Live your life to the fullest,enjoy and reign in success~

I'm Glorious,I'm Victorious

2010-07-02T01:38:00.000-07:00

What a fortuitous!

Such a grueling week,have been working on the chemistry experiment since last week!We our group attempting 2 experiment~Elephant Toothpaste & Fireball To tell the truth,our group really didn't endeavored much for this science week~However our travail didn't go in vain, instead we won the first ! Our experiment maybe seems fun and amusing but it requires much senior supervision! Especially the so called Elephant Toothpaste might be a bit vex but the reaction or the result are much more reassuring! Ingredients? Simple, just put some hydrogen peroxide into a large cylinder then hand wash(any type),third coloring(your choice),finally add some warm water to another test tube filled with potassium chromate,quiver it and dump it to the large cylinder.POP!!The reaction is~~~~

Doesn't it Look Like a elephant trunk~xD. This picture is much more smaller than mine~Forgive me for not uploading mine,coz it's not the right time to take photo! This picture it uses conical flask but I used a much larger type of cylinder but beware of the toxic gas released, they are poisonous and the pungent smell are extremely revolting plus aren't good for your physical brain.If you are attempting this experiment at home please for heaven sake wear the glove and mask if possible~

Secondly-Fireball~ I say that this part of experiment is the most radical and highlighted among those nosy students perhaps everyone! The judges are quite impressed with it,on the other hand fear of getting burn~They even have a tentative mind whether we gonna make it through or success during the juggling process! The Ingredients? Simple,first prepare some cotton ball,you either can tied it with a thread or just leave it as a ball shape.Secondly,sprinkle some lighter fuel,naptha kerosene or other similar petroleum fuel that is suitable for making fireball.Squeeze the excess fuel if overfilled! Last,light the fire ball with a lighter or bunsen burner in case you're in lab.Tahda~~~

Just look at those flame,sure wanna touch it right! But you must follow all the procedure mention above then you're safe to handle it.One thing,you must juggle the fireball constantly,to prevent the fireball get burn due to overburn and also to ensure the heat flow of the flame be stable! Take heed, if the fireball cotton darken or overheat pls use another piece of cotton~And that's all about the experiment~~~

Sounds pretty hard to believe that our chemistry team would won for just merely two simple experiment.Anyway,it's not my own effort,it's teamwork,it's God whom astonish the judges~I shine my class!hehe

Thank you Wei Ming for the contribution, Jia Wei for the helping hand and Jia Ling for the backup! After the verdict,we are on the verge to relinquish because of Jia Wei assurance to win we our team spontaneously cast out the hope of relinquish.The end result baffle us deeply especially me the one who are cynical minded.

Indeed when there's accord,there will be hope~

Never judge anything by your own acuity but aspire the things that are capricious!

To much too say but leave it to another day~It's time to hit the hay~

如果我变成回忆 Tank

2010-06-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

This song touched my forlorn heart~

累了照惯例努力清醒着
也照惯例想你了
好怕一放心睡了
心跳在梦中不听话的就停止了

听着呼吸像浪潮拍动着
越没力越让我忐忑
我还能珍惜什么
如果我连自己的脉搏都难掌握

如果我变成回忆退出了这场生命
留下你错愕哭泣我冰冷身体拥抱不了你
想到我让深爱的你人海孤独旅行
我会恨自己如此狠心

如果我变成回忆终于没那么幸运
没机会白着头发蹒跚牵着你看晚霞落尽
漫长时光总有一天你会伤心痊愈
若有人可以让他陪你我不怪你

快乐什么时候会结束呢
哪一刻是最后一刻
想把你紧紧抱着
可知你是我生命中的最舍不得

如果我变成回忆最怕我太不争气
顽固地赖在空气霸占你心里每一寸缝隙
连累依然爱我的你痛苦承受失去
这样不公平请你尽力把我忘记

A New Message For the New year~ 2010

2009-12-31T09:02:00.000-08:00

Bill Vaughn once states ‘Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to” and “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves”, an unknown author quotes some harsh truths about New Year in the line “Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.”

As on this day a New Year is born, Charles Lamb quotes “New Year's Day is every man's birthday” and John Seldon says “Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty”. Other such popular New Year quotes include:

“Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us”

Quoted by Hal Borland

“The merry year is born
Like the bright berry from the naked thorn.”

Quoted by Hartley Coleridge

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

Quoted by Oprah Winfrey

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

Quoted by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

The most appealing

“Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.”

Quoted by Henry Ward Beecher

Hong Kong Style Egg Tarts

2009-11-30T00:47:00.000-08:00

Some other egg tarts hangus already,so I didn't take any photo of it~Btw,Enticing right!
These whole week makes me feel very fatigued and monotonous......Nothing seems to be delighting and inspiring, so I just get some recipes on pastry and start working on it. It's very easy to make Chinese style Egg Tart, you can put the leftovers in the refrigerator for later use for up to 3 days. You can reduce the sugar used on the crust and the filling to fit your taste, this recipe is lightly sweetened. If you want for more sweet taste, you can add more sugar to the filling. Hope you enjoy this delectable pastry~Pls Try it at home if you have an oven!

Ingredients

· 1 cup confectioners' sugar

· 3 cups all-purpose flour

· 1 cup butter

· 1 egg, beaten

· 1 dash vanilla extract

· 2/3 cup white sugar

· 1 1/2 cups water

· 9 eggs, beaten

· 1 dash vanilla extract

· 1 cup evaporated milk

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar and flour. Mix in butter with a fork until it is in small crumbs. Stir in the egg and vanilla until the mixture forms a dough. The texture should be slightly moist. Add more butter if it is too dry, or more flour, if the dough seems greasy. Shape dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and press the balls into tart molds so that it covers the bottom, and goes up higher than the sides. Use 2 fingers to shape the edge into an A shape.

2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Combine the white sugar and water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Strain the eggs through a sieve, and whisk into the sugar mixture. Stir in the evaporated milk and vanilla. Strain the filling through a sieve, and fill the tart shells.

3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown, and the filling is puffed up a little bit.

TAKENOTE

Whole milk will work as a substitute for evaporated milk.

青春之路

2009-11-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

我的青春我的主宰，走错了路也不要责怪自己，因为都是自己选择的路。当容颜尽老，一无所事的时候，想起当初为什么不好好学习。宁愿笑着流眼泪，也不哭这说后悔，自己的路跪这也要把它走玩。就要看你有毅力没？你战胜不了自己，就是失败者。惟有战胜自己的人才是成功者。有很多条铺向罗马的路，就要看你怎么选择。世上一开始没有路，走多了便成了路。青春的字典无“困难”之字，青春的开头无“障碍”之语。相信自己我能行。认我们有有限的青春去做无限的奋斗吧！只要你付出就会有收获，无付出，有收获吗？我们的青春是美妙的，无所视事的对待青春就是犯罪的。若你的青春朝气消失，你的人生就没有了意义，那你又何必来的哦啊这个充满生机的世界呢?不要放弃，坚持到底，战胜使你头疼的恶魔，你就战胜了你自己，你就会获得成功。
　　
　　看到这篇文章的读者，去思想你的未来，你对得起你自己吗？不要在意别人说什么什么。笑笑没什么大不了，相信明天或更好。世界因你们而更精彩。加油！！！！　　

Tears and pain-眼泪和痛苦

2009-11-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

Crying, tired, do not know how to reconcile the minds of their own has always been difficult, if my soul want to say it out, but I do not know who to tell, only meditation and drink their own, perhaps drunk, crying, tired of crying when "Time" is my most comfortable when no one knew how you would like to, no one knows the pain in your heart, no one to take the pain in your heart,
    Sometimes, I tell myself, to understand the hearts of their own and do not want you, but I can not do, time is the best medicine, but for such a long period of time, the heart still can not forget you, I do not know why I would have thought this way, sometimes I really want to clear their own considerations, to other cities, but I fear, I fear, I'm afraid of loneliness, fear of loneliness,
    I know I should not bother you, I will not bother you, you do not belong to me, I do not adhere to, although I feel uncomfortable, like you, I know you will not bother me do not fall apart,
     Perhaps only to forget myself, to make themselves happier, more well-being. . . . . . . .

How to Be More Spontaneous

2009-11-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

Learn to be More "Spontaneous" not to Be "Desperate"~

The most beautiful thing you can experience is the mysterious," as said by Albert Einstein. Now while I'm not Albert Einstein's biggest fan, the quote above is something that both he and I agree on.
The mysterious is beautiful. The unknown, unplanned, and spontaneous are beautiful. It is beautiful in that you can not control every detail of what will happen. You must simply go along with it. This produces a childlike wonder within us that is extraordinary.

Have you ever noticed how children are willing to try anything at a moments notice? The child within you wants to be spontaneous and adventurous. Sadly, spontaneity is one of the easiest things to kill within ourselves.
Daily routine takes over spontaneity. It begins to make a quiet exit, day by day without any notice. Before you know it you are rejecting anything that is unfamiliar, out of the ordinary, and mysterious.

Perhaps you are constantly reminding yourself to be careful or always trying to be prepared. There is nothing wrong with a little preparation, but if you are always planning out everything in your life, and obsessed with orderliness you have forgotten how to be spontaneous.
As Albert Einstein said, "The most beautiful thing you can experience is the mysterious" So go ahead be spontaneous.

Go to this website and find more~

Website: https://www.triond.com/users/Adelaide
Adelaide Kwaning is a goal coach and ghost writer
On her website, you'll find great articles to save you time and money. Visit today and find out how she's helping so many people live happier, healthier, richer lives.

Halloween description~

2009-11-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

Halloween (also spelled Hallowe'en)^[1]is an annual festival celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints, but is today largely a secular celebration.

Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving "jack-o'-lanterns", ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, pranks, telling scary stories, and watchinghorror films.

History

The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".

The celebration has some elements of a "festival of the dead". The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks.

Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces.

Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. "Bonfires" played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames.

Another common practise was "divination", which often involved the use of food and drink.
The name 'Halloween' and some of its present-day traditions derive from the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval eras in Britain.

Well "halloween" is also a manifestation of modern "antichrist"~There are many more celebration and events held throughout Europe... As the believer of Christ i would reject that kind of "superstitions" celebration, but to the non-believer or those hiddens would just make it a fun celebration.....
Undoubtly i can say that the celebration of Halloween is just a trepidation bounce that oppress someone's spirit and make fear that the existence of the evil spirit are everywhere. At the above just some brief information about Halloween, try to cut it short.....Just don't know why i want to show out my point of prospect, but sometimes it just stir's my interest in what I seldom touch on ~

Teknik menulis karangan bertahap A1

2009-10-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Salam sejahtera diucapkan kepada, Yang dihormati Tuan Pengerusi Majlis, panel hakim yang arif lagi bijaksana, guru-guru dan rakan-rakan yang dihormati. Pada hari yang mulia ini, saya, ingin menyampaikan sebuah syarahan yang bertajuk "Teknik menulis karangan bertahap A1". (Teknik memulakan syarahan berpiawai ISO 9003. Hafalkan teknik ini)

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan (teknik berinteraksi dengan tuan-tuan dan puan-puan)

Saya masih ingat bahawa tidak lebih daripada 4 tahun dahulu, saya tidak mempunyai sebarang masalah menulis karangan beribu-ribu perkataan panjang (ini dipanggil teknik hiperbola). Sekarang, setiap ayat yang ditulis oleh saya merupakan satu kesakitan di kawasan punggungku (ini dipanggil teknik penterjemahaan kasar). Soalannya, bagaimanakah tahap penguasaan bahasa Melayu saya boleh merosot dengan begitu mendadak dalam tempoh 4 tahun sahaja? (Ini dipanggil teknik menanyakan soalan dalam karangan. Teknik ini amat digalakkan oleh guru-guru bahasa Melayu kerana kebolehan seseorang penulis karangan berkorelasi langsung dengan bilangan soalan yang berjaya ditanyakan olehnya dalam rencana tersebut. Fakta ini disokong oleh kajian yang dijalankan oleh Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka yang menunjukkan bahawa 98% karangan yang bermutu tinggi mempunyai 87% lebih banyak soalan berbanding dengan karangan bermutu rendah. Teknik baru in pula dipanggil teknik menyelit statistik dalam karangan. Kebenaran statistik tersebut adalah tidak penting)

Adolf Hitler pernah berkata: "Ich mag Tiergeschlecht!" (Teknik menggunakan bahasa asing dan mamaparkan nasihat tokoh sejarah digabungkan untuk membentuk teknik memaparkan nasihat tokoh sejarah dalam bahasa asing. Teknik ini merupakan teknik bertahap dua yang hanya sesuai digunakkan oleh penulis yang mempunyai pengalaman menulis rencana sampah tidak kurang daripada 5 tahun dan tidak melebihi 75 tahun, sebagaimana diarahkan oleh Seksyen 300(c), Akta Rencana Sampah (1957)). Kita patut menyahut seruan tokoh gagah tersebut untuk memajukan bangsa kita dari segi fizikal dan rohani demi kesejahteraan seluruh dunia (Teknik menulis ayat bermakna kosong yang sedap dibaca)

Bak kata pepatah Hong Kong, "Emak kamu begitu gemuk, apabila dia lompat kegembiraan, dia tersangkut pula". Di sini, teknik memasukkan peribahasa dan lain-lain perkataan hikmat telah disuntik dengan budaya luar negara untuk menunjukkan keberkesanan kesan globalisasi (Satu lagi contoh teknik ayat yang sememangnya tidak masuk akal tetapi sedap didengar)

Kesimpulannya (ini bermaksud karangan telah sampai ke kesimpulan), Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam. Allahuakbar! (Teknik menyamar sebagai seorang orang Melayu. Ini merupakan teknik sulit yang menjaminkan A1 dalam sebarang peperiksaan awam di Malaysia)

Sekian, terima kasih.

Toy poodle info

2009-08-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Poodle is a breed of dog, and is regarded as one of the mostintelligent breeds of dog.^[1] The poodle breed is found in small, medium, and large sizes, and in many coat colors. Originally bred as a type of water dog, the poodle is skillful in many dog sports, including agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding. Poodles are elegant in the conformation ring, having taken top honors in many shows, including Best in Show (BIS) at the Westminster Kennel Club show in 2002 and BIS at the World Dog Show in 2007.
Poodles are retrievers or gun dogs, and can still be seen in that role. The breed's English name has German origins.^[2] (The name poodle comes from the German word short for pudelhund or, reflecting the breed's development from a water dog; the word pudel is related to the English word puddle.) However, most sources concur that the French are responsible for developing the modern breed into its current form, and developing the different sizes. The French name for the poodle iscaniche, referring to ducks and the poodle's water dog origins.

Most poodles have a dense, curly, low-shedding coat that requires regular grooming. Since poodles do not have the plush double coat of many breeds, their fur is often referred to as "hair", a term usually reserved for humans.^{[note 1]} Most poodles are solid-colored, and many registries only allow solid colors in conformation shows. "Parti" (short for parti-colored) poodles have large patches of colors different from the main body color. "Phantom" poodles have the color pattern of a black-and-tan dog, although not necessarily black and tan. Solid-colored poodles may either "hold" their color (i.e., stay more or less the same throughout their lives) or "fade" or "clear" to a lighter shade. Usually the ears and the thicker guard hairs hold more of the original color than other hair.

The tail is usually docked in the US, less often in Europe, and tail docking is now illegal in the UK^[3] and Australia^[4]. These days, tails, when docked, are left much longer than in times past. "Bunny like tails" (very short-docked tails) are now rarely seen except amongpuppy mill pet shop dogs. Poodles have drop ears, which are never cropped.

[edit]Poodle sizes

Unlike many breeds, poodles come in a variety of sizes, distinguished by adult shoulder (withers) height. The exact height cutoffs among the varieties vary slightly from country to country. Non-Fédération Cynologique Internationale kennel clubs generally recognize three sizes, standard, miniature, and toy, sometimes as sizes of the same breed, and sometimes as separate breeds. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes four sizes of one breed, standard, medium, miniature, and toy.^[5] Only the Fédération Cynologique Internationale describes a maximum size for standard poodles.

The terms royal standard, teacup, and tiny teacup are marketing names, and are not recognized by any major kennel club.

Comparison of Poodle sizes defined by major kennel clubs^[6]SizeFédération Cynologique InternationaleThe Kennel Club (UK)Australian National Kennel CouncilNew Zealand Kennel ClubCanadian Kennel ClubAmerican Kennel ClubUnited Kennel ClubStandard, Grandeover 45cm to 60cm (+2 cm) (18ins to 24ins)over 38 cm (15 ins)38 cm (15 ins) and over38 cm (15 ins) and overover 15 inches (38cm)over 15 inches (38cm)over 15 inches (38cm)Medium, Moyenover 35cm to 45cm (14ins to 18ins)not usednot usednot usednot usednot usednot usedMiniature - Dwarf, Nainover 28cm to 35cm (11ins to 14ins)28cm to 38cm (11ins to 15ins)28cm to under 38cm (11ins to 15ins)28cm to under 38cm (11ins to 15ins)over 10ins to under 15ins (25.4cm to 38cm)over 10ins to 15ins (25.4cm to 38cm)over 10ins up to 15ins (25.4cm to 38cm)Toy24 cm to 28 cm (9.4ins to 11ins)under 28 cm (11 ins)under 28 cm (11 ins)under 28 cm (11 ins)under 10ins (25.4cm)under 10ins (25.4cm)under 10ins (25.4cm)

Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding With Butterscotch Sauce

2009-08-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

Delicious with vanilla bean, or use ground cinnamon or nutmeg to flavor this pudding, and add raisins if you like them. The butterscotch sauce is easy and delicious, but you can use your own favorite dessert sauce or fruit topping.

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

2 whole vanilla beans
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 cups half-and-half or milk
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 to 5 cups torn French bread, with or without crust, about 6 ounces
Butterscotch Sauce
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup boiling water
dash salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Bread Pudding:
Preheat oven to 350°. Melt butter in an 8-inch square baking dish, or other 2-quart baking dish; set aside. With a sharp knife or scissors, carefully split vanilla beans. Scrape inside pulp onto a plate, then mix the scrapings with the 1 cup sugar. In large mixing bowl combine the vanilla sugar, eggs, and vanilla; beat slowly just to blend. Blend in milk. Add the torn bread and stir gently to combine. Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake at 350° for40 to 50 minutes, or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool for about 30 minutes before serving.

Butterscotch Sauce:
Combine brown sugar with flour in saucepan; blend well. Stir in boiling water and salt. Bring to a simmer and continue to simmer, stirring, for about 7 minutes. If too thick add a little more water. Remove from heat; stir in butter, cream, and vanilla.

For a pretty presentation, put the butterscotch sauce in a sauce squeeze bottle (or an old-fashioned diner-style condiment squeeze bottle) and make a decorative criss-crossing on a dessert plate then set bread pudding on the plate and top with more sauce.

Traditional Kim Chi Recipe

2009-08-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
Napa cabbage - approximately one pound
4 cups of cold water
3 tablespoons of sea salt
1 tablespoon of fresh garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh green onions (scallions), finely chopped
1 teaspoon of dried red chili pepper flakes (more if you like things spicy, less if you don't)
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of sugar
Directions:
Separate and wash cabbage leaves. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sea or kosher salt evenly on cabbage leaves. Place salted cabbage leaves in a large bowl, add 4 cups of cold water, cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator overnight. Be sure that water covers all cabbage leaves - place a plate or other heavy object on top of leaves to ensure that they stay covered with water.
The next day, pour off water and thoroughly rinse cabbage leaves. You can shake them gently in the sink to remove excess moisture.
Place cabbage leaves back into large bowl and add garlic, green onion or scallions, ginger, dried red chili flakes, sugar, and 1 tablespoon of salt. Use your hands to rub seasoning evenly into all cabbage leaves. Be sure to use gloves to do this, otherwise, your hands will burn from the chili flakes. If you are pressed for time, mix seasoning ingredients with about a cup of warm water before adding them to cabbage to allow for easier distribution on cabbage leaves.
Transfer seasoned cabbage leaves into a large glass bottle. Be sure to use firm pressure with your hands to push down on cabbage leaves as they stack up inside the bottle. Transfer any liquid that accumulated during the mixing process into the bottle as well - it will become kim chi brine. Some liquid will also come out of the cabbage leaves as you press down on them as they are stacked in the bottle.
Leave about 2 inches of room at the top of the bottle before capping it tightly with a lid. Allow bottle of kim chi to sit at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Your kim chi is now ready to eat. Use scissors or a knife and cutting board to cut cabbage leaves into 2 inch pieces before serving as a side dish to a bowl of rice, soup, and perhaps a piece of fish. Refrigerate remaining kim chi and take out small portions right before meals. The refrigerated kim chi will continue to ferment slowly in the refrigerator over time, becoming more sour and flavorful with each passing day. So long as you use clean utensils to take out small portions, it will keep for up to a month in your refrigerator.

Kim chi, Korean miso soup, a bowl of rice, and some dried anchovies are a typical Korean meal - high in omega-3 fatty acids and friendly bacteria.

Ten ways to live longer

2009-08-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Woody Allen once said, "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work...I want to achieve it through not dying." Much to humanity's collective dismay, there is no way to defy death. But you can try.

Many people think they know what's good for them. Who wouldn't like to think that being rich, sleeping with supermodels and eating caviar every day would increase their longevity. After all, Hugh Hefner looks pretty good for a man of 78. But this is more wishful thinking than practical science.

If you really want to live longer, then you can start with your attitude. Your way of thinking can not only impact the quality of your life, but also how long you actually live. In 2002, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by 50 percent compared with those who leaned more towards pessimism"The exact mechanism of how personality acts as a risk factor for early death or poorer health is unclear," says Dr. Toshihiko Maruta, the main investigator in the study. Most likely, it has to do with the fact that pessimists have an increased chance for future problems with their physical health, career achievements and emotional stress--particularly depression. "Yet another possibility could be more directly biological, like changes in the immune system," Maruta adds.

Besides optimism, are there other personality traits that can help us live longer, healthier lives? According to Dr. Howard Friedman, a psychologist at the University of California at Riverside, conscientiousness is related to mortality in a significant way. The Terman Life-Cycle Study, which ran from 1921 to 1991, examined an array of factors like personality, habits, social relations, education, physical activities and cause of death.

"Those low on adult conscientiousness died sooner," Friedman concluded. Conscientiousness does not mean looking both ways before crossing the street; it means looking both ways when the light turns green so you don't accidentally run down some slow-moving pedestrian. Beyond that, a conscientious person's long-living qualities probably have to do with the fact that they are predisposed to constructively reacting to emotional and social situations, and are more likely to create work and living environments that promote good health.

Besides looking at the world through rosier-colored glasses, there are also more traditional practices that the aspiring centenarian can take. People should stop smoking, eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. While these may sound "nannyish," they are factors that cannot be overlooked. This might not sound like much fun, but it's a lot more fun than dying.

Research shows that obesity, for example, contributes to a slew of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and various cancers. So powerful are certain lifestyle choices that recommended diets along with maintenance of physical activity and appropriate body mass can, over time, reduce the incidence of cancer by 30 percent to 40 percent, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Animal lovers will be happy to know that having a pet can add years to your life, as well. One of the first studies in this arena, which appeared in "Public Health Reports" in 1980, showed that the survival rates of heart attack victims who had a pet were 28 percent higher than those of patients who didn't have an animal companion. "The health effects seem to be very real and by no means mystical," says Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University. "Contact with companion animals triggers a relaxation response," he says.

Rebecca Johnson, a professor of gerontological nursing at the University of Missouri at Columbia, showed that interaction with pets does, in fact, reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The ability of companion pets to reduce our overall stress level probably accounts for most of their life-extending qualities. "For many people, pets also provide a reason to get moving," adds Johnson. How many people, after all, would actually get any exercise if it weren't for their over-enthusiastic dog?

To many people, quality of life is equally as important as life span. It is a good thing, then, that many of the things that can improve your longevity can also improve your quality of life.

Here's how to think positive

2009-08-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone again,

One of the greatest things I've discovered in
my life is that you can achieve anything
you want by just believing in your thoughts.

If you'd like to know how to do that, you'll
want to know more about affirmations.

But what are 'affirmations'? Let me tell you...

An affirmation is a positive thought that leads you
to achieve a goal. Interested? Just go to the
website below:

http://www.seeingwithoutglasses.net/recommends/affirmations

Do you know who you really are?

2009-08-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I've got a question for you:
Do you know who you really are?

That's a tough question to answer, right?

I'm asking you this because I know that everyone looks
for joy, happiness and a life purpose but the
question that everyone keeps asking is: How can
I achieve that?

Well, the answer is simple... Knowing yourself!

Have you ever heard of Asoka Selvarajah?

Asoka is a spiritual growth consultant with over
20 years of experience in the field.

After years of mixing ancient wisdom secrets and
modern strategies, he came up with 7 steps to
completely know yourself.

I find his work absolutely amazing and have
applied it in my own life.

We grow by knowing ourselves and therefore I
highly recommend you to check out his 7 steps and
visit this website:

http://www.seeingwithoutglasses.net/recommends/selfhelp

Stay Well!

Joshua