Black Friday???

The day after Thanksgiving, people called it Black Friday, the worst shopping season in the country, said David Letterman.
Shopping centre and stores opened their stores at 5.AM. Gheeee...z

Anyway, I managed to take a walk with Adek to New York. On our way to deliver paperwork for Nana's surgery to the doctor's office we stopped at this place, looked around and that's it.



This picture was taken next to the store that we just visited and seemed to many people were taking advantages for the discount offered by the store. I would like to have that too, bit too crowded...Not one sales rep was free.

I guess Dave was not joking....

Ways of Changing the Brain (mungkinkah???)

Pernah nggak membaca newsletter Brain in the News or Brain-work? I have the habit to read as many newsletter as I can. It's not only that it is very easy to read, but that's also a way to learn something new in a fast way. Because, newsletter usually elaborate everything in a short and simple way. So if ever you visit my place, you will see that I have a lot of subscription as many newsletter. You will see Harvard Heart letter, Nutrition, and many more including Brain-work and Brain in the news. But if I have subscriptions for Brain in the News or Brain-work, those are the Neuroscience Newsletter don't ever refer that I have interested in anything about neuroscience or having a special interest because I know person on that fields. My main purpose is just to enhance my knowledge about anything. And sometime it helps me to understand others as well. Just like what I have read recently. That not so long ago, a scientists used to view the brain as a form of concrete-soft and easily shaped in youth, but gradually hardening over the years into a rigid organ highly resistant to change.

(Is this why I always hear people give this kind of advice 'never have the intention or think that you can change somebody' ???)

Ternyata, ...sangat besar kemungkinan hal itu SALAH. Karena brain is a plastic organ and optimis bisa di modifikasi sepanjang yang bersangkutan masih hidup.

A Child's brain certainly displays vigorous neuroplasticity. For example, children can absorb a foreign language far more easily than adults, and they can speak it without an accent if they start speaking it before their late teens.

( Everybody knows about this. And I know very well too, that's how my son speaks English better than me and with the right accent)

But scientist now recognize that the brain remains surprisingly plastic and resilient throughout life, which creates opportunities for adults to make possible changes in their neural connections through a focus attention and practice.
"Neurology, Psychology, speech therapy, education, sports, music, all this domains will be improved as we apply the law of neuroplasticity.
That was stated by Norman Doidge author of 'The Brain That Changes Itself.
Baca aja sendiri kalau gak percaya...

With fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scientist can reveals areas in the right and left hemispheres that are much active in good readers than in poor readers.
Even though until now, the evidence attributing such dramatic changes to neuroplacticity has been largely circumstantial, but fMRI is producing vivid images that show neuroplasticity in action.

In the future maybe the neuroplasticity can be used to develop effective remedial reading program for children with dislexia I think, to improve memory, attention, processing speed sequencing skills which are vital to all learning.

Buat guru2 wisdom dari brain plasticity, mungkin, dalam memperbaiki cara ajar mengajar di sekolah, jangan hanya memperbaiki kurikulum terus2an. Focus dalam mengajar murid2nya juga bisa di arahkan pada gimana caranya improving the brain dari anak2 asuh atau murid2nya, karena yang paling penting adalah Brain can be modified. Terus apalagi yang paling penting ya...? MODIFICATIONS ARE NOT LIMITED TO CHILDREN.

Asyiiiik.... berarti keputusan sekolah lagi in my age.. Nggak salah dong? he he he...Pensiun usia 55 tahun? Masih ke mudaan lah...Especially as a dentist I am very optimist that I can keep on working up to ......Walahualam.... Asal nggak rematik aja...Iya nggak sodara2?

Fall in Central park at Maghrib time.

Prediction Cancer surge in the East

Asia’s Western habits may lead to cancer surge
Smoking, drinking, bad diet could hike disease rate 60 percent, experts say


HUNGRY FOR SOME CANCER PROTECTION?

Blueberries
Their high antioxidant properties have moved the tiny fruit from muffin filler to health food favorite. Anthocyanin, the pigment which colors the berry, provides much of its benefits. Also a good source of vitamin C, which can protect against cell damage.

Broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts
Rich in cancer-fighting sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, antioxidants which can protect the body against cell-damaging free radicals.

Green tea
Antioxidants called catechins may reduce the size and number of cancer tumors, although large amounts of green tea are needed to be effective. The U.S. National Cancer Institute is funding a study looking at the the effects of drinking 10 to 15 cups of decaffeinated green tea in reversing pre-cancerous lesions in the lungs of former smokers.

Flaxseed
A good source of omega-3 fatty acids, the nutty seeds are associated with lowering cholesterol and may reduce the risk of some cancers, researchers say.

Soy
Soy beans and other soy-containing foods contain isoflavones which can lower cholesterol and are believed to lower digestive cancers such as colon and rectal. It is believed that women who eat a lot of soy may be less prone to breast cancer because of reduced estrogen, although research is inconclusive. The FDA is considering whether to allow foods containing soy protein to claim a reduced risk of certain cancers on product labels.

Tomatoes
A rich source of the antioxidant lycopene, which is believed to protect against prostate cancer as well as heart disease. Cooked tomatoes are actually a better source than raw because the process releases the lycopene from cells.