DATO’ WAN IDRIS WAN IBRAHIM – MENTERI BESAR JOHOR KE-9

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Oleh Tun Sheikh Engku Bendahara

Johor sebelum merdeka amat terkenal dengan banyaknya rakyat yang berpelajaran dan tokoh cerdik pandai. Cendekiawan yang lahir telah menyumbang jasa dan menjana kemajuan serta pemodenan negeri Johor. Sumbangan mereka telah mempercepat kemajuan dan pemodenan Johor semenjak era Temenggong hingga ke hari ini. Dasar pelajaran yang sangat diutamakan sejak zaman Temenggong Johor iaitu Temenggong Abd Rahman pada 1820-an dan anakandanya Temenggong Daing Ibrahim pada 1840-an. Dasar ini telah diteruskan serta menjadi dasar, pada zaman pemerintahan Temenggong Abu Bakar yang kemudiannya bergelar Maharaja pada tahun 1868 dan Sultan Johor pada1885, telah mengangkat negeri Johor sebagai negeri Melayu yang termaju dan moden.

How to Lower Breast Cancer Risk

Friday, April 30, 2010

By Tealyn Webb, eHow Contributing Writer

The American Cancer Society says that a woman has a one in eight chance of contracting breast cancer in her lifetime. There are many risk factors that you cannot control, such as aging, having a family history or the fact that you are female. That does not mean that there is nothing you can do to lower your risks. While early detection definitely saves lives, prevention may save many more, including yours.

Instructions

Step 1 Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, actively work on bringing the numbers on your scale down. A study by the American Cancer society found that women who gained 60 or more pounds as adults are more than 1 1/2 times likelier to get breast cancer than women who gained 20 or fewer pounds in adulthood. Losing even 10 percent of your body weight will lower your risk.

Step 2 Eat a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy whole grains. Avoid foods that are high in fat and limit your intake of foods from animal sources.

Step 3 Minimize alcohol. Numerous clinical studies, including some by Johns Hopkins and the American Institute for Cancer Research, show a definite link between alchohol intake and an increase in breast cancer risk. Refraining from alcoholic beverages is highly recommended. If you do drink, try to adhere to a limit of one beverage per day.

Step 4 Go green. Ridding your home of cleaning products and other household items made of toxic ingredients will reduce your risk of not only breast cancer, but all other types of cancer as well. Shop for products made with natural products or find ways to clean using vinegar, baking soda and other common but safe items around your home.

Step 5 De-stress. Many studies have reported a correlation between the mind and the body when it comes to breast cancer. Make sure you get enough sleep on a consistent basis and keep a positive outlook on life. If life has gotten you down, either seek ways to change it or get help dealing with the negativity in a healthy manner.

Source : eHow.com

How to Recycle a Computer

Thursday, April 29, 2010

By Josienita Borlongan, eHow Contributing Writer

To some folks, upgrading to a new computer means sending the old one to the dumpster or keeping it in a storage until who knows when. But what they do not know is that they can actually recycle their old computers and prevent more things from being added to the landfill. Find out how you can get rid of your old computers without harming the environment.

Instructions

Step 1 Call or go to a recycling center near you. Some recycling centers offer this service, yet some do not. Bring your computers to their site if they do.

Step 2 Salvage old computer parts that you can sell on eBay or other online auction sites. Other parts can then be sent to the recycling sites as mentioned in step 1.

Step 3 Your old computer may still have some use to it. Donate it to charity, school, a friend in need of a computer or a library. Computer-technology students can also take your old computer and study the basic parts.

Step 4 Call the manufacturer and find out if they have a program to recycle computers they previously sold. Some of them will give you instructions on how to send the old computer to them, such as preparing your computer and what packaging to use. Some companies even provide a shipping box with packing materials and labels for free.

Source : eHow.com

How to Plan a Green Home Remodeling Project

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

By CapeGuy, eHow Member

As concern about the environment and energy use rises, more of us are concerned about the impact of our actions. Individual actions can add up to have important positive effects on the world around us. Here are some ideas that could help you reduce the impact your home-remodeling efforts--and they could help make your new space more comfortable and affordable, as well.

Instructions

Step 1 If you're hiring a contractor for the project, look for someone who has experience working with green-remodeling principles, or who is at least interested in gaining expertise. They may need to reconsider some of their standard practices, so they need to understand such changes are important to you.

Step 2 Know where your trash is going. Remodeling invariably involves demolition, as well as disposing of plumbing fixtures and appliances. Some cities have centers where old sinks, tubs and other fixtures can be donated for re-use. In any event, make sure debris is handled responsibly.

Step 3 Reuse, where possible. Maybe those dated kitchen cabinets can be painted and re-installed in your basement laundry room, or existing framing lumber can be cleaned and cut to fit your new project's dimensions. Re-using existing products is almost always more resource-efficient than buying newly manufactured replacements.

Step 4 Invest in insulation. It may be among the least glamorous of building materials, but insulation is critical to maximizing your home's energy efficiency and can also help cut costs for your heating and air-conditioning equipment. With a well-insulated home, you can choose lower-capacity heating and cooling equipment, and, of course, your eventual heating and cooling bills will be lower, as well.

Step 5 Look for the star - the Energy Star - when choosing appliances. Check the yellow efficiency labels on any appliances you're considering and opt for the most efficient model you can afford. Not only will you be helping the environment, you'll also be cutting your future energy bills.

Step 6 Right-size your air-conditioning purchase. It's tempting to buy a super-sized central air-conditioning system, but that decision could create mold problems down the line. Oversized A/C equipment can end up cooling a space before it has lowered interior humidity levels, encouraging condensation once the thermostat trips off. Buying a system that's sized to your needs - and improved insulating efficiency - will help maintain optimum air quality within your home.

Step 7 Understand the tradeoffs when selecting building materials and finishes. For example, bamboo flooring is a highly renewable resource, but must be shipped thousands of miles from plantations in Asia. Sustainably harvested domestic hardwood may take longer to grow, but it may only have to travel a hundred miles from the mill to your front door. Certification by organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council can help ensure raw materials were harvested responsibly.

Source : eHow.com

How to Go Green at Home

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By an eHow Contributing Writer

Even the smallest of actions can have lasting environmental effects. Going green at home gives people the opportunity to reduce their impact on the environment and to ensure that clean air and water are available for future generations. You can spend a lot to go green, but just a few inexpensive changes can make a difference.

Instructions

Step 1 Use less electricity. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs each time you replace an old incandescent bulb. Compact fluorescents save 75 percent in energy use and last up to 10 times longer. As a bonus, you'll save money on your electric bill.

Step 2 Run the washer, dryer and dishwasher only with full loads. You reduce both electricity and water usage by only running these appliances when necessary.

Step 3 Install a low-flow shower head. The newest models still produce strong water pressure while using much less water.

Step 4 Retrofit your hot-water system with a hot-water recirculation pump. These pumps recirculate cold water back to the water heater and only release water when it is hot. Go green and quit wasting water waiting for the cold water to get hot.

Step 5 Choose Zero VOC paints for your next home decorating project. Most paints contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air when you paint. VOCs can cause short and long term health problems.

Step 6 Look for furnishings made without glue or formaldehyde. This will green your home by improving your indoor air-quality.

Step 7 Recycle, reuse and compost. Reduce the amount of stuff you send to the landfill. Find out about recycling programs in your community. Find new uses for items. Compost yard waste and kitchen scraps.

Step 8 Properly dispose of hazardous waste. Cleaners, oils, paints, pesticides, batteries and solvents should never go out with the household garbage; they end up contaminating the soil and groundwater in your community. Contact your city government or the EPA to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Source : eHow.com

How to Conserve Energy

Monday, April 26, 2010

By an eHow Contributing Writer

Energy costs are through the roof, with the average energy bill running as much as double what it did just a year or two ago. Even if your utility bills are reasonable, there are still things you can do to conserve energy. That's a good thing for your pocketbook and for the environment.

Instructions

Step 1 Turn off the lights. Simple as that sounds, turning off lights and other electrical appliances when you leave the room can save you hundreds of dollars and literally tons of carbon emissions each year.

Step 2 Contact your local electricity supplier to see if you qualify for an energy audit. If your electric usage is high enough, your utility company will pay to have an energy auditor examine your home and make recommendations on things you can do to improve your energy efficiency. You may even qualify for free bulbs, faucet heads and rebates on new appliances to the tune of hundreds of dollars.

Step 3 Switch to fluorescent bulbs. Today's compact fluorescent bulbs cast much nicer light than those glaring tube fluorescent lights you may have had in school when you were younger. And CFCs, as compact fluorescent bulbs are known, consume a fraction of the energy that traditional incandescent bulbs do, slashing your energy bill. Many utility companies offer rebates on the bulbs, too, saving you even more money.

Step 4 Lower the temperature on your hot water heater. Whether you heat your water using electricity, oil or gas, lowering the temperature on your water heater a few degrees will inevitably save you money on your energy bills. Experts recommend setting your water heater temperature no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This promotes energy conservation and prevents burns.

Step 5 Hang your clothes out to dry. It'll conserve energy, cut pollution, save you money and your clothes will smell better.

Step 6 Buy Energy Star appliances. Energy Star appliances use at least 10 percent less energy than regular appliances, plus many utilities offer rebates of $50 to as much as $250 if you replace an old appliance with an Energy Star appliance. Refrigerators are the biggest energy hogs, so you'll conserve the most energy starting there.

Source : eHow.com

How to Harvest Rainwater

Sunday, April 25, 2010

By Murray Anderson, eHow Contributing Writer

Concerned about the amount of scarce water you and your family go through every day? When you stop and think about it, we've got a reliable supply of clean, inexpensive water we can use and it literally falls from the sky. Years ago people used to have rain barrels that held water for future use, but most of us have gotten so used to having a steady supply of water pumped from the ground that we gave up on "old fashioned" rain barrels. However, modern day concerns about water usage and cost are leading many of us to reconsider the idea of harvesting this natural supply of water. Although you shouldn't drink it, harvested rainwater is great for watering plants or even lawns. All you need to harvest rainwater is a simple system to capture and store fallen rain and then distribute it when it's needed.

Instructions

Catching and Storing Rainwater

Step 1 Consider the amount of rainwater that runs off your roof during a rainfall. Depending on the size of your roof, there could be hundreds of gallons literally running away.

Step 2 Determine where you will place your rainwater collection system. It should be near the downspout of your existing gutter system.

Step 3 Dig a base area for your rain barrels about four inches deep and fill it with pea gravel.

Step 4 Lay cement blocks on top of the pea gravel and level them. Alternatively, build an attractive wooden base structure to hold your rain barrels. (The higher your barrels are off the ground, the more water pressure you will have to distribute your stored water.)

Step 5 Purchase a rain barrel or rain barrels (available from garden supply stores, landscape gardeners or even gutter installation companies) and position it on the base.

Step 6 Install a screen at the top of your downspout or rain barrels to keep leaves and twigs out of your harvested rainwater, and rearrange your downspout so the discharge goes directly into the barrel.

Step 7 Install hoses between your barrels (near the top) so they will share the collected rainwater, if you are going to be using more than one barrel.

Step 8 Install an overflow hose running at least three feet away from your home foundation on one of the barrels so if the system gets too full, the overflow won't end up at the base of your foundation or cause local erosion.

Step 9 Install taps near the bottom of your rain barrels so you can connect your hose or water distribution system.

Distributing Your Harvest

Step 1 Connect a soaker hose or a watering system made from plastic tubing to the outlets on your rain barrels and run it to your garden. When your garden needs watering all you need to do is turn on the tap and gravity will force the water through the tubes.

Maintaining Your Water Harvesting System

Step 1 Clean the screen at the top of your downspout periodically to remove any accumulation of leaves or debris.

Step 2 Check the holes in your water distribution system occasionally. Since they are lying on the ground, they need to be cleaned periodically.

Source : eHow.com