Clean As U Go..

Since we r now officially maidless... i decided we really need to use the Clean As U Go concept... this way... things wont pile up... which will make me nagging less... =)

1. Keep sink dishes-free
- wash dishes as soon as it landed in the sink...

2. Keep kitchen oil-free
- wipe or mop kitchen once use...

3. Keep house clean before going out
- put toys in the toys basket...
- definitely a good feeling coming home to a clear clean house...


More articles at:
~ zenhabits.net - keeping-stress-free-clean-house
~ serenejourney.com - 7-tips-for-cleaning-your-kitchen-as-you-go

Working With Idiots Can Kill You!

Idiots in the office are just as hazardous to your health as cigarettes, caffeine or greasy food, an eye-opening new study reveals.

In Fact, those dopes can kill you! Stress is one of the top causes of heart attacks - and working with stupid people on a daily basis is one of the deadliest forms of stress, according to researches at Sweden's Lindbergh University MedicalCentre.

The author of the study, Dr Dagmar Andersson, says her team studied 500 heart attack patients, and were puzzled to find 62 percent had relatively few of the physical risk factors commonly blamed for heart attacks.

"Then we questioned them about lifestyle habits, and almost all of these low-risk patients told us they worked with people so stupid they can barely find their way from the parking lot to their office. And their heart attack came less than 12 hours after having a major confrontration with one of these oafs."

"One woman had to be rushed to the hospital after her assistant shredded important company tax documents instead of copying them. A man told us he collapsed right at his desk because the woman at the next cubicle kept asking him for correction fluid - for her computer monitor."

"You can cut back on smoking or improve your diet," Dr. Andersson says, "but most people have very poor coping skills when it comes to stupidity - they feel there's nothing they can do about it, so they just internalise their frustration untul they finally explode."

Stupid co-workers can also double or triple someone's work load, she explains. "Many of our subjects feel sorry for the drooling idiots they work with, so they try to cover for them by fixing their mistakes. One poor woman spent a week rebuilding client records because a clerk put them all in the 'recycle bin' of her computer and then emptied it - she thought it meant the records would be recycled and used again."


~ Unknown source

Air Asia Big Sale!

Air Asia Big Sale! Tickets from 10 sens only! Visit Air Asia for more details... Hurry Hurry!


****

Gile asik server busy... i was trying to book for East Malaysia nye ticket... dah dapat dah timing yg ok sume... tetibe masuk masuk waiting room... pastu tgk timing dah takde... then cari lagi timing lain... dah sampai kat section pilih seat.. tetibe... waiting room kembali....

Lastly... dapat juga la.. tp tiket nye timing lari skit.... gedebak gedebuk... total harga tiket almost mcm takde diskaun langsung... sbb tambah ngan insurance la... luggage allowance la... seat la... haih...

Time nak bayar... masuk waiting room lagi... pastu tak dapat masuk dah.. server busy... tkpe la.. lain kali la ye... huhu..

How To Use Offiice Etiqutte by Deborah Ng

Etiquette refers to the conventional requirements of social behavior. Or in more simple terms, it means knowing how to act. Different situations require different types of etiquette. Knowing how to behave in an office is important if you want to set a good example. Those who follow good office etiquette are promoted and given choice assignments. Those who are seen as crass or unkempt are passed over or have their employment terminated. What follows are some office etiquette tips:
Though casual dress is more acceptable nowadays, an employee still must look neat.
In addition to wearing clean, pressed, "business casual" clothes, one should also be well-groomed. If you're meeting with a client, dress appropriately. In most cases, this means a suit.

If you will be eating at your desk, make sure you're not disruptive to others.
Foods such as fish or onions emit powerful odors which can distract others and make them feel uncomfortable. In addition, watch noises such as loud chewing and swallowing, crunching and smacking lips.

If you're surrounded by others, do try and keep noise to a minimum.
Phone calls, especially those of a personal nature, should be handled with a low voice. Never use the speaker phone feature unless others are involved in the conversation. If music is allowed, listen to it at low volume, but avoid the use of a headset as it can keep you from hearing when you're needed by others. When having discussions with other workers, please keep it down so others around you won't get distracted.

Avoid taking part in office gossip.
No good ever comes from gossip and it only hurts others. If you're seen as someone who is constantly meeting at the water cooler to discuss others, it will look as if you don't have your priorities in order. In addition, your superiors will think twice about sharing confidential information with you.

Be conscious of the time.
Don't make a habit of being tardy or calling in sick. Do your best to meet deadlines in a timely manner and don't keep others waiting for you.

Always be on time and behave appropriately at team meetings.
Don't dominate the conversation unless absolutely necessary. Don't interrupt and be sure to give everyone a chance to speak. Don't eat and be sure to turn off cell phones and pagers.

Don't "borrow" from others in the office without their knowledge.
Don't remove staplers and other items from desks without permission and don't log onto another person's computer unless you've been given the "ok."

Be mindful of your behavior.
You wouldn't behave the same way in the office as you would in less professional settings. Always be on your best professional behavior.

Show respect to those around you.
Be a good listener and don't interrupt. Don't talk about others behind their backs or use foul language.

Don't be a whiner.
No one wants to be around someone who complains all the time. You won't be seen as a team player and your employer is less likely to promote you or give you key projects because of your negativity.

Avoid an office romance.
It's distracting to you and those around you.

Always answer your phone on the second or third ring.
Be pleasant to the other party. Never leave anyone on hold for long periods of time without permission.

~ Article by Deborah Ng

MAS : Everyday Value Fares

MAS had launched the Everyday Value Fares (EVF) campaign with the tagline, “The Fares with Everything”.

With All Inclusive, EVF offers astonishing fares to various destinations. Among others are, Bandung at only RM182; Saigon RM229; Chennai RM419, Hong Kong RM439; Taipei RM509; Perth RM639. Fares quoted are for one way travel.

Hurry up! Do visit Malaysia Airlines today.. as Sales will end on 27 June 2010 for period of travelling from 21 July 2010 to 31 January 2011.

Top 10 on Time Management

Shift from Not Valuing to Valuing ur Time
This is an important change to make and when it happen u will never waste another minute! In a dollar sense - this means u are comfortable charging for ur lifetime of knowledge and experience - dont allow clients to take this for granted. U have invested a lot of time and energy. In life, we only get one chance with our time - we cant go back and use the last 10 seconds!

Get the most out of ur day
Every now and then ask urself: Am i making the best use of my time? If not, stop what u are doing and begin working on a project that will allow u better use of ur time. If u are 'bagged down' with a specific situation, get up and go for a walk and then come back and tackle it.

Work with goals in mind
Its amazing how differently we work when u have goals to work towards. If u dont know what ur goals are, spend sometime working out what they may be. Use them as a road map! Examples may be professional (project deadline, sales quotas, career advancement, etc) and personal (health, fitness, family relationship, financial, etc)

Handle every piece of paper or email only once
With paper use the "3 D rule of Do it, Dump it or Delegate it". Never handle a piece of paper twice. Dont even think of placing it in ur 'to get to' pile - Handle it NOW! As for emails the same rule can apply so u either action it, delete it or forward it to some one else. If u print a copy then use the "3 D" rule.

Ask an efficient person his or her secret
Ask the most efficient person u know what their secret is and how did they develop these habits. Then see if it will work for u.

Dont allow anyone to take ur time from u
Set up boundaries around time. If u are stopped in the hall for a conversation, ask for this person to arrange a meeting with u (if appropriate); dont allow co-workers to infringe on ur home time; if someone is late for an appointment and havent contacted u - give them 15 minutes past the appointed time and then move on. It is up to u as to how u allow other people to use ur time!

Build family and personal time into ur day
We all need to have the support of our family or friends - so make sure u build them into ur daily habits. U dont want to finish ur career and realise that u missed out on the closeness and development of ur family.

Ur health is important
Maintain ur health and fitness because this is what will help u through in the long run. There are three things that i feel are valuable to us all - they are time [which we are talking about]; knowledge and energy. Take care of ur energy and its levels. At the end of the day being overworked and stressed is only going to hamper ur health. So take extra care of this - go for a walk, have a massage, spend time with ur family, stop and smell roses or book in for ur yearly medical check up.

Dry clean the clutter from ur office and home
Take some time to remove the clutter from ur life. Clutter zaps ur energy and allows u to waste time on non-valuable tasks. So plug the holes today.

Work during ur peak performance times
Schedule demanding tasks to the part of the day that u work best, where energy levels are at their highest. It maybe first thing in the morning or early afternoon - work out when it is and then see urself moving ahead.


~ Article courtesy of the NPC P&Q Digest vol. 94 Sept 2006

The Nine Biggest Myths of the Workplace by Penelope Trunk by Guy Kawasaki

1. You’ll be happier if you have a job you like.

   The correlation between your happiness and your job is overrated. The most important factors, by far, are your optimism levels and your personal relationships. If you are a pessimist, a great job can’t overcome that. (Think of the jerks at the top.) And if you have great friends and family, you can probably be happy even if you hate your job (imagine a garbage collector who’s in love).

2. Job-hopping will hurt you.

   Job hopping is one of the best ways to maintain passion and personal growth in your careers. And here’s some good news for hoppers: Most people will have eight jobs between the time they are eighteen and thirty. This means most young workers are job hopping. So hiring managers have no choice but to hire job hoppers. Ride this wave and try a lot of jobs out yourself.

3. The glass ceiling still exists.

   The glass ceiling is over, not because people crashed through, but because people are not looking up. Life above the glass ceiling is 100-hour weeks, working for someone else, and no time for friends and family. And it’s not only women who are saying no to the ladder up: Men are as well. People want to customize success for themselves, not climb someone else rungs. So if no one is climbing to the top, the glass ceiling isn’t keeping anyone down.

4. Office politics is about backstabbing.

   The people who are most effective at office politics are people who are genuinely nice. Office politics is about helping people to get what they want. This means you have to take the time to figure out what someone cares about, and then think about how you can help him or her to get it. You need to always have your ears open for when you can help. If you do this, you don’t have to strong arm people or manipulate them. Your authentic caring will inspire people to help you when you need it.

5. Do good work, and you’ll do fine.

   For one thing, no one knows what the heck you’re doing in your cube if you’re not telling them. So when you do good work, let people know. It is not crazy to toot your own horn--it’s crazy to think someone will do it for you. Also, if you do good work but you’re a jerk, people will judge your work to be sub par. So you could say that good work really only matters if your co-workers enjoy hearing about it from you.

6. You need a good resume.

   Only ten percent of jobs come from sending a blind resume. Most people get jobs by leveraging their network. Once you have a connection, the person looks at your resume to make sure there are no red flags. So you need a competent resume and an excellent network. This means you should stop stressing about which verb to use on the second line of your third job. Go talk to someone instead.

7. People with good networks are good at networking.

   Just be nice, take genuine interest in the people you meet, and keep in touch with people you like. This will create a group of people who are invested in helping you because they know you and appreciate you. Use LinkedIn to leverage those peoples’ networks, and you just got yourself a very strong network by simply hanging out with the people you like.

8. Work hard and good things will come.

   Everyone can put in a seventy-hour week. It doesn’t mean you’re doing good work. So here’s an idea: Make sure you’re not the hardest worker. Take a long lunch. Get all your work done early. Grand thinking requires space, flexibility and time. So let people see you staring at the wall. They’ll know you’re a person with big ideas and taking time to think makes you more valuable.

9. Create the shiny brand of you!

   There is no magic formula to having a great career except to be you. Really you. Know who you are and have the humility to understand that self-knowledge is a never-ending journey. Figure out how to do what you love, and you’ll be great at it. Offer your true, good-natured self to other people and you’ll have a great network. Those who stand out as leaders have a notable authenticity that enables them to make genuinely meaningful connections with a wide range of people. Authenticity is a tool for changing the world by doing good.

~ Article by Penelope Trunk by Guy Kawasaki

How to Handle Difficult People

"The ability to stand up to and confront and handle whatever comes the way of the organization depends utterly on the ability of the individuals of the organization to stand up to, confront and handle what comes the individual's way.. — L. Ron Hubbard"

"THE SUCCESS OF ANY EVENT IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE TIMELY PREPARATION.. — L. Ron Hubbard"

http://www.tipsforsuccess.org/difficult-people.htm


"The first thing you must remember when dealing with difficult people is that it is highly unlikely that they are going to change. So, we must accept them as they are. We are not always the most likeable people to be around either, so others must accept us with our human weaknessess too."

"Keep in mind that you cannot change these people too. They are who they are and you have to accept that. Not like them, mind you, but accept them nonetheless."

"One of the most effective ways to deal with a difficult person is to "kill them with kindness." This means that no matter what they do to you, or say to you, you smile and keep cool. You speak to them in a calm, cool voice. Try this technique and it will amaze you how it boggles their minds every time as they don't know what to think of you. They simply cannot understand how you can be so calm and unaffected by their bad attitude."

http://www.essortment.com/all/howtohandledi_riuu.htm

Why do relationships fail?

We want to be happy in relationships, but don’t seem to know how. We seem to assume that relationships should just work, or we should already know how to make them work, and often aren’t motivated to learn until we’re in pain because they’re not working. By then, it’s often too late.



• “Whether you believe you can or you can't, you're right...”
• “If you expect less, you’ll get less...”
• “What you believe you can achieve...”
• “If you build it, they will come...”
• “It only takes one, and you're the one...”


http://www.consciousdating.com/questions.htm

Walking, Jogging and Running...

"Jogging is a better way to tighten your thighs and calves, however, walking can give almost the same effect when you "power walk"(walking briskly with arms moving back and forth). Jogging is very healthy for your heart, but for people with breathing and asthma problems, walking is the better option."

"Now, on the statistical side, you will burn more calories by jogging/running an hour versus walking an hour. HOWEVER-you will really like this part-You will burn MORE calories by WALKING a mile rather than running a mile. When you run a mile-you're burning mostly sugars or carbohydrates, which is how your body gives you fast energy; When you walk a mile-you are giving your metabolism time to switch from burning carbs to actually burning fat. "

"If you prefer walking for fitness, you should attempt to walk a long distance. In this way, you might be able to burn off the same amount of calories as running a shorter distance. "

Reference : http://www.helium.com/channels/435-Fitness-Basics

What are wisdom teeth?

Your wisdom teeth (third molars) are at the very back of your mouth in both your upper and lower jaws. They are usually the last teeth to come through. Most people find that they come through during their late teens or early twenties, a time traditionally seen as the passage to adulthood and an age of wisdom, hence the optimistic name.

The main problem is that wisdom teeth usually try to grow into a jaw that's too small for them. The last teeth in the jawline, they often grow in sideways, pushing against teeth that are already in place and minding their own business. Because wisdom teeth are difficult to clean, there may be a build-up of bacteria, plaque, and food debris around them -- something that can cause gum disease or decay in the wisdom tooth and other molars.

Why do we even have wisdom teeth?

Dentists say wisdom teeth are apparently a vestigial organ -- that is, one that isn't very useful now but played an important role in the body in eons past. The diets of our prehistoric ancestors contained much more coarse food, which resulted in a larger, more developed jaw with more room for third molars. People also used to lose more permanent teeth at an early age, leaving space for wisdom teeth that would serve as replacements.

What are impacted wisdom teeth?

Sometimes part or all of a wisdom tooth stays under the gum. This is usually not a problem. If something is stopping the tooth from coming through into a correct position, the tooth is said to be 'impacted'. Sometimes these impacted teeth cause pain or other problems.

How do I know if my wisdom teeth should be removed?

Check with your dentist. Pain and swelling around your wisdom teeth indicate that they're causing problems. Whether or not you have any symptoms, x-rays will show whether there's infection or whether your teeth are impacted -- that is, if there's no room for them to erupt through the gum.

If I don't have any pain or swelling, can I just leave my wisdom teeth alone?

Even if you don't have pain or swelling, your dentist may recommend that you get your wisdom teeth removed early on. The main reason is that recent studies show that wisdom teeth are linked to a higher rate of chronic bacterial infection in the gums, and can endanger the health of both the back and front teeth -- even if the patient feels no symptoms at all.

A study of 329 patients who had intact wisdom teeth, for example, found that even though the participants had no symptoms of discomfort, there was still evidence of disease-causing bacteria around their wisdom teeth. In fact, the study authors, who published their report in a recent issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, concluded that gum disease in young adults often begins around the wisdom teeth.

It's also easier to remove the teeth when you're younger, because the jawbone is less dense and the tooth's root is not yet fully developed, according to American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Reasons for removing wisdom teeth.

• Infection in the gums around the wisdom tooth.
• Decay in the wisdom tooth that cannot be treated by a filling.
• If the wisdom tooth is causing damage to the tooth next to it.
• If a cyst forms around the wisdom tooth.
• Decay in the tooth next to the wisdom tooth which cannot be treated without removing the wisdom tooth.

There are other less common reasons for having a wisdom tooth removed.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

This depends on how deeply embedded in the jawbone your wisdom teeth are. Some impacted teeth are blocked by the gum from erupting, while others are partially encased in bone. In the past, wisdom teeth were removed in a hospital with the patient under general anesthesia; today wisdom teeth are almost always removed in an office setting by an oral or maxillofacial surgeon. If yours need to be extracted, you'll be given an anesthetic that you and your doctor decide on beforehand.

Talk with your dentist or oral surgeon about advance preparations. In general, it's important to dress comfortably for the operation, bring someone along to help you get home, and avoid eating or drinking anything for at least six hours prior to surgery.

Your surgeon will use as little force as possible to remove the tooth, carefully pushing the gum out of the way and then cutting the tooth into small sections for removal. Since you'll receive some type of sedation, you shouldn't feel any pain or discomfort during the surgery. After the teeth are removed, the surgeon will suture your gums back into place.

What type of anaesthetic can I have?

Wisdom teeth can be removed under:
• local anaesthetic
• local anaesthetic with sedation
• a general anaesthetic

A local anaesthetic numbs the area around your tooth so you don't feel any pain when the tooth is removed.

A sedative tablet or injection will help you relax. It may also mean that you are less aware of what is going on. You probably will not remember anything about the operation.

With a general anaesthetic you are unconscious while you are having the operation.

The type of anaesthetic you receive will depend on several things.
• How difficult the dentist or surgeon thinks it will be to take the tooth or teeth out.
• Your medical history.
• Whether you have a strong preference.

The different types of anaesthetic can have different side effects. You should discuss these with your dentist or surgeon. If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will have to go to a hospital to have your wisdom teeth removed.

What are the risks of having your wisdom teeth removed?

If you are going to have your wisdom teeth out, you will need an operation. All operations have risks and side effects.

Common side effects

After the operation:
• many people experience some pain, swelling and stiffness of the jaw
• many people may find it difficult to eat
• some people may get some bruising on the face and neck
• some people may need to take some time off work, school or physical activities.

Not everyone will have all these side effects. Most people will feel fine within a few days but sometimes it may take up to two weeks to fully recover.

Possible complications

A few people have more serious problems after their operation and may need further treatment. Possible problems include the following.

• Bleeding after the operation
There will be some bleeding in your mouth when your wisdom tooth is taken out. This will usually have stopped by the time you go home. Sometimes the bleeding can start again. Your dentist or surgeon should give you advice about what to do if this happens.

• Dry socket
Removing a wisdom tooth leaves a socket in the jawbone which needs to heal. Sometimes the socket doesn't heal normally. It may get infected and can be very painful. This is commonly called dry socket. Dentists treat dry socket by carefully cleaning and dressing the area. Painkillers can help to relieve the pain. Some infections will need treatment with antibiotics. It is not clear how many people get dry socket. Most dentists and surgeons think that less than five out of every 100 people get this problem. You are more likely to get dry socket if you smoke.

• Nerve damage
There are two nerves very close to the roots of your lower wisdom teeth. One of these nerves supplies feeling to your lower lip and chin. The other supplies feeling to your tongue. Sometimes these nerves may be injured when a wisdom tooth is taken out. This can cause tingling or numbness in your lip, chin or tongue. About one in 10 people will have some tingling or numbness that lasts for up to a week. Less than one in 100 people will have nerve damage that lasts more than a year.

• Damage to other teeth and bone
Other teeth may be damaged when a wisdom tooth is taken out, but this is very rare. If it happens, your dentist or surgeon will tell you about it and arrange for further treatment if needed.

What should I do after the surgery?

The outcome of surgery to remove wisdom teeth is often visible: chipmunk cheeks. The good news is the symptoms don't last long, and dentists have many ways to minimize swelling or pain. The symptoms rarely last more than 48 to 72 hours.

To allow the area to heal, you should eat only soft foods, soups, and liquids for at least the first two days following surgery. Complications are rare, but you should report any of the following symptoms of infection to your oral surgeon immediately:

• Fever of more than 100 degrees
• Abnormal swelling
• Pain or a bad or salty taste in your mouth, whether or not there's discharge from the site

In some cases, blood doesn't properly form a clot in the tooth's empty socket, leading to a local infection known as "dry socket" about 48 hours after surgery. Although painful, the condition is easily treated by placing a medicated dressing on the extraction site.

Of course, some bleeding and swelling around the empty socket is normal. Applying pressure to your gums will usually stop bleeding, and ice helps ease swelling. It is advise for patients to rinse with warm water and to use ice or a cold pack around the affected area of the jaw to reduce swelling. Patients who don't place ice in their mouths or ice packs on their jaw after the procedure are usually the ones in the worst shape when they come for follow-up appointments a few days after surgery. It makes a huge difference in recovery.



Sources
http://healthresources.caremark.com/topic/wisdomteeth
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/05/14697/4223

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease or periodontal disease, a chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and surrounding tissue, is the major cause of about 70 percent of adult tooth loss, affecting three out of four persons at some point in their life.

What causes gum disease?

Bacterial plaque -a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on the teeth -is recognized as the primary cause of gum disease. Specific periodontal diseases may be associated with specific bacterial types. If plaque isn't removed each day by brushing and flossing, it hardens into a rough, porous substance called calculus (also known as tar- tar).Toxins (poisons) produced and released by bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. These toxins cause the breakdown of the fibers that hold the gums tightly to the teeth, creating periodontal pockets which fill with even more toxins and bacteria. As the disease progresses, pockets extend deeper and the bacteria moves down until the bone that holds the tooth in place is destroyed. The tooth eventually will fallout or require extraction.

Are there other factors?

Yes. Genetics is also a factor, as are lifestyle choices. A diet low in nutrients can diminish the body's ability to fight infection. Smokers and spit tobacco users have more irritation to gum tissues than non- tobacco users, while stress can also affect the ability to ward off disease. Diseases that interfere with the body's immune system, such as leukemia and AIDS, may worsen the condition of the gums. In patients with uncontrolled diabetes, where the body is more prone to infection, gum disease is more severe or harder to control.

What are the warning signs of gum disease?

Signs include red, swollen or tender gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, gums that pull away from teeth, loose or separating teeth, puss between the gum and tooth, persistent bad breath, change in the way teeth fit together when the patient bites, and a change in the fit of partial dentures. While patients are advised to check for the warning signs, there might not be any discomfort until the disease has spread to a point where the tooth is unsalvageable. That's why patients are advised to get frequent dental exams.

What does periodontal treatment involve?

In the early Stages, most treatment involves scaling and root planing- removing plaque and calculus around the tooth and smoothing the root surfaces. Antibiotics or antimi- crobials may be used to supplement the effects of scaling and root planing. In most cases of early gum disease, called gingivitis, scaling and root planing and proper daily cleaning achieve a satisfactory result. More advanced cases may require surgical treatment, which involves cutting the gums, and removing the hardened plaque build-up and recontouring the damaged bone. The procedure is also designed to smooth root surfaces and reposition the gum tissue so it will be easier to keep clean.

How do you prevent gum disease?

Removing plaque through daily brushing, flossing and professional cleaning is the best way to minimize your risk. Your dentist can design a personalized program of home oral care to meet your needs. If a dentist doesn't do a periodontal exam during a regular visit, the patient should request it. Children also should be examined.

What is the role of the general dentist?

The general dentist usually detects gum disease and treats it in the early stages. Some general dentists have acquired additional expertise to treat more advanced conditions of the disease. If the general dentist believes that the gum disease requires treatment by a specialist, the patient will be referred to a periodontist. The dentist and periodontist will work together to formulate a treatment plan for [he patient.

Is maintenance important?

Sticking to a regular oral hygiene regimen is crucial for patients who want to sustain the results of therapy. Patients should visit the dentist every 3-4 months (or more, depending on the patient) for spot scaling and root planing and an overall exam. In between visits, they should brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and brush their tongue. Manual soft nylon bristle brushes are the most dependable and least expensive. Electric brushes are also a good option, but don't reach any further into the pocket than manual brushes. Proxy brushes (small, narrow brushes) are the best way to clean in between the recesses in the teeth, and should be used once a day. Wooden tooth picks and rubber tips should only be used if recommended by your dentist.


Sources' The American Academy of Periodontology; Atrix Laboratories, Inc.; "Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy: Essential and Adjunctive Methods," by ~R. Creene, BaS, FasRCPs, the British Dental

THE SEED - Very good story

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different.

He called all the young executives in his company together.

"It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO," he said. "I have decided to choose one of you."

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today - a very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed.

He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.

Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened.

Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.

He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back.

"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO.

"Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front.

Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed.

Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Here is your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!"

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said?

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed.

I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.

"When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"


MORAL OF THE STORY:

If u plant honesty, u will reap trust.
If u plant goodness, u will reap friends.
If u plant humility, u will reap greatness.
If u plant perseverance, u will reap contentment.
If u plant consideration, u will reap perspective.
If u plant hard work, u will reap success.
If u plant forgiveness, u will reap reconciliation.


So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later...