Canon EOS 1100D, EOS 600D and EOS 60D SLR - Digital SLR Cameras for Every Need

WHETHER you're an amateur in the mood for quick snaps in between classes or a professional photographer in the making, Canon offers a wide range of choices to choose from.

Canon is a household name, especially when it has to do with cameras, garnering numerous awards and recognition for its products. This year will be the ninth consecutive year that Canon has been awarded the Reader's Digest award in the Best Digital Camera category. It has won the award in both the Gold and Platinum categories in the past years.

Benefits of Acai Berry - Contain the Utmost Antioxidant on Earth

acai berries

HAVE you heard about acai berry fruit? Acai Fruit Berry is a dark purple fruit that comes from the Amazon jungle and recognized as the world's number 1 supplement.

Acai berry is shaped like blueberry and yield twice a year in South America (Amazon). The tree is high and looked as Palm tree (well-known in North America) and if in Malaysia, close to the betel nut trees.


Islamic Banking Terms - What They Mean

THE Al Quran clearly states that Muslims cannot make money on money. Chapter 2, Verses 278 and 279 of the Al Quran are specific:

"O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers. If ye do it not, Take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger: But if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly."

But this does not mean that Islam forbids business activities or making profits. The Prophet Mohammed SAW himself was a trader early in his life.

Islamic law allows business activities for as long as they do not involve interest, also commonly called 'riba', in any form.

10 Most Dangerous Toxins around Us

IT is in the news, and you read about it all the time. The cows are injected with hormones. Meats are dyed red. Poultry is antibiotic tainted. Fruit and vegetables are sprayed with chemicals to look good, keep the pests away and last longer on the shelf.

Dr Mercola listed the ten of the most common toxins found in the United States on his website - www.mercola.com - the most visited alternative site on the planet.

The most dangerous ones are at the top of the list. Read on. It pays to know what could be poisoning you.

Keeping your Prostate Healthy

WHEN it comes to health matters, it seems to me that women are the ones who make the effort to understand and to put them into practice. However, I was proven wrong when a male friend of my sister visited us during the Chinese New Year. He is knowledgeable about his body and in his 40s follows both a healthy diet and lifestyle. His list of health supplements includes saw palmetto and pumpkin seed even though he does not experience the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the outflow channel for urine). As part of the male reproductive system, this gland secretes seminal fluid during ejaculation to prevent infection in the urethra as well as to energise the sperm to increase the likelihood of conception.

It is believed that after puberty, the testosterone levels begin to drop, leaving an increasing amount of female hormones such as prolactin, estradiol, folliclestimulating hormones and luteinising hormones. These hormones encourage the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent form of testosterone. The result of this increase in DHT is an excessive growth of prostate cells leading to an enlargement of the prostate that constricts the urethra and interferes with normal urinary function.

Due to the hormonal changes that take place, the prostate begins to bulk up significantly. The gland can grow to many times its normal size, and in extreme cases, it can grow as large as a grapefruit. Prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) usually begins after the age of 35. By 50, more than 25 per cent of all men have an enlarged prostate. By 80, the number grows to 80 per cent. Prostate growth might signal cancer and men should opt for annual prostate checks once they are 30 and above. In most cases, the growth is usually non-cancerous.

Symptoms of BPH include a sensation of incomplete emptying of bladder, the frequent urge to urinate, especially at night, or an intermittent, weak stream of urine accompanied by dribbling.

The enlargement of the prostate is an age-related process and adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle early will ensure a healthy prostate. A high cholesterol level is associated with increased risk of prostate disorders. Consider a low cholesterol diet by reducing saturated fats intake and increasing soluble fibre intake such as oat bran, psyllium and pectin. Replace saturated fats with polyunsaturated fatty acids found in flaxseed oil, olive oil, evening primrose oil and fish oil. These essential fatty acids have shown significant improvements in enlarged prostate.

The diet should be free as possible from pesticides and other chemicals, since many of these compounds (e.g. dioxin, hexachlorobenzene) can increase the production of DHT levels. Think natural, wholesome and organic.

Ensure that the diet is also antioxidant-rich with beta-carotene, vitamins C, E and the minerals selenium and zinc. These are available in all dark green leafy vegetables, coloured fruits, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, Brazil nuts, yoghurt, eggs, lean organic meat and seafood.

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Serrulata, Serenoa Repens)
Over the last decade, there have been many clinical studies documenting the safety and effectiveness of saw palmetto (Serenoa serrulata) as a treatment for an enlarged prostate. The American Family Physician (March 2003) states that "saw palmetto is a herbal product used in the treatment of symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia. The active component is found in the fruit of the American dwarf palm tree. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of saw palmetto in reducing symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Saw palmetto appears to have an efficacy similar to that of medications like finasteride, but it is better tolerated and less expensive. There are no known drug interactions with saw palmetto, and reported side effects are minor and rare".

Saw palmetto is also combined with other herbs for enhanced benefit. Pumpkin seed is one such herb that has similar effects as saw palmetto largely due to its content rich in essential fatty acids, zinc and plant sterols, namely betasitosterol. Beta-sitosterol has the ability to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that is responsible for converting the male hormone testosterone to DHT. Inhibiting the conversion of DHT within the body means hindering further the enlargement of the prostate.
Yam Cher Seng, NST

* Yam Cher Seng, a pharmacist actively involved in the dissemination of information on natural healthcare and holistic therapies

NST; Feb 22, 2005; Life & Times; 17

BERSIH 9th July 2011 Rally Roadblock

The authorities are not taking any chances tomorrow (9th July 2011) and will cordon off all major roads into the city centre. Beginning midnight today (8th July 2011), parts of Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Chulan and routes leading to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Dataran Merdeka and Istana Negara will be out of bounds to all vehicles.

The closure will last until 10pm.
Police said yesterday that they had obtained a court order, barring 91 key members of the three rallying groups - Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), Malay rights group Perkasa and Umno Youth - from entering the city centre.

Gateway to Malaysia - Best of Selangor

GATEWAY to Malaysia, Selangor has the country's main entry points - the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang and the largest port, Port Klang. The industrial zones, commercial areas, international colleges, excellent healthcare institutions, impressive shopping complexes, recreation centres and extensive highways all contribute towards making Selangor the most developed state in the country.

Amid her modern facilities and booming urban hubs, Selangor still has large pockets of natural wonders. Its heritage and cultural values lend a soulful depth to this rich land with a history that dates back to the 17th century.

Surrounding the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Selangor's strategic location boosts its appeal as the preferred holiday destination.

Termites – Silent Destroyer : Danger that Lurks Beneath


THERE are an estimated 10 million insect species in the world, of which a few hundred thousand are believed to abound in Malaysia. Among them are pest termites.


There are apparently three main groups of termites: dampwood termites, drywood termites and subterranean termites.

In Malaysia, it is the subterranean species called the Coptotermes which are of concern to home owners. These termites are easier to spot and use mud tubes to connect their food sources to their nests. This transportation system provides shelter from common enemies such as ants and guide them along as they have no sight.

These termites usually have colonies that live five to eight metres underground and can destroy man-made timber products rapidly.

Followers