Obesity among school kids - let them play

Well, a few days ago our Health Minister had mentioned obesity among children is worrying. A meeting between the Health Ministry and food manfacturers was held afterwards. It was agreed that among other things sugar content in food is to be reduced. No sweat, I agree 100%. But what about making our school kids sweat? And I mean sweat a lot.

The idea is to let our kids play, and play a lot if possible. It is their childhood anyway. Kids like to play, ( they are supposed to) so let them play. Don't spoil their childhood. Let them play, let them sweat, sweat and sweat.

School might take initiatives to get the kids to "play in school". Let the kids get another perception that they can also play in school. They are allowed to play in school. They are welcomed to play in school. School is not just about academic, books, books and more books, exams, exams and more exams.

I know that we already have sports clubs at school. I know that our Education Ministry have a policy of "one kid one sport". Now how about making sports played throughout school term? Currently attention to sports are only given during the first and second school term. Third term is the time to concentrate on studies. Okay no sweat, let's fully utilise that first and second terms.

How about making all kids involve? I believe currently not all kids are involved. Only those who are good at sports play while the rest shy away from sports. Why? You know why. But how to get all of them play? 

It is important for them to understand that winning the match is not everything. There is a lot more waiting for them. Self-satisfaction, enjoyment, healthy bodies and mind, wider friendship are among the rewards waiting for them. Winning medals is just a bonus.

Let's form a league. Take football for example. Let the kids form their own football team. Let them choose their team mates.  General guidelines might be to have Under 13's, Under 14's,  or by their classrooms. Matches are played every week. Volleyball? Yup, same guidelines apply. And so are other sports.

Let's have divisions to separate the good and the not so good. Fair play is the idea here. Kids will enjoy more playing againts those who are about their same level. Just like football league, they have division 1, division 2 and so on. But this time it is slightly different. Afer preliminary rounds are played, the winners are grouped into Division 1. The losers are grouped into Division 2, or 3 and so on. In that way the losers can still have games/matches to play and not merely become spectators.

Next, let's have a "Play All-day" day. Pick one day and let the kids know they are going to school only to play, yup only to play, no books. Sound revolutionary? Maybe. I think we are already putting too much pressure on our kids to get big results in exams. Mind you, there are life apart from exams. If we are dare enough, then, pick one day of the school day, any day from Monday to Friday, say Wednesday, and tell the kids that day is "play day". Of course, it is up to our Education Ministry to decide, not me. I can only suggest.

Benefits to kids? Well, I suppose you already know. Research done shows that kids who play tend to have better communication skills and wiser. And don't forget, fitter bodies. No more obesity. Don't you want your kids to be like that? I want.

2nd water tank - rain water

Reminder and warnings have been given to us of the possibilty of water shortage in Selangor in year 2012.
Our government and water supplier keep on reminding the users to be always thoughtful when using our precious water. Have we as users done anything yet? Or we don't? We might take for granted that water is abundant in our country. We have rain throughout the year, especially during monsoon season. But come dry season, we start counting every drop of water. Remember Melaka a few years ago?

We could start by collecting rain water. Don't let the rain water go by the drains uncollected. We can use drums to collect rain water which are available at hardware shops. For a more adventerous person, you can set up a second water tank similar to current water tank. 

Remember that rain water is to be considered as untreated water. So it is not advisable to use it for drinking.  However you can use it for washing your cars, watering you plants and even washing your house. I am not so sure if it can be used for laundry, but hey, remember some of our old folks used to use rain water for washing clothes and even their dish?

The government might encourage housing developers to integrate second water tank in their house plans. Or the housing developers could reserve some area in the house to accomodate the second water tank.

Help ourselves and help our government at the same time. We can reduce our treated water consumption. That will lead to lesser water bills. Less consumption means less pressure to the government to ensure sufficient water supply.

Hopefully water shortage will not become a reality.  Just can't take it anymore to Q-up for water. 

Keep left & you're always right

"Keep left and you are always right" That was what told to us new students by a policeman during our orientation week. That was way back in 1984 when I was studying in Australia. The concept is simple, when driving, keep to the left lane and we should arrive at our destination. And of course the concept does not apply if you have to turn right at the road junction to reach your destination. That is easy to understand why.

Unfortunately driving in Kuala Lumpur doesn't allow me to keep on the left lane all the time. I have to be constantly on alert. I mean the left lane might just come to an end and lead to a housing area! So I have to move to the right lane to continue my journey. Imagine the havoc if you are not used to the area. You might be caught by surprise. Still don't get what I mean? You can try yourself by driving from Ampang Point traffic light to Ampang Police Station. Dare yourself to keeping on the left lane. After only several hundred meters leaving the traffic light, the left lane will come to an end and the left lane will lead you to Taman Dato' Ahmad Razali housing area. Still want to go to Ampang Police Station? Well, you've got to change lane to the right lane, but not the far right lane. The far right lane will also come to an end after several hundred meters at a traffic light. See what I mean?

I do hope the concept of "keep left and you are always right" be applied throughout our road system. Let the drivers have peace of mind that they don't have to continuosly change lane. Let them feel they should be just fine by just keeping on the left lane. Driving is already stressfull, let's find a way to reduce it.
    

My EPF to pay car loan, may I?

I wish EPF can consider this. May I withdraw my EPF contributions to pay my car loan? At least give me some options on how to fully utilise account 2. I know account 2 can be used to pay home loan. Well, would't it be nice if account 2 could also be used to pay car loan?

Life is tough, it is even tougher nowadays. Everything seems to be getting more and more expensive. Price has increased, but not as much as my income. Business is not so good nowadays. Competition is stiff. Everybody is going for the same cake, but the cake has not grown any bigger, even the toppings are getting thinner.

By allowing me to use account 2 to pay my car loan, my cash in hand could be used to pay other things. Life is full of bills, mind you. There are water bills, electricity bills, phone bills, medical bills and don't forget parking tickets, petrol, tolls, and the list goes on. I can also use that "extra money" to pay my credit card above the minimum payment.

Well, so much for arguments and reasonings. Anyone out there agrees with me?

Schools' bad boys (girls) - what shoul be done?

Bad boys and girls always give headache to their schools. Among their favourite activities are skipping class, running away from school, smoking cigarettes, and to certain extent, fighting either individually or in groups.

How do schools punish them? Most of the time their school will give them (stern) warnings first. If warnings are no more effective, canning might be applied (if permisssible and not recommended). Next step might be to suspend them from school, maybe for a few days or a few weeks. Hey wait! Suspend them from school? This is what they want actually! This is what they all aim for. No school means they are free to wander around, and this might lead to  them to commit crimes.

Any ideas what should be done to correct them? What about keeping them at school? What? Keeping them at school? Are you out of your mind? Don't you realize they hate school? Well, let me explain.

Yes, we must understand that they don't really want to go to school. They hate school. We could assume that academic is not their interest. They don't really enjoy being at school.  They hate being in the classroom. Why? Maybe because classrooms are not the right place for them to show off their true skills. But how about making them enjoy going to school? But not necessary keeping them in the classroom.

Let's dig what their interest are. They might be interested in football, singing or doing maintenance work. Make a deal with them. Tell them they are allowed to pursue their interest. But they must remain in school throughout school sessions. while polishing their skills or interest.  Attending class is not compulsory but they are always wellcome to join class especially subject(s) that are of interest to them.

If football is their interest, then let them play football. . Tell them they are wellcome to play football but they must play it at school ground. They can play football throughout school session.  If they are good enough, let them play for their school. If the numbers of them are enough to form futsall team, then arrange friendly matches with other teams. Who knows they might become Messi of Malaysia?

If their interest is singing, then let them practice singing at school!  Allow them to use musical instruments at school. Tell them once their singing is good, they will be invited to sing at the school canteen during recess. Better still, they can perform during school assembly. Who knows they are future champions of Akademi Fantasia? (Well, too bad  Akademi Fantasia has been discontinued).

If their interest is in hardware equipments or handytools, then let them involve in doing maintenance jobs at school. They can work together with maintenance contractor (if permissible) or rather with "tukang kebun" Give them some pocket money (if permissible).  Who knows from there, they will become interested to form their own maintenance service company? Well, another enterprenuer is born!

The whole idea is to keep them at school while building up their interest. Well, I am only giving my ideas. It might sound radical. It might sound ridiculous. It might even sound scarry to be applied.  But in my view, we must start and try something  new, something unconvensional. Who knows it might work wonders? However, with due respect I leave it to the Education Ministry to decide.

Long pants for our school girls?

I like it when our nurse are allowed to wear white long pants in addition to skirts they are wearing currently. It makes me think, why can't our school girls be allowed to wear long pants? 

I love to see our school girls wearing long pants. Don't get me wrong here. Well, what I mean is, the girls still wear "baju kurung", but instead of "kain sarung", they now wear long pants. Long pants will only help them to move around a lot easier, just like the boys do. It will be a lot easier for them to climb stairs, coming down the stairs, walking and even running, especially during emergency. Well, they surely now can run a lot easier and faster when being chased by naughty boys or even by dogs. For those who ride bicycle or motorbike to school, life will be a lot easier. No more wearing of "thight" under their "kain sarung" to prevent accidental exposure of their legs.

How about the design, colour, and fabric? Well, I think I will let our Education Ministry decide. They have the final say. But for me, straight cut or semi-carrot is nice, white or blue pant is okay, and cotton is comfortable in our hot and humid weather.  

My idea is that long pants is only an alternative to "kain sarung" they are wearing at the moment, and not as a replacement. It is up to the girls whether they want to wear long pants or "kain sarung". But for sure, long pants will only add variety to our already rich collection of school uniforms.

... if the traffic light system is standardized

Yes, wouldn't it be nice if the traffic light system is standardized throughout Malaysia?
As drivers,  we might have "come by" several types of traffic light system in this country. The one that we most familiar with is "green light turning to yellow, and then to red". No fuss, no thrill. You "happily" drive through the road junction.

The next variation always give me a little jolt in my stomach. As usual the green light turns to yellow and then to red. But before it turns to yellow, the green light will blink a few seconds before finally turning to yellow. When the green light start blinking, my heart will start pounding hard and my andrenaline level jump up. Should I slow down and ready to stop or put on the accelerator harder before it turns yellow? But being a cautious driver, most of the time I would make an effort to slow down my vehicle if I am still quite a distance from the junction and get ready to stop.  

Why must the green light blinks? Why can't the drivers drive through the green light without any distractions? How about it is the yellow light that blinks? It might serve as a warning to the drivers that the traffic light is turning to red very soon  and they should get their vehicles ready to stop at the red light.

Another variation is also heart pounding. As usual the green light turns to yellow and then to red. But this variation is more on the timing of each light, well, yellow light in particular. My main concern is when the yellow light turns to red. It seems that the timing (in seconds) for yellow light is too short. There is no blinking of the traffic light. But it seems that the traffic light will quickly turn to red from yellow. It might only be my feeling, I might be wrong. Sometimes the light will turn red even though I am still in the middle of the junction. Ugh.. quite a scary experience.

However, I appreciate "intelligent traffic light". The timing of green and red lights are varied to reflect the traffic volume. This is the kind of variation that if possible, be applied to all busy junctions. But please, let the timing of yellow light is the same throughout the country.

Yes, I wish we have a standard traffic light system throughout our country.