Tuesday, May 11, 2010 Radio Amateur Examination Results (RAE 2010-1) The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is pleased to announce the results of the Radio Amateur Examination (RAE) conducted throughout Malaysia on 14 April 2010 To check results online visit http://rae.skmm.gov.my/rae_2010_1.asp

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MARTS ALIVE AND KICKING

To all that have been faithfully following this blog spot, Firstly my sincerest apologies for not updating this blog and for not posting any news relating to MARTS. Now for the good news, (so to speak) MARTS will be having its AGM for this year and the reports will be made available to the members in benefit. Any questions about the new constitution will be answered in detail at the AGM under 'other matters arising'. MARTS have submitted numerous papers to the MCMC for the betterment of the amateur radio hobbyist and the web site will have the full details when approved by MCMC. Keep aiming for the stars.

OATMEAL AND BANANA PANCAKES

OATMEAL AND BANANA PANCAKES Posted: 07 Sep 2011 08:31 PM PDT 1 1/3 cups fat-free milk 1/2 cup quick cook oats 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 egg, beaten 2 tsp canola oil 1 large banana, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices 1/2 cup sugar-free strawberry preserves In a large mixing bowl combine the milk and oats; allow to set for 10 minutes. Sift the flours and baking powder together. Add the flour mixture, egg, and canola oil to the oats; stir together until moistened but do not beat. Stir in the banana. Spray griddle with nonstick cooking spray and heat up over medium heat. Drop the batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto the hot griddle. Cook about 3 minutes until bubbles form on on the tops and bottoms are browned. Turn and cook another minute or two until second side is browned. Microwave the preserves on high until syrupy, about a minute or so. Serve this syrup with the pancakes. Yield: 6 servings of 3 pancakes and 2 tablespoons of the syrup. 176 calories, 3 g (1 sat) fat, 35 g carbs, 6 g protein, 36 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 198 mg sodium To improve carb to protein ratio, I always recommend a couple slices of bacon or sausage (turkey or protein products are okay) with a serving of pancakes.

AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED

AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED

You have been given an opportunity of a lifetime. A business operates twenty four hours a day. The owner wishes to take a holiday and has requested you to run the business for one month. The arrangement is that for every second that you will personally man the business, you will get paid Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred. If you have to leave the business for any necessity, the person who relieves you will get the money for the duration of time that you are out! You have obviously grabbed the opportunity with open arms.

OVER-TIME

First, let the above scenario settle in the mind. Now imagine that the month of running the business has just commenced. A close friend phones to invite you to a lavish function. “You must come,” he urges. Your almost spontaneous reply would perhaps be: “I am sorry but I am very busy and will not be able to attend.”
The first weekend comes. Your children want to “go out for a drive.” “Not today. I am very busy,” says their father. The children’s mother also wholeheartedly agrees. After all she is also dreaming every night about what she will do with the Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred per second that her husband is earning. Hence she does not ask to be taken anywhere. How can she even think of it? Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred per second — and just for one month only! And you … well obviously you are working beyond the limits of overtime. No time to eat in peace. Only the minimal amount of sleep. No shopping. No “drives.” No time to sit around with friends over coffee. And entertainment? Whatever is that? The very word sounds unfamiliar. All this due to the once in a lifetime opportunity of earning Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred per second for one month.

ANSWER ON DAY OF JUDGMENT

Yet, if the person who slogged for the entire month to earn Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred per second … passes away on the thirtieth day, the wealth he earned will be of no use to him. He cannot take it along to his grave. If he does live to use it, the tax-man will be there to first take his share. He will have to worry about how to protect his wealth. Besides this, he will have to answer on the Day of Judgment about how he earned it and where he spent it. Generally, despite the abovementioned problems we will grab the opportunity of running the business for one month.

PETTY CASH

Allah Ta’ala is also granting us a lifetime’s opportunity. The month of Ramadhan with its unlimited blessings is here. One month in earnings at the rate of Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred per second cannot even be called petty cash in comparison to the rewards that Allah Ta’ala grants and the blessings and mercy that He showers in the month of Ramadhan. Every Ramadhan must be treated as a once in a lifetime opportunity since we have no idea whether we will live till the next Ramadhan.
What are the rewards of good deeds in the month of Ramadhan? The reward of every Fardu (compulsory) act is multiplied seventy times while every Sunat (optional) act earns the reward of one Fardu out of Ramadhan. It is important to understand the latter aspect in its proper perspective. Tahajjud Salat (in the last third of the night) is an extremely great ibadah. Great virtues have been narrated for this Salat. However, a lifetime of Tahajjud cannot equal one Fardu of Salat Fajr! Yet in the month of Ramadhan Allah Ta’ala grants us the reward of a Fardu action for every Sunat performed.

ENTERTAINMENT?

Thus, can we afford to waste this time? Can we still have time for “drives?” Is it possible for a person who values Ramadhan in a similar manner that he values Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred a second, to spend hours “eating out” at after taraweh feasts, or have time for other idle pursuits? Can we afford to spend valuable time glued to the airwaves listening to the “opinions” and “views” of all and sundry in Din matters whereas that time could have been used to at least recite Al Fatihah? And entertainment? Have we heard that word before??? Thus the last thing that any Muslim who values Ramadhan will bother about is who somewhere in the world is whacking a little red ball all over a field or who is kicking a ball between two posts!!!

SHORTEST TARAWEEH

Thus it also does not behoove of people who value Ramadhan to try to “save time” from the performance of ibadah. Many people “work out” the shortest taraweh — where they will be able to leave in the shortest possible time and head for the food outlets where ample time will be whiled away. Think of the Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred per second. We would break the records for over-time work. Thus in Ramadhan we should break the record for the amount of time spent in Salat, tilaawah (recitation of the Qur’an), zikr, dua, etc. Ramadhan is not a month to “save” time from the performance of these acts. Rather it is a month to engage every moment possible in these acts. Apart from Salat, tilawat, etc., Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has himself stressed upon us to excessively engage in some practices. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: “And in this month you should endeavor to perform four things in great number, two of which shall be to please your Rabb, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot make do. Those which shall be to please your Rabb are that you should in great abundance recite the “Kalima Tayyiba” (Laa ilaaha il’lallah) and make much istighfaar (beg Allah’s forgiveness with Astaghfirullah). And as for those two without which you cannot make do, you should beg Allah for entry into paradise and seek refuge with him from the fire of Jahannam.”

ONE MONTH

While one should engage to the maximum in the above good deeds, the purpose of Ramadhan must be kept foremost in mind, which is to acquire Taqwa (Allah-awareness and piety). Thus together with the maximum amount of righteous actions one must totally refrain from all sins. One month of strictly conducting oneself in this manner will Insha-Allah have the effect of enabling one to live the next eleven months in a similar manner — in the complete obedience of Allah Ta’ala.

May Allah Ta’ala enable us to appreciate and value the month of Ramadhan — more than what we value Ringgit Malaysia Two Hundred per second.

de 9W2SBS

Type 2 Diabetics

Many people with Type 2 diabetes use plants, or plant parts, for the self-management of their medical problems. This is what most people refer to as herbal medicine, botanical medicine, or phytomedicine. In the United States more than one-third of people with diabetes use herbal or traditional and alternative medicine alone, or in combination with their prescribed anti-diabetic medication, according to the Johns Hopkins Point-of-Care Information Technology Center (Johns Hopkins POC-IT Center).

There are many types of herbal preparations used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. In fact, in almost every culture there is one herbal medicine intended for the management of increased blood sugar levels. However, there are only a few tested and evaluated systematically and scientifically for this purpose.

Here is a list of the most commonly used herbal and medicinal plants for the management of Type 2 diabetes:

Ginseng: Ginseng is one of the most popular medicinal herbs globally. There are two major types of this herb:

Asian ginseng, the Panax ginseng
American ginseng, the Panax quinquefolius.

The active compounds in the ginseng herbs that makes them useful are the ginsenosides. According to one particular study, information from the Johns Hopkins POC-IT Center states ginsenosides can potentially improve insulin resistance. Ginseng can be safely used at a dosage of 1 to 3 grams per day. However, the adverse effects of using this herbal medicine include:

hypertension,
headache,
insomnia,
nervousness and palpitations, and
nausea.

Ginseng is also known to interact with the action of warfarin, an anticoagulant (more commonly referred to as a blood thinner). Ginseng unfortunately causes warfarin to be less effective.

Cinnamon: There is new evidence cinnamon can be helpful in regulating blood sugar. Cinnamon is not just another spice that can be used for cooking and baking. According to Johns Hopkins POC-IT Center, cinnamon can increase the effectiveness of insulin therefore improve your blood sugar level. Human trials indicate that taking between 1/4 and one teaspoon of cinnamon every day helps control blood sugar levels. However, various results from other studies contradict these findings. The safety profile of cinnamon is clean and there are no drug interactions noted with the use of cinnamon.

Bitter melon: Different cultures and traditions used bitter melon (Momordica charantia) for the management of diabetes. Many people believe it can decrease insulin resistance… bitter melon is composed of several compounds with confirmed blood sugar lowering properties. It must be pointed out though, clinical trials regarding this herb show contradicting results. Although taking as little as 2 ounces of the juice has shown good results in clinical trials, adverse effects with the use of bitter melon include:

gastrointestinal symptoms, and
favism, or bursting of red blood cells,

with the ingestion of seeds in certain G6PD deficient diabetics.

Fenugreek: The herb fenugreek is one of the most impressive natural substances helpful for people with diabetes. Fenugreek is a traditional spice often used in curry in Asia and the Mediterranean countries. Fenugreek is believed to contain 4-hydroxyisoleucine, a chemical that can enhance insulin production and secretion by the pancreas. Some clinical studies claim its effectiveness in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood sugar much the same way that drugs in the class of sulfonylureas (such as glyburide) do. Adverse reactions related to fenugreek use include:

dizziness,
flatulence, and
diarrhea.

However, no herb to drug interaction has been observed.

Fenugreek helps you lose weight because the seeds of fenugreek are rich in dietary fiber, so it delays stomach emptying and after-eating sugar spikes. As the seeds are bitter, taking supplements may be the better choice. As lowered blood sugar is an expected effect of using fenugreek, if you combine it with medications and do not monitor yourself properly, you could find yourself with very low blood sugar. Make sure you see your doctor regularly to supervise your regimen.

Beverleigh Piepers RN… the Diabetes Detective.

Type 2 diabetes

People diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are often misinformed as to what foods they are supposed to stay away from. Simply listing a category of food isn’t enough as it is not always such a clear-cut case. Sometimes it is better to be much more specific so that a diabetic isn’t limiting themselves unnecessarily.

Sugar, for example, is a definite enemy. But there are many other places white refined sugar can hide instead of in the obvious doughnut or brownie. Your favorite condiments, from mustard to ketchup and relish are loaded with it. White bread is notoriously high in sugar. (Also, any food such as bread made with white refined flour is bad for you… it starts out naturally brown and is whitened by a chemical process which forms another substance called alloxan, which is known to destroy pancreatic function!) In fact, white bread breaks down into pure sugar before it can even be swallowed. Crackers, waffle and pancake mixes are also full of the “white stuff”.

You were probably told to avoid foods with a high concentration of fat, but what does that really mean? Avoiding all saturated and trans fats would be good, but this would take a lot of policing to accomplish. It’s almost impossible to completely eliminate all saturated and trans fats from your food. The best way to handle fat in your food, is to limit it as much as possible. Look at food labels and take into account how much fat is in each serving… not the entire container. This is the key.

Vegetables are good for you, so they can’t be on the list of foods to avoid… right? Wrong. Having a free-reign on all vegetables is never a good idea. First, you have to see the way the vegetables are packaged. Canned vegetables can still be high in sugar. Frozen vegetables can be stripped of vital nutrients with harmful preservatives added back in.

Even in their raw form, there are some vegetables to stay away from. Corn, certain types of squash, sweet potatoes and the dreaded white potatoes all should be avoided whenever possible.

Are you eating sugar-free products? You may unknowingly still be consuming sucralose, an artificial sweetener not recommended for diabetics. Read labels if you want to find the hidden ingredient of sucralose or other artificial sweeteners. Also remember, many sugar-free foods are not healthy for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Foods can also have another hidden danger: salt. Otherwise known as sodium, salt can inflict an incredible amount of harm on a body in a relatively short amount of time. A major problem with salt is that it can be hidden in virtually any type of food imaginable. Frozen foods are laced with it as part of their processing. Canned foods, especially the seemingly harmless vegetables and canned meats, are filled with salt. This is what gives them their long shelf life.

Processed foods, no matter what kind you are talking about, are loaded with salt. The best way to identify the salt content is to look closely at the label. Remember to take into account the number of servings, and not just the salt content per serving.

If you want to limit salt, always go with fresh foods.