The Lions Den

Anniversary posting!

2008-10-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

Viewed the blog today and realised it's exactly 1 year since my last posting. Guess it's high time to update it so here goes :

Lots of things happened since 29/10/2007.

Major events :

1. Shearn's grown taller than his father (just about!).

2. Shearn's taking up guitar and is actually very good at it.

3. Shearn has a shoulder problem which means he cannot play tennis.

4. Shawn got good grades for SPM.

5. Due to 4. above, Shawn got a scholarship and is studying in Selangor.

6. Shawn's mum experienced separation anxiety when he left home.

7. We went for an exhibition tennis match between Nadal and Gasquet in Shah Alam.

8. We went for the F1 race in Sepang for the 1st time courtesy of ING and Honda.

9. We went for the football match between Malaysia and Chelsea in Shah Alam.

10. We went to Brisbane and had a wonderful time with Ryan's family.

But, the most important thing is we stayed healthy, happy and in harmony with each other.

Cheers till the next posting!

Sexual Harassment

2007-10-29T00:18:00.000-07:00

This is very serious especially in a close working environment like estates where your boss is king and where you live in the same surrounding as your boss. Abuse of female workers is always likely, and has happened for many years without any case being brought forward as there is never any witness. A case without witness is very hard to win unless many abused victims come forward with similar stories.

Anyway, I will be attending a course on Inquiry into Sexual Harassment and hopefully will be more equipped to help victims of sexual abuse once I get back and start reaching out to all female workers at the estates where I work. They must know that such things are not condoned unless of course they are willing.

Thought for the day

2007-10-26T17:51:00.001-07:00

Misc Jokes and Interesting Tit-bits

2007-10-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

Jokes :

Semi Value : Saya syukur angkasawan kita setelah meninggal dunia 10 hari, kini selamat dikebumi.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

Sayings :

On a tombstone : As you pass by, remember that as you are so, once was I and as I am, you soon will be.

Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you.

7 Foods Every Woman (applies to men too) Must Eat (source : YAHOO)

2007-10-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

Here's good-food news:

The more you munch on healthy eats, the less you need to worry about Friday night's fat burger and fries.

Who says? Harvard. Its medical school has found that women who routinely nibble nutritiously slash their risk of dying from the usual culprits, including heart disease and cancer.

To up your odds of living a long and healthy life--despite occasional blow-outs at TGIF--make sure you regularly include these 7 nutritional powerhouses in your diet. "They're the cream of the healthy-foods crop," says Elizabeth Somer, RD author of 'Age-Proof Your Body'.

1. BERRIES

Why: Ounce for ounce, berries have more protective plant antioxidants than almost any other food. "These compounds not only lower your disease risks, they help prevent memory loss," says Somer.

How Much: Aim for a cup of berries--any berries, fresh or frozen--at least three times a week (berry researchers say eat a cup daily). Since berries are high in fill-you-up fiber, they may also help curb weight gain.

How:
§ Toss them in salads
§ Snack on them one by one, like healthy potato chips
§ Add them to yogurt, cereal, and smoothies
§ Stir them into anything you bake

2. SALMON

Why: Sure salmon is a prime source of omega-3s, the healthy fats that fend off heart disease and maybe more, but are you aware that a mere 3 ounces of the fish serves up 170% of your daily vitamin B12 and more than 80% of your D

How Much: Aim for two servings a week (and if one's tuna, that's okay).

How:
§ Broil, bake or poach it with dill
§ Toss it into pasta dishes and salads

If you're vegetarian or just not a fish-eater, get the key omega-3 fat called DHA in:
§ Silk Plus Omega-3 DHA Soymilk
§ Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA
§ Oh Mama Nutrition Bars
§ Gold Circle Farm Eggs
§ Rachel's Wickedly Delicious Yogurts

3. LEAFY GREENS

Why: It's almost impossible to meet your nutritional needs without eating dark leafy greens, from spinach and romaine to collard greens and chard. They're huge sources of fiber; vitamins C and K; folic acid (a B vitamin that guards the heart and memory and fights birth defects); lutein, a vision protector; and four essential minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium.

How Much: Two servings a day, and the darker, the better.

How:
§ Add arugula to your sandwich
§ Layer chard into lasagna
§ Fold spinach into omelets
§ Add any green to stir-fries, pasta dishes and soup

4. WHOLE GRAINS

Why: They have up to 96 percent more fiber, magnesium, zinc, chromium and vitamins E and B6 than refined grains. This nutritional powerhouse helps prevent the same health problems that refined grains help cause: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and even obesity.

How Much: Ideally, all of the six daily grain servings you need should be whole, unrefined grains, but aim for at least three.

How:
§ Start your day with oatmeal or whole-grain cold cereal
§ Use 100% whole-wheat bread for toast and sandwiches
§ Switch to whole-wheat couscous and pasta
§ Opt for brown rice (instant is fine), whole-grain pretzels, even whole-wheat tortillas

5. NUTS

Why: They're excellent sources of protein, magnesium, B vitamins and E--trusty fighters in the war against heart disease and cancer. Yes, nuts are high in fat calories, but their fat is the heart-healthy kind. Replace junky snacks with them and you won't gain an ounce.

How Much: Up to five small fistfuls a week (roughly 1/4 cup or about 15-20 almonds, cashews, walnuts or pecans).

How:
§ Sprinkle plain or toasted nuts on salads instead of croutons
§ Mix them into cooked cous cous and brown rice
§ Stir them into cereal and yogurt
§ Use them to garnish a stir-fry just before serving

6. GOLDEN VEGGIES

Why: Just one serving of fiber-filled, deep-yellow-orange vegetables supplies five times the beta carotene you need daily to lower your cancer risk, defend against colds and other infections, and protect your skin from sun damage. The potassium in these veggies also keeps your heartbeat in sync and your blood pressure down.

How Much: Aim for two half-cup servings a day, the equivalent of one sweet potato, 12 canned apricot halves or a cup of butternut squash or carrots.

How: Try this sweet potato quickie from Somer's The Food & Mood Cookbook:
Cajun Sweet Potatoes
a. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
b. Cut sweet potatoes into 1-inch thick slices and toss with olive oil, Cajun seasoning and freshly ground pepper.
c. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly brown and cooked through, but still slightly crunchy.

7. YOGURT

Why: Low- or no-fat plain yogurt is a terrific source of B vitamins, protein, calcium and --if it has active cultures--the healthy bacteria known as probiotics, which crowd out disease-causing germs.

How Much: Four or more cups a week, if this is your main dairy source.

How: Cut back on sugar and calories by choosing plain yogurt and adding fruit, especially berries, and some granola. Or be more inventive:
§ Mix a dash of vanilla and chopped mint into yogurt and dollop on fruit
§ Use yogurt instead of sour cream for dips, sauces and salad dressings
§ Top baked potatoes with yogurt and chives
§ Thicken sauces and make soups "creamy" with yogurt

The payback part? As one of the Harvard researchers would likely tell you, eating a diverse diet that is low in calories and high in nutrients can make you look as much as 4 years younger.

Cool animated gif names

2007-10-24T21:24:00.000-07:00

Tweety and Sylvester

2007-10-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

TWEETY AND SYLVESTER Watch this until Sylvester catches Tweety. (wait for it. It's worth it)... After Tweety is caught, scroll down...

This was an idiot test.

How long did you watch?

0-2 seconds - there's hope for you

2-5 seconds - having a bad day?

5-10 seconds - are you maybe just a slow reader?

10-20 seconds - remedial classes are nothing to be ashamed of

20-30 seconds - it is recommended that you don't breed.

30 sec-1 min - you probably can't read this anyway. So why bother?

1-2 min - the equivalent of the average house plant

2-5 min - Good afternoon Jessica Simpson

5 min -1 hr - Dead people score in this range

1hr plus - Congratulations. You have a negative IQ. To find out what your prize is,

watch bugs until he finishes his carrot...

HEY, DON'T BLAME ME...YOU KNOW SYLVESTER NEVER CATCHES TWEETY.

Hello everyone

2007-10-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Our very own blog spot for the Selvasingam family is up and running for us to communicate with one another and to share jokes and pics.

This is the Selvasingam family. Selva means 'lion' in Tamil, hence the blog's title.

Picture taken in Jaipur, India. One year and one day today.

Left to right :
Shearn Andrew Selvasingam
Shawn Paul Selvasingam
Shirley Angelina Selvasingam
Noel Selvasingam