Mejuah-juah

Tuhan si masu-masu

Minggu, 26 Desember 2010

11 Tips Hilangkan Bau Busuk Sepatu

Ini tips ringan yang mungkin berguna bagi para orang-orang yang mempunyai bau kaki yang mengerikan. Ini bukan berati melecehkan tetapi benar karena ada orang yang memang mempunyai bau sepatu yang mengerikan. Dan banyak orang yang terganggu dengan bau sepatu tersebut, kadang kita pun menjadi tidak confiden dengan bau sepatu tersebut ketika harus melepasnya didepan umum. Kerena jika melepas didepan umum saat keadaan tertentu kita kadang tidak bisa menghindar.



1. Baking soda merupakan zat penghilang bau dan tentunya bisa digunakan untuk mengatasi bau pada sepatu Anda. Caranya, taburkan baking soda ke dalam sepatu Anda pada malam hari. Biarkan selama satu malam. Pagi harinya, bersihkan baking soda tersebut. Bau pada sepatu Anda akan hilang. Selain itu, Anda juga bisa menaburkan bedak baby ke dalam sepatu.

2. Biarkan sepatu bernapas. Setelah dipakai, lepaskan tali sepatu Anda kemudian keluarkan alas sepatu. Letakkan di tempat yang terbuka. Angin akan membawa udara segar ke dalam dan sekaligus mengeringkan keringat. Selain itu, menggunakan kembali sepatu yang telah dianginkan akan membuat Anda merasa lebih nyaman.

3. Hindari menggunakan sepatu yang sama selama 2 hari berturut-turut.

4. Gunakan sol dalam sepatu. Sol ini bisa dilepaskan dan dipakai ulang. Dengan begitu lebih mudah dibersihkan.

5. Cucilah kaos kaki Anda dengan menggunakan produk-produk yang mengandung desinfektan. Ini bisa mencegah munculnya bau pada kaos kaki dan sepatu Anda. Selain itu, pastikan Anda memakai kaos kaki yang bersih setiap harinya.

6. Pastikan Anda mencuci dan mengeringkan kaki terlebih dahulu sebelum memakai sepatu.

7. Jika sepatu basah, letakkan di tempat terbuka. Jika hujan, pastikan dulu sepatu Anda kering sebelum meletakkannya di tempat sepatu atau sebelum memakainya kembali. Jika ada air di dalamnya, sepatu akan segera berbau busuk dalam jangka waktu kurang dari satu hari.

8. Pakailah antriprespiran pada kaki. Anda bisa menggunakan pelembab sebelum memakai sepatu, dengan begitu kaki tidak akan berkeringat dan tentunya mencegah bau yang tidak sedap.

9. Jangan lupa memakai kaos kaki, ini akan membantu menyerap keringat dan mencegah pertumbuhan bakteri di dalam sepatu.

10. Jangan lupa juga memelihara kaki Anda. Jika ada jamur, segera tangani. Penebalan kulit juga sering menahan bau keringat bahkan setelah mandi. Karena itu, gosoklah kaki secara perlahan dengan menggunakan batu apung. Hal ini bisa membantu mengangkat kulit tebal pada kaki.

11. Karena bau sebenarnya disebabkan oleh bakteri, Anda juga bisa menghilangkan bau dengan menyemprotkan alkohol ke dalam sepatu.

Sabtu, 25 Desember 2010

Hati Cerah Berkat Tidur dalam Gelap

Jangan pernah anggap remeh kehadiran lampu dalam kamar. Selain berfungsi sebagai alat penerangan, tata cahaya juga ikut memengaruhi psikologis kita. Sebuah riset menunjukkan, tidur dalam kondisi kamar yang terang bisa memengaruhi mood seseorang.

Para pakar saraf telah mempelajari bahwa tidur dengan lampu yang masih menyala, bahkan lampu tidur yang remang-remang, akan berpengaruh pada keseimbangan kimia dan struktur dalam otak. Lampu yang menyala juga menghambat pengeluaran hormon melatonin, yang membantu tubuh untuk tidur dengan nyenyak.

Kesimpulan yang dihasilkan oleh tim peneliti dari Ohio State University memang baru berangkat dari uji coba perbandingan pada hewan di laboratorium. Satu kelompok hewan dibiarkan tidur dalam lampu yang terang dan satu lagi tidur dalam kondisi gelap.

Peneliti menyimpulkan, kondisi tidur yang baik seharusnya gelap gulita. "Bahkan, lampu yang redup sekalipun bisa menyebabkan perubahan kimiawi di otak, terlebih setelah kondisi tidur selama 8 jam. Dalam jangka panjang hal ini bisa menyebabkan rasa depresi," kata Tracy Bedrosian, peneliti.

Saat "Ngemil" Kacang, Batasi Takarannya

Pada dasarnya kacang adalah bahan makanan yang menyehatkan asalkan kita tahu takaran dan cara tepat untuk mengolahnya.
Di dalam bahasa Inggris, kacang dibagi menjadi kelompok nuts dan legume. Beans masuk dalam kelompok legume. Di dalam bahasa Indonesia, semua itu disebut sebagai kacang saja.
Saat belanja di swalayan, kita akan menemukan berbagai bentuk dan jenis kacang. Ada yang kering, beku, segar, kalengan, bakar, sudah diberi bumbu, atau masih polos. Ada kacang merah, kacang pinto, kacang hitam, pistachio, dan kidney bean.
Tak perlu bingung karena ada banyak jenis kacang. Ikuti panduan praktis berikut untuk memilihnya:
1. Jika membeli kacang kering, coba lihat dulu teksturnya. Jangan pilih yang berlubang atau yang sudah berubah warna. Pilih yang warnanya cerah dan bentuknya masih utuh.
2. Apabila memerlukan kacang untuk segera dimasak, pilihlah kacang kalengan. Jika kita harus membatasi asupan garam (agar terhindar dari sakit darah tinggi), periksa dulu kandungan garam dalam kacang kalengan yang kita beli. Konsumsi garam tidak dianjurkan lebih dari 1.500 mg per hari untuk orang dewasa.
3. Jika ingin membatasi asupan minyak atau lemak lebih baik pilih kacang kulit atau kacang yang direbus, bakar, atau kacang panggang (roasted).
4. Jika kacang yang kita minati ternyata tidak tersedia, atau kita bingung dengan namanya yang asing, cari penggantinya. Misalnya, kacang merah bisa diganti kacang azuki, kacang pinto dengan kacang polong, sedangkan kidney bean relatif mudah ditemukan di supermarket mana saja. Bentuknya mirip kacang merah, hanya saja lebih besar.
Perlu diingat, jenis kacang yang satu dengan yang lain berbeda rasa dan gizinya. Yang bisa kita lakukan jika kacang yang kita mau tidak tersedia adalah mencari penggantinya yang mirip, tetapi tidak bisa sama persis.
Takaran yang dianjurkan
Sama halnya dengan jenis makanan lain, mengonsumsi kacang juga sebaiknya tepat takaran. Anjurannya adalah sekitar 30 gram setiap hari. Tigapuluh gram kacang mengandung 160-200 kalori, yang kebanyakan berasal dari lemak tak jenuh tunggal dan ganda. Selain itu, kacang juga bisa menjadi salah satu sumber protein nabati yang cukup baik.
Sebagai camilan, tak jarang kacang bisa membuat kita lepas kontrol saking nikmatnya. Apalagi kalau kita makan langsung dari wadah atau kemasan. Sebelum habis, kita belum berhenti mengunyahnya. Efek makan berlebihan, yang bisa membuat berat badan melonjak, jadi terlupakan.
Untuk menghindari hal ini, siapkan camilan kacang dalam porsi kecil, yaitu tidak lebih dari takaran yang direkomendasikan (30 gram). Pilihlah jenis kacang kulit untuk memperlambat waktu makan karena kita harus mengupasnya lebih dulu. Jika kita sudah bisa makan kacang dengan porsi yang sehat, tak perlu khawatir lagi soal jerawat atau berat badan. Bahkan, tubuh kita jadi lebih sehat karenanya.
Kalori dalam kacang
Beda jenis kacang, beda jumlah kalorinya. Cek berapa kalori yang terkandung di dalam 30 gram kacang kesukaan Anda.
Kacang tanah panggang kering, dengan garam (30 butir), 170 kalori
Kacang tanah panggang kering, tanpa garam (30 butir), 160 kalori
Kacang tanah campuran (30 butir), 170 kalori
Kacang tanah panggang madu (30 butir), 150 kalori
Kacang almon (24 butir), 160 kalori
Kacang brasil (7 butir), 170 kalori
Kacang mete (20 butir), 170 kalori
Kacang kenari (14 butir), 180 kalori
Kacang pistachio tanpa cangkang (47 butir), 170 kalori
Kacang macadamia (11 butir), 200 kalori

101 different ways of saying 'I love you'

The English dictionary describes love as deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

Here 'I love you' as defined in relationships between people, with translations from many different languages and dialects.
1. Afrikaans - Ek is lief vir jou
2. Albanian - te dua
3. Alentejano (Portugal) - Gosto De Ti, Porra!
4. Alsacien (Elsass) - Ich hoan dich gear
5. Amharic (Aethio.) - Afekrishalehou
6. Arabic - Ana Ahebak / Ana Bahibak
7. Armenian - yes kez shat em siroom
8. Assamese - Moi tomak bhal pau
9. Assyr - Az tha hijthmekem
10. Bahasa Malayu (Malaysia) - Saya cinta mu
11. Bambara - M'bi fe
12. Bangla - Ami tomakay bala basi
13. Bangladeschi - Ami tomake walobashi
14. Basque - Nere maitea
15. Batak - Holong rohangku di ho
16. Bavarian - tuI mog di
17. Belarusian - Ya tabe kahayu
18. Bengali - Ami tomake bhalobashi
19. Berber - Lakh tirikh
20. Bicol - Namumutan ta ka
21. Bisaya - Nahigugma ako kanimo
22. Bolivian Quechua - Qanta munani
23. Bosnian - Ja te volim (formally) or volim-te Turkish seni seviyorum
24. Bulgarian - As te obicham
25. Bulgarian - Obicham te
26. Burmese - chit pa de
27. Cambodian (to the female) - bon saleng oun
28. Cambodian (to the male) - oun saleng bon
29. Canadian French - Je t'adore ("I love you")
30. Canadian French - Je t'aime ("I like you")
31. Catalan - T'estim (mallorcan)
32. Cebuano - Gihigugma ko ikaw
33. Chamoru (or Chamorro) - Hu guaiya hao
34. Cherokee - Tsi ge yu i
35. Cheyenne - Ne mohotatse
36. Chichewa - Ndimakukonda
37. Chickasaw - Chiholloli (first 'i' nasalized)
38. Chinese - Ngo oi ney a (Cantonese)
39. Chinese - Wuo ai nee (Mandarin)
40. Corsican - Ti tengu cara (to female)
41. Corsican - Ti tengu caru (to male)
42. Creol - Mi aime jou
43. Croatian - Volim te (used in common speech)
44. Czech - Miluji Te
45. Danish - Jeg elsker dig
46. Dutch - Ik hou van jou
47. Dutch - Jeg elsker dig
48. Ecuador Quechua - Canda munani
49. English - I love thee (used only in Christian context)
50. English - I love you
51. Eskimo - Nagligivaget
52. Esperanto - Mi amas vim
53. Estonian - Ma armastan sind / Mina armastan sind (formal)
54. Ethiopia - afekereshe alhu
55. Faroese - Eg elski teg
56. Farsi - Tora dost daram
57. Filipino - Mahal ka ta
58. Finnish (Minä) rakastan sinua
59. Flemish (Ghent) - 'k'ou van ui
60. French (formal) - Je vous aime
61. Friesian - Ik hald fan dei
62. Gaelic - Tá mé i ngrá leat
63. Galician - Querote (or) Amote
64. Georgian - Miquar shen
65. German - Ich liebe Dich
66. Ghanaian - Me dor wo
67. Greek - agapo se
68. Greek - S'agapo
69. Greenlandic - Asavakit
70. Gronings - Ik hol van die
71. Gujarati - oo tane prem karu chu
72. Hausa - Ina sonki
73. Hawaiian - Aloha au ia`oe
74. Hebrew - Ani ohevet ota
75. Hiligaynon - Guina higugma ko ikaw
76. Hindi - Main tumsey pyaar karta hoon / Maine Pyar Kiya
77. Hmong - Kuv hlub koj
78. Hokkien - Wa ai lu
79. Hopi - Nu' umi unangwa'ta
80. Hungarian - Szeretlek te'ged
81. Icelandic - Eg elska thig
82. Ilocano - Ay ayating ka
83. Indi - Mai Tujhe Pyaar Kartha Ho
84. Indonesian - Saya cinta padamu ('Saya', commonly used)
85. Inuit - Negligevapse
86. Iranian - Mahn doostaht doh-rahm
87. Irish - taim i' ngra leat
88. Italian - Ti amo/Ti voglio bene
89. Japanese - Anata wa, dai suki desu
90. Javanese (formal) - Kulo tresno marang panjenengan
91. Javanese (informal) - aku terno kowe
92. Kannada - Naanu ninna preetisuttene
93. Kapampangan - Kaluguran daka
94. Kenya (Kalenjin) - Achamin
95. Kenya (Kiswahili) - Ninakupenda
96. Kikongo - Mono ke zola nge (mono ke' zola nge')
97. Kiswahili - Nakupenda
98. Konkani - Tu magel moga cho
99. Korean - SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei
100. Kurdish - Khoshtm Auyt
101. Laos - Chanrackkun
102. Latin - Te amo
103. Latvian - Es mîlu Tevi
104. Lebanese - Bahibak
105. Lingala - Nalingi yo
106. Lithuanian - As Myliu Tave
107. Lojban - mi do prami
108. Luo - Aheri
109. Luxembourgeois - Ech hun dech gäer
110. Macedonian - Jas Te Sakam
111. Madrid - lingo Me molas, tronca
112. Maiese - Wa wa
113. Malay - Saya cintakan mu / Saya cinta mu
114. Maltese - Inhobbok hafna
115. Marathi - Me tula prem karto
116. Mohawk - Kanbhik
117. Moroccan - Ana moajaba bik
118. Nahuatl - Ni mits neki
119. Navaho - Ayor anosh'ni
120. Ndebele - Niyakutanda
121. Nigeria (Hausa) - Ina sonki
122. Nigeria (Yoruba langauge) - Mo fe ran re
123. Norwegian - Jeg elsker deg
124. Osetian - Aez dae warzyn
125. Pakistan (Urdu) - May tum say pyar karta hun
126. Pandacan - Syota na kita!!
127. Pangasinan - Inaru Taka
128. Papiamento - Mi ta stimabo
129. Persian - Tora Doost Darem
130. Pig Latin - I-yea Ove-lea Ou-yea
131. Polish - Kocham Cie
132. Portuguese (Brazilian) - Eu te amo
133. Punjabi - me tumse pyar ker ta hu'
134. Quenya - Tye-mela'ne
135. Romanian - Te ador (stronger)
136. Romanian - Te iubesc
137. Russian - Ya tyebya lyublyu
138. Samoan - Ou te alofa outou
139. Sanskrit - tvayi snihyaami
140. Scottish Gaelic - Tha gra\dh agam ort
141. Serbo-Croatian - Volim te
142. Setswana - Ke a go rata
143. Shona - Ndinokuda
144. Sign language - Spread hand out so no fingers are touching. Bring in middle & ring fingers and touch then to the palm of your hand.
145. Sindhi - Maa tokhe pyar kendo ahyan
146. Singhalese - Mama oyaata aadareyi
147. Slovenian - ljubim te
148. South Sotho - Ke o Rata
149. Spanish - Te quiero / te amo / yo amor
150. Sri Lanka - mame adhare
151. Surinam - Mi lobi joe
152. Swahili - Naku penda
153. Swedish - Jag älskar dig
154. Swiss-German - Ch-ha di gärn
155. Tagalong - Mahal Kita / Iniibig kita
156. Tahitian - Ua here au ia oe
157. Taiwanese - Wa ga ei li
158. Tamil - Naan Unnai Khadalikkeren
159. Telugu - Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu
160. Thailand - Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter
161. Tunisian - Ha eh bak
162. Turkish - Seni Seviyorum
163. Ukrainian - Yalleh blutebeh / ya tebe kohayu
164. Urdu - Mea tum se pyaar karta hu (to a girl)
165. Urdu - Mea tum se pyar karti hu (to a boy)
166. Vietnamese (Females) - Em yeu Anh
167. Vietnamese (Males) - Anh yeu Em
168. Vlaams - Ik hue van ye
169. Vulcan - Wani ra yana ro aisha
170. Welsh - Rwy'n dy garu di
171. Wolof - Da ma la nope
172. Yiddish - Ich han dich lib
173. Yoruba - Mo ni fe
174. Yucatec Maya - 'in k'aatech (the love of lovers)
175. Yugoslavian - Ya te volim
176. Zambia (Chibemba) - Nali ku temwa
177. Zazi - Ezhele hezdege (sp?)
178. Zimbabwe - Ndinokuda
179. Zulu - Mina funani w
Selamat mengucapkan..
Semoga berhsil..

8 Manfaat Minum Teh

Banyak alasan kenapa orang minum teh. Jika anda punya kebiasaan itu,teruskan saja. Ada 8 manfaat yang terkandung dalam satu cangkir teh. Apa saja ?
1. Antioksidan dalam teh dapat melindungi tubuh dari efek polusi dan penuaan dini
2. Mengandung sedikit kafein. 1/8 cangkir kopi mengandung 135 mg kafein, sementara 1 cangkir teh hanya mengandung 30-40 mg kafein sehingga tidak membuat sakit kepala atau susah tidur
3. Mengurangi risiko serangan jantung dan stroke. Teh membuat peredaran darah lancar dan bersih. Hasil studi di Belanda memperlihatkan, orang yang minum 2-3 cangkir teh hitam perhari memiliki sedikit resiko serangan jantung daripada yang tidak pernah minum teh.
4. Perkuat tulang. Ternyata bukan hanya kalsium susu yang membuat tulang anda kuat, orang yang rutin minum teh memiliki massa tulang lebih padat.
5. Putihkan Gigi. Anggapan teh bisa membuat gigi nampak kusam rupanya tidak benar, sebab ternyata teh mengandung fluoride untuk mengusir karang gigi. Lebih bagus lagi jika seusai menggosok gigi, anda berkumur dengan teh tanpa gula.
6. Cegah Infeksi. Kandungan teh bisa memperkuat sistem kekebalan dan menangkal serangan infeksi.
7. Atasi kanker. Zat antioksidan bernama polyphenols yang ada dalam teh dapat memerangi kanker.
8. Bebas kalori. Tanpa tambahan pemanis, gula atau susu, teh tetap bebas kalori.
Dengan begitu, teh bagus dikonsumsi bagi orang yang berdiet atau yang ingin mempertahankan berat badan. Coba konsumsi teh hijau sekitar 4 cangkir per hari. Itu dapat membakar lebih dari 80 kalori yang tertimbun di tubuh.

Inilah Julukan AS bagi Pemimpin Dunia

Dokumen-dokumen Departemen Luar Negeri AS yang bocor dan dipublikasikan situs web Wikileaks mengungkapkan berbagai julukan yang dibuat para diplomat AS bagi sejumlah pemimpin negara di dunia. Berikut ini adalah beberapa dari julukan itu, sebagaiman dilansir Telegraph.co.uk, Selasa (30/11/2010). Dapakah Anda menebak siapa yang dimaksudkan?

Pertanyaan (jawaban di bawah)

01. Siapa yang digambarkan berperilaku seperti "Batman" kepada yuniornya yang dijuluki sebagai "Robin"?

02. Pemimpin Eropa mana yang dinilai diplomat AS sebagai "si lemah, payah, dan tidak efektif"?

03. Pemimpin mana yang dijuluki "kaisar tanpa jubah kebesaran" serta disebut "perasa dan otoriter"?

04. Siapa yang dicap sebagai "Teflon" karena tidak ada yang bisa menempel padanya?

05. Siapa yang disebut "pria yang sangat lemah"?

06. Siapa yang terkungkung oleh "ego dan keyakinannya"?

07. Siapa yang dibandingkan mirip dengan Adolf Hitler?

08. Siapa yang dicap sebagai "lelaki tua yang lembek"?

09. Siapa yang tidak dapat bepergian tanpa seorang perawat Ukraina yang "menggiurkan" dan ketakutan saat terbang di atas air?

10. Siapa yang "merasa yakin akan Tuhan, tetapi tidak memercayai-Nya"?

Jawaban

01. Batman adalah Vladimir Putin, Perdana Menteri Rusia, sementara Robin-nya adalah Dmitry Medvedev, Presiden Rusia.

02. Silvio Berlusconi, Perdana Menteri Italia.

03. Nicholas Sarkozy, Presiden Perancis.

04. Angela Merkel, Kanselir Jerman.

05. Hamid Karzai, Presiden Afganistan.

06. Robert Mugabe, Presiden Zimbabwe.

07. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Presiden Iran.

08. Kim Jong-il pemimpin Korea Utara.

09. Moamer Kadhafi, pemimpin Libya.

10. Tayyip Erdogan, Perdana Menteri Turki.

Jumat, 24 Desember 2010

Keajaiban dalam Kulit Buah dan Sayuran

— Kulit buah atau sayuran memang tidak selezat daging buahnya. Rasanya bisa pahit, asam, atau hambar sehingga orang cenderung membuangnya. Padahal, pada kulit inilah terletak nutrisi yang kerap disebut mampu melawan kanker, meningkatkan energi, dan lain sebagainya itu.
Dr Marilyn Glenville, mantan Presiden Food and Health Forum di Royal Society of -Medicine, mengatakan bahwa semua buah dan sayuran memiliki suatu bio-sinergi, yang artinya manfaat nutrisi dari masing-masing bagian diperkuat oleh yang lain. Di bawah ini ada beberapa buah dan sayuran yang bisa Anda makan bersama kulitnya.

Buah kiwi
Kulit buah kiwi yang berambut mengandung antioksidan yang tinggi, yang diyakini mampu berfungsi sebagai antikanker, antiperadangan, dan antialergen, demikian menurut Dr Glenville. "Kulitnya mengandung antioksidan tiga kali lebih banyak daripada dagingnya. Selain itu juga bisa melawan bakteri, seperti Staphylococcus dan E-coli, yang membuat Anda keracunan makanan," katanya.

Cara memakannya: Jika kulit buah kiwi terasa terlalu asam, pilih buah kiwi jenis gold (bisa Anda beli di hipermarket) yang rasanya memang manis. Kulitnya juga tak terlalu berbulu, tetapi menyediakan manfaat yang sama. Masukkan kulitnya juga jika Anda membuat jus kiwi.

Nanas
Tentu, Anda tidak harus mengunyah kulit nanas yang berduri itu. Yang harus Anda makan adalah bagian tengahnya yang keras. Nanas sendiri kaya akan serat dan vitamin C, dan manfaat utamanya terletak pada enzimnya yang disebut bromelain. Bromelain berfungsi memecahkan makanan, dan jaringan mati yang tinggal di dalam sistem pencernaan sehingga melindungi perut.

"Bagian pusat dari nanas ini mengandung konsentrasi bromelain dua kali lipat daripada daging buahnya," papar Dr Glenville.

Cara memakannya: Tekan dan hancurkan bagian tengahnya, dan tambahkan perasannya ke dalam smoothies. Daging buahnya bisa ditambahkan ke dalam sup atau kaserol untuk memberikan lebih banyak serat.

Brokoli
Yang membuat brokoli menjadi berat ketika ditimbang adalah tangkainya. Tangkai ini biasanya dibuang, padahal tangkai itulah alasan kita mengonsumsi brokoli. "Tangkai brokoli mungkin tidak terlalu terasa seperti bunganya, tetapi memiliki kandungan kalsium dan vitamin C yang lebih tinggi," kata Dr Glenville. Tangkai brokoli juga kaya serat larut sehingga Anda akan merasa kenyang lebih lama.

Cara memakannya: Potong-potong tangkai brokoli menjadi seukuran kentang goreng, lalu tumis atau rebus bersama bahan makanan lain.

Pisang
Para peneliti di Taiwan ¬mendapati bahwa ekstrak kulit pisang bisa menghapus depresi karena kaya akan serotonin, senyawa kimia yang menyeimbangkan mood. Kulit pisang juga baik untuk mata karena mengandung antioksidan lutein yang melindungi sel-sel mata dari paparan sinar ultraviolet. Hal inilah yang bisa menyebabkan katarak.
Cara memakannya: Tim peneliti Taiwan ini menganjurkan untuk merebus kulit pisang selama 10 menit, lalu meminum air rebusannya yang sudah dingin. Atau, masukkan ke dalam juicer, lalu minum jusnya.
Bawang putih
Menurut para peneliti dari Jepang, kulit bawang putih mengandung enam senyawa antioksidan yang berlainan. Mengupas bawang putih bisa menghilangkan antioksidan phenylpropanoid yang membantu melawan proses penuaan dan melindungi jantung.

Cara memakannya: Tuangkan minyak zaitun di atas setengah atau seluruh siung bawang putih, lalu taruh di atas baki bersamaan dengan ayam atau sayuran yang sedang Anda panggang.

Buah-buahan sitrus
Kulit jeruk dan tangerine memiliki jenis antioksidan kuat yang disebut super-flavonoids, yang bisa mengurangi kadar kolesterol jahat secara signifikan, tanpa menurunkan kadar kolesterol baiknya. Antioksidan yang didapatkan dari kulit 20 kali lebih kuat daripada yang didapat dari jus.

"Hal yang sama berlaku untuk semua buah-buahan sitrus," kata Dr Glenville. "Sumsumnya yang berwarna putih mengandung pektin yang tinggi, yaitu komponen serat diet yang diketahui mampu menurunkan kolesterol dan melawannya dengan bakteri baik."

Cara memakannya: Tambahkan parutan kulit buah sitrus ke kembang kol, keju, atau cake dan muffin. Atau, masukkan seluruh buah yang belum dikupas ke dalam juicer sehingga Anda mendapatkan seluruh manfaatnya.

Kentang
Kebanyakan orang tahu bahwa kulit kentang itu sehat, tetapi tak banyak yang tahu alasannya. Kulit adalah sumber nutrisi dari kentang. Sekepal kulit kentang menyediakan separuh dari asupan harian serat larut, potasium, zat besi, fosfor, seng, dan vitamin C. "Per pon-nya, kentang mengandung lebih banyak vitamin C daripada jeruk sehingga baik untuk siapa saja yang ingin mencegah flu," kata Dr Glenville.

Cara memakannya: Jadikan kentang panggang berikut kulitnya, rebus dan tumbuk dengan kulitnya menjadi kentang tumbuk, atau potong-potong menjadi wedges, celupkan ke dalam sedikit minyak zaitun, lalu panggang sebagai potato wedges.

Kamis, 23 Desember 2010

Ungkapan yang dipelesetkan...
1.bersatu kita teguh, bertiga kita Charlie’s Angles
2.Sepandai-pandainya tupai melompat pasti di sate juga
3.Bagai air di daun talas, kurang kerjaan banget ngamatin air di dedaunan
4.Ada gula ada semut. Ada semut disemprot pake Baygon. Ada banyak semut mati
5.Rajin Mangkal, Kaya
6.Air tenang jangan disangka tak ada buaya, tapi ada ikan paus lagi tidur siang
7.Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita ke Take Me Out
8.Rajin pangkal pandai, hemat pangkal kaya, yg enak2 pangkal paha, rame2 pangkal-an ojek
9.Ada ubi, ada talas. Ada budi, ada anduk
10.uang cucuran masyarakat jatuhnya ke DPR juga
11.Semut diseberang lautan keliatan,gajah dipelupuk mata kelilipan

12.cinta di tolak, dukun beranak
13.Jauh di mata, dekat di hati, boros di pulsa.
14.sedikit demi sedikit lama lama BOSAN
15.Bagai kejatuhan durian runtuh, baru kali ini ada orang kejatohan durian seneng
16.Air susu dibalas dengan air kopi item, jadi kopi susu deh
17.bersatu kita teguh,bercerai kita masuk infotainment (moto selebritis)
18.Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing, sama-sama berat mending dipaketin aja gan
19.Air susu dibalas air supply
20.sambil menyelam minumnya tetap teh botol Sosro
21.sate padang sebelum hujan
22.buruk rupa, cermin pun disalahkan
23.Ringan sama dipikul, berat minta bawain
24.Single itu prinsip, jomblo itu nasib
25.Wong ompong nyaring bunyinya
26.Ke bukit sama mendaki, ke lurah bikin KTP
27.Nasir sudah menjadi tukang bubur
28.Dimana ada jalan,disitu banyak mobil
29.bagai kacang lupa atomnya
30.Bagai buah Simalakama, tidak dimakan Ibu mati, dimakan Bapak kimpoi lagi
31.Setinggi-tingginya Bangau terbang, akhirnya jadi kecap juga
32.Buruk muka gak masuk majalah
33.ada uang ada barang, ga ada uang rampok bank

34.Jauh di angkot, dekat naik ojek
35.Air beriak tanda ada yang tenggelam
36.Lebih baik berputih tulang dari pada putih badan karena panuan.
37.Besar Pasal daripada Tilang
38.Tua-tua keladi, udah tua jadi biang keladi
39.Jangan ada janda diantara kita
40.Air beriak tanda ada yang boker
41.tak kenal maka tak sayang, mau kenalan digampar pacar
42.Ada udang dibalik tepung kentucky
43.Bagai telur diujung handuk
44.Bagaikan Jemuran tertiup angin
45.Malu bertanya, sesat di jalan. Banyak bertanya, dikira wartawan.
46.Anjing menggonggong, maling kulkas berlalu.
47.Habis kumis, cukur dibuang.
48. Malu berak, sesak di jalan.
49. Surga anak ada di telapak kaki Ibu, Surga bapak ada di antara kaki Ibu.
50. Sekali melambai, dua tiga banci mengikuti

Hidup susah....jangan ditambah lagi...........

Hidup kadang tidak seperti yang kita bayangkan. Tidak semudah memutar telapak tangan kita. Tapi kita sering tidak sadar akan hal itu. Banyak hal yang kita telah kita alami, yang sangat memudahkan kita dalam berbagai hal tapi tidak kita syukuri. Malah kita sering mempersalahkan diri kita masing-masing. Pada hal seharusnya kita mengucap syukur akan hal tersebut.
Hidup memang penuh dengan perjuangan. Harus banyak hal yang kita lakukan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan kita. Perjuangan itu menandakan bahwa kita menghargai hidup. Jika kita bekerja dengan keringat yang menetes, maka bersyukurlah karena anda masih mengetahui bagaimana cara untuk menghargai hidup anda.
Tidak mungkin bagi seseorang untuk langsung mendapatkan kehidupan yang enak. Anda harus memulainya dari titik nol. Itu akan menjadi lebih baik dari pada anda langsung mendapatkan segala yang anda inginkan. Karena hal tersebut akan membuat anda lebih menghargai apa yang anda telah capai. Bagai pepatah mengatakan “berakit-rakit kita ke hulu, berenang-renang kita ketepian, bersakit-sakit kita dahulu, bersenang –senang kemudian”. Tapi banyak orang tidak sadar akan hal itu. Mereka ingin mencapai segala sesuatu dengan cepat dan dengan segala cara tanpa mempedulikan akibat yang di timbulkan bagi orang lain dan bahkan bagi dirinya sendiri di kemudian hari.
Kita sering kali tidak tahu bagaimana seharusnya untuk menghargai hidup itu sebenarnya. Banyak pengalaman yang bisa kita buat menjadi acuan atau cermin agar kita tidak lalai untuk menghargai hidup. Baik itu pengalaman yang menyenangkan ataupun tidak. Pengalaman adalah guru yang terbaik kata sebagian orang dan itu adalah benar adanya. Karena keledaipun tidak mau jatuh dalamm lubang yang sama. Artinya jika kita mempunyai pengalaman yang kita tidak kehendaki, kita harus belajar dai pengalaman itu dan kita tidak boleh jatuh dalam pengalaman yang buruk yang sama.
Ketika saya bertanya kepada beberapa teman apa arti hidup bagi mereka. Ada berbagai macam jawaban yang saya temukan. Ada yang menjawab, hidup adalah anugerah. Ada juga yang menjawab hidup adalah bersenang-senang. Dan ada pula yang menjawab kalau hidup itu adalah pengabdian. Jawaban tersebut tidaklah ada yang salah. Karena itulah arti hidup bagi mereka. Tapi bagi saya, hidup adalah perjuangan. Perjuangan untuk membuat sesuatunya menjadi lebih baik dan lebih baik lagi. Makanya kita berjuang untuk hal tersebut sepanjang hidup kita.
Perjuangan itu membutuhkan usaha yang sangat berat, bahkan kadang-kadang membuat kita menderita. Tapi yakinlah, didalam penderitaan itu pasti ada tersimpan sesuatu yang akan menghasilkan kesenangan bagi kita, seperti sebilah pisau yang tumpul jika di asah akan menjadi tajam. Walaupun menderita dan penuh dengan perjuangan tapi hasilnya akan terlihat menjadi mata pisau yang tajam.
Perputaran roda kehidupan kdang kala tidak selalu membuat kita senang. Memang jika roda kehidupan kita sedang berada di atas, kita akan merasa senang. Tapi, jika roda itu ada di bawah, siapkah kita menerimanya? Sungguh sulit memang untuk menerima hal itu. Jikalau seandainya bisa, maka kita tidak pernah berharap agar roda kehidupan kita berada diatas terus. Namun, sesuatu yang anda harus ketahui adalah bahwa roda itu tidak berputar maka kehidupan pun tidak akan berjalan. Sama seperti sebuah mobil yang rodanya tidak berjalan, pasti mobil itupun tidak akan berjalan. Nah, roda kehidupan kitapun jika tidak berputar maka akan berhenti di situ saja. Artinya adalah kehidupan kita akan stag alias tidak bergerak sama sekali. Jika sesuatu yang bisa bergerak tapi di diamkan maka a kan rusak suku cadangnya.BERSAMBUNG..

Kamis, 25 Maret 2010

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS : CREATING WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

This page contains four specific areas:

Creating Effective Assignments

Checking the Assignment

Sequencing Writing Assignments

Selecting an Effective Writing Assignment Format

Creating Effective Assignments

Research has shown that the more detailed a writing assignment is, the better the student papers are in response to that assignment. Instructors can often help students write more effective papers by giving students written instructions about that assignment. Explicit descriptions of assignments on the syllabus or on an "assignment sheet" tend to produce the best results. These instructions might make explicit the process or steps necessary to complete the assignment. Assignment sheets should detail:

the kind of writing expected
the scope of acceptable subject matter
the length requirements
formatting requirements
documentation format
the amount and type of research expected (if any)
the writer's role
deadlines for the first draft and its revision

Providing questions or needed data in the assignment helps students get started. For instance, some questions can suggest a mode of organization to the students. Other questions might suggest a procedure to follow. The questions posed should require that students assert a thesis.

The following areas should help you create effective writing assignments.

Examining your goals for the assignment

1. How exactly does this assignment fit with the objectives of your course?
2. Should this assignment relate only to the class and the texts for the class, or should it also relate to the world beyond the classroom?
3. What do you want the students to learn or experience from this writing assignment?
4. Should this assignment be an individual or a collaborative effort?
5. What do you want students to show you in this assignment? To demonstrate mastery of concepts or texts? To demonstrate logical and critical thinking? To develop an original idea? To learn and demonstrate the procedures, practices, and tools of your field of study?

Defining the writing task

1. Is the assignment sequenced so that students: (1) write a draft, (2) receive feedback (from you, fellow students, or staff members at the Writing and Communication Center), and (3) then revise it? Such a procedure has been proven to accomplish at least two goals: it improves the student's writing and it discourages plagiarism.
2. Does the assignment include so many sub-questions that students will be confused about the major issue they should examine? Can you give more guidance about what the paper's main focus should be? Can you reduce the number of sub-questions?
3. What is the purpose of the assignment (e.g., review knowledge already learned, find additional information, synthesize research, examine a new hypothesis)? Making the purpose(s) of the assignment explicit helps students write the kind of paper you want.
4. What is the required form (e.g., expository essay, lab report, memo, business report)?
5. What mode is required for the assignment (e.g., description, narration, analysis, persuasion, a combination of two or more of these)?

Defining the audience for the paper

1. Can you define a hypothetical audience to help students determine which concepts to define and explain? When students write only to the instructor, they may assume that little, if anything, requires explanation. Defining the whole class as the intended audience will clarify this issue for students.
2. What is the probable attitude of the intended readers toward the topic itself? Toward the student writer's thesis? Toward the student writer?
3. What is the probable educational and economic background of the intended readers?

Defining the writer's role

1. Can you make explicit what persona you wish the students to assume? For example, a very effective role for student writers is that of a "professional in training" who uses the assumptions, the perspective, and the conceptual tools of the discipline.

Defining your evaluative criteria

1. If possible, explain the relative weight in grading assigned to the quality of writing and the assignment's content:

depth of coverage
organization
focus
critical thinking
original thinking
use of research
logical demonstration
appropriate mode of structure and analysis (e.g., comparison, argument)
format
correct use of sources
grammar and mechanics
professional tone
correct use of course-specific concepts and terms.

Checking the Assignment

Here's a checklist for writing assignments:

1. Have you used explicit command words in your instructions (e.g., "compare and contrast" and "explain" are more explicit than "explore" or "consider")? The more explicit the command words, the better chance the students will write the type of paper you wish.
2. Does the assignment suggest a topic, thesis, and format? Should it?
3. Have you told students the kind of audience they are addressing -- the level of knowledge they can assume the readers have and your particular preferences (e.g., "avoid slang, use the first-person sparingly")?
4. If the assignment has several stages of completion, have you made the various deadlines clear? Is your policy on due dates clear?
5. Have you presented the assignment in a manageable form? For instance, a 5-page assignment sheet for a 1-page paper may overwhelm students. Similarly, a 1-sentence assignment for a 25-page paper may offer insufficient guidance.

Sequencing Writing Assignments

There are several benefits of sequencing writing assignments:

1. Sequencing provides a sense of coherence for the course.
2. This approach helps students see progress and purpose in their work rather than seeing the writing assignments as separate exercises.
3. It encourages complexity through sustained attention, revision, and consideration of multiple perspectives.
4. If you have only one large paper due near the end of the course, you might create a sequence of smaller assignments leading up to and providing a foundation for that larger paper (e.g., proposal of the topic, an annotated bibliography, a progress report, a summary of the paper's key argument, a first draft of the paper itself). This approach allows you to give students guidance and also discourages plagiarism.
5. It mirrors the approach to written work in many professions.

The concept of sequencing writing assignments also allows for a wide range of options in creating the assignment. It is often beneficial to have students submit the components suggested below to your course's STELLAR web site.

Use the writing process itself. In its simplest form, "sequencing an assignment" can mean establishing some sort of "official" check of the prewriting and drafting steps in the writing process. This step guarantees that students will not write the whole paper in one sitting and also gives students more time to let their ideas develop. This check might be something as informal as having students work on their prewriting or draft for a few minutes at the end of class. Or it might be something more formal such as collecting the prewriting and giving a few suggestions and comments.

Have students submit drafts. You might ask students to submit a first draft in order to receive your quick responses to its content, or have them submit written questions about the content and scope of their projects after they have completed their first draft.

Establish small groups. Set up small writing groups of three-five students from the class. Allow them to meet for a few minutes in class or have them arrange a meeting outside of class to comment constructively on each other's drafts. The students do not need to be writing on the same topic.

Require consultations. Have students consult with someone in the Writing and Communication Center about their prewriting and/or drafts. The Center has yellow forms that we can give to students to inform you that such a visit was made.

Explore a subject in increasingly complex ways. A series of reading and writing assignments may be linked by the same subject matter or topic. Students encounter new perspectives and competing ideas with each new reading, and thus must evaluate and balance various views and adopt a position that considers the various points of view.

Change modes of discourse. In this approach, students' assignments move from less complex to more complex modes of discourse (e.g., from expressive to analytic to argumentative; or from lab report to position paper to research article).

Change audiences. In this approach, students create drafts for different audiences, moving from personal to public (e.g., from self-reflection to an audience of peers to an audience of specialists). Each change would require different tasks and more extensive knowledge.

Change perspective through time. In this approach, students might write a statement of their understanding of a subject or issue at the beginning of a course and then return at the end of the semester to write an analysis of that original stance in the light of the experiences and knowledge gained in the course.

Use a natural sequence. A different approach to sequencing is to create a series of assignments culminating in a final writing project. In scientific and technical writing, for example, students could write a proposal requesting approval of a particular topic. The next assignment might be a progress report (or a series of progress reports), and the final assignment could be the report or document itself. For humanities and social science courses, students might write a proposal requesting approval of a particular topic, then hand in an annotated bibliography, and then a draft, and then the final version of the paper.

Have students submit sections. A variation of the previous approach is to have students submit various sections of their final document throughout the semester (e.g., their bibliography, review of the literature, methods section).

Selecting an Effective Writing Assignment Format

In addition to the standard essay and report formats, several other formats exist that might give students a different slant on the course material or allow them to use slightly different writing skills. Here are some suggestions:

Journals. Journals have become a popular format in recent years for courses that require some writing. In-class journal entries can spark discussions and reveal gaps in students' understanding of the material. Having students write an in-class entry summarizing the material covered that day can aid the learning process and also reveal concepts that require more elaboration. Out-of-class entries involve short summaries or analyses of texts, or are a testing ground for ideas for student papers and reports. Although journals may seem to add a huge burden for instructors to correct, in fact many instructors either spot-check journals (looking at a few particular key entries) or grade them based on the number of entries completed. Journals are usually not graded for their prose style. STELLAR forums work well for out-of-class entries.

Letters. Students can define and defend a position on an issue in a letter written to someone in authority. They can also explain a concept or a process to someone in need of that particular information. They can write a letter to a friend explaining their concerns about an upcoming paper assignment or explaining their ideas for an upcoming paper assignment. If you wish to add a creative element to the writing assignment, you might have students adopt the persona of an important person discussed in your course (e.g., an historical figure) and write a letter explaining his/her actions, process, or theory to an interested person (e.g., "pretend that you are John Wilkes Booth and write a letter to the Congress justifying your assassination of Abraham Lincoln," or "pretend you are Henry VIII writing to Thomas More explaining your break from the Catholic Church").

Editorials. Students can define and defend a position on a controversial issue in the format of an editorial for the campus or local newspaper or for a national journal.

Cases. Students might create a case study particular to the course's subject matter.

Position Papers. Students can define and defend a position, perhaps as a preliminary step in the creation of a formal research paper or essay.

Imitation of a Text. Students can create a new document "in the style of" a particular writer (e.g., "Create a government document the way Woody Allen might write it" or "Write your own 'Modest Proposal' about a modern issue").

Instruction Manuals. Students write a step-by-step explanation of a process.

Dialogues. Students create a dialogue between two major figures studied in which they not only reveal those people's theories or thoughts but also explore areas of possible disagreement (e.g., "Write a dialogue between Claude Monet and Jackson Pollock about the nature and uses of art").

Collaborative projects. Students work together to create such works as reports, questions, and critiques.

The Keys to Effective Writing

Tips for Tackling Your Essays and Papers

Writing skills are essential for succeeding in high school, college, and on the job. If essays and papers stress you out, keep in mind that writing is not just an end result, but also a process that helps you develop your ideas and think logically.

Get Started
Begin by brainstorming topics, collecting information, taking a lot of notes, and asking a lot of questions. Keep your notes and sources organized as you go.

When developing your topic, look for patterns and relationships. See what conclusions you can draw. Try discussing your ideas with classmates or your teacher. A new perspective can help shake up your thinking, and keep your momentum going.

Organize Your Writing
Develop an outline to help you stay on track as you write, identifying your main points and your conclusions. Keep in mind basic essay structure:

Introduction: Give your reader an idea of the essay's intent, including a basic statement of what the essay will discuss.
Body: Present the evidence that supports your idea. Use concrete examples and avoid generalities.
Conclusion: Summarize and make sense of the evidence you presented in the body.
Draft Your Essay
You may find, as you write, that you end up with a different idea from the one you began with. If your first topic or conclusion doesn't hold water, be open to changing it. If necessary, rewrite your outline to get yourself back on track.

Other important writing tips:

Keep your audience in mind: Write for the general reader, unless your teacher tells you otherwise. The general reader refers to anyone of average intelligence with a fairly sound, basic education.
Get acquainted with the vocabulary: Become familiar with the vocabulary of your subject. For example, when writing about fiction, drama, and poetry, critical writers use words such as syntax, tone, attitude, voice, speaker, and thesis.
Refine and Proofread
When you're done with the rough draft, take a break so you can come back to your writing with fresh eyes. Ask yourself:

Is the writing clear?
Do the ideas make sense?
Are my ideas supported by evidence?
Are all of my requirements fulfilled?
Did I avoid repetition?
Have I used proper grammar and spelling?
How does it sound read out loud?
Leave enough time to show your draft to others—use your school's writing center, if possible. A fresh perspective can help you polish your paper, and catch inconsistencies and mistakes.

Read More
What you read influences how you write and can become your teacher without your being aware of it. Keep this in mind when choosing between Teen People and challenging novels like Great Expectations.

Not sure what to read? If you liked a book you read in class, ask your teachers to recommend others like it, or read more by the same author. For ideas on great reading check out our 101 Great Books list.

Reading is also a great way to conquer writer's block. Reading helps exercise your mind and get your ideas moving again. Of course, a great way to prevent writer's block is to write more.

Write More
You've heard it before, but this advice never gets old: practice makes perfect. The more writing you do, the better you'll get. And as your skills improve, so will your enjoyment. Here are a few ways some students write outside the classroom that you might want to consider:

Keep a journal of your thoughts and the events of the day.
Start a 'zine with your friends on topics important to you.
Write letters to the editor of the magazines and newspapers you read.
When you're in the habit of writing—no matter what kind of writing it is—papers and essays won't seem as difficult.

Tips on Effective Listening

"We were given two ears but only one mouth, because listening is twice as hard as talking."

Brief Theory of Communication

Expressing our wants, feelings, thoughts and opinions clearly and effectively is only half of the communication process needed for interpersonal effectiveness. The other half is listening and understanding what others communicate to us. When a person decides to communicate with another person, he/she does so to fulfill a need. The person wants something, feels discomfort, and/or has feelings or thoughts about something. In deciding to communicate, the person selects the method or code which he/she believes will effectively deliver the message to the other person. The code used to send the message can be either verbal or nonverbal. When the other person receives the coded message, they go through the process of decoding or interpreting it into understanding and meaning. Effective communication exists between two people when the receiver interprets and understands the sender’s message in the same way the sender intended it.

Sources of Difficulty by the Speaker

Voice volume too low to be heard.
Making the message too complex, either by including too many unnecessary details or too many issues.
Getting lost, forgetting your point or the purpose of the interaction.
Body language or nonverbal elements contradicting or interfering with the verbal message, such as smiling when anger or hurt is being expressed.
Paying too much attention to how the other person is taking the message, or how the person might react.
Using a very unique code or unconventional method for delivering the message.
Sources of Difficulty by the Listener

Being preoccupied and not listening.
Being so interested in what you have to say that you listen mainly to find an opening to get the floor.
Formulating and listening to your own rebuttal to what the speaker is saying.
Listening to your own personal beliefs about what is being said.
Evaluating and making judgments about the speaker or the message.
Not asking for clarification when you know that you do not understand.
The Three Basic Listening Modes

Competitive or Combative Listening happens when we are more interested in promoting our own point of view than in understanding or exploring someone else’s view. We either listen for openings to take the floor, or for flaws or weak points we can attack. As we pretend to pay attention we are impatiently waiting for an opening, or internally formulating our rebuttal and planning our devastating comeback that will destroy their argument and make us the victor.
In Passive or Attentive Listening we are genuinely interested in hearing and understanding the other person’s point of view. We are attentive and passively listen. We assume that we heard and understand correctly. but stay passive and do not verify it.
Active or Reflective Listening is the single most useful and important listening skill. In active listening we are also genuinely interested in understanding what the other person is thinking, feeling, wanting or what the message means, and we are active in checking out our understanding before we respond with our own new message. We restate or paraphrase our understanding of their message and reflect it back to the sender for verification. This verification or feedback process is what distinguishes active listening and makes it effective.
Levels of Communication

Listening effectively is difficult because people vary in their communication skills and in how clearly they express themselves, and often have different needs, wants and purposes for interacting. The different types of interaction or levels of communication also adds to the difficulty. The four different types or levels are.

Clichés.
Facts.
Thoughts and beliefs.
Feelings and emotions.
As a listener we attend to the level that we think is most important. Failing to recognize the level most relevant and important to the speaker can lead to a kind of crossed wires where the two people are not on the same wavelength. The purpose of the contact and the nature of our relationship with the person will usually determine what level or levels are appropriate and important for the particular interaction. Note the different requirements in the following situations:

You’re lost, and you ask a stranger for directions.
Your child comes to you crying.
You are in trouble and someone offers to help.
Your spouse is being affectionate and playful.
Opposing council is cross-examining you in court.
If we don’t address the appropriate elements we will not be very effective, and can actually make the situation worse. For example: If your wife is telling you about her hurt feelings and you focus on the facts of the situation and don’t acknowledge her feelings, she will likely become even more upset.

There is a real distinction between merely hearing the words and really listening for the message. When we listen effectively we understand what the person is thinking and/or feeling from the other person’s own perspective. It is as if we were standing in the other person’s shoes, seeing through his/her eyes and listening through the person's ears. Our own viewpoint may be different and we may not necessarily agree with the person, but as we listen, we understand from the other's perspective. To listen effectively, we must be actively involved in the communication process, and not just listening passively.

We all act and respond on the basis of our understanding, and too often there is a misunderstanding that neither of us is aware of. With active listening, if a misunderstanding has occurred, it will be known immediately, and the communication can be clarified before any further misunderstanding occurs.

Several other possible benefits occur with active listening:

Sometimes a person just needs to be heard and acknowledged before the person is willing to consider an alternative or soften his /her position.
It is often easier for a person to listen to and consider the other’s position when that person knows the other is listening and considering his/her position.
It helps people to spot the flaws in their reasoning when they hear it played back without criticism.
It also helps identify areas of agreement so the areas of disagreement are put in perspective and are diminished rather than magnified.
Reflecting back what we hear each other say helps give each a chance to become aware of the different levels that are going on below the surface. This helps to bring things into the open where they can be more readily resolved.
If we accurately understand the other person’s view, we can be more effective in helping the person see the flaws in his/her position.
If we listen so we can accurately understand the other’s view, we can also be more effective in discovering the flaws in our own position.
Listening Tips

Usually it is important to paraphrase and use your own words in verbalizing your understanding of the message. Parroting back the words verbatim is annoying and does not ensure accurate understanding of the message.
Depending on the purpose of the interaction and your understanding of what is relevant, you could reflect back the other persons:
Account of the facts.
Thoughts and beliefs.
Feelings and emotions.
Wants, needs or motivation.
Hopes and expectations.
Don’t respond to just the meaning of the words, look for the feelings or intent beyond the words. The dictionary or surface meaning of the words or code used by the sender is not the message.
Inhibit your impulse to immediately answer questions. The code may be in the form of a question. Sometimes people ask questions when they really want to express themselves and are not open to hearing an answer.
Know when to quit using active listening. Once you accurately understand the sender’s message, it may be appropriate to respond with your own message. Don’t use active listening to hide and avoid revealing your own position.
If you are confused and know you do not understand, either tell the person you don’t understand and ask him/her to say it another way, or use your best guess. If you are incorrect, the person will realize it and will likely attempt to correct your misunderstanding.
Active listening is a very effective first response when the other person is angry, hurt or expressing difficult feelings toward you, especially in relationships that are important to you.
Use eye contact and listening body language. Avoid looking at your watch or at other people or activities around the room. Face and lean toward the speaker and nod your head, as it is appropriate. Be careful about crossing your arms and appearing closed or critical.
Be empathic and nonjudgmental. You can be accepting and respectful of the person and their feelings and beliefs without invalidating or giving up your own position, or without agreeing with the accuracy and validity of their view.

How to Make Your Speaking Easier and More Effective

How to Make Your Speaking Easier and More Effective


Audience Analysis

Remember that the members of the audience are supposed to be the beneficiaries of your communication.
Don't make too many assumptions about your audience. But you do have to make some.
Figure out the basics. Who are these people?
demographics (age, ethnicity, gender mix, etc.).
predispositions (hopes, fears, positives/negatives, level of interest).
knowledge of/experience with subject/me.
In what kind of setting will they receive this information?
large lecture hall or small seminar room or classroom.
lighting and sound issues.
time of day.
Take into account the "me, here, now."
Picture yourself as a member of the audience and ask "How does this message affect me, here, now?"
Me, here, now translates into what you as a sender have to offer your audience/receivers—what they will be able to understand, accept, support, consider important—because it matters to them.
Establish cognitive / behavioral objectives for your audience:
What do I want my audience to know?
What do I want my audience to do
Openings, and Closings

OPENINGS. Stay away from the predictable (Good morning..., Today, I'm here to talk about...). Instead:

Begin with a provocative question, anecdote, or current event—and how it relates to the content.
Ask the audience a question
Set up a problem—and promise that they'll have all the tools for a solution by the end of the class.
CLOSINGS. Many speakers simply talk until the end of the time or beyond it—and say, "I see we're out of time." Instead:

Plan a rhythm for your speaking—plan to end with content 5 minutes early, so you can summarize, raise questions.
Set aside a time for questions—and structure that time.
Preparation

You probably can't cover everything you want to in a talk or speech.

Decide what is essential, what is important, and what is helpful (what would be nice).
Cover the first; try to cover the second; forget about the third.
Release a little control over the material and rely on the textbook or a list of supplementary readings for the nonessentials.
Set objectives.
What do you want to have accomplished at the end of the speech?
What do you want the audience to know at the end of the speech?
Plan a speech to cover less than the allotted period.
It takes some time to get going.
Questions always take up more time than you expect.
Divide the speech/talk into discrete segments and follow the standard speech structure.
Divide it both in terms of time and in terms of material.
Try for roughly equal blocks, each one on a topic.
Unlike in a piece of writing, you should tell them what you'll say, say it, and tell them what you've said.
Speak from notes or an outline, rather than a complete text.
It's too tempting to simply read, rather than lecture, from a complete text.
Reading also creates a barrier between speaker and audience.
Writing up an entire speech is very time consuming.
A written speech often becomes a fossil that never gets updated.
Delivery

Be conversational; speak naturally; be yourself (or your best self).
That self may be formal, "laid back," understated, or hyper. Use those traits; don't fight against them.
Talk about the material; don't lecture about it.
(Talking is easier if you don't read verbatim.)
Vary your pacing and voice.
Gauge audience reaction, and
Repeat critical points immediately if you sense the necessity.
Use your voice to underline and italicize the important points.
Pause before new points.
Use transitional statements to move to the next idea.
Use gestures to emphasize points.
Consider gestures to be a mirror of your voice.
Adjust your gestures to the size of the room.
Look at the audience.
Try to cover all parts of the room by dividing it into four quadrants.
If direct eye contact makes you forget your place, try looking just over a student's head, or between two students (They won't see the difference).
Use language to create pictures.
Use metaphors, analogies, and similes.
Observe the techniques of others.
Try out in your own talks techniques you admire in others.
Like any skill, delivery is not innate, but must be learned
Credibility & Commitment

Although speaking isn't theater, we do know that audience find concepts, knowledge, skills, and ideas most accessible and credible from someone they consider . . . well, not dull.

Think about antecedent image—perception is often stronger than reality.
Credibility is enhanced by:
Your own sense of comfort and confidence presenting material.
Your enthusiasm and interest in teaching.
Your research and own ideas.
Commitment is enhanced by:
Relating your own experience, ideas, and feelings.
Taking the first person approach, not separating yourself from your subject.
Relating your "passion" for your subject.
Delivery is tied to both commitment and credibility:
An old UCLA study of effective presentations analyzed 3 elements (verbal, vocal, visual). Here's what it found was important in establishing credibility/believability:
Verbal (words you say): 7%.
Vocal (how you sound when you say them): 38%.
Visual (how you look when you say them): 55%.
Your energy and intensity will move your audience—and help you (them) reach your objectives.
Building Interaction

Learning takes place best in an active, not a passive environment.
Interaction is a continuous way to
Assess the me, here, now.
Determine whether or not your content is understood.
Share the responsibility of learning more equitably and appropriately.
How to build interaction?
Have questions prepared—begin with relatively easy, accessible ones.
Work to get everyone involved, even in large groups.
Ask the audience to consider issues with the person sitting next to them/jot down ideas, questions, concerns.
Discuss as a larger group.
Move yourself!
Don't scurry back and forth, but don't get locked into one position.
Handling Questions

Explicitly request and encourage questions.
The audience will see that you have a genuine interest in what they're thinking.
Be aware of how your behavior and comments can set the tone for questioning.
A negative response (e.g., "We've already covered that") discourages further questions and may make the audience think you don't really want questions.
Make sure everyone hears the question.
Repeat it if necessary.
But don't make a habit of simply repeating every question.
Ask the audience if they heard the question; then ask the person to repeat.
Clarify questions.
Say, "Do you mean that . . . ," or "I'm sorry, I don't understand the question," rather than "Your question isn't clear."
Answer questions as directly as possible.
Address your answer to the whole audience.
Ask whether you have answered the question.
Be diplomatic when people raise tangential, overly complicated questions, or persistently ask questions just to be asking.
Ask them to stop by after the presentation or to contact you.
If a someone is simply confused, say, "Let me go over this point a bit more slowly."
Getting Feedback

Get regular feedback.
Ask the audience to spend the last five minutes of class writing down the most important thing they learned that day or one question they have as a result of the talk.
Or ask them to write down questions they still have.
Use eye contact as a tool for continuous feedback.
If you notice people with questioning looks, stop what you're doing and ask if you need to clarify.
If you get no response, go ahead and clarify.