Words of the day

1. Arduous: very difficult

Climbing Mount Everest is an arduous, exhausting challenge.

2. Conspicuous: very easy to see or notice

The seven-foot-talk basketball player is conspicuous in any crowd.

3. Gourmet: a person who enjoys and knows a lot good food and wine

A gourmet chef is very good in preparing desserts for our dinner.

4. Plea: a serious and emotional request for something

We are making a plea all companies to stop polluting the environment.

5. Languish: to continue for a long time without activity or progress in an unpleasant or unwanted situation

Older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave.

Why we should study abroad?

Lately, the rush of studying abroad has been gaining its popularity at an amazing rate. A vast majority of the parents have sent their children to western countries. Is it a benediction or a malediction? In my point of view, I suppose that the pros of studying abroad overweigh the cons.

Admittedly, we cannot ignore that studying abroad has its drawbacks. For one thing, every year those who have been studying in western countries have to spend approximately 15,000 US$ for tuition fees which are out of budget of average families. Moreover, we have to face the barrier of communication because of the dissimilar lifestyle and teaching means adopted by the western universities, which does engender many students involved in disoriented rather than adapt to the local life.

Nevertheless, another side of coin of studying abroad is definitely exciting. Firstly, most of western universities, equipped with better facilities and well-educated professional team, can help students have easy access to the latest knowledge of the latest knowledge of this society. It will undoubtedly dedicate to students to enhance their knowledge of technology and serve their homeland when they return to their home countries.

Furthermore, a degree acquired in a western university that are recognized by major countries, along with excellent foreign language skills, undeniably would guarantee a promising position in a joint venture company, which, to some extent, means high income and social status. Last but not least, living abroad for years, we may experience a totally different life in contacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. Therefore, we will have a chance to establish our individual networks that will promote our business in the future.

To sum up, after all factors being taken into consideration, we might come to a conclusion that the advantages of studying abroad surpass its disadvantages. Albeit it may cause some difficulties for students, which can be overcome by arduous work, studying overseas will reward those people a brilliant future. So, lets study abroad.

Complain in writing versus in person

I would actually prefer not to complain at all, and in cases where it is really necessary to do so, I would most likely complain by phone. Although, in order to stay within the topic let us compare two given possibilities; complaining in writing and complaining in person.

Complaining in person enables us to interact personally with a real person who represent the company where we purchased a product from. This method of complaining definitely gives certain advantages as opposed to complaining in writing. For instance, one can always ask to speak with a manager if he would find a clerk's answer not good enough. And this approach also enables us to take the reason of complaining with us and actually demonstrate to the manufacturer or seller what is the actual problem is.

On the other hand, complaining in writing has its own advantages and could serve as a very powerful tool to a sophisticated complainer who knows how to fight for rights. Firstly, words written on paper could serve as a latter proof in court, if, of course, the dispute would go that far. Also in some cases the company we purchased a product from may not have live representatives available in your region, and therefore, complaining in writing could save you unnecessary long trip. Finally, writing a letter with complains could save you a lot of aggravation that you always risk to get by complaining in person.

All in all, based on those opinions above, I personally prefer to complain as less as possible, although if I had to choose from two forms of complaining, I would choose to do it in writing. I am sure it is going to be worth it.

Recipe of Oat Cookies

It has been a few days before the prestigious month ever which is Syawal, I was trying so hard to find some recipes for the Eid cookies that would be easy to make and of course delicious. Alhamdulillah I found some of them. At first, I was thinking to share with you all about the recipe of the "Almond London" which is my favourite cookies, but it has so many ingredients and directions on how making it. Then, I asked my aunt for the book about the recipes of Eid oat cookies that she has been using it for quite some time. It's helped me a lot. All the cookies are easy to make as easy as ABC I guess and I found out that one of them is the easiest one to make. Only four ingredients are required. It is so mouthwatering.

My aunt said that she’s learned all the recipes since she was 5 years old with her friends. I’m sure, this is the traditional recipe. Basically, the traditional cookies taste better than their look. Now, I’m going to share with you guys the recipe of the Eid Oat cookies. Enjoy!

First, the ingredients that you need are:

150 grams of instant oat

200 grams of ghee

100 grams of fine sugar

200 grams of wheat flour

Directions:

1. Weigh all the ingredients above and mix them up. Make sure all the ingredients are well mixed. Basically, we will add a few of ghee to the dough because its quality is slightly different from the other oil.

2. After the dough has well mixed, take it and put it on your palms. Roll it on your palms in order to make a ball shape.

3. Put them on a tray and splash a little bit of yolk on the surface of them cookies.

4. Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius and bake the cookies for about 10-20 minutes.

BABADOOK EID

BABADOOK...!!!

Just want to share about the movie that I’ve watched together with my friends and my lecturer entitled BABADOOK.

ba..ba..dook…dook... let me in! ba ba dook .. Arghhhhhh!!!!

Guess what?? What is that sound actually... It's a ghost, HAHAHA!!! Really, it is a sound of a monster in a horror movie. The movie entitled BABADOOK. Hmm, quite horror, but not too scary, for me. InshaAllah. Um, the story basically is about a woman who cannot accept the lost of her husband. Consequently, she does not manage to take care of herself and her son well. Um, and they are haunted by the monster- BABADOOK- in their house.

However, actually the story has lots of literal meaning. Every scene happens is symbolized on something. For the first time I watched, I can't relate the woman's life and the Babadook. I just think it is a movie, so that's it. However, my friend, Syamil has explained the movie symbolically to all of us- his classmates.

Here is what he says.... (But these are my words)

Babadook, it symbolizes the woman's grief. She cannot accept the lost of her husband, and that makes her lives in... Sort of not a reality. She does not fight with her feeling and because of that her son's welfare is not well managed. Same goes to the Babadook. When Babadook chase them-the woman and her son, she does not believe it, and just deny it. So, Babadook becomes stronger and influences her to kill her son. However, when she starts to be brave and fights (screaming loudly at) with the Babadook, Babadook fears of her. And, she successfully safe her life and her son’s life. So, if she just accepts the lost of her husband and just move on, she can manage their life well. 

Oh, now I see the symbolization. Thanks, yeah. Okay then, I guess all of us see it now, right? Bye. I have to restart this laptop first due to certain inconvenient. Assalamualaikum :) Happy Eid Lovelies...

Oats are not just for breakfast

Your memories of oatmeal may include a steaming bowl of brown sugar flecked goodness with cream or maybe a gummy paste you wished you had missed. Regardless of your memory of oatmeal, oats are not just a breakfast cereal anymore. In fact, oats are widely used as the ingredient in making dishes for lunch and even dinner.

Oatmeal comes from oats (Avena sativa), a cereal grain grown in North America since the 1600s. Canada has produced nutritious high quality oats for decades and agricultural statistics show Canada produced more than 5 million tonnes in 2007. Did you know that Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia are our main oat producers? Although oats are grown mainly for livestock feed (cattle and horses), more and more people are eating them.

Oats are a health food with many non-food uses as well. Besides classic porridge, oats are an ingredient in beverages, snack bars, flour, beer, ice cream, and beauty products. In home kitchens, we use oatmeal (rolled oats) in meatloaf, cookies, and granola. Oatmeal is even a facial cleanser. Oats have come a long way from animal fodder!

A high fibre grain low in fat, sugar, and sodium, oats are heart healthy and fit well with recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide. Soluble fibre in oats helps lower bad cholesterol and insoluble fibre helps prevent constipation. Oats give energy, protein and important vitamins and minerals like folate, calcium, and iron. As part of overall healthy food choices, oats help prevent and manage diabetes and heart disease, and help with weight control.

If you are not an oatmeal eater, try adding rolled oats in other recipes to gain the health benefits. This vegetable and oat recipe uses common garden vegetables. Use your garden vegetable harvest or any in-season fall vegetables of your choice for a hearty healthy “oat” meal.

Ultraviolet Rays : A Hazard to Our Vision

Ultra violet rays, more commonly known as UV, are rays from light which humans cannot see and feel. UV rays have been proven to be extremely harmful to the human and also environment. There are many bad consequences could happen due to the UV rays. Excessive exposure to UV rays have been linked to premature skin ageing, cataracts, cancer, crow’s feet, macular degeneration and pinguecula.

Most people are aware that the sun is the main source of UV rays. What we do not realize is that many others mediums around us also produce UV rays, such as computer screens, television, light bulbs, even your mobile phone. UV rays are still at work even on cloudy days or when sitting under the fluorescent light. In facts, today’s modern world where we are surrounded by technology expose us to UV rays 365 days a year!

In order to protect our skin, many people practice the habit of applying sunscreen or long-sleeved tops and long pants when heading outdoors or in the office all day long. However, how many would have thought of protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays? Do not take for guaranteed about the UV rays because it can become extremely dangerous especially when you got too much exposure from it.

Therefore, all of you are recommended to buy sunglasses because a pair of good sunglasses can shield your eyes from harmful UV rays. When indoors, glasses that are coated with UV protection is recommended especially for those who are in front of the computer all day long. Even though it looks funny to wear sunglasses when you are doing your job in front of the computer, but it really helps you to protect your eyes, thus your eyes health will be guaranteed. After all, your eyes are the windows to your soul!

The United States Food and Drug Administration also recommends purchasing light bulbs with a double coat to cut the intensity of UV rays indoors. Left unprotected, UV rays can cause eye diseases such as:

PTERYGIUM – UVB is related to the formation of pterygia, a raised, wedge-shaped growth of the conjunctiva that can grow over the cornea and affect vision.

CATARACTS – UV accelerates the appearance of cataract, which causes a partial or complete loss of transparency of the crystalline lens.

PREMATURE AGEING – UV damages skin and causes up to 90% of visible premature ageing. About 5-10% of skin cancers occur on the eyelid.

PINGUECULITIS – UV causes a benign, yellowish growth on the conjunctiva that may cause irritation and dryness called a pinguecula. Pingueculitis develops when the pinguecula becomes acutely inflamed.