Depression

what really is depression? Sometimes, i feel people tend to misuse the term. after i read up on several accounts on depression. I got a clearer picture of this “illness”.

There are two meaning behind this word. One is the general concept that people have. Depression is used to describe when a person is miserable or feeling down. But in the clinical term, depression is an illness.

Who gets depressed?

• Over a lifetime you have a 20 per cent, or one in five, chance of having an episode of depression
• Women are twice as likely to get depression as men.
• Between 5 and 10 per cent of the population are suffering from the illness to some extent at any one time.

What causes depression? it seems that this is rather indefinite.Genes or early life experiences may make some people vulnerable. Stressful life events, such as losing a job or a relationship ending, may trigger an episode of depression.

How is depression diagnosed?

It seems that there is no brain scan or blood test that can be used to diagnose when a person has a depressive illness. The diagnosis can only be made from the symptoms. Basically a diagnosis of depression will be made if a person has a persistently low mood that significantly influences their everyday life and has been present for two weeks or more, and there are also three or four or more other symptoms of depression. 

Almost everyone would have suffered from depression. i found a website that has articles on famous people who suffered from depression, for example, singer Sheryl Crow, my favourite guitarist, Curt Cobain from the band Nirvana and Princess Diana, Princess of wales.  link:http://depression.about.com/od/famous/Famous_People_With_Depression.htm

 `Que

My impressions of Japan

The sumo wrestlers on my midnight flight to Tokyo Narita offered me the first glimpse of Japan. Though it would be freezing when we land in the early hours, they went on board in nothing more than their cotton yukata and rubber flip-flops, something they were expected to wear in public irregardless of the weather or time of the year.

With their unique hairstyle, clothing and sheer size, they stood out among us in every possible way. And that first impression of Japan probably rightly summarises the nation, its people and its culture. That with their unique way of life, they are absolutely different from the rest of us.

Neat individually packed toiletries containing hairbrushes, razors, cotton buds and rubberband, toothbrush and toothpaste can be found in almost all hotels. Family-size shampoo and body wash is also available, so the only things I had to use from my overpacked, bursting toiletries bag (the result of poor travel research) were conditioner, facial wash and saline lotion.

It doesn’t take long for you to see that packaging is everything in Japan. The workmanship of the products is meticulous and detail-oriented. Everything seems to be lovingly made to make sure they look good and work well. The people pay attention to their choice and cut of clothes and are ever so sleek and carefully co-ordinated. Nobody seems to be getting any misses in the fashion department.

I’ve not once heard anyone talking on their cellphone while on the train. I’ve not spotted any rubbish or dirt on the subway or trains. Nobody squeezes on board till other passengers have gotten off. Nobody leaves any rubbish behind. There are no bins on the road but there is no litter too. They give way and say “Excuse Me”. It was a joy to visit the public toilets. There was paper and it was clean.

On cold winter days, nothing feels better than sitting on an electrically heated toilet seat when you need to visit the loo. And though I was initially hesistant to try out the buttons for fear it might spray water all over me, I did give it a go toward the end of my stay. And I was pleasantly surprised at the effect. The aiming was perfect, and I was hooked. I realised it was actually a good, handy invention. You have got to give it to the Japanese.

They set trends. They innovate. They have got guts. Enough of it to eat fugu and want to rule to whole of Asia. But they don’t forget their manners. As our plane home taxied off to the runway, I caught sight of the ground crew, standing on the tarmac in a straight line in their luminous vests, waving us good-bye. My Mum could be the only one who waved back.

They are different and proud of being different. If done right, I guess that too could be our recipe to success.

Miss C

Benazir Bhutto Killed

Pakistan opposition leader was killed in a suicide attack after a campaign rally on Thursday. Benazir Bhutto was shot on the neck and chest by her attacker, whom then killed himself using a bomb. At least 20 others were killed in the blast.

 Supporters of Mrs Bhutto in the United Arab Emirates expressed shock and grief . Few among  all the countries that have condemned the assassination are the US, Japan, Italy, Iran and Britain. The death of Mrs Bhutto may cause a terror in the country.
On a personal note, i would like to add that this is a very sad tragedy for Pakistan. I respected Mrs Bhutto for being so strong as a woman and her will to bring democracy to Pakistan.

Blogged by Domino

Nocturnal Teenagers.

Sleep during the day and stayed up all night?

Sleep through Sunday afternoon?

Blame puberty for Teen staying up late.

Researches have found that sleeping patterns are symptomatic of severe sleep deprivation. Intensive demands, for example like getting into the right school, get the right scholarships and fulfilling parental bragging rights may be wearing out.

Also, the sleeping patterns are a product of a culture that does not value sleep and introduction of electronic goodies; hand phones and computer keeps teenager staying up all night so they do not ‘miss out’ any actions.

Sleep experts suggest that the patterns should be addressed. Even it means cutting down activities and other demands.

For those in adolescence and early adulthood, the consequences of poor regulation may be more serious than for other age groups because their bodies are already in great hormonal flux.

Sleep deprived teenagers may be at even higher risk of illness and accidents.

It also causes gaps in learning and memory loss.

Some sleep researches suspect that teen sleep habits are closely linked to the physical effects of puberty and not a sign of sloth.

These teens suffer from a condition called “delayed sleep phase syndrome,” which makes them want to go to sleep and wake up much later than other people.

This suggests there is a “biological imperative in teens to have a later bedtime and wake time”.

So people,

If we sat in front of the computer to the wee morning, sleep through afternoon and wrap ourselves in blanket during the weekends.. Welcome to teenage hood.

You are officially a teenager.

-thearisa-

  

Celupar

Celupar is a Malay short film that carries cautionary tale. Which in turns gave me chills in while watching.

It is about 3 young men who sat around at the coffee shop, with tales or rather real stories to tell among themselves. From the ghostly stories to radio deejay experience on air. This 7minutes and 56 seconds film,is not just lame. Which I thought in the first place. Its kind of funny,serious and a moment of faint hearts.

So let me leave u with the short film. Thus, support the local films too. Subtitle included.

*To those who has a faint heart, I rather you skip it during the last 3minutes of the film. In addition, please be careful of what you say the next time you are outside. Especially at night or in secluded places.

Overall, I give this film: 3.5 out of 5 storyboards & 3.5 out of 5 scarry-cats.

-Ms Fye-

Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant.

Yes, the following headline definitely won’t be a surprise for all non-britney fans. Well, i personally overwhelmed with this ’shocking’ news though i’m not a die-hard fan of Britney Spears.

Jamie Spears is 16, she is a star in the most popular TV show that I watched everyday, Zoey 101 at Nickelodean and she is pregnant. She’s carrying a child whose the father is Casey Aldridge, her longtime boyfriend and his age is 18. 

With such outburst, her mother’s parenting book is being shelved (contradicting..), spectaculations aroused : ‘if this issue consider as a statutory rape’ and her carreer in Nickelodean. I reckon her misdemeanour act defintely cast a bleak future for her. Boo hoo hoo for all Zoey 101 fans out there. We won’t be expecting any season premier from Nickelodean then.

So, her sister, Britney Spears dominating the front pages of tabloids, many are excoriating Jamie Spears to go through the same motherhood as Britney Spears but worse.

Well, in my point of view, if tomorrow’s headline : ‘Jamie Spears go bald’, no one really, actually cares. Readers will just skim/skip page mumbling ‘the Spears really need help’.

They really do.

-thearisa-

World Player of the Year was crowned!

To those who didn’t get those sporting news updated. Here is a quick detail from the football world that I read through from TODAY newspaper.

On Monday, FIFA[Fédération Internationale de Football Association] crowned a 25 year old football player, Kaka. Who is an AC Milan and Brazil playmaker and defies as the model of a modern footballer.

He was voted and received the first placing,leaving Lionel Messi[Argentina & Barcelona striker] and Cristiano Ronaldo[Portugal & Manchester United midfielder], 2nd and 3rd placing respectively.

With that, let us hope that he should be able to show his best to make Brazil, the world champion for the sixth time in the next World Cup.  Here are some of the links to the news. 

1. http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=484956
2. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=491815&&cc=4716

Typed by Ms Fye

The Nanny Diaries

The Nanny Diaries is based on a Novel by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus. It tells a story about a young woman, named Annie Braddock, whom is fresh out of college. Pressured from her nurse mother to search for a job in the business world, she took up a job as a nanny instead and work for a wealthy family referred to as the “X’s”. Annie finds that working for the “X’s” is not as easy as she thought it would be. There are many rules to obey and things gets more difficult when she falls for a Harvard Hottie, a neighbour of the “X’s”.
One thing audeince can learn from this movie is that love cannot be bought by money. Wealth does not make a person happy.

Starring: SCARLETT JOHANSSON, ALICIA KEYS, LAURA LINNEY, CHRIS EVANS
Official Website: http://www.thenannydiariesmovie.com/
I’ll give it 3.5 out of 5 Diaries!

 

Blogged by Domino