If you're worried about your grades or academic success, you can work on improving your study skills. Studying harder can help improve grades and test scores. Create a study schedule, use good studying strategies, and focus on working hard in class. If you study effectively, you won't have to spend every waking moment studying to do better in school.
Create a good study space. The first step to studying harder is to create a study space for yourself. Studying in the same space each day is effective because your mind will learn to associate a particular space with work. It'll be easier to get into the flow of studying when entering your study space.
Students who spend time struggling to find a space to study often waste valuable time. Having a space you go every day to study is helpful.[1]
Choose a study space that is free of distractions. Find a space away from television and other noises. You should not study in bed or on the couch. Choose a place with a desk where you can sit upright to work.[2]
Make sure the space is set up for what you need. If you need to prepare a class project with lots of small pieces that must be arranged, a large, uncluttered space with a worktable will be best. If you just need to read your textbook, a cozy chair and a cup of tea may be just fine.
Stick to a study schedule. Once you've found a great space to study, create a study schedule for yourself. Having a regular study sessions will help you avoid procrastination and stick to your goals as a students. You should start planning your study schedule as you get your course syllabus -- that way, nothing will sneak up on you.
You should strive to prioritize studying. Place study time ahead of extracurricular or social activities. Try to study shortly after class or school each day.[3]
Schedule study sessions at roughly the same time each day. Having a regular schedule can help you stick to studying on a regular basis. Put these sessions into your calendar, just as you would a dentist appointment or soccer practice.[4]
Start slow. At first, keep your study sessions between 30 and 50 minutes. After you've gotten used to this duration, push yourself to study for longer periods. However, stop to take short breaks occasionally. Studying for hours on end can cause stress. Take 10 minute breaks as you study.[5] Don't go longer than 2 hours without a break.
Have specific goals for each study schedule. Studying without direction is not an effective way to learn and retain information. Go into each study session with specific goals in mind to try and make the most out of your study session.
Keep your overall academic goal in mind. Branching off of that goal, break it down into manageable chunks and focus on each chunk per session.[6]
For example, say you have to memorize 100 vocabulary words for your Spanish final. Aim to memorize 20 words per session over the course of 5 study sessions. Make sure to review old words at the beginning of each new study session to make sure the information stays fresh in your mind.[7]
Test yourself. A vital part of studying is repetition. Test yourself on difficult material during each study session. Make flashcards with vocabulary words, dates, and other facts. Use these to test your knowledge. If you have a math exam, do practice tests in your math book. If your teacher or professor provides practice exams, take as many as possible.
Try to make your own practice tests. Review the types of question your teacher asked on quizzes and try to replicate them in your own words. Make a test for yourself, containing 10 to 20 questions, and then complete the test.
If your teacher provides practice tests to help you study, take them home and do them on your own time.
Start well ahead of time and bring in your practice test to show your teacher. Ask her something like, "I've gone through my notes and made this practice exam to help me study for the test next week. Could you tell me if it's on the right track?" Your teacher isn't likely to tell you whether or not specific things will be on the test, but she will probably be happy to tell you whether you're studying the right areas. And your hard work and preparation are sure to impress!
Start with the hardest subjects. The most difficult subjects require the most mental energy. Start with this work first. After completing harder materials, studying easier subjects will feel a lot less stressful.[8]
Use study groups effectively. Study groups can be a great way to maximize your studying experience. However, keep in mind that you need to use study groups effectively in order for them to have the best effect.
You should structure study groups as you would an individual study session. Choose which materials to focus on and have set timeframes and breaks. It's easy to get distracted if you're working with groups of people. A schedule can help you stay on task.[9]
Work with people who you know are hard workers. Even the best planned study groups can fall apart if you choose to work with people who are distracting and procrastinate.
Seek out help when you need it. Remember, there's no shame in asking for help if you need it. If you are continually struggling with a particular subject despite diligent studying, seek out help from another student, a tutor, a teacher, or a parent. If you're a college student, there might be free tutoring centers on campus dedicated to helping students with a particular subject like writing, language, or math.[10]
Take breaks and give yourself rewards. As studying is seen as a chore, allowing yourself breaks and rewards can help motivate you to study harder. Take breaks every hour or so to stretch your legs, watch television, surf the internet, or do some light reading. Provide rewards at the end of study sessions to motivate yourself to work harder. For example, if you study 3 days in a row treat yourself by ordering take out.[11]
Prepare your body and mind before studying. If you go straight from school to studying, you may feel burnt out and struggle to concentrate. Taking half an hour to prepare your mind and body for a study session can help you study more effectively.
Go for a short walk before beginning to study. Stretching by walking can help your body loosen up and clear your mind in preparation of studying.[12]
If you're hungry, eat before studying but stick to a light snack or a small meal. Eating a heavy meal before studying can result in sleepiness. This can make it difficult to concentrate on studying.[13]
Study with the right mindset. The mindset you have going into studying can affect the effectiveness of your study session. Work on fostering a positive mindset going into each study session.
Think positively when you study. Remind yourself that you are building new skills and abilities. Do not get discouraged if you struggle with something. Remind yourself you're studying because you need to improve so it's okay if you don't understand some material.[14]
Do not engage in catastrophic or absolute thinking. Catastrophic thoughts include things like, "If I don't get this now, I never will." Absolute thoughts are things like, "I always do poorly on these exams." Instead, try to be realistic. Think to yourself, "I'm struggling with this information at the moment, but if I'm persistent I'm sure it will come to me."[15]
Do not compare yourself to others. You're focused on doing well on this assignment for yourself. Other people's success or failure should not matter.[16]
Use memory games. Memory games, always known as mnemonic devices, are a means of remembering information by creating associations. They can be extremely helpful when it comes to smart studying.
Many people remember subjects by stringing words together to form sentences, the first letter of each word signifying part of a topic that requires memorization. For example, the sentence "Kings play cards on fat green stools" can be used to help remember the taxonomy ranking for animals: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.[17]
Make sure you use mnemonic devices that are easy to remember. If you're creating your own mnemonic device, pick words and sentences that have personal meaning to you and that you will easily remember later.[18]
Rewrite your notes. If you have notes, rewrite them. Rewriting the notes you have, changing the wording slightly, helps you actively engage with the material. You're not just repeating information but trying to explain it over and over again. This can help you process information and more easily remember it later on.[19]
Don't just copy out the material over and over again. Instead, try to condense it to the most basic points. Then, try to condense it again, until you have gotten to the most essential points.
Take good notes. Creating the proper resources for studying can help you. While you're in class, try to take good notes. These can serve as a valuable resource later on when you're studying.
Organize your notes by date and subject. Write the date on the top corner of the page at the beginning of class. Then, write headings and subheadings regarding the subject being taught. If you're searching for notes on a particular subject, it'll be easier to find later.[20]
Use your best handwriting. You want to make sure you can read your notes later on.[21]
Compare notes with other classmates. If you missed one class session or missed a few words here and there when taking notes, another classmate can help you fill in what you missed.[22]
Read actively. When reading material for class, make sure you read actively. How you read can affect how well you retain information later on.
Pay attention to chapter titles and subheadings. These often offer clues as to the main point of a text. It indicates what material you should pay closest attention to while reading.[23]
You should also reread the first sentence of each paragraph once. This sentence usually offers a summary of key information you'll need. Pay attention to concluding sections as well, as they summarize key materials.[24]
If permitted, underline passages and write notes in margins summarizing key points. This can help you find important information later when studying.[25]
Ask questions. If you're confused about anything in class, ask questions. Usually, teachers will allow time for questions after class. You can also ask to stop by a students office hours to ask about topics that confuse you.[26]
Do yourself a favor and make it a habit to visit your teacher's office hours starting at the beginning of the semester. Waiting to ask questions until the day before the test makes it seem like you haven't been preparing. Making a habit of dropping in once a week or so encourages your teacher to see you as a student who works hard and prepares in advance -- she'll be more likely to want to help you.
Studying is such an important part of school, yet it’s often one of the things students struggle with the most. If you have a hard time studying seriously, you’re not alone! Get into a habit of studying at the same time every day, break down your work into small tasks, and pick something to reward yourself with when you’re done. With time, you can make studying a fruitful part of your day and break the procrastination and guilt cycle.
Keep a list of the reasons why you need or want to study. Whatever your reasons are, write them down on a piece of paper and keep them somewhere you can see them often. When you feel like skipping out on studying, read them over to remind yourself of why you need to work hard.[1]
Reasons to study can range from wanting to get good grades so you can get into a good college to keeping a scholarship to simply not getting in trouble for getting bad grades. No reason is too big or too small to add to your list![2]
Make boring information more interesting so it’s easier to study. Ask yourself, “How does this material relate to my life?” or “How can I use this in my life?” For example, if you’re bored by the book you have to read for English class, ask yourself how you can relate to the characters in the book to keep yourself engaged. Or, if you’re struggling with studying for biology, get interested in how much you can learn about your yourself and all the living things around you.[3]
It can be difficult to be interested in everything, and some subjects just won’t captivate you. But, try your best to figure out how everything you’re learning can apply to your own life. That personal connection could spark enough interest to keep you going!
Set a timer so that you know there is an end in sight. Nobody wants to study for hours on end without a stopping point. Give yourself frequent, regular breaks during your study time. You could set an end time for the day, too, so that you know at the latest how long you’ll be studying.[4]
For your actual study blocks, set a timer for 30-50 minutes and then take a timed break before getting back to work. You’ll study more efficiently if you know a timer will be going off soon.
If you study right after school, you could commit to working until dinner time but then give yourself the rest of the evening off. Or, if you study at night, set a timer for 30 minutes before your bedtime so you can wind down.
Reward yourself at the end of each study block to keep yourself going. This can be something really small, like getting to enjoy a piece of your favorite candy at the end of each block of time, getting to check Twitter or Instagram for 5 minutes, or taking a break to cuddle your pet.
You could also plan a fun reward for the end of each exam to celebrate all your hard work! Getting coffee with friends, taking a long bath, buying something you’ve had your eye on—make it something that you love to do so it feels more meaningful once you’ve taken a test.
Enlist the help of a study-buddy. This doesn’t have to mean you actually sit down and study together. Rather, this is a person you can check in with every day to help keep you on track. If you know you have to text someone at the end of the day to tell them if you hit your goals, it could help you stay motivated to study when you don’t feel like it.[5]
You could ask your study buddy to check in with you if they haven’t heard from you in a few days. This could get you back on track with your plans before too much time passes.
Study at the same time every day so it becomes a habit. If you’re a morning person, consider waking up before school to get in some study time. If you’re a night owl, committing a few hours every evening might work best. Or, if you like to get things done so you can move on to more enjoyable tasks, you may want to commit to studying as soon as you get home from school every day.[6]
If you don’t already, try using a|daily planner. You can use the calendar app on your phone or get a physical planner to write in. Schedule in your study time each day so that you remember to not book anything else for that time.
Make a schedule for exams so you can start studying ahead of time. As soon as you learn about a test, write it down in your calendar.[7] If your teacher gave you a schedule at the beginning of the semester, take some time to input all the important due dates and exam dates into your planner.[8]
For example, if you know you have a Spanish test next Friday and an Algebra test the following Wednesday, you’ll know that you need to study for Spanish first.
It can even be helpful to write in reminders for the weeks before a test to start studying! For example, if you have a big English test coming up in 3 weeks and you want 2 weeks to study the material, put in a reminder to start studying ahead of time.
Break down the material you need to learn into small sections. To avoid getting overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of what you need to do, break down the information into small, bite-sized pieces. Write down what each piece consists of so you know what you need to tackle when you sit down to study.[9]
For example, if your Chemistry test is going to cover 5 chapters and vocabulary words, your smaller sections could be made up of reading a chapter at a time and making vocab cards.
Concentrate on getting 1 step done during each study block. When you’re done, put a checkmark next to it so you can track your progress. This will help you feel more motivated and in control of your study sessions.
Schedule time to rest and relax. It isn’t realistic to expect yourself to be able to study for 5 hours straight—your brain will need a break! You may need to take a short 5-10 minute break every 30 minutes. If you can go a little longer, try studying for 50 minutes before taking a 10-minute break. When you do take a break, stand up, walk around, get some fresh air, get a snack, or simply rest your eyes for a few minutes.[10]
On a bigger scale, you may need to schedule a few “rest days” for yourself during exam season. If you know you’ll be studying hard for a few weeks, set aside a day where you will free yourself from all studying obligations completely. This will be something to look forward to!
Have a healthy snack and drink some water before studying so you can focus. Hunger and thirst can be huge distractions when you sit down to study. Avoid eating sugary foods so that you don’t crash later on. If you’re going to drink caffeine, try to limit yourself to 1-2 cups of coffee or a single soda so that you don’t get jittery.[11]
Vegetables, fruits, nuts, cheese, popcorn, yogurt, and hummus are great snacks to choose from.
Boost your concentration by taking a quick walk before you study. Work out some nervous energy and boost your endorphins with a 10-15 minute exercise session. When you sit down to study afterward, it’ll be easier for you to focus and retain what you’re studying.[12]
Go someplace where you won’t be distracted by your surroundings. If you’ll be tempted to clean your bedroom or if you live in a noisy space, you may need to find a new study location. Similarly, if you want to study with your friends but find you can’t without getting distracted, you may need to set up some boundaries so that you can concentrate.[13]
In general, a space that is clear of sights and sounds that will distract you is going to be the best for studying.
Turn off all of your electronics that you don’t need for studying. Or, if you need to use your phone for a timer, turn it onto airplane mode so notifications won’t come through. Don’t have the TV on in the background, and put your phone away somewhere you won’t be tempted to look at it, like in a separate room.[14]
There are also some great apps out there that you can use to help limit how much time you spend on your phone. Some can even block access to specific sites during designated times. Do whatever works best for you, whether that’s getting offline altogether or setting up a few restrictions.
Be selective about whether or not you’ll listen to music while you study. For some people, music is a huge distraction. But for others, some gentle background music can help them concentrate. Try studying with and without background music to see which way works best for you.[15]
If you’re studying in a public place, playing some light music through your headphones can help you tune out everything else that is going on around you.
In general, instrumental music is the best for concentration.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and get started! It may seem simple, but just starting is often the biggest hurdle to taking your studying seriously. Set a timer and commit to working on the task at hand. Once the timer goes off, set it for another 15-20 minutes before taking your first break. Once you get started, it’ll be easier to continue.[16]
Even if you feel behind or like you should have been studying for weeks already, don’t panic. Starting now is better than not starting at all!
To keep on top of your studying, read over your notes every day from that day’s lessons. You could even rewrite or retype the notes to help cement the information in your brain even more.
Use class time as study time, too. Instead of using your phone or browsing the internet, focus on the lesson and take good notes. You’ll feel better when you go to study if you don’t have to relearn information you could already know.
Don’t neglect your sleep schedule—getting a good night’s rest will help you retain information better and will give you more energy to get through those study sessions. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day for the best results.
Its lot better to give your phone to your parents or siblings so that u can concentrate on studying. Also, if you need a break, don't get your phone out. Instead, try to do some art, crafts, or talk with a relative. Keep your break simple. Reward yourself after studying.
Skipper (right) and his male partner Ping have begun taking care of a real egg at their enclosure in Berlin Zoo. (AFP pic)
BERLIN: A pair of gay penguins in Germany who tried earnestly to hatch a stone now have the chance to become real parents.
Staff at Berlin Zoo recently presented the amorous male couple with an egg, which they swiftly began to incubate.
The egg came from another pair who in recent years “have not got along 100% and who have therefore often damaged their eggs”, said zookeepers Norbert Zahmel.
Ten-year-old Royal penguins Skipper and Ping were an “excellent” choice as adoptive parents, he added.
Zookeepers don’t know for certain if the egg is fertilised, but if it does hatch it would be the first birth of a penguin at the zoo in more than 20 years.
Same-sex love among penguins is nothing new, with homosexual behaviour among the species reported in zoos and in the wild.
During gay Pride week, London Zoo mounted a banner above its penguin beach, declaring “Some penguins are gay. Get over it,” in a nod to a human campaign against homophobia.
Hahahaha, someone is wanting to build something. Sounds like kampung kerinchi on a larger scale.
Authorities eventually got the blaze under control and no-one was killed, although several people had minor injuries. (AFP pic)
DHAKA: At least 10,000 people are homeless after a massive fire swept through a crowded slum in the Bangladesh capital and destroyed thousands of shanties, officials said Sunday.
The fire broke out at in Dhaka’s Mirpur neighbourhood late on Friday and razed around 2,000 mostly tin shacks, fire services official Ershad Hossain told AFP.
“I could not salvage a single thing. I don’t know what will I do,” 58-year-old Abdul Hamid, who ran a tea stall inside the slum, told AFP as he broke down in tears.
Authorities eventually got the blaze under control and no-one was killed, although several people had minor injuries, firefighters said.
Many residents – largely low-income garment factory workers – were not in the slum as they had left their homes to celebrate the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday with their families.
“Otherwise, the damage would have been bigger,” local police chief Golam Rabbani said.
Around 10,000 people have taken refuge in crammed camps at nearby schools closed for the weeklong holiday, according to Hossain.
“We are providing them with food, water, mobile toilets, and electricity supply,” municipal official Shafiul Azam told AFP, adding that authorities were trying to find permanent accommodation.
Some families have erected tarpaulins to shelter them from bouts of rain during the monsoon season, but the wet conditions have turned the fields muddy.
Experts say fires are frequent in Dhaka due to lax safety measures.
At least 100 people have been killed so far this year in building fires across the densely populated metropolitan city.
In 2012, a fire swept through a nine-storey garment factory near Dhaka killing 111 workers. An investigation found it was caused by sabotage and that managers at the plant had prevented victims from escaping.
A 2010 fire in Nimtoli, one of the most densely populated districts of the capital, killed 123 people.
The servers at The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, a series of pop-up restaurants in Tokyo, are all living with dementia, which means that you might not receive what you ordered.
All of our servers are people living with dementia. They may, or may not, get your order right.
However, rest assured that even if your order is mistaken, everything on our menu is delicious and one of a kind. This, we guarantee.
“It’s OK if my order was wrong. It tastes so good anyway.” We hope this feeling of openness and understanding will spread across Japan and through the world.
At the first pop-up, 37% of the orders were mistaken. This video explains a bit more about the concept and shows the restaurant in action.
Haha, the RM5 wine glass rental caught the eye but had I read this first I would have gone blaa.
Table9 serves Italian cuisine with a Korean twist.
With so many cafes and restaurants popping up in Bangsar, it can be quite a challenge finding an eatery that serves something different yet tasty and worth your money.
However, take a stroll down Jalan Telawi and what you’ll find is the delightful Table9, a café that serves Italian cuisine with a Korean twist.
Interior design takes on an industrial feel at Table9.The quirky interior of Table9 is a pure delight.
Set in a rustic and minimalistic setting, the café’s interior design and menu were crafted by its Korean owners, Min and Eve, who were inspired by similar fusion cafes in Gangnam, Korea.
The dishes served here have mostly Italian with Korean ingredients, giving them unique yet scrumptious flavours.
The counter is ready with desserts for those with a sweet-tooth.Cosy interior is perfect for hushed conversations and typing out proposals.An artwork painted by the cafe’s owner.
Here are some of Table9’s delicious highlights – UPPRE-approved!
1. Pizza Miele e Formaggio
With a crispy base, this pizza is topped with Gorgonzola cheese and honey, which melts and indulges your taste buds with the first bite. Best eaten hot out of the oven.
2. Omelet Breakfast
Perfect for starting the day, this dish makes a satisfying breakfast. Fluffy vegetable omelet, juicy grilled chicken sausage and beef bacon with hashed tomatoes and potatoes cooked with flavourful spices – what’s there not to like?
3. Sauteed Mix Mushroom Salad
For vegetable and mushroom lovers, this salad is just for you. Crisp leaves, shredded carrots, chopped tomatoes and mushrooms cooked in spices served on a platter, this dish is garnished with Grand Padano cheese and Balsamic dressing.
4. Table9 Picante Cream Risotto
For those who love their food spicy, this is a must-try. Cooked to a velvety texture, you will love the creamy sauce mixed with Korean spices, vegetables and seafood that is poured onto the rice, giving this Italian plate a rich and heavenly flavour.
5. Amatricina
Served with beef bacon and mushrooms, this dish is drenched with spicy tomato spaghetti sauce to add more “oomph” to your dining experience.
6. Baked Eggplant
Slices of eggplant are baked to a soft texture, topped with melted mozzarella and vegetables – a perfect blend of creamy and delicious.
7. Alfredo
Don’t let this dish’s simple appearance fool you. With a creamy and cheesy coating, this Alfredo’s rich taste is balanced out by fresh broccolis and beef bacon. Perfect for those who can’t handle spiciness.
8. Tomato Bingsu
Sweet and sour meet in this unique and tasty dessert; while bingsu is a Korean snack made out of shaved iced milk, the tomato puree as the topping is what gives this dish a surprisingly delightful Korean twist.
Table9
21, Jalan Telawi 3
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours:
9.30am – 11pm (Monday to Thursday)
9.30am – 12am (Friday to Saturday)
Topped with ginger and scallion, this pan-seared fish comes with a light and salty sauce.
This crispy pan-seared halibut fish dish comes with a mouthwatering sauce. Topped with ginger and scallion and serve with steamed rice, this is the best way to enjoy halibut.
Halibut is a type of flat fish, with a delicate flavour and semi-firm texture. It’s delicious to eat and perfect for pan-searing, sautéing or grilling.
Try to buy Pacific halibut as it’s sustainable. Avoid buying the Atlantic breed because it is over-fished. You can get live halibut at some seafood stores but it’s very expensive.
Halibut fillet is more affordable as it’s commonly available in many supermarkets. Frozen halibut tends to be rubbery and dry after cooking, so try not to buy frozen halibut fillets.
When pan-searing the fish, handle the pieces gently to prevent tearing apart the flesh.
How to cook halibut
Ginger is the secret ingredient in this pan-seared halibut recipe. Ginger imparts an amazing nuance to halibut fish and rids it from its potential fishy odour.
It’s important that when cooking halibut, you gently flip the fish over with a pair of chopsticks or wooden spatula. This will prevent the fish from breaking apart in the pan.
To serve, top the fish with ginger strips and chopped scallion, and serve it with warm steamed rice.
This is one of the best halibut recipes as the fish is doused in a savoury and utterly delicious soy sauce right before serving.
Ingredients:
• 340 g halibut fish fillet or other white fish (please see recipe notes)
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 1 cm piece ginger
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped scallions
Sauce:
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3 dashes ground white pepper
Method:
• Cut fish into thick, bite-size pieces. Add corn starch to the fish fillet.
• Coat fish with the corn starch. Set aside.
• Peel ginger, slice and cut into thin strips.
• Mix all ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Stir to mix well and make sure sugar melts completely.
• Heat-up a non-stick skillet or well-seasoned wok with cooking oil on medium to high heat. When the oil is fully heated, add the ginger and stir-fry until light brown. Remove from oil and set aside in a bowl.
• Using the ginger-infused oil, pan fry the fish until both surfaces turn light to golden brown. Make sure you turn the fish very gently with a spatula or tong, or preferably with a pair of long cooking chopsticks. Fish fillets are very delicate; you don’t want to break them up while pan-frying.
• Add the sauce to the fish. As soon as the sauce bubbles. Turn off the heat and dish out.
• Top the fish with the ginger strips and scallion. Serve immediately with steamed rice.
Full disclosure before we begin: I actually have more spatulas than what’s pictured here. A lot more. I have a spatula issue, it would seem, and it’s not always pretty (I say looking in my kitchen drawers), but I can’t stop. I use many, many spatulas a day, and over the years have learned which one to reach for when. Because each one does a particular thing (or two) better than another.
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BATTAMBANG: As he tears off a leg of a charcoal-grilled rat at a roadside stall in western Cambodia, Yit Sarin hails the simple joy of rodent and rice washed down with beer.
“It’s delicious,” he says of the snack.
Barbecued field rats are not everybody’s idea of a tasty treat, but in Cambodia’s rural Battambang province they are popular as a quick – and cheap – snack, with small skewered ones going for US$0.25 each while larger rodents can cost US$1.25.
Rats were commonly eaten in the 1970s, under the ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge, when frogs, tarantulas and other small creatures were considered fair game as a means to survive.
Now they are simply an inexpensive lunch for workers and farmers – though there is disagreement over what its meat tastes like.
Sarin tells AFP that rat is like “chicken or beef”, whereas others say it’s more like pork.
He is one of many customers and Cambodian tourists stopping at a stall outside of Battambang town, where rows of grilled field rats are displayed over burning coals and served with dipping sauces made from lime juice, black peppers or chillies.
Vendor Ma Lis says the snack has grown in popularity since she launched her stall more than a decade ago and sold just a few kilograms a day.
Today, she can net daily sales of around 20 kilograms, making brisk business from van-loads of travelling Cambodians and the occasional curious foreigner.
The holiday season also spells bad news for the field rodents – Ma Lis can sell up to 180 large rats a day on the Cambodian New Year or water festival.
Dismissing any health concerns one might have about eating her unconventional treat, Ma Lis says her rodents are caught from rice fields and are good for you.
“These rats are healthier than pork and chicken… they eat lotus roots and rice grains,” she says, as she flips the barbecued bodies on the grill.
Despite the snack’s enduring appeal, many people remain squeamish.
Oh great. Now in US newsfeeds. Break out the coconuts. They should finish their airplane job before moving on.
Shamans conducted rituals in the Malaysian jungle Monday in the latest bid to find a missing Franco-Irish teen, as her family offered a reward for information leading to the girl?s return. Nora Quoirin, a 15-year-old with learning difficulties, disappeared on August 4, a day after checking into...
Luxury hotels in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca cater to super-wealthy hajj pilgrims who dream of seeing the Kaaba holy site from their rooms ’24-hours a day’. (AFP pic)
MECCA: Five-star hotels with views of Islam’s holiest site and luxury hajj pilgrimage packages are attracting a super-wealthy clientele and establishing Mecca as the capital of premium religious tourism.
Mecca’s finest hotels are lavishly appointed with shimmering marble, fine wood panelling and vast chandeliers, serving super-wealthy pilgrims from around the world.
At one of the high-end establishments, the main selling point is clear according to a representative: “We have three prayer rooms overlooking the Kaaba.”
The Kaaba is a cube structure that is the focal point of Islam, draped in a gold-embroidered black cloth, towards which Muslims around the world pray.
“Guests dream of seeing the Kaaba 24-hours a day,” added the hotelier.
In a room on the 29th floor, male worshippers gathered to pray their eyes fixed on the holy site below as the hajj was in full swing.
Some 2.5 million faithful have travelled to Mecca from across the world to take part in this year’s pilgrimage – one of the five pillars of Islam – which began on Aug 9 and ends on Wednesday.
Lift their spirits
At another similarly prestigious hotel, guests are offered a “pilgrimage area” complete with a view “of Islam’s holiest site … allowing (them) to lift their spirits”.
Luxury accommodation has mushroomed in Mecca in recent years with a proliferation of high-end skyscraper hotels in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque – often with “panoramic” views.
The premium properties were fully booked for the duration of this year’s hajj and next year’s pilgrimage, but also for a dozen days before and after.
Room rates are more than US$1,000 per night in the high season.
Mecca’s most opulent hotels are located within the vast Abraj al-Bait (Kaaba Towers) skyscraper complex which opened to guests in 2012, or near it.
The development is home to one of the tallest towers in the world with its distinctive clockface 35 times the size of the timepiece on London’s Queen Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben.
Created by the Binladin Group, which has ties to the family of slain Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, the development saw the demolition of the historic Othoman Ajyad fort which provoked a diplomatic spat between Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Experts estimate that as many as 95% of Mecca’s historic buildings have been demolished to make way for modern-era construction.
An exceptional pilgrimage
And though luxury conditions are available for the super-rich, many pilgrims are lodged in basic, sometimes less than sanitary dormitories.
A number of tour operators even offer VIP packages for an “exceptional pilgrimage” with a room overlooking the Kaaba” with a price tag of several thousand dollars.
“The rate can reach US$25,000,” said one Saudi source.
Academic Luc Chantre, author of several books about contemporary Mecca, said that “since the 1930s, the pilgrimage has increasingly become a religious tourism phenomenon”.
“The growth of Mecca’s infrastructure has occurred alongside the development of non-religious activities like shopping, cultural tourism and the showcasing of natural areas.”
The kingdom, which has previously been largely closed to foreigners, has put tourism at the heart of its “Vision 2030” reform programme intended to reduce dependency on oil.
Plans have been announced to transform 50 Red Sea islands into luxury resorts as well as for an attraction park in Riyadh.
But the desert kingdom, which imposes strict conservative social rules, is seen as an improbable mainstream tourist destination.
Religious tourism is however seen as a potential boom industry as Riyadh expects to welcome 30 million pilgrims between 2019 and 2030 for the hajj and lesser umrah pilgrimage which can be undertaken year-round.
The two pilgrimages bring in billions of dollars annually.
Sultan Nazrin Shah at the launching of a book on traditions of Perak royalty today. (Bernama pic)
IPOH: A book on the ceremonial traditions of Perak royalty was launched today by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.
The 960-page book was written by Dr Adib Vincent Tung Abdullah, chairman of the Perak Academy, a privately-funded organisation with the objective of promoting Perak through discussions and research.
The work recounts the genealogy of the Perak Sultanate, various ceremonies including the ceremonial installation of the Sultan of Perak and the passing of Sultan Idris Shah and Sultan Azlan Shah.
Adib Vincent said the book had taken almost 20 years to complete because various parties had to be interviewed such as Orang Besar Jajahan and the palace, before the manuscript was presented to Sultan Nazrin for approval.
“The challenging part while writing this book was that I needed to translate the terms used by the Perak Sultanate from Bahasa Melayu into English. These included titles or customs that require detailed and in-depth research by interviewing well-known individuals on the Perak Sultanate and making reference to museums,” said the Ipoh-born Adib Vincent.
Caprese salad is a simple dish made with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese topped with balsamic glaze. The ingredients make a refreshing snack or appetizer that you can enjoy at any time. Whether you make a large salad or bite-sized hors d’oeuvres for a party, you’ll have a dish that’s sure to impress others!
Slice the tomatoes into pieces that are thick. Use the roundest tomatoes you can find so your slices are similar in size. Cut your tomatoes with a serrated knife so you don’t accidentally crush them. Set the sliced tomatoes aside when you’re finished.[1]
Don’t use the top or bottom pieces of the tomatoes since they contain stem pieces.
Cut the mozzarella into thick slices. Look for fresh mozzarella in the dairy or deli section of your local supermarket. Use a chef’s knife to cut your cheese. Make the slices the same size and thickness as your tomatoes.[2]
Overlap the tomato and mozzarella slices on a serving plate. Start by placing 1 slice of tomato near the edge of your plate. Set a piece of mozzarella cheese so it overlaps half of the tomato slice. Alternate slices of tomato and mozzarella cheese around your plate until it’s completely covered.[3]
Try different plate arrangements, such as in a circle or along a straight line.
Chop the basil leaves and spread them over the tomatoes and mozzarella. Layer 5-7 basil leaves on top of one another, and roll them up like a cigar. Thinly slice the leaves with a chef’s knife and set them aside. Continue to make rolls until you’ve chopped all of your basil. Sprinkle the basil leaves on top of the tomato and mozzarella.[4]
If you don’t want to chop your basil leaves, you can layer the leaves in your Caprese salad along with the tomatoes and mozzarella.
Sprinkle salt and pepper on the salad to season it. Adjust the amount of salt and pepper you use based on how much seasoning you want. For a fresher flavor, only use a pinch of each. Otherwise, continue adding a pinch of salt and pepper until you’re satisfied.[5]
Serve the Caprese salad right after you make it. Use a fork to take slices of tomato and mozzarella as well as a basil leaf from the tray. Take a bite of all of the ingredients combined for the best flavor experience.[6]
Caprese salad is best served immediately, or else the basil leaves will start to wilt.
Keep any leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Skewer the cherry tomatoes on toothpicks. Stab the toothpicks through the centers of your cherry tomatoes. Slide the tomatoes into the middle of each toothpick so you have room to add the rest of your ingredients.[7]
If you don’t have cherry tomatoes, you can dice regular tomatoes into cubes.
Cut the cherry tomatoes in half if you want smaller bites.
Roll the basil leaves along their stems. Pull off the end of the stem that extends past the leaf. Make each leaf into a tight roll following along their center stems. That way, they’ll easily stay in place when you put them on your toothpicks.[8]
You can also push one end of the basil leaf onto the skewer immediately and fold it around the cherry tomato.
Add the basil to each of your skewers. Push the centers of the rolled basil leaves onto each of your toothpicks. You can put the basil leaves on the top or bottom of the cherry tomatoes.[9]
Put an extra basil leaf on each of your toothpicks to give your hors d’oeuvres more herbal flavor.
Finish each of the skewers with a ball of ciliegine mozzarella. Ciliegine mozzarella comes in small, cherry-sized bites. Sandwich the basil between the mozzarella and cherry tomatoes to finish the skewers.[10] cubes.}}
Arrange the skewers on a plate and season them with salt and pepper. Space the skewers evenly on your serving plate with the end of the toothpick facing up. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper over your skewers.[11]
You can make skewers the day before you plan on eating them, but the basil leaves may wilt.
Bring of balsamic vinegar to a boil. Pour the balsamic vinegar into a shallow saucepan and put it on the stove over medium heat. Continue to heat the vinegar until it comes to a rolling boil.[12]
Reduce the vinegar to a simmer and cook it until it has a syrupy consistency. After the vinegar starts boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue to reduce the vinegar for about 15 minutes, or until it has the consistency of a thick syrup. Remove the glaze from the heat once it’s finished.[13]
Dip the end of a spoon into the glaze to see if it sticks to the back. If it doesn’t stick, continue to simmer the balsamic vinegar.
Drizzle the balsamic glaze over your salad or skewers. Scoop up a small amount of the glaze in a spoon and drizzle it lightly over your Caprese salad or skewers. Make sure each bite has a few drops to add a slight acidic flavor.[14]
If you don’t want to make your own balsamic glaze, you can purchase a premade bottle from your local supermarket.
Saudi Arabia's grand mufti, Abdelaziz al-Sheikh, said on Saudi radio that it was not permissible from a religious point of view to fight the Israelis and the Hebrew state.
For him, "Muslims should ally with them to fight Hamas and Hezbollah."
The Sheikh also decreed that the alliance with the Hebrew State was lawful especially when it comes to fighting organizations like Hezbollah, relying, to do so, on an opinion of the theologian Ibn Taymiyya issued in the 13th century.
Responding to a Saudi citizen's question on a local radio show, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia claimed that it was forbidden for a Muslim to attack the Israeli army, which according to him protects the al-Aqsa mosque, adding that it was also forbidden, from a religious point of view, to fight the State of Israel which can be a valuable ally in the war against the Shiites.
According to the mufti, it is perfectly permissible for Muslims to ask for help from Israel to fight Hamas, which is, in his view, is "a terrorist organization".
Here is a SIX minute video of Saudis and other Arabs dancing with Israelis in Bahrain. To save your time you can move the cursor to minute 5:30.
Who doesn’t hate flying in a middle seat? Everyone does, but the next time you’re unlucky enough to be stuck in one, it might not be as bad as you think.
The US FAA recently gave the S1 middle seating arrangement developed by seat manufacturer Molon Labe final approval. Company CEO Hank Scott told Today that “We started this company to make flying suck less and to give people more space.”
The new narrow-body aircraft seat design includes a staggered and wider middle seat. There’s also a sliding-seat feature intended to speed up the boarding process.
Scott says that the new seats have been ordered by an undisclosed, well-known North American airline. The order is apparently large enough to outfit 50 planes with the new seat configuration, with Scott noting the airline is set to start installing the new seat configuration in April of 2020.
Company representatives remain tight-lipped as to what airline it is, but say the airline will announce the new seats soon as part of a major brand refresh. (Molon Labe did divulge that the airline’s seat color choice was black, and that it isn’t JetBlue — raising the possibility that it’s Spirit, which is introducing a cabin refresh soon, with black seats. We have reached out to Spirit, but hadn’t heard back by publication time.)
Whether the airline will actually use the sliding function on the seats remains unclear. More likely is that it will consider adding a small surcharge in exchange for the middle seat’s extra comfort.
I got a chance to check out the Molon Labe product at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg this week and found the sliding function has some potential logistical challenges.
The stated goal is to allow people to pass each other easily in the aisle, resulting in a speedier boarding (and deplaning) process. Airlines don’t want a dawdling passenger by row 3 blocking 100 others waiting to board, because that leads to gate delays — and the more flights each aircraft can make each day, the more revenue it brings in. Southwest Airlines pioneered hyper-fast turnarounds, which are now a staple of low-fare carriers. (Ryanair turns its planes around in 20 minutes, for example.)
Molon Labe Slide Seat (Photo by Tapis Corporation)
While that’s all well and good, the unique design of the new Molon Labe seats when used in their sliding mode would require a completely different boarding process that left me scratching my head.
When the seats are compressed, the middle seat is mostly obscured, with the aisle seat slid over its top. So first, all window seat passengers would need to board. Then, in theory, each aisle seat would board. Molon Labe representatives told me that the crew could then could walk down the aisle, quickly sliding out each aisle seat to reveal the full middle seat, allowing middle seat passengers to board last.
Molon Labe Slide Seat (Photo by Tapis Corporation)
I pointed out to them, however, that because of the tight pitch of standard economy seating, each aisle passenger would have to step into the aisle in order to allow the middle seat passenger to slip into their seat. This would appear to clutter the aisle, complicating the very issue the seat design is trying to solve. (I’m also not convinced aisle passengers would be comfortable being yanked into place by a crew member.)
In my opinion, a better design choice might have been to have the aisle seat slide below the middle seat, rather than above it, so the window and middle seats could board first before then the aisle seat is slid out, allowing aisle passengers to board last. That, however, would take away another key element of this seat design. Because the middle seat is set slightly lower and further back than the window and aisle seats (in order to facilitate the sliding mechanism), the middle seat has more back width and privacy, potentially making it a more desirable choice.
Molon Labe Slide Seat (Photo by Ben Smithson / The Points Guy)
Molon Labe representatives said the company has run numerous models on different boarding processes and the current free-for-all is not even close to optimal.
Though I have often thought the same thing, I also can’t think of any airlines who have adopted more efficient boarding processes, such as having all window seats board first. (Such changes would require a complete reeducation for passengers, as well as more sophisticated boarding group numbers, and would not allow friends and family sitting next to each other to board together.)
For more on how this will be rolled out, you’ll have to stay tuned.
Southeast Asia has among the highest obesity rates in the world. (AFP pic)
SINGAPORE: Obesity is rising fast in Southeast Asia, putting a strain on healthcare systems and government budgets, particularly in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, according to research from Fitch Solutions Macro Research.
Vietnam had the biggest increase in the number of obese people – those with a body mass index above 25 – in the five years through 2014, at 38%, followed by Indonesia at 33%.
However, as a proportion of the population, Vietnam still had the lowest share of obese at 3.6%, far behind Malaysia’s 13.3% and compared with Indonesia’s 5.7%.
Unwelcome growth
“The improving economic standards in the region have brought about lifestyle changes, which in turn have led to a shift to more unhealthy diets,” according to the Fitch report.
“Food of low nutritional value is more easily and widely available due to its low cost and the introduction and adoption of Western dietary habits.”
The health risks of rising obesity result in mounting healthcare costs for treatment of chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease, the Fitch analysts said.
Malaysia has the highest costs as a result of high obesity, making up as much as a 20% share of overall healthcare spending, they estimate.
The report doesn’t outline the steps taken since 2014 to combat obesity in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, for one, imposed an excise tax of 0.40 ringgit per litre on packaged sweetened beverages, from fruit juices to soft drinks, starting July 1.
The levy excludes drinks prepared and served at restaurants as well as instant mixes.
Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea had a 38% increase in obese people in the five-year period, putting them at 5.8% of the population. In the US, the number of obese rose 8% to 33.7% of the population.
The jump in obesity in many countries through 2014 caps a longer-term trend in Asia Pacific from 1990, when 34.6% of adults were overweight or obese. By 2013, that tally had risen to 40.9%, the data show.
The Philippines looked quite trim compared to its peers: Just 5.1% of the population was obese in 2014, with a growth rate of 6% from 2010 through 2014.
The aerial view of Downtown Dubai at sunset in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Getty pic)
NEW DELHI: An influential businessman was arrested by Indian police Friday over a half-billion dollar ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded tens of thousands of mostly-Muslim investors.
Mohammed Mansoor Khan was detained at New Delhi airport upon his return from Dubai, where he had fled last month after winding up his scandal-hit company.
Khan founded I Monetary Advisory (IMA) Group in Bangalore in 2006 and lured over 100,000 backers with promises of lucrative returns that kept to Islamic principles of finance.
But in recent months nearly 50,000 investors complained that the company had failed to make payments, prompting an investigation by authorities in southern Karnataka state.
More than 20 people, including high-profile Karnataka state government officials, have been arrested after the alleged scam raked up 40 billion rupees (US$580 million).
Investigators say the money was illegally diverted by Khan’s company, which officials said still owes investors about US$200 million.
Two state politicians have been questioned by investigators, including one who Khan has alleged borrowed US$50 million. The politician has denied the allegation.
A ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays out returns to investors based on inflows of money deposited by other savers, and is liable to collapse if receipts dry up.
Investigators said IMA had promised annual dividends of up to 30%.
The company had said the fund would concentrate on gold, diamonds and real estate.
India does not recognise Islamic banking, which prohibits interest-based profits, but many private companies operate Sharia-compliant schemes – tapping into country’s Muslim population of more than 170 million.
Ponzi schemes often target India’s army of poor who have no financial security and fall victim to frauds that siphon off their hard-earned savings.
Police are also investigating a US$6 billion ponzi scam in West Bengal state, where nearly 1.5 million investors were defrauded by the Saradha Group which collapsed in 2014.
If you’re following the Mediterranean diet, you know you should be loading your plate with good-for-you ingredients, from side dishes like roasted root vegetables and farro salad to dinners like salmon, spinach, and chickpeas. But what about breakfast? Fruit, dairy, and whole grains play a big role in the diet, so there’s actually a lot of tasty (and satiating) breakfast options to choose from. Here are 25 Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes to inspire you.
READ MORE...
About 760,000 households are expected to be affected by a major water cut in the Klang Valley next week.
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) says Air Selangor must reconnect water supply on the same day to some 760,000 households in the Klang Valley expected to be affected by a major water cut next week.
SPAN chairman Charles Santiago said the water concessionaire would be given until 9pm on July 23 to do so, failing which the Selangor menteri besar would be told to remove the top level of Air Selangor management.
The water cut in question will involve 758,570 households in 758 areas in Klang, Petaling, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Langat, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament today, Santiago who is the MP for Klang said the water cut is a scheduled event to repair and maintain major pipes.
Charles Santiago.
He gave the example of car maintenance, saying vehicles need to be serviced at every 5,000km.
“If the car is not serviced regularly, the maintenance cost increases. It is the same with water pipes which run around the clock.
“I understand the anger of the people facing water cuts, but these pipes need maintenance,” he said.
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Full disclosure before we begin: I actually have more spatulas than what’s pictured here. A lot more. I have a spatula issue, it would seem, and it’s not always pretty (I say looking in my kitchen drawers), but I can’t stop. I use many, many spatulas a day, and over the years have learned which one to reach for when. Because each one does a particular thing (or two) better than another.
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If you’re following the Mediterranean diet, you know you should be loading your plate with good-for-you ingredients, from side dishes like roasted root vegetables and farro salad to dinners like salmon, spinach, and chickpeas. But what about breakfast? Fruit, dairy, and whole grains play a big role in the diet, so there’s actually a lot of tasty (and satiating) breakfast options to choose from. Here are 25 Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes to inspire you.
READ MORE...
