Anger..

Are you angry today? Did someone/something pissed you off just now? Someone did irritate you? How did you response to the situation then? Did you punch that person on their face? Or you roared back at them? Or you just keep quiet while your mind is plotting for a superb revenge? Anger is an emotional state that may range from minor irritation to intense rage. Research has shown that when someone is in anger, there are some obvious sign: Heartbeat rate, blood pressure and adrenalin rate increases. These physiological effects that cause you to react towards anger; whether you response by action or verbally. What anger got to do with communication? Well, just about everything. Anger is a word, but words are mightier than swords sometimes. Here is one of the famous story on anger that i found:

A BAG OF NAILS

Once upon a time there was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he should hammer a nail in the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. But gradually, the number of daily nails dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the first day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He proudly told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
"You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out, it won't matter how many times you say 'I'm sorry', the wound is still there."

So you see, anger isn't something that you can have and then just forget it only. It may have little effect on you, but to others; the impact may be much more deeper on them. Now, here's some ways to control your anger before you actually hurt the other person (verbally or non-verbally)

1. Count 1 to 10 slowly; or you take a deep and long breath slowly. While you are doing these, try to think anything that can calm you.

2. This is easy: Change your position.If you are angry when you are sitting, then stand up. If you are angry when you are standing, then sit down. The time taken to change your position actually helps because it can reduce your tension you are having on that time.

3. Think about consequences when you are about to reply the anger. When you are angry, you don't think about anything else. Your focus is that : You are angry; you need to tranfer your anger to cool down you. But what happens after that? People who always furious have higher risks in
a) Cancer and heart disease.
b) Weaken immune system
c) Shorten your life
d) Destroying or vandalizing people or things easier
e) Road accident or home accident
f) Being pushed away by friends and family.
So think of one consequence that really scares you. You may have your own consequences in your mind, but make sure it rilli makes you pause for that very moment.

So do you still feel angry right now?


Sources: http://www.wikipedia.com/anger ;
Kuntum Magazine May 2002 ;
http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/anger.html

p/s: if you still feeling angry rite: go take a bath or do an exercise. If you need mentally working, you can ask yourself; why am i so angry at this person/thing? Worth it or not if i waste my energy on this person/ thing? Maybe it will work. If everything that has been mentioned here and out there doesn't work for you, maybe it's time for you to consult a therapist.

Exhibition: Mapping Identities

Initially I read the article on The Star, I felt it will be great to share it in this blog and went online to search for the addition info on this exhibition. It's an exhibition of Nadiah Bamadhaj’s works of drawings and potraits. The theme behind these works is Mapping Identities, and the body of these works is named Surveillance.

Here's what written on the article to describe this exhibition: "A new exhibition shows how geographical maps mark our place in the world as well as sovereignity from one another. Overall, the works are explorations of urban and national terrain through maps conjured by the artist to highlight the arbitrariness of mapping in shaping our individual identities. "

At first, I found it quite difficult to understand how these works can reflect the identities of people and oneself. Truly, you have to spend lots of time in analysing those works to understand what is the hidden identity in the drawings and potraits. And, I mean LOTS OF TIME! Even with the explanation given on the article, I still spent much time to get the understanding. Ewwww~

Here's one of the works:







-The Island

Hmm.. Looking at this work here, do you understand what is it trying to "map"?

Well, according to the article, the identities hidden are actually the peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak. It maps the the cultural and social identities between the part of Malaysia.

I shall quote some of the explanation here:

Let’s consider a few examples; buildings, such as those from Mussolini’s reign are distinctively totalitarian and representative of right-wing politics; on the opposite end of the spectrum, religious architecture is visibly uncompromising with its intentions; shopping malls champion capitalist greed; and places of sport – like Olympic stadiums – are equitable to the silly analogy of a driver and his sports car... ... They showcase that we are all products of our carefully designed environment.

How is it? Do you somehow understand what are the exhibition, the works, the maps and identities all about? Hope you understand as I found it truly interesting.

Hmm.. One question pops out from my head suddenly: "Is drawing a form of communication too? If it is, what categeory should it be? Non-verbal? Or perhaps visual communication?!"

Wow.. Another way of communicating.. Human communication.. How intersting can it be ya.. *phew*

PS: Any of you interested to go? Too bad. The exhibition was only til 30th August. Sighh..

=Yin Foong=

Resource:

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/8/24/lifearts/1849577&sec=lifearts

RACHEL JENAGARATNAM; Mapping identities; Sunday August 24, 2008.

Ladies..

Hey-ho! Ladies, based on what I've read in the past, here are some tips to know if the guy digs you. It's all about communication. We have to read him. As we all know guy's are usually predictable so reading them is a sinch,no?
Here are some tips :

1.He flirts with you.

2.He smiles at you a lot. =)))

3.He always teases you or makes fun of you.

4.He will try his best to go out of his way to be as near you as possible without being obvious.

5.He sends you flowers. (this is pretty obvious!)

6.He compliments you a lot.(we like that, don't we?)

7.He develops a special nickname for you.(like sugar bear or something o.o)

8.He remembers little things that you've talked about before a long time ago, and brings them up in conversations to let you know that he remembered. (this is my personal favourite!)

9.His pupils dilate when he looks at you. (Did you know our pupils will dilate when we are looking at anything we like whether if be an object or person.)-it's so adorable!

What else? I don't know.. Maybe you guys or girls can mention other ways to know if a guy likes you.
Until then, peace!

Music Connects..

Everyone who are looking just at my topic would definitely agree with me; Music Connects. With who? The people who shares the same music passion together. The one who listens to music. The one who do musics. The one who sells musics. Undeniably, music does connect with everyone. Let's not connect it too far far with the history before Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin was born, but to begin from our very life before we were born. We were entertained by our mothers with their singing of lullabies and their favorite songs; or education through music @ listening to classic music to stimulates baby's growth, etc. When we are old enough to sing songs, we sang children songs together. Now, we gathered together with other fans from all over the world just to listen to our favourite singers' in concerts. Through lyrics and music, we express who we are, what mood we are having, what we are feeling right now. We listen and sing happy song when we are happy, keep replaying the song that hit on us when we are feeling sad, etc. We would also dedicate songs to people who we think they are.

Music is a form of communication; whereby ideologies and trends are set out to everyone in the world. From Jazz in the early 20th centuries, Rhythm and Blues even bfore the WW2, Rock and Roll in the mid 1950s until now we are accompanied with pop, fusion, etc. Music act like a language, if we understand the music, we understand the meaning.

Recently did you hear any form of advertisement in the form of music? They sang songs with lyrics that promote their goods and services. Sounds familiar right? This kind of concept is easier to persuade of the consumers to buy them; because music sticks into their mind better than just verbal communication.

Why blog?

Olaa! I'm Afiqah. I just got recruited in this group today so, I guess I'll give it a go. Blogging is also another way to communicate. A blog is basically an online journal where anyone(provided they know how to blog) can post anything they want online. Oh by the way blog actually stands for web log. Usually bloggers blog about things currently happening to themselves or others, how they feel, what they're going through, or anything random. Matter of fact, some things blogged about can be controversial. We being human, love controversies don't we? So, we leave comments supporting or denying the subject. Plus, most blogs have chat boxes where readers can chat. They can also directly leave comments in the current post.
What we say and how we say things about a certain subject can affect the people around us. Some things can be ambiguous as not everyone intepret things the same way. Some might take opinions as insults. Some get very defensive about certain subjects! Lesson : Before saying something, think it through. Don't hurt people. Mind your words and the people you are directing. Be nice when commenting about races, religions, countries and whatever issues you think will be sensitive! Be kind and courteous so we can forever live in harmony! A dream-I know. No harm in trying though. =)
I'm sure most of us have our own blogs. Me, being a blogger knows how it is to live in the world of bloggin. It's ineveitable that I don't watch my language sometimes too, but hey! We're only human. We can only try to be better!
Check out my private blog if you want. Give me a buzz and I'll invite you!
renderingvoid.blogspot.com
Peace!

Rude Moves

There's an interesting article that i have read in Toastmaster magazine for the month of August. The title 'Rude Moves' is about some gestures (non-verbal communication) that is best to be avoided when giving presentation; in another countries.

1. "A-OK"
When your tip of the thumb connected with the index finger forming a 'O' shapes.
In the US, making this gesture means ' no problem @ everything's alright! '. However, in Franceit means 'zero'; in Japan it can mean 'money' (in Japanese, Okane means money!) and in Brazil, Guatemala and Paraguay, it is obscene.
Mmm...try doing that when a Brazilian offering help to you and see what happens the next second after.

2. "Get the Point?"
a movement when you clenched your fist; but with your index finger pointing out.
It's pretty universal; when you point at someone with your index finger, it is a very rude thing. Different cultures point with their chins, or they extend their entire open hand toward the object.

3. "Thumbs up"
No problem if your thumb is up in the US, but never try this in the Middle West and some parts of Africa unless you want to get a nice whack up or one panda eye on your right. However, if you demand for 5 items in Japan, you may use this gestures =)

4. "Wink!"
Guard your gaze please. Winks may mean "this is our little secret" in North America or a romantic invitation in Latin America, but you may found yourself in a hot boiled curry pot in India or steamboat in China.

5. "A Smile"
Oh no no no, a smile is still not considered the universal language for the genuine pleasure around the world. Nope, at least not in many parts on Asia, a smile can be used to cover up embarrassment, shock or fury. And the French only smile when they have a reason (no wonder they look so serious all the time) and they assume that anyone wearing a constant grin in public is either condescending or feeble-minded.
Oh, no wonder when i smiled at spastic-girl in my school when i was in standard smile; i got a big tight slap. I can't recall whether she was French or not; but the slap was really hurt. Ouch! (lol)

6. " Showing the soles of your feet, or using your left hand to eat "
These are inappropriate behaviours in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, parts or Africa and many other locales. If in doubt, follow the lead of your hosts and you'll make the correct gestures.

So folks, these 6 main gestures you may want to bear it in your mind or your travel note when you are planning to any part of the country. The best way is that you may try to read up some of the cultures normally practiced in the country before you fly!

Cheers!
Jaime.

plants...

PLANTS....they are fragile yet strong in another way...

when we talk about plant communication, you might think that it is a form of human-plant communication like asking them to grow faster and healthier. In fact, plants do communicate with each other. Of course, they do not gossip like us. Their communication occurs when they face any threat from their predator. The connection they use to share informantion is known as runners - horizontal stems that physically bond the plants like tubes or cables along the soil surface and underground. Though connected to vertical stems, runners eventually form new buds at the tips and ultimately form a network of plants. If one of the network plants is attacked by caterpillars, the other members of the network are warned via an internal signal to upgrade their chemical and mechanical resistance—making their leaves hard to chew on and less desirable. This system works to spread the information among the plants and to ward off caterpillars. This means the attacked leaf is lost but the others are saved.

However, this connection does have its downside, that is encourages the spreading of the virus. They enter the plant via the leaves, find their way into the stems and are then passively transported to all the network members where they cause new infection.