OFFLINE GAMBLING...For richer or poorer

---

                                           
Gambling is very popular, from way back when, and more so today.  It is a scam itself.  In fact the oldest form known.  Not only a scam, but very deceptive.  Statistics show that about six percent of adults that are involved in gambling are severely addicted to such a "past time" as they call it. People who are hooked on gambling have the urge to bet on almost anything.  From horses, cards, and the casino. The number doesn't end there.  It continues to expand.  

Casino scams are everywhere.  High payouts and promising winnings are put up in huge slogans thereby attracting people who want to earn money the fast, easy and enjoyable way.  A fact is gamblers waste a lot of their time, in the hope of winning.  So they don't give up easily.

Studies show that gambling problems can easily occur in individuals with no self control.  It is necessary for one to identify if he has problems, so it can be identified and acted upon promptly.

Here are some questions one should ask to detect if there is a problem:

* After gambling, when you lose money, be it a small or a large amount, do regret it, or feel resentment?

* When you win, do you have a strong desire to win more, therefore you want to go back?

* When you lose, do you feel a need to go back very soon?

* Do you spend a lot of time gambling, usually longer than what you planned?

*If you have problems, do you gamble to forget them?

* Are you spending more time gambling than with work?

*Do you not stop until your very last dollar is taken up?

*Do arguments take place between you and your family as a result of your need to gamble?

*To finance your gambling, do you borrow money from friends or associates?

Gambling addiction can be destructive.  Family, friends and your reputation are at risk.  It is a condition often times ignored.  There are escape gamblers that affect seventy five percent of women from their thirties and up.  Usually the reasons for gambling is to escape from the emotional pain that they are in, being bored, lonely, depressed or that they make gambling their hobby or past time.  These types of addiction can be cured in three to six months.

The action gambler is much more difficult to deal.  Most are men, where gambling for them creates ecstasy like a drug addition.  This is much harder to cure, since the individual will deny the fact, when confronted.  They will typically not stop until left with nothing, financially.

As gambling creates a lot of scams, it is a fact that still more and more are drawn to it.  The primary reason is to win a huge amount of money.  But then comes in the most lethal of reasons -- that of feeling a certain euphoria.  Scams or no scams, an individual still continues to gamble and is a reason why offline gambling still thrives today.

MONTHLY PROMOTIONS!!!

New York, NY Vacation Packages Las Vegas, NV Vacation Packages San Diego, CA Vacation Packages

How Search Engines and Directories Work

Anyone who accesses the Internet in search of information will inevitably head straight for a search engine or a directory. Most people hold the impression that they are one and the same, but there are some fundamental differences between search engines and directories. This article will explore in detail the differences between search engines and directories. About Internet Search Engines A web search engine is essentially a website that allows you to input a word or phrase related to whatever you are searching for. A series of relevant results will then be produced, containing links to websites that might contain what you are looking for. Some of the popular search engines include Google, Yahoo and Nexplore. The main page of most popular search engines is exceedingly simple, containing a single entry field where you can input your query, then click a search button, whereupon most major search engines will search its database for sites matching your entry. A results page will appear with the top 10 website results for your query, with options to link to the following pages of results as well. Web search engines make use of various factors when ranking sites, such as the number of times a relevant word or phrase is used in the text on the site, how many other sites are linked to it, the number of times keywords can be found in the site’s code, many others. Most of the top search engines operate in much the same way as each other, although they may use slightly different criteria in ranking websites. True search engines work by first using a program known as a crawler or spider. This program trawls the Internet, following links and indexing the websites they find in a database. Once a spider program has indexed a website, the search engine will revisit the site regularly in order to keep its records updated. Some search engines may even use spider programs multiple times each day, especially if they think the websites indexed by the engine need to be updated. You will find that there are many search engines available that specialize in searching for other file types or information types. Some items search engines may specialize in indexing are images, files, music, and many more. Some search engines are also particularly useful for finding specific types of sites such as shopping sites.

About Internet Directories Directories function very differently from search engines. Directories do not make use of spider or crawler programs. Instead, directories are usually manually maintained by humans. A directory will usually have an editor who vets submissions to the directory or else it will have someone who actively searches the Internet for sites to add to their listings. Directories may vary in size from the small to the truly massive. An excellent example of a large directory is http://Dmoz.org. It is a not-for-profit directory edited completely by volunteers. The Internet also contains countless smaller directories that specialize in a particular niche. No matter what you are looking for on the web, you are bound to find a directory that caters to it. Comparing Search Engines And Directories A directory edited by someone will usually contain listings of sites of higher quality since, unlike a search engine; sites added to a directory must undergo a manual inspection and approval process. A directory also separates its listings according to categories – something search engines do not do. A search engine will contain a great deal more links than a directory, however, and the results you find on a search engine are also likely to be fresher. Whether you decide to make use of a search engine or a directory really depends on what it is you are searching for and which of them is able to offer you better results to suit your needs. Seomul Evans is a senior Search Engine Optimization Services specializing in Top Search Engines and search engine optimization articles .

RETIRE YOUR WAY - PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE MALAYSIA BERHAD

What Is Your Number...?

The "magic number" key to sound retirement planning

Retirement may be something in the distant future for you, but if you wish to enjoy your golden years in blissful contentment, early planning plays an important role.

From taking a well-earned rest in a lakeside home, starting up a cosy cafe, or even taking off for a half-year holiday across Europe, signing up for a full-time course in ballroom dancing, or simply spending more time with your loved ones, every retirement aspiration comes with a specific cost.

The question therefore is: What's your number? Do you know how much you need to have in your coffers to ensure a choice retirement awaits you on the horizon? Knowing your unique 'retirement number' is crucial and should form the basis of good retirement planning. Once you have a fixed target in mind, you will then be able to plan towards achieving it.

If you haven't found your retirement number yet and would like to do it now, just put yourself through a short, painless exercise. No sweat. It's easy.

Start by asking yourself what you envision your retirement lifestyle to be like.

Each of us has different retirement needs. Some may aspire to travel extensively; some may want to own a bigger house while some may want to lead a more modest lifestyle after retirement. In essence, what you want to do during your retirement will affect your 'number'. 

Determine your expected retirement age, and the number of years that you will be needing income after retirement.

Conduct a check on your current assets and investments, e.g. your EPF savings or fixed deposits.

Now, calculate!
Arriving at your retirement number is easy once you have the above information.

The retirement calculator developed by Prudential available on WhatsYourNumber.com.my will help you include factors such as inflation rates, your EPF savings and others into the calculation.

The number revealed will be the indicative amount that you will need to sustain the lifestyle you desire upon retirement.

Now that you know your 'number', work out a strategy to ensure you get to enjoy the retirement lifestyle you've dreamt of.

5 Simple keys To Quality Retirement

Retirement… What would you do with all that time on your hands?

Travel around the world? Study full-time or perhaps even turn that hobby into a business? Whatever you choose to do, getting an early head start on your retirement planning can be invaluable in helping you achieve your dream retirement.

Follow these 5 simple key steps and you’ll find easy it is to achieve all your retirement dreams!

1. Remember, you’ll have even more time to enjoy

Due to advancements in medical technology, the average human lifespan has increased and as a result, retirement years are getting longer! 

This means that you could possibly live out more years spending money, rather than earning it, as your retirement years could possibly outnumber your working ones.

So, take this into account when planning your retirement.

2. Know your goals

According to experts, savings totaling an equivalent to 70% of your pre-retirement expenses are needed in order to support a basic lifestyle. 

However, if you wish to enjoy a higher standard of living, you will need more than that. 

So ask yourself what you want to get out of your retirement and plan accordingly.

3. Understand the enemy of wealth accumulation

Inflation is the biggest enemy of wealth accumulation! Based on past inflation trends, 2.65 times of your retirement savings is needed just to meet the target amount you set 20 years ago*. 

While many of us believe that keeping our savings in the bank is the best way to preserve it, experts suggest that avoiding risk eventually leads to capital devaluation as the interest rates offered can hardly outrun inflation. 

An investment strategy that is able to balance risks and returns effectively in accordance with the different investment tenures is one of the key factors in achieving your retirement goals.

*Calculated based on an inflation rate of 5% p.a.

4. Start early and benefit from compounding interest

The sooner you start saving, the easier it will be for you to reach your goals, thanks to the power of compounding interest.

By saving RM10,000 every year from the age of 30 for the next 10 years at an interest rate of 10% p.a., you would have saved 87% more by age 60, compared with saving for only 20 years from the age of 40.

Time is one of the biggest factors affecting the growth of your nest egg as it is compounding. The longer the period, the greater the benefits of compounding tend to be.

5. Take full advantage of retirement tools

There are two types of retirement tools – Savings Plan and Health Protection that will help you to compose a retirement plan that best suits you!

Prudential offers a range of solutions – protection, savings and investments – that can best meet your financial goals and help you to achieve your retirement dreams.

Aging Gracefully

Growing old is a part of life. It can be the most exciting part of your life because your responsibilities reduce and you have more time to enjoy the company of those you love. Aging may bring about wrinkles, greying hair and aching limbs but like everything else, you can face it with grace to make the most of your golden years. 

1. Let the fact sink in

You can always get your hair dyed or get Botox treatments, but you cannot escape aging. However, aging can be the best time of your life, so accept it and get a head start on getting the most out of your autumn years. 

2. Keep a healthy routine

Exercising and eating right help to keep away the maladies that make life tough. You will enjoy your life so much better when you are in the best of health.

3. Don’t worry

Worrying and stressing out will only make you age a lot faster. So take it easy – Breathe deeply, relax and take a moment to appreciate the smell of your morning coffee or ponder the trickle of raindrops rolling down the window pane.

4. Control your emotions

When you lose your temper, physical changes occur within your body. But you must learn not to give in to anger or to any extreme emotion. Keeping yourself in good spirits helps you tackle any challenges that come your way and lets you enjoy life more.

5. Be friendly

Interacting with people helps to improve your mood and outlook. So don’t forget to always smile. Widen your social circle by joining a neighbourhood club to meet people with similar interests and share in the laughter of your neighbours’ children.

6. Widen your interests

Growing old doesn’t have to mean putting up with boredom. Fill your time by reading those books you put off reading for so long, attend lectures, participate in volunteer activities or even keep a garden. When you stay busy, your mind and body stay sharp.

Rediscovering The Beauty Of Retirement

Coping with the challenges of post-retirement life

One of the biggest transitions a person will experience in their lifetime is retirement. Although it is critical for us to ensure that we are financially sound and ready for retirement, retirement planning is not just about money. Unfortunately, most people are so caught up in planning for their retirement financially due to the escalating cost of living that they tend to overlook or neglect their emotional as well as their psychological and physical needs as they enter into retirement. 

As we age, we may face many changes and many sources of stress — we may not be as strong as we used to be physically and mentally, we are more prone to illness and diseases, children move away from home, people we love die and loneliness creeps in. All these are just some of the challenges we may need to deal with during retirement. Although it can be difficult coping with these changes, it can be done.

Dealing with physical changes 

As we grow older, our body will naturally change and we may not be as fit as we used to be. However, things aren’t really that bad if we stay positive. We could still do most of the things we want. All we need is a little time to adjust our pace. Remember that slowing down does not mean we have to come to a complete stop. Seek a physician’s help if you need to. Denying the changes of your body will only make life less enjoyable.

Dealing with loneliness

As children become more involved in their own lives, it is important for us to find ways to cope with loneliness. Hence it is important for us to plan the lifestyle side of our retirement besides taking care of the financial aspect of our retirement. The key to having a fulfilling retirement is to have an open mind. By interacting with people of all ages, it keeps our mind active and refreshed. You will be surprised at how much new things we can learn from the younger generations. At the same time, we can also share our experience with them. This could prevent us from developing senile dementia and depression. The best part is, we can even make new friends in the process. It is always good to have friends who share the same interest with you. If you can afford it, go travelling once a while. If you can’t afford long expensive holidays, a short trip to a place of interest with a bunch of friends is also a good form of relaxation. We can also enrich our lives by renewing contacts with neglected family members and old friends. All too often, our work gets in the way of our relationships and those we care about. 

Actually retirement could be the best years of our lives if we plan for it not just financially but holistically. This is the time when we are free from most of our obligations and able to enjoy life to the fullest by indulging in what we want to do and best of all, we have the privilege to decide when and how we want to do it. Retirement is indeed a wonderful phase of our lives if we have much to live on and most importantly much to live for. So, stay interested and be involved with your life and you will discover the beauty of retirement and time itself.

 
This Article taken from Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad official website.

for more infomation please consults /call your licensed agent Mdm. Linda at +60195868418

Terrorism? What it is?

image taken from: http://www.clevelandseniors.com/photos/tragedy.jpg

What is terrorism? According to Book Of The International Library Of Criminalogy, Criminal Justice and Penology : Terrorism by Conor Gearty, “ Terrorism consists of violent actions carried out for political or other social purposes, including some large scale mercenary purposes, by individuals or groups, having an aim which might be either good or bad, but carried out by means of :

1. Attacks on innocent or neutral or randomly chosen people.

2. Using means which involve atrocities eg.torture, cruel killings, or multilation of the living or the dead, committed against randomly or non-randomly chosen people who might be either innocent or not.

” Terror can occur without terrorism, and that terror is the key to terrorism. The suffix “ism” refers to a political philosophy, or a manner of acting or an attitude. Psychologists define the psychological condition of terror as extreme fear or anxiety. Though terrorism is real, not an imaginary danger. It is an unexpected danger. Terrorism affects the social structure and the individuals, and it may results in disorientation in our society. Terror is a constituent of many ordinary crimes. 

There are some potential causes of terrorism, which are the rising population, increased poverty and scarcity of resources, racial tension, inflation and unemployment, increased tension between the “have” and “have not” nations, waves of refugees shoved about by wars, immigrants moving from poorer states to wealthier place, rapid urbanization, the disintegration of traditional authority structures and many other causes. Terrorist groups have obliged corporations to pay them “taxes”, provide free food and medical supplies to the poor. In their mindset, they often over simplify complex issue to black and white. They have many pent-up concerns about an individual’s inability to change society. They believe in self-righteousness in their own rectitude. They are often lonely people who use religious or political ideals to interest political recruits. Terrorism always threats to person and property. They act in terror in many ways, for instances, hijacking, personal attack and intimidation, kidnapping, arson and sabotage, bombing, hoax bomb and so on. Now, the threats of cyber-terrorism are frighten. Information in many ways is the keys to waging this war on terrorism and probably to winning it. 

So, let us rethink about the issue of war against Iraq and the tragedy of attacks on America. The Bush administration is considering on attacks on Iraq, intended to end the reign of Saddam Hussein by involving 250,000 mostly American troops. The costs of invasion at anytime will be thousands of American casualties. There are two reasons for the war against Iraq, firstly is to disarm Iraq of the biological and nuclear weapons of mass destruction and secondly is the option that Saddam is a terrorist and a dictators and a crazy evil man. The US admits openly that it wants to seize control of the Iraqi oil fields and put in a caretaker government. However, Saddam believed in power and patronage. They could inspire terror but their ambitions are limited. In contrast with attacks on World Trade Centre in America on 11th Sep 2001, the warriors of al-Qaida is hatred and the movement is more psychological than religious or political. Osama bin Laden and his acolytes have taken suicide bombing. The bombers and the man who sent them on their mission were “true believers”, they did not allow idea of compassion or humanity, for themselves or their victims, to intrude into their mind. They use the violence as a “holy” end in itself. Poverty and oppression are often as reason why they act terrorism but why a group of essentially middle-class Arab men would embark on the biggest suicide mission? It was an ultimately pragmatic psychology, and an historian Michael Ignatieff has called the “apocalypticnihilism” of man with no political programme, only a desire for the destruction of their enemies in a war. They were educated and capable of studying and holding down jobs. They were able to present normal façade that their planning and preparation for the crime of “Tragedy 911” went entirely unnoticed. 

photo taken from: http://japanfocus.org

The charisma of bin Laden had united these educated men. To them, he is a military or religious superstar. He teaches them that the mind of new “super terrorist” must be immune to pity and need not be concerned with political compromise or worries about the taking of human life. In the world and words of him: “In the name of retaliation there are no innocents.” He offered a simple solution to the humiliation and sense of injustice like giving them a reason to live, a reason to die, a cause and also a promise of paradise in the afterlife. He seeks a world rid of enemies. He does not seek an accommodation with his enemies but desires to kill them until they bend entirely to his will. This is what we call psychopathic behavior, which means that one man’s vision for the control of human destiny. He can present himself as a messiah for an oppressed and humiliated. He has forsaken wealth and power for an ecstasy of righteousness. These oppressed citizens of the Islamic world felt all these things and believe that American are the root of all international evils. His movement belongs in an anti-rational universe, where emotion triumphs over reason, a world where anything is possible in the name of righteousness. The childhood may shapes the minds of terrorist leaders. For instance, bin Laden was a son of his father’s seventh wife and many in the family group called her ‘slave’ wife. He were proving to himself repeatedly the extent of his worth. By other words, a man trying to control his world. Our formal prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammad mentioned that “Terrorist are not people who advertise their intention to commit acts of terror. They are not usually soldiers in uniform, although some can be. Usually they are unrecognizable until their terrible acts.” I am totally agree with that statement. Their evil deads have a purpose. They would not willingly kill themselves in the most horrible fashion on Sep 11 if is not because they believe there is a purpose for their suicide. Iran, Iraq and North Korea have been labeled as the ‘axis of evil’. It is time we rethink. Oppressing people or destroying their countries will not solve problems. We have to get away from our old culture and values and reinvent our civilization. The attack on the World Trade Centre on Sep 11 is not an attack on US alone. It is an attack on the whole world. 

What Malaysian government do? We did not just fight them with arms, or chase them into jungles and out of Malaysia. We carried out a campaign to win their hearts and minds of the people so as to ensure that the terrorists lost their civilian supports. We study the causes of the disaffection of these terrorist and their supporters and we took remedial action. The causes of the anger and frustration of the terrorist must be studied and action taken to remove these causes. Once the causes have been removed, support for the terrorist will be much reduced. I believed that if there is no Palestinian issue, if the Palestinian are not being oppressed and children being killed, the anger of the Arabs and Muslims would not be there or would be much less. Certainly there would not be willing to kill themselves in that horrible fashion on Sep 11. Those who hijacked and crashed the aircrafts are not fanatical illiterates, they come from the richer Muslim countries. They married and have wives and children. They knew the course they are taking would separate them permanently from their families, friends and a good life. And yet, they are prepared to die in a horrible fashion as they steered their aircrafts towards the World Trade Centre. We need to understand their mind and their mentality. We want to understand the reason why they did this. 

As a conclusion, we must determine who a terrorist is. A terrorist is a terrorist to all and everyone at all times, they are not regarded as noble freedom fighters by some others. We have to learn to understand their psyche if we want to deal with them, to counter and to eliminate them. We want to stop the terrorism. A terrorist should be outlawed by the world, hunted, captured, tried and appropriately punished, even if he is fighting against oppression, against terrorists themselves, using acts of terror.

Guru, Cikgu & ...

   Sebagai pembayar cukai, saya melihat profesion perguruan ini adalah satu bidang yang bertaraf profesional. Seseorang guru itu seharusnya bersikap lebih professional dan matang dalam menunaikan tanggungjawabnya sebagai seorang pendidik anak bangsa. Sebagai seorang professional, seorang guru juga sewajarnya menghindarkan sebarang tindakan yang terlalu mengikut emosi dalam menangani isu disiplin murid di sekolah. Memang diakui seorang guru itu juga seorang manusia, tetapi golongan pendidik ini sudah diberikan latihan dan diiktiraf oleh kerajaan. Ini samalah seperti kakitangan awam lain yang bertaraf profesional seperti anggota polis dan doktor. Cubalah anda bayangkan jika seorang anggota polis bersikap emosional dalam menjalankan tugas, sudah pasti mengundang pelbagai masalah yang serius. Bersyukurlah hal sedemikian setakat ini belum ada lagi yang dilaporkan. Janganlah juga diungkit perihal gaji dan elaun. Boleh dikatakan semua kakitangan awam mendapat gaji yang setimpal dengan tugas mereka, tambahan lagi dengan dengan kenaikkan gaji yang diumumkan oleh kerajaan baru-baru ini. Ini adalah lebih baik jika dibandingkan dengan pendapatan kakitangan sektor swasta.

            Sebagai seorang guru, tidak seharusnya mengeluh dengan masalah-masalah yang berlaku di sekolah. Kerana semua masalah tersebut sudah menjadi asam garam dalam usaha mendidik anak bangsa. Saya percaya bahawa setiap guru yang sudah dilantik sudah terikat dengan satu kontrak dengan kerajaan untuk menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik.

            Walaubagaimanapun guru tidak harus dipersalahkan sepenuhnya. Hal ini kerana tahap kesabaran seseorang itu ada batasnya. Saya juga pernah menjadi seorang murid dan mengetahui senario murid tidak menghormati guru ialah satu realiti. Dalam situasi ini peranan ibu bapa sangat penting demi untuk memperbaiki kualiti pendidikan dan generasi masa depan negara. Pihak ibu bapa tidak sepatutnya menyerahkan bulat-bulat tanggungjawab mendidik dan mendisiplinkan anak kepada guru di sekolah, kerana akhlak yang mulia dan disiplin adalah bermula dari rumah. Mengikut pengalaman saya selaku murid, rakan-rakan yang terbabit dengan masalah disiplin biasanya adalah datang daripada keluarga yang kurang prihatin kepada kebajikkan mereka.

            Oleh itu janganlah kita menuding jari kepada satu sama lain kerana ini tidak akan memperbaiki keadaaan. Adalah lebih baik kita memikirkan dan segera bertindak untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini demi untuk kebaikan pihak guru, murid, ibu bapa, masyarakat dan negara.

            Disini sukacita saya untuk mencadangkan beberapa langkah-langkah yang mungkin boleh digunapakai untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini;

1)      Melantik seorang penyelia khas/warden bagi menguruskan hal-ehwal pelajar asrama. Tugas penyelia ini adalah terhad kepada hal ehwal asrama tanpa pembabitan dalam bidang akademik. Ini boleh mengelakkan lebihan tugas yang sering berlaku kepada guru-guru. Mungkin sesetengah pihak memikirkan ianya adalah satu kos tambahan yang akan membebankan kerajaan, tetapi fikirkanlah faedah untuk jangka masa panjang. Ianya bukan sahaja meningkatkan kualiti didalam perkhidmatan malahan dapat membuka peluang pekerjaan kepada graduan yang menganggur.

2)      Kerajaan perlu meneliti semula garis panduan kepada guru-guru didalam menyelasaikan isu-isu disiplin di sekolah. Ini boleh mengelakkan seseorang guru itu daripada melakukan hukuman yang melampaui batas terhadap murid di sekolah.

3)      Interaksi Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru adalah amat penting didalam menyelasaikan perkara-perkara yang berlaku di sekolah. Ini dapat memberi -gambaran yang lebih jelas kepada ibu bapa akan tingkah laku anak mereka. Dengan ini setiap masalah dapat diselasaikan dengan lebih diplomatik.

4)      Guru Besar dan pengetua sekolah seharusnya lebih bijak mengagihkan tugas luar mengajar kepada guru dan kakitangan. Ini boleh mengurangkan bebanan yang dipikul oleh guru di sekolah. Guru juga sepatutnya bersuara jika mendapati diri mereka mempunyai bebanan kerja yang lebih sehingga boleh menjejaskan emosi.

credit to www.scanteen.blogspot.com