case. Hermit
crabs can live 15 to 20 years or more, if taken care of properly.
It is unfair to treat any creature this way. These animals are
living, breathing creatures and deserve to be treated fairly. They
didn’t ask to be plucked from their tropical climates. They didn’t
ask to be bread in captivity for eventual sale. They are simply
creatures that exist and deserve to be treated with care.

Please don’t think that if you purchased a crab and it died and
you replaced it that you are necessarily in the same category as
these impatient, uncaring pet owners. Many times, the hermit crabs
are so stressed out from the horrible treatment they receive while
they are waiting to be sold that they just can’t handle being moved
to a new location. Besides the fact that most pet store clerks
don’t handle or feed or house them correctly, they don’t monitor
the patrons who handle them, either. For example, the pet store
I’ve been referencing about keeping the hermit crabs in a dark,
hardly suitable atmosphere is the same place I found one of my
hermit crabs, who was already missing a limb from stress. Instead
of the crabs being in a place where they and the people handling
them can be seen, these hermit crabs were on the last row so that
no one could see who was picking up the hermit crabs. Unruly and
unsupervised children, and uncaring, ignorant people are both fully
capable of accessing these creatures without supervision from a pet
store associate. This means that they are fully able to roughly
handle, terrify, and drop the hermit crabs that are for sale. If
you researched hermit crab care, purchased a hermit crab, took it
directly home, and began caring for it, and it still died, chances
are, that it wasn’t you who contributed to the tragic demise of
your hermit crab.

If any of this has happened to you, don’t blame yourself. The
best thing you can do is find a reputable pet store and do research
about it before you make a decision to purchase any pet from it.
Take the time to look at the way the crabs are displayed to sell.
Ask associates if they are sitting in temperature and humidity
controlled climates. If not, strongly consider not purchasing from
this store. Do research on hermit crab care, and question store
associates to see if they know what they are talking about. Do your
homework. In the end, you will be a much more satisfied pet owner.
If you have that tendency to attract strays, you might consider
going to that awful pet store, and saving some of those poor hermit
crabs. An idea to help you with this is to put the crabs from that
store in their own cage. Leave them separate from your healthy
hermit crabs. As you observe, remove the crabs that are healthy and
place them in with your current crab habitat. You can try to nurse
the unhealthy ones back to health. It is a brave endeavor, but
might not always turn out the way we would like. But if you are
willing to try to save these animals, they are much better off with
you than a person who won’t care for them. Whatever you decide,
just remember that these are living beings. They deserve to be
treated as such.

General information

Machine embroidery is a special type of embroidery, performed by
special automatic machines, functioning according to the man’s
adjusted program. This man is designer, constructor. He creates the
embroidery program (design) – the machine operation algorithm,
which can be in consequence repeated unlimited number of times. The
machine following the given program, automatically executes the
embroidery on material. In this way, the main features of machine
embroidery are the absence of manual labor at the stage of outright
embroidery, and the possibility of embroidery samples duplication.
The machine embroidery is a recent kind of activity, in contrast to
manual embroidery, existing for thousands of years. The machine
embroidery began its existence nearly 50 years ago and in 1980-ies
the demand of the profession of machine embroidery designer began
to grow. Nowadays the demand is actually as well. During the period
of machine embroidery existence, its creation technology has
changed beyond recognition. The machines that once used as source
of information the punched card, limited in speed and quality of
embroidery, were replaced by microprocessor-based, highly
productive, multihead machines with advanced technology equipment,
optimizing the embroidery process.

The process of machine embroidery technologically consists of
two closely associated stages:

1. The embroidery designing stage, or the construction stage of
machine embroidery-represents the process of creation of embroidery
machine program. At this stage are developed the construction
components of machine embroidery. 2. The technical stage represents
the direct embroidery manufacture by means of machine. At this
stage are developed the technical components of machine
embroidery.

Both this stages are at the same time quite independent from the
point of view of manufacture, which helps to differentiate them and
to mark out two different basic types of industrial activity
accordingly. It is a question of enterprises that are specialized
directly in program creation, or in materially embroidery creation.
Each of these manufacture branches develops round itself a
branching infrastructure system. For example, nowadays there are a
great number of producers of special program maintenance for
machine embroidery, of embroidery machines and special concomitant
equipment producers, of outlay materials producers, used for
embroidery manufacture. Many companies, in accordance with machine
embroidery branch needs are adjusting the directions of its
activity. For example, the producers of textile dye stuff make
special adjustments of qualities and spectrum, the clothing
producers change the construction, adjusting it to the technology
of machine embroidery manufacture.

Field of machine embroidery use

Historically the embroidery had, first of all, a decorative
character. Nowadays this essential property favorable affected its
use in advertising branch. We frequently see the embroidery bearing
advertising-informational character, on clothing objects and other
ready-made garments.

Machine embroidery as advertising –informational bearer

Embroidery can be an effective advertising-informational means,
at the same time without loosing its artistic expressiveness. It is
frequently used at trade marks plotting on the cloth, leather,
felt, as well as on complete products, clothes etc. At embroidery
it is possible the reproduction of trade mark of all color
combination. The trade mark, plotted on by this method, frequently
turns into fashionable attribute of article and becomes an organic
element of its composition. It is possible to embroider on
different types of clothes, including uniform, working clothes. The
embroidery as characteristic index to any current of activity is
widely used in many countries. Very often the firm workers bear the
differential sign of their company. It can be a logotype on the
head gear, on the front side of the sweater or on the back side of
the jacket. The cloth embroidery, on many indexes passes ahead of
its “rivals”, like serigraphy or decal decoration (transfer seal).
The embroidery is more lasting, the steadiness of threads color is
higher, the volumetric texture of embroidery confers more expensive
and spectacular shape to the logotype. That is why most of the
firms, dealing with advertising campaigns development, recommend to
their clients the very embroidery. The embroidery can be performed
on different parts of clothes and on different articles. On head
gears (caps, knitted caps), sport shirts, shirts, tolstovkas, even
on footwear.

Technical constituent of machine embroidery

During the cycle of machine embroidery manufacturing is applied
different means and tools. However, starting from the availability
of two basic stages of manufacture, it can be market two
fundamental corresponding tools of machine embroidery. They
are:

1. The computer with appropriate program maintenance and
peripherals on the construction stage of manufacture. 2. Automatic
embroidery machine with concomitant supplementary equipment on the
technological stage of manufacture.

Let us list the fundamental information of industrial automatic
embroidery machines and some supplementary special concomitant
equipment. Industrial automatic embroidery machines according to
fulfilled activity and principle of operation can be divided in two
groups: 1. Universal automatic embroidery machines. 2. Special
automatic embroidery machines.

To special automatic embroidery machines can be attributed the
machines using not quite standard embroidery methods, machines that
are able to perform embroidery on out-of-the-way places of complete
products and on materials that are difficult for embroidery. To one
of the most commonly used type of special automatic embroidery
machines can be attributed the so called Schiffli, machines that
allow making embroidery with the utilization of decorative cord, to
cut through material and at the same time to process the cut by
embroidery. These machines are mostly used for finishing of light
and thin, translucent, fashioned and other smart cloth and articles
made out of it. For instance, Schiffli machines are often used at
wedding dresses decoration. Quite recently it appeared a new
interesting kind of automatic special embroidery-the so called
no-thread-embroidery and automatic no-thread embroidery machines.
The principle of operation of such machines has a remote conformity
with principle of producing of needle-punched fabrics. It consists
in the fact that the machine with a set of needles (24 needles)
runs through the structure of the main (working) material the locks
of fibers of special auxiliary material. The auxiliary material is
laid under the main material. After the auxiliary material removing
on the main material remains an effective, specific pattern
(picture). Nowadays the leader in production of no-thread
embroidery machines is the Japan Company Tanaka. In 2001 fashion
show in Berlin and Paris were presented impressive collections made
with the help of no-thread –embroidery on “Vari-O-Matic” machine of
this company. To universal automatic embroidery machines are
related the machines of lock-stitch with coordinate displaced frame
holder which is meant for manufacture of embroidery with threads on
classical and most widespread materials and articles. The use of
such machines supposes some limitations in properties of used
materials and constructions of complete products. But these
limitations are constantly growing narrower due to constant
modernization and improvement of universal automatic embroidery
machines and due to use of manifold auxiliary facilities and
special devices. All known universal automatic embroidery machines
are of lock-stitch type of machines and the structure of many parts
of the mechanism has many similarities with lock-stitch embroidery
machines. The main parts of single-head universal automatic
embroidery machine are column, case, frame holder and head. The
case is fixed on column and consists of pole and cantilevered arm.
Inside the upper part of column is installed the stitch mechanism.
Inside the case is installed the main shaft mechanism. On the head
is disposed a set of needle mechanisms with thread takeup and
thread guide mechanisms. The head is able to shift from case in the
horizontal position, engaging with the main shaft stirring up the
needed needle mechanism. This enables the machine to make the shift
of the thread color at one embroidery run. The frame holder
mechanism is able to shift the frame holder in a horizontal level
in four directions from the active needle. The shift is made in
step-type on coordinate according to given embroidery program. In
this way the machine can make loch-stitches on material of
different length and in any given order and direction, executing if
needed the shift of working needle with the thread of the definite
color. The industrial automatic embroidery machines can be both
single-headed and with few heads and with corresponding number of
necessary working mechanisms. The last are called many headed or
multihead automatic embroidery machines. Under normal conditions of
embroidery all the heads and frame holders mechanisms works
synchronously.

The basic indexes of industrial embroidery machines

1. Speed of embroidery. It is expressed through quantity of
stitches per minute. The embroidery speed can be adjusted both
manually and automatically while embroidering. The optimal
embroidery speed of modern machines oscillates between 700-900
stitches per minute. Maximum speed reaches 1200-1400 stitches per
minute.

2. Number of working heads. In modern multihead machines the
head numbers come to 2-4 heads.

3. The size of working area or the maximum size of used frame.
This index is concerned with possible size of performed embroidery.
It is expressed through correlation of length and width of the
working area in millimeters and is regulated for flat and
cylindrical frame (used for caps, sleeves, etc). There are spread
the correlations 800×600, 500×400 and other-for flat frame; 360×75,
400×350 and other for cylindrical frame.

4. Needle quantity. It is equal to the number of needles on one
head. It is defined by maximal possible number of thread colors
used at one run of embroidery. The possible needle number in modern
machines is from 1 to 12. The most spread are the machines with 9
needles. Other important indexes are the noise and vibration level,
the compatibility of machine with different standard embroidery
programs, the presence of accessories, error of linear measurements
of embroidery elements.

The accessories can be presented through different additional
hinged device for automatic let-off of decorative cord or ribbon,
broadened control terminal, systems of laser and video navigation
of working area, additional laser trimers (device for thread
cutting) and other.

The concomitant equipment can be presented through devices of
embroidery evaporation, various press equipment for adhesive
chevron and braid production, special cloth-cutting machine in the
form of laser cutter-machines, that can automatically cut of or
drift on markings on cloth, which is widely used at combined with
embroidery applique’works production.

One of my favourite hobbies is baking western and making Asian
desserts and that is why I get frequent requests to make sweet or
savoury goodies for a gathering or a function.

When I was learning about baking and making desserts, I
dedicated a day in the week, when I was not working, to learn and
to try different recipes. At the end of the year, I would have done
52 different new recipes, and usually at weekends I would drop in
on some friends or relatives with these goodies.

It made me really happy to see their gratified faces when they
tasted the goodies. The ones that usually get the top votes, are
the Asian traditional Malay desserts which are probably still less
known amongst foodies in US, Europe or Australia.

If you are a foodie and you can go weak with chocolates and
cheesecake, you will want to know about these desserts which we
call Malay kuihs. They originate from the deep villages of
Indonesia and Malaysia and have now emerged in big cities and
served at hotels and restaurants.

While many people enjoy eating them, very few know how to make
them and what ingredients go into these delicious and delicate
desserts. If you think that chocolate cakes, cheesecakes, moist
puddings and fudgy brownies are the ultimate sinful foods, you have
been deprived!

Malay kuihs use basic ingredients from flour made from yam or
tapioca or beans, and a good measure of palm sugar and coconut -
either as grated coconut or milk. These days coconut milk is
substituted with cream or fresh milk for dietary reason. The kicker
is in combining different flours and create layers of different
tastes and colours.

In those days, the old womenfolks were resourceful in creating
desserts for the family as afternoon snack and these kuihs also
made use of fruits such as bananas, sweet potatoes or
jackfruit.

You can get these recipes on the internet but many of the
authentic ones are limited and written in Malay language. Allow me
to share one favourite recipe of mine called Kuih Ondeh-Ondeh
Keledek. Made largely from sweet potato, the ball is stuffed with
melted palm sugar and rolled into grated coconut. Deliciously moist
when you bite into the goeey filling.

Ingredients
625g white sweet potatoes (steamed till tender)
3 tbsp thick pandan juice (squeezed from pandan leaf or screwpine
leaf) 2 tbsp tapioca flour 2 tbsp wheat flour 125g palm sugar or
gula melaka, crushed 2 tsp granulated sugar Pinch of salt ¼ of a
large coconut (to grate without skin)

Method: Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Peel the sweet
potatoes and mash well. Then mix the pandan juice and sifted
flours. Knead into a smooth dough. Roll dessert spoonfuls of dough
and flatten. Mix together both the granulated sugar and the palm
sugar. Place a piece of sugar mixture in the center of the dough
ball. Join opposite ends together, press slightly and roll into a
ball. Drop into boiling water and cook till they float. Drain. Mix
together the grated coconut and salt on a tray or flat plate. Roll
in the cooked kuih altogether and pack in the grated coconut till
the external is covered.

Serve when it is cooler otherwise the melted hot palm sugar will
burn your tongue.

Post natal flab is something that all new mothers are anxious to
shed as soon as they give birth and is a challenge for many women.
Given that the body goes through many changes and hormonal
challenges for nine months, it is no wonder that trying to lose
weight after giving birth takes time, determination and patience.
Some women never got back their shape and weight of pre-pregnancy
days.

Doctors recommend that in the first 6 weeks after delivery, new
mothers should focus on getting the necessary rest and bonding with
baby. According to doctors, in most cases, a return to
pre-pregnancy body composition may take anywhere between nine
months to a year.

There are many ways to shed off post natal flab and postpartum
exercise is most often a better option than trying to diet. Dieting
is not sensible at this time, especially if you are breastfeeding.
Your body also needs the necessary nutrients to repair itself.

Your readiness to exercise is a function of pre-pregnancy
fitness level and postpartum health status. When you are ready to
resume exercise after six weeks, ensure that you use a good support
bra for comfort during exercise. It should be a gradual and not a
sudden and vigorous routine. Exercise should not cause any
associated pain or any bleeding.

If you have adequate postpartum exercises as suggested below, it
should aid a speedier return to your pre-pregnancy figure, increase
your energy level to cope with demands of newborn baby.

1. Pelvic Floor Exercise
Tighten your anus as thouigh you are trying to prevent yourself
from passing urine. Hold for 5 seconds and then relax. Repeat 10
times. Never do this while passing urine). 2. Pelvic Tilts
Kneel on all fours with a flat back, and your hands and knees
planted on the ground. Curl your back towards the ceiling without
shifting your body or moving your arms or legs. You will feel your
pelvis being pulled towards you and your back arched back. 3. Torso
Stretch
Stand with your feet hipwidth apart and holding your hands
together. Straighten arms above you such that you feel a gentle
pull at the inner side of your arms. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat
for 5 times. 4. Chest Stretch
Stand with feet hipwidth apart holding your hands together.
Straighten arms behind you such that you feel a gentle stretch at
the front of your chest. Hold for 15 seconds – repeat 5 times 5.
Triceps Stretch
Bend your left elbow behind your head and use the right hand to
gently pull the left elbow in further until you feel a stretch in
the back of your arm. Switch sides and repeat. 6. Back
Stretch
Clasp your hands together in front of you and round your back
towards the floor, pressing your arms away from body to feel a
stretch in your upper back. 7. Shoulder Stretch
Bring your left arm across the front of your body. Use your right
forearm to pull the left elbow towards your ody, keeping the left
arm extended. Switch sides and repeat.

For women with C-section delivery, you are encouraged to walk as
soon as possible to increase healing, circulation and minimise
muscle wasting. When they are ready, they can also participate in
the same exercise program as above.

If you enjoy collecting jewelry with personal significance or
giving it as gifts, consider Italian charms! They are the most
affordable way to create a personalized bracelets with unique
meaning. And, there is an amazing variety to choose from.

Whether you love dogs, cats, or want something signifying your
family or hobby, it’s all there! And, unlike their classic dangling
counterparts, Italian charms link together to form a flat bracelet;
for a more sophisticated look enjoyed by women of all ages.

It’s no surprise, then, that tens of thousands of women each
year collect Italian charms and give them as gifts. How to get
started?

Easy! Whenever buying for yourself or as a gift, the first thing
you need to do is get a “starter bracelet” containing blank links.
Then, get an additional 4-5 charms to start the bracelet. The
recipient can easily replace blank links on the starter bracelets
with the charms you give them — and any others they get in the
future — to develop a unique bracelet over time.

The Secret to Selecting Quality Italian Charms

When looking to buy Italian charms, it’s important to consider
quality. Indeed, there are so many places selling these things that
sometimes it’s difficult to separate the good from the bad.

Here are some things to watch out for:

* Make sure they are made of stainless steel (the place where
you buy them should say that.) If you really want to get technical,
ask them what grade of stainless steel their charms are. They
should know, especially if they claim to sell “direct”, because on
the manufacturing end stainless steel has exact grades. Usually,
it’s a number (like 304) followed by a letter. You’d see them
labeled as 304L or 316.

* Charms marked with a logo or brand-name on the back are
considered higher quality. You never know, but generally avoid
links that are “blank” / have no logo on the back. What about
charms that say “Stainless Steel” on the back? Well, I’ve seen a
few that were definitely NOT stainless steel… so use caution.

* Make sure the site you’re ordering from has a money-back
guarantee and check any customer comments posted on there.

* It’s important to order charms that are covered with
protective epoxy. Otherwise they’ll rub off! If the site doesn’t
state whether they are or not, ask them.

* You’ll find that many site sell “18kt gold” Italian charms.
Well, with very few exceptions, it’s a gold-tone and not sold 18kt
gold. Just make sure that if you’re paying 18kt gold prices ($18+
per charm) that you indeed getting 18kt gold. Again, nearly all
sites sell 18kt gold-tone (or gold accented) charms. Why pay $18
for the same product if you could get for under $3… and even for
$2, and sometimes $1/charm?

* A note about care: Even stainless steel charms can change
color when exposed to chemicals, cleaning solutions, and solvents.
Avoid chlorine and any harsh chemicals.

What about the Chinese-Made Italian Charms?

Yes, a lot of people ask that question. Very few merchants admit
it… but, nearly all Italian charms sold on the Internet are
manufactured in China.

Now, what about charms that say “imported from Italy?” Well,
that’s nice, but did you know that many of these places simply buy
Chinese-made Italian charms through an import company in Italy. So,
yes, they’re “imported from Italy” but if you think you’re getting
a handcrafted Italian product… think again! They’re still
manufactured in one of the three main factories in China.

Which Charms are Great For Gifts?

Well… really, all of them! Charms that are especially popular
are, in no particular order: 1) Heart charms, 2) Ribbon (esp. pink
ribbon) charms, 3) American flag, 4) Flowers, 5) Family and I love
my kids-type charms, 6) Birthstones, 7) Various words and phrases…
like “DREAM”, “Family of 5″, “Child of GOD”, etc. Religious
charms, like crosses, etc.

As you can see, the possibilities are only limited by your
imagination!

Losing ones brakes is one thing that every motorist is worried
about.A vehicle’s Brake System relies on the brake disc to actually
stop a car that is in motion. A break disc has the following key
components, as seen on a single- piston floating caliper

Elements of a disc brake
* The brake pads
* The caliper, which contains a piston
* The rotor, which is mounted to the hub

The understanding of these chief auto parts will largely affect
how one can learn more about how break discs work.Disparate with
our regular bicycle where a caliper compresses the brake pads
directly to the wheel, in a disc brake, the brake pads squeeze the
rotor instead of the wheel, transmitting the force using hydraulics
instead of through a cable. The resulting friction between the pads
and the disc then slows the disc down.

Looking at it in a dork’s viewpoint, when a car moves, it
generates a form of energy named kinetic energy. The brake system
of a car changes this energy to heat by utilizing friction. It is
because of this friction that most car disc brakes are vented.

Vents

A vented disc brake has a series of vanes that pumps air through
the disc to grant cooling. Found between the two sides of the disc,
this eliminates the heat made by the friction between the pads and
the rotors.

An extraordinary feature of the single-piston floating-caliper
disc brake is that it is self-centering and self-adjusting. The
caliper slides from side to side but each time the brakes are used
it has the ability to shift to the center. One must note that there
are also no springs that pull the pads away from the disc making
them always stay in light contact with the rotor. This guarantees
that much application of pressure in the brake pedals are not
required to engage the brake pads. Because the pistons in the
brakes are much bigger in diameter as compared with the ones in the
master cylinder, this is a very important aspect to consider. In
case of rotor wobble where there is an extra space between the
rotors and the pads, it will take several applications of the brake
pedals before enough fluid is pumped into the brake cylinders to
engage the retracted pads.

Self-adjusting disc brake

It does not follow that more pistons will actually result to a
better disc brake. The four-piston fixed- caliper design or the
dual piston fixed brake designs employed by older car models have
been virtually phased out because of a single-piston’s reliability
and affordability.

Emergency Brakes

In terms of emergency brakes, they are distinguished from the
normal disc brakes on all four wheels by the mechanism by which it
is triggered incase of total primary brake failure. The use of
cable remains one of the prevalent choices in this type of brake.
This type of brakes can usually be seen as a separate drum brake
integrated into the hub of the rear wheels.

Other prevalent options include cars which have a lever that
turns a screw, or actuates a cam. This then presses the piston of
the disc brake.

Servicing Your Brakes

Brake pads should be examined every now and then to see if they
need replacement. Usually, a piece of metal, named wear indicator
helps the motorist to know when it is time for him to change pads.
When there is already noticeable wear on the pads, the tiny metal
comes in contact with the discs, resulting in a squealing
sound.

The inspection opening on the caliper also allows one to see
just how much friction material still is left on the pads.

What to look for during inspection:

Deep scores worn into the brake rotors. This is especially a
result of a worn out brake pad left for too long on a car.

Warping. The brake rotors may also lose their flatness causing
it to shudder or vibrate during stopping.

Both of these problems may be solved by a simple refinishing
wherein some material is removed from the motor to even its surface
out. Though this is an undemanding option to take, this should be
done only when the rotors are really badly deformed or scored.
Doing so more often might decrease the life of your brake rotors,
thinning them every time a material is removed. One should know the
acceptable thickness for every rotor as found in its shop manual to
know when a replacement is needed.

Knowing these auto parts and how they work will greatly save a
car owner a lot of money and give one the piece of mind that his
ride will not bail out on him unexpectedly.

7 Things to Look for in a New Desktop PC
If you’re not a techie, buying hardware can be an arduous task. Use
these tips for buying a machine that best suits your business
needs. Does your old clunker make wheezing noises when it boots up?
Has your typing become faster than your computer? Tired of looking
at the Windows hourglass for minutes at a time? Perhaps it’s time
for a new desktop computer. Computer manufacturers continue to
struggle with weak business. Meanwhile, component manufacturers are
making their goods smaller, faster and cheaper. The upshot: You can
get a good deal on a powerful machine. I can’t recommend individual
machines. They might not be on the market when you read this.
Instead, let’s go through the components that make up computers.
Use these to help decide what you need. Following are seven points
to ponder before you buy: The Microprocessor
This is one of the most expensive parts. Microprocessors for
Windows machines are made by Intel and AMD. Those for Apples are
made by IBM and Motorola. So here’s my first piece of advice: Don’t
worry so much about who makes the chip. All four are good. For
Windows machines, you have a choice of the AMD Athlon XP, the Intel
Pentium 4 and the Intel Celeron, an economy chip. The Pentium 4 and
Athlon XP are upper end chips. The fastest Pentium 4 runs at 3.2
Gigahertz — a very fast speed indeed. It’s also very expensive. The
comparable AMD chip, the 3200+, is slightly less expensive. You may
need these fire-breathers if you’re doing lots of video editing.
Ditto if you’re working with computer-aided design or playing
advanced games. Otherwise, look to chips running at 2.4 GHz to 2.6
GHz (or 2400+ to 2600+, in AMD-powered machines). They’re cheaper,
and they perform nearly as well as the top-end chips. Intel’s
Celeron is a budget chip. If you do typical office duties and surf
the web, you probably wouldn’t notice the difference between a
top-end Celeron and a Pentium 4 running at the same speed. But you
could save some money. Apple and AMD chips run at lower speeds than
those made by Intel. AMD uses the + symbol, as in 3200+, to imply
that its chips are faster than comparable Intel microprocessors,
despite running more slowly. Indeed, tests often show that to be
the case. Apple claims that its top-end machines are faster than
those running Windows. That is a matter of controversy; there are
websites devoted to debunking Apple’s claims. Apple’s chips run at
much lower speeds, so they are difficult to compare directly. If
you’re interested in an Apple computer, test one at a store, then
test a Windows machine. Apple computers are more expensive than
comparable Windows machines. Both Apple and AMD have new 64-bit
microprocessors. They can crunch twice as much data as 32-bit
chips. But there are virtually no programs that take advantage of
this power now. That will change in the future, but these expensive
new chips don’t offer as much value today. The Operating System
Windows XP and Apple’s OS X are also difficult to compare. But
there’s really no need. Both are stable and fast. You’ll probably
be satisfied with either.

Windows XP comes in two flavours: Home and Professional. Windows
XP Professional has all of Home’s goodies, plus some other stuff.
Most of it is networking capability. Professional costs more. But
it does have some nice features. One is Remote Desktop, which
allows you to access one computer from another. For instance, you
could sign onto your office computer from home and check your
email. It also allows you to encrypt files and folders. Random
Access Memory You will need a minimum of 256 megabytes of memory.
If you can afford it, get 512 MB. I’d go to one gigabyte for
demanding applications, such as video editing. Memory is relatively
inexpensive, so don’t skimp. Hard Drives are Big and Bigger If you
do a lot of video work, you need a big hard drive. Video files are
huge. Hard drives at 200 to 250 GB are common and relatively
inexpensive. Otherwise, the gargantuan drives common today far
outstrip the customer’s needs. Even low-end machines today have 40
GB hard drives. You are unlikely to fill that. I recommend putting
your extra money elsewhere. The Video System The video system sends
the picture to the monitor. Many inexpensive computers use the
main-system RAM to run video. The video processor is built into the
motherboard (the main circuit board). This works, but is less
desirable.

Better computers have a separate circuit board, called a video
card. This includes the video processor and memory. For video
cards, 64 MB of RAM is pretty standard. That’s more than enough for
day-to-day computing. However, if you are doing video work or
playing advanced games, get a card with 128 MB of RAM. Truly
hardcore game players can get cards with 256 MB of RAM. The Monitor
Do you need to buy a monitor? Most people get one without thinking.
But monitors don’t necessarily come with computers. Often, you can
lower your cost by refusing the monitor. If you’re satisfied with
your current monitor, it should work OK with your new computer.
There are two basic types of monitor, as mentioned above: CRTs and
flat-panels. CRTs are the cheaper option: I would not buy a CRT
monitor that was less than 17 inches. Keep in mind that that
measurement is diagonal, and includes a portion of the screen
hidden behind the bezel. A 17-inch CRT will have a visible screen
size of 16 inches or less. Flat-panel monitors are far more
expensive than CRTs. They come in two flavours: analogue and
digital. Digital signals are produced natively by the computer;
they do not need to be converted. Analogue signals are converted
from digital by the video system. Some consider digital signals
clearer. CDs and DVDs All computers come with optical drives —
either CD or DVD. All but the very cheapest have burners.
(“Burning” is the process of making a CD or DVD.) CD-RW burners are
still the most common, but DVD burners are available on more
expensive machines. DVD is wildly popular, but remains troubled by
incompatible standards. You’re likely to see DVD+R/RW or DVD-R/RW
on a computer. They are incompatible, but most players can handle R
discs made on either. R means a disc can be recorded once. RW
stands for rewriteable, meaning a disc can be recorded numerous
times. DVD burners can also make CDs.

I recommend that you purchase a CD-RW, at least.

One final point: I hear from so many people wondering when the
best time to buy a computer is. There will always be something
faster, better, hotter, cooler, bigger or smaller coming. If you
need a computer, buy one now.